Things I Like

My summer vacation trip to Wanderlust CA is coming up at the end of July, so in preparation I've got a few things on my mind: Music, Yoga, Sunshine, and Hoopdance. Yay! With that in mind - here's this week's edition of "Things I Like".

MC Yogi Interview & New Album

Exclusion and American Yoga

Gaia Pranam Hoopdance DVD

Make Your Own Hula Hoop Tutorial

PRANAM DVD Trailer from Gaia Pranam on Vimeo.

Summer Reading

Currently reading:  Fierce Medicine by Ana Forrest. 

I'm only about halfway through, but so far it is brilliant and interesting.

Soon it will be time for my annual reading of Eat Pray Love. It's my little guilty pleasure vacation book.

Hope you are all enjoying summer now that it's finally here. I'm soaking up the sun even though it's frowned upon and reading everything I can.

Lululemon scarf via http://pinterest.com/pin/144818944238186197/

The Universe

We tend to forget it... so here's a little reminder for you. Plus - it makes a great wallpaper.

found somewhere on reddit.com

Janet Stone on Keeping Your Practice Alive

I may have mentioned before how much I enjoy the Big Happy Day videos... and this one with Janet Stone is no exception. I touched on the topic of struggling to keep your practice up recently so I thought this video was a nice addition.

Readers via Email - Click Here for the Video

Things I Love This Week

I'm in a very happy pro-love mood this week. I just bought these "Let Love Rule" Toms and I think they're fabulous and comfortable. They'd be great to/from yoga classes, walking in a Pride parade, or just around the house. I recommend them. Very much. In case you've been living under a rock - learn about Toms and their One for One movement here. 

Other things I love this week:

Aelita Andre - Art Prodigy or Just Having Fun?

Five Yoga Poses for Happy Hips

The Summer Hair Challenge at NMDL (enter by June 24th)

The "What's in your Yoga Bag?" column on Namastilo

http://pinterest.com/pin/144818944238089582/

Smiling is Contagious

When you're smiling (the whole world smiles with you) - Louis Armstrong

All of today's photos via http://pinterest.com/cosmiclila/yoga/

Baron Baptiste Flow Practice for Meditation

I've been getting really sucked into meditation lately. I'm not doing it as much as I should, but sometimes just out of nowhere I feel myself drawn inward. Guided to my breath by the soft breeze and the sound of birds competing for mates and nesting materials outside.

The primary purpose of asana practice is to prepare the body to comfortably sit in meditation for great lengths of time. Here's a 20 minute flow sequence by Baron Baptiste (founder of Baptiste Power Yoga) to open the hips and spine for happy healthy meditation. Give it a shot!

   

 Readers via Email - Click Here for the Video

June is LGBT Pride Month

Pride month is half over, and while I don't generally mention it - I figured I should show some pride and avoid looking like I'm in the closet. 

I'm Bisexual. Always have been. Always will be.

Due partially to the issue of Bisexual Invisibility - I think it's important for bisexuals to be as out as they can reasonably be. People need to know that bisexuals are real (we totally exist) and we are all over the place. You know bisexuals. You watch them on TV, you work with them, and you read their blogs from time to time.

Yoga Teacher Barbie

This is so weird. I'm simultaneously disturbed and thinking I want one. I love it, I hate it, it's stupid, it's cute...  This is ridiculous and why does she have a chihuahua? Clearly I'm conflicted. Thoughts?

available at Target

First and Foremost

"We are vibration and frequency first and foremost, when you get that – Life becomes very interesting." 

- Panache Desai

http://pinterest.com/pin/144818944238045622/

Resistance to Practice: Lighten Up!

Doldrums, disinterest, lack of motivation... Whatever you want to call it - it can be a veritable brick wall. The first time this happens to you isn't really much different than the 50th time. It's always uncomfortable. Everyone deals with it differently. When the last thing you want to do is practice - how do you handle it?

I suggest that you lighten up!

My asana practice has been dragging ass for a few months. The very sight of my mat kinda makes me groan at the notion of practice.

Finally I realized that if I relax my requirements of what counts as practice then I might do more yoga. I started doing yoga in my pajamas in the grass of my backyard, at the gym in the middle of the "stretching area" in my sneakers, or in the carpeted living room while wearing socks. Turns out I just need a new perspective for a while.

My practice is different (again) and I've sort of distilled it down to the pieces I enjoy the most. I've removed the "fluff" and I'm doing lots of lunges, hanumanasana, and pigeon mostly. I've made huge strides in my poses by doing this. That doesn't mean I never do the other stuff. I just mostly focus on my big loves and loosening my expectations is treating me well.

When you want nothing to do with yoga - focus on what you love.

By immersing my practice in joy and letting go of the picky details like always having to be barefoot I'm reconnecting to why I love the practice and this slump will pass.

Five Simple Rules for Happiness

http://pinterest.com/pin/144818944237977159/