Filed under: Uncategorized
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be visiting Atlanta, Philadelphia, and New York. Hopefully I’ll have some time to squeeze in a few yoga classes. If anyone can recommend some good studios in these cities, I’d really appreciate it. Many thanks!
Filed under: Studio Reviews
The following is a studio review from Michael, a long-time reader of this blog:
I know how hard it can be to find a good yoga studio when traveling. If you like vinyasa and ashtanga practice, and you find yourself on Florida’s Central East Cost (between W. Palm Beach and Cocoa Beach, there is a great studio in Fort Pierce. It is owned by a superbly talented teacher , Margarida Tree; and the other teachers I’ve experienced are also very good.
I’m from upstate NY and have been a bit spoiled by excellent teachers in this city, especially at the Blue Lotus studio, where some well-known Anusara teachers are located. For the past few years, I’ve also been spending some time in Vero Beach, FL during the winters. Through a yoga teacher/friend I was led to One Yoga Planet… and I love this studio. (more…)
Filed under: Yoga Musings
In last month’s issue of Yoga Journal, there was an advertisement for an online yoga program you can do at home. The sales pitch was something like this: Retreat at home, because the average South-of-the-Border yoga retreat increases your carbon footprint by over 3000 pounds. The claim seems to be that going on a yoga retreat is a self-indulgent extravagance, and that the detrimental side-effects of taking such a vacation far outweigh any personal benefit you may get. Is this a valid claim? (more…)
Filed under: Yoga News
This timely article addresses the very real risk of injury from yoga, even for the seasoned practitioner.
(One woman experienced a life-threatening stroke as a result of doing Fish Pose!)
Filed under: Health and Nutrition
Here’s a great blog/website with lots of delicious vegan recipes: http://www.fatfreevegan.com/
The vegan pepperoni is superb.
Filed under: Yoga Stuff
Famed NYC-based yogini Cyndi Lee has released another “Om Yoga Mix” CD. I’ve given the collection a thorough listen, and overall I’m quite happy with it. There’s an interesting and eclectic mix of different artists and styles on this CD, and (for the most part) there aren’t any of those cheesy New Age songs you tend to find on these kinds of mixes.
I especially enjoyed the following tracks:
1. Gentle Voice - Michael Hewett
4. Freeze (Yoga Mix) - Kodomo
6. Tulong - The Beyman Bros
8. Swadisthana - Vive
9. Kiss of Bliss - Steve Gorn & Jamie Lawerence
The real highlight of the CD, in my opinion, is track 7, “Hasret”, by Omar Faruk Tekbilek.
Also, if you’re a Krishna Das fan, there are two KD song’s on here for your listening pleasure.
My one complaint about the CD is that it doesn’t make for a good mix from beginning to end–i.e. the CD lacks a smooth arc that would coincide nicely with the ebbs and flows of a yoga class or self-practice session. Nevertheless, I’ll probably pick a few songs off the CD and throw them into my own yoga mixes, but I don’t think that “Om Yoga Mix 2″ is the kind of CD you can just throw and on let play from start to finish, at least not for a yoga class.
Overall: B+ Good CD for background music in a studio or relaxing at home; several good songs, potentially, to thrown on a mix for yoga class or self-practice.
Filed under: Digital Asana Project
Sometimes it’s fun to throw in a handstand here and there in the flow. Not only is it fun, but it’s also a great way to build/maintain heat. A particularly challenging way of jumping into handstand is with straight legs, pausing in “L”-pose, and then lifting the legs up to the sky.
In this video, I demonstrate what is sometimes called “piking into handstand” (borrowing a term from swimming and gymnastics). The steps are simple; the execution, not so simple. I do not recommend this transition to anyone who cannot comfortably hold handstand away from the wall for at least 30-seconds, or to anyone who has lower back and/or core strength issues. As always, this video is for demonstration purposes only, and if you have any interest in learning how to actually do it, seek out an experienced and qualified yoga teacher who can give you hands-on instruction.
Disclaimer: I am not a certified yoga instructor, and the ideas and opinions expressed here are not intended to be formal instruction on yoga poses. If you plan to start up a yoga practice, or if you have one and plan to do any of the yoga poses described in this blog, please seek out an experienced, living, breathing yoga teacher to guide you with hands-on instruction.
Filed under: Yoga Bloomington
I’m returning to Bloomington, Indiana, this fall. Barring any wild occurrences, I will resume teaching classes at Bloomington Power Yoga. Kelly, Susan, and Rusty will continue teaching as well. We have some exciting new developments in the works, including a new schedule, possibly some new classes, and special offerings for yoga beginners and yoga veterans.
The fall schedule should be up sometime in August.
Filed under: Yoga Musings
A recent post entitled “Where Are All the Hard Yoga Classes?” has generated a lot of interesting and lively discussion on this blog. Much thanks to everyone for sharing your thoughts. I’m seeing a range of opinions being expressed, and this certainly reflects the many different experiences we all have with yoga, and our different attitudes about and conceptions of yoga.
An important and recurring question has arisen from the discussion, and I’d like to take a few moments today to address it. The question is this: Exactly what constitutes an “advanced yoga class”? (more…)
A lot of people have been pointing out to me that their Manduka Eko mat gets very slippery when they practice Ashtanga or a sweaty Vinyasa Flow class. I’ve had students and readers of this blog say to me that they had high hopes for the Manduka Eko and were disappointed because they found it to be too slippery. Does this mean that the new Manduka mat is a bad mat? (more…)
