Counting Bakasana's

 See this perfectly innocent looking guy? Just chilling, not bothering anyone, maybe waiting patiently on a scarecrow to be distracted so he can swoop in a grab some corn...

 The crow has sight, and patience. They peer far off into the distance and patiently await the perfect time to achieve their goal.

 This pose has always been difficult for me. Not because my arms and body aren't strong enough, but because I was not brave enough. I always thought I would bonk myself on the forehead, or just fall flat on my face. But with my increasing belief in myself and a daily practice I have accomplished The Crow Pose-now, my next hurdle was to be brave enough to teach my yogi's in Ananda class. I finally figured out how to do it.

I tricked them. Not in a poopy way...but I just kept moving through poses and never mentioned where I was going with it and got them into crow. And you know what? Not giving them time to doubt themselves worked! They didn't have time to think negative thoughts about themselves, nor did they have time to fear what might happen. I'm sure if at the beginning of class I had said, 'hey, were gonna do some experienced poses' they would have been nervous and doubting themselves and not enjoying the process. But they didn't have time to let fear creep in and the look of happy accomplishment on their faces was amazing.

 And that's the thing, ya know? That whole negative self talk and fear of the what ifs and what may happens, is the only obstacle holding you back in any endeavor you seek. That lesson opened my eyes- I learned how to sneak a teach, and I learned that...really, fear is nothing more than a false thought. Face that fear- go around it, go forward even if you are still afraid. But the minute you start in on yourself with the negative thoughts and speak, you will fail. That whole "can't never could, so try" statement. Yeah- that's truth.

Lessons I wish I'd known BEFORE going to Yoga Class.

Yoga has changed me, my life and my outlook on life in so many ways. I love it and try to find my way to my mat everyday. But when I started, there were these misconceptions and falseities about yoga that I wish I'd had someone to talk to about. Maybe this will help you gain the confidence to start your own practice and fall in love with yoga too.

 These are some general 'rules' most people going into yoga don't know or kinda know...


Before your class:

Please, avoid eating.(You will be physically miserable if you do) Light snacks such as juices, fruits or smoothies are great an hour before class.
Wear comfortable attire that does not restrict bodily movements.
Don't dress provocatively or scantily- I don't want to be behind you and be able to see in to you! 
You don't have to have name brand gear. Why spend 100 bux on yoga pants you're going to sweat in? T-shirt, stretch pants- perfect.
Avoid using perfume or scented lotions for some participants may have environmental sensitivities.
Because Yoga is practiced bare foot, please plan to remove your shoes.
Drink plenty of water before and after the class

Upon Entering the Studio:

Plan to arrive 10 or 15 minutes before class.
If you bring a cell phone make sure the ringer is off
If you arrive early, please wait quietly until the previous class ends
Remove your shoes before entering the yoga room
Set up your mat and chill there- do some warm ups or meditate.
Inform your instructor if you have any health concerns or injuries(I usually ask).

Extras I like to add:

Don't let the fact that you're not a size 2 stop you. I'm a healthy girl and I love yoga! Yoga is for EVERYONE.

Try every class you can, and every teacher you can. Just because you like/dislike someones appearance or personality does not mean you will like their class- be open to everything!

BREATHE- synchronized movement and breath should be your goal!

Smile! This is your own personal time, enjoy it!

Chill- no one is judging you, they're too worried about what they look like.

If it doesn't feel good, DON'T DO IT!

Yoga is not a competition sport, you are doing this for you. 

Yoga is not a religion.It's for any and every body. I practice along side people from all different religions, cultures, states, countries- everything. And you don't have to chant or meditate or sing, it's fun, but if it makes you uncomfortable then DON'T DO IT!

You are going to yoga for so many things-health, weight, body image, mental, connection. Whatever the reason, don't let the fact that you may not succeed immediately hold you back! It called a PRACTICE for a reason!

Remember- There is no Yoga Police...no one is going to rush in and tell you you are wrong or make fun of you. If you feel uncomfortable in the class, speak with the instructor afterwards.Communicate! They are there to assist you in your personal place and help you connect with yourself and to have fun! They are not there to be judgmental. I hope this eases your mind about yoga and maybe gets you out and on a mat today!

If you want to see me I teach at On Track Yoga 4 classes a week, and I love to meet new people!

Cantaloupe and Kale?

Smoothie Time!
My lady friend and (unbeknownst to her) yoga guru Rachael told me that I should start using Kale in place of spinach in my drinks/smoothies because it would be more cooling to my fiery pitta nature. Well ding dong if she aint right! Now that I've started using Kale I feel as if it IS cooler and more soothing, and maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit, but it seems as if my skin is not quite so pinky. (Being a natural redhead, I have a pink on the verge of red complexion, Depending on how hot my body is at the time).

So today, I thought I'd share my delicious newfangled to me recipe for a Cantaloupe and Kale Smoothie!

1c Kale (washed, but i didn't even chop it)
1c Cantaloupe
a handful of Goji berries
1/4c of Chia Seeds
1/2 a banana ( for a bit more sweetness)
2c Ice

I just threw everything into the blender and pressed liquefy! It made enough ( 3c or .75L) that I drank it throughout the evening and then had the rest for breakfast.
 The main difference in the kale and the spinach is texture. The Kale tends to be pretty crunchy, or toothsome; while the spinach smooths out a lot more and becomes more 'liquidy'. But the overall flavor is usually masked by the sweetness of the fruit. Bananas and apples almost always over power so use them sparingly if you are trying for a balance of flavor.

Rest-Restore-Repeat

After a long week of work, family, chaos etc...my favorite thing to do is rest, restore, and repeat. Sundays are made just for that. I sleep in a bit, eat super healthy all day, drink lots of water, and breathe.

that's my cutie patootie ginger, meditating!

...I get to teach family yoga and then bring it on home for some yummy dinner and family time...Sunday is quickly becoming my favorite day ever! Check out out site for On Track Yoga- if your ever this way we'd love to have you!!