yoga humor, yogini style, yoga personality, yoga tips - Y is for Yogini

be my yogitine { 7 things to do for YOU on Valentine's Day }

photo credit: squee.icanhascheezburger.com

Self-love is never unrequited. Let that roll around in your mind for a bit. It's a neverending amour fest...like you've got a kick-ass hearty pink sparkly pinball machine inside you going pling-ding-kajing-aling with lurve. Yeeeeah. Now you're on board.

I want you to do something for me today, seeing as how it's Valentine's Day and all. I want you to DO something for YOU today. Sure, you can deliver a cup of sugar naked to Mr. Hot Sauce next door. And yes, make sure to give the fur babies extra snuggles and treats. If you have a sig other, by all means, V-day it up like bunnies (whatever that means to you). But you're MY yogitine, too. And my gift to you is this: a reminder to show yourself some love.

7 Things To Do For YOU On Valentine's Day:

1. Hugasana - Take a cue from Mr. Kitty above and do what my friend Maria calls hugasana...hug yourself!

2. Spend Time in Your Fave Yoga Pose - Or perhaps a looong, languorous set of restoratives is in order. I'll be hanging out in Eka Pada Koundinyasana I, waiting for James Franco to come over.

3. Tend to Your Heart Chakra - Breath of Fire cleanses the heart chakra, while Cobra and Fish Pose open it (amongst other delicious asanas).

4. Write a Love Letter to Yourself - Make a list of all the beautifully brilliant things about you and OWN THEM. You're fierce. Better recognize.

5. Just Breathe - The breath is ever-intertwined with prana, your life force. Self love means standing in your truth and receiving the blessings that are life and breath. Nadi Shodhana is pure magic.

6. Dance Like No One's Watching - You heard me. Crank up the booty-shaker you love best and boogie like a mo fo. Get crazy with it. I never feel more free than when I'm dancing. It's booty-quake time.

7. Snuggle Up and Read - How luxurious does it feel to do this?! Pick up a book you can lose yourself in.

Happy Valentine's Day, my lovelies. Make sure you do at least one of the above or I'll be forced to show up at your door, dressed like Yogini Cupid. You don't want my arrow in your asana, do you? Go forth and be good to yourself! ;)

seven chakras shocking { the 12 days of yoga }

On the 20th day of December, yoga gave to me

seven chakras shocking...

{ six sirsas bobbing }

{ five moody mudras }

{ four heavy breathers }

{ three third eyes }

{ two turtle yogis }

{ and a yogini in the pose tree. }

Our subtle bodies are buzzing with life force energy. You know when you drag your Ho Ho Ho Santa socks across the carpet and touch something metallic and ZAPOOOO!!!? Our chakras carry/harness/process energy a gazillion times that. Shocking, I know. That's how Einstein got his awesome hairdo and tapped in to pure consciousness; genius. His chakras were crackalackin'. That, and he wore red Ho Ho Ho socks like mine.

She Blinded Me With Chakras:

1. Root Chakra { Muladhara. Red. "Vam." Earth. } 

• Life, self-preservation, physical identity, foundation
• Grounding
• To the point: I have arrived. I am root chakra, hear me roar!

2. Navel Chakra { Svadhisthana. Orange. "Lam." Water. }

• Creativity, emotional identity, feelings, desires
• Pleasure
• To the point: "I'm hot just like an oven!" - Marvin Gaye. Or, "You know you want a piece of my gingy!" - Navel Gingy above, she's a flirty one.

3. Solar Plexus Chakra { Manipura. Yellow. "Ram." Fire. }

• Growth, personal power, metabolism
• Will
• To the point: "Move, &*$%#, get out tha way!" - Ludacris

4. Heart Chakra { Anahata. Green. "Yam." Air. }

• Unconditional love, peace, compassion
• Devotion
• To the point: "All you need is love." - John Lennon + Paul McCartney

5. Throat Chakra { Vishuddha. Blue. "Ham." Ether. }

• Communication, independence
• Self-expression
• To the point: "Express yourself. You gotta be you, and only you, babe. Express yourself. Let me be me." - Salt N Pepa

6. Third Eye Chakra { Ajna. Indigo. "Om." }

• Clear sight
• Intuition
• To the point: "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day." - Johnny Nash

7. Crown Chakra { Sahasrara. Violet. }

• Universal identity
• Pure consciousness, pure awareness
• To the point: "You just flow so viciously. Supa-duper, you so fly." - Snoop Dogg

Now put on yo best holiday socks and get shocking. If you're in the flow, your chakras will take care of themselves. :)

{ 5 more days of baking up in this piece. Holla! }  

what color is your yoga mat? { it holds hints about your personality and secret quirks! }

photo credit: yogaaccessories.com

You thought you were being sly, you little yoga fox, you. Keeping to yourself, staying on your own mat, practicing like a serious and diligent yogi/ni. What you may not know, though, is that yoga is a crazily colorful microcosm of personality factoids. This includes the tales told by the color of your yoga mat.

"Say wha?" you exclaim. "You don't know anything about me based on something so infinitesimal." But that's where you're wrong. Color psychology { a study I nerdily and gleefully enjoy } has long been utilized to understand and manipulate human behavior. Ever wonder why fast food spots' walls are often orange or yellow? Orange increases appetite and yellow is thought to evoke cheer. Somebody thinks cheery people buy more McNuggets.

Intrigued? Mwaaahahahaa! I knew you'd be! You see, it has to do with the color of my...uh, nevermind.

If you've chosen the color of your yoga mat all by yourself (or someone who really knows you gifted it to you), here's what it says about you { secrets unfold! }:

(NOTE: All poses + concepts below are linked so you can study up if you like. Click away!)

RED - You are energetic, vibrant, and passionate. You feel things intensely. Like a red Ferrari, you stand out from the crowd...and someone { the cops? damned car color profiling! } is always chasing you. You like to chase back; your Niyama is Tapas — Heat/Cleansing. Poses: Utkatasana (Chair Pose), Virabhadrasana 2 (Warrior 2), and Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations). Chakra: Root - Survival + Grounding.

ORANGE - Orange mat people are balanced, warm, and enthusiastic. They have brought along Aztec Sweet Chili Yogi Tea to class to share with everyone. A little (or maybe a lot) flamboyant, they have lots of friends. Their Yama is Asteya — Non-Stealing; Oranges have plenty to share and love to do so. Poses: Cat/Cow with Lion's Breath, Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward Bow/Wheel), and Pincha Mayurasana (Peacock). Chakra: Sacral - Relationships + Sexuality.

YELLOW - You are joyous, happy, and hopeful. When you walk into the room, it is filled with sunshine and lightness. Yellow people inspire and instill optimism in others. Your Niyama is Santosha — Contentment. Poses: Happy Baby, Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe), and Trikonasana (Triangle). Chakra: Solar Plexus - Personal Power + Growth.

GREEN - Green mat yogi/nis are natural, youthful, and intelligent. They love to learn, draw money and prosperity to them with ease, and are often healers of some sort. Greens are the people you want to know; they have an aura of ethereality and quirk. Their (traditional) Niyama is Mati — Spiritual Will + Intellect. Poses are Vrksasana (Tree), Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Legged Forward Bend), and Camatkarasana (Wild Thing). Chakra: Heart - Unconditional Love for the Self and Others.

BLUE - You are tranquil, calm, and steady. You cannot tell a lie. Satya is your m.o. What you aren't is loud, flashy, or inappropriate. Blues are welcome anywhere; they flow like water, making their way purposefully, but elegantly. Your (traditional) Yama is Kshama — Patience + Presence. Poses: Tadasana (Mountain Pose), Salamba Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand), and Sukhasana (Easy Pose). Chakra: Throat - Communication.

PURPLE - People with purple mats are sophisticated, mysterious, and wise. They embody the grace of royalty. Purples are often creative, artistic, and spiritual. Their color is the hue of meditation. The Niyama for Purples is Svadhyaya — Self-Study. Poses: Natarajasana (Lord of the Dance/King Dancer), Eka Pada Koundinyasana 2, and Padmasana (Lotus). Chakra: Third Eye/Brow - Intuition, Clarity, + Consciousness.

PINK - Pink mat practitioners are sweet, romantic, and idealistic. They are closely in touch with and celebrate their inner child. These are caring, tender people who want to love and be loved. They like bubblegum, rollerskates, and Pepto Bismol (j/k, haha). The (traditional) Yama for Pinks is Daya — Compassion. Poses: Hanumanasana (Monkey), Purvottanasana (Upward Plank), and Balasana (Child's).

WHITE - You are pure, peaceful, and innocent. Soft, quiet, and gentle like winter snow. Your Niyama is Sauca — Cleanliness. White has the presence of all colors and represents the energy of light. You have the ability to cleanse others and make them feel balanced and at ease. Poses: Sirsasana (Headstand), Marichyasana 1, and Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall). Chakra: Crown - Pure Consciousness.

BLACK - Black mat yogi/nis are powerful, effortlessly stylish, and deep. Where white is all colors, black is the absence of light, no color. Your Yama is Aparigraha — Non-Attachment. As black is indicative of the unseen, these yogi/nis have faith, solid as black soil. They are at peace with what may come. They are resilient. Poses: Virasana (Hero), Virabhadrasana 3 (Warrior 3), and Bhujangasana (Cobra).

GRAY - You are subtle, sleek, and dignified. Gray is the color of winter skies and the water along rugged coastlines. You value security, conservatism, and independence. Perhaps you are a lone wolf, happily at peace in solitude, but able to enjoy the company of others on occasion. Your Yama is Brahmacharya — Moderation. Poses: Paschimottanasana (Forward Bend), Dolphin, and Garudasana (Eagle).

BROWN - Brown mat practitioners are earthy, stable, and comfortable in their mind, body, and spirit. They are masters of home and hearth, often good cooks and hosts/hostesses. Browns are unflappable; steady, strong, and genuine. The Yama for Browns is Ahimsa — No Harm. Poses: Tadasana (Mountain), Malasana (Garland), and Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog).

Tell me, do you and your mat match? If not, based on the personality notes above, which color sounds most like you?

I'm Green and Purple. :)

i am truth { sat kriya for 40 days }

 artwork credit: dharmadishes

Spirit, the Universe, a certain consciousness has come to me and let me know that I must practice Sat Kriya for the next 40 days. I know enough to listen and act when spoken to in this way, so unique from any other messages.

Sat Kriya is a core practice of Kundalini Yoga and was developed by the incomparable Yogi Bhajan. The mantra chanted during this kriya is Sat Nam, which means "Truth is my identity." Beautiful.

The benefits of Sat Kriya are numerous:

• Strengthens the nervous and sexual systems
• Balances digestion
• Massages internal organs
• Strengthens the heart
• Stimulates and channels kundalini energy
• Integrates energy released from the lower three chakras into the entire system
• Calming, clearing, and purifying
• Helps align the practitioner with her/his highest self

Here is the recipe (adapted/developed with the assistance of 3ho.org):

1. Sit in Vajrasana or Rock Pose, as it is known in Kundalini Yoga.
2. Extend the arms over the head, elbows straight, with the arms hugging the sides of the head. 
3. Interlace all the fingers except for the index fingers, which point straight up. Women cross the left thumb over the right and men cross the right thumb over the left.
4. Close your eyes and direct them to the Third Eye.
5. Relax the shoulders down the back, broaden across the collar bones, and soften the front ribs in.
6. Begin to chant "Sat Nam" (rhymes with "But Mom") with a constant rhythm of about 8 times every 10 seconds.
7. Pull the navel in and up toward the spine when chanting "Sat" (sut) and chant from the navel point. Feel it as a bit of pressure from the Third Chakra center.
8. When you chant "Nam" (naam), relax the belly.
9. As you continue to chant rhythmically, the root and diaphragm locks (Mula Bandha and Uddiyana Bandha) are automatically engaged. Your abdomen will look and feel like gently rocking ocean waves.
10. Keep the spine still and straight.
11. The breath will regulate itself.
12. Envision the energy that is circulating drawing up to your Third Eye center.
13. Beginners will do this for 3 minutes. The next level is 11 minutes, and eventually over time, building to 31 minutes.
14. When complete, take a lengthy Savasana, so that the body may have the time and space to absorb this powerful kriya.

I have been told that after only a few days, the shift in your energy and consciousness is dramatic. My mentor practices Sat Kriya daily and many other yogis and yoginis whom I respect have shared their reverence of this practice.

Would you like to join me in my adventure? :)

Additional helpful links:

Sat Kriya with the lovely Viriam Kaur at YogaVibes.com

How-To at 3ho.org

Sat Kriya at YogaJournal.com

Video demo at MyYogaOnline.com

boom chakra-laka!

artwork credit: unknown 

Chakras! Yow! There's something about the word itself that elicits images of crackling electricity and aurically abundant energies.

Often subtle body intelligence in general gets dismissed as fruity or new-agey. I have always been certain of "the body of bliss." As a child, I could walk into a room and feel everyone present. This tapped-in-ness has only grown along with me. It isn't always comfortable; I find that I am often over-stimulated and can be battered by others' energies, like heavy rain on a slicker. I'm still working on erecting my own force field for each and every day — a sort of protection that is very necessary if you're even remotely empathic.

If you're interested (how could you not be enthralled?!), here's a short boom chakra-laka breakdown:

{ Root - Muladhara } 1st chakra. Red. Earth. Grounding. Physical identity + instinct toward survival.

{ Sacral - Svadhisthana } 2nd chakra. Orange. Water. Moving. Emotions + sexuality + desire.

{ Navel - Manipura } 3rd chakra. Yellow. Fire. Directing. Power + strength + will.

{ Heart - Anahata } 4th chakra. Green. Air. Loving. Giving + receiving love.

{ Throat - Vishuddha } 5th chakra. Blue. Ether. Expressing. Communication.

{ Third Eye - Ajna } 6th chakra. Indigo.  Continuum of Bliss. Seeing the Way. Illumination + wisdom + the light within.

{ Crown - Sahasrara } 7th chakra. Violet. Universal Intelligence. Realization. Union + consciousness. 1,000 petal lotus.

In the coming weeks, I'll be delving deeply into this delicious study. More chakra-laka to come.

I am most balanced in my Navel, Throat, and Third Eye chakras. How about you?

(Props and credit to Anodea Judith for her vast chakra system knowledge and beautifully documented wisdom.)