December 2009 Yoga Energetics 101

This month, rather than a posture, we will focus on the energy of the postures and maximizing it. We will talk first about the energetic body, including the Chakra system. We’ll discuss which postures are grounding and which are energizing. We will also talk about the effects of hand and foot positions; when do you […]

Life is Yoga: December 2009: Citta Vrtti Nirodha

Many yogis consider Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras to be the heart of yogic philosophy. The sutras are like a guide to the practice of yoga through short sentences called sutras. The second sutra is the definition of yoga—Yoga is the effort towards steadiness of mind: notice the word ‘effort.’ Another of my favorite quotes about ‘effort’ is […]

A Note About Seitan and Silk

The other day, I was at the health food store talking to my friend Scott,the owner. I asked him why he doesn’t carry Silk soy milk anymore. He said, Silk has gone from using non-gmo organic soybeans (US grown), to non-gmo soybeans(US grown), to now conventionally grown soybeans from China. The worst part is that […]

November 2009 Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Stand)

Pincha Mayurasana, or Forearm Stand, is one of my favorite poses. Pincha Myurasasa translates to “peacock feather.” Think of your feet lightly reaching for the sky in a multicolor display of energy! Okay, I am reaching, but you can get the image! This posture is one of the more difficult inversions, but is less injury-prone […]

Life is Yoga: November 2009

Change comes whether you want it or not. Beryl Bender Birch often says, “Celebrate impermanence!” I am still working on that concept, but I do know that much of my life I have spent preparing for things that never happened. Instead, something completely different happened. I am now, finally, and only sometimes, understanding what it […]

October 2009 Dynamic Core Strength for Backbending and Beyond

The spine moves in 6 directions: forward (flexion); backward (extension); sideways (lateral flexion right and left); and rotation (twisting right and left). Most of the time we are in forward flexion: think slouching. In order to maintain and even improve good posture we need to strengthen the spine in all directions, but especially in extension. […]

Life is Yoga: October 2009

Over the course of my life, I have been involved with many causes dear to my heart. I am a yoga teacher, peace activist, vegan, home-schooling mom of two, animal lover, and wife to an amazing man, among other things! Balancing all of these things is possible only if I maintain a sense of joy […]

Mimi’s Vegan American Chop Suey

Vegan American Chop Suey There is something about junky comfort food that I still crave every once in a while. I so remember eating American Chop Suey as a kid in the school cafeteria. It was made with all the stuff the USDA likes to dump on schools, nursing homes and hospitals’ ground beef, american […]

September 2009 Ardha Chandrasana: Half-moon Pose

Ardha Chandrasana is one of my favorite poses. It involves externally rotating the standing hip while keeping the elevated hip in neutral. It is also a standing balance which I consider a “leg behind balance.” What this means is the torso stays in line with the elevated leg. Other poses in this category include revolved […]

Life is Yoga: September 2009

Balance What does it mean to be in balance? Does it mean being perfect? I don’t think so. To be in balance means to be in neutral. No energy is needed to push forward or slow down. Balance is that point between the extremes. I wonder whether too many of us keep striving when we […]