A Year End Love Note!

For those of you who follow Yoga Moodra on Facebook, you know that I recently posted that Yoga Moodra has now been in business for 10 years. TEN YEARS!! In my typical less than detail oriented style, I actually had to find this out through another social media site, Indeed. Last week I received a couple of messages from Indeed contacts congratulating me on 10 years in the business! Without those messages, the milestone of 10 years would have simply passed by unnoticed.  I don't think when I first started teaching I really had any awareness that my journey as a yoga teacher would last for 10 years. I just took things as they came along and with the exception of a few workshops and developing the Yoga Moodra website, I didn't plan for much. I just kinda went with the flow. As a result, I didn't spend a great deal of time (ok, absolutely zero time)  tracking data like how many students I started with in those first classes, or how many of my students have been with me for 5+ years (LOTS OF YOU!) or even all 10.

What began as a tentative toe in the water to see if I could drum up some interest and share my joy of yoga with my students, has persisted and grown and I am now teaching 5 classes a week to about 50 students each week. I have no big dreams or aspirations to be a big player in the world of yoga. I am so pleased and content with the sizes of my classes and to know that I can call each of you by name. It warms my heart to see yoga take hold of each of you and to see your strength and perceptions change and develop over time. I really love it when I overhear students quoting something I say in class, not because I think it says anything special about me, but rather, it tells me that certain yoga themes and ideas are resonating with you and becoming a part of how you think about things.

In case I have not mentioned it recently, I LOVE being your yoga teacher. Nothing really compares to  seeing your shining and relaxed faces at the end of final relaxation. Nothing is better than hearing that yoga has helped you in your own life, whether that's facing an illness, weathering a divorce or loss, or simply enjoying your time on the mat to reflect and get in touch with all that you have to offer our world.

Thanks for being a part of my yoga journey and for joining me "on the mat" each week.

I love you and appreciate each one of you more than I could ever say.

May peace and good health and LOVE be yours in 2018!!

Breathe

Hopefully this December finds you healthy and enjoying the holiday season. If you are starting to feel a bit stressed or stretched when you consider your "to-do" list, take a few moments to breathe. Obvious, yes, but when we turn our attention to the breath, we really can affect our nervous system and find our way to a sense of calm and focus.

So, if you find yourself stuck in traffic, waiting in line, or feeling frustrated by something, breathe. Notice your breath as it flows in and out. Choose a word or 2 or a phrase to repeat to yourself as you breathe.  Perhaps choosing Peace on the inhale, and Quiet on the exhale, or Calm on the breath in and Steady on the breath out. Use any words that feel soothing or grounding for you. Try it out. We practice this on the mat in yoga class, but the breath is always with us and can be a wonderful tool at our disposal during the course of a stressful and hectic day.

Breathe deep and enjoy your December!

Classes in 2018

December has just begun, but start planning now to have time "on the mat" in the New Year!
Here are the class dates and times! (They are also listed on the left side bar).

Mondays: Advent United Methodist Church, Eagan. Class meets from 4:30-5:30pm. January 8-February 12. Cost for the 6 week session is $50.

Tuesdays: Glendale United Methodist Church, Savage. Class meets from 4:30-5:30pm. January 9-February 13. Cost for the 6 week session is $50.

Thursdays: All Saints Lutheran Church, Eagan. Class meets from 7-8pm. January 11-February 15. Cost for the six week session is $50.

If you are new to yoga and want to try out a single class to see what its all about, please join us! Cost is $10/drop in class.

Coming soon....

I have my new January 2018 yoga schedule ready to go and will publish dates/times later this week.

More on Gratitude

Once again, my poor blog suffers! I had committed to blogging daily about what I was thankful for and didn't quite get it done! I did, however, post about gratitude daily on Facebook, both on my personal page and on the Yoga Moodra Facebook page. Expressions of gratitude have been happening, just not across all of my online spaces.

I found this about some research on gratitude from the folks at Harvard Health Publications:

Two psychologists, Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami, have done much of the research on gratitude. In one study, they asked all participants to write a few sentences each week, focusing on particular topics.

One group wrote about things they were grateful for that had occurred during the week. A second group wrote about daily irritations or things that had displeased them, and the third wrote about events that had affected them (with no emphasis on them being positive or negative). After 10 weeks, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. Surprisingly, they also exercised more and had fewer visits to physicians than those who focused on sources of aggravation.

It really should not come as a surprise that the more we think about something, the more impact those thoughts will have on our emotions and actions. I believe when we focus on gratitude and abundance, it makes it easier to share with others and to simply feel that there is "enough"  not just for ourselves, but for everyone. Wouldn't the world be a better place if we focused on all that we have...in all its abundance? Take some time today to count your blessings and to be grateful  for things large and small. See if it doesn't improve your mood. Pay attention and see if your gratitude practice also starts to affect your ability to share with others and feel more content about your own circumstances.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

Day 3 on Gratitude

I've just returned from a dinner with dear friends....today I celebrate and am so very grateful for friendship...and the gift of laughter! There's truly nothing better than laughing until your belly hurts or you start crying. One of life's best. I hope you find something to smile and laugh about today!

today I am thankful....

Today I am grateful for a warm home. As the weather cools here in MN, I cannot imagine what it is like to be homeless. I'm grateful for heat, soft blankets, and space to sit by a fireplace.

Continuing the Gratitude theme...

Those of you in my classes already know that I am emphasizing the idea of gratitude in classes this month. Every year I think about creating my own gratitude journal, yet I seem to fall short! If you are like me, don't lose heart! Let's start small and name some blessings now. Each day, feel free to add a comment about what you are grateful for here on the blog...or visit the Yoga Moodra Facebook page and leave a gratitude comment there.

We still have a week til Thanksgiving to be more deliberate and purposeful about naming and remembering all that we have to be grateful for!

Here's mine for today to get us started:

Today I am grateful that I have choices about how I spend my time.

In Peace and with deep gratitude...

Oh So Grateful!

For those of you in my Yoga Moodra classes, you already know that I often encourage students to take a moment during final relaxation to consider what they are grateful for. A gratitude practice helps us recognize all of our blessings, and helps us remember to appreciate both the big and little things in life.

Allow me now to count a few blessings of my own. I've had a couple of amazing gratitude moments in the past week. A few days ago, one of my yoga students took the liberty of adding Yoga Moodra as a business on the YELP  website and took the time to write a lovely review! Another cool moment: at the end of class yesterday, one of my students stated "You are becoming very important to us!" At first, I was befuddled, I didn't realize that she was talking to me and talking about her experience in yoga. Needless to say, I was touched by the compliment, as well as deeply aware that I need to step away from getting too "ego involved" in these kinds of statements. Yes, I think I am a darned good yoga teacher, and I am thrilled beyond measure when I receive a compliment or endorsement from one of my students. But I also know that it really goes way beyond me because yoga has power and the capacity to be a life changing practice !!

I've said it before...I consider being your yoga teacher one of my life's great delights and a true honor. My hope is to make yoga available in a non-threatening and non-competitive environment so that students can begin to get in touch with their own capacity in body, mind and spirit. Thanks for the kind words you all share with me...I am touched and I deeply appreciate it. I love it even more when I hear you quote my words from class, as I recognize that yoga is seeping into your thoughts and attitudes. I'm so glad that yoga has become important to so many of you. That's the goal my friends!!! 

Peace!

What's a Mudra?

Mudras are usually positions of the hands and fingers that are used in yoga to bring awareness and changes to energy in the body.The word mudra in Sanskrit translates to seal or to mark. In our yoga practice, we use various mudras as a way Anjali mudra is one that is most recognized; the simple palms together in a prayer position at heart center.

In Yoga Moodra classes, we have tried out various mudras from time to time in class. Do you have a personal favorite? Here's a list of some of the mudras we have learned in class:

Anjali Mudra (hands at heart, prayer, gratitude, open hearted)
Avahani Mudra (Seal of Invitation, being open, inviting in new awareness)
Garuda Mudra (eagle or bird, soaring, clarity,freedom)
Shankh Mudra (Conch, meant to address the throat Chakra, finding your voice)
Ganesha Mudra (for overcoming obstacles, courage, confidence)

I'd love to hear your feedback. Do you enjoy learning and practicing various mudras? Have you found one to be personally helpful and meaningful? Would you sign up for a 2 hour yoga workshop on mudras and practice? Let me know. As your yoga teacher, I want to facilitate a yoga practice that fits your needs.

Effort vs. Ease

What does it mean to "find your edge" or to balance effort and ease? These are concepts that we should be considering every time we step on our mats, yet I am guessing that for many of us, we simply follow along, moving from pose to pose and occasionally wondering if we are the only stiff or wobbly one in the group.

When I was in yoga teacher training, we learned about something called the golgi response. (Look up golgi tendon reflex to learn more) It is our bodies effort to protect muscles and ligaments from injury. You've felt this process at work if you have ever lost your balance or stumbled. You can feel your muscles tense and jerk in these moments. Our body goes to work in these instances by providing some tightness and drawing in as a way to protect us from injury. The problem is, that at times, our body will also seek to protect us in this way when we are stretching and moving our bodies in new and unexpected ways.

So, how do we send a message to our body that we are safe and do not need our body to tense and protect? We do this by approaching our asanas and stretches with awareness and gentleness. In our culture, we have deeply ingrained ideas that our bodies will respond better if we push to our limits. The old 'no pain, no gain' idea. Next time, instead of approaching a stretching posture by trying to press into your deepest stretch available, move to a very soft stretch. Take a couple of breaths. Then see if the body is open enough to allow a bit deeper expression of the pose. Then, here's the key point: be okay with whatever your body allows in that posture on that day. As a teacher, despite my words to let go of internal expectations or comparing yourself to others, I often see students looking around the room in class. These students are usually looking at the one student that is in the deepest form of the stretch, so I can only imagine the thought process. Maybe it goes something like this: "Look at her, she has her nose on her knee, I can't do that. I must look dumb. I could move like that if I wasn't so fat, maybe I should push and get a little closer." This is only a guess on my part, but I can admit to these types of thoughts myself, so I am betting they are not far off the mark!

The idea of balancing effort and ease requires constant attention and being in the moment. Sure, we want to improve our strength and flexibility, but we need to remember that the body responds best to deliberate and thoughtful movement. Some of us are highly competitive and find letting go of pushing and forcing things very difficult. Others of us may simply quit or opt out before we've really made an attempt. If you can work on each asana with deep awareness and let go of the comparisons, your body WILL respond. Over time, you will be amazed at the strength, balance and flexibility that you gain. There's a reason it's called a yoga 'practice'. We can't get on the mat and expect instant results. Time, patience, dedication, and some allowance for the natural ebb and flow of things usually bring the best results.

Don't beat yourself up the next time you notice yourself pushing or comparing. Just get aware of the thoughts and set them aside. Despite what you think, no one is looking at you and finding you ridiculous (they are all too busy with their own self conscious ideas and beliefs!!). Have fun with your yoga practice and balance all of that effort with some ease and lightness. You'll get better results and feel good in the process.

8 Ways Yoga Can Improve Your Life!

Beautiful yoga poses are now seen regularly in print and social media and yoga props and attire are now big business. As yoga becomes more popular in America, maybe you are wondering what all the hype is about and whether or not yoga might be something you should try.

Here are 8 ways that yoga can improve your life  just in case you need some inspiration to get started, or a reminder to get back into a yoga practice if you've been away from the mat for awhile.....

1) Yoga can promote better sleep! So many of my students have told me that they sleep better when they've taken time for a yoga practice. Through movement and breath work, yoga can help us calm and activate our relaxation response, promoting better sleep at the end of the day.

2) Yoga promotes flexibility. Yup, this one is a no-brainer, but so often we minimize how important flexibility can be. When we can move freely, we can get after our tasks of daily living with more ease and we reduce our injury risk. Personally, I want to be able to put on my own shoes and cut my own toenails as I age! Whether it's more ease in your garden or better range of motion for other activities and sports, flexibility is key to good health!

3) Yoga is good for pain relief! I hear this often from my students too. Whether it is back pain, arthritis, or simply a stiff neck, yoga has the capacity to reduce pain. If you've ever ended up going to Physical Therapy, it is amazing how many of the exercises and movements are yoga-based or similar to the asanas done in yoga class!

4) Yoga improves your balance. Being able to stay upright and avoid falls becomes very important as we age. If you live in MN, being able to navigate snow and ice and avoid injury from falls can also mean the difference between good health and the potential of orthopedic surgery or a cast!

5) Yoga builds strength. While not seen as a weightlifting form of exercise, if you've practiced yoga then you know first hand that holding or moving your body against gravity builds strength. You really don't need additional weights to build strength in your body. This is why so many experienced yogis have well defined arms and abs!

6) Yoga can help you reduce stress. Studies have shown that yoga practice can help reduce the stress hormone cortisol in our bodies. And lets face it, we live busy stressful lives and anything that can bring a pause and break from our hectic pace will provide enormous benefits both physically and psychologically.

7) Yoga promotes good mental health. As mentioned above, yoga can help bring down cortisol (stress) levels and allows us to access our parasympathetic nervous system or relaxation response. Yoga, breath work, and mindfulness techniques are now being used more frequently for concerns like depression, anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

8) Yoga is kinda radical and can change your outlook. Yoga is so different from other forms of exercise. I would argue it is not exercise at all, but rather a practice for healthy living. Putting our bodies in strange positions and asanas allows us to work on strength and flexibility. Yoga also becomes a subtle teacher as you begin to practice "finding your edge" and understanding not just your weaknesses but also your enormous capacity in body, mind, and spirit.

Maybe you have your own personal benefits and reasons why you practice. I'd love to hear about what brings you to the mat and how your practice benefits you personally!!

Peace!

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!

Come together!

Hey all!

Fall is right around the corner, and I now have fall yoga dates established! I hope that I will see many of you back on the mat in September! Classes and details are listed on the side of this page and on the website.

For me, summer has flown by, and it always feels way to short! It has been a challenging season as well, with lots of violence and hard to listen to news stories. When I am feeling shocked or hurt by incidents in our community or world, I do as probably many of you do; I stop and say a little prayer that God may be in the midst of our pain and suffering. My faith practice is important to me. My yoga practice is also SO important to me, as it helps me to remember our connectedness as a human family. My yoga practice has taught me to slow down, to take some deep breaths, to be more pro-active vs reactive, and to work especially hard to LOVE.

If you are new to yoga, I invite you to join us for a class. You will soon discover that yoga can be about so much more than postures and breath. Yoga truly is a practice for living.

Enjoy the last days of August. Breathe deep and do something loving for yourself and for someone else today!

PEACE

Inflammation

Some of you know that I have spent much of the last year dealing with Frozen Shoulder. It's technical name is Adhesive Capsulitis and it is considered an inflammatory process. As a result, my integrative physician suggested that I should follow an "anti-inflammatory diet" as one step toward addressing my health. There are lots of versions of an anti-inflammatory diet, but basically, it is based on a "Mediterranean Diet" which is made up of primarily fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans and other whole foods. The Mediterranean diet uses olive oil for cooking and uses dairy sparingly (if at all) along with whole grains. What it doesn't include is sugar (other than what is naturally occurring in fruits etc), processed foods and meats, and flour or white starches like corn, white potatoes, and white rice. Caffeine is discouraged. Some wine (preferably red) is Ok.

I have to admit that I had heard of these diet recommendations before, but when I got to the part about my favorite food group (carbs and starches in the form of bread, cereal, pasta, potatoes and crackers) and an elimination of most dairy (No cheese??? Are you kidding me??) I quickly dismissed it. When  the day came that I was facing a painful condition like Frozen Shoulder that was impacting my work and favorite practice: yoga, I suddenly became willing to try ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING. I have known for years that I could be eating a healthier diet, but I felt I was doing pretty well with food and movement  and maintaining my weight and really did not have the motivation to behave differently until pain free movement seemed to be slipping away. Months later, my shoulder is improving, I have lost 12 pounds, and I have grown to like the taste of unsweetened almond milk and I'm eating more veggies.

So, what does all this have to do with you...especially if you do not have frozen shoulder? Here's the deal; more research is being done all the time that is now linking a whole host of medical conditions to inflammation in the body. Things like allergies, asthma, RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis), Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Heart Disease, Alzheimers, and Depression. Not to mention weight gain and obesity.

This is HUGE people! We live in a society where we want things immediately and urgently. Medicine has followed suit and offered people medications that are sometimes helpful, sometimes not, all in an effort to provide a "fix" or a pill for whatever ails us. We all have heard the adage "You Are What You Eat"...yet we continue to eat processed foods full of ingredients we cannot pronounce, fast food that is greasy, fatty and full of sodium, sugary snacks and way too much meat. Then we wonder why our bodies just don't feel and perform at their best, or why we cannot lose weight and keep it off no matter what we try.

I was at a mental health workshop yesterday, led by an area psychiatrist, and a full hour of the 3 hour presentation was on INFLAMMATION and gut health as it relates to depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns.  I am certainly not saying that we should abandon modern medicine as it is helpful and essential. What I am saying is that perhaps we all need to start taking our health into our own hands and begin to change our ways so that we can live healthier, more productive lives. Yoga is certainly a big step in that direction (see my prior post about how much it can reduce your need for health services!) but we have power to do more by choosing to fuel our bodies effectively and well.

I'll close with a quote from Michael Pollan who wrote the book In Defense of Food: "Eat Food. Mostly Plants. Not too Much." Instead of reaching for a box of crackers,  grab an apple or some olives or some nuts for a snack. Make some small changes. Don't wait for a "medical event" to begin to fuel your body with wholesome food.

Need more inspiration? I have a Facebook group going called Eating Well, for folks that want to share good recipes and healthy eating tips. Let me know if you want me to add your name. Do some yoga....breathe deeply and feel grateful for each day. Savor and enjoy delicious whole foods. Be your best!

Research and Yoga

"....yoga does so much for your health that studies show people who do yoga use 43% fewer medical services." from Harvard Medical School Healthbeat.

Many of you already know that yoga is a practice that you enjoy and a practice that helps with gaining strength and improving flexibility. Yoga is also great for stress reduction, helps with forming a better body image, and promotes relaxation. Quite simply, yoga has been around for ages because it works on so many levels.

With costs of healthcare continually on the rise, the medical community is beginning to take notice of "alternative" therapies and lifestyle choices that can reduce healthcare costs. As you can see from the quote I shared at the start of this post, research is now finding that the practice of yoga is beneficial and can help us maintain good health by using fewer medical services. I have a yoga student who sometimes leaves a bit early from work to get to class and states "I have to leave, I have a Dr appointment." My student believes (and I agree) that her yoga practice is part of her overall wellness and treats her yoga practice just as seriously as she does regular medical visits.

Take time for yourself. Commit to good physical and mental health. See you on the mat!

Thanks for sharing

I've said it before, and I will say again, it is such a privilege to be your yoga teacher! One of the things that I feel is somewhat unique to my classes, is that over time, I get the opportunity to get to know each of you personally. I love the small community that each of my classes develops and the fact that for many of you, yoga class is a place to go "where everybody knows your name."

I have been blessed over the years to be a part of student's joys and sorrows. Some of you have shared with me the pain of job loss, divorce, cancer,  and illness. Some of you have shared details of amazing travel adventures, concerts, weddings, and various celebrations. I treasure it all and am deeply touched and honored to be a part of your lives.

As individuals, we bring our fabulous and varied selves to each class. Thanks for sharing it all with me on the mat. I look forward to continuing to breathe, move, and celebrate this marvelous gift of yoga with you each week. As yogis, we are seeking to 'yoke' or find wholeness within and to deepen our connection to one another and to all living beings. Thanks for being a part of the journey with me and for adding such joy and richness to my life.

Namaste!

The Body Temple

 "How's the body temple?" is a phrase I use from time to time to check in with myself about how I am feeling and if I am treating my physical self well. You see, I have to confess that there are times when I stay up too late, I drink too much wine, or I suddenly have a craving for some ridiculous junk food and move way past the point of any reasonable serving or portion size. There have been so many times when I have taken the gift of my physical body for granted and never really thought much about my on again/off again efforts to treat my body well.

What does it mean to treat your body like a temple anyway? If a temple is defined as a holy place where people show up, then I would guess that the body temple would be a place of a bit of mystery, awe and reverence. The body would be the space that you occupy on this earth and a representation of how you show up to others. I can honestly say that I don't usually spend much if any time being "in awe" of my body. I can recall a couple of instances though. When each of my sons were born, I spent several months breastfeeding them. For whatever reason, I didn't get too caught up in awe and wonder during my actual pregnancies. I think pregnancy for me just felt more like an exhilarating ride of changing shape and hormones. But for some reason, the fact that my body was able to feed and nourish another human being was indeed full of mystery, awe, and wonder. I remember just thinking it was so cool that I could walk around and go about my day and at the same time, have perfect food at the ready anytime for my baby. Amazing.

But I didn't start this post with the idea of writing about breastfeeding, but rather to consider why it is that we are so darned distracted so much of the time and when we are, how we end up mindlessly falling into habits and behaviors that are far from healthy for us. If our bodies are to be a temple, then they need to be treated in the same way we would treat an aging and glorious cathedral. We'd be regularly dusting, sweeping, and polishing and taking time to repair items as they got damaged or worn. And lets face it, temples start to really look their best after a bit of wear and use, after they have stood the test of time and reflect years of memories and events.

So maybe we need to see our bodies as the temples that they are. Beautifully and wonderfully made. Worthy of our deep respect and care. Given daily attention and always lovingly revered. Consider all the things you do to be healthy; whether it is food, movement, rest, or daily cleansing. Pick one of them and decide to be mindful and reverent about it. Suddenly, a fresh apple seems more appealing and worthy of the body than some Cheetos. A walk outdoors makes more sense than staring at the TV.  The act of washing your face can be a gesture of care and tenderness.

Make no mistake, I am not implying that we should seek some superficial level of beauty. Instead, I hope we all can find better health and start treating ourselves with the respect and care we deserve. When we work from that place, we see beauty and strength in our bodies. We see them as the temple that they truly are. Ask yourself: How's the body temple?

Words

I wrote a devotion for my yoga classes this week about words. Whether they are words of our internal dialogue, or words that we speak out loud to others, they bear some attention. Choose today to consider your words carefully. Speak kindness and truth to yourself and to others. Notice how differently your day flows as a result!

Here's that devotion:
Proverbs 16:24 Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
   Words are important. How we speak to one another can bring comfort and connection, or fear, anger, and defensiveness. Choose your words carefully. Be kind and gracious with your words.

Don't waste your time!

Most of you that take my yoga classes know that I try to encourage a balance between work and rest, or effort and ease. In my recent posts, I have encouraged rest and finding ways to stay warm and cozy. I'm under my snuggie blanket drinking turmeric tea as I write this, so yes, it does feel good to warm up and rest on a dark and cold January evening.

Given that, it is also important to keep moving and be involved as an active participant in this thing called life. There are plenty of us out there who are struggling with health issues, dealing with grief, worrying about financial struggles, or adjusting to divorce and the loss of a marriage. The bottom line is that we are not promised a life full of happiness and ease. Sometimes things are just hard and we can do nothing but continue to put one foot in front of the other. We all know the truth: that we tend to take our good health, our relationships, our jobs and so much more for granted.

Today, use your time to care for yourself and tend to those around you. Little things DO matter, so find ways to act with love and tenderness and take time to do things well. Don't take the time that you have been given for granted. Cherish it!

Life really is a balancing act. Rest some and restore. But don't sit on the sidelines while life passes you by. Work some, rest some. Seek to find a balance each day of effort and ease.

Joy in the simple things

Hygge is a Danish word (say HUE-gah) for finding ways to be grounded and savoring the joys of simple pleasures.  As I was reading about this concept in the local paper, I thought about the harshness of our Minnesota winters and how easy it can be to fall into a pattern of complaining and grumbling about the cold. Yes, my skin is so dry that my knuckles are cut up and scraped easily and I cannot seem to put on enough lip balm or moisturizer, yet as I wrote in an earlier post, I am trying this January to re-train my brain to focus on beauty, coziness, and warmth. I am drinking and savoring hot tea or enjoying a glass of wine by the fire, I have committed to wearing a warm hat even though it is a pain, because it keeps me warm and comfortable. I am working to be deliberate about enjoying ways that I can find warmth and activities that feel soothing and calming. 

I'd love to hear from you...how are you finding small ways to enjoy the beauty of winter? Stay warm and cozy out there!

Celebrate and Savor

As many of you know, I am not a huge fan of winter and in particular, the month of January. This year,  I am trying to change my mind about winter and find ways to celebrate and enjoy the season we are in. Yup, windchill and all!
My yoga classes all begin for the new year this week. I am hoping to develop some themes for classes around finding ways to celebrate and enjoy what winter brings. Winter should be a time to seek warmth and connection, a time to cozy up with a good book and warm tea, a time to reflect and rest and dig deep. Expect some class time that is restful and restorative, along with class time that fires up our internal heat where we will play with the notion of Tapas (persistence, dedication, heat and discipline).
I can't wait to see all of you again and to welcome some new yogis to our group. May this month of January be full of warm reunions, connections, and a sense of belonging. Til then, drink something warm and soothing, light a candle, wear warm gloves and a hat, and eat good foods with some spice and heat so that you feel nourished, warmed, and satisfied. See you on the mat!

Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017!

Happy New Year to All!

Whether you are someone who sets New Year resolutions or not, you are probably finding yourself looking back on the year that has passed, and beginning to plan and look forward to the year ahead. Through it all, try to practice some mindfulness and being truly present in the day to day so that you can soak up all the abundance and beauty around you!

All of my Yoga Moodra classes start fresh next week, beginning January 9th. Class details/times are listed on the sidebar to the left.  I hope that 2017 will be a year full of presence, peace and prosperity for all. I am SO looking forward to getting back on the mat with all of you!!

If you are new to yoga and want to check out my classes or learn a bit more about me, have a look at the website for Yoga Moodra (accessible with a click of the website button at the top left of the screen). Contact me if you have specific questions about whether my classes are a good fit for your circumstances. You can pay a drop in fee of $10 to try any class. When you do, hopefully you will be thrilled and surprised and want to join all of us for a full session!

Peace, love, yoga!