Noisy

 

Halasana - Plow Pose
Quiet.

I am going deaf. Food noise, supplement noise, workout noise, cosmetics and aesthetics noise - let us tune out, turn OFF, ALL of the so-called health and beauty advice.

Flavors

Vasisthasana Janu - Side Plank Pose on Knees

With endless iterations of every asana, get a sampling through your vinyasa - move fluidly through numerous variations to discover a new flavor.🍦 

Dip, dip, dip, FRY, bake…
Crispy chicken tenders are THE crowd pleaser - so triple the recipe!!!

Always playing with homemade frosting. 🧁 

Passion

 

Vasisthasana Padmasana - Side Plank Bound Half Lotus

 Jealousy as a clue when excavating your passion. 🔭 ⛏️

Bye bye, Bra

I wore a more traditional bralette today for my AM movement and, boy, did I regret it. It was sweet with lace, constructed from organic cotton and seemed benign enough, but I was suffocating by the hours end with that tight-ish band encircling my ribcage and constricting my lung expansion, I couldn’t wait to rip it off (and toss it out)!

‘Burn’ any BRA that restricts - strangles! - your diaphragm. Wear soft, little camisoles without the throttling punishment of asphyxiation, or simply go bare, and fully breathe in life once again! 

Stuck in the middle with you

Parsva Upavistha Konasana - Seated Side Straddle Pose
Your way or it’s just a fake way.

Who you are is how you lead and your strengths of character are applicable in any situation - just bring your best self (and in my case, a hand written note). 💌

Full intensity

 

Prasarita Padottanasana - Wide Legged Forward Fold, “Intense” Leg Stretch Pose
So make it intense.

What are you?

 

Upavistha Konasana - Seated Straddle Pose with block
Force and berate yourself for what you cannot do in order to stay stagnant and stuck (and, possibly, injured.)

You cannot be everything, you will have to pick and choose — and the sooner the better (besides, it isn’t written in stone — at least, not yet). ☠️ 👻

🌈Arc🧚‍♀️

 

Parsvottanasana - Pyramid Pose
I am having a ‘put your head down and work’ type of week. 

🌈The rhythm of the day, the arc of the week, the ebb and flow of the month, and the seasons of the year. Looking ahead and zooming out at your calendar is how you are able to ‘put your head down’ and (enjoy) work(ing) unremittingly - because you plan (and look forward to) when you’ll be coming up for air. 👙⛵️🌞

Mow.

Mow some more.

Completely clear out 4 bedrooms.

Daily lunch for 4.

Witch’s foot: connection to the supernatural & a need for spiritual protection

 

Tadasana - Mountain Pose
Let us focus on our feet and hand health. Open, close and activate the fingers. Lift, spread and control the movement of the toes.  

Somehow I have been rolling onto the outside edges of my feet when I walk these days. Upon further investigation it was brought to my attention that ‘witch’s foot’ is from forging my own path and going my own way. Guilty as charged! But pain there suggests extreme self-protection: guardedness and detachment (from the mainstream). AKA taking my individuality too far?

 PS: Excessive supination can also be exacerbated from muscle strengthening.

Cookies, socks and winter activities - oh my 😝

Parsva Urdhva Hastasana - Upward Salute Side Bend Pose
Can you straighten your arms? All the way?

I am back in the kitchen with verve baking up a storm once again. Is it my new “easy bake oven” (air fryer)? Or the fact that my youngest is now three and slightly less underfoot? It is both I am sure, and other factors, too. (Chilly weather💨.) Whatever it is sparking my creative joy, I will run with it…as do my children and so should you! 🍪

Brownies, banana bread, oatmeal raisin balls, yogurt cake, sugar cookies, cream cheese frosting… biscuits, french fries, quiche, pigs in a blanket, pizza, grilled cheese, quesadillas, roasted (air fried) everything and the list goes on… I kid you not, these kids actually expect me to feed them EVERY DAY!!! 🤪

My daughter knits socks.  🧶 🧦 For MY feet. 😍🥰

& these adorable and refreshing Gen Alpha kids also sing, tinker on the piano, play violin, craft, craft, craft and, obviously, level-up our nestle chips. 🎻🌸🎉

Ladybug

 

Bhujapidasana - Insect Pose, Shoulder Press Pose. A mini floaty for confidence in poses that fly. 🐞 

Start somewhere.

Then refine.

Upgrade eventually.

Hit the wall

 

Bunny Hops Handstand Preparation 🐇

Arm balances are, for me, “you can have it all, just not all at once.” Some come easy most of the time, many are insurmountable some of the time…

This is where THE WALL comes in. I get in that back row and sidle on up close to the wall, so I may feel all the thrill, freedom and benefit of flying inverted (with an extra stretch, might I add,) while being unconditionally supported by that big, strong vertical assist. 

No namasana

 

Standing Fire Hydrant Poses - it will feel like all of a sudden, (but it is, in fact, 1.5 years of regularity with your habit!) that you feel one (little) level stronger.

Standing fire hydrant pose? Poses with no names welcome.  

Acknowledge and celebrate consistency and progress with more consistency and more progress. 

Shop; but not for polyester

 

Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana - Standing Splits Pose with flair.

Two thoughts to carry you through the weekend : ☝️ Let your yoga be silky (and not polyestery 😜). ✌️If you like to shop - as I do - become better at getting rid of things. 🎀💕🎈

Doodlers love doodles

🌈Tadasana Hindolasana - Standing Cradle Pose. Just here being my embellished self. 🎀🐯🎄  

How we do one thing is how we do everything. One look in my cabinet and I had to laugh - a collection of drawings on both my shelf stable household items and my perishables…

Everything must have doodly drawings in HappyGoLuckyILoveCreativityWithColor&PatternAstridLand.

Or sell yourself short

 

Dandayama Janu Sirsasana - Standing Head to Knee Pose

Dandayama Janu Sirsasana is most common in HOT yoga practiced at 105 degrees Fahrenheit with 40% humidity. 

Progressing from where you currently are (yoga, life…) may require that you OVEREXTEND yourself. 

Play to stretch yourself

 

Eka Pada Sarvangasana - One Legged Shoulder Stand Pose 
Get upside down and get playful.

Get upside down and then play with arm and leg variations (regardless of what is ‘correct’ or cued).

Up 🎈

 

Ustrasana - Camel Pose for when I’m in need of a pick-me-up.🎈

Ustrasana and other heart openers: a pick-you-UP for life’s inescapable little downs.

🌺💕🌺💕🌺

 

Raspberry Silk ensemble a la Coniglio Palm Beach.

Always question, refine and transform your personal style: clothing, food and shelter. 

Like a kiddo yoga

 

Salamba Sirsasana - since I was little, I always loved a tripod headstand.

Salamba Sirsasana - Tripod Headstand 

If you like a certain variation of a pose (tripod makes me feel like a kid again,) practice that version. You don’t have to master every single asana under the sun - a smaller collection can be your signature. 

Mydailydoodle - Unite With Your Divine

 

What does it mean to yoga your life???

HOW TO YOGA your daily life and Unite With The Divine:

1. Find Inner Peace by DREAMing - practice self study, surrender to accept, and play or rest.

2. CREATE outer beauty with the 3 necessities of life - keeping house, dressing and cuisine.

Show up

 

Viparita Virabhadrasa - Reverse Warrior Pose

Viparita Virabhadrasana - Reverse Warrior Pose

You reeeeeeally have to reeeeeeeach the back hand down the leg — and it is nooooot easy.

Handsy 🤝

 

Parivrtta Baddha Konasana - Bound Revolved Chair Pose

Parivrtta Baddha Konasana - Bound Revolved Chair Pose

Some days you can’t be so ginger and you really have to crank that self adjustment.💫

The best 💖

 

Matsyasana - Fish Pose, with blocks

Matsyasana - Fish Pose, with blocks

💝 Crack your heart open. 💝

The best way to start your morning (5:45am in the studio) is with a block on middle height running vertically between the shoulders along the spine and a block at the highest height positioned horizontally under (the base of) your head. 💕

To the hilt

Ardha Paschimottanasana - Half Seated Forward Fold

Ardha Paschimottanasana - Half Seated Forward Bend

The AH of ending your day (and week) with the satisfaction that you were unrestrictedly creative and wholly productive. 

Class act

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana - Standing Hand to Big Toe Pose

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana - Standing Hand to Big Toe Pose

Give and take; take the blame, give the praise. 

Embody

Eka Pada Tadasana - One Legged Mountain Pose

Eka Pada Tadasana - One Legged Mountain 🏔️ 

Attract what you are. 

Organic structure

 

Eka Pada Parivrtta Tadasana - One Legged Revolved Mountain Pose

Eka Pada Parivrtta Tadasana - One Legged Revolved Mountain Pose

ORGANIZE your mind. 

Groupie

 

Parivrtta Ashtachandrasana - Revolved High Lunge Pose

Parivrtta Ashtachandrasana - Revolved High Lunge Pose

Thank you, organized schedules of endless options for classes. 

When it comes to working out, I am a group gal. 🏋️‍♀️ 

Unshowy

Parivrtta Anjaneyasana - Revolved Crescent Lunge Pose

Parivrtta Anjaneyasana - Revolved Crescent Lunge Pose

 Clean, meticulous, unshowy.

Works every time 🎐

Marichyasana - Bound Seated / Sage Twist

Marichyasana - Bound Seated / Sage Twist

Often your yoga teacher will cue intention setting at the beginning of class. This is an excellent time to ask the cosmos a question - you’ll have your answer by the end of the hour. 🎐

🚀 ⛽️

 

Yogini AM : Cold brew + pink coco H2O & whip🤎🩷🩵

What’s not to L💖VE? Active mornings filled with yoga asana, packing and prepping for school, tidying, planning, and working are best with : Starbucks cold brew concentrate / Raw Pink Coco H2O / Longmont Dairy Heavy Cream (Whipped?) - so YUM 🚀⛽️ 

Houseworkasana

Houseworkasana

AHA moments are continuously had in savasana, but also habitually unveiled while carrying out the housework. 🧹 

Notes from my last flight

 

Notes taken in the air - originally in pen 🖊️ in a mini notebook 📓 — never, ever leave home without one. 

🩵💚Not to be forgotten when flying with kiddos 💛🧡

Sick of it

Viparita Karani - Legs Up the Wall Pose

Viparita Karani - Legs Up the Wall Pose

Yoga for nausea - calm the nervous system. 

It is so complicated let us discuss it ad nauseam and get nowhere?! Let’s not: the truth will feel effortless. 

It will not always be easy

Virabhadrasana A - Warrior I Pose

Virabhadrasana A - Warrior I Pose

I birthed my four babies at home and I have always known intuitively never to speak about it in common company. When your life challenges conventional - conformist - foundational beliefs, the threatened masses will act out (and sometimes with virile hostility). Thinking ‘differently’ from the majority is a sure bet side effect of a consistent yoga practice and is mostly fun, but on occasion you will feel confused, misunderstood and alone (or even outcast and humiliated when you are the more outspoken type). Welcome to rare and lasting inner peace and outer beauty! No one said it would be easy. 💖

PS :  If you are not having these black sheep issues - get thee to more yoga classes! 🤭😋🙃

5th Chakra

Matsyasana Padmasana - Fish Pose Lotus Variation 🪷 

Matsyasana Padmasana - Fish Pose Lotus Variation 

💙Vishuddha - 5th chakra - Throat Chakra.💙

🩵Finding your authentic voice, creativity and integrity.🩵

Try-not-to-cough Asana: during some (a handful at most, hopefully) yoga classes all you are doing is trying not to cough. And on those days that is more than enough.💗

“Happy New Year”

Natarajasana - Dancer Pose beauty 🦢 

Natarajasana - Dancer Pose

“Happy New Year”: Buried alive in the bustling routine of family life, I find myself awkward, unprepared, and downright stumped when presented with normal adult socializing and interacting. When in debilitating doubt, which I currently am (obvious names, places, and details completely eluding my overcrowded brain), just BE KIND (not witty or smart or most accomplished or pageant beautiful). Simply begin with an easygoing “Happy New Year” and do not shy away, because a second chance - another opportunity to connect - may not present itself in the near future. 

What are you building?

 

Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana - King Pigeon Pose in happy frenchie cool girl stripies

Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana - King Pigeon Pose

Add flourish to your asanas. 🐚 

Everyday around 10am, for eight days straight, our family of six, (with cousins in tow,) headed to the beach. My youngest, age 3, would promptly ask me to “build a road”. We scooped, dug, piled, grated, patted, and decorated gaping holes, super highways, winding rivers, picturesque villages, connecting tunnels, long islands, creepy faces, and even a giant sea serpent monster. What were we making? We never knew. We just kept constructing. 

🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️Sea monsters🧜‍♂️🧜‍♂️