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

6 ways to be more regular in life { yogic fiber }

photo credit: fiber.org

I am not regular. This is not to say I need more fiber in my diet, per se, but more fiber in life. More fluidity. More ease. Less blockage. All flow.

How do we get blocked? Let me count { some of } the ways:

1. Chasing, forming, and maintaining relationships which do not feed us.
2. Putting trash into our bodies. Garbage In = Garbage Out.
3. Trying desperately to control...everything.
4. All push, no sensualism.
5. Neglecting self-care rituals.
6. Forgetting our auras/force fields/Jedi bubbles.

1. Re-examine all relationships. Don your reading glasses or your Ray-Bans if necessary. Let go where need be. You'll know where.
2. On the rare occasions that I actually sleep, my best dreams include the fantasmic metallic ice-blue Aston Martin DB-9 that makes my knees go weak. Imagine your dream autoeroticmobile. You sure as hell wouldn't put Jiffy gas in it, would you? Nothing but Premium, baby. Treat your body like that. You need it for life. Fuel: H20, leafy greens (green smoothies!), colorful fruits and veggies, and enough good protein to stoke the vroom.
3. I'm a control freak, and not exactly the shining subject of let-shit-run-its-course or trust, but at some point we just have to faith it.
4. Take at least 15 minutes a day to do something purely enjoyable. Just. For. Fun. Novel, right? And find someone to feed you grapes while you do it.
5. I want to make sure you are bathing. Not just for the sake of your social life, either. And not the usual quickie-dickie shower. Freshly-painted toes, sesame or coconut oil rubbed into your hands and feet, and an awesomely scary avocado facial mask are thoughtful ways to be nice to you.
6. You know what happens when the force isn't strong with this one (meaning you, my friend). Keeping it energized is crucial. Doing just 60 seconds of Aura Sweeping will make your force field glisten and glimmer, with all the strength and brilliance of diamonds.

I'm off to take my own advice. My grape-feeder looks uncannily like Takeshi Kaneshiro.

Peace, Love, and Yogic Fiber,

4 ways to pimp your yoga { yo, dawg! }

artwork credit: MTV { with creative modifications by YIFY }

Rusty joints? Yogic grille not so sparkly? Motor put-putting? Or perhaps just practicing the same damn thang over and over again?

Shawty, it be time ta pimp your yoga! As Xzibit says, "Yo Dawg, I heard you like yoga...so let's put some extra YO in your yoga, so you can really YOGA."

Now let's get started.

1. Spice it up. If you are a Bikram Babe, try something cooling like Yin Yoga. If you normally practice Iyengar, take a Vinyasa Flow class instead. Step out of the usual into the unusual and something magically delicious or scandalously awesome usually happens. Voila!
2. Go to a new studio. I know, I know. I can hear the internal struggle..."But there will be people I don't know there. (gasp! stranger danger!) And I don't know where to park. (oh no! undoubtedly you will drive in circles until the end of time!) And...and...and..." SILENCE! Do it. It will be good for you. Don't make me bind and gag your internally dialoguing mouth.
3. Take a walk on the wild side and practice in the front of the room. You ok? You didn't pass out after reading that, did you? If you usually practice in the back, get ballsy and try the front row for once. Contrarily-wise, if you're a front row regular, take a backseat and get a new perspective.
4. Get in touch with your bandhas and your breath. Read up, watch videos, take a workshop, do 40 days of pranayama. And you'll blow the lid off your practice.

So, dawg...what are you waiting for?! If you need me, I have my yoga toolbox at the ready.

i pitta the fool { 10 ways to soothe pitta energy }

photo credit: snarkerati.com

Mr. T and I pity the fools with too much Pitta energy — I am sometimes one of them. And so is Mr. T. He's Pitta through and through, if you ask me. :)

Pitta is the second of the three doshas { Vata, Pitta, Kapha } and summer is Pitta season: hot, fiery, with feistiness on the rise. So whether summer has come early for you, you are naturally a Pitta, or you've just hit a sticky patch of anger you're working through, I'm here to serve up a nice tall glass of Pitta-cooling tips. Not to worry, my sweaty bebes, I've got you covered (or uncovered, as the case may be. it's summer...take your clothes off!)

When in balance, Pitta is passionate and charismatic. Characteristics: focused, energetic, driven, and organized. Elements: fire and water. Governs: metabolism, digestion, and the production of energy.

Pitta goes out of balance when:

• you get overheated
• you are angry
• you're working too hard
• your diet is comprised of many sour foods

You, with a Pitta imbalance:

Now, stand still while I turn on the hose and spray your hot booty down...

1. Take a cool shower, hit the pool, run through the sprinkler, or bust out the Slip n' Slide. You can also freeze your bra (or undies/boxers) slumber party style — this is a relatively short-lived cooling mechanism, but it works!
2. Drink lots and lots of water. It'll feel extra refreshing (and spa-like) if you throw in cucumber slices, a lemon or orange wedge, mint, or cherries.
3. Eat fresh, juicy, ripe, sweet fruits — even better if you chill them in the fridge first. Watermelon is summery heaven! You can't eat it and not smile or feel like a kid again. :D
4. Take a slow, leisurely walk in the moonlight.
5. Avoid spicy and sour foods and caffeinated drinks.
6. Splash your face and neck with rose water or rub rose oil (i use this one from Weleda) on your pulse points. Rose is calming and cooling.
7. Practice Sitali Pranayam, an incredibly cooling, relaxing breath exercise. Your head and heart will feel light and your body will feel so very cool.
8. Cater your yoga practice to the season — practice during the coolest parts of the day. Also, be sure to include poses known to be cooling: Belly Savasana, Supta Baddha Konasana/Cobbler's Pose/Bound Angle Pose, Sarvangasana/Shoulder Stand, Halasana/Plow Pose, Seated Forward Bends, and Viparita Karani/Legs Up the Wall.
9. Wear light, cool colors: white, lavender, sky blue, baby pink, soft yellow, and other pastels.
10. Listen to waterfall, babbling brook, rain, or running water tracks. It's like letting your brain take a dip in the ocean. :) 

Stay cool, my friends. There's no other way to be.

ehh, vato. sup? { 10 ways to calm your vata energy }

In case you were wondering, "vato" is Mexican slang for homie, dude, peep, pally, etc. So, my vatos, I am here to help you with your Vata. In a nutshell, Vata is the first of the three doshas { Vata, Pitta, Kapha } — the mind/body types in Ayurveda. Some of us have Vata as our primary dosha, meaning this is our main mental mojo + physical makeup, however we all have Vata energy.

When in balance, Vata is beauteous and dazzling. Characteristics: creative, energetic, quick, lively, fun, imaginative, intelligent, witty. Elements: Air and ether. Governs: Prana, movement, digestion.

No matter your dosha, everyone has shifts in their Vata, Pitta, and Kapha energies on occasion, and sometimes that energy careens out of balance. The most common one to go bonkers? Vata.

How does it feel when your Vata energy is off the chain? Like this:

Familiar, right? How do we add a little g-love and special sauce to balm it? I got ya covered.

10 Ways to Calm Your Vata Energy:

1. Practice a daily kriya.
2. Get Sniffing! Vanilla, sandalwood, and patchouli are especially comforting.
3. Good Eats: Warm, cooked { not raw }, sweet, salty, and sour foods are perfecto for balancing Vata. Add some olive oil to your cooked veggies, have a cup of hot tea or warm milk with nutmeg + cinnamon, nibble on nuts, and eat your oatmeal like a champ.
4. Sweet Feet: Rub warm organic sesame oil on your tootsies, slip on some snuggly socks, and hit the hay.
5. Routines are good. Vata derangement is akin to having your head float off into the clouds like a balloon. A firm sched will keep you in line and moving forward with flow.
6. Wear your calm on your sleeve: Dress in restful, soothing colors like lavender, greens, browns, and blues.
7. Don't hang out with assholes.
8. Stay Warm. How about a snuggie? Organic cotton socks, a nubby scarf, and a cute hat = just what the ayurvedic doc ordered.
9. Legs Up the Wall: Put on your fave mellow music and take Viparita Karani — the most calming pose in yoga, in my opinion.
10. Meditate.

Namaste, vatos and vatas. ;) May buttery calm be with you.

meditation for a calm heart { new 40-day kundalini kriya! }

artwork credit: yogibhajan.org { with enhancements by YIFY }

I feel like when we put a hand over our hearts, we tap into something so very still and interminably deep. Our hearts are the home for prana. Somehow, right now, this meditation feels absolutely perfect. It brings deep stillness, the ability to act with your whole heart, and clear perception of the self and others.

If you've been here very long, you know that I am always in the middle { or beginning or end } of a 40-day Kundalini kriya. If you are new here, you're in for a treat and I hope you'll join me. It is often recommended that you do kriyas/meditations in the morning to set the tone for your day. I like to do mine at night, because I'm a night owl. :) You'll know what's right for you.

Meditation for a Calm Heart ♥

1. Begin in Easy Pose/Sukhasana.
2. Place your left hand over your heart center, palm flat.
3. Bend your right elbow, raise the right hand, and take Gyan Mudra { i.e., making the a-ok sign with your hand + fingers }. Palm faces forward.
4. Roll your shoulders down your back and relax them.
5. Close your eyes.
6. Focus on your breath.
7. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose. At the top of your inhale, suspend the breath, and retain { hold } it as long as possible and comfortable. Please do not strain.
8. Exhale slowly and smoothly out your nose. When the exhale is complete, suspend the breath out as long as you are comfortably able.
9. Continue this method of inhalation and exhalation.       { beginners: 3 minutes or more (work your way up gradually); Kundalini practitioners: 11 minutes or more (working up to 31 minutes) }.
10. When complete, inhale and exhale normally 3 times, then relax.

Notes:

• This is an excellent meditation for beginners. It heightens your awareness of your breath and conditions your lungs.
• Please be sure that you don't strain when inhaling, exhaling, or retaining. Our goal is to create and preserve calm, peace, and serenity. We don't want to create any stress. 
• The left hand over your heart creates deep stillness within.
• The right hand in Gyan Mudra brings receptiveness, relaxation, and peace.

For the visual learners:

• A yogini demonstrates this meditation. { skip to 3:53 for actual demo }
• A second yogini's video demonstration. { skip to 2:09 }

We will begin Meditation for a Calm Heart on Sunday, March 27th and continue for 40 days. I would love for you to take this journey with me! Your heart will be so happy you did. :) If you have any questions at all, you can always comment here, email me, or tweet at me/direct message me on Twitter.

Sending you love and the calmest of hearts. xo