Blissful Body Yoga Newsletter, November 2009, Vol. 1

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Hello dear readers,


The November issue of the Blissful Body Yoga Newsletter is up. If you have not subscribed already, please do, and in the meanwhile, you can read the latest issue here.


Warm wishes and peace,
Teal

Kundalini: Spirit of the Present Moment

I am reading a great book right now called, The Inner Tradition of Yoga by Michael Stone. This morning I read a passage on Kundalini energy that I thought was brilliant; here it is:

"The central channel, or susumna, is associated with fire and the union of the ida and pingala. Pattabhi Jois calls the susumna nadi which runs from the center of the pelvic floor through the crown of the head, "the empty flute."

The term Kundalini, which has been fetishized and imbued with literalist interpretations (such as a purely physical feeling of tingling up the spine", reduces the essence of that process. "Kundalini" describes in metaphorical language the present moment that is curled up but inaccessible in every movement of experience in which there is even an ounce of self-image. We are not present because of karmic patterns, most notably greed, hatred and delusion." (Emphasis mine.)

I've never really heard Kundalini described or defined in this manner and I think it is brilliant. We tend to speak of the Kundalini energy as the energy of pure potential, "coiled and sleeping" at the base of the spine. Certainly, there is no greater pure potential energy than the possibility of been fully present in any moment without the veil of Avidya (ignorance) and Asmita (ego) preventing us from seeing and experiencing what truly is.

Burn a little Karma today. Do your practice, whatever that may consist of (asana, pranayama, Jnana Yoga, etc.) and then take it "of the mat" and into your life. Stay with the breath, stay in the present moment, and see how much of the pure potential in every moment you can fully realize.

Apache Blessing

Image by alicepopkorn via Flickr

May the sun bring you new energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being.
— Apache Blessing

 

 

I read this first thing this morning when I awoke. May your day, and life, be blessed in these ways.

Kosmic purple hat from Yogini Teal

My latest needle felted hat is almost ready for sale!...stay tuned...

Click the picture below to see a larger photo.

$30 Massage Deal at Eden Therapy and Massage in Charlotte, NC

I subscribe to this thing called Groupon and today they had an awesome deal: $30 for a one hour massage at a really nice spa in Charlotte. The offer is still available so if you have been desperately needing a massage (as I have!) you can sign up!

Have a great day! Peace.

October Blissful Body Yoga Newsletter is out now!

Image by Denis Collette...!!! via Flickr

Check out the October edition of the Blissful Body Yoga Newsletter and subscribe if you haven't already.

Hari Om,
Teal Marie Fyrberg

Reduce Anger by Lying Down

This is a great little blurb from Amy Weintraub's, LifeForce Yoga newsletter (you can learn more and subscribe here.) Amy specializes in yoga for people suffering from depression, PTSD and other forms of mental dis-ease. Compassionate, kind and full of amazing information, she is one of my favorite Kripalu yoga teachers.

Reduce Anger by Lying Down

Researchers at Texas A & M University found that the mere act of lying down can reduce anger.  Researchers have known that mood can be altered by mimicking the facial and body movements of certain emotions (slumped shoulders can evoke sad, morose feelings, smiling induces an uplifted mood), but a new study recently published in the journal Psychological Science finds that when study participants who were in a supine position were insulted they did not show brain patterns associated with anger as compared to those participants who were seated when insulted.

Commentary:  This study points to another good reason to practice Yoga Nidra, a deep relaxation technique that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of PTSD and is practiced lying down.

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AnitGravity Yoga and Yoga Slings

Now, this is a really awesome way to do yoga...




I have done something similar before and I SOOOO want to get a yoga sling. Here is one company I found that offers them, they look really cool.

http://www.yogainversionswing.com/

The video above is from a place in South Carolina called Aerial Yoga. I will SO be going there on my next trip down to Charleston.

Meditation Gives You A Bigger Brain!

More and more research now confirms what the ancient yogis knew thousands of years ago: Meditation works.

Many studies have been done revealing the very measurable results that a meditation practice can have on everything from concentration and stress reduction, to relief from depression and healing of many diseases. A new study done by The UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, highlights some of the actual physical changes that occur in the structures of the brain.

A group of researchers at UCLA who used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to scan the brains of people who meditate. In a study published in the journal NeuroImage and currently available online (by subscription)...the researchers found significantly larger cerebral measurements in meditators compared with controls, including larger volumes of the right hippocampus and increased gray matter in the right orbito-frontal cortex, the right thalamus and the left inferior temporal lobe. There were no regions where controls had significantly larger volumes or more gray matter than meditators.

"We know that people who consistently meditate have a singular ability to cultivate positive emotions, retain emotional stability and engage in mindful behavior," said Eileen Luders, lead author and a postdoctoral research fellow at the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging. "The observed differences in brain anatomy might give us a clue why meditators have these exceptional abilities."

In the study, Luders and her colleagues examined 44 people — 22 control subjects and 22 who had practiced various forms of meditation, including Zazen, Samatha and Vipassana, among others. The amount of time they had practiced ranged from five to 46 years, with an average of 24 years.

More than half of all the meditators said that deep concentration was an essential part of their practice, and most meditated between 10 and 90 minutes every day.

Research has confirmed the beneficial aspects of meditation. In addition to having better focus and control over their emotions, many people who meditate regularly have reduced levels of stress and bolstered immune systems.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE: http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=3747


I am asked by students all the time if it is difficult to get started in a meditation practice, and I have many people tell me they could "never meditate" because they are too hyper, stressed-out, etc. The truth is anyone can meditate and all of us have experienced "meditative states" at one time or another without necessarily knowing to name them that. If you have ever become completely absorbed in an activity, felt an sense of peace and clarity and lost track of time, you have entered one of the levels of meditative absorption.

Part of the problem, I believe, is the language we use to describe meditation. We tend to say, "I am going to meditate now," as if it is an activity we can just "make happen." In reality, what we do is create the right conditions for meditation to occur naturally (after all, it is our natural state of wholeness.) In yoga, we do this through asana practice, chanting, mantra and by focusing on an internal or external object. When we do these things with our full attention a chain reaction occurs in which sensory withdrawl (pratyahara) begins, then one-pointed concentration (dharana) develops, then meditative absorption (dhyana) occurs and finally experience (someday, we hope!) Oneness with All (Samadhi).

You can begin a simple meditation practice today. Choose a time of day and place where you can sit undesturbed for at least 5 minutes. Sit in a chair, or with your legs crossed, so that your spine is straight. Begin to follow your breath as it moves in an out through your body. As you inhale, say silently or aloud, "Breathing in." As you exhale, say "Breathing out." As thoughts and sensations arise simply stay focused on the breath and the repetition of this simple mantra. The key to meditation is consistency. Try doing this meditation every day at the same time for 5-10 minutes for 7 days. Please come back and leave a comment and let me know your observations. 

You can also try some of my Guided Meditations, available at yogadownload.com.

Give meditation a try. You'll feel happier, sleep better AND have a bigger brain!

Healing Through Yoga in Estes Park, Colorado 2009

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend Yoga Journal's Healing Through Yoga Intensive in beautiful Estes Park, CO. My husband and I were already heading out to Colorado for a wedding and when I saw this intensive was the week before I was so psyched and had to go!

More and more often, I have students seeking out my yoga classes because they are suffering from a chronic illness or injury, or recovering from a major life event. While I do not see myself as a Yoga Therapist in the same light as some of the far more qualified individuals practicing Therapeutic Yoga, I do see myself as a healer of sorts. I think, at our best, we are all healers for each other and I spend as much time as possible studying areas such as the yoga sutras, anatomy, Positional Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, The Bhagavad Gita, asana and pranayama, etc. and with other teachers to gather more information on how we heal ourselves. And, this is how I see my role in the healing process of others: as a facilator assisting the individual in their own healing process.

There were so many amazing presenters at the conference I'm sure I could have chosen anyone and would not have been dissapointed, but for me the whole reason for the journey was to study, even for such a short time, with TKV Desikachar. He rarely leaves his school, Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India and although I would LOVE to go, I have no idea when I will get over to India. I can tell you meeting him and his beautiful, gracious wife Menaka was the learning experience of a life time. I was able to experience 4 sections with them while I was there: Meditation as Medicine; Pranayama: The Therapeutic Application of Breath; The Power of Sound: The Therapeutic Application of Mantras and Chanting; and the Four Stages of Healing. I will be discussing a little about what I learned in each section in future posts.

What struck me immediately and most about these two great teachers was their humble, gentle nature and their outrageous sense of humor. They were an absolute delight. One of the unexpected learning experiences came from watching their dynamic as a married couple of many, many years. As a newlywed of just under ONE year, this was quite relevant to me. From the moment Mr. Desikachar walked onto the stage, in front of a hushed and reverent audience, he spoke with such love and pride for his beautiful wife. "This is my wife, Menaka, and she is a SUPER chanter; she is going to lead you in a chant now for your healing." Menaka would just smile and shake her head with a little bemused smile at his praise. As the classes went on there were other such moments. "My wife is a SUPER painter, she has done these lovely paintings of Ganesha and Lakshmi, she is SUPER." I don't know, I just couldn't get enough of how much he thought everything she did was SUPER. It was so very sweet. God, let my husband think of me that way 30 years from now!

In return, Menaka was always supportive, always ready to recount a particular story needed to illustrate a certain point, ready to chant, ready to gently offer a little correction (always with that same slightly bemused smile) if Mr. Desikachar's English grammar was a little off. She was so kind and gentle. In a world where it seems almost weekly I learn of a friend who's marriage or relationship has hit the rocks it was good – really, really good, to see how long love and respect can last and to watch the dynamic of constant appreciation, admiration, love and respect that makes that possible in action.

When I think about healing powers and techniques, I know that in my own life there have been no deeper and more soothing healing waters then the depth of unconditional love I receive from my husband.

More to come...

Blissful Body Yoga Newsletter, August 2009, Vol. 1

There is a new Blissful Body Yoga Newsletter out. If you haven't subscribed already you can read it online, here.

And then go subscribe for goodness sake!

Peace,
Teal

Mike the Fish Guy: Fresh Fish in Gastonia, Belmont, Charlotte and Mt. Holly, North Carolina

If you are looking for fresh fish in the Gastonia, Belmont, Charlotte and Mt. Holly areas you need look no further than Mike the Fish Guy.

Mike has fresh offerings every week and you can subscribe to his weekly email list at cltfishguy@gmail.com, or give him a call at 704-756-8880.

Mike does take requests and special orders. Here is his email from last week to give you an idea of what he's got and what his weekend schedule usually looks like:

This week I will be in Mt Holly from 8:00-10:00 at the "Farmers Market" and Davidson at "Campania Cafe" from 11-12:00, and Norman will be in Belmont from 8-9:30 with a variety of seafood. Below is a list of seafood offerings for pre orders this week. Please order by Friday noon and pick up in Belmont between 8:00-9:30, Mt Holly 8-11 and Davidson between 10:30-12:00 or come by and see what is available on Saturday morning.

Wahoo Loin NC $12.95/lb
Scottish Salmon Fillet $12.95/lb
Halibut Fillet Alaska $16.95/lb
Scallops Jumbo Dry MA $16.95/lb
Red Grouper Fillet, NC $15.95/lb
Red Fish Fillet NC $12.95/lb
Chilean Sea Bass Fillet $19.95/lb
Trout Fillet NC $9.95/lb
Mahi Mahi Fillet SC $13.95/lb
B liner Snapper Fillet NC $14.95/lb
Fresh Shrimp SC $11.95/lb
King Mackerel Fillet NC $11.95/lb
Yellow Fin Tuna Loin $15.95/lb
B-Liner Snapper 1-2lb whole $9.95/lb
Cobia Fillet NC $12.95/lb

Please feel free to contact me for any special deliveries or requests.

Mike the Fish Guy
704-756-8880

If you are wondering which fish are currently safe to eat and are most eco-friendly, check out this great site from the Environmental Defense Fund.

Fresh fish is full of wonderful Omega Fatty Acids which are so critical for flexibilty and strength in yoga practice. For optimum health look for ways to include Omega 3, 6, and 9 oils into your diet using fish and plant based sources.

If you are a pure vegan or vegetarian there are plenty of plant based sources for these oils including flax seed, grapeseed, olive, walnut, alomond, borage, and evening primrose oils.

Check out the WONDERFUL Gastonia Farmer's Market (if you are in my area) or any Farmer's Market near you for fresh, REAL food. Eating closer to the Earth not only tastes better, it's better for you.

Wishing you the blessings of whole, healthy food and a strong, healthy body.
Namaste.

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Meeting Yourself on the Mat

Sometimes at the beginning of my yoga classes I tell my students:

As you settle into your mats meet yourself where you are...right here...right now...in the "sukha" the sweetness of this moment. No need to strive or try to be something other than you are. You are already radiant, perfect and whole and loved eternally by all.

It is an easy thing to come to the mat full of expectations that moments later turn into harsh criticism. Next time you move on to your mat leave those things behind and just abide in your own True Nature...already perfect and whole.

Doing this on the mat helps us to recognize how often we move through our day setting up expectations for everything we do and then creating a hostile assault we wouldn't wish on our worst enemies if we don't meet those ideals.

How easy could your yoga asana be, how sweet could each moment of your life be, if you just met yourself in each moment full of love and acceptance just as you are?

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The Subtle Body, An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy

BOOK REVIEW

The Subtle Body, An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, by Cyndi Dale.

I've been interested in the study of subtle energy systems since I was a young girl. My father used to do a form of Polarity Therapy on my legs whenever I got a leg ache, I started meditation at the age of five, yoga at age ten, etc., so a deep understanding that these energy systems exist has been a part of my paradigm for as long as I can remember. As a result I have accumulated a lot of books on these subjects. I have books on the chakras, Shiatsu, Polarity Therapy, Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Reflexology and many more. The Subtle Body, An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy could replace a whole stack of them!

They put the word "encyclopedia" in the title for a reason; at 487 pages this book covers all the major energy systems I have been exposed to, plus a few I knew nothing about (you can take a peak at the table of contents here.)

The book is well organized and filled with clear and detailed color illustrations and extremely useful reference charts. Author, Cyndi Dale does a great job not only outlining complicated subjects that range from modern physics concepts, to acupuncture and the chakras, but also illuminates the deep interconnectedness of these different ways of understanding our "Subtle Universe." As a yoga teacher this is an awesome reference book to keep on-hand in my studio, and I think it would be incredibly useful for anyone studying or working in fields that deal with the subtle energy systems.

So, if you've been looking for a few great books on Sacred Geometry, Tibetan and Hindu chakras , Chinese, Ican and Cherokee energy systems, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Kabballah, Auyurveda and color and sound healing, save yourself some money and bookshelf space and pick up this book where you will find all of those subjects and many more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cyndi Dale has been a natural intuitive since young, and offers these gifts to clients and groups seeking to make real and positive change.

Cyndi is an internationally renowned author, speaker, healer, and business consultant. Her books to-date include bestselling New Chakra Healing, now published in over ten languages, and Advanced Chakra Healing, The Four Pathways Approach; Attracting Prosperity Through the Chakras; Attracting Your Perfect Body Through the Chakras; Advanced Chakra Healing Heart Disease, Advanced Chakra Healing: Cancer, The Littlest Christmas Star, and Illuminating the Afterlife.

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Live Simply-Remain More in Silence

Image by Claudio.Ar via Flickr

Live simply and take life more easily. Happiness lies in giving yourself time to think and to introspect. Be alone once in a while, and remain more in silence.
- Yogananda


Take some time to just sit today.
Sit and be with yourself.
Just sit.

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Prenatal Yoga DVD Giveaway from Jennifer Wolfe!

GREAT opportunity to win a FABULOUS Prenatal Yoga DVD from Jennifer Wolfe. Check it out here.

Help Find a Missing Child with Wireless Amber Alerts

I saw a news story today on signing up for WIRELESS AMBER ALERTS and wanted to share it with everyone. Please take a moment and pass it on to everyone you know. This is a FANTASTIC idea. Sign-up and you will receive Amber Alerts to your phone and email for the zip codes that you list. It is amazing how many children have been saved since Amber Alerts came into effect. Let's do all we can to help Law Enforcement find Missing and Exploited Children.

EXTREME YOGA!!!

Image by page via Flickr

Sometimes in the evenings I like to flip the channels on the TV to relax. I can do this better then most men...flip...flip...flip.... I don't really watch a lot of TV, but I like to flip. There is something relaxing to me about getting these brief snap shots of what is going on in the world (or at least the world of TV.)

As I do my evening "flip flip" I FREQUENTLY see an infomercial for this fitness program called P90X. I'll be honest with you it doesn't look all that bad; it seems to combine a lot of different simple strength building exercises, plyometrics and cardio that should work very well if you do them consistently (that's always the key.) But, the part I LOVE...just LOVE...is that they have an yoga component that they call...wait for it...drum roll please...

EXTREME YOGA!

Wowzie! Really? Extreme yoga? I mean extreme running, extreme kayaking...I went ice climbing once, that was pretty extreme, but extreme yoga? It seems like a contradiction in terms to me. Yoga is all about "medhum," being moderate in all things; walking the Middle Path.

But, then I started to think about it and yoga really IS extreme.

It's:

EXTREME-ly relaxing
EXTREME-ly strengthening
EXTREME-ly balancing
EXTREME-ly stress-reducing
EXTREME-ly flexibility building

And most of all it is an EXTREME experiment and exercise in the development of our Inner Selves. It is perhaps one of the most radical, most extreme journeys, a human being can undertake. To make a commitment to the exploration and development of oneself takes the heart of a warrior and the patience of a saint; and man-oh-man is it worth every moment of effort on the journey.

May your journey be wild, wonderful, enlightening...and what the heck, even a little extreme:-)

Namaste.

P.S. Here are my Top Ten Reasons to Do Yoga.

And the winner of Great Necklace GIveaway is...

Kate S. from California!
(who writes a really awesome and very funny blog herself)

Thanks for participating Kate!
You won the awesome (if I do say so myself) handmade necklace (by me — see more of my stuff at www.tealdesigns.net) featuring amethyst (which symbolizes the Spirit), Indian crow beads, and Czech glass. The center pendant is a pewter Celtic cross.

Kate downloaded my Progressive Relaxation from yogadownload.com and I think she liked it because she left the following review...

"Teal Chimblo could read the phonebook to me, and I would relax. Having her gentle voice instruct me on the relaxation of each part of my body is a step beyond! I chose the version with the music, and I would recommend it. The music is lovely, soothing, and very much in the background. You almost don't realize it's there. I highly recommend this lovely meditation. I suffer from chronic anxiety, back pain, and TMJ. If I can relax with this, ANYONE can!"

Well, with a review like how can you resist heading on over to yogadownload.com to get your own copy.

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee ($2.95) you can give yourself a little bit of bliss today.

While your there check out my Sivasana Meditation as well. It's really yummy too!

AND...

This week TWO NEW offerings will be up on the site. One is a 20 minute yoga class where you learn 3 of the foundation breaths for yoga practice: 3-Part Complete Breath, Nadi Shodhana, and a Measured Breath.

The other is called Sleepy, Sleepy Moon and it is just the sweetest bedtime meditation and breathing exercise for children. It is guarrenteed to put your child and YOU to sleep.

So stay tuned....and Namaste.

$7 on the 7th | The Liz Logelin Foundation

This is such a great opportunity to give a little that will mean SO much to families who have lost so very much. We are receiving a lot of applications, please help us to help them.

Namaste.

$7 on the 7th | The Liz Logelin Foundation

Starting a LovingKindness Meditation Practice

Image by meliam via Flickr

The practice of lovingkindness (or Metta, in Pali) comes to us from the Buddhist tradition, but its essence is a tenant of all major religions. The instructions are simple and universal: love yourself, love each other; and yet, we struggle with its application. It is easy enough to love ourselves or someone else when they are doing things that we like, but the challenges can be great when we are confronted with those whose actions are seemingly “unlovable,” or when we are faced with aspects of ourselves that we find hard to accept with love and compassion.
Thomas Merton expressed the challenge, and heroic nature of our struggle to embrace with lovingkindness that which we like least in ourselves, and others, when he said, “True prayer and love are learned in the hour when prayer becomes impossible and the heart has turned to stone.”

The idea behind the Buddhist approach to lovingkindness practice is that it is, a practice. Something we must do repeatedly and with discipline until it becomes an integral part of our deepest selves; an automatic reaction to people and events in our world. The process of turning a heart of stone into a heart that is softened with the deepest compassion and love is a step-by-step process that we have the opportunity to practice in every moment of our lives.

One of the most effective ways to begin a lovingkindness practice is through the use of Metta meditation. In this simple meditation we offer a wish for freedom, happiness, and the cessation of suffering for a particular person, group, or the entire world. A basic Metta meditation for all beings is:

May all beings be happy.
May all beings be free from suffering.
May all beings be at peace.

An example of Metta directed towards a particular person is:
May _________ be happy.
May _________ be free from harm.
May _________ be filled with peace.

You can repeat one, or all three of the phrases over and over, aloud or in your head, for 2-5 minutes while visualizing the person or group you are focusing on, and imagining that you are sending this lovingkindness out to them. Because it can be challenging to focus on and offer this sort of energy to those who we have negative feelings towards, it is recommended that the practitioner proceed by first offering Metta to themselves, then to a benefactor, a friend, a neutral person (bank teller, someone you see on a walk), a difficult person, and finally, All Beings. It is important to start the focus of our practice by offering lovingkindness to ourselves, because only by having a truly deep and abiding love for ourselves can we have this same love for others.

As part of the self-love aspect of a lovingkindness practice we can reflect back to the yogic practice of Ahimsa (non-violence, non-harming.) We must remember as we strive to fill our hearts, minds and actions with lovingkindness that we are only human, and we will often fall short of our ideals. In those moments we must embrace Ahimsa and not react violently towards ourselves, but rather use the next moment as an opportunity to start once again in the mindset of lovingkindness by offering it with gentleness and compassion to our selves.

Because Metta meditation is formed from such simple phrases it is a wonderfully portable tool that we can bring into our daily application of lovingkindness. When we find ourselves in a long line at the supermarket, or being cut off in traffic, or treated unfairly in our workplace, instead of becoming angry, and slipping to what author Joseph Goldstein calls, “the seductive habit of finding fault,” we can pause for a moment and offer a pledge of lovingkindness to the person that is causing us distress. By slowing down and being less reactive, we can often see the good qualities of the person we are confronted with, or “put ourselves in their shoes” for a moment. From this calm, centered point-of-view we can better see the reality of the situation and act in a logical manner that will bring the most wholesome outcome for all those involved, rather then reacting from a place of fear, irritation and anger. In time, lovingkindness removes the illusion of separation from each other that we often feel.

As the Dalai Lama says, “Through the practice of lovingkindness and compassion I have found that all human beings are just like me.”

May you be happy. May you be free from all suffering. May you be filled with peace.

Lovingkindness Practice Resources
Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg
Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach
The Gift of Loving-Kindness: 100 Meditations on Compassion, Generosity, & Forgiveness by Mary Brantley and Tesilya Hanauer
DailyBuddhism.com (Website) from Brian Schell

© 2009 Teal Marie Chimblo and Blissful Body Yoga

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Meditate on Love's Ecstasy

A pic from our wedding in November and a few thoughts on love.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude; And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

-- Kahlil Gibran

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Matt Logelin and Madeline on Rachel Ray promoting The Liz Logelin Foundation.

Salma Hayek with Madeline on the Rachel Ray Show this morning!
(you can read more on Matt's blog)

Today Matt Logelin and his sweet little cutie pie, little girl Madeline were on the Rachel Ray Show (I felt super special because I was on there for about 10 seconds too!:-) If you don't know Matt's story it is a really tough one...

On March 24, 2008, little Madeline Elizabeth Logelin came into this world.

The next day, her mother left it.

From this impossibly tragic event, a community was born. A community of individuals, united in their desire to help and support Madeline and her father, Matt. This community formed the basis for what would become a worldwide charitable foundation:

The Liz Logelin Foundation – For the Love of Liz.

What is so wonderful about the story is the out-pouring of support Matt has received. I've been privileged to play a small part by creating the foundation logo, but there is a group of amazing women out there (helloooo Creepies) that have done an ASTOUNDING amount of work to help Matt, and now the Liz Logelin Foundation.

But, the work has just begun.

The foundation is just getting started and really needs your help. To make this easier consider the $7 on the 7th program. "Skip the latte" for a couple days and do a little karma yoga (selfless service) by helping families in crisis.

(If you would like to add this widget to your blog, click here.)

If you'd like to help by donating your services to the foundation, making a contribution, adding the LLF widget to your blog, you can find out information on how to do this on the Liz Logelin Foundation homepage.

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Mayhem Arts, beautiful malas for practice.

Check out these beautiful malas (prayer/meditation beads) from Mayhem Arts. They are having a really good sale on these beautiful handmade pieces. A good time to pick up a mala for your practice.

Have YOU joined the Blissful Body Yoga Group on FACEBOOK?

Image via Wikipedia

Have YOU joined the Blissful Body Yoga Group on FACEBOOK?

Whatcha waiting for...

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE FUN!

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The great necklace givaway!

Win this beautiful amethyst and Czech glass necklace made by me!

This necklace was handmade by me and contains beautiful chunks of amethyst (which symbolizes the spirit), Indian crow beads, and Czech glass. The center pendant is a pewter Celtic cross. The necklace is 15.5 inches long and has a safety clasp. Jewelry making is a meditation for me and I infuse all the pieces I make with good energy and light for those who wear them.

How do I win?

FIRST

If you have already downloaded one of the classes - AWESOME- and thank you! Simply go to the yogadownload.com site and leave a review for either or both meditations. You will be entered once for each review you leave.

SECOND

If you haven't downloaded a meditation yet, do so and leave a review between now and March 6 and you will be entered to win!

DESCRIPTIONS AND LINKS TO DOWNLOADS

At only $2.95 per downloadable class (less then a cup of coffee!) you can give the gift of bliss to yourself, or a friend.

Two meditations are currently available:

Progressive Relaxation #1 will take you to a place of complete and utter serenity. "Teal's warm and meditative voice is ideal to help you get deep into a state of calm and tranquility. In this meditation Teal has you visualize a white light as it moves through you body and rids it of any and all stress and tension. Ahhhhhh!"

Click here to download your copy today.

Sivasana Relaxation #1. Sivasana is a posture often practiced at the end of a yoga class, but you can do this relaxing Sivasana meditation any time you need to take a break and rest. Sivasana helps the body, mind and spirit to relax, integrate, and restore. This Sivasana Relaxation meditation will take you into a deep state of calm and is also great as a cure for insomnia.

Click here to download your copy today.

I can not express my gratitude to all the people who downloaded my guided meditations over the last 3 months. It was wonderful to see such a positive response and it makes me happy to know they are helping to bring stress relief and relaxation into so many lives. There will be many more to come, so stay tuned...

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Febrauary Blissful Body Yoga Newsletter

Hello my dear ones!

The February issue of the Blissful Body Yoga Newsletter is out. If you are not subscribed you can view current and past issues here.

I hope you will subscribe as it is chock full of yoga goodness and fun stuff; AND if you sign up this month you might win a BBY tote! Sweet.:-)

Whales serve as backdrop for aquarium yoga classes

This story was sent to me by my awesome college roomate Joya Lonsdale. Is this not the most beautiful idea??? I can't imagine a more peaceful environment for a class...unless we could really be under the sea with them:-)

Enjoy!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/02/06/yoga.whales/index.html

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• High levels of hidden salt in soup 'can increase the risk of cancer' (telegraph.co.uk)
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Sacred Geometry: Utthita Trikonasana, Triangle Pose

Utthita Trikonasana (extended triangle pose) is a foundational yoga posture that engages, stretches and strengthens the entire body.

There is a sacred geometry inherent in all yoga asana. Placing the body mindfully and with proper alignment into yoga asanas activates the energy meridians in the body thereby increasing the flow of Prana (vital life force) throughout our bodies.

In Trikonasana, as in all standing poses, the foundation is in the connection the feet make with the earth and the energetic activations of the muscles in the legs. It is an excellent posture to build strength in the legs, core and back. The intense lateral side stretch and opening of the chest also aid in developing deep breathing.

Often when students new to yoga (and old, for that matter) move into Trikonasana they mistakenly focus their attention on getting the hand down to the floor. This is TOTALLY unnecessary. The hand may never reach the floor, and it if reaches it only by shortening the side waist on the extended side, collapsing the chest forward, or over straining the legs (sometimes all three!) then the sacred architecture and the great benefits of the posture are lost. What is more, serious injury may occur. Keep the hand as high up on the leg as necessary to keep the integrity of the pose (never press on the knee), or use a block as an excellent prop to assist in the pose.

Enjoy making yourself into a glorious extended triangle! Jai Bhagwan!

HOW TO DO IT:
This is very good clear instruction for Utthita Trikonasana (extended triangle pose), given by John Schumacher, a senior Iyengar Yoga teacher and director of Unity Woods Yoga, in Washington, D.C.



AND FOR FUN:
This is just TOO cute and clever, and quite good instruction, except for the hyper-extended knee:-)