DUH ~ Padangusthasana

Padangusthasana - Toe Stand Pose

APARIGRAHA - LET GO of wanting anyone to be anything other than who they are. DUH!!!

Baddha Hasta ~ Bound Hands

Sukhasana Baddha Hasta - Easy Pose Bound Hands

Unite with the divine daily by: taking care of and committing to what (who) is right in front of you. 

Everyday Anew ~ Three-Legged Down Dog

Tri Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana - Three-Legged Downward Facing Dog
Both its own active stretch and a transition.

After an entire school year of commitments that seemingly filled every waking (and often sleeping) moment of my time, I welcome these big, wide, vacant days and the extravagant option to leave them void.

Lavender Fields ~ Headstand Variation

Sirsasana ~ Headstand variation 
To safeguard my neck, I typically headstand with tripod arms.

When I was growing up, the day school ended my family and I flew (fled?) to the French Riviera and returned to the USA only after the school supplies had - much to my dismay - run out at the American stores. Summer was not filled with planned activities or camps or playdates but with open-ended European road trips and unhurried, unstructured, seemingly endless days chez nous en Provence. 🪻🪻🪻

With my four petites being ages 3-13, it is likely not prudent to emulate this relaxed, improvisational, détendue, and highly unAmerican protocol, but I am going to give it a shot. I will let you know how it goes...

Yoga Habit

For a behavioral habit - do it even though you don’t want to.

A clothing ‘habit’ is often long and loose.

Habit - a distinctive garment worn to signify a person’s affiliation with a specific group, profession or purpose. 

It is time I return to an all black (+ dark grey) habit for yoga… the stunning woman beside me this morning looked flawless and serene in her entirely ebony, austere uniform (and always does.) 🖤🖤🖤

Enoughness ~ Triangle Pose

Utthita Trikonasana - Triangle Pose

What is your Enough? Dis-cover Un-conditional enoughness through daily yoga. 

Tool Box ~ Supta Padangusthasana

 

Supta Padangusthasana - Reclined Hand-To-Big-toe Pose 

There is always more to learn. 

Soft-Test ~ Vakrasana

 

Vakrasana - Twisted Pose
Soft, relaxed version.

Accomplish difficult tasks with a light touch.

Unexpected ~ Urdhva Dhanurasana

 

Urdhva Dhanurasana - Wheel Pose 🎡

Just lay it all on the yoga mat for the universe to figure out.  

Wrestling with my usual mommy / wifey / community conundrums, I arrived at hot yoga in a tizzy. So I just gave it all over to something greater. Immediately an unexpected course of action - to embrace what I had been rejecting - was proffered by the divine. By opting for this original possibility I then floated through the remainder of the (rife with responsibilities) day in pure peace. OM Shanti OM. Namaste.

Inner Universe ~ Meditate with Bolster 🦋

Hand to Heart and bébé belly.
Butterfly Legs Seated on Bolster.

 Make PEACE (rather than happiness, joy, love) your aspired state of being.

Silent Retreat

Listen only to the Universe.

It has been 10 days since I turned off all podcasts, audiobooks, and music; a calm has swept over me that I haven’t felt since… turning them on. 

Zen From Scratch ~ Chaturanga Dandasana

Chaturanga Dandasana 
Strong arms for pouring, whisking, flipping, serving, clearing…

Creating resourcefully for everyday tranquility.

Batter, Dressing.

Infinite granola iterations.

Pancakes.🥞 BUTTER.

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced ~ Curtsy Lunge

Curtsy Lunge

Beginner poses remain the most advanced. 

Reclamation ~ Ardha Chakrasana with Self Assist

Ardha Chakrasana - Half Wheel Pose, Standing Backbend
With self assist: low back support and press to open.

Reclaiming adequate alone time to return to oneself - supportive and enabling of You. 

Digitize ~ Prapadasana Variation

Prapadasana - Toe Stand Variation

I may be an old-schooler, but, resistance is not a virtue. Embrace the changing world and digitize (but also streamline and organize your cyberspace). 

Yoga for Overwhelm ~ Dirga Pranayama

Sukhasana - Easy Pose
A soothing check-in. Anything but ‘easy’.
Dirga Pranayama - Three Part Breath
Hand on Heart, Hand on Belly.

Sunday night panic attack? Soothe your breathless tension by planning out (only) your week ahead. 

🐌 Vacation Integration 🐢 ~ Sukhasana, Dhyana, Mukula Mudra

Sukhasana - Easy Pose
Dhyana - Meditation 
Mukula Mudra - Lotus or Lily Bud Hand Gesture 🤌 

(Vacation) integration is gradual, slow, steady, slimy, super cute, hard shelled, long-lived… 🐌 🐢 

Broaden Horizons ~ Dwikonasana

Ardha Dwikonasana - Half Yoga Seal Pose, Double Angle Pose

Traveling will stretch you beyond your limit: release all those staid and pesky ‘preferences’ to appreciate the discomfort.

Centimeter by centimeter ~ Navasana

Navasana - Boat Pose
I am a boat pose modifier.

After 1.5 years of weekdaily yoga practice, my legs are ever so slightly straightening (centimeter by centimeter). If ‘it’ doesn’t happen in a few years time, wait longer. 

Look Inside ~ Sukhasana Dhyana

Sukhasana - Easy Pose, Dhyana - Meditation 

I took out my contacts one week ago and went unobstructed for the first time in decades. Here is what happened:

1. My sinuses filled with pressure, but the congestion is subsiding with each passing day. 

2. I realized that I am completely reliant - obsessed - with the visual realm.

3. I am slowly learning to look inward. 

4. My drishti is better than ever. 🙈