All the News That's Fit to Print

Photo via my new favorite blog find: Fashion Toast!

It is most definitely Monday. Buzzing around the office (on tea, not coffee!) catching up on weekends, the big game, and trying to sort through my Google Reader.

Lots of yoga news in the mix today! If you haven't already, check out the story on Tara Stiles via the New York Times. Interesting stuff. I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

I had to agree with YogaDork's review in saying that "It's yoga. Yoga is as yoga does." I'm all for creating community around yoga that's open, welcoming, and true to the heart (not the ego). Let's all avoid the snobbery and do our backbends, OK? :)

Photo via Google.

I'd also encourage you guys to check out OMB Yoga's open letter to a new Bikram student. There are some great reflections on why the teacher speaks loudly, why we require silence and stillness in between postures, and why wearing short shorts is the way to go (and here's a hint: none of it has to do with your ego!).

Photo of Coby Grant via PrAna's blog.

 PrAna also has some great posts on the upcoming Wanderlust trifecta as well as a lovely review from Coby Grant (a favorite up-and-coming artist of mine!) on the wonderful PrAna line of yoga gear.


Yoga blogger Julia Yee has some wonderful advice on sticking with your yoga routine. Don't miss this post!

Photo of Joslyn Chandler of Miss Fit Bliss by Mechelle Lavelle of Bryant/Lavelle Photography.

Finally, one of my favorite hot yoga bloggers, Joslyn over at Miss Fit Bliss, featured awesome advice on the top 14 things she's learned from Bikram (plus photos of her rockin' the yoga at an advanced class and in competition). Amazing stuff, Jos!


What are you guys up to this week? What are you reading?


I hope all is well and I'm wishing you the best.

Photo of Joslyn Chandler and yogi competitors by Mechelle Lavelle of Bryant/Lavelle Photography.

10 Reasons to Do Your Yoga All Winter Long

I would love to do a headstand like this. Photo via Coffee and Yoga.

Freezing? Tired? Feeling a little SAD this winter?

Do some yoga!

Here are ten reasons to keep up your practice, especially during the coldest months:

1. You can easily imagine yourself in a tropical paradise when it's 105 degrees and 40% humidity in the room. As my studio owner likes to say, "Perfect weather for doing yoga!"
2. Escape from the snow and wind -- the madness of the physical winter world, and the swirly snowstorm of your brain, too. Quiet the body and the mind.
3. It's your only chance to wear a bathing suit or shorts! Or adorable and sexy haute yogawear like K.Deer's line, if you are like me.
4. Improve your skin's circulation and natural health by sweating it out in the Hot Room.
5. Get flexible! Avoid stiff, sore muscles that are clenched from the cold. Relax instead.
6. Feel the relief of a peaceful meditation once you've practiced. Stay stress free so you won't get sick!
7. Enjoy interaction with friends, fellow yogis, and instructors at your studio. The best way to beat the blues is to talk through whatever's on your mind, and you will make real friends who you can trust if you open up. Adopt a 'namaste' state of mind.
8. You'll breathe deeper during the day.
9. You'll meet that new year's resolution of taking care of your body. And you'll work every muscle, tissue, organ and system you've got.
10. If you can, you must!

Mountain meditations! Photo via Coffee and Yoga.

Life in Balance: Bikram Choudhury's Guide

It has been a beautiful cool, crisp fall day!

Photo via Mastin Studio's Blog. Doesn't this couple look sweet?

This evening I enjoyed a eucalyptus sea salt bath. Candle. Icelandic chocolate squares. Bikram Choudhury's Bikram Yoga: The Guru Behind Hot Yoga Shows the Way to Radiant Health and Personal Fulfillment. Great reading on why the yoga's hot:

"We put incredible pressure on you to teach you to break your attachment to external things and go within. Instead of blaming others for your own weakness, fear and depression, you will learn to take resonsibility for your own life. You've got to face yourself in the mirror, every part you don't like, every mistake you make, every excuse your mind creates to limit your potential liberation -- there's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. No escape from reality."

This morning: two pumpkin pies baked. Kitchen cleaned. Chai tea. Bike ride (in the rain) to the Evanston Green Living Fest. Awesome vendors. Passed out all my cards for Alive in the Fire and editZING. Chatted with people who are passionate about healthy cleaning products, composting, and shopping for local produce. Found a new chiropractor that I'm excited to try out.

The sun came out for a few minutes during the festival today.

Last night: Saw The Social Network. Loved this movie. High-quality script, acting, cinematography (especially the crew scene on the water!), music and storyline. Really made me want to invent the next big thing, or at least come up with a cool idea. Enjoyed a frozen yogurt date with the Hubs featuring honeydew flavor and mochi. Delicious!

Jesse Eisenberg rocks a stellar performance in the film. And it does make you wonder about friendships, money, and the value of each.

Tomorrow: Bikram class, more reading, brunch with friends. I'm contributing a tasty egg & sausage casserole (and maybe a slice or two of pumpkin pie!). Strawberries, too. There may be a visit later in the day to Evanston's Bike the Ridge event, perhaps a photo shoot of the leaves changing color. The possibilities remain open!

I hope your weekend is fun, festive, and restful. Do what you love! Do your yoga. Be present in what truly is reality: the mirror right in front of you.

10 Things I Learned This Weekend

Hey lovelies. What are you up to on this fine fall Tuesday?


I have a little list to share (idea via Apartment 513). What have you learned recently?

We could be in Taiwan visiting beautiful countryside like this before long! 

See #10 for more on learning from Asian friends, and a life filled with  love and peace.

10 Things I Learned This Weekend

1. Nature's beauty is meant to be cherished, and it's rather hard to do that from your apartment porch in an urban environment. Find time to get into the woods, to jump into the lake, even just to walk by a park near your neighborhood. And then sit there, with nothing to do, and enjoy the fresh air! The sky. The clouds buzzing by. During the hubbymoon, one of my favorite moments included hugging The Hubs tight around his life-vested chest, cruising at quick speeds over the lake water in a jet ski and looking up at the beautiful sky to witness what's always there, but usually goes unnoticed: the true earth.

 2. The Bikram blogging community rocks. So awhile back I posted a lengthy review of my thoughts on the state of the blogging industry as it relates to yogis at their keyboards, and I have to say I've expanded my perspective even more since then. Especially since I started Tweeting I have come into contact with a great group of Bikram regulars who are so passionate about the yoga and about living like true yogis. It means a lot to know you can connect with other yogis around the globe simply by signing on to the Internet.


3. It's not all about the challenge; it's about the yoga. So I have a short story for you. Sunday afternoon I missed class. It was so, so sad: I was riding my bike too fast on the way there, desperately trying to make up time, and I almost crashed. My sexy black leather bag got caught in my tires and I somehow managed to keep my balance and make a hard stop, but it was scary! Anyway, I race to the studio, throw my bike lock on, and run over to the front door to the building and of course, it's locked. I may have just been able to swing in to the studio if it had been open but alas, no answer to the phone either. Class had already begun and here I was, coughing, cold, and on what would have been day 20 of the challenge. Boo! I was sad and frustrated. So I rode home, drew a hot bath with my new epsom salts, and proceeded to realize: it's more important that I do this yoga because I love the yoga than just to complete a 30-day challenge. 


Isn't that a crazy and cool thought? I realized I had been putting so much effort toward getting to class every day just to get there and check it off the list...I was starting to forget the real meaning behind the challenge. So now I've had time to reflect, renew my excitement, and plan for a challenge starting in Oct. Plus now I can finish it during the same time frame as the rest of the studio, which will be super motivating. It's so important to dedicate yourself when it comes to your personal health and spiritual fulfillment...but not when it starts to get in the way of your sanity (and in my case, safety!). Be conscious. Be realistic. Do a challenge for the right reasons!


4. Bundle up. So it's starting to be chillier here in the Chicago area, and that means scarves and cozy blankets! I absolutely love cozying up at home. I recommend sea salt baths (and I'm going to be reviewing a brand I'm just about to try soon!), tea (chai is our home favorite), and warming up my hot beans (a bag of rice/beans covered in cloth that you can use to soothe your neck, back or tummy). So relaxing!


5. Pumpkins are the best. I went to the farmer's market on Saturday and found a small, wonderful pumpkin. Then I steamed him up, processed in the food processor, and baked some tasty pumpkin bars! The best part? Cream cheese frosting. Homemade. So, so tasty.


6. I love creative film projects, the city of Chicago, and my loving husband. Saturday we had an adventure down in Hyde Park shooting our friend's jazz concert. Although it was a little overcast and cold out, we had a blast photographing the talented musicians as they grooved and improvised. It was so fun seeing the colorful crowd, too! Then after a bus ride through downtown (one of those huge, double-length buses!) we hit up Billygoat's Tavern for some cheezborger, cheezborgers! Delicious and classic. I love you, Josh! Had such a great time :)


7. Bikram has quite a story. So I recently purchased Bikram's book and am loving his intriguing tale of growing up with yoga, learning from his guru, ending up in the United States, and transforming many lives through his 26-posture series. Bikram is an interesting guy -- and much more complex than you'd first think from hearing his crazy English and seeing his numerous luxury cars. He really has a passion for the spiritual and health-based side of the yoga, and I totally respect that. I'm so stoked about furthering my understanding of the class, the foundations, and the philosophy at work behind it all. And I can't wait to meet you, Boss!


8.  Sleep more, sleep better, live happier. I am head-over-heels in love with the meditation CD I was recently given (full post coming soon!). Holy Moly Julie Rader is talented and so soothing. Her simple tracks focus on breathing techniques, controlling the mind, and relaxing so fully that it changes your sleep for the better. Can't wait to share more about this with you soon. And if you're in CA, get to her upcoming workshop! I wish I could be there.


9. It's good to mix it up. I'm a complete Bikram addict, but I'm starting to realize the awesome benefit of doing other types of yoga and exercise along with my practice to give my body a wake up call and keep things fresh. Not only is it great to move around the Torture Chamber so we get varied experiences in the hot room, but it's also great to change up our fitness routine in general, too. Pilates, at-home practice, a bike ride to the park...these are all great ways to help your body benefit more from Bikram.


10. Love those around you. Sometimes we are tired, defeated, worrisome, concentrated on ourselves. This doesn't mean we can sacrifice our willingness to forgive, cherish and help those around us! In the book of Malachi, God tells us: "Return to me, and I will return to you" (Malachi 3:7). He means that we must run with open arms and open hearts toward His way -- toward the practice of selflessness, generosity, and love for our neighbors -- and our blessings will be many. This week the Hubs and I are hosting a couple of exchange students from Taiwan at our place and although it was a bit of a challenge to work out the logistics and a bit of a sacrifice to give up our personal space (and couches ha!), we did it anyway. We opened our home and our hearts to visitors, and we have been so blessed by the girls. We have enjoyed fellowship and fun and sushi with them, and now we have a reason to come visit great friends in Asia sometime in the future. It just goes to show: if you open up to the possibility of being generous, you never know what goodness will come back your way.

Critical Mass Chicago: One Less Car

Photo of the Silver Steed by yours truly. What a beauty, eh? This was her first long ride, and boy, was it lovely!

Picture this: shards of the setting sun are bouncing around the square. The gathering crowd squints from the glinting light off of the fountain's water, from the reflection of skyscraper windows, from the sliver of a glowing orb they spot in the distance. The sun is setting on Daley Plaza, downtown Chicago, on the last Friday evening in August.

Who are all these people gathered? Passersby stare out their open car windows with confused looks. And why all those bikes?

Those of us who are here know what's about to happen. The ride. A journey around the city where we can take over the streets. We call out around every corner, safe within the ebb and flow of The Mass. The sound of gears clicking and brake handles pumping -- it falls like rain in the place of what would be the indistinguishable, hushed roar of traffic. Instead, the warm night air is filled with the sound of vuvuzuelas hounding the neighborhood, the shouts of riders awakening their onlookers with enthusiastic "Happy Friday!"s and fist pumps.

We all wave as we fly by. We smile at the people who gather to stare, bewildered, in wonderment.

We're the bikers. The Critical Mass.

On Friday night, I participated in Chicago's last summer ride for Critical Mass, a group that organizes large biking events throughout the city. Basically what happens is a huge, well, mass of people gets together at Daley Plaza, starts circling the block until everybody's joined the pack, and then they launch off on an adventure throughout city streets. Generally the mapped plan moves either north or south and then loops back toward The Loop.

Don't get me wrong, it's not a marathon but by no means is it a quick trip. It makes a difference if you've got a decent bike, a helmet (of course!) and comfortable clothes, but I'd say any enthusiastic environmentalist (or outdoorsman) would certainly enjoy this adventure.

Here are some of the best moments

I experienced during the ride:

1. Screaming under any tunnel/ overpass, just to hear the echo.
2. Waving to bikers across the water riding over not one, but TWO other bridges crossing the Chicago River.
3. Getting high-fives from strangers along the sidewalk who were beaming ear-to-ear at our antics. One was from an old lady with gray hair who exclaimed, "What the hell are you doing?" when some riders in front of me left her hangin'. It was hilarious.
4. My friend Shiana yells "Happy Friday!" at some workers at a restaurant. They don't react and sort of grimace and scowl in our direction. "Come on, look a little happier, it's Friday!" she countered. Then they smiled. :)
5. As we rode by the big Harpo Building where The Oprah Show is filmed, another biker exclaimed in a high-pitch voice, "Helloooooo, Ooooooprah! It's Critical Mass! Happy Friday, Ooooprah!" The best. Thanks, crazy guy!
6. Meeting crazy peeps: a guy who I helped hook on a fake plush tail to his belt loop; the little girl on a tandem with her Dad who was wearing a neon sparkly skirt; everyone there who had beautiful tattoos (inspiring me/ making me jealous about the one I'm hoping to get!); the Old Pros who rode with stereos attached to their bikes; The Veteran Man who used a blow whistle to direct bikers, stop traffic, and generally keep order on the ride; and, of course, every Chicago PD officer who helped support our safe integration into the streets.
7. The bike pump that saved my friend Shuling's tire so she could ride on and enjoy the open road. On a completely different note, she writes an awesome blog about social media and documentaries and films, and she's super talented. I recommend you check it out, plus she's going to post about our journey soon, too!
8. The Jamba Juice we enjoyed post-ride. Yum, yum, yum. Yay protein + matcha green tea!
9. Managing not to lose our bikes to gravity on the L ride back. Feeling super bad ass while standing there in our sweat and biker gloves. Also feeling pretty BAMFy while waiting around at the Ogilvy station before we set off for Daley Plaza. That's right, we got kicked out for blocking traffic. So we decided to ride all night, blocking traffic...
10. Experiencing the beauty of The Mass -- surrounded by bikers, warm summer air, the buzz of traffic on the other side of the road, the shouts of strangers staring and honking their horns, the pride of the little green pin I stuck to my shirt and now wear to remember that fantastic night. It was all groovy, baby!

Do you bike? Do you do other activities to complement your yoga practice? Sometimes we need a little break from the heat. Sometimes we need the open road, or the pleasure of company while working out. Sometimes we just need to bike it out, and Critical Mass is there for us. I highly recommend you participate in another ride next month in your city, whether it's Chicago or elsewhere. (Those hills in San Francisco: what?! Astonishing.) Write me about the crazy awesome time you have!

10 Things I Learned This Weekend

Photo via Azalealover's Flickr Photostream.
(list idea via Apartment 513)

1. Worry less. It gets you nowhere.
2. Bike in the afternoon breeze. Sit in the shade. Watch the bunnies eating grass.
3. Good fruit smoothies require a good amount of half-frozen vanilla yogurt.
4. Cleaning new apartment hardwood floors can be way more fun than you think. Dance party in your underwear, anyone?
5. Food, Inc. rocks, and will change your life for the better. Or at least your perspective on corn, chickens and cows.
6. Be sure to hug brides and grooms you randomly encounter along the sidewalk. This will make them happy, and make you happy, too.
7. Rockin’ out to Justin Bieber & Ke$ha will not give you cool points, but it will make you smile.
8. Getting a compliment on your Bikram practice from your home studio’s owner/director makes you feel alive inside, alive in the fire, and oh-so-bubbly-happy.
9. Do yoga. You will feel like a) a rockstar, b) a flower petal blooming, c) a warrior, and d) all of the above.
10. Getting married is the right choice. Especially if you’re like me, and you’ve found The One. Less than a week: eeps! Eeps of joy!

What did you learn this weekend?

Best Things I’ve Heard in the Hot Box, or Why the Dialogue is Best Taught by Teachers With a Good Sense of Humor

Bikram teachers put up with the silliest moments!

Photo Via DaveAustria on Flickr.

Not that you'd expect it, but hot yoga can be a pretty funny experience sometimes. You get silly sounds coming from super-sweaty yogis, odd characters running in and out of the room, and general chaos and mayhem on those crowded days.

Here are a few of my favorite moments from the Hot Box that I'd like to share. What memories do you cherish from Bikram's Torture Chamber?

• “Wow, whose red panties are these?” (*Teacher holds up pair of red hot, lacy underwear in front of class with wide-eyed look on his face.) “Alright, well I guess I’ll keep them up here on the podium. I feel like they’re a little Christmas present that someone’s left for me. I guess it’s Christmas in July!”

• “You’re not babies; you’re warriors. So don’t act like a baby in here. Next set!”

• “Hey, Steve! I have an idea…how about you wait ‘til after class to take a shower? Yeah, I saw that, the water bottle action. You thought you could sneak it by me, but you forget: I see all in here…”

• “Have you noticed you’re twitching your fingers during triangle pose? I mean, it’s kind of cute, but it has to stop. We can’t have that in here.”

• “Is that a purse? Is that your purse, miss? Is there a cell phone in that purse?” *Yogi nods her head, blushing a bit. “OK, well no worries, but just remember next time to leave it outside the room. Alright, let’s start pranayama…” *Pause. “You know what? As it turns out, I can’t have a phone in here. It’s just wrong. Here, I’m just going to set it outside at the front desk…” *Teacher starts dialogue as he walks out the door...

• "Face to the legs, upper body to the thighs, like a grilled cheese sandwich..." (Why would you want to eat a Japanese ham sandwich anyway?! Grilled cheese all the way. :)
  

• "Close your mouth. Close your mouth. Close your mouth." *Yogi still exhales loudly through an open mouth. "Man, people need to work on their manners in this class!"

Yogis is crazy, man.
Photo Via NerdVin on Flickr.

Om, Baby!

Photos Via Jill Hudgins Flickr Photostream.

A quick list for the middle of the week...

Top 10 Reasons I Love My Bikram Right Now:

1. It gets rid of workday boredom.
2. Cracks the back.
3. No more toxins!
4. Keeps me up on my hydration, and VitaCoco after class is sooo refreshing.
5. The teachers freakin' rock!
6. The class flows as you work together and move as one.
   
7. Breathe, stretch, shake, let it go! I feel loose and light after class.
   
8. I know I'm changing my body for the better from the inside out.
9. I get inspired by the crazy yogis and local characters that surround me.
   
10. I can relax, and let the heat take me in.

What do you love most about your yoga practice right now?