Focus Forward Friday: Rabbit Pose

Photo above via the Bikram Yoga Women's Retreat on Facebook. 

Photo below by yours truly!

Focus Forward Friday: 

A weekly ritual for deepening your practice.

Today's focus: rabbit pose. Anyone out there love this asana? It's the deepest forward fold in the Bikram series, and a great compression posture that comes pretty late in the floor series. 

I find that I have a love-hate relationship with this posture, mostly because of my tight cervical spine. I have to be really careful not to overdo it or go too far... yet at the same time, on days when my neck needs it, Rabbit can be the best medicine! It's one of the most healing postures I've found in Bikram.

My advice for those new to rabbit? Really put a lot of weight into your hands. Pull harder than you think you need to. And do use a towel over your heels. I know some studios teach against this, but that's disappointing to me. You don't want the chance of slipping and throwing your neck out of whack. 

Whatever your studio's dialogue style, be sure to take it slow in this posture, and don't expect results overnight. It can take a long time to feel the stretch move from your neck down your spine, but once you do it's totally worth it!

Photo via Bikram Yoga San Antonio.

Another tip: introduce your belly to your spine and really suck your tummy in. By clearing this space in your abdomen, you'll be able to stretch farther and with more ease. Like in Standing Head to Knee, this is a critical first step for this posture. And a reason not to eat much before class!

Rabbit is also great if you've got a cold or have thyroid problems (it's supposed to aid immunity and balance hormones). Score!

To read more about rabbit pose from Bikram headquarters, click here.

Photo via Bikram's site.

Finally, a little explanation about this series. I realized the other day it's not exactly clear what Focus Forward Friday really is, or why I started it. So I wanted to give you all the whole story :)

Photo via Threading in the Choirs.

Focus Forward Friday is a weekly reminder here on the blog. Its main purpose is to remind you of your own strength and that you have the choice to place your focus where you want it to be -- and that goes for when you're in yoga class or not on the mat!

Wherever you are, you have the power to focus forward. To focus on the present moment. To see yourself in the mirror, doing your yoga -- or see your true self, living your life -- wherever you are right now.

But only if you want to.

The series is also a weekly exploration of where a dedicated yogi should place his or her focus. Each topic I choose is meant to inspire you to think more deeply about how you use your yoga both on and off the mat.

You can think of Focus Forward Friday as a little party every week on the blog. Photo via Max Wanger.

The bottom line behind the series is to get you thinking creatively about how to live your yoga one week at a time. I hope it helps! 

If you have any feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Or chime in with a topic you'd love to see me post on next Friday! I'd love to hear from you.

Have a happy weekend, all. Enjoy spring time floating in the air! Get some time with your loved ones and go for a bike ride or have a picnic. I'll be enjoying some time in the hot room, with my Hubs, and with my cousins from North Carolina.

Namaste.

Photo via Sloan Photography.

Winter Yoga, Wing Night & The Greatest Feeling

A crowded class reminds you to find your private practice. Photo via Coffee and Yoga.

Class was super crowded last night at the studio. Lots of beginners around. Looks like a lot of New Year's resolutions have been set!


The mats were lined up in neat rows, lots of yogis packed into the room. All the commotion and bustle really pumped me up. I warmed up with big smiles, and energy coursing through me. I love a good crowded class.

Breathe together, move together. That's the yoga. Photo via Lululemon's Flickr photostream.

What's funny is I arrived there with my good friend Lindsay, who's a Bikram teacher and massage therapist at the studio, and we both entered the Hot Room separately to set up our mats. Little did I know, I had plopped my stuff down right next to hers!

The close quarters made for an inspiring class. Linds is a super yogi and having her next to me during the postures gave me the motivation to push a little harder, focus a little stronger, and let go of the crazy energy from the beginners in the room.

That's Lindsay at her Teacher Training in Acapulco. She is an incredible yogi!

Being close to other yogis in the room also brought my thoughts to Teacher Training. I seriously can't wait to be there!


On some days it feels like I've got a lot of preparing to do before I go. I want to have at least the first four  postures down before Training, plus I could really use a challenge or two before I kill myself for 90 minutes... twice a day, for three months! Ha.


On other days, though, I feel ready to pack up a little suitcase and get my ass to the Big Tent right away. I've got my wardrobe of tiny shorts and sports bras, my set of yoga mats, my Bengal tiger strength and English Bulldog determination. I've got my open mind and willingness to let go. I'm ready, right?


And especially after crowded classes like last night's, I just can't help but imagine the energy in the room with Bikram up front and a bunch of advanced, eager trainees lining the floor from wall to wall. It has to be electric!

Standing Bow next to Standing Bow. Gotta love a crowded class! Photo via Lululemon's Flickr photostream.

Regardless of when I get to Training, I am very grateful to know that it is a goal I will turn to reality. It's not a "new year's resolution." It's a life goal. It will happen... "eventually or in the future." (And for those who are curious, it's looking like Fall 2011 is going to be my time, but nothing is set yet. I will keep you posted for sure!)


After class was super fun, too. The Hubs, the Professional Best Man, and I have a tradition of enjoying all-you-can-eat wings at Merle's Barbecue in Evanston on Wednesday nights. I mean, how can you pass up high-quality wings at only $4.50?! Plus, they have just about the tastiest lemonade around town.

Delicious wings and great company made for a lovely Wednesday wing night!

It was super busy at Merle's last night, so we sort of made an evening of it. I was so happy and content as we sat munching chips and guac and discussing our favorite types of dogs and where we want to live when we grow up.


In both the hot room and at the restaurant, I felt surrounded by love and friends. A sense of community inspires me. There seemed to be a living pulse in the air. It really energized me!


I can't wait to get back to class -- both at Bikram Yoga Evanston and other studios in the area. One of my goals this year is to expand my practice into new forms. I am hoping to buy a few DVDs for at-home practice (to meet my budget), as well as review some local studios on the blog (and hopefully score a few free classes here and there). There are plenty of cheap or free community classes as well!


The greatest feeling of all is to be surrounded by your fellow yogis as you work through class.


The surrender, the energy, the love in the room: it's overwhelming and wonderful. All at once. All together. All you need: your yoga!

Free Week at Yoga in Oak Park, Chicago

Photo via RisePro on Flickr.

"I will be calmly active, actively calm. I am a prince of peace, sitting on the throne of poise, directing the kingdom of my activity." 

-Paramahansa Yogananda

When I heard that my yogi friend/teacher Nancy was going to be opening a studio in the Chicago area, I smiled. But then my heart jumped a bit: wait, this meant she wouldn't be around to teach in Evanston!

Although we miss you lots at BYE, Nancy, we are so, so proud of you and excited for your amazing opening of 105 Yoga studio in Oak Park. 

Nancy's approach to yoga is a lot like Paramahansa Yogananda's idea of being "actively calm." In her classes, you feel incredibly energized and yet your mind is peaceful and clear, as though you were practicing on the beach at sunrise. Her approach to running the studio is equally as balanced: she offers a wide variety of classes every day, is featuring a Grand Opening this weekend, and will continue to treat yogis throughout the month of December.

Photo via Lululemon on Flickr.

To celebrate the holidays, 105 Yoga is offering incredible rewards to all yogis each time they practice December. For every class, you are entered in a drawing to win:

• Grand prize: 20 Class Pack and a yoga mat
• 1st place prize: 10 Class Pack
• 2nd place prize: 1 hour massage
• 3rd place prize: yoga mat

Talk about a way to motivate yourself to keep up with your Bikram! If you're a yogi in Chicago, consider zipping over to 105 Yoga in Oak Park to try out the studio. Class changes coming up include:

Fri, Dec 24: classes only at 9am & 12pm

Sat, Dec 25: class only at 12pm

Fri, Dec 31: classes only at 9am & 12pm

Sat, Jan 1: class only at 12pm

Photo via Lululemon on Flickr.

Here at Alive in the Fire, local readers can win a 

FREE WEEK PASS to 105 Yoga in Chicago

To enter, simply:

• Leave a comment below with your favorite yoga posture.
• Add 105 Yoga on Twitter and Facebook.
• Post a Facebook comment on the 105 Yoga page (if you add more than one, you'll be entered twice to win!).
• Note: open to Chicago residents only.

Photo via Lululemon on Flickr.

This Just In: Lululemon Offering Free Yoga Passes

Lululemon's teaming up with Facebook Places and Foursquare for a yoga giveaway.

Did you hear about Gap's recent marketing stunt with Facebook Places and Foursquare?

The idea was simple: go to your local retail store, sign in on either site using your mobile device, and get a free pair of jeans. Awesome, right?

Some say it was a success. Some complained about how quickly the product was given out.

Looks like Lululemon wants to try the idea, too! They're giving away the gift of yoga. All you've got to do is go to your local store, sign in on Facebook Places or Foursquare, and then choose your class.

Go quickly! These offers end soon. Good luck and yay for free yoga! Comment below about the studios where you are taking class!

Put a Little SPA in your Week: A Review of the Best Massage Studios in Evanston

Want to feel like you're here? Try a massage after yoga class!

Busy times call for rest. 100 percent exertion demands 100 percent relaxation. In the hot room, every floor series posture earns you a 20-second savasana. In real life, you have to set time for your own time off.

The best way to relax? A massage, of course!

In the last few months, I've gone for massage therapy at several different places around town, including Flow Body Mind Connection, Egea Spa, and OmaiBodyworks. Each place has its own look and feel, and each offers incredible services.

At Flow, Raegan Ross has set up her own studio with a modern look and feel, and all is quiet and peaceful despite the location right on Dempster Street. I loved her little candles around the room, nurturing demeanor, and capable hands. The sweet, stylish wall dividers in her space also give the place a sense of regeneration and, well, flow :)

Flow is located at 609 Dempster in Evanston.

At Egea, I felt so pampered in their luxurious spot. They give you a little robe to wear, a sea salt soak for your feet that helps you feel calm and centered before the massage, and then an amazingly refreshing steam shower afterward! Heavenly. It was so nice spending the whole morning there, just lazing from one step to the next and not rushing out. A little pricey, but I hope to be back soon!

Egea is located at 1521 Sherman Ave in Evanston.

My favorite spot to get a massage, though, is located right in the heart of the building where my home studio is. My awesome friend Lindsay Paige runs her own fantastic massage business OmaiBodyworks right next door, and there's simply nothing better than a session right after yoga class. As Linds likes to say, you've still got the "yoga daze" and can relax even more fully after your muscles are warmed up. It's absolutely wonderful!

Plus, Lindsay is quite a talented Bikram teacher who I admire incredibly, with one of the strongest dialogues I've heard. She's got powerful spirit, determination and motivation in the heat and really makes class enjoyable. Whether I'm sweating through her class or enjoying great conversation with Lindsay, I absolutely love spending time with her. This weekend we're checking out the Illinois YOGA CHAMPIONSHIPS together at Whole Foods in Lincoln Park, Chicago! Should be fun.

OmaiBodyworks is located at 1840 Oak Ave in Evanston, in the basement.

But anyway, back to Omai. One of the best parts about Lindsay's practice is that she plays upbeat music instead of weird, lame new-age-y rainforest sounds, and I totally dig singing along to Feist or Jose Gonzalez in my head while she's getting all the kinks and crunches out of my neck and shoulders. Lindsay has astonishing strength and she isn't scared to beat you up a little bit, but it's the best! A firm amount of pressure is what helps me feel better the next day, and leaves me with the right kind of soreness that quickly fades to freedom. I love leaving with the feeling that I can move again!

In case you're not yet convinced of why OmaiBodyworks should be your next spot for massage, you can also consider this: Lindsay's trained in a special kind of therapy called Lypossage that helps women with cellulite reform their bodies from the inside out. It's an intensive program where you get special treatment, extra-strong massages in the areas that need attention, and you also supplement with a variety of vitamins/ body wraps/ nutrition, etc. Basically she offers an entire "body contouring" package that's about holistic wellness and transforming your body image all over, not just changing your appearance for the sake of vanity.

It totally fits with the Bikram perspective about leaving your ego at the door and instead working toward making your body healthier and whole, not just beautiful.

"Tell them to come for a firm ass, and in six months, their whole lives have changed!" Now that's one of my favorite Bikram-isms.

I've seen pictures of Lindsay's clients, though, and the results are great! It's surprising how much you can do in the short amount of time the program takes, and from what I hear it really does leave women feeling completely changed, and more confident and excited about their beautiful bodies than before. They bring new enthusiasm and energy to the hot room, too!

I'm hoping to try out one of Lindsay's body wraps in the near future (not the LypoMassage, but just an overall wrap), for the relaxation and therapeutic skin benefits that they offer. 

Bottom line? Lindsay's work + Bikram yoga = pure bliss. 

If you're interested in getting a massage with Lindsay, comment below and I can send you her contact info. She does not currently have a web site but you can check out her LinkedIn profile, or ask any yogi at Bikram Yoga Evanston who's been in her little oasis of a massage studio, and you'll hear about how remarkable she is! :)

Beautiful lady on her graduation day from Bikram Teacher Training in Mexico a couple years back. Lindsay, you are the best!

Mini Yoga Class @ NU

• Yogis in Evanston, I'm going to teach a mini-class in a couple of weeks! Please attend, invite your friends, and come enjoy some awesome meditation and relaxation postures. I'd love to hear from you if you're planning on being there, just to get a general sense of how many people will be coming!
  Here's the info...
  
  
  

  Love yoga? Interested in the ways that yoga postures connect with spirituality and offer the body and mind relaxation?
  Come to YOGA SHABBAT!
  Friday November 12 from 6:15pm to 7:30pm in the basement of Hillel
  @ 629 Foster St. Evanston, IL 60201
  An event sponsored by Northwestern Hillel andEnvironmental Campus Outreach (ECO).
• I'll be teaching a 35-minute yoga class focused on postures which promote relaxation and rest. There will be a good series to get your heart rate up, and then ample time for cool down and meditation toward the end.
•  
• We won't be in the heat, but I guarantee it'll be a perfect marriage of the heart and lungs, good for every muscle, tissue and system in your body. A good chance to practice a great mantra: "If you can, you must!"
• Please bring a mat, towel & water and wear comfortable stretchy clothes. 

• Open to all individuals of all backgrounds, fitness levels, faiths, and ages. Invite your friends!

  I will be around before and after class to answer any questions you may have and will offer some resources on yoga & local studios. If you're new around here, FYI I practice regularly at Bikram Yoga Evanston and I'm planning to do Bikram Teacher Training next spring.  (*Note: As you also know, I am not certified and will not be held liable for injuries resulting from class. Please listen to your body and move slowly so that you don't get hurt! Thanks.)

  Namaste and see you soon.

  

Breaking Into Healthy Breakfasts

Howdy, readers! This is yesterday's breakfast at The Other Brother cafe in Evanston, the newest endeavor by The Brothers K. The cafe is a stellar spot: beautiful, sleek, modern design. Simple. Lovely. And of course they are continuing the tradition of delicious coffee & pastries (the baked goods are brought in by another store, I believe). Located at Sherman & Grove. You should stop by and try a latte sometime soon! Those frilly frothy drinks will make you smile.

 Today? I'm juicing it up! Pictured is a recent creation featuring Hammer Nutrition WHEY powder. In this morning's mix, I threw in some of Hammer's awesome Montana Huckleberry gel as well as a myriad (read: PILE) of fresh stuff, including...

• carrot juice
• berry juice
• orange juice
• frozen banana
• frozen strawberry
• frozen blueberry
• parsley
• spinach
• flax seed (ground)

Whirl, grind, instant energy! Tasty, too. I'm thinking of doing a 7-day detox cleanse with all green juices. Just got some books to read from the library about it.

I'm pretty much turning into a health food junkie, huh? :) Hey, at least I'll be clean, balanced and ready for the heat at Teacher Training. I imagine it'd be nice to start with a clean slate while I'm heating it up in Bikram's Torture Chamber... What do you think, fall 2010 #BKTT trainees?

Happy Tuesday from the newlyweds. Hope you're juicin' it up for breakfast out there! More recipes coming soon. And for those of you who are still passionate about eating cupcakes and other treats, try Ming Makes Cupcakes. A beautiful site!