When Chocolate & Chakras Collide: commentary from a Cowgirl Yogini

Oh my goodness! I haven't been this bombarded with emails since the Bikram yoga competition article. The New York Times published an article today entitled When Chocolate and Chakras Collide, and I can hear the yoga buzz all the way from Montana. Firstly, I just can't believe they didn't mention our yoga and chocolate retreat! (Wink, wink. One fine day, perhaps we'll be mentioned in the NYT...you never know.)

So, really, all this hoopla is a bit silly. It's no big surprise that you can combine yoga with just about anything and have it be a pleasurable experience. And I think that people who are drawn to yoga and make the practice part of their life are generally interested in improving their well-being. So it would follow that eating well might be of interest. The controversy comes in when you consider the more austere yogic path of choosing to be a vegetarian/vegan, and an article comes out about blending yoga with "the lusty enjoyment of food and wine", including meat. And chocolate. We might as well be chatting about religion.

I've been in the room many a time when passionate and surreal discussions about food choice and food/yoga conflict were going on, and I will sum up my opinion on the matter by saying everyone is free to make choices about what they do, and no one should judge another for his or her choices. Yoga brings you along a path, and according to one vegan yogini quoted in the article, the true yogic path gradually and organically frees people of desire for meat, dairy, caffeine and alcohol. I would say that the yogic path gradually frees people of the desire for, well, bad food. And eating healthy and sustainably leads to asking questions about where your food comes from, and educating yourself to make the best choices you can with the least amount of harmful impact. At least that's been my path.

I am a foodie, no doubt about it. I adore food, I adore cooking, and I am not ashamed to say that my enjoyment of it all may indeed be defined as "lusty". As a family, we eat a little meat (from a local organic rancher), a lot of fish (wild salmon, to be exact), and as many fruits and vegetables as we can, varying by the season. We drink wine and eat chocolate too. On our retreats, my goal is to foster an attitude of giving yourself permission to eat well. Not hard when you are super active all day, but the idea is also that you don't have to deprive yourself to eat healthy. Many of our retreaters are surprised at this approach; they are expecting to be deprived. It makes me sad that there is often this association with yoga. So I love it when I see them savoring their meals, and allowing their bodies to be nurtured by good food. And wine, and chocolate.

It makes me smile (and please don't judge me for not being horribly offended) to see that Mr. Romanelli is pushing the envelope with bacon:
Bacon, he said, is a yogic teaching tool, providing an opportunity to contemplate principles of attraction and revulsion, desire and self-denial, and why we are so attracted to things we know to be unhealthy. (It also, of course, provides priceless shock value.)
I'm guessing it's more about the shock value. But I wholeheartedly agree with his comparison of yoga teachers and chefs:
“What yoga teachers do and what chefs do is not so different,” he said. “We take everyday actions like moving and eating, and slow you down so you can appreciate them.” Achieving stillness and peace amid the distractions of life, he said, has always been the higher goal of yoga.

And as usual, the commentary over at YogaDork makes me laugh out loud.
Namaste, and Bon Appétit.

Sunday snow play

We finally got that snow I've been anxiously awaiting...and then I end up being a sniffly mess upon its arrival. I was a little too stuffed up today to ski at Big Sky. So, I headed out with my neighbor to make fresh tracks the Nordic way. It's such a great cardio workout - and although I was huffing and puffing, it helped clear my head. That and an après-ski sirsasana. More on après-ski yoga coming soon...meanwhile, be sure and check out 17 reasons to cross-country ski on Athleta Chi. Today in the fresh, ungroomed powder, it really did feel like we were cutting through silk.

Fave finds to cure January blahs

I've got the January blahs. Just feeling unenthused, and slightly anxious about the non-winter weather we've been having (we really need some fresh snow). So I decided, what better time than now to dedicate a post to the frivolous, fun things that generally lift girls' spirits: clothes, make-up, accessories, grown-up beverages. Sometimes it's the little things that mean a lot. Go ahead, indulge yourself with:

• Harem Pants. I remember when I was in high school, one of our neighbors was hosting a French exchange student named Sophie, who had a pair of harem pants from Tunisia. In a nod to my future career forecasting "trends" (I kid you not - it was part of my job at L'Oreal), I found these to be über-cool and super sexy. And here they are, a trend, in 2010. I got mine from the pricey Prancing Leopard, but Athleta has them for Spring too at almost half PL's price. They feel sort of silly, but that's part of the fun. I'm guessing that my next clothing indulgence is going to be Athleta's Kickbooty pant; call me a marketing victim, but the promise to flatter my butt is just too tempting. One of the 5-star reviews boldly proclaims, Kickbooty pants make my booty look like I've been doing yoga for YEARS!
• The Brazilian Blowout. Back in December, my hairdresser convinced me to get this natural treatment to smooth and straighten my hair for about 3 months. Again, I was tempted by the promise to fulfill my fantasy of having hair that looked like I just left the salon on a daily basis, vs. my usual look of I just left my yoga mat/spin class or just took off my ski/riding helmet. I didn't believe it would really work, so was really pleased when it did - I can step out of the shower and do nothing to it, and it dries perfectly coiffed. Amazing. Love it. Will do it again.
• Clinique's Pink-A-Boo lipstick. Glossy with just the right amount of sparkly pink. I also read something somewhere about how it is supposed to make your teeth look whiter. Do you think I am a sucker yet?? Even though cosmetics marketing used to be MY job?
• Oroya sushi wine. No, it's not sake. Who knew the Spaniards would come up with "a fresh and modern wine for a trendy lifestyle, the perfect match for Japanese-style food such as sushi and fish". Trendy. Ha. This is what we get every time we go to Dave's Sushi here in Boz, but it also goes great at home if you're cooking anything with an Asian influence. And it's cheap, too. Kampai. I mean Salud.
• Cowgirl cowhide case for cell phone. I got a Droid (fancy new phone) for Christmas from husband, and I'm still a little afraid I might do something damaging to it. So I snagged this case, and may like it more than my phone.

Got any frivolous fun finds to add to this list? Do tell. Let's beat those January blahs, shall we?

Beautiful Big Sky

Sunset last night, sunrise this morning. Thanks for all the gorgeous colors, now someone up there needs to send us some snow...

Pose for a broken nose

I'm back from my blog break. I hesitate to say that I'm better than ever, though...I had an unfortunate encounter with the lid of our garbage bin on a windy day, and have a broken nose. It's not bad - no big bumps or black eyes - but damn, does it hurt and it's caused an afternoon headache almost every day. But, there's not much to do except wait for it to heal, and be careful with practicing inversions. I did discover that matsyasana, fish pose, actually provides some relief from the feeling of pressure I've experienced. I have no idea what the physiology behind that is, but regardless I'll take it. So here is a one-pose wonder, a pose for a broken nose. It also opens the abdomen, chest, and throat, and relieves tension in the upper back and neck, for you people without broken noses. It is traditionally the counter pose for sarvangasana, shoulder stand. And in case you're wondering, it's called fish because it fills the lungs with air, improving floating ability. (Even though fish don't float...but who am I to question the ancients?) I love the feeling of stretching the throat, and the way it gives you that upside-down perspective without having to invert anything below the neck.

The How-to:

• Lie on your back and place your hands under your bum. When you do this, keep the arms alongside the body; don't let the elbows flare out.
• Push down through your elbows to lift up your chest and chin. Drop the crown of the head back to the floor; don't take a lot of weight into the head, most of the weight bearing should be in your forearms.
• Pay attention to the position of the shoulders; don't allow them to be hunched. Point or flex the feet to keep the legs active.
  
• Stay here for 5-10 breaths.
• To come out of fish, push down through your elbows as you lift your head, tucking the chin towards your chest and looking to your feet. Then allow the head to gently release to the floor.

Go fish! Namaste.
Images by Larry Stanley

Are you there God? It's me, Amy.

Thanks to Amy, guest blogger and 2010 Cowgirls vs. Cancer scholarship recipient. She will blog here monthly on her journey through breast cancer treatment.

I got pretty emotional at church today. It was a great service given by my friend Father Frank, and as usual his sermon spoke to me.

I don’t usually talk much about my "religion." It's such an intensely personal part of each person, and I have to admit I’ve often seen more "holiness" from the humble than from the person who speaks of his religion only to use it against those whose beliefs or way of life is different. Or perhaps it goes back to that old adage that it is impolite or just plain stupid to talk about politics or religion...either way you are offending someone or inviting conflict.

However, it seems important this time to write about my religion, as it has weighed so heavily on my mind since I was diagnosed. I would be skipping a huge chunk of how cancer has changed me if I didn’t bring up my thoughts on God. If for no other reason, when I look back on my emails chronicling my cancer journey, it will be a reminder as to where my thoughts were on this subject when my life was at such a turning point. And really, does anyone journey through this life without reflecting somewhat on how their spirituality has impacted them?

So forgive me if I offend or indulge my possible political incorrectness.

I need to confess (classic Catholic), there have been many attempts on my behalf to brokerage deals with God since I was diagnosed in August. Those first few weeks it was please - I just want to live to see my kids off to college...and then as my prognosis became more positive, more simple requests like, no headaches today please, and (especially now) faster hair re-growth would be nice, God.

Funny too, how my perception (visual and otherwise) of God has changed. To myself, raised Catholic, He was the classic older white haired man in a flowing robe, wearing a stern look that scared me as a child. It wasn’t until my son mentioned to me that his God looked like Morgan Freeman (think Evan, Almighty) that it occurred to me that everyone probably visualizes Him/Her differently. Which takes me back to my theory that He means something different to everyone too. Hopefully, my religious views have evolved, and like my children I can see Him as a kinder, gentler God.

In addition, my relationship with religion has changed. It is on my mind more and I feel like He is listening to me. Admittedly, I often had better conversations with Him alone in the car then at mass with at least two children leaning on me and two pre-teens too embarrassed to hold my hand during prayer. I needed to ask His patience for so many requests this year. And to be patient with those who love me the most who are still very mad at Him.

The point of all these thoughts is that as I sat in that pew today, I did have time to reflect on the success of my chemo...hence the emotion. I did hear back from my surgeon that my reaction was fantastic...it greatly improved my prognosis and it was even suggested that it was a medical miracle. So, as surgery approaches I have some trepidation, but honestly am much more at peace with this next step.

Who do I have to thank for both of those gifts? For sure, an incredible medical community and the gift of access to that. Without a doubt, the support of friends and family who conversed with God on my behalf. (In fact, I get a kick out of my image of Him sitting on a gold throne in heaven saying, enough already Eau Claire...I know about her.) Also, I'd like to think, a life of healthy habits including eating well and yoga.

And thanks to God...whatever you look like.

Create Connection

I can't believe it's over. 12 Days of New Year's Resolutions, just like that. Thanks for coming along for the ride. And before I sign off for a tiny blog break, here's #12: create connection. I love the feeling of connection I have from writing this blog; I don't know everyone that is out there reading, but I like that it could be anyone, and often a stranger's comments move me immensely. We might never otherwise meet, but here our paths crossed. Email, Facebook, Twitter often get a bad rap - it's even been said that they discourage real live social interaction because people are so busy with their noses in computer screens. I beg to differ. Like everything else, you can always have too much of a good thing; but use them wisely, and they are rewarding. I enjoy reconnecting with old friends, keeping in touch with retreat alumnae, and making new friends through social media. It provides ways to connect that we never had before. And a feeling of connection is essential to well-being. So I hope that you'll keep connecting with me, on the blog, on Facebook and Twitter, and especially in the flesh here in Montana on a retreat. Name it and I'll be there! Namaste.

Pick your poses

#11 of 12 Days of New Year's Resolutions: pick your poses.
I was thinking about my goals for my yoga practice - wait - not supposed to have goals in yoga. OK so I was thinking about how I would like my yoga practice to evolve this year, and I picked some of the poses where I appear to be stuck. I'm at 85%, maybe 90% on a good day, but I just never seem to break through. And I remembered how I practiced a certain pose awhile ago, with intent; well, I did have a goal, and it was to do this pose for a photo shoot. So I have to admit to being motivated by that. Which I think is a good thing, actually. I'd also always wanted to do full Natarajasana, the dancer. I spent a few months preparing: breaking it down, using a strap, figuring out other poses that would help open my stuck spots, and above all, accepting patience as part of the process. I'm not going to say that has always been the case. Being a fairly impatient person, there have been plenty of times in my yoga history when I have not practiced patience (or ahimsa), and have tried to force a pose. Luckily I have never injured myself this way, and believe myself to be past the point of trying this stunt. Now there's evolution.

Anyhow, I remembered my journey to full dancer pose fondly, and am intending to apply the same approach to the following 3 poses in my practice:

• Hanumanasana, the splits, which I am convinced requires almost daily work.
• Vrschikasana, scorpion, the next step after feeling confident in pincha mayurasana, forearm stand.
• Titthibasana, firefly, where for some reason my hamstrings act tight.

Maybe I'll even get a good picture in one of them...
What are the poses that you would like to evolve in your practice this year?

Voice & Volunteer

Day 10 of 12 Days of New Year's Resolutions: Volunteer, and let your Voice be heard. Many of us feel that we already have more than enough demands on our time - we might like to volunteer, but just don't have enough hours in the day. There are soooooooo many ways you can give back that don't have to be time vampires. Do a little research and find a cause that is meaningful to you. Investigate at your workplace; many companies offer annual paid volunteer days. And don't be afraid to offer your support to different things at different times; when I had a yoga studio in DC, I used to teach "chair yoga" to seniors every Wednesday morning. I miss that rewarding experience, but a lot in my life has shifted since then. Now, I've been able to incorporate a way for Big Sky Yoga Retreats to give back through our Cowgirls vs. Cancer program. This sort of thing just wasn't possible during my start-up period, but I knew I would find something when the time was right.

Another way to support causes you believe in is to let your voice be heard. Moving to Montana ignited my love for horses and deepened my appreciation for nature and its preservation. Montana is part of the land that is home to many of America's wild horses. The ROAM Act (Restoring Our American Mustangs) passed by the House protects these populations by preventing their slaughter and establishing more humane management methods. Now it needs to pass the Senate. I signed the care2 petitionsite on this issue; you can too, or research and explore ways to make your voice heard on things that you care deeply about. Cowgirl Yoginis and horse lovers: you can buy Lynne Pomeranz' gorgeous book Among Wild Horses - A Portrait of the Pryor Mountain Mustangs; a portion of the profits will benefit the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Center. I'm planning to take Morgane there this year, and hoping we'll get to see these amazing horses.

What are your 2010 plans to voice and volunteer?

Get outside and get better

I've spent the last 2 days skiing at Big Sky, so time to double up on the resolutions again. Yesterday I had a ski date with myself - it was nice to have some time alone. I was surprised at how much my confidence appeared to have been shaken by husband's accident; but it didn't take too long to get my ski legs back. After 2 days in a row my quads are burning, in a good way...definitely time for après ski virasana yoga work.

#8 of 12 Days of New Year's Resolutions: get outside. I'm always amazed by the effect spending time outdoors has on the psyche. It renews that fundamental connection to the planet that we often lose with our indoor lifestyles (anyone seen Avatar?). It seems like a no-brainer, but it's not always easy to do, especially when baby, it's cold outside. My overall level of calm has definitely shifted since I moved to Montana, and I attribute this to the time I spend outdoors all year, not just in warmer weather. In fact, I love being outdoors in the winter; it feels refreshing and clean. The last 2 days playing in the snow under the Big Sky have washed away some of my anxiety and given me a fresh perspective on facing my challenges. When I lived and worked in New York City, I remember taking that elevator down 30-something floors and walking around the block to clear my head in the middle of a crazy day at work. So having nothing between you and the sky above is possible anywhere. Go outside. Take a deep breath. It helps.

#9 of 12 Days of New Year's Resolutions: hone your craft. Yesterday, I rode the chairlift with an older gentleman who had amazing energy; he was sweet, friendly, and a ski instructor - in his 70s, no less (I hope I am both skiing and teaching yoga in my 70s). Turns out he was from Michigan, where I grew up. Turns out he was a professional hockey player for the Detroit Red Wings in the 1950s, with hockey legend Gordie Howe; for you hockey fans, his name is Marty Pavelich. I kept thinking about him the rest of the day, and decided I'm going to sign up for some lessons with Marty. I've been wanting to take a few ski lessons to fine-tune my techniques, and with husband out for the season, this is a great time to do it. Sometimes we can get in a rut with our favorite activities, and there's nothing like a lesson to bust out of it. Splurge on a private yoga session and you'll be amazed at the pointers you can pick up, to improve your class time or home practice. Choose something you enjoy and take it up a notch with a little expert advice. Or start a new pursuit the right way.

I'd love to hear how you get your outdoor fix and how you hone your craft...

Flow, don't force

#7 of 12 Days of New Year's Resolutions: Flow, don't force.
This morning I practiced the Ashtanga primary series. As I think I've mentioned before, I don't fall into the hardcore Ashtangi category, but it is the cornerstone of my practice and what I believe to be the foundation for strength, flexibility and discipline. It's like hitting my yoga reset button. And I love the translation for yoga chikitsa, which is the primary series - yoga therapy. A good solid primary practice is definitely therapy. And did I ever need that today.

This practice does attract people who like to push, and is often blamed for yoga injuries. It also scares a lot of people. Both of those are topics for another time. (Maybe.) I'm not going to lie to you, it's challenging, but also immensely rewarding. And you have to learn how not to push, and how to accept where you are with your practice and your body, both of which are always - always! - changing. So basically, whether you like it or not, Ashtanga is going to be a moving target.

But back to my practice today - it was one of those magical times when everything felt effortless and smooth. My body felt strong and supple, my head calm and clear. Why can't it always be like this?! In yoga, even if we only get a little taste of what that feeling is like, it's what keeps us coming back for more. My body and mind were making new connections, in poses I've done hundreds of times. Wow. I felt like I was walking on air after rolling up my mat. And a voice inside my head said: Flow, don't force. (Sort of like Obi-Wan Kenobi's voice saying to Luke Skywalker, Feel the Force, Luke. For you Star Wars aficionados.) What a mantra to live by, both on and off the mat. Namaste.

Awakening to Blessings

#6 of 12 Days of New Year's Resolutions: Awaken to blessings in disguise. I'll admit to feeling a teensy bit harried recently, given recent Vap family events, including hosting the holidays at our house, post knee-surgery care and coordination of husband (he cannot drive), and - get this - my in-laws coming to help and my father-in-law falling and breaking HIS ankle. I kid you not. So, I've had my moments where, quite frankly, I've just wanted to scream. You know, just to release the tension. I'm fairly adaptable, and can make the most of every situation, but carving out that super important me-time has been tough. But as I awoke this morning to lovely fresh snow, sparkling in the bright sunshine, I felt joyful and appreciative of all the blessings in my life. And I took some time to reflect on the blessings in disguise that recent events have brought my way.

After shuttling Morgane to school and husband to his first physical therapy appointment, I returned home to race out back and meet my neighbor for a cross-country ski date. The last few winters, I just haven't been able to squeeze it in as much as I wanted to, given our focus on alpine. But now that my main downhill ski partner is out for the season, there's a gorgeous groomed trail right out back behind our house, plus I've got a neighbor who does this circuit several times a week - it seemed like someone was trying to tell me something. Plus said neighbor and I have been trying to get together for months now. As we skied this beautiful morning, I recognized this was part of my recent cloud's silver lining.

Yesterday, one person showed up for the weekly yoga class I teach at Be the Change. I don't know her very well, but when we realized no one else was coming, we started chatting like old friends who hadn't caught up in ages. We had so much to share, and it all came pouring out. Suddenly class time was over; I felt guilty for not taking charge and giving her some yoga, regardless of how much we were both enjoying the conversation. She hugged me and said it was exactly what it was supposed to be. I felt like I had just had a therapy session! A bit later I was at the store and spilled some soup. A woman saw me do it, and brought me a bunch of napkins. Simple kindness that practically brought me to tears.

Lastly, today I saw not only a bald eagle, but a herd of elk bedded down in the fresh snow a few miles from my house. Every time I see a bald eagle I feel it's a good omen; I'm going to extend that to the elk too. I found myself laughing out loud at their cuteness, their majesty, their apparent satisfaction at being snuggled up in the snow.

As one of my favorite retreat alumna always says...every day - glass is overflowing!

p.s. Athleta fans: the Steep Ravine pant is awesome for x-country skiing!

Go gourmet, go local

Looks like I owe you 2 resolutions today, since I didn't post yesterday. Knew that would happen. But these 2 go together nicely, so it all works out.

#4 of 12 days of New Year's Resolutions: Go gourmet. There's this misconception out there that gourmet means complicated. I think some of the most elegant meals are the simplest. What I'm saying is that you don't have to spend tons of time in the kitchen (or at the grocery store) to prepare good food. For example, last night I cooked chicken with 3 ingredients: cut up 1 pound of chicken breast, mix 3 tablespoons of soy sauce and 3 of light brown sugar in a pan and sauté the chicken. Sprinkle with sesame seeds when it's done, serve with edamame and udon or soba noodles. Simple, speedy, and satisfying. Btw, kids love it because it has a slightly sweet flavor. My favorite cooking magazines for keeping it simple yet gourmet are Bon Appetit and Cooking Light; get a subscription (they are always offering deals in the New Year) and make a notebook of recipes to have on hand for meal planning. I've got several of these notebooks full of food memories - I write down when and where and for whom by the special ones.

#5 of 12 days of New Year's Resolutions: Go local. The less food items have to travel to get to you, the fresher they will be. And buying locally supports your area's food producers and economy. So it's a win-win situation. I know, winter is not the easiest time to do this, depending on where you live (ahem - Montana, for example)...but a little research goes a long way, so find out what's available in your area. Many places have farmer's markets year-round. At the grocery store, find out where your food comes from and choose what had to travel the least. Eat what's in season, and enjoy the bounty that each time of year has to offer. For our holiday party this year, I worked with a caterer who cooks for the Bozeman Co-op and has a farm; it was delightful to come up with a menu that was in season and as locally-sourced as possible.

Tell me your tricks for eating healthy...

New Year's reading list

#3 of 12 days of New Year's Resolutions: read. More specifically, read more intellectually stimulating books than teen vampire novels. (Note: not that I didn't devour the Twilight series and thoroughly enjoy it, even though if I had to choose between Edward and Lestat, it would be the latter.) Top of my list right now is to read one chapter a day in Thomas Friedman's Hot, Flat, and Crowded - why we need a green revolution and how it can renew America. It's economics, environmentalism, and current events presented with wit and insight.

Also on my reading list are the following:

• The World Has Curves - the global Quest for the perfect body,
  by Julia Savacool
• People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks

Yours? Please share your New Year's reading list. And in order to stay accountable, I'll get back to you on my progress and processing of these 3 books. Promise.

One-Pose Wonder: Shoulder Stand at the wall

#2 of 12 days of New Year's Resolutions: do at least 7 minutes of yoga a day. Got this one from Realistic Resolutions from Dr. Oz, and obviously adore it. I used to have the mindset that if I couldn't do a "full" practice, no yoga would be done. Sort of the old all or nothing approach. But then I realized the power of one or a handful of poses; basically, some is always better than none when it comes to yoga. And 7 minutes? I like how he says, Most people aren’t brazen enough to admit they can’t carve out seven minutes in their schedule. 'Nuf said.

Many of us want to kick off the New Year hardcore, and that's fine. But don't forget to add some yin to that yang, especially if you were livin' large during the holidays. This one-pose wonder (well, it's really a 2-for-1) fits very nicely into the 7 minutes slot. But feel free to make it longer too.

Viparita Karani into Sarvangasana/Shoulder Stand at the wall

Inversions change up the blood flow for the obvious reason that you are upside down. But did you know that your veins, unlike arteries, can't push blood along? They rely on movement to get blood from the periphery back to your heart. These inversions get venous blood from the feet, legs and pelvis back to the center. Both poses are restorative inversions, to soothe the nervous system and allow both body and mind to let go.

Viparita Karani (Legs Up the Wall). A wonderful wind-down, viparita karani will help harness ungrounded energy and transition you towards bedtime.

• 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 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 all attention on your breath.

Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand). Called the “queen of asanas”, shoulder stand addresses so many bodily complaints. You should practice shoulder stand under the guidance of a yoga teacher, to ensure that you are setting things up correctly. This version, done at the wall, is easier to come into while remaining aligned.

• From Viparita Karani, bend your knees and place your feet on the wall. Lift your hips, and immediately bring your hands to your low back for support (your knees should line up over your shoulders).
  
• Slowly and carefully straighten your legs, one at a time, keeping feet together and on the wall. Hands remain on the low back.
  
• Stay here anywhere from 5-15 minutes, focusing all attention on your breath.

Namaste.

12 Days of New Year's resolutions

This holiday season, Morgane was enchanted with the 12 days of Christmas song. I think the repetition is what appeals to a child, but not necessarily to an adult after quite a few rounds and getting hoarse. Anyway, in honor of this song, I decided to do 12 days of New Year's resolutions. Is 12 too many? I don't think so. And I'd love to have you follow along and add yours here too, in keeping with whatever the day's theme ends up being. I can promise you they won't be hard, and they will be fun. They may not appear to be drastic or hugely life-changing at first glance, but the potential for that will be there; it's all what you do with it, right?

#1: Food Gratitude. There's been a lot of good eating going on at our house. Although we typically complain about overeating during this season, with the expectation to deprive ourselves after the New Year, it occurred to me the other day how unbelievably fortunate we are to have such wonderful choices with which to sustain ourselves. Not just during the holidays, but all year. So take a moment once a day to say a prayer or invocation, to take a moment of silence and gratitude for what you're about to eat.

Here I am in the fishbowl, putting my resolutions out there and in doing so hoping to hold myself as accountable as possible. Day 1 down, 11 to go. Please share your thoughts and resolutions too. Happy 2010 - peace, joy and Namaste.