The Flow

I am forever grateful to my amazing teacher Denise of One Song Yoga and her love for Mudras. They bring such positivity in my life, and a new one always seems to pop up right at the perfect moment. For this week, I have adopted Pushan Mudra, named after the God of Nourishment.

The science of Mudras is based on the principle that "The root cause of disease is the imbalance and improper co-ordination between these elements and proper balance between these elements is the secret of good health." The secret of health lies in hands, fingers and Mudras, which can be performed with the help of fingers.


The human body is composed of five basic elements and the five fingers of our hands represents these five basic elements. Ancient Sages discovered the knowledge of Mudras. By touching of hands to each other or folding fingers in a particular way, we can cure any disturbances in these five elements with the help of our fingers, we can keep the five elements in proper proportion, any disturbances in them can be balanced. So that our body become healthy.


This week I began my detox for the 40 Days to Transformation. I chose the Kitcheri cleanse over the fruit fast, considering I am much more familiar with this cleanse, as I do it seasonally, and I have all the supplies. Cash flow is a bit low this month! I also dedicated to a new mantra, which I will share later this week. Japa Meditations is the most effective way for me to direct my mind to that higher source of consciousness and sit for 20+ minutes. However, the following mudra I take with me throughout my day, and it provides such lovely affirmations.

Right hand: The tips of the thumb, index finger, and middle finger are on top of each other; the other fingers are extended.
Left hand: The tips of the thumb, middle finger, and ring finger are on top of each other; the other fingers are extended.

This mudra symbolizes accepting and receiving with the gesture of one hand and letting things flow, giving, and letting go with the gesture of the other. Both should be coordinated with each other in digestion. It influences the energy currents that are responsible for absorbing and utilizing food, as well as helping with elimination. It intensifies breathing and therefore the absorption of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide in the lungs. It has a relaxing effect on the solar plexus (the area of the stomach, liver, spleen, and gallbladder), regulates energies in the autonomic nervous system, mobilizes energies of elimination, and detoxifies. It has an excellent effect on general or acute nausea, seasickness, flatulence, and that sensation of fullness one feels after meals.

During inhalation, take in energy in the form of light. During the pause in breathing, give it the time and space it needs to spread within you and become transformed. During exhalation, let the expended energy flow back out of you. With every breath, there is more light and clarity in your physical and mental-emotional realms.

Affirmation: thankfully accept everything that is good for me, let it have its effect within me, and release everything that is spent.

Breathing through This Day

Hello. Today is a hard day for me. Forgetsies, Dropsies, grumpy pants. These days happen. Fortunately I can remember what it feels like to be bright, confident and assured. Fortunately I have incredible teachers in my life that I can look forward to breathing with, and absorbing their wisdom. I plod through a frustrating day, and feel completely ineffective, poor, and lost. While I read about my adventurous Acro Yoga teacher rock climbing in Spain, taking coastal trains and delving into markets, cafes, parks and rooftops, I wish for a bit more freedom. But then I see an email about Northwest Herbalism training. Which costs money. And what about Ayurveda? What am I supposed to do next? But I can't even keep enough cash in my checking account to pay for the next local yoga workshop I want to take. And so on.

This is all just chatter. The fluctuations of the mind. So I breath in and calm my body, I breathe out and smile. I truly believe that the physical act of smiling creates the corresponding emotion in the mind! Which is why its so nice to cross your eyes at yourself in the morning as you brush your teeth!

The past few weeks I have been participating in a workshop led by my fellow teacher, Kiara Boch called 40 Days to Personal Transformation. I came into the workshop without a strong sense of committment, just my usual easy going nature to try it out, learn something new, and have fun. Well its not fun. Transformation is hard. The level of awareness that I am opening up to is quite challenging. The old, self-defeating tapes grow louder as I begin to recognize them, and try to change them. Have you every noticed that? Every time you try to break a bad habit, it seems to cling to you with increasing strength?

Om shanti shanti shanti

Down the Mountain We Go

Down the Mountain We Go, originally uploaded by * alice's adventures *.

What a delightful birthday weekend. A long, scrambling, magical, yogic hike with my love. A partner flying session under the sun in our undies (not too many people on a quiet Friday).

I am a lucky lucky lady.

Waning Tide

The full moon came and went this weekend, with a lovely amount of yoga, mindfulness meditition, bloody mary's & board games, gardening and record store amusements!

Saturday night I led a Street Yoga Jam, and had my first opportunity to lead a Partner Yoga class, based on the Acro Yoga partner flows. It was so fun and silly! The number of participants worked out so that everyone had a partner and I was able to float around, leading the movement and transitions. At first I was a bit flustered, as I had expected to be able to partner and call the class based on experience and personal movement. However, the universe provided a better path. It was nice to be able to circle the partners, and use examples of partners "figuring it out" for other pairs to observe. We spent a nice long time warming up, partner stretching, strength building, etc.

As soon as I set us up for some partner flying, the energy was so incredible! All the students were new to Partner Flying, except for a couple of my friends I brought with me that I have flown a couple of times, very briefly. This experienced created a great, wonderful sense of respect for my teachers, the Acro and Mandala Yogis who hold space for such amazing challenges and liberating movement! I felt spread completely thin, and unable to truly support both groups. We split into 2 groups, with 4 people each, which provided a primary spotter and an extra spotter to help keep an eye on alignment and safety. Every was provided a turn to base and fly.

We emphasized safe spotting, clear communication, surrender and trust! What a wonderful way for Street Yoga to share its mission and create a Saturday night event for the adventurous crowd. I made sure even the guys who think they are "too big" to fly got a chance (I'm a strong and persuasive yogi!)

Ending class with the traditional Thai Massage session allowed everyone to leave relaxed, happy and glowing! I know how addictive this community based practice is, and I am excited to share with as many people as possible.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Greenaid : Commonstudio

Greenaid : Commonstudio

Just caught a whiff of this in my inbox this morning! Thank you Land PDX for being so awesome! I sure love Portland.

All week while in San Francisco (for the first time!) I kept remarking about how I was falling in love with a new city, and not ready to go back to Portland's rain. But flying across the climate and geography and arriving to this lush, dense, GREEN wonderland, makes me so happy. And then, to top it off, Portland had the sunniest, cheeriest, happiest spring day yesterday.

I mosied through the parks on my way to work, checking out the joggers, the park knitters, (no cricket games like I saw in SF) and all the wonderful people outside enjoying the day.

As I rolled into the Street Yoga office, our amazing founder Mark came by, and conversation evolved into a brainstorm for Yoga Summer Camp! He said it is meant to be, because that is the second time its come up this week. I exclaimed that Yoga Summer Camp is one of my life goals, and he said ok. Let's do it.....

Satyagraha

One of my favorite scenes from the epic Gandhi, is when his wife and foremost devotee explains to his newest student, that Gandhi took a vow of chastity. Three times. Then finally, made a silent vow, and kept it. When the students asks if he broke it, his wife replied "Not yet :)"

I feel very intimidated by public vows. I completely admire bloggers such as the Reluctant Ashtangi, whom I read daily, who are able to find a deeper personal practice through documenting their progress, and holding themselves publicly accountable. I think it is a measure of my self knowledge that I do not hold myself to rigid expectation, for I know my personality, my past, and how I want to conduct my future. I never want to become dogmatic or closed minded. That said, I also am lazy, and need some discipline!

So perhaps you will see me around these parts a little more in the future.



"Satyagraha is not predominantly civil disobedience, but a quiet and irresistible pursuit of truth"

Plants on Cats

totally amazing

Earth Hour

On March 26, 2011, pledge to turn out your lights at 8:30 pm for Earth Hour, a worldwide collective display of commitment to protect the one thing that unites us all--the planet.


This Earth Hour, when the lights go back on, we hope you go beyond the hour and think about what you can change in your daily life that will benefit the planet. Let’s work together to create a better future. Our actions can add up.

Feminism

After reading the Yarn Harlot's post a couple days ago, her assertion has been strongly in mind:

"I am a feminist.  I can say that unequivocally, because I know the definition. Feminism is defined, in every dictionary you will look in, as something like "the  belief in the political, social and economic equality of the sexes." (It is worth noting that the word is equality. Not sameness, since the sexes are not the same, nor superiority, since that's not true either. Nor does it even define the gender of the person who would believe in this equality.)  Since we do not yet have any of those things, I'm still a feminist, and I feel like were I to say I was not, I would be saying that I don't believe in equality, which I do. Firmly. " -- yarnharlot blog

Hearing about cultures across the globe that demand women act/dress/behave within strict guidelines only increases my gratitude for being born into a society that enables freedom of expression. Gratitude for being born into a family of strong, silly women that use artistic outlets to express who they are, and how they see the world.

Spring is on its way! The crocus, daffodils, cherry blossoms... Oh, I live in a beautiful part of the country.

lucky shot

lucky shot, originally uploaded by kate / for me, for you.

freakin love kate's blog! her DIY studio desk is amazing...

Modge Podge it

Purchased a new journal, and its ugly cover is sparking a new crafty venture. My extremely talented friend, Jenny from San Fran gifted me a cigar box with sea animals modge podged to every surface. This was in high school so naturally, the box has drifted from my immediate possession.

Can you guess what I've picked for a theme? Yoga Journal illustrations! Its the one magazine I have held onto when all others hit the recycle bin. Now its time for spring cleaning, magazine cutting and crafty, sunny afternoons.

We seeded the backyard lawns and asked the chickens to keep their poop and claws out of the yard and patio. They refused, so we locked them away in their ridiculously spacious coop. No wonder they don't try to escape! If we ever move out of this house, I'd love to plant an herb garden in the space vacated by the chickens. With the straw mulch and their constant digging, pecking, and fertilizing, it should be quite a fertile spot for a thyme creeper. Which also means more bricks! I want to create permeable pathways all over the yard, to enhance the minimal growing season we have under the shady apple tree.

Indoor herb garden idea... Modge Podge Outdoor. (Pretty much I just discovered I've spelled it all wrong. But I'll I like my name for it!)

Handstands in Nature

I really need to work on my handstand to keep up with this guy!

{link}

Of course, handstands with friends is always the best!

Down by the Bay

We are headed to foggy bayside city explorations in San Francisco! I've been scouring my beloved blogs for some advice, and since I tend to read food/recipe blogs, I have a full list of places to eat! Heidi, the famed blogger of 101 cookbooks, provides a delicious list on her blog, starting with the Mission District! We reserved a couple nights at the Hotel Mirabelle right in the heart of Mission/Guerrero, it look so freaking cute. A restored Victorian hostel with themed private rooms, right in the heart of a bustling, fun neighborhood.

My my dear childhood friend, Jenny, recommended the neighborhood for its bike-ability, and variety of activities! Shopping, parks, munchies, music, I can't wait. San Francisco was high on my list of places to live, however I can't imagine ever wanting to leave Portland. We were originally planning to go for my birthday (which also happens to be on Easter!) but changed our plans when we discovered Jenny and her husband are embarking on a world-wide traveling adventure! So we'll be there for the last few weeks of their San Francisco time, how perfect. They live up in Mill Valley now, a perfect place to go hiking with a young puppy.

Travis is especially excited to wander around Haight Ashbury :) Such a silly hippy boy. I love him so much. We are taking almost a whole week to explore, staying downtown during the week to get a lazy weekday feel of exploring, and hopefully getting out of the city and finding some lovely hills to climb during the weekend!


I am so filled with gratitude and joy! Happy Valentines Day friends!

Running away to the Circus

Finally realizing my dream of joining the Circus.

Circus Yoga that is! Next weekend I'm headed up to Seattle with some lovely Portland yoginis to attend the Ring One Immersion workshop. I was blessed to receive the Social Change Scholarship in order to aid me on this path I have found myself walking. It is so amazing to finally feel myself falling into the life I never knew I would live. I was never one of those kids that planned to be a doctor, or teacher, or anything in particular. I loved graphic design so working for a magazine seemed like a gorgeous fit, but it never truly materialized, and I never felt the impetus to drive me there. But yoga. Oh yoga, how it has led me to places I never knew I could find!

Circus Yoga is also coming to Portland for a very special Street Yoga workshop! Its open to all Portland yogis who want to learn more about Street Yoga and experience the very special fun of yoga play.

{Check out the write up on Circus Yoga in Yoga Journal this month!!}

Now it is time to embrace my inner clown.

Swimmin

breath owl breathe - swimming //into the woods

Is it summer yet??