Yoga Digest - May/June 2015

I N S P I R E • E D U C A T E • C O N N E C T

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Discover SUP & Hiking Yoga Men’s Yoga in High Demand www.YogaDigest.com

Positive A� rmations to Overcome Any Obstacle

Happy Father’s Day:Yoga Dads Special Edition

O� the Mat and Into the Ocean

Amy Ippoliti

Rachel Brathen@yoga_girl

In-Depth Interview with

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CatchA WaveExtreme Shore Break PhotographyFrom The Inside Out

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Love at first pose.

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Be a part of something big, something that matters, something that is sure to create change in the world. Please join us for our 4th annual

charity yoga event. You plus 100’s of yogis coming together in one space to serve and give back to homeless and under-privileged kids.

Tickets & event info: www.jointheonelovemovement.org

Date: Saturday, August 8th, 2015

Location: Waterfront Park, San Diego, California

Time: 10am-1pm

Yoga Teachers: Taylor Harkness Mackenzie MillerKim Bauman Jaysea DeVoe

Live music: DJ Drez & Marti Nikko

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“SERVE YOUR HEART”

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Publisher Yoga Digest, LLC

Founders &Chief Editors Jenn Bodnar Cody Groth

Senior ColumnistKurt Johnsen

Senior ContributorKim Bauman

ContributorsAngela AmbroseJohn AyoSheryl BraunFarnoosh BrockCary CasterNatalie CummingsChris FreytagRyan GliddenBrian HymanGlenna MusanteVictor ParachinRandi Schiffman

Cover PhotosChris photo by Pearson StudiosRachel photo by Ben Kane

Magazine Designer Zoran Maksimovic

Advertise yogadigest.com/[email protected]

Subscriptions yogadigest.com/subscribe

Mailing Address Yoga Digest, LLC950 E State HWY 114, Ste 160Southlake TX, 76092

MAY / JUNE 2015

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PublisherYoga Digest, LLC

Founders &Chief EditorsJenn BodnarCody Groth

Senior ColumnistKurt Johnsen

Senior ContributorKim Bauman

ContributorsAngela AmbroseJohn AyoSheryl BraunFarnoosh BrockCary CasterNatalie CummingsChris FreytagRyan GliddenBrian HymanGlenna MusanteVictor ParachinRandi Schi man

Cover PhotosChris photo by Pearson StudiosRachel photo by Ben Kane

Magazine DesignerZoran Maksimovic

Advertiseyogadigest.com/[email protected]

Subscriptionsyogadigest.com/subscribe

Mailing Address Yoga Digest, LLC950 E State HWY 114, Ste 160Southlake TX, 76092

MAY / JUNE 2015

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200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training July 15 – August 15, 2015 | Boulder, CO

With wor ld-renowned yoga teacher, Amy Ippol i t i

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Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.—George Bernard Shaw

Everything is bursting into life with such great force this time of year that it’s hard not to become a little more aware of our own blossoming, growth and evolution. The days are longer, the nights are warmer and nature beckons to be inhabited, explored and discovered. For many, this is a time for vacations, celebrations and re-unions. It’s a time for gathering, getting away, seeing new places and trying new things!

In this issue we hope to not only inspire you to discover our beautiful world, but to do it with love. That means taking necessary precautions and action to preserve its beauty. The only way we can truly love and care for another is to first love and care for self. We hope you will enjoy the inspiring stories of self-discovery, living with passion, following your true calling (no matter how wild it may be) and to most of all, awaken your sense of adventure, be happy and have a little fun!

According to Wikipedia, the term “journey of self-dis-covery” refers to travel, pilgrimage, or series of events whereby a person at-tempts to determine how they feel, per-sonally, rather than following the opin-ions of family, friends and peer pressure.

We lose sight sometimes that everything is temporary and the perfect time to make dreams a reality will come soon. The time is now! Experience sand between your toes, breathe fresh mountain air, make some memories with family and friends, or even enjoy some time to reflect….all

by yourself! There is no such thing as the perfect time, only the here and now!

Don’t forget dad! The commercialism of yoga tends to be largely targeted to females. While this is not a bad thing and yoga is growing more rapidly right now more than ever, we want to remember that men were very much a part of yoga’s evolution and still represent a very active part of the lifestyle. That’s why we decided to honor our Yoga Dad’s with some special information and features geared just for you! Happy Father’s Day!

The amazing people who helped bring this issue to-gether are a dynamic group with different backgrounds, knowledge and experiences. One of the common traits shared by all of our contributors and feature stories is the ability to uniquely express their individuality and share it with the world. Steve Maraboli says “If you hang out with chickens your going to cluck, if you hang out with

eagles you’re going to fly.” We are so grateful to be flying with these confident, brave and authentic souls that speak their mind and lift us up. We hope to see you at Squaw Valley Wanderlust in July and invite you to join us as we partner with One Love Movement in San Diego on August 8th where we can raise our vibration and soar even higher!

Jenn Bodnar & Cody GrothFounders/Chief Editors

Yoga Digest

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ContentsTable of

INSPIREGET HEALTHY, BE HAPPY, Stay Real w/ Chris Freytag . . . . . 10 THE BEACH, THE BOOK, THE BUSINESS OFRachel Brathen - @Yoga_Girl . . . 14

CLARK LITTLE The Further You Go The More You Will See . . . . . . . . . . 18 THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE: A Yoga Dads Journey through Business, Parenting and Practice . . . . . . . 28

A CONVERSATION With Yoga Dads . . . . . . . . . . . 32

DADDY AND BABY YOGA . . . 38

EDUCATE 10 BENEFITS OFThai Yoga Massage . . . . . . . . . 42 TEN YOGA MYTHS... BUSTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 3 REASONS to do SUP Yoga . . . . . . . . . . . 48

4 TRANSFORMATIONAL BENEFITS Of Hiking Yoga . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

9 PROVEN WAYS to be Happier . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

HEAL NEGATIVE ENERGY with Positive Affirmations . . . . . . 54

ESSENTIAL OILS & Self Exploration . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

AYURVEDA and Summer Time . . . . . . . . . 60

MORE MEN FALLING FOR YOGA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

YOGA: FASHION & FUNCTION A Male Perspective . . . . . . . . . 66

RECIPES from GetHealthyU.com . . . . . . . 68

CONNECT AMY IPPOLITI Activism through Yoga . . . . . . . 72

WATERLUST Connecting the World Through Water . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

BALANCE IN TRAVEL . . . . . . . 78

IN EVERY ISSUEYD WARRIORS! . . . . . . . . . . . . 8POKEWEED ILLUSTRATIONSw/ Drew Pocza . . . . . . . . . . . . 79STAFF PICKS . . . . . . . . . . . . 80INSPIRED VOICES . . . . . . . . . 81OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONEw/ Kurt Johnsen . . . . . . . . . . . 82

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by Brian Hyman

by Brian Hyman

by Ryan Glidden

Interview by Jenn Bodnar

Interview by Jenn Bodnar

by Jenn Bodnar

by Farnoosh Brock

By Chris Freytag

By Natalie Cummings

by Victor M. Parachin

by Glenna Musante

by Angela Ambrose

By Randi Schiffman

by Cary Caster

by Kim Bauman

by Kim Bauman

by John Ayo

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by Sheryl Braun

TasteVeden.com


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I’ve always wanted to complete the 10 day Vipassana Meditation. Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation. It’s a way of self-transformation through self-observation and focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations that form the life of the body, and that continuously interconnect and condition the life of the mind. I’ve witnessed the profound impact this process has had on a few of my friends who have experienced this 10 day silent meditation.

Since early adolescence I have wanted to spend the better part of a year traveling across Europe. The culture, history, architecture, foods and so on in combination with the nomadic romance of it all really captivates my imagination like little else ever has. I cannot imagine a single day of the journey being anything less than authentically awesome and have to believe that the experience would dramatically and positively shift the perspective through which I approach the world.

I have always dreamed of going on a walkabout in the shadow of Uluru /Ayers Rock in Australia. As a boy, I read about how young male Australian aboriginals would undertake this as a rite of passage; living in the wild for as long as six months. This journey (sadana) was a defining moment in their lives, and I want to experience something of that magnitude in my life. I believe communing in such a sacred place affords us the opportunity to connect to all those beings that came before us. Lokah samastha sukhino bhavanthu

I have no desire to jump out of a plane, deep sea dive or anything wild and ex-travagant. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled a lot, both in the U.S. and Europe. I’m blessed with great health and happiness, two awesome children and great friends. I do dream of living near the beach one day and more travel would be so fulfilling to me. One thing I would really love to do since I fell in love with yoga would be to go on a yoga retreat, learn more about all practices, especially acroyoga, what a blast!LO

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I want to do the Camino, as it’s often called. The Camino is a 500-mile walk along the top of Spain and is one of the most famous pilgrimages in the world. I don’t want to do it because it’s famous or because of a religious belief, or even for fitness. A love of mine, is to feel my feet touch as many different places of the Earth as possible. To me, this journey is one of those life changing experiences, where you connect with so many others, figuratively and literally, on the same path as you.

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What is something that you’ve always wanted to do in life but haven’t done?

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BY JENN BODNAR

PHOTOS BY PEARSON STUDIOS WWW.PEARSONSTUDIOS.COM

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F itness instructor and entrepreneur, found-er of Get Healthy U, yoga teacher, fitness model, personal trainer, spokesperson,

corporate speaker, ambassador, wife, mom of three, TV show host, author and the list goes on. Meet Chris Freytag. It’s hard not to get just a little amped up when talking to Freytag. Her energy is contagious and she truly radi-ates light and vibrancy. Whatever she’s doing is clearly working because now at just shy of her 50th birthday, yes that’s 5-0, she’s got plenty more surprises up her sleeve. Freytag has been creating, re-inventing and re-discovering herself for nearly half a century, all with a smile and while making it look easy. Freytag has big plans to grow the brand she has worked tirelessly to build. I talked with Freytag to find out how she master-minded this wellness empire and what prompted her to get into the fitness industry in the first place.

PLANTING THE SEEDSFreytag majored in journalism at the University of Wisconsin Madison, because in 1983, she says, fitness wasn’t really a career path for wom-en. When the college counselor asked what she was interested in, her response was “I’m really interested in fitness.” The counselor was taken back and replied “ Huh? That’s not what I mean, I mean what do you want to do for a living?” Chris laughs about it now explaining how back in the 80s there were no computers for her classes. She used a typewriter had to use white out when she made a mistake. Times have evolved and so has Freytag. She has certainly put her broadcast journalism degree to good use, but fitness was always her passion. She was cheerleader in high school, always active and loved to run! Running was her first experience with understanding how exercise works. Freytag explained that even though she didn’t know the science behind it, or what endorphins were, she knew that running made her feel a lot better, helped clear her head and boosted her confidence.

After college, Freytag worked some advertis-ing jobs but knew it wasn’t her calling. At this time in the 80s, gyms were popping up every-where so she joined a gym called US Swim and Fitness. She became obsessed with aerobics and weight lifting. Freytag was married and had kids early, she says, so becoming a person-al trainer worked well with her lifestyle. Her

clients started saying “Chris, you should write a book, you should make a video!” One day it stuck, a lot of little things were coming together and she decided she wanted to create a brand. She thought “I could make a video!” So she did! After that, with the help of a friend, she decided to pitch the idea of adding a health segment to the Minneapolis – St. Paul NBC news station. They said yes! KARE 11 decided to give her a shot one Monday morning. Some skeptics may claim Chris got lucky because she knew someone. The reality is that “Luck is What happens when preparation meets opportunity.” If you have a plan or a great idea that will work, how can anyone say no, right? That’s exact-ly what happened. After one segment, Chris was invited to come back the following week and the next and the next until they created a weekly segment that’s been going strong for the last 10 years. During this time Chris has produced many more fitness videos, worked at Prevention Magazine, authored several books and continues to motivate and stay motivated at an amazing pace!

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THE SECRET INGREDIENT(S)I had to ask Freytag, aside from having amazing tenacity and creativity, what it is that separates her from all these other fitness professionals out there that would love to be on TV doing a health segment. She says people always tell her how comfortable she makes them feel; that she’s very real and relatable. She attributes a lot of her success to her journalism degree where she took a lot of courses in communication. When she became immersed in the fitness path, she considered going back to school to get a degree in Exercise Science (now that one existed!) She thought maybe she needed more schooling, but really it was her ability to communicate well that got here where she is today.

Freytag also has a great attitude of gratitude. When I asked what her greatest accomplish-ments were she said having amazing kids, and feels they are each one of her greatest contribu-tions to the world. You can hear the passion in her voice when she describes how important their happiness is to her. She does not take what she has accomplished professionally for granted and has great appreciation for the hard work she has put in to her life and work. Freytag says when you peel back the layers, there was and still is hard work involved.

Perhaps her greatest characteristic, Freytag says, is the fact that she is SUPER HAPPY(see 9 Proven Ways to be Happier by Chris Freytag on page 52)! She has a positive attitude and has always been this way, even as a child. She comes

from a family of five and her mom always said that ‘Chris would be the one to make a game out of picking up dog poop in the yard.’ She could put a positive spin on anything! Freytag cautions that she has to stay mindful of her drive, aware it can become a weakness. She is guilty of taking on too many things. Her mom has also told her “You have got too many irons in the fire Christine, you need to tailor it back.” Freytag admits she operates on a slight level of craziness and it’s not always the healthiest way to operate.

ENTER YOGA: SLOW DOWN AND BE YOUFreytag found yoga about 10 years ago when Yoga Fit came to Life Time Fitness and offered a training for fitness instructors. Like most group fitness instructors, she was teaching a ton of classes and pushing herself really hard. She says yoga was very inviting at that time. Initially, she looked at yoga very clinically, it was all about the stretching and adding more formats to her reper-toire. When describing her first yoga experience Freytag says “This is really so much more than stretching, as a matter of fact stretching is like a by-product of it. It’s more about the mind-body connection and the breathing.” Known as the high-intensity queen, many people were surprised when Freytag started teaching yoga. She says this was a way finally, for her to slow down. She fell in love again, like she had with running, aerobics and her children but this time it was yoga. There was something different, something

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

—Seneca

INSPIRE Get Healthy, Be Happy and Get Real with Chris Freytag


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more. Freytag calls it self actualization. Yoga is a way for her to unplug and she finally found a way to enjoy slowing down for the first time. She discovered a part of her life that was missing.

When the conversation turned to yoga, Frey-tag shared that her success is built very much upon being a real person, not about perfection. She’s from the school of positive reinforcement and has never been one to yell at her clients to motivate them. She is happy to share her shortcomings and okay with unveiling her flaws because she says has lots of them. Freytag says “On the Get Healthy U page, if you go to the about page it says it’s about being real, it’s about having a glass of wine with your girl-friends, fitting in your jeans; whatever jeans are comfortable! Feel good as you, that’s all that matters. It’s about enjoying friends and family and living your life!” Freytag adds that her approach to everything now is that life is constantly changing, it’s okay to be you and yoga helped her to realize that.

YOUR VIBE ATTRACTS YOUR TRIBEFreytag has recently partnered with a team of five awesome women to help grow Get Healthy U. They each bring unique and special gifts to the brand. She loves spending time with her family and they all enjoy organized activity on a regular basis. Movement has always been a part of their lives. Her kids all played sports and her daughter is a devout ballet dancer and yogi who recently got her 200RYT. Freytag jokes that she is the one who got her started. Clearly, she has inspired, advised and motivated many. When asked who inspires Freytag, she says she is inspired by so many she doesn’t know where to begin! Freytag is inspired by the people who surround her in the fitness world; instructors and participants alike. She’s so grateful to everyone she encounters for sharing their great and unique gifts. She’s also a huge non-fiction reader and can’t get enough information. She loves books about leadership, doing better in the world and really admires authors like Sheryl Sandberg, Brene` Brown and Anne Lamott. Some of her favorite books are “Help, Thanks, Wow!” and “Lean In.” She says Katie Couric has made a huge impact on her and she follows her closely. Freytag says she is a huge fan of women who have done great things with their lives and con-tinue to share their gift with the world!

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Within a few moments of speaking to Rachel

Brathen, you can tell she is very humble about

her popularity, extremely easy to talk to and

very real. If you are a yogi and know anything

about Instagram, chances are high that you

are familiar with her account, @yoga_girl, if

not already one of her million plus followers!

Yoga_girl has the highest number of followers

for a yoga account on Instagram.



















Photo by Ben Kane

INTERVIEW BY JENN BODNAR

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L et’s back it up a bit though, because all good yoga Instagrammers had to start somewhere. Aside from details on the

web server crashes and Instagram madness, the first thing I wanted to know was:

JB: How did your yoga journey begin? RB: I took my first yoga class when I was 17 years old, on vacation with my family, in Thailand. My mom took me. I wasn’t very healthy at that time. I was your regular difficult teenager; I partied and was busy with make-up and a boy. I remember feeling something… but it wasn’t strong enough to change my life at that time. After I gradu-ated high school, I traveled to Costa Rica. I was just going to go for a few months but I ended up moving there and staying for almost 3 years. It was during that time I found the practice, for real. I was already into meditation. Yoga was a step from that.

JB: Who were some of your early teach-ers and greatest influencers? RB: When I first started getting into the physical practice I had a lot of back pain and was really terrified of the physical as-pect of yoga. I suffered from scoliosis my whole life and still do a little bit. My first years were very home oriented, restorative and gentle. I couldn’t touch my toes. My boyfriend used to come home from work and I would be in a puddle on my yoga mat in pain and he would ask ‘did you do that triangle pose again?’ Yes, I would say, triangle was my nemesis. I didn’t have a proper teacher for the first few years. It was me, at home, reading books. It wasn’t until I moved to Aruba that I started to take my practice to something more physical. I started to teach around the same time.

JB: What made you decide to do Instagram?RB: I had a Facebook page for my local students to stay updated on classes. And then people start-ing asking for more: tips for my wrists, poses, the sanskrit names, the benefits etc. of the pose. Somewhere along the way, Instagram came along and it started out as a personal thing to share mostly my dogs and yoga on the beach. I had a few thousand people following me, which was a ton at the time but then I went through a really rough time. Instead of sharing poses, I started

sharing more of the real truth of the things I was going through. In that, I got this tremendous response from me bringing something authentic into that space.

JB: You have been through some big challeng-es and suffered great losses, which you shared on Instagram. What impact did that have? RB: I had three deaths in the past year. I could have chosen to not share them. I could

I AM JUST A VERY NORMAL HUMAN BEING

AND I TRY MY BEST EVERYDAY AND THAT’S

ALL I CAN DO.

Photo by Amelia Widell

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have chosen to fake it, or continued to post

just inspirational things, or to just be quiet but

there was really no option for me than to write

and to share. It was a huge part of my healing

process. I ended up losing over 100,000 fol-

lowers. I lost the people who weren’t interested

in me as a person. It was like I took my whole

community through a washing machine and

those who stayed are the ones who are genu-

ine. Emails starting pouring in, such love and

wisdom that I’ve never experienced. A lot of

people felt that since I was raw and real with

my own grief that they could be honest and

open with theirs. So I saw a lot of people

sharing their pain openly as opposed to keeping

it to themselves, pretending everything is fine

and putting that smile on their face everyday.

Just allowing themselves to be real.

JB: Do you consider yourself successful?

RB: I always struggle with the business of all of

this. Success, in terms that I have a beautiful

family, a husband that I love, a great home and

I’m happy. That’s success to me. But also re-

alizing that what I’m doing, I wrote a book and

these things that are happening. It’s a business

and balancing the yoga of it all with the business

THE GROWTH, THE SELF-DISCOVERY COMES FROM GOING INTO THE PARTS THAT WE DON’T

WANT TO LOOK AT...

Photo by Ben Kane

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side of it all and whether or not that’s successful, I have a hard time deciding that because I don’t really know where it’s all leading at the moment. If Instagram fell off the face of the earth tomor-row and I got to do something that improved the greater good of the world, that would be success!

JB: What’s your greatest achievement?RB: I love the idea of brand new people finding the practice through me, through my space. I’ve always attracted people that are brand new and I like to make the practice very accessible and not intimidating. I used to teach workshops focused on handstands and arm balances and now I’m getting so many beginners to classes and retreats that is has to be targeted to that first timer. I teach classes and sometimes have 500-600 people. I always ask, “who is taking their first ever yoga class?” And there’s like 200 people that raise their hand, which is astounding to me! I get emails from people who tell me they took their first class inspired by me and now, a year later, they’re pain free or have lost all this weight, and am happier. That makes me feel like I’ve done something of value.

JB: What do you say to those still trying to come to grips with who they are? RB: You have to start in the difficult end. That’s what’s hard for people to grasp. There’s this idea that I will quit my job, travel the world, sit on a beach and meditate and all of a sudden I will find my path and my passion. It’s not like that! The growth, the self-discovery comes from going into the parts that we don’t want to look at: the pain, the fear and the insecurities that we walk with everyday. You can choose to run away from it; turn on the TV, drink a bottle of wine or even go to yoga class or you can choose to sit with it and go into it and see what happens.

JB: When I log in to Instagram 5 years from now, what is yoga girl doing? RB: My hope is that I will have kids! This is all growing so fast. We have classes now up 1,000-1,500 people. At the same time we do retreats. It’s hard to balance. Where does it end? Instead of retreats, hopefully I’ll be doing more social

project trips, connecting back to doing something good for other people and communities as well. Just trying to harness all of this in a bigger way.

JB: What is your favorite way to spend the day?RB: I love sitting on my couch with my dogs. Simple things. I get so much excitement, traveling and doing wild crazy adventures all the time so having a glass of wine at the end of the day with my husband is perfect.

Yoga Girl BookRachel’s highly anticipated first book—YOGA GIRL— was published in the USA on March 24, 2015 by Touch-stone, a division of Simon & Schuster. Part self-help and part memoir, YOGA GIRL is an inspirational, beautifully illustrated book featuring step-by-step yoga sequences as well as simple recipes for a healthy, happy, and fear-less lifestyle. We especially love Yoga Girl’s “LOVING INSIGHTS” where she offers advice like:

The Beach, The Book, The Business of Rachel Brathen @yoga_girl INSPIRE

@yoga_girl

Explore the world and soak up the wisdom that lies in every lesson you learn along the way. Life is meant to be an adventure.

Find your voice. Whatever you’re doing, let the real you shine through. Instead of imitating others, figure out what makes you unique and let that be at the core of your work.

Life happens for you—not to you!

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Clark LittleThe Further You Go

The More You Will SeeINTERVIEW BY JENN BODNAR

In yoga we teach to always try and discover a way. If there are obstacles, come up with an alternative. An open, stress free mind helps with this process. Your photos are beyond incredible; the definition of surreal. It seems impossible to capture what your capture. We all love to capture the moment, capture beauty from our vacations and try to make a lasting visual reminder of something that inspires us and makes us feel good. You have made this your calling and living. What was the shift for you? How did you transform from simply taking a picture to finding a way to capture the uncapturable?A: For me it was actually quite simple. I grew up going to the ocean surfing, swimming and diving, it was a home away from home. Then came a family and a full time job. I wasn’t going to the beach as often until one day my wife brought home a picture of a wave to put on our bedroom wall. I looked at it and told her I can get a better wave, one from inside the ocean up close. I then went out and bought a cheap water-proof housing and put a small digital camera in it. I swam out a few times with the camera and starting getting some interesting results. After the first session, I was actually pretty hooked.

My family and friends encouraged me and I kept going. Before long I had bought a professional set up and was shooting as often as I could. Things then snowball and eventually I quit my job. By the way that job I had done for 17 years and I had planned to do it until retirement. The real shift came when I followed my passion. And then I just did it more and more and more.

I was never a photographer growing up or ever did it as a hobby. I sort of went from novice to professional very quickly. My photography started in the big waves.

With regard to some of your photos, it seems like there is a significant amount of danger involved with the unpredictability and force of the ocean waves crashing down on you as so notably recorded on Instagram. Not to mention some of the shark pho-tos! What’s going through your head as you go in to take these shots?I am actually pretty calm as all of this is happening. I am not reacting, I am in the moment and I am searching for the best place to be for the best shot and of course with an exit in mind. This is what I love about the ocean. It requires Focus and a cool head. Actually as it gets more dangerous things slow down... at least in my mind they do. It’s pretty much like a meditation with a full body workout. And after you get out of the ocean you are so centered and high on life. I suppose the feeling after doing yoga is the same.

Have you ever been injured on the job?Luckily nothing too serious, but a lot of close calls. I do knock on wood as I say this. Some of the close calls have been getting slammed into the sand free-falling from the top of a wave. That time there was a loud crunch, and I couldn’t move my shoulder for a few weeks. It still sticks out a bit. I have some stitches in my head from having the camera housing hit me.

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Title: Clark vs Goliath Location: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, USA Description: Would you put your life on the line for a great shot? Clark Little facing a giant wave with his camera.

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Title: Ocean Eagle Location: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, USADescription: An endangered Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle (Honu in Hawaiian) swimming behind a breaking wave in the shallow waters off of the North Shore.

Title: Clark Little standing shorebreak Location: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, USADescription: Photographer Calrk Little runs up to wave breaking right on the shore to capture a shot before he gets mowed down.

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Title: Sand Sculpture Location: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, USADescription: The powerful Hawaiian shorebreak shapes figures in the sand. Shot during mid-day, this wave is sucking up the sand and about to unleash on the photographer.

Title: Coconut Island Location: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, USADescription: Shot from behind a breaking wave looking towards shore from an underwater perspective. The curve of the wave distorts the beach scene elongating the palm trees.

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This is happened several times. And there is been a close call with being out in waves that were too big, and I was held under for a very long time. Enough to where things start going black and thoughts of your children and wife and family are going through your head. Sometimes waves will come one after another after another six or eight waves in a row. Then you might be held under for two waves at a time and you are over your limit. But there is no way out except to fight for your life. I have also lost my swim fins after being hit by a large wave. The swim fins are my life line. It is extremely difficult to swim in large surf without them. When you get back to shore you are very thankful.

How many cameras do you currently own? Have you ever lost any cameras to the ocean? What’s the going rate for a Clark Little approved and certified photography camera?I own about a dozen cameras with a lot of lenses and water housings. I shoot with Nikon gear. I have used their equipment from day one and have never had a problem. The cameras take a beating and were prob-ably never intended for this type of use but they sure handle well. Yes, I have lost some cameras but luckily every time I have been able to find the camera and recover it. In big waves the camera can get ripped out of my hand. I even have a leash tied to the camera in my wrist. This has shredded before.

INSPIRE Clark Little: The Further You Go The More You Will See

Title: Last Blast Location: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, USADescription: A large wave is captured laying on the dry sand as it throws over to create the shorebreak barrel. There is no escaping punishment on this one. A few seconds later, Clark will be washed up the beach covered in sand from head to tow.

In February 2014, Clark published his second book Shorebreak, a 160-page coffee table book featuring wave and ocean

photography from various beaches all over the world.

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Funny thing is usually I’m not worried about the camera when I lose it but worried about losing the photos in the camera. I have had to walk up and down the beach looking for it and swim around. My water housings are usually colorful and easy to find. I have been lucky. I know it.

Your dad was a professor of photography? Do you have any formal photography training? Do your kids share your passion?Yes my dad was a professor of photography for 20 something years. But I never had any interest in it. I did grow up going to the darkroom and was surrounded by it. But I never got the bug. It was after he retired that I started shooting photos. I have no formal training. My

training was in surfing, and then I traded in the surf-board for camera. My son shoots with me sometimes. He’s really into sports and loves playing in the ocean.

This is a unique path you’re on. I’m sure you had some other more traditional paths perhaps to take. Did you ever consider a different career path and if so, what?I was a manager of a botanical Garden here in Hawaii for 17 years. It was a real career. I have a family with two kids, I had a mortgage and had planned to do my job until retirement. Never in 1 million years could I have guessed that I would change course. I grew up surfing, I was sponsored and tried that for a bit when

Title: Screamer Location: West Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, USADescription: The wind is blowing strongly offshore, towards the ocean and away from the beach, and creates a mist flying off the top of a backlit wave.

Clark’s work has been exhibited in the White House and Smithsonian Museum, published in National Geographic and used in TV

commercials for various companies including Nikon, Apple and Nike.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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Title: Nightmare Location: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, USADescription: Deep inside a large thundering shorebreak barrel at night. The inside of the wave is lit by a strobe flash. It is interesting to note that this shot is only possible since the wave is covered in foam. Without the white foam covering the inside of the wave, the light from the flash would just go through the clear water and not light up the surface.

Title: Glass Bowl Location: Maui, Hawaii, USADescription: Without any wind to add texture to the water, the ocean turns into glass and the waves sculpture into fluid forms.

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Title: Clark Little with Camera in the Tube Location: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, USADescription: Photographer Clark Little in his office with a spectacular view.

Title: Clark with equipment Location: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, USADescription: Photographer Clark Little with his equipment - surf shorts, swim fins and waterproof camera housings.

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I was younger, but to make a living from the ocean is just a wild dream that came true.

You have received national and international atten-tion for your gift of photography. Featured in many galleries, in the White House, you have a your own product line. How does it feel to be rewarded for doing something you already love to do?I think if you are lucky enough to find and follow your passion, then work really hard to achieve the highest level you can get to, there will be rewards in many ways. It feels incredible to be able to do something I love so much and to actually make a living from it. I think it feeds on itself and creates its own positive energy.

Do you remember the first time you photographed the ocean waves and more importantly do you recall real-izing that your image or images were special, unique and would make the impact that you have made today?I had no idea my images would make such an impact. But I do remember very clearly the first day I went in and how much fun I had. I still have that much fun every time I go in. When I saw the results of these first few times I went out, it really felt special to me and that I could see these waves captured any photograph. Before, when I was surfing, I remember looking at waves and trying to recall them later. It was difficult since the memories start fading minutes later. A few days later, it is gone. With the photo I was able to see this hours

Title: Good Morning Location: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, USADescription: Shot just as the sun rose above the horizon. Light wind mornings like this turn the water surface into glass. These conditions reflect the sunrise colors and, at the same time, allow the darker colors from the sky and mountains to seep through.

If you are lucky enough to find and follow your passion, then work really hard to achieve the highest level you can get to, there will be

rewards in many ways.

WWW.YOGADIGEST.COM

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days months later and also be able to share this with others. That felt really unique to me.

To those out there still looking for their calling and dreaming the impossible, what would you say to them?Find your passion. Something that really gets you ex-cited to wake up in the morning. Follow that passion. And then do it as much as you can. In other words when you find it repeat, repeat, repeat. Don’t short change yourself by not doing it as much as you want.

You have the coolest job ever. You seem to be at the pinnacle of your craft, what’s next for Clark Little? I can’t even think of what’s next since I’m right in the middle of what I’m doing now. I guess once my body can’t do it any longer, or the passion fades or I get bored or something else more exciting comes up, I will just keep doing this as much as I can. All the things that are coming out for me are extensions of what I am doing now. Expanding my clothing line, Upgrading my gallery

in Hawaii, traveling more and spending more time with my family and of course continuing my search for some-thing unique in the ocean. I try not to get too far ahead of myself especially since my plate is already pretty full.

Prints, books, calendars and more details of Clark can be found on his website at www.ClarkLittle.com. The 160-page, 10”x10” coffee table book features over 100 wave and ocean photographs, including 65 two-page spreads, from beaches near Clark’s home along the famed North Shore of Oahu, as well as pictures taken over the last four years during Clark’s travels to Japan, French Polynesia, California and the neighbor islands of Hawaii including Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. Anyone, who appreciates and enjoys a one-of-a-kind ocean vista with a close-up clarity and perspective seldom seen even by the most experienced surfer, will delight in this unique collection of photographs.

Clark Little: The Further You Go The More You Will See INSPIRE

Title: Crystal Ball Location: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, USADescription: A surfer’s perspective looking out of a crystal clear tube. The glassy & lightwind conditions make the wave transparent and glass-like, showing the sand on the ocean floor.

@clarklittle

http://www.ClarkLittle.com

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Parenting and PracticeBY RYAN GLIDDEN

The FourStages of Life:A Yoga Dads Journey

through Business,

A s a man, a business owner and a father, I don’t fit the stereotypical western profile of a yogi, but I am one, or at least trying to be. Yoga has shaped who

I am as a parent, a partner and a businessman. Owning and operating two yoga studios on opposite coasts while being present for my kids and wife has its challenges. Through it all, I have relied on the teachings of yoga to guide me through the ups and downs. Here’s how.

In the yoga discipline, there are four stages to a persons life: brahmacharaya, grihastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa.

The first stage (brahmacharaya) is that of a child and a student. In this stage you’re learning the world around you and understanding your place in it. There is particular em-phasis on the higher virtues of compassion, understanding, respect, justice and integrity.

The second stage (grihastha) is that of the householder. This is the time of finding a partner and raising a family. Addition-ally this stage is a time to build wealth through your career path of choice. However it’s important to note that it is never done at the expense of the lessons learned in the first stage.

The third stage (vanaprastha) is the time of retirement. This is traditionally thought to begin when your children are old enough to get married and begin their own families. It is at this stage that you shift your focus towards your spiri-tual maturation. Setting aside material goals for the higher pursuits of self-knowledge.

The final stage (sannyasa) is the stage of renunciation. It is a time to release worldly desires for the full efforts of spiritual awakening.

This is not to say that one should wait until their Golden years to begin their yoga practice, but more to highlight that yoga recognizes that life is full of responsibilities and duties; that these duties vary in focus at different times in your life and most importantly that yoga can help you navigate each one of them with more grace (stihram) and ease (sukham).Photo by Kevin Sutton

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STAGE 2

STAGE 1Brahmacharya (the student)My early years of development have past, but those of my girls have not. My wife and I have always felt that early childhood development was one of the most important stages of a person’s life and so we’ve looked to yoga and other philosophies like it to help guide us as we raise our kids during these early years. Our girls know that Mommy has time to pray and meditate. They started working on their down-dogs with Daddy at the same time they started learning to walk. They know we have a strong faith in God and that we believe in an eternal soul that progresses from one life to the next. It would not be uncommon to walk into our home and hear yoga mantras playing throughout the house on the stereo.

My oldest daughter is now four and goes to school two days a week. When looking for a school that fit with our beliefs we came across Waldorf, started by the philosopher Rudolf Steiner. One of the tenants of conduct in Waldorf is, “Do no harm to others, do no harm to yourself and do no harm to the environment.” Children are taught to live in harmony with nature and each other before ever asked to read and write. Similarly the Yamas of Patanajali’s Yoga Sutras state that one should do no harm, be honest, not steal or take what isn’t theirs, should restrain from sexual misconduct, and should not long for more than they have. The Waldorf system allows kids to develop together and teaches about the intimate and important relationship we have with the earth, each other and ourselves. We believe that learning these principles now builds the foundation for great success as she progresses through the remaining three stages of her life, so while it may be a larger expense then public school it is worth it to us to have her learning in line with many yoga principles.

Grihastha (the householder)I find myself in this stage. I have been married for six years now to the most amazing woman I know, have two beautiful children and am the Co-found-er of MOSAIC. My wife, a friend, and I, started MOSAIC in a 400 square foot upstairs apartment in San Diego California. At the same time my wife and I began plans for our family. Within a year we had been fortunate enough to expand and took on an additional 700 square foot space in the same building. It wasn’t long after that my first daughter, Leela, was born. A couple years later with a growing yoga community, we had an opportunity to expand our business again by taking on a new location of roughly 2,100 square feet. During that process my second daughter, Carin, was born. Today we live on the other side of the country in Virginia and will be opening the doors to our second studio location in Charlottesville within a month.

The mission of MOSAIC has taken on different words from time to time but it has always been the goal to provide a space where people could awaken and uplift their soul. We also opened it with the hope that owning our own business would allow us flexibility in our schedules to have one or both of us home with our kids all the time. We are very blessed that this has proven to be true and we have been able to spend much time with our girls through the earliest years of their lives. The conclusion of this stage will see my kids grown and ready to begin their own families. My hope is that at the same time we will have built a business that they can step into running with the fresh spirit of their youth.

As a man, a business owner and a father, I don’t fit the stereotypical western profile of a yogi, but I am one...

Photo by Angela Levy Photography

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STAGE 3

STAGE 4

Vanaprastha (retirement)With only 32 years of life under my belt I’ve yet to reach this third stage. Because of this I lack certain wisdom of what it will bring. What I hope and plan is that this stage of life will be a time to mindfully transition from a focus of worldly acquisitions to spiritual ones. If I’m lucky my children will have taken enough interest in MOSAIC and the services we have provided to want to lead the business in a more active role. For me, Vanaprastha

will be a time to become an advisor to my kids while I focus on the higher limbs in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. These limbs: Pratayahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi are a progression from the withdrawal of the senses from the outside world, to a state of concen-tration, through a state of medi-tation and finally into a state of en-lightenment.

Sannyasa (renunciation)The yogic view of life is a bit different from that of the typical American. Instead of viewing the years after retirement as a slow decline of ones life and influence in the world, the yogi sees the third and fourth stages as the most important. This is the time for ascension of the mind back to the soul. In the sannyasa stage all energy is given to one’s spiritual work. In this stage my role will be to serve as an example to my children and grandchildren on the natural evolution of a life centered on healthy, wise, spiritual principles. In this way I hope they may find inspiration and confidence in their abilities to do the same.

There is no doubt that the past five years have been busy. My discipline has waxed and waned at times but it has always been there in some fashion. I often times reflect back on the four stages of the yogis life when I feel I am behind in my efforts or questioning a business or parenting decision. I find them to be a comfort in letting me know there’s still time remaining for my spiritual maturation and a challenge to do the work necessary to be a role model for my children, grandchildren and any who wish to make a life in the world that is spiritually focused. I am continuously humbled by the work that lies ahead of me while encouraged by the many blessings the yoga discipline has provided.

Instead of viewing the years after retirement

as a slow decline of ones life and

influence in the world, the yogi sees the third

and fourth stages as the most important.

INSPIRE The Four Stages of Life: A Yoga Dads Journey through Business, Parenting and Practice

Photo by Epic photojournalism

Photo by Angela Levy Photography

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INTERVIEW BY BRIAN HYMAN

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with fathers who teach and practice yoga. We discussed how a dedicated yoga practice

can affect all aspects of parenting, fatherhood, and family.

Being a new dad, I was delighted to receive such genuine, insightful, and valuable responses to the

question below. I was also pleased to discover a fellowship of men who have walked the path before me. However, I was most thrilled to realize that these stories are not only relevant to fathers who teach and practice yoga, they are universal in nature and beneficial to all people in all types of relationships.

A Conversation With

Yoga Dads

I’ve asked them - How does yoga

do you share yoga with your family?make you a better parent and how

Tory SchaeferI’m a parental Work In Progress and excited about the opportunity to fall and get back up and begin again. Imagine coming home from an exhausting day of work, longing for some peace and the loving em-brace of family. Instead you’re bombed with both children crying out in scream-o-phonic stereo. The ability to find your breath and become a little less reactive is a huge weight lifted off of what could become a mind exploding moment! Life is short, I need to be present for my amaz-ing wife and enjoy every moment of my family. Yoga helps me to be.

WWW.YOGADIGEST.COM

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Scott FeinbergTo me, being a father is my yoga practice. Like most de-voted practitioners, what was at first a practice confined to the parameters of a yoga class soon extends into a moment by moment practice of living in wakefulness. The practice of living in the remembrance of truth has allowed me to deeply cherish my children with the same sense of awe I felt when they were first born. The recognition of impermanence reminds me of the preciousness of each stage they grow through. And the teachings of non-attachment support me in supporting them in becoming fully themselves rather than striving towards expectations imposed by me. But most of all, I believe our children learn not from what we say but who we are as people. Yoga has given me the gift of peace and a way to engage life consciously, which is something I believe is now woven into the very fabric of their character and I am eternally grateful for that. Namaste. www.kulayogashala.com

Gabriel AzoulayYoga has been pivotal in keeping me in the moment, and thus when I am

around my son I give him my complete attention. Yoga keeps me aware of

what am I doing with my energy, my body, and my thoughts, and thus I am

able to stay tuned to my child’s needs. Today my son is 6, and we share Yoga

through play. I have not pushed yoga on my son, but my daily practice has

him going into poses spontaneously. Makes me wish I was a kid again, yet

reminds me that yoga keeps me young. www.gabeyoga.com

Daniel HeadNobody really pre-pared me for the joys and the challenges of

becoming a parent. It is a wild ride of emotions, responsibilities, and will forever be the deepest love I have yet to feel

within my life. ‘To be the best parent I can be’ is the daily intention I set each morning, and

is something I keep in the forefront of my mind all day. My practice strengthens the healthy qualities that effect the relationship I

have with my body and my state of mind. I have deepened my patience and understanding as well as kindness, gentleness, and acceptance. www.redlandsyoga.com

http://www.kulayogashala.com

http://www.gabeyoga.com

http://www.redlandsyoga.com

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Neal PollackI try to share yoga with my family, but my son is 12 and he wants nothing to do

with anything I enjoy, which is in the job description. My wife got me into it initially, but she doesn’t practice anymore. We’re not doing sun salutations and chanting

to Ganesha as a family. That said, I think I share it with them by being a generally happier, kinder, and more open-minded person. Yoga makes me a better

dad because it allows me to have a more even mental and emotion-al keel. When I have to do serious dad stuff like discipline or

homework help, I’m usually not reactive. That makes all the difference. www.nealpollack.com

Michael Brian BakerAs a single father, yoga has taught me pause, patience, and supports balanced decision making and responsible, active parenting. It has taught me to hold, relax, and breathe through discomfort and to act from a heart-based foundation, rather than any rigid, patriarchal structure. The emotional intelligence and science that are yoga, have groomed me to be a more fluid, playful, present father with a focus on meeting my three year-old Elijah where he is develop-mentally and to hold space for him to express himself as he sees fit in each moment without the need or desire to control or have it my way. Yoga is love and my son is at the heart of it! Heck, he’s the one dragging me to kirtan and reminding me to chant the Hanuman Chalisa. Eli is my Guru! www.thebreathcenter.com

Zack LodmerYoga makes me a better

parent by helping me

develop and use tools to

keep calm in the face of

adversity. Like when there’s

an unexpected poop and

you’re in the middle of rush

hour traffic. Or when your

child (accidentally?) pulls

the school’s fire alarm and

the entire West L.A. fire

team is summoned to in-

vestigate. I share yoga with

my family in subtle ways

(deep breaths to overcome

tantrums), but I also offer

specific poses. I might say,

“Hey, let’s put our legs up

the wall and hang out for a

few minutes!” when a child

is extra wiggly. www.omshalomyoga.com

INSPIRE A Conversation With Yoga Dads

WWW.YOGADIGEST.COM

http://www.nealpollack.com

http://www.thebreathcenter.com

http://www.omshalomyoga.com

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James MorrisonI practiced yoga off and on for 20 years before I finally let it teach me to recognize that being the father my son de-served depended upon my finding a context for my practice. The ethical principles of yoga: non-violence, truthfulness, non-possessiveness, self-discipline, non-stealing, as well as the Jnana Yoga principles of knowledge and inquiry, provide the perfect foundation for a productive relationship with each other as well as the world. For 16 years we have practiced these principles together and they continue to show us how to teach each other to be the father and son we’re capable of being. www.jpmorrison.com

Guy GabrielYoga is an integral part of my life being a full time Ayurvedic Yoga Teacher. Yoga has taught me patience and how to listen to others’ needs. It permeates all aspects of my life in terms of guiding the choices I make for myself, and my family. Being a better parent means taking the time to teach each family member how to take care of themselves in body, mind, and spirit. www.guygabrielyoga.com

David RomanelliI remember a few weeks after my son was born my wife and I hadn’t slept. She was up breastfeeding at 3am. I was up too. The baby threw up everywhere. My wife was exhausted and had a bit of a meltdown. And I remember thinking (and then saying), “This is every hard yoga pose we’ve ever experienced...all coming up right now...we know how to handle this.” We both worked through it one breath at a time. When you are that ex-hausted in the newborn stage, that’s all you can do...is take one breath and one moment at a time. But it’s not always a matter of working through the challenges. There are so many glorious moments with a newborn and yoga has taught me to slow things down and appreciate the smiles and the baby-talk and earliest glimpses of his personality...knowing that he will only be small enough to fit in one hand for a sliver of time and I better stop and enjoy every amazing second of it. Yoga helps me put all that into perspective and squeeze every ounce of joy into this very fleeting stage of life. www.yeahdave.com

WWW.YOGADIGEST.COM

http://www.jpmorrison.com

http://www.guygabrielyoga.com

http://www.yeahdave.com

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Ryan BaileyYoga makes me a better parent in so many ways. Honestly I have found I catch myself more often than not noticing my reactions to the many things I am challenged by in being a father. It keeps me calm in the challenging moments. It also opens me up, to not be so serious and rigid; to be free and open and flow on the level of the little ones. It also offers the ability to physically do pretty much anything with them that they want to do – the asana is great for this! My kids are four-and-a-half and two-and-a-half, so the way we get to share yoga with them may be different than just being on the mat. We own a studio, so they love that. When no one is around they get to run and play in the studio. So directly they are in a loving place. They are so much more teaching us the yoga that lives within them, to them it is undefined yet. We love to sing and drum with them, they come to kirtan nights and they love it. We share stories and poses as needed for now, and this will all grow and shift I am sure. www.yogareclaimed.com

Bryan KestYoga helps me be a better parent, because it makes me less reactive and more accepting. I share yoga with my family by practicing yoga in front of my family. That’s all--they see it, and eventually, they will do it.www.poweryoga.com

Vytas BaskauskasMy yoga practice helps me build strength and flexibility, but what it brings foremost

to my life is mindfulness. Being a parent takes presence. If I’m interacting with my child based on my old habits and patterns, then he and I will never have

a true connection. When I am conscious in my parenting though, meaning that I don’t use my emotional wounds from the past, or my projections

of what I wanted as a child, then I get to experience the truth of what this relationship has to offer. My yoga practice helps me get rid of my

own crap so that I don’t put it on my son! www.VytasYoga.com

INSPIRE A Conversation With Yoga Dads

Photo by Nate Funk

http://www.yogareclaimed.com

http://www.poweryoga.com/

http://www.vytasyoga.com/

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Govind DasYoga has made me a much better father. The little ones come into this world so pure. Yet I realize that so much of who my 4 year-old son is gets passed on from me, his father. My intention is to love him and guide him from the most pure place of loving awareness, joy, and wisdom within my heart. My prayer is that he doesn’t have to spend his adult life “undo-ing” everything that I have thrown upon him and that he feels free to live HIS truth, his dharma, as he grows older. My favorite way to share yoga with him is at bedtime. When I am putting him to sleep I ask him if he wants me to sing him lullabies, or kirtan (the great bhakti yoga practice of mantra chanting). Commonly he responds back with kirtan!!! This makes me so happy!!! So I sing him “Hare Krishna,” “Sri Ram,” and many other sweet, kirtan melodies and watch him drift away into the most beautiful sublime peaceful state. www.bhaktiyogashala.com

Brian HymanI have discovered that the space between the inhale and exhale during a yoga practice is the same space to be found before thought, speech, and action at home with family; it is the same space that allows me to pause when necessary when I become impatient, agitated, or doubtful; it is the same, beautiful little space between a bedtime story and goodnight kiss.

I share yoga with my family by bringing them to classes that I teach and by practicing at home. I try my best to live out my practice at home; to allow it to flow through me, especially the yamas (moral codes) and niyamas (self-disciplines). I also share stories about Ganesh, Hanuman, and other mythical figures, and my family listens to and sings along to kirtan recordings in the car when we take long road trips. www.brianhymanyoga.com

John SalisburyYoga has taught me to loosen my grip on external things. Yoga has taught

me that my child belongs to the Universe, as we all do… Yoga makes me a

better parent because I am able to watch and observe my own tendencies

and temperaments, and in doing so catch myself before I fly off the handle

and react over things that are better served with kindness and patience. It

doesn’t always work out like that because I am human, but there is growth

and, like the physical side of yoga practice, that is all we can ask for. More

than anything, I think I can share yoga with my family by just trying to lead

by example – staying present, focusing my mind, striving to keep my energy

up, and making good choices. www.yogijohn.com

Photo by Gabi Rudin

WWW.YOGADIGEST.COM

http://www.bhaktiyogashala.com

http://www.brianhymanyoga.com

http://www.yogijohn.com/

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Daddy and Baby Yoga BY

BRIAN HYMANPHOTOS BY AMY GOALEN


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A s a teacher and student of yoga, I have learned that a yoga practice must evolve as life reveals its impermanent nature; a practice must remain

fluid to reflect the bends, twists, and turns of life; and a practice – and practitioner – must embrace change with compassion, empathy, and equanimity if a practice is to endure.

Before becoming a father, my yoga practice was a solitary journey to the innermost Self, nourished by silence, stillness, and surrender. Now, with a baby girl

at home, my practice has become a joyful, family road trip with silly talk, smiles, tickles, and giggles.

The following sequence is a combination of poses that I practice with my six-month-old daughter, Lilia. For a video demonstration of these poses and more, please view “DADDY AND BABY YOGA WITH BRIAN HYMAN” at www.yoga30.com. (Note: Yoga30 offers visitors a FREE 7-day trial membership.) I hope this sequence brings you and your baby as much joy and peace as it brings to me and my family. Namaste.

ONEBegin in SUKHASANA, or easy posture (sitting cross-legged). Place baby in front of you. Place your hand on baby’s heart. Place your other hand on your heart. Set your intention. Imagine exploring the practice and the parent-child relationship. Take a deep inhale. On the exhale, let out the sound of OM, or any sound baby enjoys.

TWOCome to all fours (hands and knees) for CAT/COW. Place baby between your hands or below your chest. Connect with your breath. On the inhale, reach your heart forward and look up (cow). On the exhale, round the back and look down at baby (cat). Repeat five to seven times. THREETuck your toes, shift your hips up and back for DOWNWARD FACING DOG. Place your palms on both sides of baby. If you can kiss baby from this position, give it a try; if not, talk, smile, and in-teract lovingly with baby while hovering above. Hold for five breaths.

FOURShift forward to PLANK. Keep shoulders over wrists. Hold for five breaths. Smile and main-tain eye contact with baby.

Plank Pose

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FIVEShift weight into the right hand and roll to the outer edge of the right foot for VASISTHASANA (side plank). Keep eye contact with baby. Hold for five breaths, return to plank. Do the same pose on the left side. Hold for five breaths, return to plank.

SIXLower your knees for CHILD’S POSE. Sink your hips toward your heels. Bring your big toes together. Stretch your arms toward the top of the mat, on both sides of baby. Set your forehead on the mat, or rest your head lightly on baby’s legs or belly.

SEVENBring yourself to sit comfortably. Place baby to the side. Stretch your legs in front of you. Place baby on your lap, elevate your legs, and float your feet off the mat. Lean back to balance on the sitting bones, coming into NAVASANA (boat pose). Keep your hands with baby’s hands for safety. Hold for five breaths.

EIGHTFinish the sequence in SAVASANA (final resting pose). Come onto your back. Place and hold baby on your chest. Stay for five to seven minutes. Then come to sit. Place baby in your lap. Place your hands at your heart. Give thanks for the practice. End with the sound of OM, or any sound baby enjoys.

Brian Hyman writes about yoga, recovery, and spirituality for Mantra Yoga + Health, Manduka, and Yoga Digest. He will be featured in the forth-coming book Inside the Warrior by Amy Goalen. He has been interviewed by Life by Me, Sivana, Alignyo, and Recovery 2.0. Brian and his fiancée, Sandra Salemi, recently wrote a children’s book, The Adventures of Updog and Lo-tus: Stealing Hurts Feelings. Brian’s classes (Vinyasa Flow, Restorative Yoga, Daddy and Baby Yoga, 12-Step Yoga, Yoga for Lower Back Pain, and more) can be viewed at www.yoga30.com. More info: www.brianhymanyoga.com

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Anyone who’s ever gotten a massage — even a quickie at a mall kiosk — knows that it helps you unwind. That’s not just a mental sensation. Getting a

massage causes muscles to unclench, a racing heart rate to slow, heightened

blood pressure to fall, and levels of the stress hormone cortisol to drop. In that relaxed state, Thai yoga massage enables your body to regroup and recharge.

Benefits of

Yoga MassageThai

BY SHERYL BRAUN

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Reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol

Lowers blood pressure

Decrease pain and improve body function

Improves sleep, specifically deep sleep

Boosts immunity by increasing white blood cells and reducing stress

Revitalizes skin through increased blood flow

Elevates level of alertness

Lessens digestive disorders

Increases seratonin, enhancing mood

Touch makes you happier

T hai yoga massage is a combination of acupressure, asanas, stretching, palming, thumbing and gentle twisting. Practitioners incorporate their palms, thumbs, forearms, knees and feet during sessions for muscle compression, joint mobilization, and acupressure. People

often describe Thai yoga massage as both relaxing and energizing. Thai yoga massage usually begins with work on the feet as they are the lowest part of the body (gravity wise) and ends with the face and head. By working the feet first, a person’s energy can be moved upward thus helping the circulation of energy.

Thai yoga massage is an Eastern form of therapy that has a deeply holistic approach and believes that in the human body, energies flow along a network of channels or lines similar to nadis in India or ‘meridians’ in China.

Touch is a necessary part of our lives and is a key element in both our physical and mental health. In today’s fast paced life, we often tend to lose touch with our mind and body. Thai yoga massage can be one way to connect with others and improve health through touch. Anyone can learn the basics and begin reaping the benefits today!

Sheryl is 500RYT certified and “dabbled” in yoga for many years before falling in love with power vinyasa, becoming a yoga junkie overnight. She has been practicing yoga for 17 years, and teaching for the last eight. Sheryl has always loved working with people, has a mischievous sense of humor and feels incredibly blessed to be a yoga teacher. Off the mat she enjoys spending time with her beautiful family and friends, taking pictures & doing anything outdoors.

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Ten Yoga Myths...

BUSTEDAs more and more research is published indicating that yoga delivers a wide range of health benefits – lower blood pressure, reduces stress,

increases energy, improves flexibility, eases pain, heals injuries, relieves insomnia, etc – more and more people are turning to yoga. However,

there are many who would like to do yoga but hesitate because of yoga stereotypes. Here are ten of the most common yoga myths . . . busted.

BY VICTOR M. PARACHIN

Myth #1You have to be flexible to do yoga.Reality: Actually, yoga is most beneficial to those who are not flexible. Consider the experience of David Boren-stein, a medical doctor and professor of medicine at George Washington University: “As a doctor, I’ve recom-mended yoga to patients many times, but I had resisted doing it myself. I thought a stiff old guy like me wouldn’t have enough flexibility. In 2014, my wife finally shamed me into trying it - and I was surprised to find that I liked it. I’ll never be as flexible as some people in my yoga class, but I’m a lot more flexible than I was, which has helped me avoid injuries. Before I started doing yoga, I thought I would have to give up playing squash soon because of the risk for joint and muscle injuries. Now I can play without getting hurt.

Myth #2Men don’t do yoga.Reality: Yoga is indeed dominated by women. However, more and more men are doing yoga and every year the number of men in yoga classes appears to be growing. Many professional athletes in football, baseball, hockey, and basketball regularly include yoga as an integral part of their training.

One of them is tennis pro Justin Gimelstob. While in his early twenties, a promising tennis career was in jeopardy. “I had back problems, two herniated disks.

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Everything was locked up and the pain was so bad I could barely move around on the court. I had nine cor-tisone shots, and I was taking tremendous amounts of Vicodin.” His doctors recommended surgery indicating that the results were not guaranteed, that the surgery could limit his range of motion and that recovery would take time. As he weighed the decision about surgery a friend suggested that he try yoga. He did and the results were astonishing: “It just took a couple of weeks for me to see a difference. I haven’t taken a pill since. I haven’t had back pain since. It’s been unbelievable.”

Myth #3I work out at a gym so I don’t need yoga. Reality: Every physical exercise delivers benefits. However, yoga differs from traditional gym exercises which usually focus primarily on aerobics and muscle development. Yoga is more holistic in that it benefits not only the body but also mind and spirit. In her book, Yoga For Americans, Indra Devi explains the difference between yoga and gym exercises this way: “Yoga poses are an art applied to the anatomy of the living body, whereas gymnastics are a form of engineering applied to the muscles of the body. In yoga, relaxation is taught as an art, breathing as a science and mental control of the body as a means of harmonizing the body, mind and spirit.”

Myth #4Yoga is slow and boring.Reality: There are an amazing variety of yoga classes and teaching styles. When starting in yoga it’s important to find a class that meets your needs and goals. This will mean trying more than one or two classes and choosing from the many yoga opportunities available – hot yoga, power yoga, deep stretch, alignment based, partner yoga, gentle yoga, chair yoga, restorative yoga, and more. What’s important is finding a teacher and a style that’s right for you. After taking a class, make an assessment of how you felt afterwards: Did you feel a link to the teacher and his/her style? Was the pace of the class comfortable but still challenging? Was there a welcoming and affirming energy in the class? Once you find a teacher and a class that meets your needs, stay with it.

Myth #5Yoga is religious. Reality: “Yoga is not a religion,” notes Timothy McCall, MD., and author of Yoga As Medicine. W

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He says that yoga is “happily practiced by Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, atheists, and agnostics alike.” While yoga does have a spiritual component, the basic philosophy of yoga is to use what is helpful and pass on what isn’t resonating with you. Dr. McCall advises: “If meditation seems too foreign to you, don’t do it. If chanting OM strikes you as weird, chant something else, a prayer to Jesus or Allah or for world peace, or don’t chant at all. In the thousands of classes I’ve attended, I’ve never once seen a teacher object to a student skipping it.”

Myth #6You can’t get a good workout doing yoga.Reality: Yoga provides the same heart health benefits as do other exercises including biking and brisk walking. In fact, a study published in the European Journal of Preven-tive Cardiology, stated that “that the popular mind-body practice of yoga is beneficial in managing and improving the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.” The study which included 2,768 subjects reported that yoga could provide the same benefits in risk factor for the heart as “traditional physical activities such as biking or brisk walking.” Furthermore, yoga is not only good for the heart but it tones the entire body and is one of the safest exercises because it is non impact. Every yoga class is a total body workout.

Myth #7Yoga is just another form of exercise.Reality: Yoga isn’t merely another form of exercise. While yoga delivers the similar physical benefits of regular exercise it seeks to go deeper impacting not only the body but also the mind and spirit. A foundational principle in yoga is that we carry within us three ‘healers’ – an inner physician to heal the body; an inner psychiatrist to heal the mind; and an inner priest to heal the spirit. Through poses, meditation, and breathing, yoga can help and heal body, mind and spirit.

Myth #8Yoga is expensive.Reality: Most yoga studios offer packages which re-duce the cost considerably. Also, many studios offer free classes in exchange for work around the studio, usually staffing the front desk or answering the tele-phone for a few hours per week. Another option lies in joining a gym where the monthly membership

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fee covers all classes offered including yoga. Yet another opportunity is to search out free or low cost yoga classes online.

Myth #9Yoga is for young, thin people.Reality: This may be the most common misperception about yoga. Of course, thin people and fit people do yoga but yoga is not only for those in prime shape or in good health. Dr. McCall says that while he was in India researching yoga benefits he visited centers “that treated people with all kinds of physical mental and emotional problems: old people, stiff people people with years of chronic disease, people in pain, people who were too depressed to get out of bed. Those who are bound to bed or wheelchairs can do yoga modified for their needs and abilities. There are people in their eighties, nineties and beyond doing yoga. ” Yoga is for every body, regardless of one’s condition.

Myth #10I can’t do yoga because of illness, injury or chronic pain. Reality: An increasing number of scientific and medical studies demonstrate that yoga helps heal injuries, reduces or eliminates pain, eases symp-toms of disease and releases stress. While the benefits of yoga can be gained in almost any yoga class, anyone with an injury or illness will benefit more by working one on one in a private session with a yoga teacher. Individual sessions versus a group class is safer and more beneficial because the poses are designed specifically for you and your needs.

Now that you’ve read the myths and realities, the next step is to act on this wisdom from master yogi B.K.S. Iyengar: “Words fail to convey the total value of yoga. It has to be experienced.”

Victor M. Parachin, director of the Tulsa Yoga Meditation Center, is a certified yoga and author of a dozen books including Sit A Bit: 365 Great Reasons To Do Yoga. Along with writing and teaching yoga, he leads Buddhist meditation retreats.

Victor M. Parachin, director of the Tulsa Yoga Meditation Center, is a certified yoga and author of a dozen books including Sit A Bit: 365 Great Reasons To Do Yoga. Along with writing and teaching yoga, he leads Buddhist meditation retreats.www.dharmaroundup.blogspot.comwww.tulsayogameditationcenter.com Ph

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Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few years, and I’m not judging, then you have heard at least a little bit about the latest outdoor enthusiast trend called Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP). Since the arrival of SUP to the United States circa 2005, its popularity has exploded in the last decade! It didn’t take long for yogis to discover this was a great new place to take their practice. Now you can find SUP yoga classes in almost every city and every vacation spot! If you have been living under that rock, it’s time to get out and get on board the SUP Yoga craze. Here are three great reasons to give SUP Yoga a try.

Your yoga practice will improveSUP Yoga takes your practice to a whole new level. Obviously, you might be saying. But hear me out. How many times has your yoga teacher asked you to ‘engage your mula bhanda,’ ‘draw your navel up and in,’ ‘wrap your muscles around your bones,’ ‘breathe like it’s your job,’ and other unknown requests that leave you feeling tense and con-fused about what you’re supposed to be doing and feeling? When you step on your paddle board your body automatically does all of the above! Getting on a paddle board completely changes the way you carry your weight. You are literally gripping the board with your entire body. This is the same kind of energy, solidarity and grounding you would want to feel on your yoga mat. But let’s face it, standing on the ground is not that hard. Well at least not until you start standing on one leg or standing on your hands. The point is, regardless of what you’re doing on the board, you have to pay a little more attention, be a little more present in your body and trust your ability to stay upright. Even going through a warm-up of sun salutations, the first and often most basic yoga flow sequence we learn, can become a very rich, intense and powerful experience on the open water. This will build your confidence on your yoga mat to extend more, go deeper into your postures, try new things and breathe . . . like it’s your job.

SUP yoga is not as hard as it looksThe boards average anywhere from 9-12 feet long and more than 2 feet wide. It’s not like it’s a 4 inch wide balance beam. You have ample room to move and explore. Plus, the body is incredibly responsive. When something is hot, or coming at us, we move. When we get a nice warm hug, or something feels

good we linger a little longer. It’s the same thing when working on the water. You notice an imbalance right away and adjust. When everything is flowing, you keep going! The best part is that falling in the water is much more fun than falling on land which eliminates a lot of fear. Provided water conditions are mild and free of high boating traffic, you can swim freely. If you

have a good guide, preferably a certified yoga instructor, it’s a very safe activity. I took

my three boys for the first time when they were 13, 10 and 8 years old.

All three were pros by the end of our session and there were no tears! My stepmom even did it. Remember, it was Woody Allen who said, ‘Ninety per-cent of success is just showing up.’ Attitude is everything and you never know until you try.

SUP Yoga is good for youPlato said ‘you can learn more

about a person in an hour of play than a year of conversation.’ Laughter

is the best medicine. There are many health benefits to simply being outdoors, as well. According to a study from the University of Michigan, exploring nature, getting away from technology and just being outside has been linked to improved feelings of pos-itivity and to significantly reducing feelings of stress. Put play and laughter together outside and you are a walking talking poster child for happiness and vitality. We all know a healthy dose of vitamin D has numer-ous benefits from aiding depression to preventing osteoporosis. In addition to stronger immunity and better health, getting out for some serious SUP yoga playtime will make you feel youthful, strong and super hip because all the cool kids are doing it!

So there you have some inspiration, encourage-ment and motivation to try SUP yoga. It’s great to do with friends, family, team building or a fun date! Most of all, you leave feeling both energized and peaceful.

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You can learn more

about a person in an hour of play than in a year of

conversation.- Plato

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H iking Yoga is a unique practice that combines the cardio of a hike with the benefits of yoga practiced in nature. There

are many locations from San Francisco to Dallas to New York and across the globe in Alaska and Mexico. Embark on a journey to discover the best views from your favorite city, and find pockets of nature uncovered by the most novice of urbanites. On the approximate three mile hike, there will be four yoga stops along the way focusing on opening, extending and balancing all aspects of familiar yoga postures. A seated savasana in closing is like no other, with the sounds of nature and

the wind gently guiding your meditative breath. Hiking yoga is accessible to every “body”

especially those who are new to yoga or to hiking. The teachers encourage participants to not push past their boundaries, but if they are drawn to place your hands in the grass and revel in their favorite inversion, there is always room for individual expression.

Many articles have covered the benefit of our be-loved yoga practice, but here we look into the fusion of hiking and yoga to uncover the health benefits that transcend the already bountiful healing elements of studio yoga:

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BY NATALIE CUMMINGS

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1 Increases Vitamin D

Our connection to nature is literally felt once the rays of the sun kiss with the skin. Like rooted trees longing for spring, our posture improves as we start to feel the heightened sense of wellbeing through the absorption of Vitamin D. The science on the cellular level suggests that Vitamin D supplies a protective effect against multiple diseases and conditions such as cancer, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. As we absorb these healing benefits, it is no wonder why our stress dissipates and our bodies naturally relax.

2Unites Family and Friends

When we were kids socializing was called “play” and it was something fun we enjoyed with friends, often times in nature. This “play” is still within us as adults, but often neglected in our current society. Hiking Yoga reunites us with our playfulness and keeps us motivated through community accountability. One of the joys of the experience is the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals. Many relationships have been built through the foundation of a Hiking Yoga. Practicing yoga with another person can not only help motivate you, it can make your experience more interesting. As you venture into the hiking portion of the practice, you have the chance to catch up with friends, laughter is com-mon and conversations come with ease. One of the most praised yoga stops is one that incorporates partner yoga. This adds another layer of fun and “play” into the social aspect of the practice. Unlike running, hiking allows for a continual talking state, so delving into the chatty side is not only welcome, it is encouraged.

3 Improves Cardio Respiratory Fitness

Hiking improves cardio-respiratory fitness, strengthening the heart, lungs and blood vessels. A hike improves your concentration and mood, reducing tension and releasing endorphins, your brain’s “bliss” hormones. An added benefit to a cardiovascular practice of hiking is the weight baring element. This helps reverse the negative effects of osteoporosis by increasing bone density and slowing the rate of calcium loss, thus strengthening the joints and bones. The cardio aspect of hiking also enhances your heart health by decreasing blood pressure and strength-ening your heart. These effects lead to a reduced risk of heart issues in the future. Cardiovascular health is essential with such a high level of cortisol or “stress” hormones pumping through our systems. The immediate release

of tightness in the muscles and the audible sighs of relief start to balance out the common mind, body disconnect.

4Metabolic Conditioning

By hiking on inclines and then taking it slow down steeper hills, the body is naturally finding an increase in the metabolism. Hiking Yoga takes the metabolic rate to the next level by stopping four times throughout the practice. Each one of the stops is thoughtfully geared toward improving the capacity of certain energy systems and is likened to interval training—sessions of intensified movement followed by important restful intervals. The added practice of yoga during the hike allows for the breath to stretch and for yoga flows with longer holds that again are a form of interval training. Hiking Yoga is the healthy gift that keeps on giving! By incorporat-ing intervals, the benefits of the practice are happening physiologically, mentally and emotionally for hours after the yoga hike has come to its calming meditative end.

Try Hiking Yoga for yourself and you too will see that it is the all in one practice that will leave you in a cleansed and totally relaxed state of mind/body bliss! Enjoy the benefits of the sun, your friends, a metabolism boost and cardiovascular health by signing up for Hiking Yoga today at www.hikingyoga.com!

Natalie Cummings is a certified yoga teacher, business owner and social media marketing expert. Blending the busy life as a mother & entrepreneur, Natalie founded Cardio Yoga Fusion that features Hiking Yoga, fusing all busy individuals wellness needs into one experience! Yoga entrepreneurs around the globe enlist her social media teachings and her charitable web designs to to organically boost their reach. She coaches individuals and nonprof-its encouraging positivity and inspiring through her Yoga Business Connection offerings.


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1. Try ExerciseHappy people have discovered the exercise-happiness

link. Lots of happy people are regular exercisers. This isn’t

a coincidence. Exercise boosts mood. Research published

in the American Psychological Association indicates that ex-

ercise can help ward off depression and be more mentally

resilient. Exercise curbs the stress hormone cortisol, gives

you happy endorphins, mental clarity, and a great sense

of personal pride and accomplishment. Once you find an

exercise you love, you don’t even think about skipping.

2. Try MeditationToday meditation is more mainstream than mystic.

Meditation quiets the mind and stirs up self-compas-

sion. Meditation, according to the Mayo Clinic, reduces

stress, improves concentration, slows aging, increases

self-awareness, boosts immunity and helps you relax.

Many people credit meditation for reducing anxiety too.

3. Be PresentBe present sounds so simple, but have you really thought

about whether or not you are in the present moment?

Are you enjoying all that’s around you or is your head

down and lost in your iPhone? When we focus on the

here and now, time slows. We can enjoy all the amazing

things that are happening in our life. Being present means

we aren’t worrying about the past or feeling anxious

about the future. Be where you are and fully enjoy the

moment—whether that’s a meal, a smile from one of

your kids, a great conversation or an intense workout.

4. Savor Even the Little ThingsSay you are indulging a little in a glass of your favorite

red wine. Maybe you drink it slowly to fully enjoy the

taste and smell and to make it last. That’s what savoring

is … and you can do it with all of your happy moments.

Savoring is getting the most out of all of your experi-

ences by not being so busy that you miss it and go on

to the next thing. Celebrate and marinate in all of your

joy—little and big. Notice the details, use your senses,

look through photo albums, reminisce about a favorite

memory, and dwell on the good stuff.

5. Practice GratitudeGratitude is really the secret to happiness. We all have

different life experiences, but we all have the choice to

notice our blessings. I know you hear about gratitude all the

time, but do you have a gratitude practice? Jot down one

thing a day you are grateful for, or make a long list before

you go to bed at night. A fun way to practice gratitude

is to share your happiest moment of the day around the

dinner table. Gratitude puts your mind in a positive place

by pausing to appreciate all that is going right in your life.

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ProvenWays

to be

HappierBY CHRIS FREYTAG

If you want a successful life …

achieving goals and having ful-

filling relationships (however you

define success) there’s one in-

gredient that can give you super

powers to get there faster—your

happiness. Yep, recent research

shows happiness comes before

success. Happier people are

more likely to see possibilities,

try new things, believe in them-

selves, and develop new skills.

(Think of your happiness as your

personal rocket fuel.) If you want

to experience more joy and less

stress, science shows there are

nine proven ways to be happier.

Work on doing all nine and your

bright smile may never leave

your face...

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6. Establish HabitsHabits are a tool to set you up for success. “What we do every day matters more than what we do once in a while,” writes happiness expert and author Gretchen Rubin. If you want to have an ideal day, set yourself up for success with the right habits. What does an ideal day look like for you? Unplug time? Read? Exercise? Organize? If you want it to happen, make it automatic with a habit.

7. Find Your FlowWhen do you feel completely in a groove? You found the magical mix of challenge and skill and you lose track of time? You are in a zone. While that feeling may not happen as often as you’d like, it’s an example of flow, a coin termed by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a professor of psychology. Positive psychology experts believe experiencing flow is tied closely to personal happiness. Flow activities make us happier because we use our strengths but we also feel challenged. Notice next time you are doing something without distraction and you lose all sense of time. You have found your flow.

8. Spend Time SocializingPeople who feel connected to others tend to be happier and live longer, according to Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones. Make sure you aren’t so busy that you are always pushing off social interactions to another time. Even if you have to schedule it, get plenty of time with family and friends. Meet up for coffee. Take a walk with a friend. Plan a girls’ night out. Connecting with others is the opposite of social isolation and it boosts our outlook and enhances our well-being.

9. Give back to OthersThe quickest way out of a bad day or a bad mood is to do something nice for someone else. And it doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Call someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Write a sweet note to your spouse. Send someone an encouraging book along to a friend email. Meet up for a cup of coffee. Give someone a sincere compliment. Giving takes you out of your head and puts the focus on someone else—sometimes just when you need it. What you give ends up giving back to you in the end.

Your happiness may take a little planning, but your invest-ment will pay off. A happier you means a more positive, energetic, motivated, productive and healthier you.

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If you want to be happy and successful in your own life - a positive, fierce, proud and happy person without shame - positive affirmations are a great

way to achieve what you envision in your life. In the article, Farnoosh Brock shares powerful affirmations that, when used daily, can shift the internal dialogue and the way you feel and act in your world. And

when you feel good, you are a force of positive power; little can get in your way of realizing your dreams and desires then. May you find and harness this energy by using these affirmations and experi-ence your best life through them. Use them daily and you’ll see results in your moods and happiness levels in very little time!

Affirmations enable you to learn how to be confident, and love and approve of yourself with statements that redirect your

current situation to respresent what you wish to become. BY FARNOOSH BROCK

Heal Negative Energy

Affirmationswith Positive

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When you want to do more with your life but feel stuck:The answer is right before me, even if I am not seeing it yet.I believe in my ability to unlock the way and set myself free.

When you can’t stop comparing yourself to others:I have no right to compare myself to anyone for I do not know their whole story.

I compare myself only to my highest self.I am happy in my own skin and in my own circumstances.

When you feel insignificant:I have as much brightness to offer the world as the next person.

I matter and what I have to offer this world also matters.

When you feel you are not good enough no matter how hard you try:I am more than good enough and I get better every day.

I see the perfection in all my flaws and all my genius.I fully approve of who I am, even as I get better.

When you feel conflicted about a decision:I know my wisdom guides me to the right decision.

I trust myself to make the best decision for me.I show my family how much I love them in all the verbal and non-verbal ways I can.

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When you are among friends:I choose friends who approve of me and love me.I surround myself with people who treat me well.I take the time to show my friends that I care about them.My friends do not judge me, nor do they influence what I do with my life.

When you recognize how powerful, gifted, talented and brilliant you really are:The past has no power over me anymore.

I embrace the rhythm and the flowing of my own heart.All that I need comes to me at the right time and place in this life.

I am deeply fulfilled with who I am.

When you feel hopeless and at the end of your rope:I may not understand the good in this situation but it is there.I choose to find hopeful and optimistic ways to look at this.I refuse to give up because I haven’t tried all possible ways.

When you are nervous or afraid:I trust my inner wisdom and intuition.

This situation works out for my highest good.Wonderful things unfold before me.

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EDUCATE Heal Negative Energy with Positive Affirmations

When you come face to face with a problem:There is a great reason which I do no know that this is unfolding before me now.

I have the smarts and the ability to get through this.All my problems have a solution.

When you want to give up:Giving up is easy and always an option so let’s delay it for another day.

I press on because I believe in my path.It is always too early to give up on my goals.

I must know what awaits me at the end of this rope so I do not give up.

When you worry about your future:I let go of worries that drain my energy.

I make smart, calculated plans for my future.I am in complete charge of planning for my future.

I trust in my own ability to provide well for my family.

When you can’t get your loved ones to support your dreams:I follow my dreams no matter what.

I show compassion in helping my loved ones understand my dreams.I answer questions about my dreams without getting defensive.

My loved ones love me even without fully grappling with my dreams.I accept everyone as they are and continue on with pursuing my dream.

When you are angry:I forgive myself for all the mistakes I have made.

I let go of my anger so I can see clearly.I replace my anger with understanding and compassion.

When you don’t want to face the day This day brings me nothing but joy.

Today will be a gorgeous day to remember. I choose to fully participate in my day.

When you feel lonely and sad I feel the love of those who are not physically around me.

I love and approve of myself.

When you are around strangers:I am beautiful and smart and that’s how everyone sees me.

I take comfort in the fact that I can always leave this situation.I never know what amazing incredible person I will meet next.

The company of strangers teaches me more about my own likes and dislikes.

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http://www.prolificliving.com/forgive-yourself-affirmations/

http://www.prolificliving.com/women-positive-affirmations/

When you can’t sleep I let go of all the false stories I make up in my head.I embrace the peace and quiet of the night.

When you feel terrified (without your safety being in danger): Following my intuition and my heart keeps me safe and sound.

I make the right choices every time. I draw from my inner strength and light.

I trust myself.

When you are at work:I engage in work that impacts this world positively.I believe in my ability to change the world with the work that I do.

Farnoosh Brock is a published author, speaker and coach. After a long corporate career, she started Prolific Living which she now runs with her fabulous hubby, Andy. She is an avid Ashtanga yoga practitioner, travel junkie,

green juice addict and book worm. Learn more about her affirmations at prolificliving.com/affirmations.


http://www.fasttrackpromotion.com

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The 21st Century Age of Enlightenment

ExplorationSelf

DiscoverySelf

M an has contemplated his place on this mi-raculous planet since the beginning of time. We seek deeper meaning to our daily

existence through various religious practices and philosophical expressions.

When Rene’ Descartes, the French philosopher, mathematician and writer of the 16th century, coined the phrase “I think, therefore I am”, he was amongst a group of philosophers of that time that initiated the reasoning and concepts behind The Age of Enlightenment. These new ideas of self-discovery and exploration chal-lenged organized institutions of that era.

Immanuel Kant, the German phi-losopher of the 18th Century, helped us realize that what we experience is subject to everyone’s own unique sensory lenses, which has been affected by one’s own personal experience of reason and how the mind interprets these experiences.

While these concepts seem ob-vious to us today, these philoso-phers were ridiculed and criticized for their innate wisdom. Today, especially in the United States, we are a melting pot of cultures and belief systems from all cor-ners of the globe. It is no wonder that we find ourselves confused and bombarded with numerous philosophies and conflicting ide-ologies. Technological advances map the body and mind, but they

still cannot explain the soul that drives us inward to that piece of ourselves that is connected to all things

by our mere existence. The one constant that goes beyond culture and

time is Mother Nature. It is coevolution with plants and animals that

is the source of our sustenance and support. We are interdependent from our core. When we review spiritual practices throughout time, there is always reference to using plants as spiritual tools to open our minds and hearts. It’s not surprising that our limbic system, the seat of

our emotional state, is tied directly to the olfactory sense. When we smell flowers

like rose, jasmine and neroli, they lift our spirits! When we walk through forests of pine, spruce and fir, the earthly smells ground us to our tru-est roots. The ability to enhance our life’s experiences through our sense of smell has reached new heights with the creation of easily accessible essential oils from all over the globe. This merging of historical references and modern science has heightened the discov-ery that inhaling certain essential oils can affect parts of our brain, which in turn affect our emotional state. This enhancement allows us to take control of how we want to feel, bringing us deeper into ourselves for an enlightened dis-

position and perspective.

BY CARY CASTER

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In the end, it’s about striving to be our best self! This new Age of Enlightenment reveals that our individual choices can impact the entire planet. The notion that everything in our world is connected has never been more obvious than it is today. This awareness of creating meaningful choices in our life and how they can impact our collective world is self-discovery of a huge magnitude. Our positive thoughts and actions can make a difference; this is a huge statement. By using essential oils, we can reach even deeper into our souls to find our own unique purpose in this amazing scheme of reality. It all begins with each and every one of us!

OPENING THE HEARTRose and Jasmine essential oils are floral scents that open our hearts to self-love.

OPENING THE MINDSandalwood, Frankincense and Myrrh essential oils affect our mental state by quieting our analytical minds to contemplate universal truths.

BUILDING INNER STRENGTHCedarwood, Spruce and Laurel essential oils contribute to inner strength by instilling confidence and boosting inner support.

BALANCING THE EMOTIONSHelichrysum, Palmarosa and Lavender essential oils have wonderful balancing qualities due to their ability to settle the nerves and bring harmony to many systems of the body.

GROUNDING THE BODYVetiver and Spikenard essential oils help with feeling rooted and secure.

LIFTING THE SPIRITSweet Orange, Bergamot and Neroli essential oils have uplifting and refreshing qualities that help to lift the spirit.

Cary Caster, B.S., LMT, CCA is a Botanist, Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Clinical Aromatherapist who is on a mission to help people be their best self every day. She believes that people can take their health into their own hands.

Cary is not only the founder and expert behind 21 Drops, an essential oil therapy company, but she is also a devoted healer who sits on the board of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists and has been featured as an essential oil expert in the Huffington Post, Vanity Fair and Martha Stewart Living, among others. Cary offers continuing education classes in Aromatherapy at the University of Miami’s iCAMP program, and throughout the country. To learn more about Cary and how to work with her, please visit www.21drops.com

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Ayurveda is known as the sister science of Yoga. The main difference between this style of medicine versus western medicine is that Ayurveda is a prescription of lifestyle change opposed to pharmaceuticals and surgery we see so often in the West. The practice of Ayurveda helps you get to the root of a problem rather then fixing the surface layer of it. Ayurveda is an understanding that all of the elements outside of us, also exist inside of us. We are made up of earth, water, fire, air, and space. Our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual qualities along with our characteristics will determine which elements are more dominant in your nature. The 3 doshas or categories are Vata, Pita, and Kapha.

BY RANDI SCHIFFMAN


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Vata consists of mostly air and space. Pita is fire and water. Kapha consists of earth and water. You have your nature, which doesn’t change. If you look at your life span in smaller cycles, your constitution changes depending on time of day, cycle of life, season of year, what foods your eating, where you are in the world, and what type of yoga you are drawn to practice.

As summer draws closer, thinking in Ayurvedic terms, there is quite a bit to know. If Pita exudes the element of fire, we can understand why summer time is the time for Pita. The sun comes out and stays out for longer periods of time. This time of year, you start to see more smiling faces and people start to come out to play. New ideas have been cre-ated and are starting to be put into action. Because it’s hotter, the foods being eaten are lighter such as salads and juices. This time is really beneficial for those with

the Vata dosha, who typically have dry, cold skin and

need warmth and fluid to lubri-cate the body and mind. For Kapha dosha,

summer is ben-eficial for those

who need a fire lit underneath them to get them moving. For people

who are already dominant in Pita qualities, they need to be careful not to over-due it by increasing their pita which could take them out of bal-ance. For example, they should stay away from spicy foods during this time, find shade, discover ways to cool the fire by getting into a

cool body of water and practice a slower style of yoga like restorative or yin.If you’re hanging out at the beach or cooling off

with a shower, try using coconut oil during this time. Coconut oil has a cooler effect than other oils like sesame or almond and acts as a natural sunscreen. Most times we crave what actually takes us out of balance so be careful and look out for any cravings. This could be a hint from your body

to try things that you usually avoid. Embrac-ing the discomfort and trying something different will inevitably put you more into balance. If you love being at home

and sitting on the couch hanging out with friends and family (Kaphas), try getting out and going for a walk in nature!

For yogis, summer is a good time to practice other breathing techniques like alternate nostril breath-ing (nadi shodhana), or cooling breath (sitali, and sitkari), instead of fire breath (kaphalabati). Try to avoid practicing in the middle of the day, when the sun is the strongest. As for all the yogis who love vinyasa flowing, pick a slower flow such as restor-ative, yin or Iyengar to incorporate into your weekly practice. This is a great way to balance all the yang.

To help cool off, mint, cucumber, and aloe are good examples of things to add to your regimen to provide a cooling effect during fieriest time of year. Adding these delicious ingredients to your

smoothies and juices will leave your digestive system feeling fresh. Try and eat your

biggest meal between 10am - 2pm as this is the time where your di-

gestive fire is the most active, enabling you to metabolize your food more efficiently.

Most importantly, cre-ate space in your life. With some practice, awareness and a con-scious lifestyle, we start to understand what is

taking us in and out of balance. We eventually

stop doing the things that aren’t serving us, and contin-

ue to do the things that make us feel good. Ultimately, we create

this space to find balance in our lives, making a lifestyle change, which directly has

an effect on your health.

Randi E-RYT 500 level, has been facilitating trainings with SchoolYoga Institute and has helped to establish the Mystical Yoga Farm, an experien-tial permaculture and yoga retreat center on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Randi continues to teach and practice wherever she is in the world. She facilitates 200hr and 500hr yoga teacher training courses and retreats in Mexico, Peru, Guatemala and Thailand and is expanding to more locations worldwide. She is also a certified Thai Masseuse. Her expertise and passions are in adjustments and sequencing and is known as a teachers teacher. She is the founder of SuryaFlow: The Art of Sacred Movement.

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BY ANGELA AMBROSE

When Mike Lee first started training as a professional fighter, he had no interest in doing yoga. In a sport like boxing – known for its brute force,

speed and explosive power – yoga didn’t seem to fit.

“I never thought that yoga would be a part of my train-ing. I knew my little sister was into it and it seemed like something that was just for girls,” says Lee, describing

his initial reaction to yoga. “I had this idea that yoga was just sitting there cross-legged, Indian style, humming and just saying Namaste and leaving.”

While training at his gym, Lee started to notice that all the top athletes were doing yoga, so he decided to give it a try. At first, he tried a slow-paced beginner class that left him unchallenged and bored. “I wanted to feel like I was getting a workout, and if I was going to be in a class for at least an hour, I wanted to sweat.”

Lee tried a heated power yoga class next and loved the physical challenge and sensation of being

drenched in sweat. “I sparred and trained the day after doing my first hot yoga class and I felt so loose and fast and athletic,” says the 27-year-old professional boxer. “What sold me is I noticed my hand speed was faster, and I think that was a function of having longer, looser muscles.”

Today Lee practices yoga a couple times a week as part of his training. The light heavy-

weight boxer is undefeated in his weight class and credits yoga with helping

him stay fit and injury-free.

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Physical Challenge Hooks Athletes into Yoga Kent Katich also started practicing yoga to get in better shape and to im-prove his performance on the basketball court. “My movements became much more fluid, graceful and controlled,” says Katich, owner of All Sport Yoga, who has taught yoga to professional athletes for nearly two decades.

When introducing yoga to new students, Katich always starts with the physical practice and leaves the spiritual aspect for later. “With athletes, in particular, you have to go through the physical part of it first because that’s where they live. I say to them, ‘Hey, check out these stretches, these poses, and this breathing.’ We take a very physical approach in the very beginning.”

What sets apart yoga from other physical exercise is the body awareness and focus on the breath. “Unlike other exercises, you’re not constantly moving. And you’re not forcing and pushing and straining,” says Katich. “It allows you to be in the moment, breathe deeply and feel your body.”

According to a 2013 University of Connecticut study, the single biggest reason both men and women start doing yoga is for exercise. Other popular reasons include flexibility, stress relief and getting into shape.

“I think the initial hook is people see it as a physical practice and it draws a lot of people in,” says Crystal Park, Ph.D., University of Connecticut professor of psy-chology and lead researcher. “It’s practiced at the gym, along with weight lifting, boot camp class, or spinning class, and people think of it as a fitness modality.”

Men often turn to yoga as a way to balance out their workouts and cross-train, so they can continue playing sports with fewer injuries, explains Heather Peterson, senior vice president of programming for CorePower Yoga. “Yoga works to keep and get you back to your full range of motion with strength. That’s the key difference for men. Having a full range of motion and keeping their strength allows them to stay with sports for longer in their lives.”

Spirituality Emerges As Practice ContinuesAlthough most people start yoga for the physical benefits, the longer they stick with it, the more likely they are to become interested in the spiritual side of the practice, according to the University of Connecticut study. Six-ty-two percent of survey participants say their reason for practicing yoga changed over time, and they cited spirituality as their primary reason for continuing to do yoga. Other common reasons included stress relief, relaxation and reducing depression or anxiety.

“People start to get less interested in the physical aspects. It doesn’t go away, but it sort of recedes in importance,” says Park. And spiritual aspects, which most people, when they start practicing, really aren’t even aware of, start to become a really important part of the practice for many people.”

Those that stick with yoga often find unexpected benefits that go far beyond the physical poses. Al-though Lee began practicing yoga to become a better boxer, he found that it also helped him quiet his mind and relax.

“I always have to be thinking and doing a million things at the same time. And what I do like about yoga is when I get in that room, it takes me a few minutes, but then I forget about everything that’s been going on,” says Lee. “It’s the hour of the day where I can sit in there and just be present in the room, which for me, without yoga, is nearly impossible.”

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Like Lee, Katich continues to stretch and strength-en his body through yoga, but he has also integrated meditation and breath awareness into his daily life to keep him more fully present and less reactive in tense situations. “I do my best to take that one deep breath before I respond and give space between a thought and impulse as opposed to flying off the handle.”

As they continue their yoga practice, many of his students start to look for more than just a simple stretch and a sweat. Before a recent basketball game at Madison Square Garden, Katich was thrilled when one of his students pulled him aside and asked if they could find a quiet place to meditate, so he could calm his mind and get centered before the game.

“In the last five to 10 years, athletes are coming to me a lot more asking for the meditation side of it, I think because there’s so much more information now, and some of the stereotype has been stripped away, so they’re not afraid of it anymore. It’s not some weird cult that’s in a closet,” says Katich, who has worked with a large number of pro athletes including baseball player Giancarlo Stanton and NBA superstars Kevin Love, Blake Griffin and Dirk Nowitzki. “Yoga gives them a sense of confidence and empowerment.”

During the last few years, Peterson has seen an in-crease in the number of men attending CorePower yoga classes at over 100 studio locations around the country. “Our studies have shown that students come in for the workout and stay for the inner peace that they experience as a result of our classes,” she says. “Inner connection and peace allow you to be more present under all conditions. You are more present when your children are crying, more present and patient when the checkout line is long, more present and patient when there is a backup on the freeway…If you show up more in the relationships, every relationship is improved.”

And the more you show up on your mat, the more likely you are to show up for the important people in your life.

Angela Ambrose is an award-winning writer with more than 28 years in corporate, magazine and video scriptwriting. As an ACE-certified group fitness instructor and yoga teacher, she combines her health and fitness expertise with her passion for writing. She teaches indoor cycle, aqua, SilverSneakers® and yoga classes at Lifetime Athletic and the YMCA in Scottsdale, Ariz. A mother of two spirited teens, she also enjoys writing for parenting publications. Visit her at AngelaAmbrose.com and Twitter @AAhealthfitness

EDUCATE As Stereotypes Fall, More Men Are Falling for Yoga

Why Dudes Dig BrogaAlthough yoga has exploded in popularity, a lot of

men are still wary of walking into a yoga class. They

worry about competing with super-flexible women

who contort their bodies as if auditioning for a circus

act or having to chant in a strange foreign language.

“I’ve heard so many stories of guys going into a

yoga class and they can’t do half of the postures.

They struggle and get frustrated, so they don’t go

back,” says Robert Sidoti, founder and co-creator of

Broga®. “Our whole goal, from the very beginning,

is to make it accessible.”

If you’re looking to find your inner warrior, here

are seven reasons to give Broga a try:

1. Broga – which combines the words “bro” and

“yoga” – is a branded program designed specif-

ically for men. To make classes more appealing

to guys, teachers leave out the unfamiliar San-

skrit language and references to chakra energy

channels and Hindu gods and replace them with

simple, straightforward words that convey power.

2. Broga is like a yoga man cave, a safe place

to strengthen and stretch the body, let go of

stress and get an intense all-body workout set

to upbeat music.

3. Broga was created with one simple goal in mind

– to draw more men into yoga, so they can ex-

perience all the physical and mental benefits and

live more balanced, healthier lives.

4. Unlike traditional yoga classes, Broga includes

Tabata-style high-intensity interval training that gets

the heart pumping and sweat dripping with burpees,

mountain climbers, deep squats and pushups.

5. For men looking to deepen their practice, Bro-

ga offers retreats and more advanced classes

that explore the more spiritual and meditative

aspects of yoga.

6. Becoming a Broga-certified teacher is a lot eas-

ier and cheaper than with

most branded exercise pro-

grams. It requires only two

days of paid training and no

licensing fees. Today Broga

boasts 200 instructors in

four countries and more

than 10,000 students.

7. Women are welcome to

teach and take class-

es, but for a refreshing

change, men are usual-

ly the majority in Broga

classes.



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Y oga is commonly considered a practice that appeals mostly to women. But more and more men are signing up for yoga and

this includes professional athletes, including NBA and NFL stars that have begun turning to yoga to improve their game.

According to data from Sports Marketing Surveys USA, there are 87.5 million so-called” aspirational yogis” in the United States. This includes people who have taken yoga in the past and would like to try it again, as well as people who are interested in yoga, but have never taken a class. An estimated half, or over 40 million, is men according to the organization’s “2012 Yoga in America Study.” Interest in yoga among men is highest on either the west of east coasts, but is beginning to grow in the heartland, too.

Meanwhile, companies like Lululemon, Gaiam and Prana--major brands supplying yoga equip-ment and clothing in the US-- have decided to tap that huge, potential market, by developing a new series of yoga products designed specifically for men.

Recently, Luluemon opened its first men’s only apparel store, located in the Soho section of Man-hattan. Men’s wear is also taking up additional real estate in the brands stores in Miami, Florida, and Santa Monica, California. To date, their men’s apparel, which includes yoga, accounts for 17% of their business. The company has also expanded their men’s apparel line to include performance fabrics infused with silver-based antimicrobials to reduce sweat-related fabric odors.

According to a statement from Lululemon, the company is “always looking for areas to innovate

PerspectiveBY GLENNA MUSANTE

YOGATraining Sleeveless - $58This sleeveless top is made with super-soft Intersec fabric that’s engineered to perform yet feel like your favorite broken-in tee. Flat seams minimize chafing, and stink-free Silverescent® technology permanently inhibits the growth of odor-causing bac-teria so it stays smelling fresh post-sweat.

For The People Short - $68Lululemon designed these shorts with a tapered fit and longer length to keep you cov-ered in class, whether you’re right-side up or upside down. The cottony-soft Luon® fabric is sweat-wicking, four-way stretch and breathable, and the wide inner-leg panel gives the boys room to breathe.

Warrior Short - $64These low-biulk shorts are made with four-way stretch Light Luon® fabric for peace-loving warriors. The no-gape Luxtreme® fabric waistband is sweat-wicking and pockets are made of Mesh fabric to help with air circulation.

Photos courtesy of lululemon

Fashion & FunctionA Male

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and bring functional, technical apparel to our guests. The investment being made in men’s currently is one example of how we are evolving as a business.”

Last fall, Gaiam introduced a new line of men’s yoga equipment and in March launched a collection of instructional yoga videos featuring well known professional athletes, as well as Kent Katich, a yoga coach who helps NBA players like Kevin Love and Blake Griffin use yoga to improve performance, build strength, increase flexibility, and prevent injuries. The yoga equipment includes mats, strap, and blocks, all sized and designed for use by men.

Christopher Salt, Director of Product Develop-ment at Gaiam, said his department was asked last March to begin planning a new men’s line for quick introduction to US markets.

That decision, he said, “was due to the uptrend [with] more and more men getting into yoga, and the fact that men need products designed for heavier, longer bodies. For example, a typical yoga mat is 24 inches wide, 68 inches long, and three millimeters (mm) thick. The new mats are 26 by 78 and 5 mm thick. Meanwhile, the block is made from an EVA foam that is nearly twice as dense as the foams used in a typical yoga block. That density is a key factor, said Salt. A normal block will hold up when used by someone who weighs, say, 160 pounds. “But if I weigh 200 pounds or more that block may bend or compress,” he said, adding the new, denser block is better suited for use by an average sized male.

“It’s kind of hard to find a mat that is cool for a guy,” Salt said. “The only options were [feminine colors] or black. The new mats are two-colored, for example gray and lime green or purple and gray. Meanwhile the strap and block are black.

Lindsey Maynes, the brand marketing manager for Gaiam working on this line, says they see these products, and others yet to come, as a way to fill what they have felt is a significant gap in the yoga market. “Male participation has increased year after year,” she said. “The number [of aspirational male yogis] is staggering,” she said, adding that the male-focused products launched this fall are just the beginning.

Kate Saunders, Vice President of Merchandising at Gaiam, said the company’s men’s yoga clothing line is expected to expand as well over the next year, with items that incorporate performance capabilities such as wicking and compression being added to the company’s traditional cotton-based men’s yoga attire.

Christian Castellini, a senior merchandising man-ager at Prana said they have recently seen what he described as a strong uptick in demand for men’s

yoga products. “It’s great to see the increase in par-ticipation from men in yoga studios,” he said, adding the Prana is adding products that support that trend.

Other smaller brands, such as Yoga Addict, are already stepping up to the plate with men’s yoga apparel lines offering clothing designed specifically to be comfortable, but compressive enough to not be too loose. They are selecting fabrics that move, extend, expand and contract to allow for flexibility during yoga practice. At the same time, their pants don’t fall up or down doing a handstand, downward dog or other inversion.

Meanwhile, said Katich, don’t be surprised if class-es at your local yoga studio start filling up with men, especially at studios or gyms that also offer traditional athletic training or have both yoga and cross training facilities. For the past 15 years he’s been implementing yoga training into athletic pro-grams for major college and professional athletes, but sees yoga as a practice that could soon become mainstream, and widespread, with men. “There are a number of young [males] who want to do yoga,” he said, “and we just need to give them an inroad.”

Glenna Musante is an award-winning journalist who covers fashion and the inner work-ings of the textile industry. She is known for writing about sportswear trends and the new performance fibers and fabrics that are reinventing yoga wear and sportswear. In her spare time, Glenna is a soprano with North Carolina Master Chorale, the resident chorus of The North Carolina Symphony, and strives to get in a yoga workout before every performance. She can be reached at [email protected] or https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennamusante

On The Mat Pant - $98To help you stay focused on your practice, lululemon de-signed these pants with a tapered leg and no-gape waistband with hidden pocket so things stay put during inversions. The four-way stretch Light Luon® fabric is sweat-wicking, making them ideal for warm studios and sweaty bodies.

Photo courtesy of Prana

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Green Energy SmoothiePrep time: 2 min Cook Time: 1 min Servings: 1Calories: 182 Carbs: 44 g Fat: 2 g Protein: 24 g

This green energy smoothie is one of my favorites! The combination of nutrient-packed

kale, mango, and almond milk is energiz-ing and delicious. Filled with protein and nutrients this smoothie will give you a kickstart. You will be surprised on how sweet and creamy this is. Don’t be afraid of going green!

Ingredients1 cup frozen kale (I prefer frozen to fresh in smoothies)1 cup frozen mango1 cup almond milk1 scoop protein powder ( I always

use BiPro unflavored whey protein powder in this recipe)

InstructionsAdd ingredients in the order

listed above to smoothie cup. Blend on low speed until large

pieces are broken up. Finish on high speed until well blended.

I always recommend frozen kale

over fresh in smoothies because

it’s already chopped and gives

the drink a thicker consistency.

from GetHealthyU.com

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http://gethealthyu.com/product/bi-pro-whey-protein-powder/

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Fresh Fruit PizzaPrep time: 20 min Cook Time: 10 minutes Serves: 24

Calories: 85 Fat: 3.5g Protein: 1.5g Carbs: 12.5g Fiber: 2g

This is a great dessert to serve to a group. It’s refreshing

and light and not messy - the berries are pretty!

This fresh fruit pizza with cream cheese is a beautiful

dessert! Topped with an abundance of fresh fruits filled with

vitamin C and antioxidants! Full of color, flavor, and vitamins,

it’s the perfect sweet treat for any picnic or barbecue or

whenever you want a lighter treat. Plus, it’s super easy to

whip together in a hurry!

IngredientsNon-stick cooking spray

1 can thin pizza crust

(you can buy store-bought or make your own)

1 (8oz) tub whipped strawberry cream cheese

2 kiwis, peeled and thinly sliced

1 pint raspberries1 pint blackberries1 pint blueberriesadd any other fruit toppings of your choice

Instructions1. Preheat oven to 425F. Spray sheet pan with non-stick

cooking spray.2. Spread the pizza dough onto a greased pan and bake

8-10 minutes, until golden brown

3. Remove crust from oven and let cool to room temperature

before continuing.

4. Spread strawberry cream cheese over the entire surface

of the cooled pizza crust and then top evenly with all fruit.

5. Slice into 24 pieces and serve room temperature.

I serve this with the crust at room

temperature, but I do like to chill the berries

before topping.

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My favorite go-to breakfast (I love

muffins and this so healthy and easy)

Muffin in a MinutePrep time: 2 min Cook Time: 1-2 min Servings: 1

Calories: 268. (before add-ins) Fat: 21.0 g (healthy fat)

Total Carbohydrate: 11.1 g (Dietary Fiber 9.0 g)

Sugars: 0.6 g Protein: 11.5 g

I’ve always loved muffins but most are loaded with sugar

and flour. This muffin is quick easy, healthy, very low carb

and high fiber. It’s delicious for breakfast, snack or even

dessert. You can make it “as is” with fruit and nuts. Or you

can make it savory to go with salads and soups. Substitute

out the sweetener and add in shredded cheese, chopped

veggies, and spices!

Ingredients1/4 cup ground flax seed meal

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon stevia powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 egg1 teaspoon olive oil

Optional add in’s: berries, walnuts, or other nuts/seeds

Instructions1. Mix all ingredients in a coffee mug.

2. Microwave for 1 minute on high.

(If using fresh or frozen fruit, microwave for 1:30 on high.)

3. Dump out of coffee cup onto your plate.

4. Let it cool and enjoy!

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You can keep it in the fridge in an airtight

container for about a week. Plus it’s vegan and gluten free. I love everything about it!

Cauliflower Cilantro RicePrep time: 10 min Cook Time: 10 min Servings: 4

Calories: 84 Carbs: 8.24 g Fat: 5.5 g

Protein: 2.75 g Fiber: 3.5 g

This is my ultimate new staple food! The cauliflower

mimics the look and feel of real rice, while staying

low carb and low cal. Cilantro is one of my favorite

herbs, and it’s loaded with vitamins and antiox-

idants. This “rice” is perfect for the base of any

mexican style burrito bowl, or simply as a side dish,

or even a afternoon snack. I made it last night, and

my whole family was begging for more!

IngredientsOne medium head cauliflower

1.5 tbsp coconut oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Juice from 1 limeSprinkle of garlic powder (approx. 1/8 tsp)

Instructions1. Chop the cauliflower into florets and place it in a

food processor. The trick is to not over-process the

cauliflower because you want it to maintain a “rice”

like consistency. You may have to do a few batches

as to not overwhelm your processor with too much

cauliflower at once.

2. Sautee 1.5 tbsp coconut oil in a large pan with salt

and pepper. Add in the processed cauliflower and

sauté until it starts to brown slightly (about 5 minutes).

3. Remove from heat and stir in the cilantro, lime, and

garlic powder. Add more salt and pepper to taste.

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Activism through YogaAmy IppolitiBY KIM BAUMAN, PHOTOS BY TARO SMITH

“‘Go! Now, now, now!’ said Taro Smith, our photog-rapher. And so I did! I dove in to align myself about 14 feet away from a whale shark, the biggest fish in the sea, whose body is roughly 35 feet long”, said Amy Ippoliti.

Does this image look familiar? A couple years ago, there’s no way you could have missed seeing this beautiful capture as the world took it viral. This was an experience in the wide-open sea, where Ippoliti took her expression of yoga and turned it into activism for marine life. Amy says, “Practicing yoga with these animals was a statement illustrating that yoga can helps us learn to understand our own interconnectedness with life on earth. I was underwater in their world, and because I didn’t have a mask, snorkel, or fins, I had this one moment to be with them. I was with them as one, in their world, naked in the sense that I had no gear.”

The best moments in life are the ones that take your breath away and warm your heart. This is how I felt getting to chat live with international yoga teacher & earth conservation activist, Amy Ippoliti. It was more than just her mesmerizing voice that could literally calm a riot in Los Angeles, it was her life message that touched me.

When I asked her why sea animals? Ippoliti says, “My desire to protect sea animals doesn’t come from anywhere except from within. I’ve struggled over the years with the fact that animals are being harmed, I’ve been an activist ever since I can remember so to get in the water with these creatures and use my yoga to bring awareness to them, that is a dream. You can show pictures of slaughter or abuse, but that’s not what gets people to respond. What gets people to respond is beauty and awe.”

Hearing Amy speak was sending goose bumps so brightly up my body that I felt as though my hair was standing on end. This is what it’s all about. Life! This is why we are here. What if we all did our part? What if we all chipped in and took action in some way, shape or form? Nothing grandiose, but what if the whole world saw that the earth’s creatures mattered, saw that they counted, and committed to make a difference? What

would you do? Who would you help if you knew it counted? Would you care more? Would you soften more in your heart if you saw the picture bigger?

Amy’s passion to serve took her on an eight-month journey to train for her dream of doing yoga with marine animals. This required a lot of pranayama (breathing techniques), visualization, education to re-spectfully be in their environment, time in the pool and ocean excursions. Ippoliti says, “When you’re below 10 feet in the salt water you’re body is less buoyant so you have to depressurize your ears to stay down lon-ger, otherwise you pop right back up. When I trained in the pool, I would visualize that I was in the ocean with the animals and that was what helped me to hold my breath longer. I practiced opening my eyes without fear, as the tender tissues around your eyes and sinuses are so different in salt water than fresh. The power of visualization was my one of my biggest allies. I would imagine a whale shark in the pool, holding my breath as long as possible to be able to stay under water to keep up with it.”

When you are in your true element, when your actions are in the direction of your calling, then your internal being shifts because you are no longer impacted by ex-


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The best moments in life are the ones that take your breath away and warm your heart.


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ternal factors governed by the ego. You are in a complete state of authenticity, so connected to your truth that your experiences in these moments are those of bliss. Ippoliti states, “Being so close to the animals helped inspire me to hold my breath longer than I could in practice. The desire to be down there with them shifted my state. The urge to inhale was barely there until I absolutely had to breathe.”

The more and more we practice the physical asana, the physical yoga poses, the more we innately realize that our body is the container of our emotions, our heartbreak, our secrets, our fears, and our loves. For some of us this takes courage to see and confidence to then go out and take action to truly “be” our yoga in the world. Ippoliti says, “Some people may ask is this yoga or not? To me it is. Yoga is about spreading awareness of our interconnectedness. To bring a land animal like me together with a water animal like a whale shark is a beautiful connection. I can’t measure exactly how our images are helping, but I know they are making a difference. For example, when our image of me meditating with a 1500 pound manta ray hit the front page of yahoo.com, there were conversations in the comment section about whether mantas were harmful or not. Many thought the manta was a sting ray, the

Make a Wave, Get InvolvedDo you want get involved with animal conservation

and make a difference? Check out these organiza-

tions that are committed to creating change in our

oceans and beyond.

WildAid is an animal activist organization whose

mission is to end illegal wildlife trade in our lifetimes

by reducing demand through public awareness cam-

paigns and comprehensive marine protection. Did you

know the illegal wildlife trade industry is an estimated

$10 billion dollar industry?! Read on: www.wildaid.org

Manta Trust takes a multidisciplinary approach to

the worldwide conservation of manta rays and their

habitat through robust science and research, while

raising awareness and providing education to the

general public and community stakeholders alike.

Learn more about these beautiful creatures: www.

mantatrust.org

Oceanic Preservation Society creates film,

photography and media, inspiring people to want to

save the oceans. You may know their work from Acad-

emy Award Winning documentary, The Cove. Check

out their projects here: www.opsociety.org

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CONNECT Amy Ippoliti - Activism through Yoga

http://www.wildaid.org

http://www.mantatrust.org

http://www.mantatrust.org

http://www.opsociety.org

75

same species that killed Steve Irwin and they were being corrected by others who explained that Mantas were harmless. It’s these types of conversations that matter and can bring about change!” Amy went on to tell me that recently the entire country of Indonesia banned the harvest of manta rays largely due to the positive photographic imagery and awareness raised by activist photographers. We are all intertwined and when you can understand this whole-heartedly then you know that this act of service did lead to changing the world, and will continue to create change through the ripple effect.

Remember there is no such thing as a small act.

Every act creates a ripple with no

logical end.~ Scott Adams

Ippoliti goes on to say, “The intensely sad part of this is that although we’re documenting these animals now, there’s a good chance that our children will nev-er see some of these creatures in their lifetime, except in photos. Hopefully our images will help change that because people will see them and then want to take action. I am very aware when I’m with marine animals that the camera will take this mes-sage much further than my own

physical presence.” As Amy and I continue to talk,

I become more and more present to the magic of yoga and to how

it’s our duty as human beings to give and to play our part to make the world

go around. I am touched by Amy’s life

message and so honored that I got to write this article that we may not get to know first-hand the impact, but faith tells me it will change someone, it will inspire someone to take action.

Thank you so much Amy for your grace and your heart to be the stand for activism through yoga. Amy Ippoliti’s mission is always seeking underwriters and partners, for more information about Amy and her work: www.AmyIppoliti.com

Photograper Taro Smith can be contacted at this website TaroSmith.com

Kim BaumanFounder, The One Love Movementwww.jointheonelovemovement.orgFacebook: The One Love MovementInstagram: @theonelovemovement

“When you are in your true element, when your actions are in the direction of your calling, then your

internal being shifts because you are no longer impacted by external factors governed by the ego.“


http://www.amyippoliti.com

http://www.jointheonelovemovement.org

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Connecting theWorld Through Water

BY KIM BAUMAN, PHOTOS COURTESY OF WATERLUST

“I want to get people who don’t care, to care. I want to get people who are not aware, to be aware.

My main goal is just to inspire people”—Patrick Rynne, Founder of Waterlust

A fter getting to interview Patrick Rynne, I hung up the phone and all I could think about was, “he’s that guy who tips the barista when no-

body is watching”. I am in awe of how great people are. The more I live and be present in life, the more life continues to show me beautiful people that are humble do-gooders, like Patrick Rynne.

Patrick pretty much grew up as a human fish in the water. His parents loved to sail, so since the age of two he has been on a boat and around water. Patrick grew up surfing and sailing which led him to his latest passion, the sport of kitesurfing. As a kid and all through college, he sailed competitively, ultimately earning him a spot on the

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77

U.S. sailing while training to compete in the Olympics. He founded Waterlust upon starting graduate school at the University of Miami after deciding to step away from competitive sailing. The project quickly grew into a collaboration with two other graduate students, all passionate about finding a way to educate and inspire others about the science of the ocean.

Rynne says, “Science needed a voice. We take what’s technical and bottle it up into something beautiful with-out losing the educational integrity of the science of something. We tell water’s story through photography and film. We see water as this unifying concept that despite your culture, your background or where you live, as humans water is a common thread that can bring us all together, and that’s what Waterlust is all about.”

At the top of Waterlust’s list is impacting kids. “Kids turn away from science because they may not get the right opportunity to show them that they can foster all ways of thinking. We want to campaign for kids, show-ing them that there’s a place for you in the science world even if you don’t think quantitatively”, states Rynne.

Waterlust recently was awarded 1st place for the Ocean 180 Video Challenge where educational science videos were played to almost 38,000 middle school stu-dents all around the world. Kids were to cri-tique and vote for most creative, fun, with a clear educational message, and Waterlust came out #1! Rynne comments, “our intention is to take the complicated and complex of science and boil it down to something everybody can appreciate and understand.”

Waterlust has future plans to inte-grate a science program into schools, further impacting how kids learn. This program will use their videos as an inter-active lesson plan with hands-on learning about science, mapping out environmental issues in a fun, easily digestible way. This program will also include art and painting for kids to express themselves and their relationship to water, including writing an essay, and inspiration on how to continue to get involved with science and environmental issues. The artwork produced by the classrooms will be created into an art installation for the school.

With me being a full-fledged right-brained individu-al, what’s sitting on my mind is that I wish I had been exposed to this kind of learning when I was in middle school and maybe my outlook on science would be dif-ferent. Maybe I wouldn’t cringe when I hear the words biology or chemistry, maybe I wouldn’t think that science is too far over my head. Patrick says, “Our photography

and films are talking to people that wouldn’t otherwise be standing in the room with us. If you want kids and adults to be engaged on an academic concept, how do you draw them in? We get people’s attention through the capturing of water sports, adventure, exploration, and by artistic and expressive content. That’s how we pull in people that otherwise wouldn’t look this way and then they discover a connectedness, they see more once they’re in. Perhaps they see the story of the sharks, the manatees, or the B.P. oil spill. Or maybe they learn how to save their own life if they were to ever get caught in a rip current http://www.waterlust.org/rip

As I am listening to Patrick share about his pas-sion for water, education, and community, it’s

so inspiring to think that you are just one person in this huge, grandiose universe

but the moment that you make even a small movement towards intention, it ripples. Every action we take as an individual contributes to the greater whole. Patrick goes on to say, “A lot of environmental issues we face are extremely broad in scope so you

have to have change happening on a global scale in order to make headway

on them. One thing we always stay true to is this idea of the power of the individual….

You may feel like you’re just one speck in this big world, but a single voice can connect to more voices which can really create meaningful change. Everything we do is centered around this.”

To learn more about Waterlust, go to: www.waterlust.org

Kim BaumanFounder, The One Love Movementwww.jointheonelovemovement.orgFacebook: The One Love Movement

Check

out

thei

r award-winning, kid-approved video here!

@waterlust

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http://www.waterlust.org/rip/

http://www.waterlust.org

http://www.jointheonelovemovement.org

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Do the stresses of travel sometimes deter you from seeing some of the amazing places on this planet? I have several friends that love to travel, but their fears and anxieties get the better of them and they decide to

stay home rather than deal with the hassles of travel.

It’s no surprise that traveling today can be quite stress-ful in a variety of ways: getting through the airport, dehydration, keeping up with exercise, what to eat, etc. And, as security has increased at airports, it be-comes just a little more challenging. As a traditional Naturopath and longtime international traveler, I get questions all the time from people that travel about how they can stay healthy, and even more, thrive on the road. I have been practicing yoga since 2003, and do my best to apply the balanced principles of yoga to my everyday life, especially when traveling.

A big part of staying healthy begins with the prepa-ration of what to bring with you balanced with not taking too much stuff. It’s great to be a minimalist when traveling, and many people are very successful at it, but I would rather have my “just in case” items, as they have served me very well over my many years of travel. Here are 3 major items that I think are really important, and they appear many times throughout my book:

WATERIf you are getting on an airplane and flying at high altitudes, water is your best friend! The high altitude, proximity to others, compressed air in the cabin, and extra stress on the body cause you to need more water. The tricky part can be getting the right type at the right time. You’ll want to make sure that you are drinking filtered water wherever possible, which requires some planning. When you begin your journey, you can purchase a bottle of filtered (Reverse Osmosis or Spring) water after you get through security. I rec-ommend that you bring this bottle on the plane and ask the flight attendant to refill it with filtered water. Sometimes they can’t or won’t do this, so just ask for two glasses of water with no ice and you can keep it

Balance inTravelBY JOHN AYO

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filled yourself. Just make sure that the flight attendant is pouring the water from a plastic bottle, and not a metal pitcher (which is most likely not filtered).

Once you arrive at your hotel, you’ll want to find a good source of water (and the tap is usually not your best idea). I recommend that you ask the front desk if there is a store nearby and purchase some water there. You can also bring the bottle that you purchased to the workout room in most hotels and use the large filtered water that is available to refill your bottle.

EXERCISEThis is one area people find most challenging because we usually don’t have a lot of time to go to the exercise room in the hotel (if they have one). Opportunities abound for exercise when traveling, you just have to look for them. For example, I typically only use the elevator to get to my hotel room on check-in and check-out, and take the stairs at all other times. You can walk to dinner instead of taking a cab. And, many hotels now offer yoga mats and videos so that you can do yoga in your hotel room if you’d like. Look for opportunities to walk as much as you can. I make an agreement with myself to exercise a little more the week or so before and after my trip to make up for not being able to get in my routine while on the road.

HEALTHI’m not sure if you’ve ever experienced the challenge of getting sick while traveling, but there’s little worse than feeling the beginning of the flu on day three of your two week trip to China! Here are a couple of tips to remember if you start to feel sick: 1. You must absolutely avoid eating sugar, dairy and

wheat. These three things really hamper the immune system’s ability to fight off infection.

2. Drink as much purified water as you can. The lym-phatic system needs this to help clear any pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi….) from the body.

3. Get rest if you can. This is not the time to exercise, as your body needs that extra energy to fight off the infection.

We are so blessed to be able to travel half way around the world in a day, but it comes with challenges. I hope that you’ll take on these challenges and enjoy this amaz-ing planet where we get to live. Enjoy your journey.

John Ayo is a Naturopath, Speaker and Author and has been researching mind/body/spirit topics since 1976. His book Travel Bal-ance, gives you some great tips to help you make natural/healthy choices while traveling. He worked in sales for IBM for 27 years, but began having health issues that could not be addressed by the traditional Western medical model. This led him on an amazing journey back to health…and to his true passion. www.johnayo.com

79

filled yourself. Just make sure that the flight attendant is pouring the water from a plastic bottle, and not a metal pitcher (which is most likely not filtered).

Once you arrive at your hotel, you’ll want to find a good source of water (and the tap is usually not your best idea). I recommend that you ask the front desk if there is a store nearby and purchase some water there. You can also bring the bottle that you purchased to the workout room in most hotels and use the large filtered water that is available to refill your bottle.

ExErcisEThis is one area people find most challenging because we usually don’t have a lot of time to go to the exercise room in the hotel (if they have one). Opportunities abound for exercise when traveling, you just have to look for them. For example, I typically only use the elevator to get to my hotel room on check-in and check-out, and take the stairs at all other times. You can walk to dinner instead of taking a cab. And, many hotels now offer yoga mats and videos so that you can do yoga in your hotel room if you’d like. Look for opportunities to walk as much as you can. I make an agreement with myself to exercise a little more the week or so before and after my trip to make up for not being able to get in my routine while on the road.

HEaltHI’m not sure if you’ve ever experienced the challenge of getting sick while traveling, but there’s little worse than feeling the beginning of the flu on day three of your two week trip to China! Here are a couple of tips to remember if you start to feel sick: 1. You must absolutely avoid eating sugar, dairy and

wheat. These three things really hamper the immune system’s ability to fight off infection.

2. Drink as much purified water as you can. The lym-phatic system needs this to help clear any pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi….) from the body.

3. Get rest if you can. This is not the time to exercise, as your body needs that extra energy to fight off the infection.

We are so blessed to be able to travel half way around the world in a day, but it comes with challenges. I hope that you’ll take on these challenges and enjoy this amaz-ing planet where we get to live. Enjoy your journey.

John Ayo is a Naturopath, Speaker and Author and has been researching mind/body/spirit topics since 1976. His book Travel Bal-ance, gives you some great tips to help you make natural/healthy choices while traveling. He worked in sales for IBM for 27 years, but began having health issues that could not be addressed by the traditional Western medical model. This led him on an amazing journey back to health…and to his true passion. www.johnayo.com

Pokeweed © 2015 Drew Pocza pokeweedcomics.com


Staff PicksJUST CHILL is a calming beverage where tasty

meets refreshing. Why do we love it? This gluten-free,

non-GMO & vegan drink helps improve your mood, fo-

cus and enhances your flow. JUST CHILL is available in

three lightly carbonated flavors, packed with vitamins &

minerals and contains zero caffeine & zero stimulants.

Made with active ingredient L-theanine, a powerful

amino acid found in green tea, along with lemongrass,

magnesium and vitamins, with every can of JUST

CHILL, you can satisfy your taste buds while easing

your mind. Visit www.drinkjustchill.com.

Veden is a meal replacement formula with plant based whole food natural ingredients. After years of research and development, Veden has pro-duced the most bioavailable, absorbable Super Food on the planet. Why do we love this prod-uct? Not only does it taste amazing, it contains everything your body needs, and has nothing that it doesn’t! See their ad on page 7 and try it out at TasteVeden.com.

Train with top yoga instructors and a supportive fitness community! Why do you we love this app? Cody is a free yoga app that allows you to enroll in online yoga video series by elite international yoga instructors like Kino Mac-Gregor & Dylan Werner. Along with delivering the best yoga classes straight to your devices, Cody connects you with other practitioners so that you are nev-er alone in your fitness journey.www.codyapp.com

prAna is Sanskrit for breath, life and vitality of the

spirit. Why do we love prAna? Their collections are

made using fewer toxins and chemicals. The clothes

are made mindfully to avoid causing harm to people

and the environment. Additionally, prAna clothing is

created with organic cotton, natural fibers and recy-

cled materials. After all, prAna helped pioneer the

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became the first major company

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resume! Not to mention

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Skydive. And marry the man of my dreams. I’m a romantic.Lauren Rudick, Montreal, Canada.

While I’ve lived within an hour or less of an ocean my entire life, I’ve always wanted to learn to scuba dive but have somehow never had the opportunity. I love the ocean, and so many yogi friends describe diving as underwater meditation. It’s time to hit that bucket list!

Ryon Lane, Marin, California.

I have always wanted to travel to Africa and go on a safari. I have never had the privilege of seeing animals in their true, natural habitat.

Danni Johnson, Delray Beach, Florida.

I have been able to do a lot of the things that call to me. Live in another country, be involved and raise money for rescue animals, start my own business, say my goodbyes to loved ones who’s time it was to leave, to for-give, to purchase fancy shoes. I have always wanted to visit Bali and Nepal. For some reason I have always been drawn to visit those countries, for years. Lately I have been thinking about it more and more. That an additional yoga teacher training in SUP and Iyengar.

Maxine Chapman, San Diego, California.

One of my goals for 2015/2016 is to travel Europe. I would love to take the time to thoroughly immerse myself in the culture of each country I visit. From the buzzing major metropolises to the small serene locales, I feel each experience would inspire creativity and enhance the quality of my life.

Maggie Niemiec, Dallas, Texas.

The most endearing experience I wish to have the opportunity to tantalize my senses with is to practice yoga in all 1007 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A blessing of a lifetime it would be to travel the world and witness the most precious natural wonders along with the worlds most profound culturally signif-icant sites in history.

Andrew Sealy, San Luis Obispo, California.

It has been my dream to be able to travel and volunteer to help save the sea turtles in Costa Rica. Sea turtles are such beautiful creatures who have lived on this planet for far too long to become extinct! I want to help make a change for Sea Turtles!

Sonya Barker, Plano, TX

Visit yogadigest.com/inspired-voices to respond to next issue’s question

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Comfort ZoneImagine getting upset every time the sun goes down. Can you see yourself screaming and shaking your fist in rage at the sun? “There you go doing it again, just like yesterday! How dare you!” You would look crazy if you did so. The sun is just doing its thing. (Actually, the earth is the one doing the moving, but you get what I mean.) The truth, every time you complain or have a negative reaction to a situation over which you have no control, you are arguing with reality, which is just as pointless and crazy as yelling at the sun.

You might be thinking you are an eternal optimist and rarely complain, but revisit the last few hours and think of any negative thoughts that entered your head, whether you said them out loud or not. The sun was too bright, the temperature was too hot or cold, that sweater cost too much, that person didn’t do what I asked, the waitress was rude, there were no convenient parking spots.

There are so many things in our lives over which we have no control. Things happen objectively, but it is all too easy to take these things personally and let them have control over us. This is arguing with reality. Take traffic as an example. You might be running late and frustrated at having your progress impeded by all of the other drivers on the road. The reality is you are stuck in traffic and you are not going to be on time. Fuming in your car is not going to get you to your destination any faster, but it will alter the chemistry in your brain and change your ability to find peace and enjoyment in that moment. Nothing about the situation has changed except your appreciation of the present moment.

The present is happening and we can choose to embrace it or complain about it. Complaining only hurts us and doesn’t change a thing except our mood.

Now that we have established the pointlessness of arguing with reality, my challenge to you is to go 21 consecutive days without arguing with reality or com-

plaining. For some of you this may seem like an easy challenge, but if you are really honest with yourself, it will be harder than you think. It took me four months on my first try, but like most things, it gets easier with practice. Just to clarify, asking for something to be corrected isn’t complaining. Let’s say you order a meal at a restaurant and it is cold when the server brings it to you. If you simply request to have a warm meal, you are not complaining because you are speaking to a person who can directly adjust the situation. If you turn to the person with whom you are dining and say, “I can’t believe they would serve me a cold dinner,” then you are complaining.

Completing the challenge successfully requires a high level of awareness. To assist in keeping you mindful of the challenge, simply put a rubber band or hair tie around your wrist and, every time you catch yourself complaining, move the band to your other wrist. Try it. It is a life changer. Those around you are likely to be happy to remind you when you complain so let them know what you are trying to do.

Good luck and have fun! Kurt

Kurt Johnsen is the founder of the nationally recog-nized yoga system, American Power Yoga, and host of Yoga for Life. He is the CEO of Simplified Genetics, a health and lifestyle company offering proprietary genetic tests which generate actionable results for maintaining optimal fitness and assessing the genetic risks of traumatic head injuries.

Stop Arguing with Reality

Out of Your

Interact with Kurt at YogaDigest.com/Kurt-Johnsen

With Kurt Johnson

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Love at first pose.




www.yolohayoga.com


Be a part of something big, something that matters, something that is sure to create change in the world. Please join us for our 4th annual

charity yoga event. You plus 100’s of yogis coming together in one space to serve and give back to homeless and under-privileged kids.

Tickets & event info: www.jointheonelovemovement.org

Date: Saturday, August 8th, 2015

Location: Waterfront Park, San Diego, California

Time: 10am-1pm

Yoga Teachers: Taylor Harkness Mackenzie MillerKim Bauman Jaysea DeVoe

Live music: DJ Drez & Marti Nikko

THEONE LOVEMOVEMENT


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TMMAY / JUNE 2015

ChrisChrisChrisFreytagSucceed In Life With This

One Simple Rule

Display until June 29, 2015

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Discover SUP & Hiking Yoga Men’s Yoga in High Demand www.YogaDigest.com

Positive A� rmations to Overcome Any Obstacle

Happy Father’s Day:Yoga Dads Special Edition

O� the Mat and Into the Ocean

Amy Ippoliti

Rachel Brathen@yoga_girl

In-Depth Interview with

ClarkLittle

W/

W/

CatchA WaveExtreme Shore Break PhotographyFrom The Inside Out


http://www.simplifiedgenetics.com

Documents

Yoga Digest - May/June 2015