Wherever You Go, There You Are

I started reading an interesting book on meditation by John Kabat-Zinn. It is called “Wherever you go, there you are: mindfulness meditation in everyday”. It is a simple guide on how to introduce breath-focused mindfulness meditation into a busy daily life. Every chapter has a “TRY THIS” section. One of them read:

How Do You Like Your Vinyasas?

I love the creativity and heat of fast pace flowing yoga classes but I feel more centered in a slow-paced anatomy and mindfulness focused ones. My home practice is also more slow-paced and sometimes even restorative. I don’t think that one is better than another but they are definitely different and serve different purposes.

Cool Down With Yoga

When overheated, we tend to become more competitive, self-critical, and agitated. Ayurveda offers advice on the ways to adapt yoga practice in the summer to alleviate this imbalance by adding Pitta balancing asanas.  These asanas prevent those symptoms I mentioned, as well as hyperacidity, heart burn, skin rashes, and digestion issues.

India Trip 2011 Report

If you’ve been following the Real Yoga NYC blog, then you know that I just spent 2 weeks in Kerala, India. It was a dream come true yoga and ayurveda retreat that I organized for a small group of my friends and students. As all wonderful things the trip  had to come to an end and 5 days ago I came back to NYC. It feels good to be home with people I love and to be back to teaching my regular classes at Strala and Viva Vinyasa! Come visit me there!

2 Spots Left For The Trip Of a Lifetime To India

8 lucky yogis are already packing their bags to travel to India on March 22nd and we are looking for 2 more fun-loving yogis! I’ve been to India twice before and every time it was a very profound experience. It shifted my perception of the world not only yoga! Is it scary to go to an unknown part of the world that is famous for giving tourists stomach problems and where poverty can be eye burning? Well, inversions are scary in the beginning, too! But once you get the courage to jump into a handstand it often becomes a favorite asana that you can’t get enough of. The same thing happens in India. First 3 days will be full of awe and excitement that grow into a deep cultural interest, respect, and love. That’s why I keep coming back and that’s why I would like you to come experience it for yourself.

Sleepy Kapha Monster

Chilly days, recurrent snow storms and gray sky are predecessors of a looming Kapha season. Changes in the nature always lead to the changes in our bodies. Heavy, wet, and cold by its nature Kapha reigns our world from late January to the end of April. It influences everything in our daily existence from energy levels to sleep quality, from body weight to mood. When balanced Kapha creates a sense of security, stability, and internal peace. It makes you feel as if you were under a warm soft blanket with a cup of cocoa even during the most challenging times. It improves your intuition and encourages compassion. But not everything is perfect about Kapha. Once you step off the thin edge of a balanced healthy Kapha, you end up in a depressed moody tired state. Life looses its bright colors, early morning doesn’t inspire you, and a chronic cold seems to follow. Physically, Kapha can show up as frequent colds, allergies, and weight gain. With increased kapha there is a tendency for toxins to gather and be held onto in our tissues.

Stay Strong and Awake During The Gloomy Winter

Energy is such a precious resource! On most mornings I wake up full of energy and ready to conquer the world. Yesterday was the first time in at least 6 months that I remembered what a 3pm slump feels like. Barely managing to keep my eyes open in a small poorly lit anatomy class room, I thought of a coffee. Usually I like to smell coffee but never drink it. Yesterday, inspired by Aroma’s cafe coffee menu, I ordered a small Mocha (a super strong and sweet mixture of espresso, cocoa, and milk). It was so sweet and strong that I felt my entire world perception shift just after a couple of sips…The Rajasic State of Mind was taking over. I felt more awake but it was a disordered and aggressive kind of energy. Mocha had to go to the garbage and I had to review my ayurvedic books for some energy renewing tips.