August 29, 2009
My daughter in the Pacific Ocean
She looks out over the ocean and makes a wish…
Can you remember the last time you made a wish or the last time you dropped a penny in a fountain, shut your eyes and wished with all your might? I think in many ways, sankalpa – intention in Sanskirt, are those adult wishes or intentions we set for ourselves.
It is often encouraged, at the beginning of your yoga practice, to set a sankalpa. Not only does setting an intention help to bring clarity and connection to mind and body, but it also increases mental focus adding much more than the physical element to your asana practice. I once read someone referring to intention setting before yoga, as “sprinkling a little blessing over your practice”.
So what kind of intention do you set? It really can be anything from a word to a mantra or short phrase. Perhaps your intent is “To find peace through my practice and to carry that out into my day”, “To grow within my practice and as a person”, or “To be fully present in this time I’ve set aside for me.” I tell my students that if a clear intent doesn’t arise, perhaps send the energy of your practice to someone else. Align yourself with that positive energy you’ve now put out there and the applied action of your physical yoga practice opens up to limitless possibilities. Then, if you so choose, take your intention off your mat and into your day, so as to truly Live Yoga.
Intention setting isn’t for just your yoga practice. You can set an intention at the very beginning or throughout your day. For instance, ”My intent is to help someone today” or “My intent is to hear, with an open mind and heart what my loved ones are saying”. I like to set an intention a couple times in my day. Taking that moment to be positive, I sprinkle my day with little blessings.
The image included in this blog is my then 9-year old daughter in tree pose overlooking the magnificence of the ocean. I’m not sure what she was thinking, what wish she sent out into the universe. That is only hers to know. I hope it comes true.
Blessings,
Claudine
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August 20, 2009
This past Sunday, Living Yoga hosted a Bear Naked breakfast clinic: Run, Yoga, Eat. The event was a coming together of people that enjoy hitting the pavement with those that recognize the benefits of time on the mat. After the 5k run, I led the group into a mini yoga session that focused on lengthening the back and leg muscles in supported poses using bolsters and blocks. Always, always ending with savasana, participants walked away feeling stretched, restored and relaxed. We all then sampled the many different kinds of 100% pure and natural granola from Bear Naked, along with yogurt, fresh fruit and coffee. Thank you to all who came and thank you to Bear Naked for a great event!
Peace
Claudine
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August 14, 2009
Like a good pair of running shoes, a good yoga mat can make all the difference in your practice. Over the years, I’ve tried many yoga mats and finally found one that suited all of my needs. I needed a mat that provided excellent grip during the sweatier vinyasa practices and one that had enough support and cushioning for the poses that required you to be on your knees for an extended period of time. I discovered Jade Yoga mat at a workshop. During workshops, they often ask you to buddy up with someone next to you to practice a certain pose or adjustments, and I stepped on to someone’s mat that provided me with the perfect grip and was very comfortable. I found out what the brand was and purchased one on-line the very next day. I now sell these mats at Living Yoga not only because I like them so much, but because I feel good about supporting a company that plants a tree for every yoga mat purchased. The mats are also environmentally friendly, made from natural rubber and no PVC, which can harm the ozone. Also, the mats are made with US environmental labor and consumer safety laws. Check out this link to their website http://www.jadeyoga.com/store/pages.php?pageid=5 and scroll down to view 25 ways to recycle your yoga mat.
Claudine
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