Everyday Yoga: September 2016

Spooky Bendy Yoga Skelly

A video posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 29, 2016 at 11:09am PDT

This is a clip from a longer video where Spooky Bendy Yoga Skelly demonstrates Surya Namaskara in the cemetery at night. Brooo ha ha ha..... The entire video and more info on Skelly can be found by going to my website:http://www.yogalifestyle.com/MISpookyYogaBendySkeletons.htm
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Neck Free Handstand

A video posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 28, 2016 at 4:39pm PDT

I was delighted at the warm reception this first posting of this video received yesterday and I was horrified when I saw that most of the image was cropped out. Sorry. I am sort of new at this and learning the ins and outs. The main thing that you missed yesterday is how my hands relax completely while I do the pose and how I get in and out of it. For those who missed yesterday's posting here is more info about the practice of neck-less headstand.

Many people who want to perform a headstand find that due to a neck injury, fear or just plain common sense it really is not for them. Let's face it, the cervical vertebrae are small and evolved to carry the head not the whole body. It is unlikely that someone who has not trained extensively to develop the necessary muscles, flexibility and balance would be able to do Sirsasana safely. Still, they may want to experience the world completely upside down, feel the blood rushing to their heads, have their digestion eased and maybe they want to meditate on the nectar of the moon at the base of the brain dripping into the fire of the sun in their bellies. Whatever the motivation doing a headstand safely and comfortably is the goal.

The set up in this video is a great way to safely approach this classic posture. Of special note are the two bheka Tadpoles on top of the stacks of cork blocks. These mini-cushions stuffed with organic buckwheat hulls mold to the contours of my shoulders making this much more comfortable than pressing my shoulders directly on the firm cork blocks. I prefer cork or wood to foam since they form a more stable base, but foam will do in a pinch. Either way, the Tadpoles add a whole new level of comfort to this wonderful modification. For more information on bheka Tadpoles and Cork Blocks just go to my website: http://yogalifestyle.com/ and search "bheka Tadpoles" or "bheka Cork Blocks".

I'd love to hear from you. Please connect with me on the Facebook Page and Instagram feed to get more Yoga wisdom, science, style, and fun everyday! And make sure to Subscribe to Everyday Yoga for more great posts like this one delivered to your inbox!

Double Plank

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 25, 2016 at 4:26pm PDT

The first thing that caught my eye about this post is that it looks like a heart. Well, sort of and then the wood floor and her arms make an interesting cross. And well it feels sort of gritty and serious and ambiguous. Kind of arty. I also love the that it relies on the pose being rotated 90 degrees which is disorienting. There is lots to ponder here. I love that. I hope you love it too. @angela_argentina

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Kitchen Yoga

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 24, 2016 at 4:43pm PDT

This photo really makes me smile. Seeing Leslie balanced parallel to the floor caught my eye. Then I followed the clean line of her taught body to her feet resting on a unique prop. Her trash bin.

As a prop supplier, I suppose I shouldn't love this so much but the creativity of using whatever is at hand to enhance practice is always welcome. Plus, I love that she is practicing in the kitchen, something I have done many times for various reasons. Finally, the lines of the photo seem to suggest that this was not just a random shot that happens to look great, but someone chose just the right place to make this pose look as good as possible. Notice how the contours of the kitchen counter and mirror frame mimic her position and reinforce it. Sort of holding her up in the air. Then the door to the room and the fridge direct your gaze to her. Just wonderful.

I love seeing such a masterful use of the camera too. Kudos to you Leslie making such a fine offering. @leslieharrisyoga

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Chiming Tibetan Singing Bowl

A video posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 23, 2016 at 6:04pm PDT

One of the things I love about these bowls is that they are all unique. Not only do they each have a unique sound but the way they sing tends to vary as well. Some like hard pressure with the wand and others prefer soft. The speed of rotation will also change the toning. Some bowls are magnificent with a slow rotation and some with a faster circling.

It took me a long time to even be able to get one to tone. There is a sensitivity to the vibration of the wand that took me awhile to develop. The story of how that happened is sort of funny.
I had recently received a shipment from India including this type of bowl. I eagerly took a dozen with me to a conference in Canada. There my helper, Sherrie, was wonderful at toning with the bowls. I could barely make them squeak. It was ironic. Here I was a Tibetan Bowl Vendor and I could not demonstrate the product. Luckily my colleague was a whiz at it. I intently watched Sherrie and customers when they were using the bowls and when it was quiet in the booth I would hold one in my hand and circle it with the wand hoping for magic. This went on for some hours on and off during the first day of the show.

Finally, while Sherrie was on break in the late morning, i got the knack. I was mesmerized by the ethereal tone I had helped bring forth. I was surprised to note that even though I had the bowl in my hand the tone sounded like it was coming down from the sky not up from the ground. I was delighted. Fortunately, it is like riding a bike and I have been an able toner ever since. I love doing it now. I like ending class with it and I find it soothing to do when no one is around. I try to love all my products equally but this one has a special resonant place in my heart.

At the time of this writing, it is offered on my website at 20% off retail.

Shop now at my website http://yogalifestyle.com/GETibetanSingingBowls.htm

I'd love to hear from you. Please connect with me on the Facebook Page and Instagram feed to get more Yoga wisdom, science, style, and fun everyday! And make sure to Subscribe to Everyday Yoga for more great posts like this one delivered to your inbox!

Strawberry Hearts

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 22, 2016 at 4:49pm PDT

I had cut up a few strawberries for my breakfast cereal this morning and I was wondering how I could shape them into a heart for my "food prep with love collection". As I spread out the slices I saw immediately that the some of them had already organized themselves into heart shapes! I think it is true that when you look for something you tend to find it. Keep looking for Peace, Truth and Beauty! And oh yes Love ;--) Mention anything else you want to find below!

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Tibetan Bowl with a lovely, long lasting chime

A video posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 21, 2016 at 5:18pm PDT

This is my first video post here and I am excited that I can share the beautiful long lasting tone of this Imported Tibetan Singing Bowl with you. I like using the bowl to start and end my yoga classes. Sometimes I use it instead of chanting at the end. Letting the tone slowly die away is a mellow way to bring the class to a close. This style of bowl is currently on sale for 20% off on my
website: http://www.yogalifestyle.com/GETibetanSingingBowls.htm

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Red Lentil Love

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 19, 2016 at 4:59pm PDT

In order to do my part to end global warming and encourage the change in seasons to manifest, I made my first Lentil soup since winter ended, last night. Cold weather must surely follow. I hope. Regardless, this recipe is a favorite because it is so simple and tasty.

     The only exotic ingredient is nutritional yeast flakes.   It is part of the seasoning for the veggie stock. If you have some other veggie stock you like you can sub it for the water and you can skip the flakes, however, I recommend this stock since it is the prime flavoring of the soup.

     This takes about 15 minutes to prep and an hour to cook using red lentils. You can sub brown or green but your cooking time and consistency may vary.

4 TBSP Olive Oil
2 Chopped Medium Onions
6 Large Garlic Cloves Sliced
1 TSP Red Pepper Flakes or 1/2 TSP Ground Red Pepper (optional, I leave out when making for kids)

9 Cups Water or Veggie Stock
If using water, have these things on hand referred to in the recipe as "Stock Spices"
3TBSP Nutritional Yeast Flakes
2 TSP Salt
1 TSP Onion Powder
1 TSP Paprika
1/2 TSP Garlic Powder
1/4 TSP Dried Parsley Flakes
1/4 TSP Marjoram (Sub Thyme or Oregano if you don't keep Marjoram around)
Pinch or two of turmeric and a shake or two of black pepper.

2 2/3 cups of Red Lentils

     Heat Oil to medium. Add chopped onions. After 5 minutes add garlic and pepper flakes. Cook till onions and garlic are soft.
     Add water, stock spices and lentils. Bring to boil, then simmer for an hour or till lentils have desired softness, the red ones become mush. Stir regularly while simmering.

Once this is cooking you have an hour to tidy up and make whatever you want with the soup. Pictured below is hummus and celery prepared while the soup was cooking. The stock recipe is great for anything calling for a veggie stock. With the nutritional yeast base, it is tasty and very good for you.
    To your health, love and bliss.

Organic Cotton Oversized Eye Pillow

A Popular Aid to Relaxation.

About a year ago we ran out of this great oversized eye pillow. Since it was popular and we make it ourselves, we were eager to make more but were stymied by our supplier being all out of this dark, soft and heavy fabric.

Fortunately a customer who had stocked her studio with them needed a bunch more and checked with me about a month ago. Then I found the material was back in stock so here they are. I couldn't be more pleased.

Recent studies have shown that gentle pressure on the eyes and a completely dark environment enhance relaxation. Our bodies naturally respond to this stimulus (or lack of it) by slowing down.

The Bheka Dark Blue Organic Cotton and Hemp Over-Sized Eye Pillow scented with Organic Lavender and filled with Organic Flax is perfect for triggering the parasympathetic nervous system. Whether you are doing restorative yoga, yoga nidra or just taking a little nap this big little pillow will enhance your experience.

At 9 inches long and filled with close to 10oz of organic flaxseed this is more than 20% longer and heavier than a standard eye pillow. Lavender is a scent with well-known, natural relaxant and soothing properties. This pillow is proudly made in the USA.

Click the image above for more information and to purchase.

I'd love to hear from you. Please connect with me on the Facebook Page and Instagram feed to get more Yoga wisdom, science, style, and fun everyday! And make sure to Subscribe to Everyday Yoga for more great posts like this one delivered to your inbox!

FIVE MINUTES OF BLISS: TOUCHING THE INEFFABLE

This traditional yoga practice is the most far out and groovy of any that I know. Why the ultra passe hippy lingo? Because doing this often brings on a certain kind of psychedelic bliss that can best be described as "trippy". Now don't freak out. You won't see melting walls or end up staring at a light bulb for hours. (I hear a lot of you saying aw shucks and darn it.) But I'm guessing you won't be disappointed by the light show that this practice often induces. It was while I was enjoying the practice of Yoni Mudra that I first saw the shining circle of fire I think of as the eye in the pyramid. While performing this I have experienced many cool geometric fields of lightwork lattices, brilliant universes populated by starlike points of light and even inky blackness so intense that I had to repeat a mantra to keep me company so the fear of dark nothingness would not overwhelm me. This is not for the faint of heart. Read on if you dare, brave one.

Yoni mudra is an effort to seal off all your senses and re-experience the quiet of the womb. Yoni is Sanskrit for "female reproductive organ" and the yoni mudra is a gesture designed to help one crawl back to this point of origin without actually leaving ones meditation cushion, chair or yoga mat. You can do it anywhere but it is usually done sitting upright after some relaxing breathing exercises that help to set a mood of receptivity. It can, however, be done cold with no preparation, as long as you have a few minutes to spare and are in the mood to experience the eternal void.

Here's how:
Put your right thumb in your right ear and your left thumb in your left ear and spread your fingers wide as if you were imitating a moose's antlers. Now wiggle your fingers and stick your tongue out. Oh wait that's the nah, nah ... nah, nah mudra. Ok, stop laughing and let's get serious. The thumbs do start in the ears with the other fingers outstretched. Bring your index fingers to your closed eye lids. Put the tips of your middle fingers on either side of your nostrils. Finally, place your ring finger on your upper lip and your pinky on your lower lip. Inhale deeply through the nose and then more or less simultaneously, press the thumbs to close the ears off, exert gentle pressure on the eyes with the pointer fingers, shut the nostrils with the middle fingers lightly pushed in and squeeze the lips shut between the remaining fingers. Stay like this till you need to breathe. When you do, take a few breaths and enjoy whatever comes with your eyes closed. When you are ready for more, take a deep breath and press as before. Repeat this whole process a third time. After the last go round rest completely with eyes closed, watching the images in front of you change and shift. Open when you are done.

When you try this I'd love to know how you like it.
Peace Out!
Right On!
Keep the Faith! etc, etc, etc....

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Angel and My Sister

On Saturday, my sister Dee of Yoga Boca and I toured the Hippocrates Institute which fortunately is only 30 minutes from Dee's home in Delray Beach. To me Hippocrates has always been rawfood, vegan mecca. Years ago an old yogi named Ramesh Lahiri from Ananda Ashram in NY taught me the wonders of sprouting and live foods. Much of what he knew came from this wondrous place. I spent about 18 months keeping my diet very clean, raw vegan and never felt more alive. However, when I moved my sprouts did not do well in the new location and I fell out of the habit. It is time consuming and I have opted for more convenient ways to be vegan ever since. I enjoyed my recent visit to this raw food heaven though. At the lunch buffet there are unlimited quantities of all kinds of sprouts, vegan dressings, lots of edible veggies and juices. All the goodness with the ease of having it done for you. For raw foodies and the raw curious I can't say enough good things about this lovely spot.

Vegan Fruit Fly Control

Ever notice how at the end of the season it seems like fruit flies become more determined to hang on. As a vegan, I always have a supply of fruits and vegetables on hand. September is a great time for harvested veggies but buying from the local farm stand and even the supermarkets this time of year often brings unwanted visitors who ruin the fruit that is left out. A brilliant solution was offered to me by a friend many years ago and it has made life with fruit flies easier ever since. Find a small jar or two with metal tops and put in something you know fruit flies love. A banana peel or rotten piece of apple or a couple of grapes will do. Then poke a hole or two or three in the tops of the jars and leave it where fruit flies like to congregate. The flies love to come in the jar and are not great at getting out. Once or twice a day you can take them outside and open the lid. Sometimes I blow in the jar to motivate diehards or even pour water in it to wash them out. This cuts down the population to tolerable levels and doesn't hurt the files much either. If you know someone with a fruit fly problem this could be just the tip they need ;--)

Animal Researcher Has Second Thoughts

This article is hard to read since what is described is gruesome and it is important since only we can make it stop. Humans for better or worse get to choose the fates of all animals. Sometimes our lofty goals are only worked on by dreadful means. This researcher did the cost/benefit analysis and realized we are making a big mistake. Animals are paying the price of our folly. It is sad and important to be informed about.

Read the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/04/opinion/sunday/second-thoughts-of-an-animal-researcher.html?_r=0

Buckets of Compassion Required

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 11, 2016 at 2:05pm PDT

"If we see that we have no mindfulness, that we rarely refrain, that we have little well-being, that is not confusion, that's the beginning of clarity." Pema Chodron from When Things Fall Apart

This is a central irony. To start cleaning up a mess you have to notice that you have made one. Just noticing the problem is the first step toward cleaning it up. While this may be deeply embarrassing when it happens, it happens to all of us, over and over again. That's why a sense of humor is also important ;--) and hopefully buckets of compassion from yourself and those around you.

Suggested Reading:

When Things Fall Apart, Heart Advice for Difficult Times
by Pema Chodron.
The book is available for purchase here on the website: When Things Fall Apart

Smile for Clarity of Mind

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 10, 2016 at 8:00pm PDT

"When the lake has no ripples, everything in the lake can be seen. When the water is all churned up, nothing can be seen. The still lake without ripples is an image of our minds at ease, so full of unlimited friendliness for all the junk at the bottom of the lake that we don't need to churn up the waters just to avoid looking at what's there."

Pema Chodron from When Things Fall Apart

There is an easy way to cultivate this "unlimited friendliness". Smile. Try this when when you feel anxious, angry, lonely or other difficult feelings come up. You may find it is hard to stay stuck in the doldrums when your face is beaming.

Did you ever hear the expression for being drunk, "feeling no pain"? Have you ever read the the ecstatic words of the sufi poet Rumi, speaking of connection to the divine as an intoxication? Have you ever had a moment of clarity where everything made sense? It felt like your life was perfect and complete? This unlimited friendliness Pema Chodron tells us about is the elixir that brings on the feeling that we are whole, safe and secure. Greeting whatever unfolds in the next moment with curiosity and openness.

Deep inside we all wish this for ourselves and we know it is possible. Unfortunately, we have all these habits of mind that churn the waters, obscuring things. When we become defensive or angry or woeful inquisitiveness and warmth go out the window.

People take drugs to reach a state of painlessness and safety. This actually works but there is always a price. We can cultivate unlimited friendliness in many ways. Yoga is a good first step. Meditation is wonderful for this. And there are little turns of mind that we can use that also point the way.
Here is an exercise to do when you are feeling anxious and uncomfortable, perhaps angry about something or fearful. Smile. It is hard to dwell in negativity with a smile on your face. If you don't believe me, try it. Next time you have some difficult situation come up step outside your tension and smile. This may help you to greet your problem with friendliness and allow you to understand where your discomfort is coming from giving more options for going forward. When you try this, please come back here and let me know how it went. ;--)

Suggested Reading:

When Things Fall Apart, Heart Advice for Difficult Times
by Pema Chodron.
The book is available for purchase here on the website: When Things Fall Apart

=I'd love to hear from you. Please connect with me on the Facebook Page and Instagram feed to get more Yoga wisdom, science, style, and fun everyday! And make sure to Subscribe to Everyday Yoga for more great posts like this one delivered to your inbox!

Do You Know Why Your Dog is Happier than You?

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 9, 2016 at 1:16pm PDT

I laughed heartily when I saw this since it took me a second or two to even slow my mind down enough to focus and get the joke. It just felt so true. WHAM complete recognition of our dilemma. OMG. All the great teachings in one little cartoon. Poor us with our big brains always caught in the past and the future. I appreciate @zenxculture for sharing it on Instagram. Peace Out Brothers and Sisters!

I'd love to hear from you. Please connect with me on the Facebook Page and Instagram feed to get more Yoga wisdom, science, style, and fun everyday! And make sure to Subscribe to Everyday Yoga for more great posts like this one delivered to your inbox!

I am Liberated

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 7, 2016 at 3:13pm PDT

Wow, today is the last day of this Challenge. While I am looking forward to being freed from the discipline of having to do a difficult pose every day, I am also saddened by losing this particular creative outlet to share with the world. Skelly and I have had fun out here and appreciate all the supportive, joyful comments from friends old and new.

#LiberateThyself The pose is #AdhoMukhaVrksasana, the almighty #handstand. The Intention is "I am liberated."

So Skelly is really liberated today. She is normally 5 inches tall but for this special day she is as big as me! Mahima, the ability to grow large is one of the siddhis referred to in the Yoga Sutras. It can be experienced many ways, devotion and contemplation being the most natural and long lasting. I hope that's how Skelly managed her "growth spurt" but even if it isn't I just love having her be as big as me.

I feel liberated as well. This week on Instagram was sort of a coming out party for my feed. I had a chance to share about a lot of cool yoga related stuff which I always like to do and I picked up close to 200 new followers and many hundreds of likes for me and Skelly doing what we love to do. Bless you all. I hope you enjoy the regular posts as they resume tomorrow ;--)

This post is the last in a series! To learn more about this Yoga challenge, click here: Instagram Yoga Challenge

I'd love to hear from you. Please connect with me on the Facebook Page and Instagram feed to get more Yoga wisdom, science, style, and fun everyday! And make sure to Subscribe to Everyday Yoga for more great posts like this one delivered to your inbox!

My body is my vehicle for expressing my greatness

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 6, 2016 at 3:32pm PDT

Day 6 of #LiberateThyself is about choosing to use your body to create some epic! Intention: My body is my vehicle for expressing my greatness. I am a vehicle for expressing my greatness. The pose is #ParsvaBhujaDandasana or#flyingpigeon. Here is what I know about greatness and I think Skelly agrees. I may be great at something, say math or yoga poses or vegan cooking but if it is not connected to my heart it is just exercising a skill. Using my body to express my greatness is just an ego trip unless it feeds something deeper inside me. When I am using my skills to advance my hearts true longing then it is assured that something beautiful is being made. To ensure greatness, I need to find my passion and follow my heart. I have found a deep satisfaction in getting in touch with my feelings and being able to share about them and to be in touch with others who are striving to do the same. I enjoy coming into community with this attitude. And I love seeing it expressed by others. I am learning to lean into the discomfort of being exposed because of the enjoyment I take from being seen. Skelly for her part expresses her greatness with her grace, flexibility and nakedness. She loves to be bendy and her joy in uninhibited posturing is infectious. She loves making people smile and encouraging them on the path. She has been a great inspiration to me, helping me to find my voice.

This post is part of a series! To learn more about this Yoga challenge and win great prizes, get the rules here: Instagram Yoga Challenge

I'd love to hear from you. Please connect with me on the Facebook Page and Instagram feed to get more Yoga wisdom, science, style, and fun everyday! And make sure to Subscribe to Everyday Yoga for more great posts like this one delivered to your inbox!

I treat my body like a temple

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 5, 2016 at 4:27pm PDT

I'm glad I am doing this Challenge with my friend Purple Skelly. Doing enough yoga to warm up to complete the day's pose each day is strenuous. I am trying to do my best (as #DonMiguelRuiz suggests) and as a result I have been sore in one place or another all week. I actually feel strong and capable but I"m not sure I wouldn't skip a day or two unless I had a partner to coax me along and of course the challenge rules to guide me.

Day 5 of #LiberateThyself is about making a declaration. The intention is: I treat my body like a temple. The pose is #Marichyasana

This one is tough for me. Self care is not high on my list of priorities. I try to eat well and maintain my weight (which had gotten away from me for a few years) but beyond that I ignore my physical needs more than is optimal. I can be sporadic on the exercise piece and I am awful about regular checkups with the dentist and doctor. Purple Yoga Bendy Skelly for her part is very low maintenance being all bones and well, dead already, and she always looks great without any adornment since purple goes with everything. For my part I will declare here to exercise regularly 3 or more days per week over and above any gentle yoga sessions I may do. A rigorous session will count toward the 3 days. I will also go to the dentist and the doctor before the end of the year for check ups. There are other things I should probably look at in terms of wardrobe and hair and stuff, but I'm thinking I shouldn't commit to too much now, so I will just hit the high spots. One way to get myself to do this is to think if I had a child who needed what I need would I give it to them. If the answer is yes, I proceed. Here I go. Wish me luck.

This post is part of a series! To learn more about this Yoga challenge and win great prizes, get the rules here: Instagram Yoga Challenge

I am not a body. I am free.

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 4, 2016 at 7:37am PDT

I think a Yoga Challenge is only working right if it is truly a challenge. For Ray a lot of these poses are just outside or even a lot outside his comfort zone, where they should be. For me except for the ones that need flexible wrists and ankles the poses are pretty easy. But Ray knows that I am shy when it comes to talking to strangers from my heart. So today, I am going to work at my edge, sharing my feelings with the world. It is Purple Skelly Challenge Day.

Day 4 Of #LiberateThyself is about taking the step to see who we really are. The Intention is: I am not a body. I am free. Today's pose is #DwiPadViparitaDandasanaor #upwardfacingtwofootstaffpose
Luckily Today's Mantra is easy for me to riff on. I really am not my body. I mean look at me. Not an ounce of flesh on me and yet my consciousness continues. Due to my super bendy spine this pose came naturally me to me too. Ray, not so much. That pesky body of his craves food and air and water and lots of other stuff the mind gets up to. Yes, he is trying to develop the witness within but at the end of the day even the witness has to say, hey dude it is time for supper. The human dilemma. Thankfully me and the witness share something in common. We love to watch the beauty of humans striving to be their best while challenged by so much yearning. Even if their backs aren't very flexible. Thanks for the magnificent show you put on. It is truly lovely.

This post is part of a series! To learn more about this Yoga challenge and win great prizes, get the rules here: Instagram Yoga Challenge

I'd love to hear from you. Please connect with me on the Facebook Page and Instagram feed to get more Yoga wisdom, science, style, and fun everyday! And make sure to Subscribe to Everyday Yoga for more great posts like this one delivered to your inbox!

Cultivate a body that is healthy, strong and full of vitality.

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 3, 2016 at 3:07pm PDT

#LiberateThyself - Today's Mantra is: I choose to cultivate a body that is healthy, strong and full of vitality. The pose is #Astavakrasana or#eightanglepose

I am thankful that Bendy Yoga Skelly pushed me into doing this Challenge. I am an Ashtanga Yogi. Or I used to be, until the word Ashtanga got to be associated with all that jumping around popularized by Sri Krishnamacharya Pattabhi Jois. Don't get me wrong. I have enormous respect for his style of yoga. I love @kinoyoga, Matthew Sweeney, Gregor Maehle and many beautiful Ashtangis, it is just that some of us who were following the eight limbs had to stop calling ourselves Ashtanga Yogis because the term now had a new meaning which was a bit more athletic. So, as and old Ashtanga Yogi I have had an emphasis, especially as I have gotten older, on self study, concentration, meditation and the like. The physical postures, not so much. I still teach once a week, so I can't go too long without busting a move or two, but this last few days has been very much like getting off the couch to do some yoga for me. And here is a magnificent sidebar to all this. I am finding that spending a couple or three hours practicing in the evenings to warm up and then do these advanced poses is having a wonderful effect on my attitude and sense of well being. I feel healthier, stronger and more full of vitality and not just that. My mind is clearer and more serene. I am having more success identifying with the observer and witnessing myself move through things. I am getting caught up less in all my usual worrying and fretting. One thing I was taught a long time ago is that the eight limbs are not like a ladder. You don't complete one and move on to the next but any one or more than one can be in play at any time. I see them layed out on a spiral or multiple spirals. I'm enjoying spiraling into the physical postures this week and I'm feeling like that is informing all the rest in a wonderful way.

Thanks again to Purple Skelly for motivating me and to our hosts and sponsors for creating this opportunity for growth. And thanks to the multitudes of yogis who meet out here and make this a fun an thriving place to connect and explore.

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 3, 2016 at 9:09pm PDT

My friend Skelly did not want me to post this picture. She thought it was too humiliating. She can be very protective like that. It is one of the things I love about her. Still, when I saw this, I laughed out loud. It was some of the most fun I had had while doing this challenge. I showed this "outtake" to another friend and he laughed too. That clinched it. I needed to share this photo on my feed so hopefully hundreds more can laugh, smile and generally enjoy a light moment. Peace Out! Share the Love. and don't take things too seriously.... #LiberateThyself - Today's Mantra is: I choose to cultivate a body that is healthy, strong and full of vitality. The pose is #Astavakrasana or#eightanglepose
This post is part of a series! To learn more about this Yoga challenge and win great prizes, get the rules here: Instagram Yoga Challenge

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I Love My Body

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 2, 2016 at 2:43pm PDT

#LiberateThyself "I Love My Body" Is the Mantra for the challenge that has me and Skelly doing#Purvottanasana or #upwardplank.

Well Ok. I do love my body and Skelly loves hers too. What's left of it anyway. It has been suggested by our kind hosts that not only do we focus on our special fondness for our bodies, but we tell you 3 things in particular that we are crazy about. Here goes. I love the way my body surprises me with pulses. I feel them in my head, my stomach, my hands, my legs, gosh, just about anywhere. Sometimes I have to be quiet and still to sense them and sometimes they intrude. Sometimes they feel familiar and sometimes they feel new. Regardless, I like the way the syncopate and inform my life. I also adore the way I can feel a stretch throughout my body, more intensely in some places and less in others and how I can shift the intensity of this sensation with movement. I love exploring that! On a more mundane level I love that much of the hair that I have left is still red. I like being a red head and hope that holds up awhile. Skelly for her part loves being purple which is good since she is very purple. She loves how flexible she is without all that pesky flesh to hold her back. And she also loves the body that has fallen away. She knows her sinews and guts are going back to their prior molecular states and returning thus transformed to support us all in new ways and that thought makes her happy.

This post is part of a series! To learn more about this Yoga challenge and win great prizes, get the rules here: Instagram Yoga Challenge

I'd love to hear from you. Please connect with me on the Facebook Page and Instagram feed to get more Yoga wisdom, science, style, and fun everyday! And make sure to Subscribe to Everyday Yoga for more great posts like this one delivered to your inbox!

I Claim My Power

A photo posted by Ray- Yoga Gear Shop Owner (@yogalifestyleblog) on Sep 1, 2016 at 12:05pm PDT

"I claim my power." Is the Mantra for the challenge that has me and Skelly doing #Krounchasana or #heronpose. Well this is sort of ironic since I didn't really want to do the challenge. Purple Skelly was gung ho to participate but she did not want to be so exposed on Insta without me. So I surrendered, let go of my fear of being seen as a yoga fraud who can't do a perfect Krounchasana and followed my heart. So here is my best version of heron pose today. Skelly is doing her best too. Doesn't she look great ;--) I think it makes her happy to know I'm thinking about her and that is a power I like claiming. It makes me feel all warm inside too.

I'd love to hear from you. Please connect with me on the Facebook Page and Instagram feed to get more Yoga wisdom, science, style, and fun everyday! And make sure to Subscribe to Everyday Yoga for more great posts like this one delivered to your inbox!