play by play

So, apparently it's possible for my blogging to go downhill even more? I'm currently finishing up my Moksha requirements for grad - to be officially certified. The final project was a 30-day savasana challenge, previously mentioned i'm sure. I'll include the journal entry from my first day - a play by play, broken down by the minute (although I'm a cheater, this was seated meditation), some light reading for you. Reminds me of that scene in Eat, Pray, Love.

1: This is so comfortable.

2: Hmm, I need to stop writing the journal entry out in my head.

3: Just focus on your breath.

4: Next time, shut the cat outside of the room.

5: I wonder if this itch will go away if I keep focusing on my breath.

6: Oops, I should have told my boyfriend not to text me for 20 minutes.

7: What the heck is my cat doing behind me?

8: Oh hey, I guess that itch did go away.

9: Breath. Feel it through the body.

10: Another text? Keep eyes closed!

11: I should have peed before sitting.

12: Ok, seriously stop writing the journal in your mind.

13: This isn’t so hard.

14: I must be getting close to 20 minutes.

15: My back is getting sore.

16: Oh wow, it’s because I’m slouching so much!

17: My back feels so much better sitting tall again!

18: Ok, don’t peek. 10 more breaths.

19: Ok, this timer must be broken. I’ll peek… damn, 5 more breaths and I would have made it!

20: Next time I won’t peek at the clock! 

All times approximate of course (except the last minute!) :)

Namaste,
Callah
article and personal photos copyright of Callah at callahyoga.blogspot.com

moksha memories

One of my wonderful friends whom I met (and made!) at my YTT last summer made an awesome video capturing our training experience, and turned it into  her creative project showing how yoga influences the western world. I'll share it here, while it's more a personal reminiscing you might enjoy seeing how 60 people spend 30 days in a heat wave!



See if you can spot me a few times :)

Namaste,
Callah
article and personal photos copyright of Callah at callahyoga.blogspot.com

living your moksha- week one

Moksha Yoga is hosting a studio-wide 7 week challenge starting April 4th.

This week's pillar of focus is "Be Healthy", offering vegetarianism as a means to reduce your footprint on the planet as well as living healthier overall. I am a vegetarian (I tried veganism for a few months this year but was too stressed and busy to stick with it, maybe one day again!) but I don't preach it or expect everyone is willing or wants to go veg. A cool option is meatless mondays (with different websites and initiatives worldwide):

It’s not about going vegetarian. (Though that is a great choice.)

It’s about healthy, sustainable eating. It’s about reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It’s about doing what we can to slow down global warming. And it starts with you.

This video shows the difference one day a week actually can make!



Even if you don't practice at a Moksha studio, I encourage you to check out the challenge and maybe even sign up for the weekly emails- the first one was so packed with information! Sign up and take your yoga off the mat here. next week: be accessible.

Namaste,
Callah
article and personal photos copyright of Callah at callahyoga.blogspot.com

moksha videos January

So, I've been both enjoying my holidays and madly busy, thus equalling a negligent blogger. I hope you've been enjoying the holidays too much to mind!

I'm back! Enjoy some Moksha vids to start off your new year. The ever challenging Savasana... I've got a 30-day savasana challenge coming up! One of our projects involves 30 days of a 20-minute savasana. It's not due quite yet but I'm a keener so I want to get it out of the way so I can focus on getting in my asana practice hours! My fellow Milton teacher Shan shows you how to get your body just right so you can focus on the challenging part... the monkey mind!



lots of great little tips for the green tips of the month! I never would have thought about all of the trees it takes to make chopsticks... time to invest in some to-go ware for my purse, i think!



Wishing you all the most fantastic new year.

Namaste,
Callah
article and personal photos copyright of Callah at callahyoga.blogspot.com

Moksha Vids- December

For your viewing pleasure, the Moksha Green Tips & Posture videos of the month! and they're good ones :)

Green tips - Babies! Definitely a lot of great tips- I'll be sharing this with all of my friends!



And for the posture tip, thread the needle... one of my personal favourites! Especially post-run.



Do you have any more eco-baby tips to share?

Namaste,
Callah
article and personal photos copyright of Callah at callahyoga.blogspot.com


P.S. I'll be consolidating some of my reverberations so I can post other stuff as well! Check back tomorrow with a two-in-one #reverb10

moksha November vids

Here are the moksha videos for this month! I particularly love the green tips topic- travel. I've been making a more concentrated effort not to stuff my suitcase full just because I can!





How do you green your travel?

Namaste,
Callah
article and personal photos copyright of Callah at callahyoga.blogspot.com

flowing it out

This isn't an informative post or anything, I just wanted to share my excitement with my amazing readers. After intermittent classes throughout September, I have been lucky enough to be scheduled FOUR classes this weekend! (I still have one more to go in an hour- breaking at Starbucks to do some homework!)

It's amazing how teaching a bit more frequently really makes all the difference in the world in your comfort level. I finally seem to be conquering the challenge that is my monotone voice (although I'm not sure how students perceive it, it sounds a lot more varied to me anyways!). I even managed to keep my cool as I attempted to get a spider out of the hot room today. Normally, I hate spiders, but I was so focused on "saving" the class (and not killing the spider, since that would be a poor example of ahimsa!), that I was attempting to pick it up with my hands! Luckily, the student whose mat spidey was visiting was an energy exchanger with no fear of spiders. The guy did NOT want to be picked up so she shooed him out of class, where he was brought outdoors by another fearless energy exchanger. Normally my eradicating spiders involves paper and a cup- never my hands! Crazy. I was just so focused!

Also, I taught my very first "flow" class today! The regular Moksha series, if you've never done it, is 40 poses, starting with a standing series, then a middle savasana, ending with the floor series- there are a few vinyasa flows introduced in the second half of class. The flow class incorporates sun sals between all of the standing poses in the first half of class. I'm sure it's run of the mill for most experienced teachers, but I was definitely a little nervous going in! With a few minor hiccups, I think I rocked it! Great feedback from our regulars as well. I feel a lot more confident going into the next one, knowing what I need to tweak.

So, basically... I'm feeling good! I know I have a long way to go, but it is great to realize that I can do this!

source

If you teach, when did you realize that it was meant to be?

Namaste,
Callah
article and personal photos copyright of Callah at callahyoga.blogspot.com

moksha vids - october

A forward-folding posture tip video for you!



Offices... wow. The facts about recycling paper cups are staggering- I make a point to tote those cups home to my compost if I have to give in when I've forgotten my reusable mug.

In my dental office, I have such a hard time reconciling my "green" way of living with all the waste we generate- but I'm doing my best. Turning the x-ray machine on only when I need it, rather than leaving it on all day. Using bulk containers of polishing paste rather than individual cups. Wriggling out of my gloves when I need to grab something from the drawer so I can put them back on rather than use a new pair. There is still loads of waste generated, but I know these small changes will add up- especially if I can get everyone else in the office on board, which I am slowly doing as I get more comfortable as part of the team!

What changes can you make at your office or place of work?

Namaste,
Callah
article and personal photos copyright of Callah at callahyoga.blogspot.com

finding balance with yoga - article

I was so excited when one of my friends told me her sister wanted to interview me for her college newspaper. (Is that silly? Oh well!)

Anyways, it turned out to be a great article directed towards students who haven't tried yoga before, complete with photos! You can read the article here. Or, just click the image below to enlarge it! (yes, the photos were staged lol!)

Hope you enjoy :)

Namaste,
Callah

article and personal photos copyright of Callah at callahyoga.blogspot.com

arc of time

One of the incredibly talented fellow trainees (and now fellow teachers :) ) during my July YTT created this incredible video, showing a morning in the life of! Take a look.



I'm the one with the pink mat! Haha, good luck :)
Check out Emily's blog, keeping it simple.

Namaste,
Callah
article and personal photos copyright of Callah at callahyoga.blogspot.com

Warrior I! Moksha style with a short stance (which I only have just recently started doing long-stance warriors in other styles... and I like the short Moksha warriors! Great vid).

And a green tips mash-up... kind of like a best of!



Enjoy the videos this month! What's your favourite green tip?

Namaste,
Callah
article and personal photos copyright of Callah at callahyoga.blogspot.com