Pup report

Some of you perhaps are wondering how I am faring with the new puppy. While I must confess to often having the thought cross my mind that life was a little simpler pre-puppy, over the last couple of weeks we've settled into a pretty good routine. As I am all about the routine. But, Zuzu has brought a myriad of good things into our lives as well. Isn't everything a tradeoff? Like a baby, a puppy only knows the present moment. It's all about the here and now. As in NOW. So, nothing like an ongoing reminder to be present and live in the moment. Furthermore, she forces me to get outside for at least 3o minutes every day to go for a walk or run around and play frisbee. No matter what the weather. But there is simply no getting out of it. And really, it's wonderful. I would probably just be sitting in front of the computer that 30 minutes vs. getting my daily dose of fresh air. Lastly, this sweet girl is teaching me patience. In those moments when I've questioned what the hell I was thinking getting a third dog, I've told myself that there must have been a reason this creature came into my life. Turns out we were meant to be together, because I need ongoing lessons in patience (not my forte). So, she appeared as my teacher. 

Today I was laughing out loud as Zuzu frolicked in the almost 12 inches of lovely pristine new snow we got last night. She was really living up to her sled dog half (she is half chinook - I had never heard of it either), as clearly she adores the snow. We plan to frolic in the snow tomorrow too - headed to Big Sky to ski. Here's a picture of Zuzu today, along with the view from our house. Pretty tough not to be inspired every day by that - gotta love Montana. 

Quote for today

Yoga is the giver of untold happiness.

-from the Bhagavad Gita

Chillin with Yoga

There's something in the air that's got me all wound up. Not in a bad way, but I can tell that I need some grounding. As much as I adore restorative yoga, it's typically not an easy thing for me to practice, since I don't really care for slowing down. I like to run around and do things. But, not always what I need energetically. So, at times like these I try to practice 1-2 restorative poses that deliver the chill results I crave and need. Try this pose at the end of a day that's got you frazzled and tired; it settles your energy and mind and helps transition you towards bedtime.

Viparita Karani - aka legs up the wall. 

Stand with your side against a wall so that your shoulder is touching it. Sit down, maintaining that close connection to the wall. In one movement, swing your legs gently up the wall and lay your torso down on the floor. You'll then need to shift your hips away from the wall a few inches; experiment with a position that feels right for you. If you have tight hamstrings or lower back issues, you can put a folded blanket underneath your hips for support. Once you get settled, make sure that you have some distance between your feet and take your arms away from your body, palms up. Let your head rock gently from side to side; bring it back to center and close your eyes. Stay here anywhere from 5-15 minutes, focusing your attention on your breath. 

Yoga to help you chill. (Does anyone still say that? There is a groovy satellite radio station called Chill so I can't be dating myself too much...) 

Yoga Competition??

No, no, and no. These two words do not go together, should not be together. I've been bombarded with info on the recent International Yoga Asana Championship, aka the Bikram Circus with the man himself at the center of the ring. I really have nothing against Bikram as a yoga practice. While it's definitely not my favorite, I go every once in awhile and enjoy it. Kind of. What I have a problem with is the cult-like blindness that people seem to fall into at the Bikram studio, with both the practice (do that sequence every day? Just shoot me now. Not to mention the diminishing returns of working the same muscle groups all the time) and the - what's the word? flamboyance of Bikram Choudhury. We all know about the copyrighting of his yoga style - I'm no lawyer, but copyrighting poses that have been in the public domain for thousands of years seems a bit absurd. But it's his flashy ways and the things that come out of his mouth that truly make me wonder. And cause me to hold the Bikram practice at arm's length.

Back to the yoga competition - here are my thoughts on the matter. Yoga is not a competiton. Plain and simple. Life, and our culture in particular, is competitive enough. Yoga is a refreshing break from that, most of the time. I won't deny the competitiveness that seeps its way into many yoga classes, especially of the Ashtanga and power variety (Guilty! Been there and done that!), nor the thrill that comes from being able to do an advanced posture that, let's face it, maybe not too many other people you know can do too. But the joy I find in my practice is not about that or competing with others. It's about being true to myself and nurturing myself, not pushing all the time. And sharing this joy with others, no matter who they are or what they can physically do. When I started my studio in DC seven years ago, my mission was to share yoga with as many people as possible, all ages, all backgrounds. I taught finely-tuned athletes in amazing shape, senior citizens who could not get out of their chairs, and everyone in between, and loved every single minute of it. Because everyone can do yoga, even if it's just a few poses, and everyone can benefit from yoga. To me, it doesn't get much cooler than that. Yoga is about self-care and becoming a better person no matter what your asana practice looks like. So go ahead and make it a competitive sport, if that's what turns you on - just make sure you don't scare away the other 99% or more of the population that can and should do yoga and don't need to get all competitive about it.

Now that I'm done with my rant, you've got to read this: Top Yogi: Rabbit poses, coconut water, and a Bikram-practicing dance team at the international yoga championship, by Neal Pollack on Slate.

Whew. Think I need some yoga...

At-Home Hammam

I just succumbed to the cold both husband and Morgane have had off and on for the last few weeks. I used to get colds all the time, before I found salvation in the form of a neti pot, which I use every day. I used to also be totally incapacitated when I would get a cold, but I thank daily neti-ing for now being able to function. But all this is another story. What I want to share with you today is a nifty little do-it-yourself spa tip, great for anytime but especially if you feel stuffy. Dab a few drops of eucalyptus oil on your shower walls; the steam will really activate the scent and voilà - your own at-home hammam. Enjoy!

Healthy Moms

Amongst the treasure trove of reading material taken on my trip the other week was the February issue of US News & World Report, headline blaring "A Complete Guide to Health & Wellness", which given my interest in this topic, might as well just scream BUY ME. So I did. And I came upon a very sweet and inspiring article within entitled Enlisting an Army of Mothers. The jist is that preventive health starts with what you learn at home, mostly from mom. I had always been interested in health and wellness, but when I became a mom it stepped things up a notch. I embraced the responsibility and opportunity to make healthy choices for my family, and educate myself on how best to do so. And I recognized the importance of taking care of myself too. 

Here are my favorite parts:

Mothers - not doctors or public-health experts - are the nexus of prevention. However weighty a burden this may seem, mom is the figure, everywhere in the world, best positioned to influence the behavior of those she loves...

Mothers largely set the nutritional tone of the household, mothers oversee the healthcare of their families, young and old, husbands and children, and mothers are the biggest consumers of health information in print and on the Web. And with a special status that enables them to relentlessly nag based on their undying maternal love, mothers are positioned to be the lever that pushes detached public-health preaching into personal action...

"Good health to you," as the old Irish greeting goes, is not a wish or an accident, not is it just about decent jobs or good genes. At its core, it is about life-long personal behavior. Like mom herself, the body is resilient and forgiving; health habits are ideally learned young but benefit anyone at any age. And that goes for mom, too - she must be a mother to herself. Even if she thinks she has no time to do so, evidence that those around her are molded by her behavior should be compelling enough.

I love this. Especially the part about relentlessly nagging. But really - I love that by taking care of myself I can set an example for my family. I love that my two greatest passions, healthy cooking and yoga, extend health benefits to people around me. So remember this next time you need a reason to do something for yourself - do it for those you love too. 

Cupcakes & Puppy Love

I will use any holiday as an excuse to prepare an elaborate menu. I was on a mission all week to find some sort of Valentine-themed baked good Morgane and I could make together, and was inspired by red velvet cupcakes I spotted at the Co-Op. Perfect! Picked up red food coloring, looked up fabulous yummy recipe online, and got to work, promising Morgane that we'd decorate them with red icing when she woke up from her nap. I'm not sure what it is with me and baked goods, but they always turn out, well, less than picture perfect. I blame it on trying to bake at high altitude. Husband suggested I attempt it more than just on holidays. The first batch of red velvet cupcakes looked like they had been massacred - definitely red, but not velvety at all. I was able to refine the technique on the second. But I'm thinking I should just purchase my baked goods going forward, since I like them to look good. In any event, we did get to frost, ice and eat the yummies, and Morgane loved them, even if they didn't look as good as the ones in the picture. Sometimes we get hung up on the details and end result, when the real gem of the experience lies in the process. 

We also had a lot of puppy love going on at our house on V-Day: one of our friends brought over her Lab puppy for the day while she skied. Check out Zuzu (ours) and Lulu (hers), what a great pair. 

Hope you are enjoying the weekend, and savoring lots of love with friends and family.

Mini Yoga Fix

Last Friday I had planned on a good solid hour of yoga before having to head to the airport, but as we all know, time to get things done prior to leaving on a trip seems to always be a lot less than you had thought. But I was determined to get in some good yoga, and came up with this practice that felt great and took about 20 minutes. Short on time? You can still get your yoga fix.

• 5 cat-cows
  
• Uttanasana holding elbows for 10 breaths, roll to standing
  
• 3 sun salutations, A version
  
• Triangle
  
• Prasarita Padotanasana C
  
• Tree
  
• Supported Bridge with block; from here, go into wheel, and then lower back onto block, repeat 3x. *this is my new favorite, it feels amazing. 
  
• Headstand for 25 breaths
  
• Child's pose
  
• Reclining twist
  
• Savasana 
  

I just re-read this list and noticed that I mix English with Sanskrit names. I believe I do this when teaching too. Some poses just don't translate well. If you're not sure about any of these, just type them in at yogajournal.com's pose finder.

Let me know what you think! Namaste. Back to more food next. 

Politics & Prose

Back from my whirlwind weekend away, where I shared my bday with new friends, taught approximately 100 women yoga, watched same women learn pole dancing that evening and couldn't help notice how much core strength it takes, sprinted at top speed to make my flight connections (had no idea I could run that fast), and - got to read the New York Times cover to cover 2 days in a row. I actually got to read a lot, and feel re-energized by catching up on world news, pop culture, everything. I adore the printed word and shamelessly brought a huge stack of it in my carry-on bag. So, I wanted to share two of my fave articles with you. 

The first one I must preface with a disclaimer. I recently put on my Facebook page, under "25 random things about me", that I don't talk religion or politics. Ever. Just my personal choice. But I can't resist sharing this article from the February Vanity Fair, entitled Farewell to All That: An Oral History of the Bush White House. It had me both laughing and crying. Regardless of your position, it's impossible to ignore the humanity behind the politics of the last 8 years. 

Moving from politics to a bit lighter subject, and one of my favorites, food. The article 50 Ways to Eat Green in the February Bon Appetit thrilled me, because it touched on so many of my own eating and eco concerns. This was already my fave foodie mag, but now I love it even more. Here's my top 5 from the list (and yes, you'll have to read the article to learn what they are): 

#9: my favorite thing to do besides yoga

#14: I find this extremely satisfying, for some reason

#28: on my immediate to-do list

#42: I got these for Christmas and love them

#45: lucky husband, I do this almost every day for him

Tell me what resonated with you, if you decide to read. Yoga up next.

Girlfriend Getaway Yoga & Birthday

I'm getting excited. Not only is it my birthday on Friday, but I get to go on a trip this weekend. I am teaching yoga at the Girlfriend Getaways event in Laughlin, Nevada. Despite being absolutely thrilled and flattered by this request to teach, I must admit that at first I was sort of hesitant as it fell on my birthday weekend. But now, aside from the obvious fact that I love teaching or practicing yoga anyplace, anytime, I've realized a few fun things about this upcoming trip (not to mention, I get to postpone my birthday with my family since I won't be here, so will end up celebrating twice):

1. I will be getting on a plane by myself, sans 3 year old. Which means, I can take a stack of books/magazines and actually read them. I can close my eyes or stare out the window, for more than a few seconds. I can go to the bathroom by myself. 

2. I will have a hotel room to myself, and won't be awakened at any point by a puppy or 3 year old. I can throw my clothes all over the floor and kick up into handstands everywhere. I can - gasp - turn on the tv and watch it! Oh my. 

3. I found out there is a spa in my hotel, where I just scheduled some bday pampering for myself. I pity the person who has to do my pedicure (it's been a LONG time since my last).

4. the Girlfriend Getaways magazine gang are taking me out for a bday dinner just after I arrive on Friday. 

Now I don't know about you, but all this adds up to a thrilling weekend in my book. Do you live near Las Vegas? This event is FREE and not only are there all kinds of cool things to do, you can also win some amazing prizes in the sweepstakes. So if you're local would love to see you there. If not, definitely check out the GG magazine, it's a lot of fun and inspires with ideas for spending time with friends and treating yourself. Which we all need to do, and not just on our birthdays. Right?