Andrea's blog |
In an attempt to shake off the lethargic cocoon that seems to envelop me when I go home to Michigan for a visit, I attended two fabulous classes at Seva Yoga in East Grand Rapids. This studio feels like a sister to us... similar color scheme, small intimate classes, passionate teachers... The 23rd was an early morning class with Brooke. It's amazing how much easier it is to make it to class in the morning when it's just a 15min car ride away, instead of walking to/waiting for/riding on/walking from the bus! Brooke's flow was very sweet and most fun of all was Pincha Mayurasana (forearm balance) with partners in the center of the room. This is a pose I've been working on sloooowly at the wall. Overcoming fear is even more key than building the strength. When Brooke said we would be kicking up into the pose with the assistance of a partner, I thought there was no way. But to humor the teacher, or my partner, or myself (not sure which), I placed my forearms, fixed my gaze at the floor between my hands, lifted my hips, and stretched my legs into the air. And I felt free. And the pose was ease-ful. And I was so gleeful. |
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Today I was in a meditation training session with the beloved teacher Elesa Commerse and the topic of winter came up and how winter is a time of year when nature retreats within intself. The trees have dropped their leaves and the energy or prana of their life force is tucked away inside the branches, waiting for spring to bring about an extravagant display leaves and buds. Likewise with the flower bulbs tucked away inside the earth, lying dormant before warmer temperatures encourage them to send their shoots up through the soil. Winter is a time of introspection, to look within, regroup, conserve & cultivate our prana. But not so with the holiday season. We are now in the midst of parties and family gatherings and shopping and traveling on trains and planes among throngs of strangers... a very extroverted time of year. And this can cause anxiety. And this can cause exhaustion. And this can cause depression. So what's a yogi to do? |
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As the holiday season approaches, I am shocked to learn that we are totally going against nature!
I dance because it just feels good to my body and my spirit. It brings me great joy to dance for myself and to evoke joy from my audience. There is nothing more freeing than twirling around on stage like a little kid :-) What are some of the benefits of taking a belly dance class? |
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Okay so this is really more like TEN tips all rolled into one... From MyYogaOnline.com When we move into the holiday season, most people enjoy embracing what is perceived as the positive aspects of giving and sharing. However, most people neglect to see the heavy environmental impact this season of mass consumption generates. Here are some easy tips from My Yoga Online to help you stay mindful during your holiday season.
2) Use paper wisely: Opt in for wrapping paper and gift cards made from post consumer product and that contain 100% recyclable material. Avoid paper products with plastic coatings (any thing waxy, shiny, or with sprinkles) as these can not be recycled. 3) Make your lighting more efficient: If upgrading your lighting decor, choose high efficiency lighting and get those lights on timers. Avoid leaving lights on overnight and during periods when no one will be seeing them. 4) Support organic and local merchants: Consider giving organic and locally produced products as gifts to help support these struggling industries and reduce your carbon footprint. 5) Recycle and reuse as much as possible: Look for community programs that offer the recycling of Christmas trees and other tree trimmings. Save holiday cards to make name tags and other holiday craft projects next year. Get creative with reusing old wrapping paper - even giving the kids a project to cut the old wrapping paper into scrap paper for writing notes. |
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1) Carry your own shopping bags: Dramatically reduce your consumption of unnecessary plastic waste by taking your own recycled bags on all of your shopping trips.
Why do you practice yoga?
It stills my mind so I can be aware of this present moment rather than worrying about the past or the future. Now is all we have – the past is gone and the future will never be here. Plus it’s great to stretch and move those creaky muscles and joints!  Why do you teach yoga?
Yoga is something that has really impacted all areas my life and I'm happy to share that with others.
What style of yoga do you teach what is it all about?
Vinyasa flow with influences from the Ashtanga Yoga system.
What makes your yoga classes unique and who should take them?
I incorporate a mix of flow with attention to alignment. I set up the foundations of the pose in structure and safety that allows a freedom in movement.
Who or what inspires you? My biggest master teacher influences are Tias Little and Sean Corne. Tias focuses on alignment and gentle holds while Seane is more of a proponent of a vigorous vinyasa flow. While they have very different approaches to asana (physical postures), both teachers have touched me with their similar messages of union through yoga – not only in our selves that there is no division between our physical, mental and emotional layers of being, but also in the greater world at large that we are all connected, that we are more alike than we realize despite the illusions that cause us to believe that we’re different and separate.
Real life yoga lessons? The first few years I did yoga, I would get irritated whenever the teacher would introduce a pose I wasn’t comfortable with and chose to struggle through it and even blame the teacher for daring to teach it... |
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Staying Home From Work
The Bite: |
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Keeping Fit, Kicking Butt & Getting Zen... on a budget!? Find out how... Check out our very own Christy Lyons as the newest "Get Hot!" columnist for Poor Little Rich Girls, a great site that finds awesome deals & tips for amazing products & services on a budget.
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The first in what I hope to be a series of tips for staying healthy while navigating the holiday craziness. Got a tip to share? Email me! Don't Deprive Yourself During the Holidays You can eat what you wish during these food-crazed days, but just remember to enjoy it slowly. As you chew, savor each bite and think about all of the wonderful memories you associate with holiday food. And don’t forget to be mindful about your hunger level, as well as that of your satiation level. Before going to any holiday fete, eat a small snack. This simple step helps you control your appetite. |
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Yesterday was my 31st and I had the amazing fortune to bring together a lovely group of women and men for dinner at the delicious Demera Ethiopian restaurant in Uptown for a yummy meal and conversation. It was a last minute invitation so I had NO IDEA who was going to be able to come with only about 24 hours notice. Funny how it turned out... there were exactly 9 people in attendance, each representing a distinct and unique chapter of my life from middle school, to my filmmaking and screenwriting days with Chicago ScriptWorks, to my role as a consultant for Arbonne International, all the way up to creating Infuse in the past year. I saw this gathering as a beautiful reflection of my life's journey so far. One of my clients and new staff members said something so completely true the other day: "Everyone's a piece to our puzzle." I couldn't have said it better myself. Now I find myself curious and wondering: Who will be new at that table in years to come and where will they fit into the incredible puzzle of my life?
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Happy birthday to me!
What?! I'm trying to cultivate peace here, not aggression. It took me a moment, but then I laughed and leaned forward. Suddenly, I felt a burst of energy move across my back, down my back leg, and into the floor. My back leg usually feels so constricted in W1 and I always thought it had to do with tension in my calves. But suddenly all it took was some more length and forward motion through my upper body to unlock freedom along that energy line. I've been thinking about this all day and came to the conclusion that "Attack!" doesn't have to mean violence and aggression. It can mean to begin, start, or approach. To dive in full force. To engage. To embody the role of the warrior with vitality, strength, and spirit in all undertakings. Ah-ha! So from now on in Warrior 1, it's "Attack! Not retreat," for me! |
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Today I was holding Warrior 1 in yoga class when the teacher said to me, "Attack! Not retreat."