As 2012 draws near, here's a bit of yoga advice from my soul to yours.
Be diligent. Put in the hard work. Be patient with your body and your mind. Trust that everything will come when you are ready. Not when you think you're ready, but when you're really ready. Never compare your practice to the practice of someone else. You don't know their story. Your practice is beautifully and uniquely yours, as is theirs. Don't be afraid to fall. Falling is how we learn. Get back up, and try again. Don't give yourself deadlines. Goals are great, timelines are not. If you want to touch your toes, practice that every day. Whether you get it in 6 days or 6 months is irrelevant. Don't wait until tomorrow. Do it now, because tomorrow you will wish you'd started today. Nix the word 'impossible' from your vocabulary. Whenever things seem that way, trust me, they're not. Stick with it. Do not give up. Whatever you do, do not give up. When you hit a plateau, keep going. When you face plant, keep going. When you finally 'get' a pose, keep going. Don't stop. Remember that you are amazing. You are light, you are love and you are strength. Everything you will ever need is already inside you. And when you start to doubt that, read this again. And again. And again. Yoga is not about balancing on your arms or putting your leg behind your head. Yoga is about the breath, and creating a deeper connection to your Self. The physical practice is beautiful, but what's really beautiful is what lies within.
LOVE.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
new playlist
- Thomas Newman: Any Other Name
- Jakatta: American Dream (Afterlife Remix)
- Y La Bamba: Juniper
- Apache Indian: Peace Offering (Om Namah Shivaya)
- Coldplay: Paradise
- Snow Patrol & Martha Wainwright: Set Fire to the Third Bar
- Thievery Corporation: Doors Of Perception
- Thievery Corporation: Free
- Maria Rita: Menino do Rio
- The Decemberists: Clementine
- Bon Iver: Holocene
- Iron & Wine: The Sea and the Rhythym
- Claude Debussy: Clair de Lune
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
8 reasons to NOT do yoga
1. I'm not flexible. Please, please do not tell me you can't do yoga because you aren't flexible. True, some people are naturally blessed with flexibility, but most of us have had to work for it. I can remember a time before I started practicing yoga when I could not touch my toes.
2. Yoga is expensive. I get it. Yoga is not cheap! A typical drop-in rate at a studio is anywhere from $15-$25 per class, and let's be honest, most folks can't afford that. Purchasing class packs will save you some bucks, but they're still not cheap. Times are tough, and even an extra $50 each month can be too pricy for a lot of people, especially when yoga is typically viewed as a non-necessity.
Yogaglo (www.yogaglo.com) is a bargain at only $18 per month, and you have unlimited access to unlimited classes every month with amazing teachers. In fact, two of my most beloved teachers (Kathryn Budig & Tiffany Cruikshank) have tons of classes on there.
Look for donation-based studios in your community. Pay-what-you-can type studios are becoming quite popular. Also, many yoga studios offer 'Happy Hour Yoga' or 'Community Yoga' classes at a reduced rate ($8 seems to be the magic number). If you have a yoga teacher you already love, ask him/her if he/she might be interested in teaching a donation-based class for you and your friends on a weekly basis. In the summertime, I teach a weekly class in my friend's backyard and charge $5-$10. Now that it's cold out, we've moved our class into another friend's home. You and your teacher can work out something that suits you both. You get inexpensive yoga while they still make a decent hourly wage. It's a win-win, and I love my community yogis!
3. Yoga is for girls, I don't want to be the only man in class. Nope. So not true. I rarely teach a class to all women. Sometimes my classes are 50/50, and sometimes I even have more men show up than women.
4. I don't have a yoga mat or cute/matching yoga clothes. Let me tell you something. I got my first yoga mat for my 17th birthday, I still use it to this day, and it came from Target. It probably cost around $20. I also still own (and wear) one of my first pairs of yoga pants. They cost $29.50 (or 2 for $50) at Victoria's Secret. I've had them for nearly 10 years (another perk of a regular yoga practice is I still fit in pants I wore in high school!). Only in the last year have I splurged on some fancy shit from Lululemon, and you know what? My yoga isn't any better because of it. Places like Gap, Marshall's, Ross, Target and TJ Maxx all sell inexpensive but cute yoga gear. I understand the desire to look and feel cute on your mat, but don't think you need to drop $100 on pants in order to do so.
5. I'm overweight. I've heard this one before. "I want to lose weight before I start doing yoga." What?! Do it NOW! Why wait? Yoga is amazing for weight loss, for a number of reasons. Depending on the type of yoga you're doing, it can be quite the cardiovascular workout. You'll get your heart rate up and work up a sweat all while getting your OM on. Also, and most importantly, a regular yoga practice can lead to a change in lifestyle. Who wants to eat a cheeseburger right before yoga? Not me. And after you spend time being good to yourself on your mat, you're more likely to be good to yourself afterward as well.
Don't think that everyone in your class is going to have a "perfect", skinny yoga body, either. What is perfect, anyway? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and YOU are beautiful just as you are! If you need to modify postures because of your weight, don't feel bad. A good teacher will encourage you to modify as needed, and that same pose you just modified? Someone else modified it because they're inflexible, or lacking the strength, or any number of other reasons. People make modifications to suit their own bodies. No explanation needed.
6. I don't have the time. This is one of the most common excuses. It's right up there with the old "I'm not flexible" excuse. Want to know my answer to this one? Make time. Yes, make the time because you are worth it. Your yoga practice is not an indulgence, and you are not selfish for setting aside time to do it. I like to think of it like this- When I haven't practiced in a while, I am a real grump. However, when my practice is regular I feel more calm, more happy, and therefore I am more kind to others. So if you can't justify doing it for yourself, do it for those around you.
That being said, I know that people have lives. People have children, jobs, social commitments, etc. For someone with a 9-5 job and a couple of kids, I'm sure it can seem next to impossible to sneak away to get to a yoga class. In the morning, that person is getting their kids ready for school, they work all day and then come home to prepare dinner and spend quality time with their family. With most classes being between 60 and 90 minutes in length, plus time to get ready and drive to and from the class, it can take upwards of two hours out of your day to get your practice in. Here's another great reason to use Yogaglo. Not only is it cost effective, but you can take a class whenever you want (and wherever, as long as you can sign into your account). And beyond that even, you can select the duration of your practice as well. If you only have 10 minutes to spare, select a class that's only 10 minutes long. Classes range in duration from 5 minutes to 90 minutes. And 5 minutes of yoga is better than no yoga at all.
If you already have an established practice, perhaps you can just freestyle it! Do some sun salutations in your living room, stand on your head in your office, whatever time you have- use it! Don't let the fact that you only have 15 minutes stop you from getting your practice in.
DVDs are another great option. I love Kathryn Budig's 'Aim True' DVD and I picked it up at Target for $13. Do the whole thing if you have time, or just do one segment instead.
7. I've never taken yoga before and I don't want to look stupid. First off, you won't look stupid. Everyone in the class was new to yoga at some point. And second, nobody is watching you. Really! Most people are so focused on their own practice they couldn't think about what you're doing even if they wanted to.
8. If I only have an hour to work out, I'm going to hit the cardio machines or the weight room. Oh boy, have I heard this one a time or two! Yoga has the potential to be one of the greatest workouts around. For example, in a typical class, I incorporate upper body strength, endurance, balance, core, inversions, legs, deep stretching and breath. You may feel good when you walk out of the gym after your typical cardio routine, but after yoga you will feel calm and relaxed, yet invigorated, strong and energized. It's the best of both worlds. Yoga lengthens, stretches and tones the muscles while leaving you feeling peaceful and refreshed.
...So there you have it. Eight perfectly good reasons to not do yoga. And far many more why you should :)
2. Yoga is expensive. I get it. Yoga is not cheap! A typical drop-in rate at a studio is anywhere from $15-$25 per class, and let's be honest, most folks can't afford that. Purchasing class packs will save you some bucks, but they're still not cheap. Times are tough, and even an extra $50 each month can be too pricy for a lot of people, especially when yoga is typically viewed as a non-necessity.
Yogaglo (www.yogaglo.com) is a bargain at only $18 per month, and you have unlimited access to unlimited classes every month with amazing teachers. In fact, two of my most beloved teachers (Kathryn Budig & Tiffany Cruikshank) have tons of classes on there.
Look for donation-based studios in your community. Pay-what-you-can type studios are becoming quite popular. Also, many yoga studios offer 'Happy Hour Yoga' or 'Community Yoga' classes at a reduced rate ($8 seems to be the magic number). If you have a yoga teacher you already love, ask him/her if he/she might be interested in teaching a donation-based class for you and your friends on a weekly basis. In the summertime, I teach a weekly class in my friend's backyard and charge $5-$10. Now that it's cold out, we've moved our class into another friend's home. You and your teacher can work out something that suits you both. You get inexpensive yoga while they still make a decent hourly wage. It's a win-win, and I love my community yogis!
3. Yoga is for girls, I don't want to be the only man in class. Nope. So not true. I rarely teach a class to all women. Sometimes my classes are 50/50, and sometimes I even have more men show up than women.
4. I don't have a yoga mat or cute/matching yoga clothes. Let me tell you something. I got my first yoga mat for my 17th birthday, I still use it to this day, and it came from Target. It probably cost around $20. I also still own (and wear) one of my first pairs of yoga pants. They cost $29.50 (or 2 for $50) at Victoria's Secret. I've had them for nearly 10 years (another perk of a regular yoga practice is I still fit in pants I wore in high school!). Only in the last year have I splurged on some fancy shit from Lululemon, and you know what? My yoga isn't any better because of it. Places like Gap, Marshall's, Ross, Target and TJ Maxx all sell inexpensive but cute yoga gear. I understand the desire to look and feel cute on your mat, but don't think you need to drop $100 on pants in order to do so.
5. I'm overweight. I've heard this one before. "I want to lose weight before I start doing yoga." What?! Do it NOW! Why wait? Yoga is amazing for weight loss, for a number of reasons. Depending on the type of yoga you're doing, it can be quite the cardiovascular workout. You'll get your heart rate up and work up a sweat all while getting your OM on. Also, and most importantly, a regular yoga practice can lead to a change in lifestyle. Who wants to eat a cheeseburger right before yoga? Not me. And after you spend time being good to yourself on your mat, you're more likely to be good to yourself afterward as well.
Don't think that everyone in your class is going to have a "perfect", skinny yoga body, either. What is perfect, anyway? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and YOU are beautiful just as you are! If you need to modify postures because of your weight, don't feel bad. A good teacher will encourage you to modify as needed, and that same pose you just modified? Someone else modified it because they're inflexible, or lacking the strength, or any number of other reasons. People make modifications to suit their own bodies. No explanation needed.
6. I don't have the time. This is one of the most common excuses. It's right up there with the old "I'm not flexible" excuse. Want to know my answer to this one? Make time. Yes, make the time because you are worth it. Your yoga practice is not an indulgence, and you are not selfish for setting aside time to do it. I like to think of it like this- When I haven't practiced in a while, I am a real grump. However, when my practice is regular I feel more calm, more happy, and therefore I am more kind to others. So if you can't justify doing it for yourself, do it for those around you.
That being said, I know that people have lives. People have children, jobs, social commitments, etc. For someone with a 9-5 job and a couple of kids, I'm sure it can seem next to impossible to sneak away to get to a yoga class. In the morning, that person is getting their kids ready for school, they work all day and then come home to prepare dinner and spend quality time with their family. With most classes being between 60 and 90 minutes in length, plus time to get ready and drive to and from the class, it can take upwards of two hours out of your day to get your practice in. Here's another great reason to use Yogaglo. Not only is it cost effective, but you can take a class whenever you want (and wherever, as long as you can sign into your account). And beyond that even, you can select the duration of your practice as well. If you only have 10 minutes to spare, select a class that's only 10 minutes long. Classes range in duration from 5 minutes to 90 minutes. And 5 minutes of yoga is better than no yoga at all.
If you already have an established practice, perhaps you can just freestyle it! Do some sun salutations in your living room, stand on your head in your office, whatever time you have- use it! Don't let the fact that you only have 15 minutes stop you from getting your practice in.
DVDs are another great option. I love Kathryn Budig's 'Aim True' DVD and I picked it up at Target for $13. Do the whole thing if you have time, or just do one segment instead.
7. I've never taken yoga before and I don't want to look stupid. First off, you won't look stupid. Everyone in the class was new to yoga at some point. And second, nobody is watching you. Really! Most people are so focused on their own practice they couldn't think about what you're doing even if they wanted to.
8. If I only have an hour to work out, I'm going to hit the cardio machines or the weight room. Oh boy, have I heard this one a time or two! Yoga has the potential to be one of the greatest workouts around. For example, in a typical class, I incorporate upper body strength, endurance, balance, core, inversions, legs, deep stretching and breath. You may feel good when you walk out of the gym after your typical cardio routine, but after yoga you will feel calm and relaxed, yet invigorated, strong and energized. It's the best of both worlds. Yoga lengthens, stretches and tones the muscles while leaving you feeling peaceful and refreshed.
...So there you have it. Eight perfectly good reasons to not do yoga. And far many more why you should :)
Thursday, October 20, 2011
yoga cat
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
cauliflower hummus
I've mentioned before that I do not enjoy cooking. I do, however, love eating healthy and nourishing food that is easy to make. Here's the recipe for the cauliflower hummus I made last night. Mmm... good! Slice up all kinds of vegetables and use them instead of pita or crackers for even more nutritious goodness!
1/2 head's worth cauliflower florets, gently boiled until softened
3 cloves garlic
2 cups garbanzo beans
1/4 cup garbanzo bean cooking liquid, or more to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1/8 cup lemon juice
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Dash of cayenne
Toss this into a food processor and blend until blended :) Enjoy!
1/2 head's worth cauliflower florets, gently boiled until softened
3 cloves garlic
2 cups garbanzo beans
1/4 cup garbanzo bean cooking liquid, or more to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1/8 cup lemon juice
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Dash of cayenne
Toss this into a food processor and blend until blended :) Enjoy!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunset Community Yoga
Here's the story of Sunset Community Yoga:
I had some people asking how they could practice with me without being a member or employee of somewhere I already teach. After some brainstorming, the talented arteest that is Julia Skerry and I decided that I could teach in her backyard and make the class open to anyone who was interested. This started back in the summer, and the sun was just starting to set around savasana time- perfect! Sunset Community and a handful of new yogis were born. I love it!
Unfortunately, summer has left the building and as of this week we're having to move the practice indoors. Space is quite limited and therefore class is already full. If we get a random nice day I will move class outside and open it up to everyone, but for now it must be indoors and smaller.
Until next summer, friends...
I had some people asking how they could practice with me without being a member or employee of somewhere I already teach. After some brainstorming, the talented arteest that is Julia Skerry and I decided that I could teach in her backyard and make the class open to anyone who was interested. This started back in the summer, and the sun was just starting to set around savasana time- perfect! Sunset Community and a handful of new yogis were born. I love it!
Unfortunately, summer has left the building and as of this week we're having to move the practice indoors. Space is quite limited and therefore class is already full. If we get a random nice day I will move class outside and open it up to everyone, but for now it must be indoors and smaller.
Until next summer, friends...
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
new playlist
- Bjork: Moon
- Billie Holliday: Warpaint
- Animal Collective: My Girls
- Taken By Trees: To Lose Someone
- Niki & The Dove: Gentle Roar (Mylo Mix)
- Niki & The Dove: The Fox
- Habanot Nechama: Jah
- Taken By Trees: Day By Day
- Taken By Trees: Julia
- Taken By Trees: Watch The Waves
- Lisa Hannigan: Ocean And A Rock
- Taken By Trees: Greyest Love Of All
- Eleni Mandell: Miracle Of Five
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
new playlist
Hey guys! Here's the playlist I used in my classes today. It's also the playlist I'll be using in my tomorrow, Friday and Saturday.
15: Tualatin 8:30am / Adidas 5:30pm / Pearl 24
16: Downtown 5:30pm
17: Hollywood 7:00am
18: Clogs N More Westmoreland 9:00am (employees only)
19: Clackamas 11:00am
20: Tualatin 8:30am / Adidas 5:30pm / Sunset Community Yoga 7:30pm
21: Clackamas 11:00am / McLoughlin 7:00pm
22: Tualatin 8:30am / Adidas 5:30pm / Pearl 7:30pm
23: NONE
24: Hollywood 7:00am
25: Clogs N More Westmoreland 9:00am (employees only)
26: Clackamas 11:00am
27: Tualatin 8:30am / Adidas 5:30pm
28: Clackamas 11:00am
I'm going to be in Pendleton, OR for The Yoga Roundup from the evening of Wednesday, the 28th through Sunday, October 2. There will be no Clogs N More Yoga class on Sunday, October 2.
- Nightmares On Wax: Passion
- Adele: Lovesong
- Nightmares On Wax: Flip Ya Lid
- Nightmares On Wax: African Pirates
- Feist: Mushaboom
- Girish: Jaya Hanuman
- Eddie Vedder: Society
- Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova: All The Way Down
- Lykke Li: I Know Places
- Mofro: The Sun Is Shining Down
- Mumford & Sons: After The Storm
- Eleni Mandell: Moonglow, Lamp Low
15: Tualatin 8:30am / Adidas 5:30pm / Pearl 24
16: Downtown 5:30pm
17: Hollywood 7:00am
18: Clogs N More Westmoreland 9:00am (employees only)
19: Clackamas 11:00am
20: Tualatin 8:30am / Adidas 5:30pm / Sunset Community Yoga 7:30pm
21: Clackamas 11:00am / McLoughlin 7:00pm
22: Tualatin 8:30am / Adidas 5:30pm / Pearl 7:30pm
23: NONE
24: Hollywood 7:00am
25: Clogs N More Westmoreland 9:00am (employees only)
26: Clackamas 11:00am
27: Tualatin 8:30am / Adidas 5:30pm
28: Clackamas 11:00am
I'm going to be in Pendleton, OR for The Yoga Roundup from the evening of Wednesday, the 28th through Sunday, October 2. There will be no Clogs N More Yoga class on Sunday, October 2.
smoothie
Today I skipped my morning smoothie in favor of a bagel. I know, I know- but I'm human and I enjoy bagels! I always feel much better when I start my day with loads of fresh fruits and vegetables, but today I'm almost kind of glad I waited until later in the day. I just took Kathryn Budig's Fallen Angel class on Yogaglo, and now I am listening to Mofro and enjoying a dee-vine smoothie. Here's what I used:
TRY IT!
- handful of raw pumpkin seeds
- 3 raw beets (so excited I have a blender that can handle this now!)
- 1/2 small avocado
- splash of coconut milk
- chard
- banana
- apple
- a few grapes, maybe 6 or 8
- even fewer raspberries
- large handful of fresh, locally grown organic blueberries
TRY IT!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Salutation Nation 2011
Greetings and Happy Saturday! It is HOT here in Portland today! I went to Salutation Nation this morning in Lake Oswego and it was a lot of fun. I tossed my mat down on a slight hill so I felt like I was leaning to the right the whole time, but Tiffany made an excellent point. Something along the lines of this: Yes, it's nice when you can come to your mat and have a beautiful, almost effortless practice, but reality isn't like that. The instant you re-enter the real world, people are honking at you, asking you to do twenty things in five minutes, etc. Whatever the obstacle may be, we all have them. So we should enjoy those moments on our mats when we're on a slant, or the sun is in our eyes, or we ran a few miles the day before and feel stiff, etc (again, insert obstacle of your choice here) because that's life. And that's yoga. One thing I love about Tiffany Cruikshank is her ability to salt and pepper in advanced poses in a non-threatening way. One of the poses she threw in today was eka pada koundinyasana from a revolved lunge. Either you did it or you didn't, and afterward Tiffany said, "It's already over! Nobody is going to care whether or not you did that pose. And when you leave here, nobody is even going to know." Tiffany is so eloquent. She's also deeply devoted to her own practice and passionate about what she does- that's what makes her a great teacher.
I killed a few hours after S.N. breakfasting with a friend and wandering around before heading to another (free) yoga class. As hot as it is outside, it was a heated class and I actually felt pretty great about it. For a moment, it made it seem like it wasn't really so hot outside.
In other news, many of you saw on my Facebook page that I recently purchased a new Kitchenaid blender! I am so excited about this because it can do so many great things! Just today I tossed some raw beets in there and it blended them up like a champ. Beets aren't my favorite addition to a smoothie, but they sure are good for you! I don't hate them, so I toss them in every so often. Have you been making smoothies this summer? Share your recipes with me! I'm always looking to try new things.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Namaste,
Tami
I killed a few hours after S.N. breakfasting with a friend and wandering around before heading to another (free) yoga class. As hot as it is outside, it was a heated class and I actually felt pretty great about it. For a moment, it made it seem like it wasn't really so hot outside.
In other news, many of you saw on my Facebook page that I recently purchased a new Kitchenaid blender! I am so excited about this because it can do so many great things! Just today I tossed some raw beets in there and it blended them up like a champ. Beets aren't my favorite addition to a smoothie, but they sure are good for you! I don't hate them, so I toss them in every so often. Have you been making smoothies this summer? Share your recipes with me! I'm always looking to try new things.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Namaste,
Tami
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
class schedule
Thursday, 8/11
-8:30am Tualatin 24
-11:00am Pearl 24
-5:30pm Adidas
-7:30pm Pearl 24
NO CLASSES FRIDAY, 8/12
Saturday, 8/13
-7:00am Hollywood 24
-10:30am Murray Scholls 24
Sunday, 8/14
-9:00am Clogs-N-More (employees only)
-12:00pm Beaverton 24
Monday, 8/15
-11:00am Clackamas 24
-4:15pm Murray Scholls 24
-7:30pm COMMUNITY YOGA (1644 SE 52nd in Mt Tabor neighborhood) class is $5-$10 (sliding scale) and open to everyone. Please bring a mat or towel and water.
Tuesday, 8/16
-8:30am Tualatin 24
-5:30pm Adidas
-7:30pm Clogs-N-More (employees only)
Wednesday, 8/17
-11:00am Clackamas 24
-7:00pm McLoughlin 24
Thursday, 8/18
-8:30am Tualatin 24
-5:30pm Adidas
-7:30pm Pearl 24
NO CLASSES FRIDAY, 8/19
Saturday, 8/20
-7:00am Hollywood 24
NO CLASSES SUNDAY 8/21 OR MONDAY 8/22
Tuesday, 8/23
-8:30am Tualatin 24
-5:30pm Adidas
-7:30pm COMMUNITY YOGA (1644 SE 52nd in Mt Tabor neighborhood) class is $5-$10 (sliding scale) and open to everyone. Please bring a mat or towel and water.
Wednesday, 8/24
-11:00am Clackamas 24
-7:00pm McLoughlin 24
Thursday, 8/25
-8:30am Tualatin 24
-5:30pm Adidas
-7:30pm Pearl 24
NO CLASSES FRIDAY, 8/26 OR SATURDAY, 8/27
-8:30am Tualatin 24
-11:00am Pearl 24
-5:30pm Adidas
-7:30pm Pearl 24
NO CLASSES FRIDAY, 8/12
Saturday, 8/13
-7:00am Hollywood 24
-10:30am Murray Scholls 24
Sunday, 8/14
-9:00am Clogs-N-More (employees only)
-12:00pm Beaverton 24
Monday, 8/15
-11:00am Clackamas 24
-4:15pm Murray Scholls 24
-7:30pm COMMUNITY YOGA (1644 SE 52nd in Mt Tabor neighborhood) class is $5-$10 (sliding scale) and open to everyone. Please bring a mat or towel and water.
Tuesday, 8/16
-8:30am Tualatin 24
-5:30pm Adidas
-7:30pm Clogs-N-More (employees only)
Wednesday, 8/17
-11:00am Clackamas 24
-7:00pm McLoughlin 24
Thursday, 8/18
-8:30am Tualatin 24
-5:30pm Adidas
-7:30pm Pearl 24
NO CLASSES FRIDAY, 8/19
Saturday, 8/20
-7:00am Hollywood 24
NO CLASSES SUNDAY 8/21 OR MONDAY 8/22
Tuesday, 8/23
-8:30am Tualatin 24
-5:30pm Adidas
-7:30pm COMMUNITY YOGA (1644 SE 52nd in Mt Tabor neighborhood) class is $5-$10 (sliding scale) and open to everyone. Please bring a mat or towel and water.
Wednesday, 8/24
-11:00am Clackamas 24
-7:00pm McLoughlin 24
Thursday, 8/25
-8:30am Tualatin 24
-5:30pm Adidas
-7:30pm Pearl 24
NO CLASSES FRIDAY, 8/26 OR SATURDAY, 8/27
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
I want to know...
What feeds your soul? What are you passionate about? What makes you feel ALIVE? Here are some of mine:
- Yoga. (Shocking, right?!) My yoga mat is such a comforting space for me. My practice has seen me through many ups and downs over the years. I sometimes wonder what my life would be like today if I'd never discovered yoga. I don't think I want to know!
- The mountains. Especially Mt. Hood. I am so obsessed with its beauty and I can never get enough. Anytime I see it from Portland, I smile. If someone is with me I have to point it out, regardless of how many other times we've seen it that day. While driving home from a swimming hole in Washington last weekend, I said "Look at the mountain!" at least a dozen times. I just can't help but be overwhelmed every time I see it. Which takes me to my next great love...
- Snowboarding. I don't care if I fall a million times or seamlessly shred black diamonds all day- I LOVE IT! I feel so connected to nature when I'm on my board. I don't dream of having a big fancy house or a yard full of kids, I dream about teaching yoga at a resort and snowboarding every single day.
- A really good cup of coffee. My last cup of "oh my gosh this is amazing" coffee was last week at Cloud Seven Cafe. There's something about coffee on a bright and sunny morning that just makes my soul sing. I can't help but be happy! There's also something very comforting about a cup of coffee on a dark and dreary morning. Do you get the point yet? I like coffee.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
more smoothie excitement
I've been extra experimental with my smoothies over the past couple of days, and I'm finding that you really can just toss anything in there and create something delicious. I have yet to make one that tasted bad. Although I must admit, beet smoothies are not my favorite. Drinkable, but not my favorite. Here's what I put in my smoothie this morning (everything organic):
For one, I buy everything organic. Ever heard of the 'Dirty Dozen' and the 'Clean 15'? The dirty dozen is a list of foods with high pesticide residue, and the clean fifteen is a list of things that are safer to buy non-organic. You can find that list here.
I also avoid buying my leafy greens in a bag. I go to the produce section or my local farmers market and buy them in bunches. Cheaper! I live within walking distance of just about everything, so I don't mind going to the store often. I buy enough fresh fruits and veggies to last only a couple of days so I can ensure that everything is super fresh and that nothing goes to waste.
Surely you can tell that I'm really excited about these delicious and healthy smoothies, and I hope that you can get excited about them too! If you come up with your own unique creation, please share it with me! And if you have any questions, ask me!
Happy blending! :)
- 1/4 avocado
- 5 grape tomatoes (halved)
- 1/3 zucchini (sliced & halved)
- 1/2 large apple
- banana
- 5 strawberries
- big handful of spinach
- splash of rice milk
- 3 big scoops of plain nonfat yogurt
For one, I buy everything organic. Ever heard of the 'Dirty Dozen' and the 'Clean 15'? The dirty dozen is a list of foods with high pesticide residue, and the clean fifteen is a list of things that are safer to buy non-organic. You can find that list here.
I also avoid buying my leafy greens in a bag. I go to the produce section or my local farmers market and buy them in bunches. Cheaper! I live within walking distance of just about everything, so I don't mind going to the store often. I buy enough fresh fruits and veggies to last only a couple of days so I can ensure that everything is super fresh and that nothing goes to waste.
Surely you can tell that I'm really excited about these delicious and healthy smoothies, and I hope that you can get excited about them too! If you come up with your own unique creation, please share it with me! And if you have any questions, ask me!
Happy blending! :)
Monday, August 1, 2011
new playlist
Some of these songs are also on my most recent playlist, but they're so good I just can't get enough!
- FC Kahuna: Hayling
- Thievery Corporation: Free
- Lykke Li: I'm Good, I'm Gone
- Madonna: Get Together
- Foster The People: Pumped Up Kicks
- Mumford & Sons: Awake My Soul
- The Head & The Heart: Lost In My Mind
- Beach House: Take Care
- Lykke Li: Love Out Of Lust
- Mumford & Sons: After The Storm
- Death Cab For Cutie: The Ice Is Getting Thinner
- Bon Iver & St. Vincent: Roslyn
Sunday, July 31, 2011
choose love, face fear
Kathryn Budig talked a lot about 'Aim True' at the workshops I recently took from her. She had a big dry erase board in front of class that said:
I challenge you to start applying this concept to your own life. Start small. It might not be a big deal to anyone else, but maybe it is to you and be okay with that. Try a pose you wouldn't normally try, go places you've never been, eat things you've never eaten. Maybe after you've tried something you might realize you don't like it, but in the words of one of my all time favorite movie characters, "that's the way it goes, but don't forget, it goes the other way too."
CHOOSE LOVE:
HOPE
EMBRACE
BELIEF
CONFIDENCE
FACE FEAR:
DOUBT
EXPECTATION
DREAD
I've been trying to apply this all over the place in my life. Not just on my yoga mat, but everywhere throughout my life recently. On Friday, I went to a cute and tiny swimming hole in Washington and I saw these little boys jumping off a rock and into the water. My first thought was something like this: "Oh, that looks like fun! Wish I could do that, but I won't. I don't want to get wet, I don't want my mascara to run, the water looks cold, etc." I know this jump looks pretty puny in the video, but I was scared! I had all these questions running through my head like, I wonder how cold that water really is? Am I going to hit the bottom? Am I going to freak out if I don't hit the bottom? What if I can't find the surface again?! I decided to stop with the questions, put my Marie Claire magazine down and go for it. When I got to the top of the rock, I got really nervous but had one of those "I've come this far..." moments. After all, I did climb up the back side of a rock in a bathing suit with no shoes on and tell my husband I was going to do it. I couldn't chicken out now! So there, I did it. The water was cold and lots of it went up my nose, but it was fun! I only did it once but that was all I needed. In that moment, I had chosen love and faced fear. It's the small victories :)
LOVE
Friday, July 29, 2011
something new
I was really excited to test out the new ingredient this morning. Another side note, I don't think I've ever eaten a beet in my life, but I've been feeling adventurous lately. Last night I noticed they were quite messy and smelled very earthy. So here's what I tossed into my blender this morning:
- one beet
- handful of spinach
- 2 large collard greens
- a banana
- half an apple
- handful of blueberries
- two spoonfuls of plain nonfat yogurt
- a splash or two of rice milk
- 8 small strawberries
- 1/4 avocado
Thursday, July 28, 2011
eat fresh
In Portland, we're lucky to have lots of farmers markets around town! Shopping at farmers markets allows you to support local farmers while also supporting your own health (and wallet, it's cheaper than a grocery store!). I'm looking forward to loading up on lots of fresh fruits and vegetables at the one near my house today! To find a farmers market near you, check out www.localharvest.org.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
new playlist and schedule
- FC Kahuna- Hayling
- Kings Of Leon- Back Down South
- Foster The People- Pumped Up Kicks
- La Roux- In For The Kill (Skream Remix)
- Awolnation- All I Need
- Mumford & Sons- Awake My Soul
- Beach House- Take Care
- Mumford & Sons- After The Storm
- Pink- Glitter In The Air
- Mofro- The Sun Is Shining Down
- Eleni Mandell- Miss Me
- Beyonce- Halo (acoustic)
- Krishna Das- Om Namah Shivayah
Wednesday, July 27
- Murray Scholls 24- 5:45am
- Clackamas 24- 11:00am
- McLoughlin 24- 7:00pm
- Tualatin 24- 8:30am
- Adidas- 5:30pm
- Pearl 24- 7:30pm
- Tanasbourne 24- 10:00am
- Hollywood 24- 7:00am
- Pearl 24- 5:00pm
- Clogs N More- 9:00am
- Clackamas 24- 11:00am
- Downtown 24- 6:30pm
- Tualatin 24- 8:30am
- Adidas- 5:30pm
- Clackamas 24- 11:00am
- McLoughlin 24- 7:00pm
- Tualatin 24- 8:30am
- Pearl 24- 11:00am
- Adidas- 5:30pm
- Pearl 24- 7:00pm
- Tanasbourne 24- 10:00am
- Beaverton 24- 12:00pm
- Hollywood 24- 7:00am
- Beaverton 24- 9:30am
Sunday, July 24, 2011
sunday
 |
| a handstand hand from my sweet friend julia skerry |
A few days ago, I posted a link on my facebook page to a lululemon blog called 'The Pursuit of Handstands'. It's a really great article, and if you haven't read it yet you can find it here.
Boy, can I relate to that article. When I was 22, my teacher suggested to me that I consider teacher training. I remember thinking she was crazy because I couldn't do a headstand, my heels didn't touch the floor in downward dog, and the list goes on. But this one excerpt from this blog pretty much sums it up: "I’ve realized that the discipline of a regular and consistent yoga practice is much more important and difficult than mastering one advanced pose." I'm happy to report that three years later, I can do a headstand. My heels can touch the floor in downward dog. I can do a lot of things now that I couldn't do before. But what difference does that make anyway? I certainly don't feel like a "better" yogi because of it, and the more I learn about yoga the more I realize I don't know about yoga. Here's another quote I love from the blog: “There are no final yoga poses. There is always something to learn, something new to explore, something we haven’t yet experienced.”
I used to think that when I could balance on my forearms I could call myself a yogi. Or when I could do a full hanumanasana I could call myself a yogi. Again, the list goes on. But after years of consistent practice, I think I'm finally starting to see the bigger picture. The fact that I unroll my mat everyday and practice with my heart and soul is what makes me a yogi. That goes for all of us. Never sell yourself short, don't give yourself limitations. You are limitless. Keep on keepin' on, friends! You can do anything.
Namaste.
Friday, July 22, 2011
mmm...
Green Smoothies: Round Two
I went to the produce market today in search of some more delicious things to add to my smoothies. I have never enjoyed cooking, nor would I in any way consider myself a 'foodie', so my food knowledge is very limited. When I eat fruit, I typically eat something like a banana, apple, strawberries or grapes. Give me a papaya and I'm not going to know what to do with it. Silly as that sounds, I have that relationship with many types of food. "Uhh, do I have to peel it? Cut it? How do I eat it?"
Now, with that being said, I do love to eat healthy things and always have. I just have a tendency to eat like a 5 year old- you know, I eat the same things over and over. If I'm on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich kick, I'm going to eat one every single day for months. (Don't judge me, I only use natural peanut butter and jelly, and a really good multi-grain or whole wheat bread). I've always said if I became super rich I would employ a chef to cook healthy, vegan/vegetarian food for me at every meal. Maybe one day?
The whole point of this blog is to share with you my love of the green smoothie. Super easy, nothing needs to be cooked (washed and maybe peeled, but definitely not cooked), and most importantly healthy and tasty. I got a little inspiration from Tiffany Cruikshank last night when she posted a photo of her smoothie from that morning. I asked her for the recipe and she listed off nearly a dozen things and followed it with, "I just buy tons of fruits and vegetables, whatever looks good, and throw it in my blender." An 'everything but the kitchen sink' type of thing. Easy enough! At the market today I shopped exactly like she said she does. I tossed tons of things into my basket- chard, spinach, strawberries, bananas, avocados, kale, plums, peaches, pears, etc. If it looked good, I bought it. I didn't even know what chard was, and still don't actually, but it was green and leafy so I tossed it in my blender with a bunch of other stuff. Tasted great! (And by the way, most of that stuff came from a local farm on Sauvie Island and came to a grand total of just $18).
Green smoothies are perfect for the person who doesn't like to cook, doesn't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and wants to be healthy. If you don't already drink these things- try it! You will not be disappointed.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
green smoothies
Holy goodness gracious, if there's one thing I can't get enough of right now it's green smoothies. I used to make them fairly regularly, that is until I thought I killed my blender (it's a dinosaur and I had been throwing ice in there- not good). Luckily it came back to life and so did my love for the amazing green smoothie. You don't have to have any specific recipe or exact measurements, you can just throw whatever you have together in a blender and make a deliciously uber-healthy treat. Your smoothie should be made up of about 40% leafy greens and 60% fresh fruit. Most recently I've been doing 2-3 stalks of kale, a peeled and sliced apple, 4-6 strawberries, 1/4 avocado, a splash of almond milk, a nice big spoonful of plain nonfat Greek yogurt, a banana and a little bit of agave nectar. I prefer mine at room temperature, but you can pour yours over ice (or toss ice in the blender if yours can handle it).
People who include green smoothies in their regular diets report the following:
Yes, please!
* more energy
* less body aches and pain
* normalized blood sugar
* reduced or "cured" insomnia
* increased libido
* clearer thought
* better vision
* regular bowel movements
* less acne
* less illness
* easy weight loss
* reduced craving for coffee and caffeine
* less body aches and pain
* normalized blood sugar
* reduced or "cured" insomnia
* increased libido
* clearer thought
* better vision
* regular bowel movements
* less acne
* less illness
* easy weight loss
* reduced craving for coffee and caffeine
Yes, please!
Monday, July 18, 2011
the day after
After eight intense hours of yoga over the past three days, I was expecting to be incredibly sore today. Like 'I can't get out of bed' sore. Lucky for me, I'm actually feeling pretty good this morning. My body is aware that I spent eight hours twisting it and flipping it, but I'm feeling alright. Still feeling my yoga buzz, actually! I made sure to take really good care of myself throughout the weekend though, drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of rest. I already can't wait for next year when she comes back! In the mean time, I'm going to reactivate my yogaglo account so I can practice with her at home. And since I've done so much talking about Kathryn Budig, let me give share with you how you can catch up with her yourself.
website: www.kathrynbudig.com
facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathryn-Budig/162704285701
You can also take online classes with her (and many other wonderful teachers) at www.yogaglo.com, and she writes for a ton of websites and publications. Even if you don't practice yoga, I still recommend checking her out. She posts a lot of great recipes and is just an all around great ball of inspiring and happy energy.
If I haven't already made this clear, yes- I do love Kathryn Budig! :)
Sunday, July 17, 2011
yoga with kathryn: day three
Today was the last day in a series of workshops led by the fabulous Kathryn Budig at Yoga Pearl. Today's theme was love, and the workshop was appropriately titled 'All Is Full Of Love'. We did a lot of back bends. And I mean a lot. More back bends than I even considered physically possible before today. Three hours is a long time to practice yoga. Three hours of consecutive back bending- wow. I am surely going to be quite sore tomorrow, and probably even the day after that. But I feel amazing! And happy, oh so happy.
I learned so much this whole weekend, but I have to admit that today was my favorite. I love arm balances and inversions, but I love back bends even more because I'm good at them. I've always been a bit more bendy than strong, which is definitely something I've been working to balance out. One of the first things Kathryn had us do with hanumanasana (splits). Three times on each side. Here's the dialogue going on in my head: "Is she kidding? No, apparently she's serious. Okay. Just do it." On the third time, she had us fold forward and kiss our shin. Yikes! I'm so glad I've been spending so much time on this pose in recent months. In fact, as recently as six months ago hanumanasana was not a part of my practice. Why not? Well, because I couldn't do it. And in my own practice, I don't like doing things I can't do. I decided that was a pose I "wanted" one day, so I kept at it. I started incorporating it into my own practice, as well as into the classes that I teach on a daily basis. It wasn't too long before it was mine. You can do this with any pose. If you want it, practice it. But as Kathryn said today, it's like trying to hold a wet bar of soap. The tighter you try to squeeze, the more likely it is to slip out of your grip. "Don't stop wanting it, just stop obsessing over it."
Back bends are challenging for a lot of people because you're opening your throat, heart and hips. We as humans tend to feel very vulnerable when back bending because of this. You have to be very comfortable with yourself in order to practice these intensely open postures, but as Kathryn said today, be yourself. Be comfortable with who you are, and let your light shine. By closing yourself off, you are doing the world a disservice. "Why would you do that? Don't be an asshole. SHINE!" Yes, she said that. And she's absolutely right. This reminds me of a favorite poem of mine by Marianne Williamson. Here it is:
Amazing, right? And totally true. Let your light shine, and let it shine brightly. xoxo-Tami
I learned so much this whole weekend, but I have to admit that today was my favorite. I love arm balances and inversions, but I love back bends even more because I'm good at them. I've always been a bit more bendy than strong, which is definitely something I've been working to balance out. One of the first things Kathryn had us do with hanumanasana (splits). Three times on each side. Here's the dialogue going on in my head: "Is she kidding? No, apparently she's serious. Okay. Just do it." On the third time, she had us fold forward and kiss our shin. Yikes! I'm so glad I've been spending so much time on this pose in recent months. In fact, as recently as six months ago hanumanasana was not a part of my practice. Why not? Well, because I couldn't do it. And in my own practice, I don't like doing things I can't do. I decided that was a pose I "wanted" one day, so I kept at it. I started incorporating it into my own practice, as well as into the classes that I teach on a daily basis. It wasn't too long before it was mine. You can do this with any pose. If you want it, practice it. But as Kathryn said today, it's like trying to hold a wet bar of soap. The tighter you try to squeeze, the more likely it is to slip out of your grip. "Don't stop wanting it, just stop obsessing over it."
Back bends are challenging for a lot of people because you're opening your throat, heart and hips. We as humans tend to feel very vulnerable when back bending because of this. You have to be very comfortable with yourself in order to practice these intensely open postures, but as Kathryn said today, be yourself. Be comfortable with who you are, and let your light shine. By closing yourself off, you are doing the world a disservice. "Why would you do that? Don't be an asshole. SHINE!" Yes, she said that. And she's absolutely right. This reminds me of a favorite poem of mine by Marianne Williamson. Here it is:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Amazing, right? And totally true. Let your light shine, and let it shine brightly. xoxo-Tami
Saturday, July 16, 2011
yoga with kathryn: day two
"Drop to your knees and give thanks that you can stand." -Irish Prayer
Kathryn started class today with this quote. Seemed fitting, since we were about to be standing on everything but our feet! The workshop was equal parts fun and hard work. Emphasis on the hard work!
We started out with handstand. First kicking, then from standing split, then bent-knee pike, then straight leg pike. Then transitioning from handstand to chaturanga- which with Kathryn's love and support I did! She talks a lot about fear in this workshop, and learning to let go. So often we have everything we need to physically achieve a posture, but fear holds us back. Do I physically have the strength to successfully transition from handstand to chaturanga? Yes. Am I afraid that without Kathryn standing behind me I'm going to face plant? Yes. Anyone who watches someone practice these advanced postures and thinks they're easy is dead wrong. The threat of a face plant is very real, and even though you don't have very far to go, it's still going to hurt. Watching Kathryn demonstrate the transition, I thought I would be able to nail it. Once I started to practice it on my own, I became very afraid! "But my face- it's so close to the ground!" After a few attempts, I sat in the middle of the room looking like a lost puppy. Kathryn looked over at me and all I could mutter was, "I'm scared." Last night, when talking about aiming true, she taught us that the only way to conquer fear is to move right through it. You can't get around it, you have to face it head on. So she stood behind me and had me come into a handstand. (Let me give you a little side note here. Kathryn describes this transition in a very funny way. The transition comes from your arms and upper body, not from the legs. She says the legs are like the kid at the park who doesn't want to go home, and the arms are the mom who says, 'no, come on, we're going!') So as she's telling me to bend my arms and melt my chest, I get scared and drop out, immediately bringing my legs down the the ground. I tried again. Same thing happened. There are 60 other people in the room and right now I'm hogging all of her attention. I ask her if I can try one more time and after she reassures me that I can do this, and that she will not let me face plant, she graciously says of course. I trusted her, much harder to do than it sounds being that I'm upside down and moving into unfamiliar territory, and I did it. She gave me a hard pat on the back when I landed and greeted me with a smile when I pulled through to up dog. I wanted to cry. She is amazing.
The realization that we can do anything we want is quite incredible. One of my favorite things about Kathryn is that she is so open about her journey. She told us today that in her teacher training, the class was instructed to kick into handstand at the wall. Everyone did it- except for her and one other person. Her teacher, Chuck Miller, came to her and assisted her into the pose. When she came out he said to her that she had everything that she physically needed to stand on her hands, but that she had to let go of the fear. I think that is so powerful, and so true. It is not enough to watch someone else do the pose and want it. No matter how badly you want it, you will never get it if you don't practice regularly. You've got to learn to fall before you can fly. You have to learn to take a literal leap of faith- and on or off your mat, taking a leap of faith can be terrifying.
Okay, now that being said, that doesn't mean that any Tom Dick or Harry can hop into a handstand as long as they aren't afraid. You do have to have that element of physical strength, and a deep sense of awareness and control of your body.
Getting back on track now, the yoga room was hot. And when you have 60 people exerting all kinds of physical energy, it makes it that much hotter. For the past few days I've had this yucky sinus issue and have been feeling kind of sub par. After the two hour class last night, waking up at 6:00 this morning to teach a class of my own, and putting forth every last bit of effort within me, I was tired by the end. Wait, tired was an understatement. Exhausted is more like it. After about two hours, as much as I wanted to learn more and try everything, I was beginning to fade. When Kathryn asked Krystyn if she still wanted to work on fallen angel, she said, "We can talk about it, but I am really tired! I hope I'm not the only one." She wasn't. In fact, I was glad that I wasn't the only one!
Tomorrow is another three hour workshop for heart and hip openers, but tonight- ahhh tonight! I will rest on my couch :)
Kathryn started class today with this quote. Seemed fitting, since we were about to be standing on everything but our feet! The workshop was equal parts fun and hard work. Emphasis on the hard work!
We started out with handstand. First kicking, then from standing split, then bent-knee pike, then straight leg pike. Then transitioning from handstand to chaturanga- which with Kathryn's love and support I did! She talks a lot about fear in this workshop, and learning to let go. So often we have everything we need to physically achieve a posture, but fear holds us back. Do I physically have the strength to successfully transition from handstand to chaturanga? Yes. Am I afraid that without Kathryn standing behind me I'm going to face plant? Yes. Anyone who watches someone practice these advanced postures and thinks they're easy is dead wrong. The threat of a face plant is very real, and even though you don't have very far to go, it's still going to hurt. Watching Kathryn demonstrate the transition, I thought I would be able to nail it. Once I started to practice it on my own, I became very afraid! "But my face- it's so close to the ground!" After a few attempts, I sat in the middle of the room looking like a lost puppy. Kathryn looked over at me and all I could mutter was, "I'm scared." Last night, when talking about aiming true, she taught us that the only way to conquer fear is to move right through it. You can't get around it, you have to face it head on. So she stood behind me and had me come into a handstand. (Let me give you a little side note here. Kathryn describes this transition in a very funny way. The transition comes from your arms and upper body, not from the legs. She says the legs are like the kid at the park who doesn't want to go home, and the arms are the mom who says, 'no, come on, we're going!') So as she's telling me to bend my arms and melt my chest, I get scared and drop out, immediately bringing my legs down the the ground. I tried again. Same thing happened. There are 60 other people in the room and right now I'm hogging all of her attention. I ask her if I can try one more time and after she reassures me that I can do this, and that she will not let me face plant, she graciously says of course. I trusted her, much harder to do than it sounds being that I'm upside down and moving into unfamiliar territory, and I did it. She gave me a hard pat on the back when I landed and greeted me with a smile when I pulled through to up dog. I wanted to cry. She is amazing.
The realization that we can do anything we want is quite incredible. One of my favorite things about Kathryn is that she is so open about her journey. She told us today that in her teacher training, the class was instructed to kick into handstand at the wall. Everyone did it- except for her and one other person. Her teacher, Chuck Miller, came to her and assisted her into the pose. When she came out he said to her that she had everything that she physically needed to stand on her hands, but that she had to let go of the fear. I think that is so powerful, and so true. It is not enough to watch someone else do the pose and want it. No matter how badly you want it, you will never get it if you don't practice regularly. You've got to learn to fall before you can fly. You have to learn to take a literal leap of faith- and on or off your mat, taking a leap of faith can be terrifying.
Okay, now that being said, that doesn't mean that any Tom Dick or Harry can hop into a handstand as long as they aren't afraid. You do have to have that element of physical strength, and a deep sense of awareness and control of your body.
Getting back on track now, the yoga room was hot. And when you have 60 people exerting all kinds of physical energy, it makes it that much hotter. For the past few days I've had this yucky sinus issue and have been feeling kind of sub par. After the two hour class last night, waking up at 6:00 this morning to teach a class of my own, and putting forth every last bit of effort within me, I was tired by the end. Wait, tired was an understatement. Exhausted is more like it. After about two hours, as much as I wanted to learn more and try everything, I was beginning to fade. When Kathryn asked Krystyn if she still wanted to work on fallen angel, she said, "We can talk about it, but I am really tired! I hope I'm not the only one." She wasn't. In fact, I was glad that I wasn't the only one!
Tomorrow is another three hour workshop for heart and hip openers, but tonight- ahhh tonight! I will rest on my couch :)
Friday, July 15, 2011
yoga with kathryn: day one
Let me start by giving you a little background in how I came to love Kathryn Budig. Remember when Snoop Dogg had his on reality show a few years ago? Yes, the rapper. One episode featured him going to see a doctor because he was stressed out. The doctor suggested he try acupuncture, but when he expressed his deep distaste for needles, he was redirected to a yoga class- Kathryn Budig's yoga class! The clip is hilarious, and if I can find it I will post it. But anyway, that's how I first discovered her. This was back when social media was far less popular. Facebook was unheard of and I had a myspace account. Here's what mine looked like...
ABOUT ME:
yoga-loving vegetarian.
WHO I'D LIKE TO MEET:
kathryn budig.
I found out who she was by googling 'yoga teacher on snoop dogg's fatherhood', found her website and learned that she is not much older than me, and she graduated from University of Virginia (Virginia, heeeeeeey!) before moving to Los Angeles. Sometime later I connected with her on Facebook and asked her to come to Portland. She wrote me back and told me she was actually in talks with a studio to come lead a few workshops, and several months later she was here, and of course I signed up. She is a delight.
Tonight I had the pleasure of taking her two hour 'Aim True' class and it was amazing, inspiring, challenging and fun. I met some new people, learned some new things, and left there feeling happier than I've felt all week. Oh, and not to mention I sweated, sweated, and sweated some more since the room was packed and the heat was cranked. My clothes were so sticky when I got home I literally had to peel them off.
Here's one big thing I took from tonight's class- Do not look at someone's practice with envy, for you do not know their story. It's as simple as that. Nobody just pops into these poses without practicing them for a long time, and it's important to create a balance between your practice and those people and things you love that have nothing to do with your practice. And if you want to get better at any particular pose, just practice it. Really, that's it! Just practice it. "Show up, but don't mark your calendar. Just keep showing up."
And with that, I'm off to bed. Have to be ready for day two: three hours of arm balances and inversions!
Namaste, friends <3
ABOUT ME:
yoga-loving vegetarian.
WHO I'D LIKE TO MEET:
kathryn budig.
I found out who she was by googling 'yoga teacher on snoop dogg's fatherhood', found her website and learned that she is not much older than me, and she graduated from University of Virginia (Virginia, heeeeeeey!) before moving to Los Angeles. Sometime later I connected with her on Facebook and asked her to come to Portland. She wrote me back and told me she was actually in talks with a studio to come lead a few workshops, and several months later she was here, and of course I signed up. She is a delight.
Tonight I had the pleasure of taking her two hour 'Aim True' class and it was amazing, inspiring, challenging and fun. I met some new people, learned some new things, and left there feeling happier than I've felt all week. Oh, and not to mention I sweated, sweated, and sweated some more since the room was packed and the heat was cranked. My clothes were so sticky when I got home I literally had to peel them off.
Here's one big thing I took from tonight's class- Do not look at someone's practice with envy, for you do not know their story. It's as simple as that. Nobody just pops into these poses without practicing them for a long time, and it's important to create a balance between your practice and those people and things you love that have nothing to do with your practice. And if you want to get better at any particular pose, just practice it. Really, that's it! Just practice it. "Show up, but don't mark your calendar. Just keep showing up."
And with that, I'm off to bed. Have to be ready for day two: three hours of arm balances and inversions!
Namaste, friends <3
Monday, July 11, 2011
new playlist
- Zero 7- This World
- Mofro- The Sun Is Shining Down
- Zero 7- Simple Things
- Beirut- Scenic World
- Beirut- Postcards From Italy
- Mofro- Blackwater
- Mofro- Everybody's
- Mofro- Air
- Massive Attack- Be Thankful For What You've Got
- Massive Attack- Protection
- Subway Bhaktis- Tibetan Tantra Tara
Friday, July 8, 2011
class schedule
Hi y'all! As some of you may already know, I recently quit my "day job" to further pursue my teaching career. Since yoga is my deepest passion and I've been teaching for more than three years now, it stopped making sense for me to put my energy anywhere else. I've been teaching a lot so far this summer, and I am loving it! I feel so grateful and blessed to be able to spend my days sharing yoga with so many wonderful and inspiring people all over Portland. Here's what my schedule looks like for the next ten days, hope to see you!
Saturday, July 9
Hollywood 24, 7:00am
Sunday, July 10
Clogs N More, 9:00am
Pearl 24, 5:30pm
Monday, July 11
Clackamas 24, 11:00am
Murray Scholls 24, 4:15pm
Tuesday, July 12
Tualatin 24, 8:30am
Adidas, 5:30pm
Tanasbourne 24, 7:30pm
Wednesday, July 13
Clackamas 24, 11:00am
McLoughlin 24, 7:00pm
Thursday, July 14
Tualatin 24, 8:30am
Beaverton 24, 10:30am
Adidas, 5:30pm
Pearl 24, 7:30pm
Friday, July 15
Tanasbourne 24, 10:00am
Beaverton 24, 12:00pm
Satuday, July 16
Hollywood 24, 7:00am
Sunday, July 17
Clogs N More, 9:00am
Monday, July 18
Clackamas 24, 11:00am
Saturday, July 9
Hollywood 24, 7:00am
Sunday, July 10
Clogs N More, 9:00am
Pearl 24, 5:30pm
Monday, July 11
Clackamas 24, 11:00am
Murray Scholls 24, 4:15pm
Tuesday, July 12
Tualatin 24, 8:30am
Adidas, 5:30pm
Tanasbourne 24, 7:30pm
Wednesday, July 13
Clackamas 24, 11:00am
McLoughlin 24, 7:00pm
Thursday, July 14
Tualatin 24, 8:30am
Beaverton 24, 10:30am
Adidas, 5:30pm
Pearl 24, 7:30pm
Friday, July 15
Tanasbourne 24, 10:00am
Beaverton 24, 12:00pm
Satuday, July 16
Hollywood 24, 7:00am
Sunday, July 17
Clogs N More, 9:00am
Monday, July 18
Clackamas 24, 11:00am
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
new playlist
- The Album Leaf- Vermillion
- FC Kahuna- Hayling
- Jakatta- American Dream (Afterlife Remix)
- Thievery Corporation- Revolution Solution
- Thievery Corporation- Satyam Shivam Sundaram
- Zero 7- Simple Things
- Thievery Corporation- Ambicion Eterna
- Thievery Corporation- A Gentle Dissolve
- Zero 7- Salt Water Sound
- Girish- Ganapati
- Zero 7- Distractions
- Zero 7- Polaris
- The Album Leaf- We Once Were (One)
Monday, June 20, 2011
class schedule
I seem to have taken an unintentional hiatus from blogging! I am currently in Virginia visiting family and having a wonderful time, but I'm also looking forward to being home on Wednesday and getting back to teaching and taking classes at my home studio. While I've been here, I've been trying to stick to a semi-normal routine which includes jogging and taking yoga classes. Jogging sure is different when the air is hot and sticky! I took a class from Dana Walters at Lululemon last Sunday morning with my mom and it was wonderful! Exactly what I needed after a red-eye cross country flight the day before! Wednesday night I took a heated vinyasa class from Nadine Stepp at Om On Yoga, and yesterday morning I took a Barre class from Ashley Hudson at Lululemon. It was... hard. Tonight I will take my final class of the trip with Dana Walters at Project Yoga Richmond- a restorative class (aahhhhhhhhh) with my mom. So sweet!
While I have you here, let me share my schedule for the next two weeks. I am teaching most of my regular classes (some are canceled due to the fourth of July holiday), and I'm also subbing a few.
Wednesday, June 22
Clackamas 24 @ 11:00am
McLoughlin 24 @ 7:00pm
Thursday, June 23
Tualatin 24 @ 8:30am
Beaverton 24 @ 10:30am
Adidas @ 5:30pm
Pearl 24 @ 7:30pm
Friday, June 24
Pearl 24 @ 12:00pm
Saturday, June 25
Hollywood 24 @ 7:00am
Sunday, June 26
Pearl 24 @ 5:30pm
Clogs N More @ 7:00pm
Monday, June 27
Clackamas 24 @ 11:00am
Tuesday, June 28
Tualatin 24 @ 8:30am
Wednesday, June 29
Clackamas 24 @ 11:00am
McLoughlin 24 @ 7:00pm
Thursday, June 30
Tualatin 24 @ 8:30am
Tanasbourne 24 @ 12:00pm
Adidas @ 5:30pm
Pearl 24 @ 7:30pm
Friday, July 1
McLoughlin 24 @ 12:00pm
Saturday, July 2
Hollywood 24 @ 7:00am
Sunday, July 3
Clogs N More @ 9:00am
Monday, July 4
NO CLASSES
Tuesday, July 5
Adidas @ 5:30pm
Tanasbourne 24 @ 7:30pm
Wednesday, July 6
Clackamas 24 @ 11:00am
McLoughlin 24 @7:00pm
While I have you here, let me share my schedule for the next two weeks. I am teaching most of my regular classes (some are canceled due to the fourth of July holiday), and I'm also subbing a few.
Wednesday, June 22
Clackamas 24 @ 11:00am
McLoughlin 24 @ 7:00pm
Thursday, June 23
Tualatin 24 @ 8:30am
Beaverton 24 @ 10:30am
Adidas @ 5:30pm
Pearl 24 @ 7:30pm
Friday, June 24
Pearl 24 @ 12:00pm
Saturday, June 25
Hollywood 24 @ 7:00am
Sunday, June 26
Pearl 24 @ 5:30pm
Clogs N More @ 7:00pm
Monday, June 27
Clackamas 24 @ 11:00am
Tuesday, June 28
Tualatin 24 @ 8:30am
Wednesday, June 29
Clackamas 24 @ 11:00am
McLoughlin 24 @ 7:00pm
Thursday, June 30
Tualatin 24 @ 8:30am
Tanasbourne 24 @ 12:00pm
Adidas @ 5:30pm
Pearl 24 @ 7:30pm
Friday, July 1
McLoughlin 24 @ 12:00pm
Saturday, July 2
Hollywood 24 @ 7:00am
Sunday, July 3
Clogs N More @ 9:00am
Monday, July 4
NO CLASSES
Tuesday, July 5
Adidas @ 5:30pm
Tanasbourne 24 @ 7:30pm
Wednesday, July 6
Clackamas 24 @ 11:00am
McLoughlin 24 @7:00pm
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
curvy yoga
I was reading the blog of fellow teacher Krystyn Strother yesterday and came across a post about International No Diet Day, which was May 6. It's a great post, you should check it out! She put a link to Anna Guest-Jelley's blog, which is all about embracing and loving your body. Anna is a yoga teacher and blogger in Nashville, TN and has some really wonderful things to say. I encourage you to visit the blogs of both of these lovely ladies!
Namaste,
Tami
Namaste,
Tami
Saturday, May 21, 2011
schedule update
Greetings, y'all! I wanted to share my upcoming class schedule with you, as I'm subbing some and also traveling a bit as well.
Here's my normal schedule:
On Memorial Day (Monday, May 30), my Clackamas 24 class at 11:00am is canceled, however I will be teaching at 10:00am at Murray Scholls 24.
Here's the list of classes that I am subbing so far through June.
Here's my normal schedule:
- Monday: Clackamas 24 11:00am
- Tuesday: Tualatin 24 8:30am / Adidas* 5:30pm
- Wednesday: Clackamas 24 11:00am / McLoughlin 24 7:00pm
- Thursday: Tualatin 24 8:30am / Adidas* 5:30pm / Pearl 24 7:30pm
- Saturday: Hollywood 24 7:00am
- Sunday: Clogs N More* 7:00pm
On Memorial Day (Monday, May 30), my Clackamas 24 class at 11:00am is canceled, however I will be teaching at 10:00am at Murray Scholls 24.
Here's the list of classes that I am subbing so far through June.
- Thursday, May 26: Beaverton 24 10:30am
- Friday, May 27: Murray Scholls 24 5:45am
- Monday, May 30: Murray Scholls 24 10:00am
- Monday, June 6: Pearl 24 7:00am
- Thursday, June 30: Tanasbourne 24 12:00pm
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
new playlist
- Gabriele Morgan: Savasana I
- Massive Attack: Everywhen
- Massive Attack: Special Cased
- Massive Attack: Heat Miser
- The Xx: Infinity
- Fleet Foxes: Blue Ridge Mountains
- Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues
- The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter
- Lykke Li: Get Some
- Foster The People: Pumped Up Kicks
- Mono: Silicone
- Radiohead: Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was
- Lykke Li: I Know Places
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
yoga at work
Hey yogis who are employed by Clogs N More! Your weekly yoga class has been moved from Tuedsday at 7:00pm to Sunday at 7:00pm, effective immediately!
Do you work for a small business and wish you had company yoga classes? Have your boss contact me and we can work something out! Yoga is a wonderful thing to have in the workplace. Not only does is provide a sense of community, but it also renews and rejuvenates the whole body, reduces stress, promotes weight loss and much more.
I can be reached at 503-953-0781, or via email at yogaseedpdx@gmail.com.
Namaste!
Do you work for a small business and wish you had company yoga classes? Have your boss contact me and we can work something out! Yoga is a wonderful thing to have in the workplace. Not only does is provide a sense of community, but it also renews and rejuvenates the whole body, reduces stress, promotes weight loss and much more.
I can be reached at 503-953-0781, or via email at yogaseedpdx@gmail.com.
Namaste!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
new playlist
- Zero 7: In The Waiting Line
- Radical Face: Welcome Home, Son
- Mono: The Outsider
- Mono: Penguin Freud
- Mono: Hello Cleveland!
- Mono: Silicone
- Lykke Li: Get Some
- Florence + The Machine: Blinding
- Radical Face: The Strangest Things
- Bonnie Somerville: Winding Road
- Radical Face: Homesick
- Gabriele Morgan: Savasana I
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
subbing
Hi!
In addition to my regular classes, I will be teaching Thursday mornings at 10:30 at the Beaverton 24 Hour Fitness for the next two weeks. Dates are April 28 and May 5. Hope to see you!
In addition to my regular classes, I will be teaching Thursday mornings at 10:30 at the Beaverton 24 Hour Fitness for the next two weeks. Dates are April 28 and May 5. Hope to see you!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
regular class schedule
Here's my regular class schedule. I plan to start subbing more with 24 Hour Fitness in the near future and will be sure to post those updates as they become available.
Monday
Monday
- Clackamas 24- 11:00am
- Tualatin 24- 8:30am
- Adidas- 5:30pm*
- Clogs-n-More- 7:00pm*
- Clackamas 24- 11:00am
- McLoughlin 24- 7:00pm
- Tualatin 24- 8:30am
- Adidas- 5:30pm*
- Pearl 24- 7:30pm
- Hollywood 24- 7:00am
Monday, April 18, 2011
new playlist
- Bon Iver- re: stacks
- The Xx- Infinity
- Cat Power- The Greatest
- Neil Young- Heart of Gold
- Cat Power- Empty Shell
- Cat Power- Willie
- Beach House- Used To Be
- Lykke Li- Love Out Of Lust
- Neil Young- Harvest Moon
- Lykke Li- I Know Places
- The Album Leaf- (???)
- Gabriele Morgan- Savasana II
Thursday, April 7, 2011
new playlist
- Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros- Brother
- Lykke Li- Hanging High
- Lykke Li- Little Bit
- Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros- Om Nashi Me
- Florence + The Machine- Heavy In Your Arms
- Florence + The Machine- Blinding
- Florence + The Machine- You've Got The Love
- Florence + The Machine- Falling
- Sia- My Love
- Kings of Leon- Pyro
- Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros- Desert Song
- Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros- Carries On
- Lykke Li- Time Flies
- Bon Iver & St Vincent- Roslyn
Monday, April 4, 2011
snowga
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
new playlist
- Bon Iver: Blindsided
- Lykke Li: I Know Places
- Bon Iver: Flume
- Beach House: Zebra
- Beach House: Silver Soul
- Lykke Li: I Follow Rivers
- Beach House: Lover Of Mine
- Beach House: Walk In The Park
- Lykke Li: Unrequited Love
- Beach House: 10 Mile Stereo
- Anya Marina: Satellite Heart
- Lykke Li: Possibility
- Bon Iver & St. Vincent: Roslyn
sciatica
Back when I used to work full-time in an office, I struggled almost every day with sciatica. I didn't know what it was, and I could never pinpoint the pain to tell anyone its origin. Not only did I sit behind a desk for 40 hours a week, but I also had great friends who lived 5 hours away who I would drive to see on weekends as often as once a month. All that sitting was terrible for me. I would constantly try to shift around to make myself comfortable, but I was never successful. All I could tell people was that I had a shooting pain that went all the way down the back of my left leg. Sounds like a classical case of sciatica to me, and looking back I wonder why nobody suggested that could be my issue? But alas, I eventually found out what it was and learned new ways to deal with it. The nerve stayed irritated the whole time I worked in that office, but once I moved to Portland and started teaching yoga more regularly, the pain subsided. It still flares up occasionally, but for the most part I have it under control. Over the weekend, I went to Seattle and spent a total of 8 or so hours in the car. When I woke up yesterday morning I could barely get out of bed, and I had to teach at 8:30am. Ouch. I could not even touch my toes. After I taught I decided to go for a walk through downtown before teaching again at 5:30. By the time my evening class rolled around I was feeling much better, and today I'm back to normal. Even though I hate a sciatic-attack, I have to admit that it can sometimes be a good reminder to be grateful that my body is generally quite healthy and allows me to bend and move the way I do. There are plenty of poses that are suggested for easing sciatica (downward facing dog, tree, staff pose, marichi's pose, etc.), but I have to say the one that felt best to me yesterday was reclining pigeon with the ouchy leg on top. It's the only pose I did all day that I felt took the pressure off the nerve and allowed me to be without pain. I know I'm not the only one who deals with sciatica, so if you have a go-to pose to ease your sciatic pain, post it on here! You never know- someone else who may not have otherwise tried it might be very grateful that you did.
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| reclining pigeon |
Friday, March 25, 2011
wild geese
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
--Mary Oliver
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
--Mary Oliver
Thursday, March 24, 2011
playlist & schedule
Hi y'all! Here's my newest playlist and my class schedule for next week.
- The Album Leaf- (title unknown)
- The xx- Stars
- Pearl Jam- Just Breathe
- The xx- VCR
- The xx- Shelter
- The xx- Heart Skipped a Beat
- Marie Digby- Umbrella (Single Version)
- The xx- Crystalised
- The xx- Intro
- The xx- Basic Space
- Iron & Wine- Jezebel
- The xx- Infinity
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star- My Love
- The Album Leaf- (title unknown)
- Thomas Newman- Any Other Name
- Tuesday- Tualatin 24 8:30am / Adidas 5:30pm
- Wednesday- Clackamas 24 11:00am / McLoughlin 24 7:00pm
- Thursday- Tualatin 24 8:30am / Adidas 5:30pm / Pearl 24 7:30pm
- Saturday- Hollywood 24 7:00am
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
yoga mats
I came to the realization two days ago (while washing my hair, how random!) that I have never purchased a yoga mat. Each of my mats have a story of their own and now I'm going to share those stories with you.
And another mat, the red one. This one came into my life sometime circa 2004. I was so in love with yoga and wanted to share it with everyone I knew. I practiced in my living room regularly and coerced my boyfriend's neighbor into buying a mat one night while we were shopping at Target. I think she practiced with me once, but we soon lost touch and she had left Red Mat at my apartment. I always got weird energy from that mat and I very rarely used it. Quite honestly, I really just don't enjoy the color red. I gave that one to my mom when it became clear that I wasn't going to see Red Mat's original owner again. Red Mat lived in the trunk of my mom's car for a really long time, and she now uses it for the Monday night restorative class she takes from my friend and fellow teacher, Dana. Long live Red Mat.
I used to have attachment issues with my mats. I would only use my purple mat for the longest time, even though I had others. Once I got my olive Jade mat I was a bit more able to let go of the attachment I felt to Purple Mat A. These days, I will use any mat for any practice any place, and sometimes I don't even use a mat at all!
And there's the story of my yoga mats. I hope you enjoyed!
- My purple mat. It was given to me on my seventeenth birthday by a friend. When I first began practicing, I was sixteen and this friend and I would get together after school and on the weekends to practice in her bedroom or my parents' living room. I still remember her walking up the sidewalk with that mat in her arms. I was so excited. I felt like such an official yogi! I still have that mat and it has seen me through many, many classes. It currently lives at YoYoYogi and I use it when I practice there.
- My green mat. I got this at my first teacher training, six years after my first mat was given to me. I left it in the plastic for that whole weekend because I didn't want to "cheat" on my purple mat. I have since unwrapped it currently serves as my teaching mat.
- My olive Jade mat. Gifted to me by my best friend, Cristena. Christmas 2008. I have loved this mat ever so much. Because of the natural rubber and my leaving it in the car all the time (it was my teaching mat for a long time), it has lost a lot of its grip and I have now appointed it my at home practice mat.
- My orange Jade mat. My sweet friend and fellow yoga teacher Dana gave me this one for Christmas this past year. I thought I lost my beloved olive mat, but lucky me, I found it! Now I have two Jade mats and this one is much better taken care of (ie: I do not leave it in the car, nor do I expose it to direct sunlight). I have used this one for practicing at home, practicing at YoYo, and teaching.
And another mat, the red one. This one came into my life sometime circa 2004. I was so in love with yoga and wanted to share it with everyone I knew. I practiced in my living room regularly and coerced my boyfriend's neighbor into buying a mat one night while we were shopping at Target. I think she practiced with me once, but we soon lost touch and she had left Red Mat at my apartment. I always got weird energy from that mat and I very rarely used it. Quite honestly, I really just don't enjoy the color red. I gave that one to my mom when it became clear that I wasn't going to see Red Mat's original owner again. Red Mat lived in the trunk of my mom's car for a really long time, and she now uses it for the Monday night restorative class she takes from my friend and fellow teacher, Dana. Long live Red Mat.
I used to have attachment issues with my mats. I would only use my purple mat for the longest time, even though I had others. Once I got my olive Jade mat I was a bit more able to let go of the attachment I felt to Purple Mat A. These days, I will use any mat for any practice any place, and sometimes I don't even use a mat at all!
And there's the story of my yoga mats. I hope you enjoyed!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
only dead fish swim with the stream
Life is difficult. If it was all fluffy and easy, we wouldn't be tested, tried, forged in the fire of life. We wouldn't grow or learn or change, or have a chance to rise above ourselves. If life were a series of lovely days, we'd soon get bored. If there were no rain, then there wouldn't be any feeling of great joy when it finally stopped and we could go to the beach. If it were all easy, we couldn't get stronger.
So, be thankful it is a struggle some of the time, and recognize that only dead fish swim with the stream. For the rest of us, there will be times when it's an uphill, upstream struggle. We will have to battle waterfalls, dams, and raging torrents. But we have no choice. We have to keep swimming to get swept away. And each flick of our tail, each surge of our fins makes us stronger and fitter, leaner and happier.
From "The Rules of Life" by Richard Templar
So, be thankful it is a struggle some of the time, and recognize that only dead fish swim with the stream. For the rest of us, there will be times when it's an uphill, upstream struggle. We will have to battle waterfalls, dams, and raging torrents. But we have no choice. We have to keep swimming to get swept away. And each flick of our tail, each surge of our fins makes us stronger and fitter, leaner and happier.
From "The Rules of Life" by Richard Templar
Sunday, March 13, 2011
this week's schedule
March 14 through March 19
Monday
Clackamas 24 @ 11:00am
McLoughlin 24 @ 7:00pm
Tuesday
Tualatin 24 @ 8:30am
Adidas @ 5:30pm
Wednesday
Murray Scholls 24 @ 5:45am
Clackamas 24 @ 11:00am
McLoughlin 24 @ 7:00pm
Thursday
Tualatin 24 @ 8:30am
Adidas @ 5:30pm
Pearl 24 @ 7:30pm
Friday
Murray Scholls 24 @ 5:45am
Saturday
Hollywood 24 @ 7:00am
Monday
Clackamas 24 @ 11:00am
McLoughlin 24 @ 7:00pm
Tuesday
Tualatin 24 @ 8:30am
Adidas @ 5:30pm
Wednesday
Murray Scholls 24 @ 5:45am
Clackamas 24 @ 11:00am
McLoughlin 24 @ 7:00pm
Thursday
Tualatin 24 @ 8:30am
Adidas @ 5:30pm
Pearl 24 @ 7:30pm
Friday
Murray Scholls 24 @ 5:45am
Saturday
Hollywood 24 @ 7:00am
Monday, February 28, 2011
changes abound
And speaking of freeing yourself, I have recently made the decision to give up my Wednesday and Friday 5:45 am yoga classes at Murray Scholls 24. This is a decision I've struggled with for a long time, and it wasn't an easy one. I feel deeply connected to that class and everyone in it, which is why I taught it for as long as I did. From the looks of the schedule, Jeanette (who taught the class before I did), will be teaching the Friday morning, and the Wednesday morning is still up in the air. The class remains on my schedule through the end of March.
If you work for Adidas, my class is now available to you twice a week! Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 5:30. Tuesday classes beginning on March 8.
Namaste,
Tami
Monday, February 14, 2011
updated schedule
Monday
This week, my Wednesday morning class at Clackamas will be taught by Marina.
- Clackamas 24 11:00am
- Tualatin 24 8:30am
- Murray Scholls 24 5:45am / Clackamas 24 11:00am / McLoughlin 24 7:00pm
- Tualatin 24 8:30am / Adidas 5:30pm / Pearl 24 7:30pm
- Murray Scholls 5:45am
- Hollywood 24 7:00am
This week, my Wednesday morning class at Clackamas will be taught by Marina.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
itunes ping
- A.R. Rahman: Touch of the Sun (127 Hours soundtrack)
- A.R. Rahman: Liberation Begins (127 Hours soundtrack)
- Pearl Jam: Just Breathe
- Radiohead: All I Need
- Iron & Wine: Peace Beneath The City
- Mumford & Sons: Awake My Soul
- Album Leaf: (unknown)
- Mazzy Star: Into Dust
- Sufjan Stevens: Amazing Grace
- Album Leaf: (unknown)
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star: My Love (made famous by Sia)
- The Decemberists: Clementine
- Deva Premal: Om Namo Bhagavate
- Thomas Newman: Any Other Name
Have a great week!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
PEACE.
Peace is making new friends.
Peace is keeping the water blue for all the fish.
Peace is listening to different kinds of music.
Peace is saying you're sorry when you hurt someone.
Peace is helping your neighbor.
Peace is reading all different kinds of books.
Peace is thinking about someone you love.
Peace is giving shoes to someone who needs them.
Peace is planting a tree.
Peace is sharing a meal.
Peace is wearing different clothing.
Peace is watching it snow.
Peace is keeping the streets clean.
Peace is offering a friend a hug.
Peace is everyone having a home.
Peace is growing a garden.
Peace is taking a nap.
Peace is learning another language.
Peace is having enough pizza in the world for everyone.
Peace is keeping someone warm.
Peace is new babies being born.
Peace is being free.
Peace is traveling to different places.
Peace is wishing on a star.
Peace is being who you are.
Written by Todd Parr
yoga+snowboarding
Some of my favorite moments in life involve yoga and snowboarding. Perhaps you'll think I'm weird (and maybe I am, but I'm fine with it), but I love the smell of my yoga mat. I love to start my practice in child's pose because the smell of my mat instantly calms me. It's familiar. I also love the sound of the instructor's feet as they walk across the hard wood floor. I love the first down dog of the day, creating space in my back as my heels sink toward the Earth. I love to ride the chair lift at night by myself and catch a glimpse of my shadow cast across the majestic snow-covered trees. I love riding from the Lower Bowl over to Multorpor at SkiBowl because it's silent. I can hear my breath and the board gliding across the snow beneath me, and that's it. I love when balancing in ardha chandrasana feels effortless, when I'm having a really "on" moment in my practice. I love the sound of yoga mats unrolling, even when they mistakenly smack the floor. I love to sit in the snow when there's nobody else around me and marvel at my surroundings.
I love that when I think of yoga, or think of snowboarding, I smile.
Namaste, friends!
Tami
Monday, January 17, 2011
new playlist
This is one of my favorite playlists I've ever comprised! And I made it just for you :)
- Jai Uttal: Dina Dayal
- Cat Power: Maybe Not
- FC Kahuna: Hayling
- Fleet Foxes: Mykonos
- Frou Frou: Let Go
- The xx: Crystalised
- Mumford & Sons: Awake My Soul
- Augustana: Sweet & Low (acoustic)
- Iron & Wine: Jezebel
- Sufjan Stevens: Amazing Grace
- Subway Bhaktis: Tibetan Tantra Tara
- Thomas Newman: Any Other Name
Sunday, January 16, 2011
breathe
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
new class
Greetings, beautiful beings! Effective immediately, I will be teaching the Monday morning class (in addition to the Wednesday morning class) at 11:00 at the Clackamas 24 Hour Fitness. So excited!
Nicole will be teaching my 7:00pm class on Wednesday, January 26. I will be celebrating my husband's birthday that evening!
Hope you're having a lovely yoga-filled week so far. Stay warm!
Nicole will be teaching my 7:00pm class on Wednesday, January 26. I will be celebrating my husband's birthday that evening!
Hope you're having a lovely yoga-filled week so far. Stay warm!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
schedule
For the next two weeks, my schedule at 24 Hour Fitness will be as follows:
- Monday: 11:00am Clackamas
- Tuesday: 8:30am Tualatin
- Wednesday: 5:45am Murray Scholls / 11:00am Clackamas / 7:00pm McLoughlin
- Thursday: 8:30am Tualatin
- Friday: 5:45am Murray Scholls
- Saturday: 7:00am Hollywood
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