Day 3 - Work Your Core

Day 3 is awesome. I am no fan of core work (having very little core muscles to speak of) but the sequence led by Rebecca Urban was very nice. 20 minutes was the perfect length for me.

What I enjoyed
I was very pleased to see Stephanie Snyder as  to yoga model today. She is an amazing teacher. I had the chance to practice with her in Virginia Beach when she came to give a Detox Yoga class at Bamboo Studio. She can float up into standing slip like it's nobody's business. Incredible woman, really nice too. I hope this means she might be giving a sequence soon.
Rebecca has a very nice voice and gave a nice amount of eye contact to the camera.
My favorite sequence was the 4 step Push-up nearing the end. Starting in Plank. Inhale, exhale, drop the knees to the mat, bend you elbow and pin them to your ribs in a half push up. Straighten the legs and straighten the arms. Repeat 3 times. Then start with the arms for another three. I shudder at the mention of push-ups, but these, I can do.

 

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A core strengthening sequence not being a complete practice I wasn't expecting a savasana at the end so I really enjoyed when we sat back in child's pose and she concluded the sequence with two options: sit in child's pose for a couple more minutes or select another sequence to continue your practice. 

What I disliked
For the first couple of minutes, Rebecca kept repeating "breathe here for nothing". Which annoyed me because I don't want to be breathing for nothing and I wasn't sure what she meant by it. Wording is super important. If she wanted us to take a couple breaths here she could of said :"Take 2 breaths here and on the next inhale..." or "Breathe deeply and on your next exhale...". This happened only a handful of times in the beginning.

Overall, this was probably my favorite core strengthening sequence - probably because it wasn't too difficult. See you tomorrow!

Namaste.


P.S. Click here or on the picture for a link to the video.

Day 2 - Being Calm

Day 2 is a god send. I wasn't feeling it this morning; having to wake up 1 hour earlier to do the practice when I could be snuggling in bed. It was worth it.
A short 20 minute practice focusing on the breath really helps to focus the mind on the day ahead.

What I enjoyed
The slow and repeating sequences allows you to follow at your own pace and reduce the need to hear each instruction. Kate Holcome has a nice calm voice and is easy to understand.

My favorite sequence was the cool down. Lying on your back, knees folded into your chest and arms at your side against your body. On an inhale, coordinate the movement of your arms and legs as your straighten your legs towards the ceiling and circle your arms up and back to the floor if you can. On the exhale, bend your knees back into the chest and bring your arms back up and down by your side. Repeat 3 or 4 times.

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I also enjoyed the short but present send off "and you are ready to go about the rest of your day" with a smile.

What I disliked
Except for the introduction and a quick smile at the end of the sequence, Kate faces and speaks to Laura the entire time. It's important to make eye contact will all your students, even if you can't see them, it creates a bond. 

The 15 minute Morning Sequence is a easy sequence with lots of benefits. It can easily be modified to be done sitting on a chair for the most part or holding on to it for balance.

If you are taking this challenge I highly recommend signing up for the emails, it gives you a short description of the practice and a link to the video.

Keep it up!
Namaste.


P.S. Click here or on the on the picture for a link to the video.

Day 1 - Mandala Namaskar

Day 1- We start off this 21 day challenge with a bang - an energizing flow sequence with Elise Lorimer. For a first practice, this one was intense. (It didn't help that my legs and arms where stiff from the Anusara Class I took at Pure yesterday.)

What I enjoyed
I really liked the Mandala Namaskar aspect of this practice - the transition through squat to the other side of the room. It was a refreshing way to switch sides. Elise makes it look very cat like, she is obviously very flexible. Just wait until you get to cow pose and she easily moves her ankles to be parallel to her knees. Her knees!

I enjoyed the entire sequence, it flowed together very well. Having Denise there made sure that Elise remembered to cue us in on all the little tweaks each position needs - tuck you tail bone, squeeze your knees towards to center, etc..
I particularly like this side stretch. Seven minutes into the flow you are prompted to step you foot forward coming into a squat. With your hands in prayer at your heart press your knee out wide sending your tail bone down to the floor. From there, place your right arm under your right shin and reach your left arm up to the sky. Great Stretch!

What I disliked
I couldn't hear Elise once I stepped to the other side of my mat, my laptop speakers aren't loud enough. I'll fix that for next time. It's also quite annoying to have too look back to figure out what's going on, I have to work on being a better listener.

My favorite part of a yoga practice is Savasana (corps pose), it's also a very important part of your practice since it allows your body to assimilate the Asanas and transition back into the world. It was severely lacking here. Elise walks your through a nice cool down, prepares your for Savasana and then abandons you. We don't even get 5 minutes of "concentrate on your breathing", "let your thoughts simply pass by", or "count down your breaths from 40 to 1", not even music. The video stops once your are in Savasana. The practice ended a bit short. I like ending with a collective Om and a heartfelt Namaste, enjoy the rest of your day. A video can never be as good as a real class.

Overall it was a fun 45 minutes, I'm looking forward tomorrow!

Namaste.

P.S. Click here or on the picture for a link to the video.

Yoga Journal's 21 Day Yoga Challenge

 I have repeatedly heard that for something to become a habit, you must first work on it diligently for at least 21 days (3 weeks). Getting into the habit of a daily yoga practice can only be beneficial for your health - body and mind.
Yoga Journal in collaboration with 4 amazing teachers has put together a series of amazing practices you can do from the comfort of your very own home. An original practice for everyday of the week - lots of variety to keep the practice fresh and interesting. Click on the image, it will bring you directly to the challenge page on Yoga Journal's web page.

Join me and countless others in this exciting challenge. Let me know how you're doing, together we can keep it up for 21 days!

Tomorrow, Day 1!
Namaste!

Food for Thought

by Issac Hebert

"One moment of patience may ward off great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life."
- Chinese Proverb

Food for Thought

by Issac Herbert

"Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again."
-Joseph Campbell










Happy New Year!
Namaste.

Food for Thought

by  Issac Herbert

"Flow with whatever is happening and let your mind be free. Stay centered by acceptiong whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate."
-Zhuangzi









Namaste.

Food for Thought

"Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold, but so does a hard-boiled egg."

-Navjot Singh Sidhu

Namaste.

Food for Thought

 by Issac Herbert

"Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were."

- Cherie Carter-Scott

Food for Thought

"The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself."

- Henry Miller