Custom Yoga Practice Video Giveaway Winner + A Special Offer!

December 13th, 2011

Thank you all so, so much for entering the giveaway for a custom yoga practice video. The entries were incredible! It’s so great to hear about what you’re working on in your practice.

Without further ado, the winner is… Julie! Huge congrats!

And, for those who didn’t win, I’ve got a special, limited-time offer…

You can still get a custom yoga practice video, made just for you! You’ll get:

  • A 15-minute Skype consultation with me to discuss your practice challenges and goals
  • A 15-minute custom practice video specifically addressing your requests, sent straight to your inbox!
  • A follow up email to address any outstanding questions you have with regards to your practice video
COST: $99 (usually $150 – that’s over 65% off!)

But, here’s the deal: this offer ends on Dec. 21st! So, make the commitment to your practice right now. Or, gift this to your best yogi pal, right in time for Christmas!

Again, thank you sooo much for participating. I can’t wait to connect with you again soon!

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Meditation Musings: Give Me a Break

December 7th, 2011

Recently, I decided to step up my meditation practice: I committed to meditating an hour and a half to two hours every day for three weeks straight.

For the first week, I was all over it. My meditation practice was consistent, dedicated and inspired. Week two rolled around and I kept it up – even if it meant fitting in a seated practcie late at night, at the sacrifice of a good night’s sleep. Well, maybe not completely at the sacrifice of sleep… I dozed off on my cushion numerous times.

Now, I’m halfway through week three and I’m spent. Last night, I came home late, without having had a single chance to sit on my cushion. The last thing I felt like doing was sitting down to meditate. The only thing I felt like doing was cuddling up on my couch with my husband, some pizza and an old movie.

What to do? I was at a crossroads. Do I uphold my practice and drag myself to my cushion? Or do I order the pizza?

I ordered the pizza.

Typically, choosing the pizza over the practice would send me into a spiral of self criticism. I’d berate myself for not being able to stick to the commitment. But, this time I’m doing something revolutionary…

I’m giving myself a break.

The more I practice, the more I realize the importance of softening my expectations. I may not always fully meet the goals I set. And now I realize that’s okay. Priorities shift. Sometimes sitting on the couch, spending time with your loved one is much more important than clocking in your full practice regimen that day. Goals evolve. The goal we begin with is not always the goal we meet.

Practice is a process. Practice means waking up each day, facing your expectations and commitments, and adjusting course if needed. Then, at the end of the day, sometimes practice is about giving yourself a break. And that is one of the most challenging practices of all.

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Posted in Meditation | 7 Comments »

Giveaway: A Custom Yoga Practice Video Made Especially for You!

November 29th, 2011

Struggling with a nemesis yoga pose? Have hips that feel like concrete? Healing after an injury?

This one’s for you!

I am STOKED to announce a sweet new giveaway. This one is particularly special, so read on and be sure to submit your entry.

WIN: A free, customized yoga practice video based specifically on your personal challenges or goals for your yoga practice. The winner will get a one-on-one consultation with me to assess which area of your yoga practice you’d like to focus on, the challenges you face on your mat, and your practice goals. Then, I’ll create a personalized 15-minute yoga practice video designed just for you to help address the issues that matter most to you on your mat. I can’t wait to hear how your practice unfurls!

HOW TO ENTER: 

- Leave a comment below: Tell me about your biggest challenge in your practice!

- Follow me on Facebook and on Twitter.

Entries accepted until Dec. 11th at midnight Pacific Time. A winner will be chosen at random and announced soon after.

Know someone who could benefit from this giveaway? Pass it along!

Good luck!

 

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Posted in Giveaways! | 31 Comments »

Honoring Denver Yoga Teachers: Lauren Turnage

November 28th, 2011

Today I took Lauren Turnage’s 9 – 10:30 Forrest Yoga class at Root Yoga.

What I love about Lauren’s teaching is her complete poise and attentiveness. Every sentence, every instruction she gives, she offers with a confidence that earns her students’ trust. Lauren teaches with an assurance that speaks to the depth of her knowledge. Lauren has fully dedicated herself to her studies in Forrest Yoga and it shows: her teaching reflects both her studentship and her wisdom. Her poise is the kind that can only be gained from years of focused study and a grounded sense of self.

Lauren’s poise is complemented by her attentiveness. From the way she guides us through the yoga poses, to the adjustments she gives each student, Lauren invests herself completely in her students. She watches each student with a careful eye and offers the exact instruction or adjustment each person needs to experience the poses fully. Lauren holds each student in her focus and, as a result, they unfurl. They practice with a strength and assurance that comes from trusting in their teacher. That trust has the power to unlock incredible expansion in a student’s practice.

At the end of this week, Lauren will be taking some time off to spend with her newborn son! But, when she’s back, unroll your mat with her as soon as you can. No doubt, her poise, her attentiveness and her grace will be more powerful than ever.

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Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, Denver Yoga Classes, Lauren Turnage, Root Yoga Center | No Comments »

Honoring Denver Yoga Teachers: Tina Aisner Porter

November 23rd, 2011

Yesterday, I took Tina Porter’s 9:30am emPOWERment yoga class at Kindness Yoga S. Broadway.

In a word, Tina’s great gift as a teacher is her honesty. Every aspect of her presence and her teaching conveys total authenticity and in-the-moment awareness.

Tina constantly draws her students back to their breath. What aspect of our selves could be more honest than the quality of our inhale and our exhale? Tina invites her students to discover this truth within their bodies. In every pose, she focuses on instructing the breath with each movement. Not a single inhale or exhale goes unobserved. The moment the breath of the class falters, Tina is there, reminding us, “Where is your breath?” By attending to our breath, Tina highlights what is real and true within each of us.

Beyond her focus on the breath, Tina herself conveys a refreshingly raw honesty in her words and actions. She never holds back what lives in the center of her heart. She speaks her truth. That kind of authenticity takes tremendous courage. But, the benefits are apparent: in the strength of her character, in the power of her teaching, and in the mindfulness and strength she kindles in each and every one of her students.

The honesty of Tina’s teaching is a gift. Treasure it the next time you unroll your mat with her.

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Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, Denver Yoga Classes, Kindness Yoga, Tina Porter, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Meditation Musings: Stepping it up a Notch

November 22nd, 2011

It’s time to step it up a notch.

As of today, I’ve meditated for 58 days in a row. I’ve committed to my practice, despite my own struggles with forming the habit. Now, it’s time to take it further.

I am committing to meditating for one and half to two hours a day for three weeks straight.

In Sally Kempton’s book, Meditation for the Love of It, she describes this as the 3-Week Breakthrough Program. Each day, you commit to meditating for a minimum of one and a half hours a day, journaling about your meditation experiences, and living a lifestyle that supports your practice (read: no late night parties, folks). For the next three weeks, I’m making this commitment.

I’m stepping it up. I’m investing in something that matters to me and I’m investing at a whole new level. Through my actions and the dedication of my time, I’m showing myself and the universe that this matters to me and that I’m ready to take my practice to greater depths.

So what? Why should this matter to you?

Because we are all ready to step up. We all have some passion or practice in our lives that’s calling us to a greater level of investment. How many times have you caught yourself saying, “I really love [insert personal practice or passion here]. I just wish I could find more time to make it a priority. Someday, I’ll make some time to really focus on that.”?

Well, here’s the amazing news: you can shift your priorities. You can make a choice to put your passions and your practices in the spotlight. You can do it. Better yet, you can do it right now.

That’s not to say that we can all just drop everything to fulfill our passions. Someone still has to do the dishes (and it might be you)! But, we can make a choice to shift our focus and rearrange our time. We can choose to shift our time away from relationships, interactions and activities that no longer serve us and start sculpting time into our days for the things that matter most. Unfulfilling friendships and surfing the internet might have to take a backseat, but it’s worth it.

So, take a moment to ask yourself:

What’s my passion? What do I long to do more of in my life?

Am I ready to step it up a notch? (Answer: heck, yes, you are!)

How can I shift right now to make it happen?

Take some time to dig into what you want from your life. Then, go out and get it. Right. Now.

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Posted in Inspiration, Meditation, Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

Honoring Denver Yoga Teachers: April Glaser

November 16th, 2011

Yesterday I went to Root Yoga and took the 12- 1 Turbo Dog class with April Glaser (who was subbing for Cher Aslor).

April is incredibly present with her students. She guides her class with a thoughtfulness that speaks to how much she cares for each person in the room. When she began class, April started by asking if we had any requests. She made it clear from the very first moment on our mats that she was there to support our exploration of the breath inside our bodies.

Her consistent focus on the breath invited us to explore each pose with a meditative mind. April ensured we stayed true and present to our breath, reminding us to breathe when the sound of our breath diminished. She was fully aware and focused on each inhale and exhale in our poses.

Even April’s touch conveys her complete attentiveness to her students. Her hands are at once soft and firm. Her adjustments begin gently, inviting trust and ease. Then, her hands become stronger, encouraging a deeper level of release. Her hands move like water, ebbing and flowing with the breath. April’s touch speaks to the care and attentiveness she brings to her students.

I’ve known April for quite some time, but only yesterday did I finally get to enjoy one of her classes. April’s classes, like April herself, are filled with clarity, awareness, and a heartfelt presence. It is such a joy to discover that the beauty inside a person reflects itself in every aspect of their teaching. Thank you, April, for offering your unique beauty into your class.

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Posted in April Glaser, By Denver Yoga Studios, Denver Yoga Classes, Root Yoga Center | No Comments »

How Are You Limiting Yourself?

November 14th, 2011

“Our strength grows out of our weaknesses.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

During the past two weeks, I’ve been immersed in Level 1 Teacher Training with Amy Ippoliti in Denver.

At the end of the training, we took part in a powerful exercise. We approached each other individually and asked each other, “How do you think I am limiting myself?”

Usually, this type of exercise puts me on edge. In the past, I met constructive criticism with a steely glare and a hard heart. I got defensive. My responses were classic: “They don’t know what they’re talking about,” “She doesn’t know the full story,” “That’s not true.” It took me many years to realize that this defensiveness stemmed from my own overbearing self criticism. I was so hard on myself that I couldn’t handle any more feedback. I was already giving myself an earful about my shortcomings!

Yesterday, though, something shifted. A friend of mine shared a tough piece of feedback as part of this exercise. Rather than brushing her comment off, I drank it in. Rather than lashing out at her, I thanked her. And, as I did, I felt my heart open. My heart opened not only to her for being brave enough to say something true, but to me as well. I opened my heart to my own weaknesses. I embraced them as part of my journey. I accepted myself – flaws, foibles, faults and all.

We all have weaknesses. They’re human. Amazingly, though, acknowledging our weaknesses actually makes us stronger. The ability to admit our stumbles takes courage and a whole lot of love. When we face our weaknesses and our strengths with clarity and calm, we open the door to our full potential. We carve a path towards our personal growth and evolution. When we take that step towards growth, we have the power to make a difference – not only for our selves, but for the world.

So, take a moment to ask yourself today: how am I limiting yourself? Or, even more boldly, ask a friend to tell you! When you get your answer, embrace it. Embrace your weaknesses. They just might be the key that unlocks your fullest potential.

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Posted in Inspiration | 2 Comments »

Honoring Denver Yoga Teachers: Nikki Gallant

October 31st, 2011

On Friday, I took Nikki Gallant’s 5pm Anusara Inspired class at Samadhi Center for Yoga.

The things I love most about Nikki as a person are the things I love most about her as a teacher: her genuineness, her humility, and her authenticity.

One of Nikki’s gifts is her completely down-to-earth honesty. Nikki’s teaching reflects this gift. When she instructs a student into a challenging pose, she acknowledges the challenge. She speaks to her students as if she was right there on the mat with them, working through the same poses. Her approachability sets her students completely at ease and frees them to explore new depths in their poses.

Nikki’s authenticity shines through her teaching. No artifice, no show, no showing-off obscures her message. She speaks directly from the heart and from her own experience. This humility, this honesty lights up Nikki’s classroom and, in turn, opens the hearts of each and every one of her students.

Thank you, Nikki, for being so completely, so awesomely you!

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Posted in By Denver Yoga Studios, Denver Yoga Classes, Nikki Gallant, Samadhi Center for Yoga | No Comments »

Meditation Musings: The 30 Day Challenge and The Inner Rebel

October 28th, 2011

I’ve often heard people say that it takes 30 days to form a new habit. I’ve never quite grasped the truth of this statement… until now.

I’ve always shied away from 30 Day Challenges. Why? Because these types of regimented decisions stir up my inner rebel. As soon as I set a firm and unwavering commitment over a set period of time, deep inside a little voice starts saying, “Oh, c’mon. Let’s have some fun and break the rules!” Over the years, this little voice has gotten me into tons of trouble (and fun, I’ll admit). I’d let my wild side have its way, then meander back to my resolve. Time and again, I’d reflect on my commitment and berate myself for failing. Why can’t I stick to this? What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I ever get anything right? You see where this is going.

It’s taken years for me to unpack and make peace with this dynamic in my mind. As a result, I’ve taken a gentler approach to my commitments. I strive to do my best every day and to hold true to my promises and principles. But, I also cut myself some slack. Not every day is perfect. Sometimes I stumble. And that’s okay.

As of today, I’ve meditated each morning for 33 days in a row. And I’m reaping the benefits of that commitment: each morning I wake up and automatically wander to my cushion to sit. I don’t think about it anymore, I just do it. The habit is ingrained in my psyche and my inner rebel has begrudgingly taken a back seat.

That’s not to say that every morning I wake up, sit on my cushion and experience infinite bliss and insight. But, as I said, I’m learning to cut myself some slack. Not every meditation needs to culminate in waves of exploding light and awareness. I’m not always fully present. But, I’m showing up consistently and with compassion. That’s a victory.

So, I ask you: what are you committing to? And, just as important: when you stumble, how are you loving yourself?

Ultimately, your self-compassion will take you much further than your self-judgment. Give your inner rebel a hug and get back to whatever you’re doing.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

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