Glamorous Yoga?

WHO KNEW?

Marilyn Monroe in bow pose. Click below to read the whole article.

Who knew that yoga could be glamorous? I had no idea, really. I never look like this is bow pose, that's for sure. As yoga gains in popularity, here in the United States, we are seeing more and more versions of yoga popping up: trendy yoga, themed yoga, hot yoga, pot-smokers yoga, it goes on and on. There is truly a yoga for every individual out there. What about the fashionistas, the glamour girls? Where do they fall into the mix? I think we need a new type of yoga for the girly girls, maybe serve some wine after and offer some facials and massage as well? Sounds great to me....but how to keep your hair looking so perfect after 20 down dogs? Hmmm.....

Marilyn Monroe: Yoga Superstar

Living Your Yoga

Make your practice fun! 

I keep finding myself doing what my daughter calls "random yoga poses" all over the place...standing in tree pose while casually chatting with a friend at the grocery store, kicking into headstands left and right, watching t.v. in bound angle pose and pictured above--painting in half moon pose. I think that it is of the utmost importance to make your yoga practice FUN! Yoga has recently infiltrated my life and filled it with joy and fullness. I think that is why it is spilling over into every other activity in my life...there is so much happiness that has come to me through yoga and now it is pouring back out of me! 

I really do strive to live my yoga everyday in my life and not just by breaking out "random yoga poses" but by truly making each breath the first priority, appreciating my life and staying mindful always, keeping my union with my true self throughout every task and errand, loving wholly and completely...everyday. So, not taking my self or my practice too seriously is a nice way to remain playful and easy in my life. I want to be like a little child, curious and happy and always exploring. If yoga is my playground, I want to come home every night at dinnertime with dirty knees and scraped elbows, grinning ear to ear....all played out! 

The Business of Yoga

Now that I have completed my 200 hour yoga alliance certification, the real work begins. Jump starting a new career should be an arduous task, lots of hours studying markets and job listings, meetings and interviews. This is no life for a fun-loving yogi like myself. How do I reconcile this passion for yoga with the actual career aspect of yoga without losing my love and authenticity for yoga? 

The business of yoga doesn't always seem to reflect the same ethics and guidelines as found in the actual practice of yoga. This is not an "aha" moment, this is a fact, one that we cannot avoid here in the United States. There are articles coming out proclaiming that our Eastern version of yoga is an inaccurate practice that does not maintain the roots in the Western philosophy and religions. There are articles about how yoga will ruin your body. The growth of yoga in our country means growth of the business of yoga, the merchandise, the big corporations and bad publicity. Will America make this ancient practice into McYoga?

My goal to remain faithful to my yoga practice without "selling out" becomes even trickier when I decided to teach yoga classes full time. The more I seemed to want to push into this new field, the more I felt resistance. It wasn't until I relaxed into the idea that the universe would provide me with what I need to succeed that I felt supported. Once I stopped worrying about where the next class would come from or how much I would get paid per student, everything fell right into place. Jobs started just appearing, phone calls coming in, facebook messages received. Now I have 3 sets of studio keys and plenty of work to do. 

One of the things that I love the most about yoga is that it makes me feel free, in so many ways. The freedom that I have in my practice is priceless. I like to think about yoga as my playground and keeping that playful  feeling toward yoga is essential!! You don't need $80 yoga pants or a designer mat made out of sacred crystals from Shiva Rea's rock garden. All you need to practice yoga is your mind and your body. Those are the only two pieces of equipment that you will ever need in order to maintain that practice. And faith. Faith that the universe will provide you with what you need to succeed. So keep your attitude and your heart light and wait patiently because there are some really incredible things in store for you too...if you believe!

New business card idea:

Keeping that playful attitude!