Podcast #27 – Spring Cleaning with Twists – All Levels

In the past couple of months I’ve had the opportunity to travel to Vancouver to visit and was blessed with seeing the most amazing blossoms (in the midst of rainfall) – cherry and magnolia (see in pic). Please take in the fullness (Purna) and perfection these blossoms radiate knowing that this too can come from within you especially after churning and opening your body with twists.

When spring comes around its a wonderful time to cleanse and create space for new opportunities as we transition into our fullest expression. With our busy lives we forget to look up to take in beauty around us or even look into ourselves to recognize it dwells there as well. When we are pulled in to many directions we tend to loose our footing if we are not grounded – this is like doing twists. From a steady base there is the opportunity to ground down, hug in then churn and move things around a bit to enjoy the unexpected on and off the mat.

What I love about twists is that they are subtle and powerful, neutralizing and cleansing as they do their work. In twists we are breathing more into one lung and when we come out our organs are flushed with new blood – the power of healing with yoga.

See if you can do this practice 2 -3 times this week and discover the opening your body will have along with the tapping into your core or power. Also, you can be creative and do this with another 30 min practice skip savasana and do backbend sequence or arm balances if you desire a one hour practice.

Sanskrit: Purna: Fullness, To fill, Perfection Sukha: ease Duhka: Suffering

If you have not see this please watch my vidcast and share with a friend, thnx.

Sequence: All Levels

Adho Mukha Svasana – Down Dog to Uttanasana – Standing Fwd Bend

Down Dog with Twist Holding Opposite Shin or Thigh

Plank to Belly then to Cobra Hands off Floor then Regular Cobra with Hands on Floor

Down Dog to Straight Leg Lunge place Knee on Floor and Twist to Down Dog

Vinyasa to Nagani Madasana – Intoxicated Cobra (keep elbows bent arms strong so your chest can be free to move)

Down Dog to Uttansana to Urdvah Hastasana

Cross One Ankle over the other and Fold Fwd to Uttanasana

then Walk to the Side of the Foot In Front

Down Dog

Crescent Pose the Twist Upper Body

Vinyasa

Parsvakonasana to Down Dog

Vira I- Warrior I to Parvritta Parsvakonasana (heel up or down)

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana to Parvritta Eka Pada Rajakapotasana

Down Dog

Twisted Thigh Stretch Holding Opposite Foot to Bent Leg

Down Dog

Triangomhkaipada Paschimottanasana Then do the Twist

Baddha Konasana

Janusirsasana

Kness to Chest

Meditation or Savasana

Namaste!

Podcast #26 – A Conversation with Sarah Pullman

One word for Sarah is Aware! Meeting her on a cold rainy day in Vancouver at my hotel she was handling a broken heater at her house over the phone I was amazed to see her doing the yoga as a vision of calm dealing with the details before we sat down for our conversation. She greeted me with a smile which brought the light to my heart in the midst of the darkness of the day. Her voice breathes honesty in this interview as she shares how she saw around her many teachers/studios and found that those who needed yoga were some of her friends, who sit all day behind computers (she found her gift as a teacher by being resourceful). This opened her up to create Yoga for Geeks offering yoga at lunch times and at conferences for geeks – she says that you can even wear jeans to class (very cool but not sure if they have stretch in them).

• Power Yoga
• Iyengar Yoga

CITY YOGA CHECK IT OUT!!!! Come and play at my Workshop this Sunday:

Demystifying Arm Balances 12:30-3:30 Sun April 29th

Please check out my new vidcast where I share about how I came to teach and guide others to heal (for books I mention click on the amazon store link)

FOR VIDEOS FEATURING YOGA CHECK OUT CHANNEL YOGA

A MOMENT OF GRATITUDE :

THANK YOU YOGI TIMES for the write up on pg 85 in the April ISSUE!!!!

Podcast #25 – Taking Time to Remember 30 Min All Levels

Being reminded to take time to connect to ourselves and tap into who we really are at our core is not as easy these days with so much stimulation in our lives…. When my dear friend Elsie (who I always talk about cause she rocks) sent me an email on Good Friday which inspired this class. Funny enough I didn’t even know that is was a holiday she took me to the mat to sit and go within to remember.

Along with that I am grateful for being able to teach yoga this weekend at the Spring Retreat for Agape and sit & meditate in the illuminating presence of Dr. Rev. Micheal Beckwith (featured in the Secret DVD) & Dr. Ricki Byers Beckwith which reminded me why I teach yoga and live a life of service. Before you do this practice see if you can find within yourself what you are passionate about, what is sacred to you and pour the meaning into each breath, action and intention.

Please check out my new vidcast that was produced in NYC in Jan ( if interested in the books I mention then check out my Amazon Store)

the Agape retreater’s along with me and the rev apres yoga at the Agape spring meditation retreat in rancho palos verdes, ca

“Real Success is coming to knowing yourself  and to share your gift with the world” –

Rev. Micheal Beckwith

Sequence: Level 1

Restorative Heart Opener with a Blanket or Blocks

Extended Balasana – Extended Child’s Pose

All 4’s for Cat Cow Pose

Downward Facing Dog – Bending knees and Working the Top of Thighs Back 3X

Plank Pose to Cobra Pose to a Wide Uttanasna taking the Heart Fwd 3X

Uttansana to Vira III Leg Prep to Straight Leg Lunge

Plank to Chattarunga to Cobra

Utthita Parsvakonasana – Stage one or Full Pose

Vinyasa

Second Side

Plank Down to Your Belly Eka Pada Bhekasana (also Ardha) to Child’s Pose

Agnistambasana – Fire Log Pose Pose of the God Agni (fire)

Setubhanda – Bridge Pose

Supta Padangustasana

Supine Twist Easy Twist to Each Side

Knees to Chest

Savasana

Namaste!

Podcast #24 – A Conversation with Brian Mahan

One word for Brian is Transformation! He has been on a journey from being on the top of a car in NYC having a pure Kali moment to a return trip to LA where a friend took him to his first yoga class. He plays the edges being present in all that he does taking his words deeper into meaning and experience. His work and path have merged to bring him to a place to help others from his own personal experience – service.

I was inspired by this conversation and could of kept the interview going much longer as Brian share moe of his healing journey taking it back to the mat being able to be with himself, not in competition (with anyone including himself) and seeing that every moment is an opportunity to grow.

• Kundalini Yoga
• Peter Levine – Somatic Healing
• Advaita Vendanta

Please check out his work and see the many services that Brian offers through

the Enlightened Concierge .

Please browse, become inspired and support my new online store

(the mugs are my fav)…..

If you didn’t catch my interview on Yoga Peeps pls CLICK on the icon its a lot of fun..

thanks to mary-alice q. for her great gift of picture taking and for her cont’d support (check out her site she is an amazing ayurvedic practitioner.. xo

Podcast #23 – Honor Your Process Lvl 2-3 35min

As we step into spring and move forward transitioning from the darker days to the lighter days see if you can find some personal time to honor your process, your body, your heart – basically your yoga. Notice what is coming to fruition and what still in a stage of evolution. My teachers have said to me in many ways that inside we all have potential that is like a bija (seed), which is filled with possibilities now take note of what the soil of your awareness is in which these seeds are being cultivated in.

After going through my own process of teaching for 5 years and becoming a certified Anusara teacher, I have learned that there is not just one way to do anything that there are many ways honoring our way of unfolding that works for each of us. When we give ourselves permission to be, to nurture, to see where we are in the process we are able to find ease on and off the mat.

Enjoy the beauty of spring and see in nature how each tree, bud and blade of grass expresses itself in its own way just as you do.

Check out the interview with Damona Resnick
and for a longer class about Spring check out Elsie from Elsie’s Yoga Class

Sequence Level 2-3:

Sukhasana
Balasana – Extended Child Pose, Slow Transition to Downward Facing Dog
Down Dog Split – Squared Hips then take Knee to Chest and Extend Back
Plank Pose to Belly to Salambasana
Down Dog to Uttanasana – moving 1/2 fwd 3X
Urdvah Hastasana to Uttanasana
Straight Leg Lunge to Twist then Straighten Leg for Parvritta Trikonasana Variation
Vinyasa
Vira II to Reverse Warrior back through Vira II then Clasp Arms Behind

and Fold Fwd Ostrich Pose
Vinyasa
Uttanasana
Malasana – Garland Pose Take a Squat (pls place a blanket under heels if lifted)
Bakasana – Crane Pose (working core arms bent and straighten)
Uttansana
Urdvah Prasarita Eka Padasana Standing Splits to Handstand
Uttanansa
Down Dog
Straight Leg Lunge with Shoulder under Knee
Parsvottonasa Variation with Back Heel Lifted
Uttansana
Eka Pada Koundinyasana II
Balasana done Extended Childs Pose
Supta Padangustasana
Supine Twist – Grape Vine Legs
Core Work – Legs Lifted with Hands Behind Head then Lower
Knees to Chest
Savasana or Meditation

Namaste!

special thanks to elsie for her awesome pics… and to Robin from Inner Freedom