tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63278813897220435052011-12-01T22:52:14.696-08:00RighteousYoginiAn Exploration of Spirituality in the Real WorldRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.comBlogger2361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-76909882599988725522011-10-05T20:41:00.000-07:002011-10-05T20:41:38.502-07:00HOLIDAY Vegan GranolaGranola to Give Thanks For
This HAS to be my most incredible concoction YET. And the inspiration came at a time when I most needed it . . . after my rice-flour pancake disaster, divine grace in the form of the most successful granola endeavor to date. Enjoy!!!
Dry Ingredients
1 cup toasted buckwheat
1 cup kamut flakes (cereal)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds (soaked)
1/8 cup gojii berries
1/4 cup RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-68402635642325368992011-09-22T12:07:00.000-07:002011-09-22T12:07:19.776-07:00Come Join Lessons From the Mat!!Hi Everyone!
I've launched a new blog: Lessons From the Mat. A journey about starting a business and becoming a bona fide entrepreneurial, in the spirit of yoga!!!
Join me there, www.99Lessons.com. Ill continue to post thoughts and recipes and other funky things here, but will have a weekly lesson on the latest blog. Hope to see you there!
NamasteRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-30669832707243868912011-09-17T16:55:00.001-07:002011-09-17T18:39:16.387-07:00Super Healthy Simple Vegan, Sugar-Free Banana MuffinsThese are amazing, filling, and only about 84 calories a shot. That's before the Earth Balance vegan butter, of course.
3 very ripe bananas
1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup agave
2 cups kamut flour
1 tsp baking soda (just a teaspoon, but I did unfortunately discover that YES, it is an important ingredient).
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped walnuts (not necessary, but highly recommended)
vegan chocolate chipsRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-46253182087119762212011-09-04T10:35:00.000-07:002011-09-04T10:35:45.223-07:00Nonsensical WisdomGeorg Feuerstein talks about obstacles on the yogic path (as laid out by Patanjali), and one of these being boredom or stagnation. You start to question whether it's all hype or if there really is anything to this whole 'yoga thing' outside of strength and flexibility. But I've gone too far to turn back and contemplate another route. It's a part of me, for better or for worse.
Three days RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-24272241271703400412011-08-22T06:34:00.000-07:002011-08-22T06:34:59.783-07:00No Such ThingWise words of a teacher and friend:
There's no such thing as a bad meditation.
That statement has served me well this last week, as new projects take over and real priorities are pushed to the bottom of the To Do list. What a freeing concept. You can't do this wrong, unless you don't do it at all.
For those of you that are still checking in, my apologies for the silence! Stay tuned for an RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-5019767709263134872011-08-03T11:48:00.000-07:002011-08-03T11:48:46.594-07:00Doing TimeI went home for the weekend to see my family in Simcoe, Ontario. What an amazing visit. I spent quality time with my mom; we picked homegrown vegetables from her community garden and laid by the pool all weekend. I made her a yoga program to bring back some Wellness Warrior Strength!
A close friend remarked how interesting it is that I still call a place where I've not lived for over 15 years RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-20241990415731809472011-07-25T05:11:00.000-07:002011-07-25T18:38:12.553-07:00A Dog's LifeYoga philosophy tells us that the primary cause of suffering is our identification with the mind and/or the body. There's evidence of that on every flyer, every other television commercial, every anti-aging campaign, and filling rows upon rows of dietary and weight-loss quick fixes .... this utter inability to see the beauty of wisdom that can evolve with our age. Why do we do that?! Create a RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-6580053854284758572011-07-14T11:03:00.000-07:002011-07-14T11:03:23.396-07:00Listen to Your Body
I love hearing reminders that the practice of yoga is not intended to be another means of stroking the ego. Master Iyengar says, "Do not kill the instinct of the body for the glory of the pose." Dr. Ray Long describes what this means in terms of practicing asana in line with our own body's needs. Remember: the journey IS the goal.
Take a look: Balancing Freedom and Restraint in YogaRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-71133901926103906112011-07-07T11:28:00.000-07:002011-07-07T13:47:43.991-07:00Kick-Butt Vegan Cole SlawAlright, this could be my best creation yet, and it officially marks my advancement from those who need every recipe detail clearly provided, and those who say "a pinch of this, a dash of that." I'm now pinching and dashing my way to gourmet vegan bliss.
It's as easy as . . .You Will Need:
Head of cabbageHandful of raisinsVegan mayonnaise (Earth Balance, so good!)1/4 cup walnuts2 carrotsGarlic RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-88996245504518512692011-06-30T20:11:00.000-07:002011-06-30T20:13:11.800-07:00Thank You Canada
A Wise Person once said . . . sometimes we're so focused on what we don't have that we miss the things we do.
Being born Canadian means I've got countless blessings for which to be grateful.
July 1 is a great day to remember and reflect.
1. The unfathomable bravery of 2 grandfathers who fought in WWII
2. Unlimited hot water, electricity, heat/air conditioning
3. Not a day, hour, minute goes byRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-85421449198613143702011-06-27T20:38:00.000-07:002011-06-27T20:38:28.349-07:00Need Inspiration? Watch ThisYoga is for Every Body. Body. Mind. Spirit.
God I love Yoga.
RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-45051673295563924182011-06-20T05:57:00.000-07:002011-06-20T05:57:33.493-07:00Twisting Triangle Pose
Parivrtta TrikonasanaRevolved Triangle PoseStretches the hamstrings and front-leg glute max
Strengthens the quadriceps and tones the thigh muscles
Relieves mild backache
Tones the muscles surrounding the spine
Trains mental focus and proprioception
Invigorates the mind
RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-15357229471786492622011-06-13T09:46:00.000-07:002011-06-13T09:46:51.437-07:00Piggy-Up Sleepwalkers!I think nothing better exemplifies the total comatose level of consciousness that some carnivores are functioning on than the celebrated Pig Roast. For some of you who stumbled across this blog, the image will provoke a "yee haww, nice looking piggy dare!" [sip of beer, belch]; for others, your breakfast might rise to your throat or tears to your eyes, or butterflies in your stomach. It is the RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-83541542109128099942011-06-13T05:20:00.000-07:002011-06-13T05:20:58.710-07:00InspirationToday's inspiration really hit home:
So as you continue along with path to your authentic life--as you leave the crowd and begin to live by your values, your beliefs, and your heart's desires--you, as a seeker, will inevitably reach the "choicepoint." How you respond at this juncture will make all the difference in terms of how the rest of your life will unfold.
RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-46095310978185594472011-06-07T05:32:00.001-07:002011-06-07T05:37:39.347-07:00Enlighten Me!Enlightenment, a mysterious concept that seems to suggest a state of being that is worthy of investigation. And yet if someone asked me what it means to be "enlightened," I really wouldn't have a clue. My entire life is dedicated to something that I can't describe the essence of, but can only inadequately emphasize a strong belief in. Being the humble Canadian that I am, I'd probably respondRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-20548261411104890232011-05-27T06:27:00.000-07:002011-05-27T06:27:14.450-07:00A Dramatic EscapeI escaped the clutches of my youth-fanatic chiro and her side-kick, Mr. Mary Kay; and for those holding their breath, anxiously wondering whether I emailed her, I did (duh). The response was a flighty brush-off, somewhat expected. But 5 days later, as I hear myself repeating this story of my assault, it dons on me that another system is at play—some inner workings of the mind that warrant furtherRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-20908944403235600442011-05-21T10:34:00.000-07:002011-05-21T11:07:14.225-07:00Held Hostage by a ChiroGood Lord, I need to get out more. Had I known how many socially inept people we have touring the streets and lurking in offices waiting to take people hostage, I could have been blogging daily. Am I totally anal, or is the following experience just plain GROSS:
Case 1: Professionalism is Dead
I went to the chiro today for a tune up. Things were a little wonky around the pelvis and after my lastRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-75789879803104378622011-05-18T12:58:00.000-07:002011-05-18T12:58:26.466-07:00Raw Vegan HummusI wish I could take better photos. I don't think this one will convince anyone to go raw. Nonetheless, here's the recipe for a kick-butt raw vegan hummus dip.
Yummmm (even the "just vegetarian" friends I have say yummmm).
Ingredients
1. 1.75 cups sprouted organic chic peas (any questions, email me :))
2. 1/4 cup lemon juice
3. 1/4 cup organic tahini
4. Garlic clove (or 4....I like 4)
5. teaspoonRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-43242246065851315482011-05-14T17:41:00.000-07:002011-05-14T17:41:44.217-07:00Find Your Inner GuruAnyone can be an "expert" these days. Slap a few credentials behind your name, or if looking for immediate recognition, just tailor some life experience to fit the bill and voila . . . a self-made authority. What I find most fascinating is that, particularly in the yoga world, where there are so many different philosophies and styles, everyone is equally insistent that their practice is "the bestRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-43880346572728555842011-05-13T12:23:00.001-07:002011-05-13T12:26:38.743-07:00Friday WisdomDandelions
Some call them weeds--because of their mass reproduction?
Capable of shadowing an entire field the brightest of yellows.
Lovely to look at, when not dismissed in their familiarity.
I call them flowers to be married by in Grade 2, tests for determining whether one loves butter, a tool for tickling someone's chin, even a bulldog's.
What they are not, however, is a good choice for RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-68834818803398855122011-05-11T13:14:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:35:34.594-07:00Call Me Mommy!For mother's day, I adopted a couple of pigs (Oink and Double Oink). I pet some llamas, laughed at goats, but my fave were the baby pigs. Not to beat the vegetarian horse to death, but these cuties lay in the sand, soaking up the sun; they cuddle eachother. They sleep and snort in piglet dream land. If you tickle their bellies, they grunt, get up, and walk over for more affection with their tailsRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-68776820081370458162011-04-29T19:42:00.000-07:002011-04-29T19:42:57.200-07:00BalanceVrksasana (Tree Pose) isn't considered an advanced yoga pose. It's taught to beginners and seniors, with modifications for all levels of ability. The benefits are easy enough to note: it strengthens the glutes of the standing leg, stretches the internal rotators of the bent-leg hip, trains concentration and balance.
But its deeper significance is a lesson I hope never to strop practicing--at RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-20586866046575473142011-04-22T11:41:00.000-07:002011-04-22T11:42:39.340-07:00Bust Outa the BoxI admit it, I'm a snob. Six months ago I gave away every non-yoga book I owned. This middle-aged immigrant woman pulled up in her rotted out chevette, carrying box after box after box of books from my steps to her trunk, and then into her backseat, and finally onto the passenger-side floor. . . literally engulfed by an excess of words. Drunk with gratitude, she said she was going to read all of RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-7242220844537368112011-04-13T12:28:00.000-07:002011-04-13T12:28:20.630-07:00Wednesday ControversyThanks Elephant Beans for a brilliantly re-worked manifesto.
RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-24017681040466391702011-04-09T13:21:00.000-07:002011-04-09T13:21:57.691-07:00Empty Your Head!!!!!Ninety minutes later I come up for air, shut down the laptop and cringe at the amount of time fettered away on the acquisition of "knowledge." Questions posted to forums, advice seeking on the cons of being raw 90% versus 100%, before and after pics, internal links, recipes, Utube interviews and book recommendations, the subtle energetics of going raw. The downright wisdom-zapping RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-57691217634201734592011-04-08T13:40:00.000-07:002011-04-08T13:40:39.313-07:00Raw-VoltedThe flight of the Swedish chef was in full force the last 48 hours. Cabbage heads flew with wild abandon as I recklessly attempted raw recipe after raw recipe, paying no heed to back pain caused by long hours standing on a cold tile kitchen floor, no heed to a dog bloated with the consumption of stray nuts and sprouted berries; dried kale leaves and banana peels were ground into the floor; there RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-18559613491426724382011-04-04T05:44:00.000-07:002011-04-04T05:52:09.461-07:00Practice if Nothing is Coming?You know those people who have a sly way of getting you to question your motives? They don't blatantly point out your shortfalls or character blemishes. No, they're way slicker than that. They sit across from you over tea while you yammer away about some super important (read: embarrassingly trivial) issue in your life, look in your eyes just long enough for you to hear your own voice and RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-42055007588088151132011-04-03T17:56:00.000-07:002011-04-03T19:31:07.435-07:00Raw For the PoorRaw Vegan eating is not cheap. Buying raw and organic food gets expensive, particularly if you're using gourmet desserts and dinners to transition into a raw lifestyle. But the good news is, it's possible to eat healthily and happily at a low fee. I used to refer to kale as the furry green beast; we've since made friends. The following is one of my fave recipes (please note, it does require a RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-63746971397434687652011-03-31T06:47:00.000-07:002011-03-31T13:04:47.082-07:00My BirthdayToday's Birthday Quote:
From today onwards, take complete control of your life. Decide, once and for all, to be the master of your fate. Run your own race. Discover your calling and you will start to experience the ecstasy of an RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-64419512923255885072011-03-19T08:06:00.000-07:002011-03-19T08:06:29.039-07:00Swedish Chef Goes RawThe Swedish Chef: You know him, the crazy man with out of control eyebrows on the muppets? You can't understand a thing he's saying? Well, turns out that little speech impediment is the direct consequence of consuming a SAD (Standard American Diet). So, he's ditched the headless chicken carcasses and now tosses caluiflower stalks around. As for me, well, I would make a horrible Buddhist. The RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-7440333672222972102011-03-18T09:07:00.000-07:002011-03-18T09:07:50.984-07:00Friday FunnyStay tuned for my next series of posts on Eating in the Raw: My latest endeavour!!!RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-23523517600317239452011-03-08T08:17:00.000-08:002011-03-08T08:17:05.565-08:00Free Book Series Giveaway!!!Who Doesn't Love Free BOOKS?!?!?
Guess What!!! Today is your chance to win a FREE SET of the phenomenal and cutting-edge Yoga Mat Companion series by Ray Long. When I first started practicing yoga, twice weekly class was more than enough to get started; but as my love for the practice grew, so too did my committment. Before long I found that a little yoga every day was directly correlated to a RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-82670527539551255072011-03-05T20:00:00.000-08:002011-03-06T07:25:48.443-08:00Wellness Warriors Take ChargeThe Big C
Three days after Valentine's Day my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. To say she didn't take it well would be a dramatic understatement, and to say my reaction to her response was appropriate would be equally imprecise. Me: "Don't worry, it'll be okay, one day at a time; modern medicine has come so far in terms of research and technology." Mom: "Save the spiritual platitudes. IRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-7540280314194866792011-03-02T12:09:00.000-08:002011-03-06T09:07:32.409-08:00Double DoseWow. Sorry for the "postal delay." I've been distracted and have neglected my blogging duties. To make it up to you, I'm offering a double dose of inspiration. Not the offspring of my own distracted psyche, mind you, but 2 gems nonetheless.
First, feed the spirit:
"When you go after what you want, with love and wild abandon, you tap into the energy that created the stars and the seas. A kind ofRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-63296898676877345122011-02-17T09:51:00.000-08:002011-03-31T06:09:59.493-07:00Science and Yoga AlignIf you're anything like me, I love to hear personal stories about the birth of new ideas. Stories of transformation or investigation leading to something miraculous. Just exactly how DID she come UP with that?!?!? Average people making fabulous connections with hard work, descipline, and dedication to their path. It's good for me to recall that, when the time comes that you want to give up, throwRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-34233036010279970022011-02-13T21:32:00.000-08:002011-02-13T21:32:37.438-08:00Yoga Transformation!!Since December I’d been questioning this whole path. While women my age enjoy mad love affairs and pub crawls, I sit in meditation, struggling over whether to itch, or not itch, my nose. While others feed their senses with unethical food, I freeze E3 Live in ice cube trays in the hopes of a healthier future. These people aren’t contemplating the meaning of life or death. They’re fully absorbed inRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-23890434637552220592011-02-12T12:01:00.001-08:002011-02-12T12:01:47.078-08:00Saturday [not so] Funny"I think it would be a good idea." (Mahatma Gandhi when asked what he thought about Western civilization)RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-13763755421534391802011-02-08T06:18:00.000-08:002011-02-09T11:24:22.930-08:00Free Poster!Dear Friends,
If you like this poster, consider it yours! All you have to do is go here, and follow the Free Poster instructions (we ask only that you pay for shipping). Act fast, supplies are limited.
Enjoy!
RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-7035074203340716552011-02-07T19:53:00.001-08:002011-02-07T20:01:48.301-08:00InsatiableI oh-so want to be vegan. I really do. I've even gone so far as to make a Raw Vegan Cheesecake. That's how bad I want this. But the plain and simple truth of vegan eating for me is this simple:
I AM CONSTANTLY HUNGRY!!!!
And because I tend toward hypoglycemia, constantly hungry means constantly bitchy means not very zen yoga teacher or practitioner or person at all in fact. That, or a RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-21053050791487774712011-02-02T14:34:00.000-08:002011-02-02T14:34:12.747-08:00Yoga Under the InfluenceI was a die-hard yogini after 6 months of obsessive practice. Yoga, Yoga, Yoga. I ate, slept, dreamt, read about, and ditched dates over, Yoga. It was a dark and rainy Friday night. I had adequately lubricated all of my muscles—including the brain—with 2 too many glasses of wine. As one tends to become less inhibited under the influence, and since I was now a budding yogini, it seemed natural RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-73370009878875661432011-01-30T07:22:00.000-08:002011-01-30T07:22:45.788-08:0032 Going on 80My New Year's resolution this year, or one of them anyway, was to get out of my comfort zone. Not in a yogic way, but in a social way. I tend to be a loner. The company I enjoy most is that of a fellow yogini, or Georgia. The bulldog. When an acquaintance asked me to go out last night, my knee-jerk reaction was, quite simply, "no thanks." But for the sake of holding true to one's vows . . . I RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-25718366115873206152011-01-24T08:30:00.000-08:002011-01-30T07:02:50.359-08:00Back Pain in Forward Bends?I love forward bending. The mental repose, the drawing within, the ability to pass out if I'm really tired (haha). With open hamstrings, I rarely find intensity in forward-bending postures, EXCEPT for a nagging stiffness in my lower back. To move from a gentle standing backbend into Uttanasana, for example, can offer a glimpse into my life as a 93-year old woman. Not Pleasant. I mentioned this RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-10662360754664493262011-01-21T13:33:00.000-08:002011-01-21T13:33:00.831-08:00Newton Says Squeeze Your Butt!I've often noticed the tendency of students to sort of sink into their standing postures, letting it all "hang out," in Warrior B, for example; or just swinging like a monkey in a tree in Uttanasana. From my own practice, I've found the greatest benefit comes from hugging the muscles of the legs to the bones, firming the thighs, activating the triceps, and so on. We can use Newton's Third Law of RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-38894368182673151192011-01-19T11:39:00.000-08:002011-01-20T04:35:27.233-08:00Wednesday Funny"There's a big difference between doing yoga and making an asana out of yourself" David SwensonRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-11712230179987283062011-01-18T05:35:00.000-08:002011-01-18T05:35:10.341-08:00Practice Like a MasterI've often wondered what it is that makes some yoga practitioners true masters in their art. And I don't meant the retired ballerinas who turn to yoga, but people who build from the ground up, the blood, sweat, and tears that so often is the foundation of what becomes a spiritual practice. Mr. Iyengar, for example. I was told by a friend who visited the Iyengar Institute in India that, even todayRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-28384434439488008662011-01-16T10:57:00.000-08:002011-01-16T11:01:00.342-08:00Hooked on HotAs a practitioner of and [renounced] Iyengar Yoga teacher in training, I'd been warned of the detrimental effect and cultural warping that is the foundation of HOT YOGA. My first classes were Hot Vinyasa, without any real alignment, which only lead to wrist pain, back pain, and less flexibility than pre-yoga. Iyengar Yoga [and Ray Long] taught me the alignment required to practice with ease and RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-39786863106921878062011-01-13T08:45:00.000-08:002011-01-13T08:47:45.086-08:00The Daily Bandha: Blog LaunchSorry about the post delay! We've been hard at work preparing for the launch of The Daily Bandha. Check it out! You won't be sorry . . . here's a sneak peak!
The Daily Bandha: How to Use Your Shoulders to Deepen Uttanasana: "Uttanasana illustrating the anterior deltoids and quadriceps contracting to stretch the posterior kinetic chain The deltoids a..."RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-8281105161743734442011-01-05T09:29:00.000-08:002011-01-05T09:29:35.360-08:00Maximize Your DIS-contentIs it just me, or is there something so . . . . deflating about the close of Christmas and New Years? I mean, I don't ski or snow board, so my winter indulgence seems to come to a colliding end by January 2nd. In an attempt to de-funk, I present again, a Wednesday Funny. Enjoy:
The Wisdom of Professor Angst
How to maximize your discontent. Take from Darshan Magazine Volume #40
Step One: Look RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-86407894228861579562011-01-01T16:48:00.000-08:002011-01-01T16:48:08.580-08:00Set an Intention
I love starting a new calendar, closing one chapter and opening the door to another. A fresh page upon which to write the next story of my life. I find it so important to be mindful in this process; to truly reflect on what it is that I'd like to manifest . . . to set an intention, to set a resolution, if you will.
Top 5 New Year's Resolutions 2011
I resolve to
1. Ditch guilt
2. Dance wildly
3RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-44997485071477914722010-12-30T20:08:00.000-08:002010-12-31T12:48:30.558-08:00What have you done lately?In years past, December 31st would serve me well in justifying one last full-blown binge. But tonight, I use it as a time to reflect on the year's greatest accomplishments.
1. A Yoga Studio: Opening January 3rd, 2011.
2. Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana
3. Published editor of 6 top-selling yoga books (see Righteous Hall of Fame)
4. 18 months of clean and healthy living!
5. Fully self-supporting and RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-15106085074394490052010-12-22T11:16:00.000-08:002010-12-22T11:19:31.712-08:00Make PeaceOne week ago, I revolutionalized my approach to the practice. I made peace with my body. I made peace with those long-resented areas that have caused chronic pain, that have limited my mobility, or halted my plans to become an asana STAR. God knows it has been a long, long battle, this war that I waged-- so long ago I don't recall. A vague moment when mirrors became tools for self-flagellation, RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-61117813499072873862010-12-21T11:40:00.000-08:002010-12-21T11:43:34.898-08:00Physical TraumaI've been traumatized. My hip female doc is on maternity leave and an old-fashioned man was covering for my physical. Not impressed. Within the first 5 minutes of the appointment, when the promotion of half-cooked dead cow for protein became the topic of conversation, I knew we were off to a bad start. Actually, no, before that . . . reading the "how to feed my baby chart" which promoted meat, RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-76104026826447967002010-12-20T11:59:00.000-08:002010-12-20T11:59:28.903-08:00Top 5 Christmas Gifts This Year1. Give someone a home [read the warnings on Christmas adoptions]
2. Spread the wealth
3. Donate your time
4. Adopt a charity
5. Give the gift of life
Christmas: a great time to reflect on all that we have to give.RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-38948944031338700062010-12-19T09:52:00.000-08:002010-12-19T09:52:25.823-08:00What do YOU make?Have I been reading too many Halmarks or does this bring tears to your eyes?
RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-36848714069440858382010-12-16T10:10:00.000-08:002010-12-16T10:10:09.989-08:00Vegan Dog-Lover's DreamYou Tell Me: Is this a face you could resist???
Georgia LOVES bones, but. . . the thought of actually going to a butcher's to buy some cut off animal's leg is beyond repulsive. That's why I want to share the most brilliant thing invented since Raw Vegan Cheesecake (and let me tell you that's brilliant).
Ready for it??
A Deer Antler!!! Yes, that's right. A naturally shed cruelty free "aggressiveRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-17301534201182925212010-12-13T06:25:00.000-08:002010-12-13T06:25:48.841-08:00Sick of Getting HealthyIt's been some time since I've ranted. But today I am compelled. Point of Discussion: The Health Food Movement. Do I "buy" it, literally, or do I save my money and join the masses. I'd like to share my experiences and beseech you to offer a response.
I've suffered from lower back pain for as long as I can remember. It used to be debilitating, but now with Yoga, it's kept at arm's length. I'd RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-11348248287851564042010-12-12T17:18:00.000-08:002010-12-12T17:18:00.469-08:00Your Body on YogaThis is Your Body
This is Your Body on YOGA
Any Questions?
RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-38315944689959595922010-12-08T09:04:00.000-08:002010-12-08T09:04:41.391-08:00Imagine. A Moment to Reflect.RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-57328495548016188262010-12-07T06:17:00.000-08:002010-12-07T06:17:46.156-08:00LuLu Versus Frawley
Everyone knows t'is the season to spend way beyond our disposable income in order to prove to family and friends how much we love them by purchasing extravagant gifts at extravagant stores, or not even--by purchasing cheap and unnecessary gifts at box stores because we "have to." After all, it's Christmas. The consumer drive is ramped up a few hundred decibels and stores make in 1 month RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-22600420142131555892010-12-03T10:46:00.000-08:002011-03-06T09:09:57.569-08:00Vegan Sandwhich- 4+1 IngredientsThis is a main staple of my diet these days. Sad, but true.
Prep time: 3 minutes.
Ingredients: 4+1 (if you count bread)
Extra firm tofu
Onions
Bread
Vegan Mayo
Spinach
Typically I like to keep it within the 4-ingredient limit; however, even I can hardly count bread as an ingredient. And short prep time makes up for the addition.
Instructions: Cut thin (or thick, this is a flexible recipe) RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-16886138223153103232010-11-26T15:18:00.001-08:002010-11-26T15:20:09.248-08:00Buy Nothing DayI went to Home Depot yesterday to buy a 60 watt light bulb for my new kitchen fixture. As I replaced the bulb in the near dark, the thought came how lucky I am to have unlimited access to electricity with the simple flick of a switch.
Did you know that over 2 billion people in this world have no access to electricity? none.
I can heat my condo to Bikram-style temperatures for days on end, RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-15468099124999026862010-11-25T18:11:00.000-08:002010-11-25T18:11:58.130-08:00Holy Water--I'm a Beef Jerky!!
Do you have ANY IDEA how important water is for your health and well-being??
1. Do you suffer from headaches?
2. Fatigue?
3. Lack of energy?
4. General stiffness?
5. Back pain?
Did you know that ALL of this could be the result of dehydration and inadequate water intake? I was blown away upon receiving direct and very stern instructions by my health care practitioner to drink - more- water. I RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-87673165685383188742010-11-22T09:08:00.001-08:002010-12-08T11:23:35.323-08:00The Grand Scheme of Things
I flew home today from my stepmother's 60th birthday. For a good 10 minutes, preparing to land, I floated above the landscape of the city, over farmland and houses, cars the size of dinkie toys, row after row after row of condos. And it struck me just how tiny my life really is, in the grand scheme of things. How small and insignificant my mundane problems and trivial concerns. Car payments RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-8277612678336407742010-11-18T13:02:00.001-08:002010-11-18T13:06:09.874-08:00Peace, Peace, Peace is Expensive!I decided this week it would be nice to reinvent myself, via my condo. Purples and blues and pinks and greens and words like love and hope and faith and peace plastered allover . . . . . some bling bling in the form of stars and sparkles and silver bells . . . a literal nightmare for anyone with any sense of conservative decor.
And a fish. Make that two. Two angel fish. One named Shanti (RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-1520615963265310722010-11-15T08:45:00.000-08:002010-11-15T08:45:57.949-08:00Yoga Speak--Why BotherI once taught at a center that didn't "allow" us to say the pose names in Sanskrit. An odd thing, truly, for a Yoga class. But her reasoning was that here in Canada we speak English. Needless to say, I lasted about a month there. I hold great reverence for the Sanskrit language and the ancient practice itself; I endeavour to maintain the spiritual integrity of the practice, of which Sanskrit is aRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-60290858790292462082010-11-13T09:03:00.000-08:002010-11-13T09:03:22.935-08:00Yoga for SinusesFour years ago when I was introduced to The Neti Pot in my yoga teacher training, I was shocked at the idea of pouring salted water up my nose [who wouldn't be?!]. I mean, this has been something I've avoided since age 10 when nobody told me to exhale before dive-bombing into a pool. And as with most "childhood traumas," this one stuck (luckily nobody threw me into the pool or I'm sure the damageRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-29964084795601074002010-11-09T10:43:00.001-08:002010-11-09T10:44:40.060-08:00Light on Yoga
Your Tuesday funny . . . in honour of lightening up....RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-76263284414013677762010-11-07T15:10:00.000-08:002010-11-07T15:10:36.118-08:00Leap of FaithYou've likely heard someone share about a tragedy in their life, and how they "thought it could never happen to them." Someone gets cancer or HIV or they lose a child or a best friend. Life is so precious. I think it's this same type of thinking that stops us from taking risks. The notion that even the "good stuff" —financial success or an intimate and rewarding relationship . .. can't happen to RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-20968007605443384802010-11-02T09:35:00.000-07:002010-11-02T09:35:18.996-07:00What Do You Think??About my new look?
I know . . . it's not supposed to be about the external stuff, but humour me. Just for today . . . RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-80133752892633669952010-11-01T08:54:00.000-07:002010-11-01T08:54:14.467-07:00Free Hips, Warm HeartHave you ever gotten on the mat and just let go? It's truly amazing when your practice shifts from an intention of physicality toward spiritual/mental health and well-being. We all have a tendency to hold tension in different areas, but for me, it's the hips. The following sequence lengthens the muscles surrounding the spine and hips to prepare for a deeper stretch.
1. Adho Mukha Svanasana (DogRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-54190823991459315332010-10-28T08:36:00.000-07:002010-10-28T08:36:58.758-07:00AddictionThere comes a time in everyone's life when you stop cold in your tracks, shaken with the stark realization that you've become that very thing that ticks you off the most. For some women, its our mothers. That's not my issue (mom). For others, we've become that person who nags their husband all the time. We have, in a sense, created a self-fulfilled prophecy.
Last night, it happened to me. RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-800618268154276342010-10-26T08:25:00.000-07:002010-10-26T08:25:08.107-07:00Tuesday FunnyIn the name of lightening up about our practice, I bring you Yoga Cat.
(she wonders why only DOGS get all the fuss for being established practitioners).
RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-75368620923606914542010-10-24T07:51:00.000-07:002010-10-24T07:52:39.168-07:00Is Your Glass Half Empty?Are you the type that is always bewailing the state of the world, the increase in taxes, the corruption of government? Or are you greatful that you have the money in your pocket for taxes that pay for running water, functioning sewer systems, decent health care? In essence is your glass always half empty, or half full?
And on the mat . . . are your postures always not quite good enough? Or can RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-4819759196346477082010-10-19T08:50:00.000-07:002010-10-19T08:50:16.622-07:00Gift of a LifetimeRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-23656871528919963202010-10-18T09:06:00.000-07:002010-10-18T11:02:24.942-07:00Let Me Introduce You to YOU!!Post 1: Better Sex with Yoga
Post 2: Constructive Smoking
Post 3: I Can't Quit You, Cable!
Clearly something has shifted dramatically with the break. Family members came out of the woodwork:
"What! Eryn! You have sex? Is your father reading this??"
"Eryn, this is your Aunt Marie talking. Don't you DARE start smoking!!"
"Blondie, it's your uncle Bob. Wanna come and negotiate with Rogers for RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-43671131989865149512010-10-14T09:00:00.000-07:002010-10-14T09:00:46.894-07:00Cable UpdateAs it turns out, cancelling a service from Rogers is comparable to extracting onesself from The Mafia. I had mentioned a while back that it was time (again) to dedicate myself to more productive endeavours. What better way to ensure said intention than by literally "pulling the plug" on distractions. For example, a surefire way to support the environment via less fuel consumption would be to sellRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-42975190095014508242010-10-13T07:39:00.000-07:002010-10-13T07:39:20.081-07:00The Practical Application of YogaFor those of you who cannot grasp the practicality of Yoga, the application of ancient postures to modern-day living, I bring you my favourite cartoonist. With festivities just around the corner, some of you might consider taking up Yoga after all.
RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-88499141230897233012010-10-12T12:06:00.000-07:002010-10-12T12:06:32.190-07:00Our Culture of AnxietyThe last couple of weeks have been challenging, as growth and transition often is. The shift has inspired me to consider where to turn when there's nobody to distract you. When that gut wrenching, free-floating pain takes a hold of you. At some point in our lives, we will all reach this place. Some are living it now, reflecting on unfulfilled expectations or caught in the desire for still more. RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-54057615312788637212010-10-10T14:53:00.000-07:002010-10-10T14:56:37.855-07:00Happy Thanksgiving!!
Naturally, Thanksgiving provokes a reflection on 10 of the greatest gifts in my life today, in no particular order:
1. My health2. A vibrant and thriving spiritual path3. Family and friends4. Georgia5. My home6. Fall colours and the changing seasons7. Peace of mind8. A shelf full of books and a pocketbook that allows monthly splurges at Chapters 9. My new wheels!10. Steady employment in a job RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-15434713026929859082010-10-08T13:01:00.000-07:002010-10-08T13:01:20.119-07:00Constructive SmokingI noted an interesting phenomenon today: that of the smoking construction worker. You know: the guy holding up the SLOW sign on the street with a smoke hanging out of his mouth, just barely. Today I was reminded of that trend while some laborers were installing my new deck. Bent over a potentially gasous unit with a cigarette hanging by thin lip skin, blowing fumes into my otherwise patchouli RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-20993916843483753862010-10-07T09:16:00.000-07:002010-10-07T09:16:19.562-07:00My Weight LossIt's been 11 days since I've lost 220 pounds. I brushed off the cheeto crumbs (as directed by a friend with reassurance that there's no "real cheese" in them) and packed in the box set of Grey's Anatomy. Off went the hoodie I was wearing, day in, day out, and even to bed. The house feels more spacious and open, but also cooler. It's an adjustment.
I pulled my mat out of the corner, finally, andRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-62894065315711117862010-10-04T16:52:00.000-07:002010-10-04T16:52:02.691-07:00Improve Your Sex Life With YogaGasp! How can it be?! Yoga and Sex in the same sentence?! Yogis and yoginis today refer typically to the household variation: men and women who have a home, a family, and an average material life--unlike the ascetics of India thousands of years ago. As with any marketable product, sex sells. But the claim that yoga can improve sex relations with your spouse or lover is not just a marketing plot. RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-68469168647717020022010-10-03T17:19:00.000-07:002010-10-03T17:19:52.667-07:00The God ConceptIt took years to ditch my God-concept as a slightly moody, heavily moralistic father figure dropping punishments and rewards from the skies above. My relationship with such a being was akin to plucking the petals from a sunflower: "he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not"; my communication echoed a weasely thief begging mercy from a creditor: "Puh-LEASE god I SWEAR Ill never RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-52635592950097094732010-09-30T10:21:00.000-07:002010-09-30T10:23:22.212-07:00Growing PainsThe hardest thing to do is usually the right thing to do
In my own experience, I have found this to be the case. I've left a comfortable job to take a chance on my dreams, pushed through my 25th backbend to pass a new threshold, and changed old habits when the pain became too great to stay the same. Even unpleasant comfort zones have their appeal. Perhaps you know this feeling of holding onto RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-29011590023901041972010-09-27T10:04:00.000-07:002010-09-27T10:04:01.715-07:00Guided MeditationWhen you suggest meditation, often the response is "Oh I'm ADD," "I can't sit still for even 5 minutes," "I'm so bad at meditating." The truth of the matter is, it takes a long, long time to become "good" at meditation--whatever that means. It's a struggle for everyone in the beginning, myself included. But the profound benefits of the practice make it well worth your while to commit, if only forRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-67520570788732992452010-09-23T21:05:00.000-07:002010-09-23T21:08:00.083-07:00Wake Up Yogis!!If I see this picture again, I think I might scream:
Yogis and Yoginis are passing around the photo as an adorable example of "a bear doing yoga at the zoo." My question is this, people: How can you see past the ZOO BARS to the "adorable cutesy bear doing "yoga"?!" And, by the way, did anyone catch the quote by the Finland Bear Expert alongside the image that this is likely a mandatory routine RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-29106176083267041372010-09-22T20:26:00.000-07:002010-09-22T20:27:29.661-07:00A Righteous Blend of Yoga and TechnologyClearly, Yoga Boy is practicing Iyengar Yoga (note the mouse on the left)
RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-48509891980395092752010-09-21T10:58:00.001-07:002010-09-21T19:05:01.657-07:005 Ways to Kickstart Your Yoga
Is it just me, or is trying to be spiritual, dedicated, committed, driven a big old pain in the ass sometimes. Does the thought of yoga fill you with dread? An obligation not unlike compiling end-of-the year tax receipts? Do you yearn for those days when you skipped to your yoga room, desperate to explore? Do you yearn for a state of mind better characterized by ignorance is bliss, 4 sheets toRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-7390609190911409702010-09-19T16:05:00.001-07:002010-09-20T14:11:13.073-07:00The Meaning of Yoga
Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.What does this mean to you, and how do you "get there"?
PS. You've got 1 day left to submit your RighteousQualification! (50/50 chance of winning!!)
RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-15282638164958237362010-09-15T07:05:00.000-07:002010-09-15T07:21:39.566-07:00Righteous Gift Certificate Offer!!!One of my sponsors, CSN Stores, wants to give YOU -- the Most Righteous Yogi or Yogini -- a $35 Gift Certificate for any one of their 200 stores. I thought that was pretty cool!!! You can shop on-line for a thousand different items, from Cheap Bedroom Furniture to Cookware or Clothing, Kid's Stuff and Pet Accessories, Fitness Equipment and more. They have it all!
To Compete:
1. Subscribe to or RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-35635723418090587362010-09-12T05:08:00.000-07:002010-09-12T05:08:29.047-07:00The Gift of TeachingOn Friday I was approached by a woman about working with her 27-year old daughter, Brynn, who has muscular dystrophy. Watch this video and you'll understand how honoured I feel to be involved in such a project.
RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-20746535126954022742010-09-10T20:24:00.000-07:002011-03-06T09:12:18.490-08:00Boost Your Metabolism: Go Green!If I say green and you think sludge, it's time to recast your relationship with All Things Green, particularly in the food field. What if I could change the way you feel about healthy greens FOREVER?! I'm convinced that if you try these 3 recipes, that's exactly what will happen. You'll find yourself craving spinach, seeking out kale with a vengeance, adding sprouts and greens and bok choy (RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-31972578191859528322010-09-08T10:02:00.000-07:002010-09-09T12:50:44.191-07:005 Ways to Lose Weight Doing YogaCome on, admit it. You've been interested in taking up yoga, but let's face it, all you do is chant and sleep (pretend to meditate) and . . . well . . . you want to lose weight!! There's only so many hours in a day. You have to prioritize.
I understand. I sympathize. And I have the answers for you.
Here are 5 simple ways to lose weight doing Yoga.
1. 108 Sun Salutations
The number 108 has RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-60781564639450783792010-09-05T16:43:00.000-07:002010-09-05T16:43:14.759-07:00Your Home PracticeStudents often say they'd like to have a Home Practice but just don't know where to begin. Bringing the mat out of the corner is half the battle. The second half, determining just what to DO, can be motivated by the following 2 poses, repeated 3 times each. I begin my teaching as well as my own personal practice in this way:
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog)
There's a reason why RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-69959670568910609282010-09-02T12:47:00.000-07:002010-09-15T07:19:12.251-07:00Self-Righteous YoginiToday, I got in a fight with my boyfriend/spouse/partner/engaged with no plans to be married/roomate with perks. A big one. This wasn't just about who still hasn't learned the art of toilet paper roll replacement or who refuses to carry a pooper scooper. It wasn't about who cranks the TV and who litters every square inch of floor/table/bed/living space with yoga books and pens and journals. No, RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-47523537375483859742010-09-01T05:18:00.000-07:002010-09-01T09:14:52.456-07:00Top 5 Signs You're a Hard Core Iyengar Yogi-iniA Follow-Up to Top Ten Signs You're a Hard-Core Yogini
1. You have an intimate relationship with your baby toe.
2. Soup cans, bath towels, and phonebooks are fundamental yoga props.
3. When the spinning instructor forgets to stretch the left quad, you notice. You get off the bike and stretch the left quad yourself.
4. Pointing versus flexing the feet warrants hours of debate and contemplationRighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-67656148009074070632010-08-29T06:03:00.000-07:002010-08-29T06:05:40.762-07:00Top 10 Signs You're a Hard Core Yogi/ni
1. A friend gives you a pair of spinning shoes you were contemplating buying, and you're convinced it's a "gift from the divine" and reassurance that you are "connected to the flow of the universe."
2. The first thing you pack on a trip is your yoga mat. The second thing, your practice journal.
3. You watch the Bachelor/ette sitting in Sukhasana.
4. You read Ray Long's Key Muscles of Hatha RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-4677537489590789482010-08-25T19:52:00.000-07:002010-08-25T19:52:09.672-07:00Yoga Popularity: Its Own Demise?A 2008 study indicates that 6.9% of U.S. adults, or 15.8 million people, practice yoga. In Canada, a 2005 study shows that 5.5% or 1.4 million people now practice yoga. The stats don't surprise me, and of course as a dedicated yogini I'm shocked that the number isn't higher. I mean, who wouldn't want to dedicate their entire life to practicing yoga poses?!?!
But my question concerns the RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-48918015581158166172010-08-24T19:51:00.000-07:002010-08-24T19:51:10.818-07:00InterconnectednessI returned from Toronto absolutely wiped and fully wrung out, from the base of the spine to the crown of my head. It was all I could do to sit in a wide-legged pose . . . and something happened. I leaned forward, I grasped the edge of my feet with ease. I rested my forehead on the floor. Let me repeat: I grasped the edge of my feet with ease and hinged forward. I rested my forehead on the floor.RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327881389722043505.post-34711168058540931002010-08-22T17:11:00.001-07:002010-08-22T17:14:21.952-07:00Love in Toronto
I returned from Toronto with a new love. A fire has been sparked from deep within. A passion ignited that I had assumed could never be awoken. Not like this. The anticipation of coming together again, the heat in my cheeks, the chill reverbrating through my spine. The thrill and exuberance and energy that could not be contained as I left you, looking forward to our next time together.
I RighteousYoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00733489285908640413noreply@blogger.com1