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Spoiled Yogi’s Summer Reading List

Image via Flickr user katerha

I haven’t had a summer reading list since high school. That could be because that was the last time I had enough free time to sit down with a big stack of books to read for pleasure (Oh wait!, I had to do it for a grade?. Nevermind.)

This year I’m not working full time, so I’ve found myself with a little more down time. Sure, I’m writing whenever I get assignments, teaching a few yoga classes week, keeping my 2-year-old busy in the sweltering Charleston, SC heat, practicing yoga as much as I can, cooking a lot…. OK, I don’t have time to read books now either. But, I am more motivated than ever to learn, grow, find financial freedom, clean up my act, and generally enjoy every moment as much as I possibly can. (If for no other reason, then because I’ve started to notice my daughter mimicking nearly everything she sees me do–from asking her Daddy to turn down the TV (oops!) to my Downward Facing Dog.) I want her to see me more often with a book in my hands and less with a screen in my face. (And, yes, I do read on a Kindle. It was just a figure of speech, OK?) So, I made my own summer reading list. You’ll notice these are not all yoga books–but they all are very relevant to my life as a yoga teacher, mother, freelance writer, woman, etc.

Money: A Love Story. I think all yoga teachers should read this book by Kate Northrup about valuing yourself, spending money on the things you value, seeing sound financial decisions as a form of self-care, and understanding that there are a billion ways to create abundance in this world. This one was the first on my list, and I’ve already devoured it.. but still need to go back through and do all the journaling exercises.

It’s Hard to Make a Difference When You Can’t Find Your Keys: The Seven-Step Path to Becoming Truly Organized.  Kate Northrup mentions this book a couple of times in Money: A Love Story, and I knew it would be the next book I’d dive into. Even the title kind of strikes a nerve with me because I’m the type of person who has a million grand ideas and a ton of ambition and drive, but my life is just too chaotic right now to be as productive as I’d like. Case in point, the e-book I’m “writing” that’s been collecting electronic dust in my Google Documents list for two years now… TWO!

Pushback: How Smart Women Ask–And Stand Up For–What They Want. This is another one that I think people in the yoga community have trouble with. Compassion is a part of the practice, and so it’s really easy to think, “Yes, I do need to make X amount teaching this yoga class, but I certainly wouldn’t want the studio owner to sacrifice what she needs to meet her bottom line… so I’ll just take what she offers me.” This attitude never helped anybody pay their bills, and settling for less than we deserve doesn’t help the thousands of other yoga teachers out there struggling to pay their bills either.

Breathe: A Novel. Sure this sounds like just another fictional story of someone transforming through yoga… But, every now and then, I like to be reminded in a don’t-take-yourself-so-serious way that yoga can be fun, healing, and, yes, even entertaining. I’d like to read this one on the beach, with a fruity umbrella-shaded drink in hand.

Miracles Now: 108 Life-Changing Tools for Less Stress, More Flow, and Finding Your True Purpose. I’ve followed Gabrielle Bernstein online for a long time now–and I have loved her video tips and tricks for using meditation and Kundalini Yoga techniques to deal with everyday life. So I can’t wait to dive into this book, which promises to offer 108 simple solutions to combat complicated problems like “stress, burnout, frustration, jealousy, resentment” without spending hours meditating and practicing yoga everyday. We’ll see. I’m skeptical of anything that offers quick fixes, but I don’t doubt I’ll learn at least one or two more things to add to my toolbox.

To keep myself motivated and honest, I’m going to review each of these books when I’m done reading them. Will you join me? What are you reading this summer?

Review: Juil Ballet Flats

I’m always on the look for cute and comfortable shoes I can wear to and from class and around town, so obviously I was thrilled with the generous folks at Juil asked me to try out a pair of theirs. These shoes are seriously cute, and I read that walking in a Juil shoe is like walking on sand. I live near the beach, so I’ll be the judge of that. I’ve given these beauties a nice, long trial and here’s what I found.

Pros:
Cute as a button. I love the simple style of these shoes and the neutral, earthy color options available.
Comfort. I wouldn’t say that wearing these is like taking a walking on fluffy beach sand, BUT after I wore them in (a process that took a week or two), they are super comfy. 
Like Barefoot. I have naturally flat feet–something that I’ve been able to change a bit through years of focusing on truly grounding the outside edges of my feet and lifting my arches every time I’m on my yoga mat. Because of this experience, I really do believe that being barefoot (and mindful!) is the healthiest thing for my feet. Most shoes make it difficult for me to make the kind of connections with the floor I can find during yoga, but Juil shoes are designed to facilitate that connection because of the design of their soles and those little copper dots on the bottom of the shoe (more on that later*).
Cons:
No room for toes to spread. I can’t really complain about this, because Juil has tons of styles of sandals to choose from that I’m sure would let me practice my yoga toes. The ballet flat confines my piggies so I can’t really lift and spread them when I’m standing in line at the grocery store. What can I say? This is a sacrifice I’m willing to make for the cuteness of ballet flats. At least they’re not high heels.
You have to wear them in. When I first got these shoes, they pinched my heel and gave me a blister. I couldn’t wear them for longer than an hour or so at a time for a week (or maybe even two!) before they started to feel comfortable. 
Price. At $99 a pair, these shoes aren’t cheap. But if you’re in the market for a new pair of shoes that will get you from Point A to Point B without

*One more thing.. Those little copper dots on the bottom of the Juil shoes supposedly have health benefits. The company claims the copper discs (which can be seen on the inside of the shoe as well as on the bottom) help connect you to the Earth’s magnetic field. The copper acts as a conductor, which can help us release environmental toxins and even stress and minimize inflammation. (I’m no scientist, but I think of it this way: If you’re ever struck by lightning, you DON’T want to be connected to the Earth because it’s the connection that allows the electricity to move through you and fry you like a piece of veggie bacon. However, if you’re not out in a lightening storm, being connected to the Earth is a good thing.) 
But does it really work? I can’t say for sure.

Did I notice a big, dramatic difference in my stress levels and overall health from wearing these shoes? Nope, not really. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t subtle differences. There are so many variables that go into health it’s almost impossible to pinpoint what really causes little shifts in one way or the other. (As I’ve mentioned, I’m not a scientist!) Juil’s explanation for those copper dots seems plausible, though. And if there’s any chance these shoes can help reduce stress buildup in my body (even if just by the power of suggestion), it’s worth a shot, right? I need all the help I can get!  

Anybody else ever try these shoes? What did you love/not love about them?

How to Get Your Om On: A Guide to Kirtan

Oooommmmm.  Did you know that one little syllable represents every single vibration in the whole universe? And it represents the myriad ways each part of the universe is connected.
When you read the word Om, you more likely thought of a very particular part of the universe–a group of yoga students sitting cross legged, getting grounded before their class begins. I’ve seen this often portrayed in mainstream media (and at numerous cocktail parties) as a joke–something people do with their tongue planted firmly in their cheeks to make fun of people like me, who take this stuff very seriously. 

Image via Flickr user Keith Ramsey

While I wish people would come up with a more original way to make fun of yogis, I don’t take offense. I know most people don’t get it. For the longest time, I thought Om-ing at the beginning of a yoga class was weird, too. But Om is just the tip of an iceberg. Kirtan, or the ancient practice of chanting in Sanskrit (an ancient Indian language that is now mostly just in practice in yoga studios). There’s music. Lots of different Sanskrit chants. And it’s interactive–so the audience is invited to sing along and get the benefits of the practice, too. If it’s not a part of your culture, and you don’t know what to expect, it can be incredibly foreign–like landing on a different planet.

I wish someone had told me what to expect before my first kirtan experience. because I recall several yoga classes when I sat uncomfortably waiting for the singing portion of class to be over so I can start my yoga. I guess kirtan is acquired taste, because after I was exposed to it a bit more–I realized there’s nothing that lulls me into a sweet meditative state more quickly and efficiently than the sound of Sanskrit, a harmonium, and, oh yes!, my own voice! (Thank goodness they give the microphone to someone who can actually sing to drown out the tone deaf people in attendance!)

Image via Flickr user bradfordcoy

What changed my mind? For one thing, someone handed me a print out that explained (in English) what the Sanskrit words meant. I read it over and could appreciate the beauty and simplicity in the meanings. . 
Here are my favorite Kirtan chants and a rough translation.

1. Om Namah Shivaya. I bow to the Self.

2. Sita Ram. Sita and Rama are deities who are husband and wife–to chant Sita Ram is to unite with our own perfect masculine and feminine.

3. Shiva Shiva Shiva Shambho. Mahadeva Shambho. Shiva is the essence and source of joy. Lord, the bestower of good.

4. Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha. I offer my love and devotion to Sri Ganesha; please grant me success in my noble endeavor.

5. Lokah Samastah Sukino Bhavantu. (My favorite!) May all beings everywhere be happy and free.

The other thing that shifted for me was that, somewhere along the way, I realized that I could sing the sounds and appreciate the vibration, without really taking all meanings behind them to heart. I realized my own intention for participating is more important than any abstract meaning someone else attaches to it, anyway. For me, it has nothing to do with praying to Indian deities, and everything to do with being a part of a community, enjoying the music, and feeling my spirit soar.

5 Things I LOVE about Iyengar Yoga

It’s true. I didn’t initially gravitate toward Iyengar yoga. My first experiences with this practice even irritated me. I remember spending what seemed like hours on finding the completely perfect alignment of Triangle Pose thinking, OMG! If we don’t get on with it soon, I might explode! Luckily for my classmates, I did not explode. And luckily for me, I kept going to class because even though it wasn’t the most enjoyable 90 minutes of my week, I realized that there is tons of amazing transformative power in Iyengar Yoga—especially if you stick with it. While I’ll always be more of a vinyasa flow girl, I’m so SO thankful to my Iyengar teachers (and those teachers who aren’t Iyengar but are heavily influenced by it), who have endured my eye rolls and loud sighs and taught me so much anyway.

See also 5 Props Every Beginning Student Should Have

In case you’re on the fence about Iyengar–or have decided not to go back after you realized it takes your teacher 15 minutes to set you up for one pose! 🙂 –here are just a few of the things that I love about Iyengar Yoga.

1. It’s adaptable. Because of its heavy use of props (and the highly trained eyes of teachers), Iyengar yoga is probably the most easily adaptable yoga practice for people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities.

2. Aligned poses are safe poses. I’m a firm believer that it is imperative to learn to practice poses in alignment FIRST—and I don’t just mean that you understand the alignment principles in your mind, but that your muscles and bones understand them, too. Only then is it truly safe to add lots of movement or creativity to your asana practice. The importance of alignment can not be overemphasized.

See also 5 Yoga Props Every Beginning Yoga Student Should Have

3. Get out of your habits. The idea of samskara, or patterns, is one of the yoga philosophies that has always resonated the most with me. We all naturally fall into all sorts of patterns—patterns of the mind, patterns in our relationships, patterns in the way we use our muscles. And the tedious, detailed instructions of an Iyengar or alignment-focused yoga teacher is the most wonderful way to bring awareness to the patterns of the body so you can begin to correct any unhealthy habits such as holding tension in your shoulders or poking your ribs out when you reach your arms overhead in Down Dog. This is deep, transformative work that you just don’t get the opportunity to explore in most vinyasa classes.

4. Look deeper.  Paying close attention to the habits in my body almost always help me to see other patterns in my life that aren’t serving me. Even more useful is the realization that if I can change the way I hold my shoulders when I get anxious, I can probably change the way I react to my partner when he forgets to replace the paper towels when he uses the last one on the roll. It might take the watchful eye of an experienced teacher, friend, or psychologist (I’m serious!), but you have the power to change everything about your life.

See also 5 Common Meditation Mistakes

5. Discipline teaches you that you’re capable of more than you ever thought. I’ve never thought of myself as a super serious yogi—I love telling yoga jokes, laughing, and having fun on my yoga mat. In fact, one of the things that initially drew me to the practice was the very relaxed approach that my first yoga teacher took. Iyengar students are not known for their laid back approach. In fact, I recall a time when an Iyengar teacher refused to teach the students in my teacher training who were having a snack before class because he said he couldn’t safely or efficiently teach twists to students with full bellies. At the time, I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever heard, but I’ve since come to appreciate how seriously he took the practice and his job as a yoga teacher. (There’s a time to have fun on your mat, and there’s also a time to hunker down and really focus.) I have to admit, this wasn’t my favorite yoga class ever at the time.. but after sticking with it for a few months, not only did I have a much more complete understanding of yoga, but I also saw that I really do have the capacity for deep understanding.

Read more …
5 Things I LOVE about Restorative Yoga 
5 Things I LOVE about Ashtanga Yoga
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Friday Funnies — Men in Yoga Pants and More!

It’s Friday! The weekend is almost here! Life is good. I love taking breaks from the daily grind to laugh–and there has been some pretty hilarious yoga-related content circulating around recently. Here’s what made me laugh this week. I hope it makes you laugh, too!

I found this gem on Kathryn Budig’s FB page.

Men in Yoga Pants (Thanks to Yoga Dork for tipping us off to this one!). I couldn’t stop laughing at these photos. This site is a totally silly answer to all the offensive websites devoted to women in yoga pants.

Video: Dude Wears Leggings, Calls Other Dudes Out for Staring at His Yoga Butt . This must be the week for men wearing yoga pants. This video takes the concept a step further and a dude wearing tight yoga pants actually calls out men for staring.

36 Types of People You Meet in Your Yoga Class. I’ve definitely come across most of these types of people in yoga classes. I’m sure I’ve been guilty of BEING one or two of them, too! If we can’t laugh at ourselves, we’re taking life way too seriously.

Best Yoga Jokes. Last, but not least, here’s a #FlashbackFriday to an old Spoiled Yogi post with my all-time favorite yoga jokes I’ve heard (and, yes, probably told) in yoga class.

What made you laugh this week?

My Toddler is a Yogic Sage

Now that my girl is nearly two years old she’s saying all kinds of things. Some of them are less than pleasant, like yesterday when she screamed “NO, Mommy, NO!” as loud as she possibly could for a solid 5 minutes while I was trying to interview a source for an article. (To my credit, this particular interview had been scheduled for nap time but the source wasn’t available then and called me back later–when my daughter was feeling particularly disagreeable.)

But she also says a lot of really insightful things that, with a little imagination, can could easily be really profound themes for a yoga class.

Things like:

1. “Take ya time, Mommy! Take ya time!” Confession. She got this little phrase directly from an episode of American Idol a couple of weeks ago when we had it on in the background as my daughter played in the floor because she was refusing to sleep at her predetermined bedtime (8 p.m.). She looked up just at the moment when one of the judges told a contestant not to rush through a song. “Just take your time.” My sweet girl has been reminding me to slow down, move more deliberately, and stop re-examine my definition of the word “late.”

2. “This is fun! This is fun! This is fun!” Sometimes it’s swinging at the park or bouncing with me on my yoga ball. Other times it’s just running in circles around the living room or throwing a toy for the dog. My little one feels (and expresses) joy and happiness in so many moments that I take for granted each and every day.

3. “Wake up!” It’s true that these words are most often uttered at me when I’m pretending to be asleep on the couch–often following the direction of a toddler with mad leadership skills who just told me to “Close ya eyes!” But, I also think that she might be catching on that life is a lot better when you’re fully engaged in the moment. There are many times when I’m basically asleep at the wheel–incessantly checking my email or Facebook feed while I could be taking in (and enjoying–see No. 2 above!) the moment.

I can’t wait to find out what’s going to come out of her mouth next. Om Namah Shivaya?

What profound little nuggets have you heard your little ones say?

Review: Theme Weaver: Connect the Power of Inspiration

For someone who has made her living as an editor for the the last 8 years, I sure do have difficult time editing myself when I get up in front of a yoga class sometimes. The things that really COULD make me a good teacher–my knowledge, passion for the practice, and sincere wish to both connect to my students and communicate the deeper philosophy of yoga–sometimes makes it hard for me to take a step back and focus on just one or two main points in one class. Unfortunately, when I get going and say whatever comes to mind, I know my students just can’t process it all. At best, they take in what resonates with them and are able to tune me out the rest of the time. At worst, I’m sure there are times when they’re confused, overwhelmed, and annoyed that I don’t know how to shut the heck up and give them some room to just be–which is why they probably came to class in the first place.

I really try hard not to talk so much that it’s confusing or distracting for my students. I’ve tried a few different approaches to keep myself in check. I give only three cues for each pose. I find an essential action I want my students to work on and I stick to cues that help them understand that action in a variety of poses. I even plan moments of quiet into my sequences–Child’s Pose breaks are my own time to zip it, re-group, or focus on my own breath for a moment. But there are still plenty of times I look out at my students and see furrowed brows and confused, blank expressions that quietly scream, “Could you GET ON WITH IT ALREADY?!”

Theme Weaver served as a really great reminder of how much more power my words have when I keep things succinct and focused on one thing.  The author, Michelle Berman Marchildon (AKA The Yoga Muse) offers practical advice for yoga teachers on how to choose a theme for class (something that resonates with you), plan your yoga classes around a theme (winging it is NOT a great idea), and how to make the theme applicable to the practice without overwhelming your students. It’s a recipe for getting a message across to your students in a clear, concise way that they will understand and appreciate so they will keep coming back to you for more!

One word of caution: While I loved this book, unfortunately, just reading it won’t make you an amazing teacher over night. The first time I tried to deliver a class theme using Marchildon’s techniques, I was awkward and likely came across like I was trying a bit too hard. (It wasn’t quite authentic to me because I was following someone else’s formula.) But as I practiced using it more and more, I took what worked for me and let go of anything that just doesn’t come naturally to me. Some teachers really rock at reading an inspirational quote in class, for example, but I found this just doesn’t work with my silly approach.

 Still, I think this book should be required reading for yoga teacher trainees (and those of us who haven’t done a teacher training in a while!). I loved her ideas on writing a mission statement and bio–because we should all be clear about what kind of teacher we want to be. For that matter, I think it’s vital that more yoga teacher see themselves as trained professionals who should be PAID FAIRLY for their services in accordance with their education and experience. And, most importantly I love this book because, as Marchildon so eloquently put it: “Most yoga teachers could use a big cup up shut  up.” Guilty. And thanks for not beating around the bush, Ms. Marchildon. I couldn’t agree more.

Get your cup here. And if you read it, don’t forget to let me know what you think about it by commenting below.

6 Reasons Every Mama to Be Needs a Yoga Ball

When I was pregnant I thought I’d need a million different things to help me care for my baby–from cribs and co-sleepers to bouncy chairs and Bumbos–my Must Buy List was impressively long. I used all of that stuff a little bit (though, admittedly, there were some gadgets that I barely got out of the packaging before my daughter had outgrown them). But nothing (really, NOTHING!) has turned out to be as useful as my yoga ball (also known as exercise or stability balls). Yoga balls are inexpensive, fun, and, most important, versatile–seriously, they have a million different uses.

For example:

1. Back savers. When I was in my third trimester of pregnancy, there were two things that could ease my low back pain. One was a vibrating lumbar pillow that I used behind my desk and behind the wheel of my car every single day (kind of like this one). The other was squatting in the floor with my back leaded up against my yoga ball.

2. Inducing labor? I heard that bouncing on a yoga ball is a way to start contractions and ultimately induce labor. I’m pretty sure this is a crock of crap (it definitely did not work for me!), but I’m throwing it out there just in case.

3. Laboring at home. Once my labor started, my plan was to stay at home for as long as I possibly could so there would be fewer chances for interventions that I did not want at the hospital. Of course, I ended up rushing to the hospital positive I was going to have a baby any minute, then spent a good 8 more hours in a hospital bed before I finally got to meet my little one. In any case, for the early part of labor it was nice to have a yoga ball (“birthing ball“) to help me move into different positions to get as comfortable as possible.

4. Colic calmer. Until my baby was a good 9 or 10 months old there was really only one way to calm her down when she cried–cradling her in my arms while I bounced gently on my yoga ball. I was elated when she finally let me sit in a rocking chair with a nice, solid back to rock her to sleep instead of bouncing. But, honestly, bouncing on a ball was definitely better than, say, walking the halls with her strapped to me in her Moby Wrap.

5. Indoor playground equipment. When my little one had gained good control over her head, she giggled with delight when I put her on her belly on the ball and gently rolled her back and forth. Once she learned to stand on her own, the ball made for an excellent bongo drum!

6. It “tickles” my toddler. Now that my little one is 21 months old, we’ve been using the ball a lot again. One of her favorite things to do (again!) is to sit on my lap as I bounce up and down on the ball. When she was teeny tiny, my bouncing was to soothe her. Now, the bouncing is strictly for entertainment purposes. There’s nothing more gratifying than hearing your toddler laugh and say (in a voice that sounds so grown up it’s crazy!), “This is fun, Mommy! This is FUN!”

So there you have it.

If you’re a mommy-to-be who I love and adore in real life (as opposed to just online) and you get a yoga ball from me as a gift, please do NOT think for a second I’m interested in encouraging you to “lose the baby weight” after you give birth. Please don’t worry about that at all. You have your whole life to think about how you look in a bikini, but these precious moments with your little one will be over in the blink of an eye. Your body is amazing! It grew a person! I digress.

A yoga ball (exercise ball, stability ball, birthing ball, whatever you want to call it) was one of the best things I had as a new mama. If you’ve got one in your house already, I hope this post will give you some ideas about how to use it with your little one. If not… Buy one immediately! 🙂 Here’s a link to the the one I have.

5 Things I LOVE about Ashtanga Yoga

Practice and all is coming. – K. Pattabhi Jois, Founder Ashtanga Yoga 

1. It’s a home practitioner’s dream. I don’t know about you, but one of the reasons I love to go to a yoga class is that someone else tells me what to do—so I don’t have to think, I can just BE. The Ashtanga Primary Series gives me the same thing, and I can do it at home while my daughter naps and for FREE. I can also add in things I want to work on and skip stuff I’m not in the mood for without much extra brain power.

See also 5 Ways to Get Yoga for FREE

2. Progress is inevitable and oh-so-obvious. When you’re practicing the same set of poses every single day, you might think it would get boring. (I know that’s what I used to think before I found myself addicted to the Primary Series.) But, after just a couple of weeks of practicing the series, I noticed I was getting better at the poses I found really difficult the first few times I did it–namely, Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Head to Big Toe Pose). No side-by-side selfies necessary to SEE the progress, I could actually FEEL myself getting stronger.

See also 5 Things I LOVE about Iyengar Yoga

3. Follow your own breath—really! You know those vinyasa flow classes that claim you align your movements with your breath? It’s more like I’m aligning my breath and my movements with the teacher’s cues. I like that Ashtanga was designed to be practiced independently, so you really can follow your own breath and listen to your body’s cues.

4. There’s a plan. There’s enough chaos in my life—I don’t need more. So, I love that Ashtanga Yoga offers so many guidelines for the practice. shoot for practicing six days a week. Always practice the postures in a certain order. Hold poses for 5 breaths. Master the Primary Series before moving on. Don’t practice on a full moon or new moon. It makes me feel all safe and secure knowing that there’s always room to accommodate for growth, and even though I almost always fall short of the recommendations—I usually only get to practice 4 days a week right now and, as I’ve mentioned, sometimes I stray from the sequence—I love knowing I’ll always have a structure to fall back on whenever I need it.

5. It’s a workout. Obviously, yoga is much more than a fitness routine. But there’s nothing wrong using your asana (the physical poses) practice to help you stay in shape physically as well as mentally and emotionally. I love that when I’ve practiced the Primary Series, I feel like I really worked my body. It lets me move, stretch, breathe, and work up a sweat so when I’m ready for Savasana (Final Resting Pose), I feel the most amazing release and a calm washes over my body.

Read more …
Interview with Kino MacGregor
What Your Sequencing Style Says about You
Interview with Style Icon and Yoga Teacher Kathryn Budig

About Spoiled Yogi

Erica Rodefer Winters is a yoga teacher who loves helping pregnant and new moms find more balance in life through yoga, meditation, self-care, and humor.

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