Blog - Page 42 of 52 - Spoiled Yogi

Poses that Suck

Image: MyYogaOnline.com

Every yoga student I’ve met has at least one pose that pisses him off–at least a little bit. If you’ve been reading my blog long you know that I hate—no, detest—maybe even, LOATHE–Parivrtta Trikonasa (Revolved Triangle) and its close relatives Parivrtta Parsvakonasana (Revolved Side Angle Pose) and Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana (Revolved Half Moon Pose). Frankly, the only thing I hate more is the teacher who asks me to hold one of these poses for more than three breaths. (Of course, the hate subsides into sincere gratitude when the teacher lets me come out of the pose.)

Yesterday, I was in a yoga class that incorporated my least favorite poses. We held Revolved Triangle. Then, we held Revolved Half Moon. I cursed under my breath and thought, I’m never coming here again! But in the next set of poses, the teacher called out Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose). Finally! A pose I love! Then, it hit me. You see, it wasn’t so long ago that I hated Half Moon Pose with as much enthusiasm as I now hate Revolved Triangle. In fact, I remember thinking one of my teachers kept teaching it just to mock me—including it into every class just so he could see me fall over. (Jerk!) But with time, I got better at it. I didn’t fall down any more , and eventually I learned to love it.

Since then, I’ve been thinking about what makes us hate the poses we hate. Is it because they bring out our physical weaknesses, which irritates our egos? Could it be that they simply make us uncomfortable? When we learn to like a pose we once hated, will we always find another pose to dislike, or is that just me? Does anyone not hate at least one pose?

How has your most hated pose evolved during the time you’ve practiced?

5 Reasons to Practice in Your Living Room

1. You get to choose your own adventure. Have you ever gone to a yoga class to find the teacher planned to focus on an intense backbend practice when all you have the energy to do is lie over a bolster? Yeah, me too. When I practice in my living room, I can do whatever I want. I like being in charge.

2. Be free from fashion rules. You don’t have to worry about panty lines, falling out of your top, or other common wardrobe malfunctions.

3. Be FREE. If you need to swing around like a crazy person in Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend) to release your neck, you can do it without fear of judgement… No one will think you’re a crazy person (even if you are) because no one’s watching. Except maybe your husband, but he probably already knows you’re a crazy person.

4. Set your own schedule. You don’t have to follow someone else’s schedule. You can practice any time you feel like it! After years of following studio schedules, it’s a liberating feeling.

5. Be your own teacher. I have been notoriously bad about practicing at home–I like to be led by others so I don’t have to think–but the times I’ve practiced alone and followed my intuition has taught me a lot about yoga and a lot about myself.

Thank You, Yoga Trailblazers!

I was filled with so much gratitude as I watched this video, I had to share it. Today, there are yoga studios on every block. When we want more info about a pose, we simply type its name into Google and find countless images, articles, and videos. When I started practicing in 2002, it was still kind of an eccentric thing to do where I was living at the time—which, of course, was part of its appeal to my 19-year-old self. But I had a teacher and a class to go to every week. Thankfully, no one called the police to report me. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to have begin practicing yoga 35 years ago. I also know that if there weren’t people who did, we wouldn’t have access to the teachers, the community, the support, and all the information we have today. I’m grateful for those people who brazed the trail before me, because I’m not sure I could have done what they did.

Say what you will about Yoga Journal (when I worked there, I got the emails, so I’ve already heard it all!), but you can’t deny the huge part that magazine has played in giving us all access to the practice we love (even if they never put a man on the cover!) We’re all better off for it.

Eoin Finn’s Pure and Simple Yoga DVD

Eoin Finn is one cool yoga dude! And his DVD, Pure and Simple Yoga for Stiffies & People Who Enjoy Slow Flow, does a great job at making yoga accessible–especially for other cool yoga dudes… and stiff people… and over-worked people… OK. There’s something for pretty much everyone. The most unique part of the DVD is that it gives you a choice to see the poses modified for people who are a stiffer or new to the practice. I love this idea because I think so many people leave their first yoga classes believing that yoga isn’t for them because the teacher caters to more advanced students. With Pure and Simple Yoga, YOU choose your level, and Eoin guides you along the way. (There’s even a split screen option that lets you see your option for each pose as you practice. ) If you still need more guidance, check out the DVD’s “Deeper Knowledge” section where Eoin breaks down individual poses, shows their benefits, and how to adapt them for different body types.

There’s a fun, beachy, surfer vibe to this DVD that makes it both soothing and energizing–and I love the ocean breath track in the background that reminds you to breathe as you practice. Eoin’s instructions are clear, simple, and to the point, and his practice is beautiful and inspiring to watch. I would recommend Pure and Simple Yoga to beginners, surfer types, guys who need to see a more masculine side of yoga–or anyone who loves the beach. In fact, it has inspired me to take my mat along for my next beach trip!

Bag Schwag: How to Shop Like a Yogi

Being a Spoiled Yogi has its perks, and one of my favorites has to be my collection of reusable shopping bags—you know, the kind you get when you buy yoga clothes? Yoga clothing companies are often committed to being environmentally friendly, and they want their customers to make the commitment, too. And so they provide their customers with environmentally-friendly, reusable shopping bags in hopes that they’ll carry them to the grocery store, take them to the beach, or haul the recyclables (and maybe remind others of their brand while they’re at it).

Here are my all-time favorite reusable, eco-friendly, yoga fashion-marketing shopping bags:

Best Grocery Shopping Bag: MeSheeky
This bag even looks kind of like the white, plastic bags you get at the grocery stores! But it’s bigger, softer, and way cooler! Plus, it fits comfortably over your shoulder. It’s way more practical than any other bag I’ve received from a yoga retailer (and, trust me, I have a large collection)!

Best Beach Bag: Zobha
Whenever I’m heading off for a day at the beach, I grab my mesh Zobha bag. It’s the perfect size for beach towels, a few magazines, and Penny’s treats and water bowl. Plus, when I get sand in it, all I have to do is give it a few shakes and it’s ready for my next adventure!

Best Lunch Bag: Lululemon
There’s a reason you see everybody and her sister carrying these petite bags around on busy, city streets. The inspirational Lululemon bag is just big enough for your lunch—and it even reminds you to floss your teeth.

Do you use those reusable bags retailers give you? Which one is your favorite?

10 Signs Your Yoga Teacher Might be a Skeez

There are two kinds of yoga teachers in the world–those who are beautiful, airy, bright, and want to make the world a better place, and those who can only be described as creepy, icky, skeez balls.

Ogden: The Inappropriate Yoga Guy

This is my definition of teachers who fits into the second category:

1. She lingers a little too long after she gives you an adjustment.

2. He puts down other teachers or schools of yoga, insisting that his is the only right method.

3. She never says “I don’t know” or “That’s something you’ll have to decide for yourself.”

4. He doesn’t wash his hair or wear deodorant, and you think you might pass out from the stench every time he comes close to give you an adjustment.

5. She has obvious favorites and doesn’t try to distribute her attention evenly amongst all her students.

6. He doesn’t respect your body’s limitations.

7. She doesn’t respect your religion, culture, or ethnic background.

8. He is more interested in your money than your well-being.

9. Her top shows too much cleavage or his yoga shorts are too tight.

10. She screams out verbal cues directed at you loudly so the whole class knows when you’re out of alignment.

I know this is just the tip of an iceberg. Please add to the list of skeezy yoga teacher behavior by commenting below!

5 Ways to Get More Hands-On Adjustments

5 Ways to Get More Hands-On Adjustments in Yoga Class | Yoga Assist, Yoga Adjustment, Triangle Pose, Yoga Teacher | SpoiledYogi.com

Imagine this scenario. I’m happily practicing Downward-Facing Dog. My teacher starts giving adjustments a couple of people away (you know the one where they lean in and press your hips back and up?). I get excited as the person on the mat next to mine gets a long adjustment because I think I’m next. YAAAY! It’s my turn! And then I hear, “OK, come into Plank, Chaturanga, and Up Dog with your own breath.” My teacher tip-toes to the front of the room. No adjustment for me. Disappointment, sadness, jealousy, and regret wash over me. I am devastated!

In order to keep this from happening to more innocent yoga victims out there, I’ve devised a five-step plan to getting more adjustments in yoga class. Try it out and let me know how it goes.

5 Ways to Get More Hands-On Adjustments

1. Fidget. A lot! Especially in Savasana (Corpse Pose). Move your head from side to side if you want a gentle, loving neck massage. Wiggle your arms for a shoulder adjustment. And so on.

2. Mess up. Remember when you were a beginner and knew nothing about alignment? Round your lower back in Down Dog. Let your knee slide past your ankle a little. Be sloppy! Teachers LOVE to fix sloppy poses. If you look like you know what you’re doing they’ll pass you right on by!

3. Ask for Guidance. Are you a teacher? Are you considering teacher training? Come to class early and ask your teacher if he/she would mind teaching you how to do that AMAZING adjustment you like so much. I’m sure she’d be happy to show you!

4. Try WAY too hard. Practice your straining, struggling face at home in front of a mirror. It should look hard and scrunched up (maybe a little constipated). For best results, try making this face during a seated forward bend as you tug mercilessly at your foot, determined to get your forehead to your knee. Then watch how quickly your teacher comes by to try to get you to relax.

5. Be exhausted. Let your teacher know before class that you’ve had a really hard day and might have to take things a little easier today. Then, when everyone else is flowing through a vinyasa take Child’s Pose and don’t move. I bet your teacher will come by and give you a little extra traction..

Better yet, maybe you should just pay for a massage…

5 Ways New Media Enhances My Yoga Practice

I love my computer! And, yes, there are certainly times when my yoga practice suffers because I spend too much time reading blogs, chatting with friends, or looking at random pictures on Facebook of children born to people I knew in high school. But I think the majority of the time I spend click-click-clicking away on social networking websites ultimately helps more than hinders my practice.

Here’s how:

Blogging Yoga During my yoga teacher training, my teachers encouraged us to keep a journal of our practice. We were supposed to write down what poses we were working on, any questions that came to mind, any emotions that bubbled up. I didn’t do it. And it wasn’t until I started this blog that I realized the value in that. Just as Savasana (Corpse Pose) helps my body absorb all the energy of my physical yoga practice, blogging is what helps my mind absorb it … and I can’t believe the creativity that sometimes flows from it. It’s liberating, and I’m so glad I have this outlet–a forum to share.

Twitter Tips. Almost all of my friends on Twitter are yogis. Whenever I feel like procrastinating, day or night, I can log onto Twitter and read tweets from yogis from all over the world reminding me to breathe, slow down, reconnect, and recommit to my practice. If I have a question about a pose, yoga philosophy, yoga product–whatever–I just ask and I get tons of responses almost instantly!

Facebook Frenzy. The way Facebook helps my yoga is similar to Twitter. Sometimes I see interesting yoga articles (and I always find out when one of my favoring yoga clothing companies is having a sale or giveaway). But the big difference for me on FB is that most of my friends are actually people I know personally. And sometimes the yoga is in finding compassion for all the people on my friend list that “like” Sarah Palin or have nothing better to do with their time than play Farmville.

Youtube Teachings. Sometimes the only way to learn a yoga pose is to see it. No magazine article will do when you want to learn the technique for dropping back into Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward-Facing Bow) and a myriad other complicated yoga postures. When I want to see something, I look it up on Youtube and usually find a teacher I trust has it covered.

Podcast Pearls. I love audio podcasts! And while I haven’t gotten tino them much for yoga instruction, I have found a wealth of information that helps me juggle my yoga practice with my other responsibilities and just ways to enrich my life altogether. I used to listen to podcasts every day during my commute, and I also used guided meditation podcasts to jumpstart my meditation practice. But now that I work from home I take little breaks here and there to listen for 5 minutes to inspire me to keep going. If that’s not yoga, I don’t know what is!

How does new media to enhance your yoga practice?

4 Things My Nieces Taught Me about Yoga

My sister, her husband, and their two little girls (ages 4 and 15 months) visited this week so I’ve been pre-occupied with dress-up, bedtime stories, and princesses. Children are natural yogis, so of course I also learned a thing or two about yoga.

Here’s a sampling:

1. “We are all princesses!” The ultimate compliment coming from a 4-year-old girl. I think there’s a lot of truth in it, too. We can be princesses if we make the choice to see the good in ourselves. In yoga terms, it’s like saying we’re all a spark of the Divine. We’re all perfect just the way we are.

2. “This is my special talent–a gift from God!,” announced Rosemary when she discovered that she could actually stand up in three feet of water, and thus could “swim” on her own after keeping a death grip on Aunt Erica for at least an hour. Sometimes we take for granted that simple pleasures (like the ability to swim in a pool) are pretty amazing gifts. “They should make this a part of yoga.”

3. What was your favorite animal at the aquarium? “All of them!” That’s right. It’s impossible to choose one fish, reptile, or amphibian over another when they’re all new and exciting. This is what we call “beginner’s mind” in yoga. The first time you experience something, you’re totally present and open to learning. You giggle with delight the first time you touch a slimy sting ray and are exhilarated when find yourself in a new backbend you’ve never tried. Same thing.

4. While beginner’s mind brings a sense of awe and wander to things, it also introduces an element of surprise–and sometimes fear. When my nieces were scared of something–the ocean, the pool, a snake at the aquarium–they were also curious. I watched as they touched a scaly animal with the tip of one finger (testing the waters, so to speak). Then, when nothing bad happened, they would try again with a little more confidence (two fingers), and so on until their fear vanished. This is how we approach new yoga poses, and it’s a smart way to approach life, too. Always testing our boundaries and limitations, but with caution and respect for the unknown.