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

confessions of a yogini { hoodrat, hoodrat, hoochie mama }

artwork credit: wurk.deviantart.com

This has shit to do with yoga...in the specific sense. Now, in the grandest scheme of things, well, it makes perfect sense.

I choose ringtones like I choose yoga mats, the perfect chunky ring, books, and who to wreak havoc upon for the day. So. Very. Carefully. So you'll understand the artful process it took for me to arrive at 2 Live Crew's Hoochie Mama.

Why the dulcet tones of the infamously raunchy?

1. When my perfectly-postured doctor, the sweet old lady nextdoor, or some hassling a-hole calls, I am amused to no end by associating them with this song. I like to envision what their faces would look like if they were able to hear it. And sometimes, on my way to the phone, I throw in a little grind for their imagined benefit.
2. You can't NOT be in a good mood, regardless of the nature of any call, when the intro song on the conversational soundtrack includes lyrics like, "Mama just don't understand why I love your hoochie ass."
3. When you're busy as hell and your life is stressful (and stress-filled), the only antidote is to shake your ass. Mine has a mind of its own when this song plays.

I try to find little moments every day — petit spaces to have some fun, lighten the mood, and keep my perspective.

So "f*ck what ya heard and save your drama, all I need is my Hoochie Mama!" Give 'er a whirl. Uberly satisfactory results guaranteed. I'm a big bootie ho. Aren't you?

The Crew and I send our love,

yoga how you like! { doowutchyalike }

Ahem years ago { a lady never tells }, I was born unto this rich earth. TODAY IS ME BIRFFDAY! And I plan on rocking my fuchsia bejeweled plastic tiara { yup, i have one — wearing it now as i type }, pulling on my wellies, and doing whatever the fuck I like. { not bleeping that one out y'all...cause it's my BIRTHDAY. i'll do as i please! } Speaking of that...

Your yoga belongs to you and no one else. Know what that means? You have carte blanche. You possess absolute and utter freedom to doowutchyalike. And yoga how you like!

Yogahowyalike:

1. Wear what you feel good in. { We don't give an argyle sock what they think! }
2. Modification is magical. { Not ready for the big kahuna? Take the prep pose. Got the pose mastered? Get a little peacocky with it! I love a little flourish here and there. }
3. Sigh it all out. Use your breath to let go of what you're holding on to. { Sure I poke fun at the Darth Vaders of the yoga world, but if you need a big ass lion rawr or a horsey-lipped exhale, take one! }
4. If your body does something funny, laugh! { But let's not make it a habit...especially you gassy types. }
5. Faceplanting is the sign of a brave and adventurous soul. { Try something new (and quite possibly scary) and stand firm in your pioneering fierceness! }
6. If you can't remember the name for a pose, make one up. { Everyone else will think you know something they don't and it might just catch on. }

Yoga is LIFE. This is yours. As RuPaul says, "You bettah WORK!" Now get your ass out there and live your way. I'll be waiting for you. :D

{ artwork © Y is for Yogini, photo credits (with minor alterations by YIFY): marthastewart.com, projectpetinc.org, and disneymike.com }

ten tunes for tapas { the 12 days of yoga }

On the 29th day of December, yoga gave to me

ten tunes for tapas...

{ nine merry mantras }

{ eight gifts for giving }

{ 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. }

Mr. Truffle Snowman says it's hot in herre! His asana is on fire. No, not literally, but figuratively. That, and he is a master of building tapas — Sanskrit for heat. Tapas is the third of the five Niyamas { helpful + healing self-attitudes/practices we are encouraged to adopt }. If you're full of chocolate truffles or other delectable holiday goodies, now is the time to get Tapasic:  heat your body in such a way as to cleanse it.

Intelligently sequenced asana combined with breathwork is my go-to for firing it up and Tapas-ing that asana. :P

10 Tunes for Tapas { a hawt playlist to help you stoke the yogic fires }:

1. I'm Hot - { Erick Sermon }
2. Canned Heat - { Jamiroquai }
3. Hot Blooded - { Foreigner }
4. Burning Down the House - { Talking Heads }
5. Light Your Ass On Fire - { Busta Rhymes + Pharrell }
6. Hot Child In the City - { Nick Gilder }
7. Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex - { CSS }
8. Hot Stuff - { Donna Summer }
9. On Fire - { Lloyd Banks }
10. Hot Spot - { Foxy Brown }

"So take it off like you're home alone, ya know, dance in front of the mirror while you're on the phone." - Nelly

{ 2 more days! Mr. Snowman is made of Harry & David Truffles. }

six sirsas bobbing { the 12 days of yoga }

On the 17th day of December, yoga gave to me

six sirsas bobbing...

{ five moody mudras }

{ four heavy breathers }

{ three third eyes }

{ two turtle yogis }

{ and a yogini in the pose tree. }

Sirsa is "head" in Sanskrit (as in Sirsasana). And the heads of the gingy yogis and yoginis above are definitely bobbing (and singing) to the six awesome songs I've listed here. They're perfect for practice, 99.9% guaranteed not to offend, distract, detract, or put off. Miraculous, right?! Juuuuust trust me. I am musically fiendish. My collection is unrivaled. Plus — I had help from my sugary friends!

The mischievous-looking guy on the top left says song #1 (by the incomparable Al Green) is one of the sexiest and sultriest he's ever heard. And he knows that kind of stuff...popular with the gingy ladies and all.

Six sirsas, six yogi/ni/s, six songs { click the titles to hear the songs @ itunes/youtube }:

1. Simply Beautiful - Al Green
2. Samba da Bencao - Bebel Gilberto
3. Namaste { Sadhana Remix } - Maneesh De Moor
4. Love You - Bloomfield
5. India Love Affair - Aakarshan
6. L'Aventure Fantastique - Fantastic Plastic Machine

"I know you're bobbin' ya head, cause I can see ya!" - Dr. Dre

{ 6 more days coming atcha! }  

11 songs perfect for 11 minute kriyas { or simply for relaxation, meditation, + lounging }

artwork credit: headphone meditation by illusive mind 

Now that I'm sailing along in my first 40 day kriya { Sat Kriya - read about it here }, I've found that music can be the perfect complement to the practice. No one enjoys being buzzed out of bliss by a harsh alarm. Having a song that lasts approximately 11 minutes is the perfect timer. When the song ends, your kriya is complete.

11 Songs Perfect for 11 Minute Kriyas:

click the song title to hear a sample at iTunes

1. Satnam: Reaching Your True Identity | 11:07
   { Album: Universal Mantra, Artist: SatKirin Kaur Khalsa }


2. Jap Man Sat Nam | 11:07
   { Artist: Snatam Kaur, Album: Anand Bliss }


3. Sat Nam - Energise | 10:55
   { Artist: Maya Fiennes, Album: Kundalini Mantras }


4. Chakra Flow | 10:55
   { Artist: Dakina Mandarava, Album: Yoga Meditation }


5. Samadhi | 10:58
   { Artist: Shaman Dream Project, Album: Kerala Dream }


6. Vishnu's Dream | 11:37
   { Artist: Swaha, Album: Vishnu's Dream }


7. Extract from Cloud Tress | 10:43
   { Artist: Midori, Album: Blissful Calm }


8. Waves of Om | 10:56
   { Artist: Angelika, Album: Shiva Shakti Om }


9. Aum | 11:22
   { Artist: Motom, Album: Active Agent of Sound }


10. La Forme - King of the Mountains Mix | 11:31
    { Artist: Kraftwerk, Album: Aerodynamik / Remixes }


11. Sonata No. 8 d major 1777 | 10:57
    { Artist: Beethoven, Album: Beethoven for the Heart }

All songs can be purchased at iTunes. My apologies that the ones at iTunes require purchase of the whole album! It seems to be a trend that the longest songs in a set are "Album Only." Perhaps you'll find an album you like so much, that it'll be worth it to buy the whole shebang. Also, some of the songs can be found at Spirit Voyage as one-offs. :)

These songs are also lovely for meditation, relaxation, and lounging around on a chill day. Enjoy!