Downward Facing Dog with Rodney Yee

What does your dog do first thing every morning? Downward facing dog! Yoga master Rodney Yee demonstrates how to imitate your dog and stretch your spine. Find out why downward dog is everybody's favorite pose to feel that energy running up and down your body while you lengthen your spine.

Exploration & investigation

The week one of my students said after practicing Downward facing dog pose, "I've got it! I really got it! That was incredible!" Isn't it interesting this thing called yoga? As we work toward finding balance in our bodies, there are times when these enlightened shifts will occur. It feels simply marvelous to experience as if for the first time the connection between breath, lengthening the spine and holding. We continue our practice in faith of understanding yoga more each time we come to the mat. Funny enough, every time we achieve these ah-ha moments we feel we are almost there. Where ever 'there' may be. Several years later, we seem to get it again or understand that the asana has touched us in a different way. Continue to explore and investigate each pose remembering it is the journey and not the destination. As my teacher once said, "Tammy, if you could do everything there would be no where to go!" Enjoy your journey into balance.

Christmas Preparations

I'm almost finished my shopping for the Yuletide celebrations. For many of the past years, I always hand make things for my family. It's funny really as when they are given store bought things they always seem bummed out that I didn't make them anything. So, although I've bought them store bought things this year I took the time tonight to sew some yoga eye bags for them. They are truly easy to make yourself and a lovely treat for whomever will receive them. Now, as my family rarely reads this blog, I think (hopefully...wait yes as I'm creating my own reality through thought... they will NOT read this ...cancel the hopefully) therefore, I'm safe in sharing it with you. The eye bags filter out light, noise, and distractions helping one to stay focused on being "centered" during relaxations.

You will need some scraps of fabric pieces around 4 X 8 inches. Sew the edges into a rectangle. Inside the pouch add some lavender sprigs from your garden along with any type of legume....I used mung beans in mine. Other options are...flax seeds, lavender, chamomile etc.,

You will want to fill the saches about 1/2 to 3/4's full. When you are finished you will have a lovely eye bag your friends or family can use for savasana or simply to relax! Or if you are lacking time (in which you could create more of through thought...if you didn't already know!) you could purchase them online but clicking the link here...












It's a definite treat, that I will make for myself as well; funny, I've meant to make one for me for some time. Funny how sometimes we need others to help us create things for self!
Happy creating!
TLC

ps. Finally have the Christmas decor finished outside as well. I simply couldn't resist the gorgeous weather today. It seemed like a far better option than waiting a few more weeks for those cold temps we know are on the way!

Journaling

If it is true whatever we focus on we draw more of the same onto us, then I have some shifts to make. For years, I've instructed clients (through Reiki, yoga and hypnosis) to journal their emotions; based on the fact emotions affect the mind, affect the body. It is such a wonderful tool. I don't only say the words I live them; with countless journals stashed away for the day when I will review my personal growth. To be honest I've yet to re-read any of them and do not believe I shall afterall the past is dust, right? Based on awakened thought if we continue to focus on issues and troubles we will only generate more. This shift into magnetic vibrational thinking means we need to focus on our blessings and not on what is; unless what is works. And so, the new homework is this - keep your journal, but scribe about how you want your life to look and feel. As you are writing see, sense and feel your desires as they are here now and it will be so. Rise above it folks! Life is a blessing its no longer a secret.