Meditation is the new handstand

Carol and I are challenging each other to 31 days of meditation in October! We invite everyone to join us at any time in October. Meditate with us!
Instagram! @emilydoesnotloveu @greatdestroyerofcupcakes #meditationisthenewhandstand #meditationchallenge @octoberyogachallenge @justletitgo @findasteadycomfortableseat
Meditate however you like, however long or however you know how to!
We will be posting our experiences with the challenge! As well as tips on meditation. Share with us whatever comes up for you! Post a pic (of anything) every day after your meditation and check in with us! 

Ardha Chandrasana

Alignment

One of my favorite things about yoga has become alignment....besides the breath, focus, meditative quality and samadhi, I mean. After coming to a close with my time with Yoga 216 studying alignment and anatomy along with my learning path of acupuncture and Chinese medicine everything is alignment! Its so important to keep our energy meridians open and flowing, and our bones and joints in healthy places! I have seen patients with severe pain and injury just from repeated poor posture or bad habits in movement. Its avoidable. To say alignment in yoga is unimportant is just CRAY. I also think I can work on Tadasana forever, and very few yogini's are able to do chattarunga correctly. Not a judgement but just an observation in which I come to the conclusion that...alignment is important. Its hard to imagine where your body is in space if you don't practice thinking about it. When you're in a twisted triangle pose, do you know where your butt is in relationship to your head? Its hard to figure that out!

I practice tadasana when I wait for the subway. Why shouldn't we practice a lot? To each is own in a yoga class and what you're looking for in a class might change day to day or whatever. I just read this link : http://bodhitreepose.com/2014/02/13/alignment-maligned-the-baby-and-the-bathwater/

Mermaids and cows

 

There's still time for you to join the challenge! Follow us on instagram!  @emilydoesnotloveu @greatdestroyerofcupcakes @jaiyogaarts #openyourheart #bekindtoyourjoints #theyogablockisyourfriend #septemberyogachallenge

September Yoga Challenge? YES!

I've been dabbling in some Instagram yoga challenges and they were insane. One was full of insane backbends! And the most recent was all about getting your feet behind your head -both of them. It was a challenge alright. A challenge to attempt the poses without going past my body's range of motion, understanding where my edge is, and not to feel like I was supposed to be able to do these poses with ease, looking perfect in them. It was a daily thought process to remember that my body is my body and being bendy is not yoga. With that said, at one point I got a little annoyed with the challenge because the entire last week was impossible, so I had to dig deep and let go that I couldn't "accomplish" the poses but also that I didn't need to. Overall I cannot deny that I love following those bendy ashtanga yogi's on IG and see how they get all bendy-gumby-pretzeled out! BUT I don't have to be that and I don't have to be annoyed that I"m not that :)

In conclusion, my friend and I are starting our own yoga challenge. All easy, every day poses and different options and variations for people to take. I am also having fun taking non-perfect, awkward yoga selfies!

Join the challenge!!!!

Yoga teacher training in Bushwick!

You don't have to want to become a teacher to do a teacher training in Yoga. I did mine just wanted to get more out of yoga. However, it does get addictive. I didn't intend to teach at all...and soon after completing the training...people were asking me to teach them! With that said...its the type of experience that will take you anywhere and everywhere. Jai has a really great teacher training coming up in Sept! I may not have done my 200 hr there but I may as well have -been studying with Ella for the last 3 years and have learned so much from her!

jaiyogaarts.com

Find the Earth beneath your feet....she holds you up so you can surrender!

http://www.earthwellnesscafe.com/  397 Graham Ave, Williamsburg

 

Talking about leap of faith...

It requires trust and surrender. I used to resist surrender. It sounds so weak and I'm someone who wants to work hard and push forward, accomplish. Surrender is the opposite of that! Well, that's what I thought. I can't control what's out of my hands. The universe is bigger than me. Small things...don't...matter. There is something greater out there. And no matter what...the earth is under my feet. Now...that's surrender.

My leap of faith is that I am going to try and actually BE a yoga teacher. I never thought of myself as one...but a few years ago I began hearing my friends refer to me as a "yoga teacher". At first I rejected it...that's not me! And then I got used to hearing it but not being it. I decided I am going to start doing it like its me. So I am now going to be teaching group classes 4x a week that are open to the public. I have resisted for so long giving up my time to do this...and why not? It always feels good to teach a class...its work that I can enjoy. So here I am...diving in. #leapoffaith

Donation based classes! Williamsburg

I am teaching donation based classes Monday night!
7:15pm all level Vinyasa classes

Earth Cafe in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
L Train to Graham Ave. Corner of Graham and Jackson.

Jai Yoga!