Ganesh and Hellen Hunt :)

The other day my sweet heart and I were watching the new movie soul surfer.  This was partly motivated because a piece I worked on for Athleta was worn in the movie! Check out Hellen Hunt! 

All that aside it had some great thoughts on how we define ourselves. So much of the time we lock ourselves in to what we think we should be instead of allowing ourselves to experience our full nature. We apply limits to ourselves before we have a chance to realize the fullness of our spirit.  You are not you job, you are not your family, you are not your clothing, you are not where you live or how much money you make. Its not that they are not part of your experience but you are MORE.  The main character looses her arm in a shark bite accident. She struggles with how to redefine what she is without being a pro surfer and she is able to grow beyond her love of surfing and see a new aspect of her self.  This is a prefect example of Ganesh in our life. People think Ganesh is just there to take the obstacles away. To make your life easy and smooth. But this is a matter of perspective. Ganesh is also there to place obstacles in front of you. To challenge you to help you grow.  It is your choice whether or not you grow, and if you can change your perspective.  Lets practice inversions of the mind. lets change our perspective!

 AUM GAN GANAPATEYE NAMAH

STRESS RELIEVING ASANAS

STRESS RELIEVING ASANAS
The most effective way to relieve stress is through Nadi Shodhana. It is an alternate nostril breathing technique. The yogis believe that it clears and calms the mind and balances the right and left side of the brain.  Breathing has a profound effect on our state of mind and this is a wonderful way to reset your mental and emotional state. The best part about this is you don’t need a lot of space to do it.

How to:

• Hold your right hand up and curl your index and middle fingers toward your palm. Place your thumb next to your right nostril and your ring finger and pinky by your left.
• Close the right nostril by pressing gently against it with your thumb, and inhale through the left nostril. The breath should be steady and even.
• Now close the left nostril and exhale through your right nostril.
• Inhale through the right, close it off, and exhale through the left.

Begin with 5-10 rounds, inhaling through the left nostril, exhaling through the right, inhaling through the right, and exhaling through the left for each round.
My favorite asanas for stress relief are forward folds. Uttanasana (standing forward fold) is a great one, or any other forward fold variation such as…

Padangustasana (forward fold with your fingers wrapped around your big toes)…

Paschimottanasana (seated forward fold)…

Janu Sirsasana (head to knee forward fold)…

And my favorite, Balasana (child’s pose).
Never underestimate the power of totally letting go. You do not have to twist yourself in to a pretzel to release stress — sometimes you just need to be gentle.  Two key alignment points for forward folds:  1) Fold from the hips not the back, and 2) use your abs to fold forward, not just your arms.
Forward folds help bring about a state of Pratyahara or deep internal focus. They help calm the mind and bring your focus inward. Forward folds are also AMAZING for digestion, which is very important — especially if you are considering eating all the pie I’m planning to consume this holiday! Forward folds are a great equalizer!.
And to finish it off, Ardha Matsyendrasana (seated spinal twist) is a wonderful way to squeeze out your liver and kidney — purge all that eggnog!
NURTURE YOUR HIPS

Everyone holds tension in a different place. Shoulders and hips are very common spots for tension. One reason for our hip tension is that we sit in chairs and cars all day long. Our hips are in that same position the majority of our lives. (I vote we all get rid of our chairs!) Your body is like clay it has a memory. And areas that are stiff are going to remember that and become a hot spot for recurring injuries as well as stress. When you are stressed and you don’t take the time to deal with it, you store it somewhere — frequently places that are already stagnant like your jaw, shoulders or hips.
Yoga is a physical way of reminding yourself to emotionally let go. It’s much easier to tell your body to do something than tell your mind. With the physical practice of letting go, you are also learning to let go emotionally. The hips are also related to Muladhara chakra, which is considered our foundation — the basis for our physical self. If we are not taking care of the physical self, our basic needs, then our stress and tension will show up in our hips.  Most of the time we don’t even realize we are holding on to stress like that. And it’s not until we feel significant pain in our body that we realize we are stressed and hanging on to that emotion.
During a particularly busy time at work this year I injured myself three times — once in my shoulder, once in my low back and once in my hips. It was not until I had hurt myself that I realized how much stress I was hanging on to. When I finally started to take more time to deal with the real issues at hand then my physical pain subsided. A couple of my favorite hip openers are…

Agni Stambasana (double fire log pose)…

And Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (pigeon pose). These are also great forward folds! For more hip opening poses, check out Mini Yoga Practice: Hip Opening from Margaret Burns Vap.
BE MINDFUL!

Enjoy the food as you are taking it in, but EAT MINDFULLY. Don’t rush. Think of each bite being filled with love from the person who made it. Take it in as Prasad — a gracious gift from the divine (and we all have this within us). I kid you not — mindfulness is all you need.

Ask Hannah: Resources for Yoga Newbies

I remember trying a yoga class for the first time. I was totally embarrassed and I had no idea what the heck was going on. But when I got out of class I was HOOKED! I was so relaxed and happy. I had to keep at it. I think this is a big thing for most people who are curious, but not so sure about yoga. It’s always scary to try something new. I have a friend who would run on the treadmill while reading yoga journal, until one day she finally decided to try a class. And she loves it!
Below I address some of the common concerns I hear from people who are interested in yoga, with tips for getting beyond these concerns. I’ve also assembled a comprehensive resource guide has tons of DVDs, books and other resources to get you over the newbie hump…

NEWBIE TIPS

“They use a dead language — Sanskrit!” Most teachers use a blend of the English terms and Sanskrit, but it’s good to get familiar with some of the words. A good way to do this is to check out a DVD (see recommendations below) and hear some of the terms. If you search the web you’ll also find many sites with yoga glossaries and even some audio pronunciation guides.
“It’s a totally different system of movement.” Checking out the books and DVDs in my resource guide can help familiarize you with what to expect. Try a few in your living room, but don’t rely on videos alone — it’s crucial to learn from a qualified teacher. Sometimes when it feels like you’ve got the pose, in reality you can be way off. It’s safer to have yoga teacher there when you are learning.
“There are a lot of different styles! Which is right for me?” Just as there are lots of types of people, there are lots of types of yoga. Each teacher and style will be different. Try them before you make up your mind — not everything is right for you. I’ve listed a bunch of DVD options below, organized by themes and styles. Look for what appeals to you and give it a try!
“I’m worried about being embarrassed.” Yoga was traditionally taught one-on-one, so consider trying a private teacher. They can help you figure out what style might be good for you and give you amazing insight on alignment. Even if you have been practicing for a while, one-on-one yoga can help you deepen your practice.
If you don’t want to hire a private teacher, try a beginner’s or intro to yoga series at a local studio. Most studios offer deals for new students so you can try it out, see if it’s right for you, and see what you might want to explore further.  One other tip: Be consistent. Once you have picked a teacher and a class that feels right to you, stick with it. The teacher will be able to help you grow in your practice, and things don’t change overnight so enjoy the process.
“Where are the studios?” A great resource for finding classes near you is the MINDBODY yoga app for iPhone and iPod Touch. The limit is that it only pulls up studios that are using MINDBODY’s product for managing their schedule (it’s pretty common nowadays). Also try  YogaFinder.com for workshops, retreats, studios, teachers etc.

DVD & AUDIO RESOURCE GUIDE

If You’re Just Starting: Yoga Journal’s Complete Beginner’s Guide with Pose Encyclopedia (DVD)	If You Want a Workout: Yoga Journal: Yoga for Strength and Toning (DVD)	If you Want Cross-Training: Athlete’s Guide to Yoga by Sage Rountree (DVD)	If You Want Yoga for Women: Yoga Conditioning for Women (DVD)
If You Want Vinyasa Yoga: Shiva Rea: Yogini Vinyasa Flow for Women (DVD)	If You Want Power Yoga: Baron Baptiste Journey into Power: Power Vinyasa Yoga, Level 1 (DVD)	If you Want Ashtanga Yoga: Yoga w/ Richard Freeman: Ashtanga Primary Series (DVD)	If You Want Hatha Yoga: Yoga for Beginners w/ Patricia Walden (DVD)
If You Want Anusara Yoga: Connecting with Your Essence w/ John Friend (DVD)	If You Want Inyengar Yoga: Iyengar Yoga w/ Gabriella (DVD)	If you Want Relaxation: Relax Into Greatness: Yoga Nidra with Rod Stryker (Audio)

BOOKS

A full view of the yogic path & processes: Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Swami Muktibodhananda	Yoga for women, by women: Nawa Yogini Tantra by Swami Muktananda	The ultimate pose guide: Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar	My personal yoga dictionary: Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha by Swami Satyananda Saraswati	A great cross-training reference: The Athlete’s Pocket Guide to Yoga by Sage Rountree

GEAR

	Clothing. It goes without saying — I love Athleta for yoga clothing and accessories. Clothes designed for performance and comfort will allow you to make the most of your practice.
	Block. I do love a yoga block — infinitely useful. I prefer cork. The foam is super light, the wood is very heavy, the cork is just right — firm and mid weight!
	Strap. Use cotton or hemp canvas- I also like to go to class with a scarf in case I need one , some times your mat strap can double as a strap as well
	Towel. If you really get into Bikram, hot or power yoga, its imperative you have a towel. I love the yogi toes skidless towel, but a beach towel works if you are not flowing.
	Mat. If you practice a moderate amount: Manduka PROlite® Mat. Much easier to carry around still super sticky and lasts. It never wears out so you don’t have to buy another!
	Pro Mat. If you practice ALL THE TIME or have KNEE/ JOINT ISSUES use the Manduka Black Mat® PRO. The density of this mat is much more comfortable on sensitive joints and it holds up to anything. You can practice forEVER without wearing out this mat. Im OBSESSED with this mat. You do need to wash it to get it sticky.
	Eco Mat. The Jade Encore Yoga Mat is crazy sustainable (contains pre and/or post-consumer waste rubber) and still functional.
	Travel Mat. If you travel, use the Manduka eKO SuperLite® Travel Mat — it’s insanely light and it holds up in heat. Most travel mats I have used have gotten destroyed and warped after my trip. This one lasts. Since it so light it is very thin. Don’t expect a lot of padding, but it’s super sticky.

One final thought: I want to strongly encourage all yoga students (beginner or not) to look beyond just the physical aspects of yoga. It is an amazing system of transformation for your body, mind and spirit. Keep a receptive mind and heart; be willing to experience the practice in its fullness. Even if it’s just out of respect, take a moment to understand the roots of the practice and where it comes from, even if you chose to practice in a different way. You can only benefit from it.
OM SHANTI!
Om peace

check out this post on Athleta Chi!
http://www.athleta.net/chi/2011/07/18/ask-hannah-resources-for-yoga-newbies/

photos by Bret Linford Photography
http://www.bretography.com/