Finding Balance

My theme for this year, is to create balance for myself. Immediately as a yoga practitioner we think of a balance pose! Great place to start, how about Tree Pose or Half Moon Pose! Both my favorites! Practicing these poses assists the mind in bringing balance into the rest of my life. I think of areas where I need more "balance" work vs personal life, play vs work and so on. For me, I looked at a broader picture, what in my life have I not done enough of? What else do I want to do that will serve my practice, and help me feel more fulfilled. The first thing is exploring yoga more deeply, I teach a great deal, which I love, BUT :) what brought me to yoga was love of the practice. Finding yoga workshops and trips that will also support me, and that I find fun! Amazing! I also want to travel, so combining these two, with a long time yoga friend and inspiration, and put together a trip to Costa Rica next year! We are in the planning stages and I am so excited. Stay tuned! The other area of balance is food, winter is a great time to explore, mindful eating, when it is cold and I feel like a bear wanting to crawl into a den, it actually doesn't help to eat heavy food, which used to be a go to thing for me. Keeping it light, lots of veggie's which is very grounding, and fruit, to keep the feeling of sun and lightness, helps me a great deal. I have found I feel better, and have more energy to deal with the extreme cold that we have been experiencing this year. But then again, another great reason to be a yogi in winter, we have so much to spin and do inside. Getting to my mat, is exciting, and focusing on a new pose or sequence helps me move through my day. Balance....Namaste' Denise

New Year, New Intention

Hello all, I cannot believe it is already a New Year and 2014! I do always like to start my year with an intention or focus. Something I feel I need for the year. It always helps me to focus and realign myself spiritually as well as setting an emotional tone for the year. This year for me is Balance. If I manage to create balance in my life, I am content, happy, peaceful, stress free and everyone around me is feeling the peaceful energy. Everything in our life needs some sort of balancing element. For instance, scheduling work and home life. In today's culture I find that so many people not just those of us in the fitness world, work at odd hours solving this or that problem, or being called into work to trouble shoot something. Our lives are 24/7 with the added technology that we have and it also means we need to take time to offset this tone of life. I always take 1.5 hour break from my phone during the day. At some point, I am free and relaxing, before I move on with my day. And it is not when I am asleep! I make the time mid day when I need the down time, to just take a vacation. This small thing, brings some balance back to my day, otherwise, my radar is always on, and there is always something to hear, read or see on my digital device. Now I will say that this device has helped me streamline and organize myself so that I am much more efficient and it is easier getting things done, but I still need that break. Other areas that need balance is food, knowing what to eat, when to eat, how it will feels and help my day, also keeps me balanced and light. Especially in winter when we tend to eat heavier food, it helps to still keep some lightness in our diets. I love experimenting with vegetarian and vegan recipes to maintain the lightness. Think about what may balance you, what is going on and what is the exact opposite? and then find the happy medium. And of course, Do Yoga! The more we move in Winter the more we can focus on what we need, try working on your yoga practice this month. Stay connected to community through other yoga teachers and classes, we all love creating community and providing helpful tools to each other, check out #31daysofyoga with Laura Erdman Luntz. And stay tuned for helpful tips and creating intention in your life. Happy New Year! Namaste' Denise