Yoga Girl Mary » all levels yoga

Sun Salute Challenge: Day 10!

mary — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:59:53 +0000

Eek! I missed posting a couple days, but I hope you’re still doing this with me. You’re inspiration/added challenge today is to laugh! A friend shared the funniest website (warning: language) with me this morning, and while poking around on it (after crying because I was laughing so hard), I found this video of someone laughing while they read through the website. Have a look-see. She’s a snorter, which makes me laugh even harder. But what’s really interesting? Watch how her face shifts as she starts reading more. She gets more relaxed and trusting, and she moves her body closer to her computer as she engages more. The simple act of laughing together can bring us so close to each other. Please share a laugh with someone today!

Sun Salute Challenge: Day 7.

mary — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:08:06 +0000

I have a friendly debate with a friend of mine over yoga. His wife and I have been trying to get him into a yoga class for at least two years now, and he’s yet to take the bait. Every now and again I pick through YouTube videos to find something enticing, and today I found an extremely inspiring short clip from Duncan Wong that I must share. Enjoy, and then rock out some sun salutes. Sixteen of them. Awesome.

And in case you’re wondering? Yes. Yogas are ninjas.

Sun Salute Challenge: Day 6

mary — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:17:25 +0000

We’re up to 15 today. Between chasing boys and a dog and a cat and having a fantastic brunch with friends today, I’ve broken my 15 up into three sets of five. I would have never permitted this in my past (it doesn’t seem like a true practice), but I’ve found that today it has allowed a sense of quiet and evenness to permeate my entire day.

I really like it.

As you watch this yogi, notice how quiet his practice is. He seems so controlled, yet free at the same time. Explore your length today. Explore how to open your chest more. Find a little more juice in the soles of your feet and the palms of your hands. And most of all?

Breathe.

Sun Salute Challenge: Day 5

mary — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 04:32:44 +0000

Fourteen SS’s today. Yum. Your inspiration? The Astanga master, Richard Freeman.

And yes, he does say “spread your buttocks,” so prepare.

Sun Salute Challenge: Day 4.

mary — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:00:47 +0000

We should be up to 13 Sun Salutes today, and I can’t really think of a better word than delicious. I feel like a huge cat, stretching out in the sun and wiggling around to get just the right kind of length and light and openness. Although…I must admit, yesterdat got away from me and I have a few Sun Salutes to make up in today’s go at this little challenge. I love the grace in that.

I’ve included a little video clip from Elsie Escobar. She’s one of my favorite Anusara yoga teachers, although I only know her virtually. She’s a little goofy (the reason I love her), but very thorough in her cues (and refreshingly philosophical in her free yoga podcasts), so if you’re feeling a little stuck in parts of your vinyasa, maybe this will help. I always learn something new from her, in addition to how to rock yoga in leg warmers.

Sun Salute Challenge: Day 3

mary — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:00:30 +0000

I was much more present with this yesterday. I think it helped that I had a great workout this morning at the CrossFit gym and really felt the right stuff at the right time in one of the lifts. It’s amazing how empowering that can be, no matter which part of your life gives it to you.

As I worked through my Surya Namaskar, I noticed that my breath was linking my poses more than on Day 1. I could hear it clearly, evenly, and had that sweet internal knowledge of the moment it began to slow down to teach me what my rhythm should be. My vinyasa in Surya Namaskar always takes longer on my own than in a class, because my breath gets so long in those Downward Dogs.

It’s delicious.

The flexibility will return. It’s the peacefulness that I yearn for the most, though. The peace that comes when you can still be moving yet feel like you’re sitting with something bigger than you.

For a treat, I found this video today. It’s not a Sun Salutation, but it holds the curiosity and playfulness of yoga so sweetly. Enjoy. (It made me cry. But I’m a complete and total sap.)

Sun Salute Challenge: Day 2

mary — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:00:52 +0000

I don’t know about you, but my Day 1 Challenge was actually a challenge. I had a trying afternoon and evening with my toddler, who is currently on an upswing from being down with a tummy bug, which only made him all the more feisty.

I did my first salutation on the carpet, in my jeans with a stocking cap on, and immediately found my hands sliding forward, limited mobility because of my choice in attire, and my stocking cap falling off to show my completely disheveled hair. I was even holding my breath!

What a mess.

And I realized: I wasn’t even trying. I needed to change into something that would let me move appropriately, get on my mat, slap my hair into a ponytail, and offer my breath to my practice.

Shiva Rea said something so profoundly beautiful a couple of years back in an interview. Someone asked her what kind of yoga she did. Her response?

I be yoga.

Sounds funny and awkward when you say it out loud. But try it. Try being your yoga.

Ninety-nine percent practice, my friends.

Here’s the beautiful Shiva rocking a modified version of Surya Namaskar A.

Sun Salute Challenge: Day 1

mary — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:54:54 +0000

How are you yogis doing on the challenge? It’s 8:45 p.m. and I’ve completed one SS. Eek! How does this happen? I’ll complete the remaining nine right after the babe is lulled to sleep.

Check out Hannah at tothemoonandback.net on her day 1. SO inspired by you, girl! Rock the kula!

Here’s another video, including a nice modification if it’s been a while since you and your mat have had a little time together.

Challenge.

mary — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:10:06 +0000

It’s been a long while since I’ve updated here. Four months, to be exact. The main reason? I’ve been pretty consumed with building my new photography business (you can follow me at Mary Pantier Photography on Facebook to see more).

The downside? I’m not teaching yoga anywhere right now. The upside? Lots of them, but the most fascinating one is simply being a student again. I went to my first yoga class in about two months last night, and…WOW.

I felt stiff of mind and heart and body. I felt weak, even though I’ve been CrossFitting. And I felt so limited.

I was jealous of other students’ practices. My back felt stuck and my hamstrings were about two inches long.

But I walked out of that class feeling wrung out, in a good way, and loosened up. I didn’t like the self-judgment and heavy ego trip I was on (still am today), so I decided to implement a challenge to myself for the next 30 days. I’m wondering if anyone else would like to join me?

It’s kind of a spin-off from something we’re doing at my CrossFit gym, and I’m hoping it will help my loosen up some areas and help me calm my mind. It’s pretty simple, really:

Today, do 10 Surya Namaskar A’s.

Seem pretty easy?

Here’s the catch.

Tomorrow, add one to that. And the next day? You got it. Add one more. All the way to day 30. You should be up to almost a full hour of sun salutations on the last day.

You don’t have to or need to do them all at once; maybe do a few every so often throughout the day.

Remember what Pattabhi Jois said.

Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory.

Are you with me?

Here’s a video, if you need a refresher. Remember to modify as needed, and if you have questions about which modifications you might need, comment here and I’ll help.

Schedule Changes. Or, Good News/Bad News.

mary — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:21:59 +0000

Life is so full of change. And as a good friend just counseled, “When one door closes, another opens.”

Tomorrow, June 10, will be my last Thursday Power Yoga class in a teaching capacity. This class, in particular, has been my heart and soul for many months now, and I’m so sad to let this class go. But next week, you will have a new instructor, CM Brown, who will continue the class as an Intermediate or Advanced level practice. And I very well may be practicing alongside you, which will be such a treat for me.

The Postnatal and Prenatal series classes have been canceled as well, and the All Levels Yoga class on Wednesday nights will be shared between Terry Sweeney and Wendy Hood.

I will continue teaching the shared Sunday All Levels Yoga classes at 10:30 a.m.

So…why all of these changes? Very simple: diapers.

I have been quite blessed over the last 10 months to have a lot of help with keeping my burgeoning toddler fresh and clean during class, but that grace has come to an unfortunate end. The community center staff is no longer able to provide that and I would be required to leave class (while teaching) in order to take care of business. So in lieu of leaving during class, I resign to waiting until Ewan is potty trained (which will most likely be at least a year or so) before returning to teach during the week.

Hoping to see you on Sunday mornings! Please check my schedule for those dates. And I do have another idea or two brewing, so stay tuned…