Tag Archives: Yoga

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Oh June,

I can't believe you are almost over!

Love List:

1. Weekday beach breaks between teaching yoga classes. Reality check, is this actually my life? Yep, okay, pinching myself.

Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately

 

Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately

2. This book. I am so inspired by this lady. I am doing some major soul searching these days; I’ve read two of her books over the last two weeks!

Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately 3. Yummy dinners for one, though they are suitable for two.

Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately

 

Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately

Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately4. Farmers market flowers, Hawaii style. With a great reminder from my favorite guy, 'everyday is love day,' so true. There is 'Donezo Washington' our exotic beta fish!

Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately

5. Volunteer work on farms, complete with my favorite things: Yoga, fresh juice, live music, dogs, and the great outdoors. (NaloSTE)

Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately

 

Love List: What I am Lovin' Lately Love List: What I am Lovin' Lately

6. This beautiful Himalayan Light; a gift from my wonderful teacher training mentees, thank you! Yep, Derek, the place is officially, a hippy haven. I can't wait for you to get back here!

Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately

7. Fresh juice and homemade soap from the wonderful Tawney (she rocks).

Love List: What I'm Lovin' LatelyLove List: What I'm Lovin' Lately 8. Leaving 'work' and soaking in the epic double rainbows from the parking lot. I love you Hawaii. Thank you for providing me with constant reminders of how beautiful and precious life truly is, everydamnday.

Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately

9. This song: “‘Cause you’re stronger and you’re better and you’re ready for whatever.” I've got it on replay!

10. Snapchats from this pair of best friends. STAWP, this is too cute.

Love List: What I'm Lovin' Lately

What are you loving these days?

With Love,

laura mary

 

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Fire Starter Sessions

They have begun...

Dreaming...BIG...

"If you try to keep your most sacred ambitions off your weekly calendar and your most genuine traits off your resume, then you're missing out on the power of real integrity." - The Fire Starter Sessions

"Anything or anyone that does not bring you alive, is too small for you." - David Whyte, poet

Danielle Laporte is an inspiration. I highly recommend this book.

Dream big, you are 'freer than you think you are.'

With Love,

laura mary

 

 

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Yoga: Truth and Inspiration

Wednesday,

You are productive. Hello, 4:30am wakeup call, 6am yoga class, teaching a private yoga session in the park, followed by my own yoga practice. I was ready for you.

Did I mention that there were sea turtles swimming right in front of me?

Is every day as inspiring as today? No. I thought about what life details I wanted to share on my blog, and I decided that I want to share what I am feeling. If and when I go through a really rough time, I am not opposed to sharing my feelings.

The truth is right now, I feel pretty damn good about life. Furthermore, I generally write when I feel good, it’s not that everything in my life is always rosy and peachy, but right now it feels that way. I am writing a lot these days because I have something to share.

It feels really good to share and not hold back. Today was awesome.

As a yoga teacher, I practice standing in my own authentic truth, speaking my mind, and not worrying about what others might think. Today, I was basking in my own truth, in a puddle of savasana, I smiled, hugged my knees to my chest, and was one refreshed and happy girl.

Home Shenanigans:

Laundry…

My amazing new book, in love…

Yoga: Truth and Inspiration

 

Some green refreshment…

Yoga: Truth and Inspiration

 

Realization - by standing in my own authentic truth, I inspire.

With Love,

laura mary

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Life Lately: Radical Change

My Thoughts on Teaching Yoga Full Time:

First of all, I get to write this post from the comfort of Whole Foods (Kahala), before I teach my 2:30pm class at CorePower Yoga. I have never felt I am more on the right path, in the right place, than I do now. I love helping and working with people. Teaching yoga is exactly what I am supposed to be doing right now.

I am 100% self-motivated to do what I love; it is scary, thrilling, exciting, and energizing. It is infusing me with even more passion and drive to share and continue on this journey, doing what I love, yoga.

I am even more excited about what is to come, and the unknown of it, is propelling me forward to work even harder. I feel very fortunate to be making what I love into a sustainable profession.

My Advice:

Sit down with a pen and paper and reflect on where you are in life. What drives you? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Is the job you are in, going to take you there? If not, how can you begin to make moves to get yourself there? Just start thinking, writing, planning, and doing.

Thank you!

With Love,

laura mary

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The Many Reasons I love Sundays…

I love to wake up with the sun shining on my face, while I am lying on top of the sheets and comforter; and after 9 hours of sleep, the bed looks as though no one has even been on it. My mom would always joke about this when I was a kid, “Laura, did you even sleep in this bed?” … I still do it, Mom. Since Derek has been away, I’ve pushed the bed all the way up against the wall, where Derek’s surfboard rests, that too is the kid in me…goblins anyone? Sunday: Abundance, Food, Life, Yoga

I love waking up and knowing that I don’t have to get out of bed, but I do, because I am eager and excited to get my day started, because Sunday is my day. French vanilla coffee from Down to Earth? Yes please. Coffee is pretty much the best simple pleasure, ever. Paired with some yummy toast with fresh ground peanut butter, organic honey, and cinnamon on top (I am a toast lover). YUM. Sunday: Abundance, Food, Life, Yoga

Light up some candles and turn on some Norah Jones…

Sunday: Abundance, Food, Life, Yoga Sunday: Abundance, Food, Life, Yoga And it’s right to “work” I go. Planning my sequences for my 3 classes today. Planning my future. Constantly, pinching myself, and experiencing so many reality checks on life, for I just can’t believe the amazing turn it has taken. Sunday: Abundance, Food, Life, Yoga

Just asking myself, some small questions... Sunday: Abundance, Food, Life, Yoga

I feel so much abundance all around me. Good things keep happening, and one notion has become really clear to me: abundance attracts abundance. I am so thankful for all of my friends and family who are continually fueling my inspiration because they too are inspired. Abundance attracts abundance. Now it is time for yoga with my three friends. Sunday: Abundance, Food, Life, Yoga

Happy Sunday everyone!

Surround yourself with those people that fuel your own inspiration and find one small pleasure that lightens your day and makes you smile.

With Love,

laura mary

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Oh, hi handstand. I like you. A lot.

This is a how-to-posture breakdown. There are tons of postures that you begin with to build up to this point (plank and navasana), but anyone, can practice the alignment set up of this posture and maybe even try a hop or two! If you are practicing against a wall, set yourself up so that you are one thumb and one forearm distance away.

Handstand is just so wonderful. In fact, if I were a yoga posture, I would be a handstand. I will get into the benefits in a bit.

For now, I will break down the posture into 4 parts.

1. Draw Femur up in Down Dog.Yoga Posture How To: Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana)

The posture starts with your set up. A lot happens in step 1.

Come into your downward facing dog (hands shoulder width distance apart, feet hips width distance, index fingers parallel to the side of your mat). Now, draw your shoulder blades down your back, away from your ears. Next, lift one foot an inch off the mat (or higher) without bringing your foot forward or backwards. Hover your foot there for 5 full breaths. Feel your femur bone descend into the hip socket, so there is a sensation of drawing it upwards. As your leg is lifted, hug your inner thighs together (adduction). Squeeze your forearms in towards one another, and hug your ribs together. Keep that squeeze of your inner thighs, and point your pinky toe down towards the earth. You are all set to practice little hops up with your lovely square hips. Your hips will remain square if you keep hugging inward and rotating inner foot arch up and pinky toe down (engage your feet and toes).

2. Hinge Forward, followed by a bent front knee.

Yoga Posture How To: Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana)

Yoga Posture How To: Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana)

One legged downward facing dog with square hips, keep your arms and belly strong, and with hips level. Keep squeezing your inner thighs together to use more mula bandha power. Inhale, hinge forward and tack your shoulders over your wrists!

Next, while in one legged downward facing dog with square hips, keep your arms and belly strong, and with hips level, play around with bending your front knee and hopping off the crowd to your comfort level. Keep squeezing your inner thighs together to garner more mula bandha power. Stack your shoulders over your wrists!

3. Draw bent knew into chest, but keep the lifted leg strong and straight.

Yoga Posture How To: Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana)

With your shoulders stacked over your wrists, hips are identical on both sides, hug the bent knee to your chest, center yourself, breathe, hug thighs in, and once you find the point where you feel strong and balanced extend your other leg up, and reach the balls of your feet high up towards the sky.

4. Handstand Happiness.

Yoga Posture How To: Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana)

Hug legs into your midline before, during kick up, and while in handstand! The balance comes from your center and expands outwards to your arms and toes. The pelvis is really heavy, and kicking up can be scary, I know! But by hopping up with square hips, you are doing yourself a real favor in terms of balancing; you are doing it with a lot more control!

Also, look at how freakish my toes look. I am flexing and pointing (flointing), and by doing so, I am firing up and activating every muscle throughout both legs. Keep your feet engaged!

In sum, handstands, work every muscle in your body. Try to see if you can smile and have fun, laugh at yourself, every time you fall down...and try again!

There are endless handstand benefits, but here is a short list:

-strengthens upper body

-improves balance (duh) but even when you are right side up (was that a duh, not sure)

-mood booster (you will feel like a rockstar)

-CORE (navasana helps)

-improves bone density (body weight baring), circulation (it gets your heart rate up), and breathing (don’t hold your breath while you are up there as many beginners do, keep breathing)

My bottom got all sandy, because this happened....

Yoga Posture How To: Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana)

Keiki to the rescue! Summer is also an awesome adjustor, add that to her list of being the best kid ever.

Now, go get your handstand on!

With Love,

laura mary

 

 

 

 

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Reflection: Wake up and do your Best

Wake up and do your best.

Basically, all you can do every day is wake up and do your very best. In your journey, what matters is what you think, what you say, how you act, and why. Will you be perfect? No. Will you make mistakes? Yes. Don’t let the critics get under your skin; let them go, there will always be critics. The supporters? Keep them close and don’t let them go. You hold the compass and decide not only where you are going, but also how you will get there and who you will take with you.

You choose. So choose wisely. Choose inspiration. Choose good people. Choose health. Choose kindness. Choose love. Choose enjoying the process, the highs and the lows. Choose learning and strength through the struggle and challenges, because this is it.

You will be dealt a balance of highs and lows. For some reason, I’ve always thought that when things are ‘right’ they must therefore be ‘easy.’ As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how flawed this thought proved to be. 

For example, yoga, Navasana (Boat Pose), never gets easier; but it’s certainly ‘right’ I feel myself quivering and shaking, and getting stronger with every breath spent holding the posture. Relationships are another great example; one of my very best friends in the whole entire world and I have always bickered like sisters, okay sometimes more than just bickered we could call it full on blow outs. With that said, we’ve always worked through our difficulties, maybe with a whole lot of tears, and emerged stronger. Was it is easy? Hell no. Was it worth it? No doubt.

Sometimes, waking up, and facing the up and down journey through life can be hard. But that’s what makes it so real, so amazing, and so worth it.

What really matters is getting out of bed and doing something. Our time here is fleeting, we never know when it will be over, so why not do your best? Why not connect with everyone that you can, hear all of their stories? Why not, stretch the limits of what you feel you are capable of? Why not feel ridiculously happy, because who really cares if others express jealousy? Why not let go of your own feelings of jealousy, because who is it serving? Why not step up to the plate, swing your little heart out, and maybe strike out? Because getting out of bed and doing your best, is the best thing you can do. If you fall, get back up, and know that in someway there is a lesson there. Maybe it is hidden or maybe it’s glaringly obvious, but it’s there.

Surround yourself with good people that support and love you, the light and the darkness, where you are now and where you are headed. Thank you to awesome teachers, like Marissa Jeanne Sinclair, who inspire and live their yoga. Thank you to all of my incredible supporters, family and friends, for loving and never failing to be there.

"When you get to a place, where you're seeing the positive in others more than the negative, it means you're doing the same for yourself. 

You amazing, wondrous vessel of spontaneity, creativity, beauty and strength. - The Universe"

Set your goals high, think about them, write them down, and then go after them.


With Love,

laura mary

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Universe Memos

 

Life Lately:

I’ve never been a “writer,” per se, but now I feel their pain. Writer’s block, is a real phenomenon. Don’t be discouraged, there is a way to combat writer’s block, and that is with the power of intention. There is a huge power in setting intentions and then leaving them be, to develop as they will.

Oh the trials and tribulations of being me…

If you want to write a blog post and you don’t have an idea yet, whatever you do, don’t sit down to write one. Go do something else, like take a shower; really, you can do anything you want, except sit down to write.

While you have the intention of wanting to write, go off and do something else. As soon as you forget about the intention (though it has still been planted), suddenly, BOOM, ideas start flowing at a rapid pace.

Now, you have about 7 theme ideas in your head and you are trying to finish up your shower, whatever you do…don’t get out of the shower and plan on writing, because unless you repeat those 7 theme ideas in your head continuously (and all of the thoughts that stemmed from the original idea), you will only remember the last idea formulated.

Try that experiment, but, if you are not vested in the outcome of the blog post, you may find different results. However, I can conclude that I am clearly vested in the outcome of my blog, as this current post is the only idea that I’ve been left with since my shower ended.

I am going to interpret this as a gigantic memo from the Universe to slow down, let go of my attachment, and go do something that I enjoy. So I will go practice yoga for an hour with a notebook beside my mat…

And hopefully, you will all be hearing from me tonight!

I hope you enjoyed my stream of consciousness, I wrote this at midnight and I’ve been up since 4:30am! OH, life, why are you so awesome at dishing out lessons in the most unusual of manners?

With love,

laura mary

 

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Yoga: Life and Feeling Centered

 

Life Lately:

Okay. Well, it’s been a bit since my last post. Life has been pretty wild lately. This blog post will be everything but neat. Here is what’s going on with me these days!

Derek is in LA for 3 months (all summer). Before he left for home, we spent all of our time together. His family was visiting as well and we kept ourselves quite busy, it felt like we were both on vacation too.

We had a blast to say the least. Now, Derek is gone, I miss him a ton but I am taking this time to really focus on myself. Since he’s been gone, I’ve realized even more so what a rock he is, in supporting me in everything that I do. Not only does he make the bed and coffee every morning (hehe), but he also attends all of my classes, supports my teaching, and my dreams. I have never felt more myself, more beautiful, more challenged, and more loved. As I figure out where I am headed, I am so thankful that I have him as my mirror (even if from a distance) to look at and keep me real, grounded, connected, and practical.

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. I left my job at the Cancer Center and I am currently teaching yoga full-time and doing wellness visits; I turned 27 (how in the WORLD did that happen?), Derek left for California, and I am faced with many real, hard, and practical life decisions…basically, I have to grow up.

I have to get real about the direction I am heading in life, which is an exciting one, I know that much – but rather than flow through in typical yogi way, I have to plan. I still set goals and write down my dreams, but I need to plan just how I am going to end up to where I want to go. This has resulted in me being even more obsessive with my planner (aka “homework assignment notebook,” as I refer to it). Meanwhile, I’ve been teaching so much yoga (17 classes this week + 1 wellness visit + coaching teacher training). Which is absolutely amazing (I will get there). Hopefully, I will adjust quickly to the life of a full-time yoga instructor.

While, I am trying to fit in as much career planning as I can, I am trying my very best to stay inspired with my yoga practice, teaching, and life. Life inspiration for me, means that in addition to practicing, I must go to the beach, hike, read, and spend time with people I love (but it’s for my job, I promise). But the truth is, I can't fit it all in! It hit me the other morning when I woke up, that my “to-do-list,” was complete with everything I love to do. One of the many joys of life these days is that – I never want to miss a single day of work. I love my job, I love working with and helping people; all of my students inspire me to be the best version of myself. Furthermore, I work with a group of teachers that are absolutely amazing.

And...What's the Problem?

However, with all of these wonderful shifts and changes and the beautiful ebb and flow of life, it has left me feeling a little less than centered. While I was working full-time at the Cancer Center, I made it an absolute priority to practice yoga #everydamnday (yep!); Now, I’ve noticed, my practices are a little bit shorter, I am snacking and grabbing quick bites to eat in between classes, and I have had less time to write. I know I need my rest, green juices, sweat sessions, mediation, time in the mountains and in the ocean to feel really, truly, centered. Derek knows best what I am like when I go a few days without practicing (don’t mess). Suddenly, rather than hold my own space strongly, I see a funny smirk on a person and think, ‘oh gosh- I hope they are okay, was it something I did or said? Okay, I better take this issue on and work it out.’

And I didn’t quite realize that I was doing this, until I came across this beautiful Marianne Williamson quote.

“What's difficult in life is to stay centered when somebody says or does something that tempts us to close our hearts because their heart was closed. That is hard. But that is also how we grow. We go through those circumstances in order to evolve into people who can hold our loving center no matter what the world throws us.”

- Marianne Williamson

I read this quote today and it hit home. It really struck me. While, my energy levels are perhaps depleted, and I am not feeling fully centered, I need to practice staying strong and holding my own space, regardless of what is going on in life.

If someone is having a bad day, and they treat you in a way that leaves you feeling bad…let. it. go. It is not, I repeat, not, your problem to take on. I needed this amazing reminder today. For my 6 am class this morning, I did a lot of core work (always) and heart openers. I shifted my perspective for the entire day, I feel open. I have been practicing moving through today with a loving intention and more compassion. I have been less reactive and definitely more open.

You never know what someone else is going through. Rather than make their story (issue) about you, take a step back, and be a little bit more open and loving; find some compassion knowing that they have something to work through.

Be ready to listen.

With Love,

laura mary

 

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Ahimsa: Do No Harm, but Take No Sh*t

101 on the 8-limbed-path:

Patanjali (either one or many people) is the author(s) credited with writing the Yoga Sutras, around 2 centuries after the life of Jesus. The Yoga Sutras outline the 8-limbed-path to living a life of personal fulfillment and one that also benefits society.

The Eight Limbed Yogic Path:

1) Yamas (5 moral restraints)

  • Ahimsa (nonviolence)
  • Satya (truthfulness)
  • Asteya (nonstealing)
  • Brahmacharya (continence)
  • Aparigraha (non-hoarding/noncovetousness)

2) Niyamas (5 observances)

  • Saucha (cleanliness)
  • Santosha (contentment)
  • Tapas (heat, spiritual austerities, discipline)
  • Svadhyaya (self-study)
  • Isvara Pranidhana (surrender to a higher source)

3) Asanas (postures)

4) Pranayama (breath control)

5) Pratyahara (turning inward)

6) Dharana (concentration)

7) Dhyana (meditation)

8) Samadhi (union of self with object of meditation)

Do No Harm, but Take No Sh*t (Ahimsa)

The current post will focus on Ahimsa or non-violence. Ahimsa is the first of the 5 yamas (moral restraints), which serve to guide a ‘yogi code of conduct.’ Ahimsa does not exclusively refer to physical violence, but includes violence of words and thoughts as well. The thoughts we hold about ourselves or others can be as powerful as physical attempt to harm. The practice of ahimsa on our mats means to be kind to ourselves; maybe that means not forcing yourself into a posture once you’ve lost your breath, and rather backing out and staying at the first layer of the posture. To practice ahimsa off of our mats means to be constantly vigilant and to observe ourselves in interaction with the world and take note of our thoughts and intentions.

There is a famous story about ahimsa told in the Vedas (great collection of philosophical teachings from India). A sadhu (wandering monk) traveled annually to several villages to teach and one year he came across a snake, a notorious villain in the community; he was terrorizing the people. The Sadhu shared with the snake his teachings on ahimsa or nonviolence.

When the sadhu returned the following year for his annual teachings, he saw the snake again. The once strong, powerful, magnificent creature had transformed to a skinny, bruised, and cowardly one. The sadhu inquired as to why the snake had appeared sick, damaged, sad, and without confidence. The snake explained that he had taken the teachings of ahimsa to heart and had stopped terrorizing the village. However, as he was no longer terrorizing the people, the children had taken to throwing rocks at him and taunting him, to the point where the poor snake was scared to leave his hiding place to hunt for food and thus had become skinny and bruised.

The Sadhu was very disappointed, he shook his head and said, “I did advise against violence, but I never told you not to hiss.”

The famous story teaches us that protecting yourself and others does not violate the yama of ahimsa. To practice ahimsa means to take responsibility for your own harmful behaviors and to make an attempt to stop potential harm caused by others. Ahimsa does not ask us to be neutral, to play small, to cower away, to hide, to curl up; this is not the point at all. Practicing true ahimsa means to stand even stronger in the face of insult, to roll your shoulders back and puff up our chest when someone tells you they don’t believe it can be done or that you won’t be able to make it happen. The next time someone puts you down, know that your value does not depend on the opinion of anyone else, know that their thoughts, and words, if not delivered with a loving intention become their problem, and NOT yours.

Practicing ahimsa is to act, think, feel, and speak with the clear intention and motivation of love behind each. Go out there and be you, let the words of others bounce right off of you, and practice standing a little bit taller, and continue to act with your best loving intentions.

Namaste,

laura mary