Being in Love

"The most important aspect of love is not in giving or the receiving: it's in the being. When I need love from others, or need to give love to others, I'm caught in an unstable situation. Being in love, rather than giving or taking love, is the only thing that provides stability. Being in love means seeing the Beloved all around me."

  - Ram Dass

Today's pics via http://pinterest.com/cosmiclila/yoga/

Things I Love This Week

I'm in a very happy pro-love mood this week. I just bought these "Let Love Rule" Toms and I think they're fabulous and comfortable. They'd be great to/from yoga classes, walking in a Pride parade, or just around the house. I recommend them. Very much. In case you've been living under a rock - learn about Toms and their One for One movement here. 

Other things I love this week:

Aelita Andre - Art Prodigy or Just Having Fun?

Five Yoga Poses for Happy Hips

The Summer Hair Challenge at NMDL (enter by June 24th)

The "What's in your Yoga Bag?" column on Namastilo

http://pinterest.com/pin/144818944238089582/

Resistance to Practice: Lighten Up!

Doldrums, disinterest, lack of motivation... Whatever you want to call it - it can be a veritable brick wall. The first time this happens to you isn't really much different than the 50th time. It's always uncomfortable. Everyone deals with it differently. When the last thing you want to do is practice - how do you handle it?

I suggest that you lighten up!

My asana practice has been dragging ass for a few months. The very sight of my mat kinda makes me groan at the notion of practice.

Finally I realized that if I relax my requirements of what counts as practice then I might do more yoga. I started doing yoga in my pajamas in the grass of my backyard, at the gym in the middle of the "stretching area" in my sneakers, or in the carpeted living room while wearing socks. Turns out I just need a new perspective for a while.

My practice is different (again) and I've sort of distilled it down to the pieces I enjoy the most. I've removed the "fluff" and I'm doing lots of lunges, hanumanasana, and pigeon mostly. I've made huge strides in my poses by doing this. That doesn't mean I never do the other stuff. I just mostly focus on my big loves and loosening my expectations is treating me well.

When you want nothing to do with yoga - focus on what you love.

By immersing my practice in joy and letting go of the picky details like always having to be barefoot I'm reconnecting to why I love the practice and this slump will pass.

I Heart You

I wanted to write something awesome and love-filled for Valentines Day. I don't really care for the holiday myself, but that doesn't mean I need to be a party pooper. However - my dog has been sick for a couple days - throwing up all over the place. Everyone knows that vomit knows nothing of schedules so I haven't really slept and I'm frankly just too damn tired to write anything amazing or original today. Sorry.

Source: http://ohjoy.blogs.com/my_weblog/2012/01/big-love.html

I will instead offer up to you these fun things from around the internet. Happy Valentine's Day ♥

Indian Teatime Valentines

Heart Milk Cubes

Partner Yoga Poses

Source: http://asubtlerevelry.com/heart-milk-cubes

New Year - Fresh Intentions

I don't really do New Year's Resolutions. When the new year comes I might have some intentions for my year, or some hopes, but I don't resolve things.

New dress. New socks. New Hair.

This year I hope to be more open to those around me and I intend to create new friendships. I hope to love and appreciate with all my heart, so that I may make the most of what little time I have on this planet as a human. I intend to live with freedom, expression, and a wild inner light to better uplift those around me simply by proximity. I intend to truly see the sun, the moon, the flowers, and the inner goodness of those I meet. I hope to hug more, receive more, and do more.

What are your hopes and intentions for the New Year?

Dashama's Hugging Challenge - (Video)

In light of the holiday season I want to remind you today that being generous doesn't have to cost money. Giving of your heart can be totally free - Give a Hug. Hell, give out a whole bunch of hugs. I know that some of you are "huggers" and some of you are not. I'm not one - like at all. However, I still give a full-hearted hug to anyone that is offering.

Check out this video of Dashama giving out free hugs to start off her Daily Hug Challenge. It makes me want to start a conscious practice of hugging people. Not for the challenge, just for doing. It's probably way healthier than being hug-averse.

The Challenge is to hug someone (anyone) every day for two weeks.

It doesn't have to be strangers, but that is certainly a good way to spread the love. The challenge began this week, and you can win a Spa & Wellness Gift Card for taking part.

For more information, including 5 Reasons Hugging is Healthy, visit the Spa Week Blog.

Readers via Email - Click Here for the Video.

I Love Nature (Video)

Holy cow guys, this treehugging video made me tear up a little bit.
Fabulous poetic nature love... and tiny lizard foots.

Watch it! Watch it! Watch it!

Growing is Forever from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

PS... I know it's feet, so don't go all grammar nazi on me.

An Altar You Love

I'm still in the process of moving, but I figured it was about time for a real post. Today I wanted to talk about altars. I love altars. They make me feel all warm and fuzzy. I love seeing my altar... I love my altar and every piece of it.

I came across this one minute video recently on How to Create an Altar from YogaG33k. It's quick and to the point but fun, so give it shot.

My altar is a little different, so I thought I'd talk about mine a bit. You may have seen my altar in the background of my pics here and there. I know I took some pics of it for this post's exact purpose, but I can't find them... and my altar has already been packed up or I'd just take some new ones. It's built primarily of things that "are special to me" and a few fun pieces to keep things light.

My Altar is composed of:

• Purple Wrap - Gift from my longest kept best friend of 21 years.
• Ganesha picture in bright colors - just my style.
• Yellow Ribbon Lei - (draped over Ganesha pic) from my trip to Hawaii
• Large Om Painting - I painted it from scratch. Included to increase creativity.
• Photos of some of my teachers - to remind me to honor them.
• Buddha postcard because it's pretty.
• Wooden Weeping Buddha - had it for ages and it's wooden.
• Incense holder - for burning Nag Champa that smells like the yoga studio where I did my teacher training
• Ting sha bells - for meditation, classes, etc.
• Tiny prayer flags - colorful, cute, no idea where I got them
• Ganesha figure - the whole thing is built around him - The Lord of Obstacles.
• A Love Note to Myself - written at a Sianna Sherman workshop on a heart shaped piece of cardstock and it makes me feel happy
• Bits of Nature - giant pinecone, sea urchin shell, rocks, a few nut shells, small piece of meteor, feathers, occasionally sticks, and sometimes fresh flowers.
• Candles sometimes.
• Malas sometimes.

That sounds like a lot of stuff. I'm surprised and amused. Especially since I'd like to add an offering bowl and I'm sure I'll swap some stuff out later that I haven't thought of yet. Lots of altars are much smaller than mine, some of them are larger - you can't go wrong. Just make it beautiful and special to you.

I ♥ We Love Colors

Show some love to We Love Colors - whose fantastic fuchsia leggings I'm wearing here. They've put up a post on their We Love Colors Friends Blog about my YJ Talent Search submission with a bonus pigeon pose pic outside in the sun!

Love, Buddha

"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." - Buddha

Let Them Eat Love

Almost a solid year ago I wrote about feeding your demons, or rather - I suggested that when your inner demons or grudges pop up and get in your face - to starve them. Read the post for more info on the full idea going on there. In re-reading that old post, I think to myself "That's still good advice. There's nothing wrong with it". However, there are many ways to skin a cat. (What an ugly term for an animal lover like myself - but it works.)

My ideas and coping methods have changed, but I'm in no way saying that one way is better than the other. Just different. Perhaps my feelings towards certain events have simply stopped being too heavy for me to look at them with Eagle Vision*. 

For months now I've been meaning to write a post here to discuss my newer viewpoint. When a wound isn't fresh it can work really well. When your inner demons demand attention... or just start sharpening their claws on your leg like a persistent cat...

♥ ♥ Feed Them Love. ♥ ♥

Now before you go thinking I'm some kind of nutter - read the rest of the post. Then feel free to comment on my insanity, ridiculosity, or crunchy granola outlook. When I suggest feeding them love - I don't mean wear an impenetrable smile on your face and turn the other cheek to unending abuses. Don't do that - that's an act of self-sabotage or denial.

When my inner demons rear their ugly heads - I pull a page from my favorite bears and I give a Care Bear Stare. You can even do it standing in line at the bank. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and bring to mind the name or situation that is causing you grief. If you're more visual - you can imagine them in front of you. Then consciously send them love. You can use words ("All my love to fill in the blank"), you can visualize a stream of swirling hearts flowing from your heart to theirs, or you can visualize hugging them. Maybe even do all three consecutively. If you're feeling adventurous, try to smile while you do it.

It sounds really floaty, but I swear it works. Eventually your heart space around these poisonous topics/people will have softened and you will have truly made peace with them.

*Eagle Vision: Backing off and allowing yourself to see the Good.

Let's Sizzle, Valentine ♥

I don't generally care about Valentine's Day - and that is really strange to a lot of people. Adam really lucked out that way. If we insist on doing something for this day of the year - it's usually more philanthropic in nature. I'll avoid sounding preachy or long-winded and jump right to my ideas for how to make the most out of this Valentine's Day without spending a bunch of money or even being in a couple.

• Do Backbends! My favorite category of pose increases your capacity to love (others and yourself) and to accept love in return. Is there anything backbends can't do?
• Partner Yoga - it's super-cliched so I didn't dedicate today's post to it, but in a touch-starved sociey like most of us have today - it's a good idea. It's good for your hormones, your daily outlook, and your sense of humor. You don't have to be part of a couple to do it - just grab a friend and watch the hijinks that ensue.
• Take yourself out and have a jolly good time alone (or with friends) because you don't need the approval of another to love appreciate and honor yourself. Go to a dinner, a botanical garden, a spa, a yoga class, or give yourself a pedicure at home.
• Show your love - every day of the year. Then Valentine's Day won't need to be as big of a deal. (Though if you still want to go above and beyond on that day - that's great too.)

Today's Photo: I received this cute bacon valentine from fellow blogger, Biscuit. ♥

Love Yourself

Whether you do yoga or not you use your body every day. Even if you're a paraplegic - your body is working to support you all the time. Our bodies do so much for us nonstop. Our feet support us, our hips tolerate the torture of chairs, our stomachs turn food into usable bits, and our hearts work nonstop since shortly after conception. That is amazing. When is the last time you showed your body some appreciation?

We ask so much of our bodies - take some time today to give something back. Especially if you've been taking out some particularly harsh self-thoughts on it. Maybe indulge in something tasty, get a massage, take a long bath, go barefoot, do a restorative practice, take a nap, or just give yourself a hug.

You deserve it.