Coastline

Photos by my dad.

I miss the California coast. My dad's been traveling near the Mendocino National Forest. i wouldn't mind a nice hike in that area!

What are you up to this weekend, yogis?

Warrior Training

  

All photos via Bikram Yoga Naperville on Facebook. 

  

"This is not baby training. This is warrior training!"

-Stuart Getz, Bikram Yoga Evanston owner, on the practice of Bikram yoga

Couldn't have said it better myself!

Yesterday's class was a tough one for me, both mentally and physically. My body felt broken down, slow, heavy. My mind felt warped by negativity. It made me realize I've been putting a lot of unnecessary pressure on myself lately.

Time to lighten up: body, mind, heart.

As Stu said toward the second half of class, "If you're having a tough class, cut the $hit! Let go. Make the floor series easy."

Amazing what a difference that can make. You just let go and suddenly the world is yours. If you decide to make a posture easy, it becomes easy.

It was also fun to have Rich in class. His first Bikram experience! He gave it two thumbs up, and said it was a great workout, killer on the shoulders. He was doing his warrior thing. Stay tuned; more bio on Rich as a sponsored yogi to come soon.

Hope you're all having a lovely start to the week.

Happy Weekend, Yogis

Photo via This is Glamorous.

I'm so loving this little flash of spring weather we've been having!

It's 55 degrees out today, but it feels like the tropics. Oh, Chicago winters.

Anyway, I'm about to head out for a lovely bike ride and maybe a picnic in the park this weekend. What are you up to? Will you yoga somewhere? Take a drive under the stars?

Whatever you do, I hope you have fun.


I'll see you back around the blogosphere on Monday! (If you haven't noticed, I've been taking breaks from the blog on the weekends lately... and I must say, it's pretty nice to have days without screen time. I recommend it! Although I have to say sometimes I can't resist putting up a post or two here and there.)


Have a happy, light, lovely weekend!

Photo via The Vagabond Bond.

Sponsored Yogis Coming Soon!

Photo via Dudes Doing Yoga on Tumblr.

Happy Friday, yogis! I hope you're celebrating the weekend already.

Anyone have any fun Super Bowl plans? Amazing appetizers you're planning to make for friends and family when they come over to watch the game?

The Hubs and I aren't sure of our plans yet, but there very well could be some tasty hot wings involved. And definitely guac. :)

Just wanted to share a little update with you on the Alive in the Fire Yogi Sponsorship 2011 program. I've been receiving all sorts of amazing applications and I can't wait to share the results very soon!

Photo via Dudes Doing Yoga on Tumblr.

I hope to have an announcement for you on Monday. It's going to be a tough decision to say the least!

A big thank you to all of the applicants and to upcoming sponsors. You guys are the best! And I hope that regardless of the results, you've been learning more about your practice and what yoga means to you. That's the whole point of the process, and I hope it's been rewarding.

Photo via FYeahYoga on Tumblr.

In the days and weeks to come, you can expect to see a lot of awesome stuff going on around here at Alive in the Fire. I will be incorporating a ton of new ideas from applicants, including guest posts, some re-design, and the start of a new series or two. (And don't worry, Real Men Do Yoga and Beyond Childhood certainly aren't over! Neither is the Everyday photographer series either.)

The best part? You're going to be getting a lot of quality info about yoga and hearing from some new voices. These sponsored yogis are passionate about their practice. They've got inspiration to share.

They are fiery, fun, and super creative and insightful. I can't wait for you to meet them!

Keep an eye out and get excited. More to come very soon.

PS. In other news, I've written over 300 posts! Eeps, how exciting :) Oh, and keep those followers coming... we're almost to our 100 party!

Photo via FYeahYoga on Tumblr.

Simplify

Photo via Lululemon. This is one of their talented ambassadors, Meghan.

Hey yogis! How was your weekend? I hope you are back at work feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I am!


I had a lovely weekend with a nice mix of productivity and relaxation. I've got some other creative projects in the works besides the blog, so I decided to a take a couple days off to put some energy toward those. Plus there is nothing like a Sunday at home doing some cooking for the week and having a little candlelit dinner with friends. (I made quiche! Mmmm.) 


The Hubs and I also had a little adventure at the local laundromat, plus a delicious sushi lunch across the street at Evanston's Seafood Ranch. We highly recommend it! You can buy fresh sushi and soups, or shop in their little two-aisle Asian grocery. They carry green tea icecream (my fave!), any sauce you can imagine for Asian cuisine, plus sashimi-grade fish for making your own sushi. I'll be back very soon to try that.


Anyway, I hope you had fun and maybe took a little time for yourself this weekend, too. It can be so worth it to have a break -- whether it's from work, or just your computer screen at home. Sometimes a few days off from the Hot Room can do wonders for your practice, too.


Sometime's it's just better to simplify. Do a little less. You may find yourself appreciating that task you chose to take out of your busy schedule, even yoga.


I know I am excited to get back to my mat tonight!


I'm also stoked to spend this week immersed in all of the Yogi Sponsorship 2011 applications. Thanks to all of you who have sent in your apps. We have some very strong candidates!


To those of you who have the app but haven't returned it yet, please do so soon. The deadline is coming up. I'm happy to give you a bit of extra time if you need it, but be sure to communicate before the deadline rather than later.


The choice will be tough. I can't wait to post the news! Stay tuned.

Photo via Lululemon. This is one of their talented ambassadors, Meghan.

Restful

Photo via Coffee and Yoga.

Hey lovely yogis. What are you up to this weekend?

I hope you're having fun and relaxing lots. Lately I've been learning the importance of resting. There's nothing better than a lazy, rejuvenating Saturday spent with family and friends.

Even on days like today when the Hubs and I wake up early and get some chores done, it's nice to know we've earned a break after a week of hard work.

And tonight I'll be enjoying a laid-back celebration with fellow Bikram addicts at the grand opening at 105 Yoga in Oak Park, Chicago.

Good times!

Enjoy your weekend, and take a break. Clear your mind. Do your yoga.

Do those things that truly make you happy!

Photo via Coffee and Yoga.

Everywhere Yoga

Bring your yoga anywhere. Photo via FYeahYoga.

I love that you can bring your yoga anywhere. What we learn on the mat can be used at any moment: at a friend's birthday party, when you're upset with someone you love, when you've stubbed your toe or missed the bus and need to deal.


Especially in Bikram, you learn this sort of 'everywhere yoga.'


Standing face-to-face in that heat, you've got to decide not to suffer, or chances are, you will. You must ignore the rest of the room -- the day, the thoughts, the world -- and enter your meditation.


Lately I've been so grateful that since I returned from the holidays, it feels like my yoga is back. Not only while I'm practicing (and I have had two of the most electric, ecstatic classes I've ever experienced this week), but also during the small moments of my day, I am calm, at peace, in the moment.


I am patient, even during the annoying moments or when I encounter frustrations or sadness.


I am my yogi self again, finally! Body, mind, and spirit have aligned, and it feels beyond wonderful. Have you experienced this sort of interconnected joy? Once you have, losing it can be really hard. And during our travels and my hiatus from the home studio, I felt as though I had lost that self-loving, flexible, upbeat yogi me.


Well, welcome back, yogi me!

You are your meditation, not the world around you. Photo via FYeahYoga.

Today at the studio I practiced in a class of 60 people. 60 yogis! We were sardines, piled in the room. I was in the first row, on the hot side. I was a puddle before pranayama even got going! At one point, I literally felt as though I had melted. I was a wet noodle.


It was awesome.


I was definitely the flower petal blooming! I loved the warm up series, and the way my body just moved to the words, bending and opening and relaxing into each posture. There was no resistance; I could not resist any posture because I had no energy to overcome the intense heat. (Before class, I checked the little thermometer up on the teacher's podium. It read 107! And that's before everyone was in the room, working up a sweat.) Incredible. It's amazing to me what a difference those two to three degrees make!


It was a beautiful class. Such an intense mixture of concentration from the new students, as they strained their ears to listen to the words and do the postures correctly, and joy and strength from the advanced students, as though their energy and expertise were pulling the rest of the bodies through when they thought it was time to give up.


We had a fair amount of drama in class, too. During the warm up, a new guy decided he had to leave the room. He was muttering "I'll be fine, I'll be fine" as he marched out of class, our teacher desperately asking "Where are you going?!" in between sets. He did come back, which was impressive. And the yogi by the door who didn't have enough room for Triangle finally figured out that it would help to scoot up toward the mirror.


We got through. We made it. And I was actually laughing the whole way through, marveling at what an interesting psychology experiment a yoga room really can be sometimes.


The lady next to me and I were chuckling at a few points along the way, too. Right before Full Locust she put her whole arm on my arm, locking us together as if we were one strong yogini, a force to be reckoned with.


We both smiled, dripping sweat in each other's space. And then we rocked the posture.


This was truly the bliss of Bikram: to be so close to your fellow yogis, so overwhelmingly given in to the situation, so intensely and intently present in the room. Unable to resist, and not wanting to.


To be able to smile through the second set of an exhausting posture while most other yogis are cringing and letting themselves to suffer instead of relax.


To, quite simply, be there.


To be.


I felt exhilarated. I'm going back as soon as I can.

Enjoy your yoga in the everyday. Photo via FYeahYoga.

More to Win: Wednesday SPA DAY Giveaway!

Photos via Coffee and Yoga.

Ready for a spa day?

I don't know about you guys, but all that vacation has made me me ready for... another vacation :) This week's been a little tough getting back into the swing of things at work and at home. Back to cleaning the bathroom, late nights working, plans and goals galore. What about reading books on the couch by the fireplace? And long, hot baths?

In time, in time.

If you're ready for a little at-home spa treatment, this giveaway is for you!

Win this lovely spa package for a day of R&R from Alive in the Fire.

Enter below to win:

• Emollience hair and body butter (from Spiral Solutions).
• Handmade peppermint soap (from CindysSuds). Ingredients: Saponified coconut oil, organic palm oil, olive oil, peppermint essential oil and peppermint leaves.
• An Om hand towel (from Nyemay Collectibles).
• One "Lock the Knee" shirt (from Shavon at Teach Bikram or Bust).
• Peace, happiness & relaxation for the day (your prerogative, which you so deserve!)

To win, please visit all of the above shops and leave a comment below about why you could use a little rest and relaxation after the holidays. Also, please include your shirt size (S, M, or L) for the Lock the Knee shirt!

 

Here's a little more info about Shavon at Teach Bikram or Bust. I love that she is selling these fun shirts as a way to raise money for Teacher Training! Please consider supporting her in her journey by purchasing a shirt. They make great gifts for yoga friends and studio owners!

I have one, too, and am loving it :)

From Shavon: 
I started my Bikram yoga journey about seven years ago while I was living in Oakland, CA. A good friend of mine talked me into going and I'm so grateful she did. Originally, I went just to check it out, not really expecting to start a practice... but before I knew it, I was hooked. As Bikram says, "Tell them to come to class to firm up their asses. In six 6 months, their lives are changed!"  


That was definitely true for me. I found, and continue to find, everything that I didn't expect to in my practice. Bikram yoga has helped me understand grief and loss, Bikram yoga has been there through drug addiction and getting sober, and Bikram yoga has helped me love myself and the path I am on.  

I have cried in yoga, laughed in yoga, learned in yoga, been angry in yoga. I have been all of it in yoga. Yoga has taught me to let go of all of it, to love life for what it is, a moment.  

The most unexpected path I have stumbled upon during my Bikram practice is Teacher Training. The thought has crossed my mind more than once over the years, but I didn't feel "good enough" to commit to it until now. I just can't ignore that voice anymore.  

Yoga has given me so much and it is time to return the favor.  

I want to hold that space for others. Whether you want to firm your ass or explore your heart, it's all part of the process. Teach Bikram or Bust is my blog where I explore the trials and tribulations of my Teacher Training journey. I'm going to attend the fall 2011 training and have started selling shirts to help raise funds for this endeavor. To purchase shirts you can visit my Etsy shop. Shirts sell for $15/shirt or 2 for $20.

Here are some tips from Cindy at CindysSuds for yogis who want to keep clean and small nice after yoga class:

• After your yoga class, try to take a shower as soon as you are able. Not only will you want to wash off any bacteria created by sweat, but the warm water will help sooth your muscles and aid them in the "cool down" phase.
• Prior to taking a shower or bath, dry brush your body with a natural bristle body brush to remove dead skin cells and encourage new cell growth.
• Always wash your workout clothes after a class and wipe down your mat with warm soap and water regularly. It may be tempting to keep your workout clothes in your gym bag and re-wear them on another occasions, but bacterial growth runs rampant in a warm, dark gym bag that has dirty workout clothes tossed in.

Plus, a great deal exclusively for all you readers:

Use the coupon code "yoga2011" at CindysSuds and you'll save 10% on your total purchase price during the entire month of January. Happy New Year!

Photos via Coffee and Yoga.

Bunnies and Chicago Holiday Adventuring

The Hubs and I had a lovely weekend full of holiday cheer and time at home with our bunny. She makes life at the apartment so much more entertaining and fun :)

Nora the nibbler.

Nora the explora!

Nora loves to explore everywhere, and get cuddles from everyone.

Nora loves Nick.

She's a true cuddle bunny!

Nora loves Hubs, too.

Tonight, traveling up the Sears Tower and to the Christkindl Market was breathtaking! Many thanks to Nick and his lovely parents for taking us on the trip. We love you, Chicago!

Sears at dusk: incredible.

Like a different world up there.

This phone pic doesn't do it justice, but check out that grid! 

Keep an eye out for my sweet Sears Tower yoga pic, coming soon to a blog near you. Not to mention: more giveaways (are you sick of them yet?!), New Years ideas, and more entries in the Real Men Do Yoga series!

Have a wonderful week, yogis!