Yoga Retreat in the Woods

Wow, I just got back from my first yoga retreat as it was a gift from my mom and sister for my birthday. It was a sis and yoga get away.

The retreat started with stretching and relaxing yoga before dinner. Then Saturday self guided meditation from 6-7am, breakfast then Iyengar focused yoga, pranayama, break to hike around the lake, and last somatic movement. After dinner we sat around the camp fire playing different drums with the occasional bat flapping over us, eeeh!

Overall, the take away from that experience was surround yourself with positive people, take time for silence, enjoy and connect with nature and yourself when possible. Lastly show gratitude to yourself and others.

I will leave you with a pranayama practice I learned over the weekend. So, you can do this seated in lotus or lying down. First start with inhaling through the nose and exhale out the mouth for one minute while counting your breath. Next, place a large or small straw in your mouth, inhale through the nose and exhale through the straw for two minutes while counting the breath. As you finish you will find that with the straw your count is lower which is because you are deepening your exhale. I found this very relaxing. I would love to hear about your experience, so please share.

Morning hike up Strawberry Mountain. Sunrise!



 

Had to do tree pose!

Our cabin.

Lost Lake 5 minute walk from the retreat.

My sister Alicia and I at the top of Strawberry Mountain.

View from up top of Lost lake.







Life and Joy

The joy of life!

 

What is my joy in life?

 

Where do I find that inner peace that feeling of aliveness?

 

I find it in Yoga

 

Gardening

 

Hiking to discover waterfalls

 

Connecting with new people and most of all being me uncensored, haha

 

Where do you find joy in your Life? I would love to hear.

 



Yoga

Yoga for me is a settling of the mind a stretching of the body and a set of fluid movements that require you to be challenged.

 

As we all grow in our yoga practice we slowly start to see the changes within ourselves. The benefits of having this in our lives.

 

Yoga has changed me for the better!

 

What does yoga do for you? 

 

 

 

 

Hike in Portland, OR



Is Yoga an Art?

I am reading a book written by Geeta Iyengar called Yoga a gem for women. As I was reading I came across the question is yoga an art?

Living is an art. Yoga enhances the quality of

 one's life. Hence it is an art. It lifts up one's

thoughts and enables one to face life's difficult situations happily

 and with equanimity; it teaches one to strive to

achieve a goal in life; to cultivate friendliness, concentration,

piety, contentment, joy, and to discard what is non-essential; to cultivate good habits

and to lead a righteous life. Yoga is disciplined action to

achieve and attain final freedom.

 

 

                                                                                                     -Geeta Iyengar

 

 

 

Life brings waves which we believe at times we cant handle

I wanted to share something with my blog reader's that I came to realize today. So, I don't want to bog this down with details but there are times in life that others can make you feel sad, angered, vulnerable and the list could go on. However, today I chose to not let that other person have control over my emotions. They are my emotions and I do have control.

 

I yoga has taught me about not getting attached to objects, relationships, possessions etc. I know that I am a strong woman who doesn't have time to let others control the strings to my emotions. So, I write this while treating myself to pizza and a beer because I deserve it. And, I think everyone does. So, when you experience your emotions going haywire due to someone else's behavior just stop breath and cultivate your beautiful inner strength and wisdom that can at times reside deep within our soul. We can cultivate these qualities in the Warrior series.

 

 

The Warrior series helps us find strength in the present moment, Where my Warriors at!!

Yoga Workshop

I took my first yoga workshop which was on restorative yoga and chanting. We did some chanting while the instructor played the harmonium. Then 1 hour of restorative yoga which left me feeling so light and relaxed. Even though, I learned Vinyasa flow I see the value in incorporating some of the restorative poses into my teachings. Also, I feel it to be essential for yogis to take different classes and learn because Yoga is all about learning and growing. It is also a lot of fun to explore new linages and teaching styles.

Lastly, I wanted to share a common chant that is easy to incorporate in your home practice or studio.

Om Namah Shivaya
(om na mah shi vaa ya)

This mantra is chanted to honor your divine spirit. So when I chant this I honor the divine that resides in us all and yoga helps us on that journey. So I invite you to start chanting with our eyes closed and your heart open.

I would love to hear about your experiences if you want to share. Chant on!

Angkor Wat temple
 

 

 

Orginality leads to greatness

“When you're always trying to conform to the norm, you lose your uniqueness, which can be the foundation for your greatness.”

           

— Dale Archer

 

This a great reminder that conformity does not suit us but relishing in your originality leads to self inspiration and empowerment. What has helped you find your true spirit?