A Daily Dose of Silence

This is purrfect (hehe…ya I love corny “jokes”)

(screenshot of the Yoga Inspiration FB Page)

So first the cat pic is adorable! (plus I love cats and have 3 of my own!) It is also true, because Yoga does relax me! This picture reminds me that not only is yoga beneficial for the body and soul, but it also shows there can be silliness and fun included in my practice.

The second pic states a great quote, “The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.” It reminds me that of course the Asanas (Body Positions) are important, but yoga is more than just asanas. Yoga promotes a holistic lifestyle including fitness, healthy eating, meditation and more. It can heal your body and soul!

Please share some pics or quotes that inspire your practice!

Namaste
Kristi ❤

Confession

So I will admit, I haven’t done much yoga lately. I get allergies this time of year. It’s hard to breathe and my eyes and throat get itchy. This makes yoga difficult; therefore I haven’t practiced.

I have to stop letting excuses keep me from practicing. I need to make yoga/meditation a habit! I’ve read practicing at the same time and in the same spot helps…Even if I sit or lay there for an hour, I want to roll out my mat everyday. And I want alone time to learn about myself (One should enjoy being alone 😉).

EVERY morning from 9-10 I WILL roll out my mat to practice. I am usually awake at 9, and I don’t work until 11…it’s perfect and there’s no excuse!

Namaste

Kristi ❤️

Types of Yoga

There are SO MANY different yoga styles today! But what style or combination of styles is best for YOU? Since I am mostly an “at-home-practicer” I usually mix it up. I feel that no ONE yoga type is better than the others. While I try to live a lifestyle of the eight “Ashtanga” limbs, I like to make up my own routines from a variety of asanas, breathing exercises and meditative practices.

Here are just a few ‘types’ that I try to incorporate into my home practice…

Ashtanga Yoga – Eight limbed yoga

1. Yama – social discipline
2. Niyama – individual discipline
3. Asanas – body position
4. Pranayama – breathing
5. Pratyahara – self awareness
6. Dharana – concentration
7. Dhyana – meditation
8. Samadhi – enlightenment

Click on this link to visit Yoga Journal for the article Spotlight on Ashtanga Yoga

Bikram Yoga

Developed by Bikram Choudhury, this style of 26 postures and two breathing exercises is done in a heated studio, precisely 105 Degrees.
While this is not included in my home practice (as I would have to be crazy to heat my house to such an extreme temperate), I enjoy attending a Bikram studio every once in a while. The heat loosens the muscles and tendons, allowing for some wonderfully deep stretching!

http://www.bikramyoga.com/

Hatha Yoga – “sun/moon” or “violent/force”

More popularly known today, the word Hatha is broken into two smaller words, “Ha” (sun) and “Tha” (moon), which emulates the male and female side of a person. The postures that form Hatha Yoga balance the male and female sides.
If you read up on the history of yoga, Hatha translates to violence or force. Hatha dates back as a branch of Tantra (a more sexually explored path).
Regardless of its history, Hatha Yoga is only asanas that are held for multiple focused breaths.

Click on this link to visit About.com to learn more on today’s Hatha Yoga classes.

Iyengar Yoga

Named for yoga master, B K S Iyengar, this form of yoga follows the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga. However, this practice promotes a more gentle asana sequence using props such as belts, blocks and ropes.
When I first began yoga, I never practiced without my belt and block. It was a great way to learn the poses without going too deep or causing injury because I did not have the proper strength to hold the poses.

To learn more about B K S Iyengar and his yoga style visit his website, www.bksiyengar.com.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini is the untapped energy that sits at the base of the spine that can be drawn up through the body awakening each of the seven chakras (About.com).
This form of yoga is very spiritual. It was brought to the west by Yogi Bhajan in the late 1960’s. This form of yoga is a combination of physically demanding postures, breathing exercises, meditation and chanting.

Check out the 3HO website created by Yogi Bhajan, http://www.3ho.org/.

Vinyasa Yoga

Known as a yoga ballet, Vinyasa Yoga is a continuous moving asana sequence that flows with the breath. Each pose links the body and breath (The Science of Yoga, The Risks and the Rewards, W. Broad).
Many days I warm up with Sun Salutations, which are considered a vinyasa sequence. Vinyasa is very popular in studios, as it is known to be a great work out.

Visit About.com to learn more!

What is your favorite yoga style? Share your comments below!

Namaste

Kristi ❤

Looking Ahead (to a new week)

So many times I remind myself it’s a new week, this week I am going to stick to my goals!

It can be challenging at times to break bad habits and replace them with good ones. BUT it is important to make the choice to always try.

If you don’t accomplish your goals…it’s OK! Like Rafiki from Lion King said, “it doesn’t matter, it’s in the past!” So be proud of what you DID accomplish and move forward! 😉

Namaste

Kristi ❤

“Pre” Pre-Season

For anyone out there who plays a fall sport as I once did, you are just weeks away from…dun dun dunnnn…PRE-SEASON!!

Recently, I coached a day camp for my old high school coach. Some of the other coaches happened to be training for their upcoming season. After the kids left for the day, they did their running. I bravely asked to join in…I say bravely because even with all the yoga and random gym days, it’s been a while since I did any kind of sprinting!

The first time I asked to join we did two 4-minute “run as fast as you can” and count your yards. Ummm hello heart attack…I was a bit winded but I survived! I was impressed with myself and decided to run gassers with them the following day. (A gasser is the width of a football field up and back one time). We did 18 😳😵 lol! My legs were sore for about 3 days!

I am not going to lie…it made me miss it, I mean all of it! The running and lifting all summer, preseason three-a-days, being so sore and tired, camps, etc. What a lifestyle! It has been such a motivation boost for me! If I could do that for 8 years (high school and college!), then I can do ANYTHING!

What has inspired you recently to pursue your goals?!?

Namaste

Kristi ❤

Home Practice Compilation

I have compiled a list of tips and quotes that help me whenever I am feeling unmotivated!

• 3 Ways to Cultivate and Keep a Home Yoga Practice

1. Keep a Journal/Calendar – I love this idea because I love to write down everything! In the article Coraley states that this gives the home-practicer some “accountability” and it helps to “form a habit”
2. Release Expectations, ALL of Them – Yoga is not about perfection, it is about PROGRESS and GROWTH!
3. Treat Yourself with Compassion – This is my favorite! She says, “instead of beating yourself up for not doing a practice the day before, forgive yourself, let it go, and roll out your yoga mat” which is great for me, because I tend to practice irregularly. And at times if I miss a few days I get so mad or I feel like a failure.

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•  10 Inspiring Quotes About Building a Home Yoga Practice

I am only going to list my two favorites, but if you want to see all 10, just click the link above!

1. Start slow and discover your own inner teacher. Kreg Weiss.

2. Approach your practice with openness and curiosity, rather than self-judgment or competitiveness. Rodney Yee.

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•  YOGA INSPIRATION

Namaste
Kristi ❤

What is a “Mantra”?

Pic from google.com

Opening MY Heart

Yesterday I took Bonnie’s class…the last one of my 7-day trial. 😦

When we did Tadasana (Mountain) I felt a tightness/blockage in my shoulders. At the end of the session I asked her for advice.

She gave me mantras to practice daily in order to help with opening my heart and throat chakras (more to come on the chakras!). I once attempted to practice subconscious training, but I didn’t stick with it. In a sense, mantras do train the subconscious…so I think I am going to give it a try.

One she wrote down for me is the Sanskrit phrase “om gam ganapataye namaha”

I’ll keep you posted 📫 on how helpful these mantras are!

Namaste

Kristi ❤

Satnam

“I am that”

On Wednesday I signed up for a 7-day pass at The Yoga Center of Medford. A full week of unlimited classes…ahhhh 🙏

This studio has no mirrors. This can be a relief for some, but it is a challenge for many. It is only natural to want to look in a mirror while practicing yoga. I used to be worried about how my poses looked compared to all the videos and pictures online.  Practicing without a mirror at home changed my perspective on progress. Unless I am taking a class at the gym, I seek out studios without mirrored walls.

There are cards available to help with focus. They are names of gods/goddesses and angels. The card I received was Zanna.

It is kind of ironic that I should pick this card; the pains of my past are what led me to yoga. I felt a sense of peace.

I loved the class so much that I returned on Friday. The instructor was different, as was her style. There was less flow, more breathing thru postures. I enjoyed the stretching along with a bit of core awareness!

Class this morning was with Bonnie. She is a wonderful instructor! I took her class once before and by far she is the most spiritual instructor I have ever had. She takes the class from root to crown reciting mantras. I just might incorporate this style in some of my home-practice sessions. 😁

Good News… I still have two days left on my week pass! Yay!!
Namaste

Kristi ❤

“Words of Enlightenment”

The great paradox of karma is that it’s a very unfree way to get free. Mark Borax.

This quote was on the back of this interesting drink I found. To me this quote expresses the true definition of living the law of attraction. The universe cannot differentiate positive vs. negative or good vs. bad; it can only understand thought and action. If you are kind to others, kindness returns to you…just as if you are unkind to others, unkindness returns to you. You are always bound to your actions…

Namaste
Kristi ❤