Need a Friend?

What does it mean to be a good friend? Most of us would list things like having similar interests, someone who is comfortable to be with, someone we can trust and encourages us to be our best. Hopefully you have some friends like this in your life, but what about being a friend to yourself? For some reason, so many of us hold the belief that we need to be harsh and hard on ourselves in order to improve our circumstances. I cannot count the times that I have heard people say very kind and accepting things to others, yet turn on themselves with a vengence and cruelty. I fall into this trap as so many do. I stand in front of the mirror and instead of smiling and considering my capacity, I immediately get into fault finding and criticism. Why do I have so many gross veins? Why can't I get more organized? My gosh, I look like a wrinkly old hag! Maybe you have said some similar things to yourself. Can you imagine saying these same things to a dear friend? Of course not!!

So, how can you start being a better friend to yours truly? Here are 3 tips to try:

Be grateful. In your yoga practice and throughout your day, practice gratitude for each breath and for all the ways your body CAN move.  Be careful...let go of the thoughts that pop to mind about your body and its limitations. Try to let go of whatever negative thing you are perseverating about. Let go of body shaming or tormenting yourself about things that you cannot control. Simply notice negative thoughts as they creep in. Breathe and replace them with a more positive statement. Gratitude and thankful thoughts shift our perspective and over time we see more things to be grateful about in our lives.

Practice Affirmations. Find a short word or phrase that fits your needs and make it your mantra. This could be a part of a bible verse or quote, or something you create. I am enough. I am beautifully and wonderfully made. I am kind and gentle. I am open to change. I am strong and capable.

Be there for you! Just as you would be a caring presence for a friend, be that for yourself. Set aside time to rest. Feed yourself with wholesome foods. Laugh. Take time to be in nature. Treat yourself with kindness and respect in whatever small ways you choose.

Can I Lose Weight Doing Yoga?

One of the complaints I hear frequently from my yoga students, and from many women in general, is an unhappiness with their body shape and more specifically, their weight. While a part of me hates the notion that we all seem so "body obsessed," I recognize that it is a pervasive part of our culture and not an easy thing to let go of or dismiss. So, since you asked, 'can yoga help me lose weight?' here are my thoughts on the subject.

First, my own experience with yoga does include a weight loss story. When I started out in yoga and got excited about the practice in general, I became aware of my body and how heavy it seemed when I attempted so many of the asanas. I remembered an old fitness program on TV when I was young in which the instructor would shout "C'mon ladies, you grew it, you lift it!' I started thinking about the idea that if I weighed a bit less, then so many of the yoga postures would be more available to me. This simple body awareness then led to me consciously trying to make a few healthier choices, and over the course of my first year in yoga, and taking class only once a week, I dropped 10 pounds. I did not diet, as when I do, I get too focused on food and usually end up eating more!

There is also research out there that would indicate that yoga is a good practice for trimming down. The role of the hormone cortisol, and its job to help the body store fat when stressed (and old survival mechanism) is being researched. Indicators show that when participants feel more relaxed and less stressed, their cortisol levels lower, and weight loss is the result. Belly fat that can be especially difficult to lose can be linked to high cortisol levels, so when we practice stress reduction (and who doesn't feel more relaxed and centered after a yoga class?) we have a better chance of shedding a few pounds.

Finally, of course, you are bending, moving, and stretching in yoga, which burns calories. Holding our weight against gravity and using the weight of our bodies also builds strength and muscle mass, and as we have all heard, having more lean muscle mass naturally burns more calories.

My hope is that in the future, we move toward a culture and viewpoint that is less focused on the scale, and instead looks at overall health and vitality. So no matter what the number is on your scale, I hope that you feel good in your own skin and cherish your good health and all the things your body can do.

See you on the mat!

Yoga classes start next week!

So, I have to admit that I kinda freaked out when I went to the grocery store today and the front entrance was lined up with pumpkins and firewood!!! Yikes....where has our summer gone??

The good part of September for me is that I will soon see all of you again! My fall classes all start next week, and I am so eager to get back on the mat with all of you!

Click on the link (above left) to go to the website for class details, or check out the side bar here for class information. Feel free to connect with me on the contact page of the website or leave your questions here on the blog!

I am offering something new this fall to reward my ongoing and loyal students (a few of you have been with me for 6+ years!). I will have punch cards available at class. After 4 punches, the card entitles you to $20 off your next session fee!