spring has sprung!

The first blooms of the season bring wonderful thoughts of outdoor yoga to mind! We'll see if I can't start my own little group of friends to join me. My town isn't large enough to have guerilla yoga... yet!

Namaste,
Callah

350 Challenge

Would just like to draw my (few, if existent) readers attention to the new badge on my blog ------->
It's for the 350 Challenge. For every blogger that posts the badge on their blog, and then fills out a quick form for Brighter Planet to verify, they will offset 350lbs of Carbon in your name. It takes about a minute... and think of the difference it would make if every yoga blogger did it! Join the movement, pass it on!

Namaste,
Callah

travel mat

I was super-excited to hear about this new "travel" mat from Lululemon.

(click on the pic to learn more!)

When I went to Vancouver last month for the Olympics, I faithfully lugged around my regular mat. Shockingly, it fit INSIDE my MEC backpack - but this would have been so much easier!

The mat itself also sounds really great (and also comes in a standard, cushiony form as well as the travel version)- supposedly it's super-grippy, and actually ABSORBs liquid (i.e. sweat), and is also partly made of recycled fabric. I'm hoping to get to a free class this weekend at one of their stores to try it out, to make sure it is worth all the hype before I buy. (Now that I've officially decided on the Montreal teacher training this September, I'm investing in a sturdy mat!)

What mat do you use? Do you bring it with you on holidays?

Namaste,
Callah

Excitement!

Over two things... this new, super-easy customizable blogger template, and getting the very first issue of my yoga journal subscription in the mail! (On a day when I had the flu... it cheered me up as much as was actually possible!)

And more good news... I will definitely be attending a Moksha teacher training this year, I just have to decide... Toronto, or Montreal? I'm leaning towards Montreal.
Happy Friday!

Namaste,
Callah
(P.S... still looking for anyone to exchange links! I want to get my blog out into the yogi/ni- blog world!)

considering vegetarianism

Today, vegetarianism seems to be hitting me over the head.

Moksha yoga creates "Green Tips" videos every month. Watch the April 2010 video (on what else, Vegetarianism!).


Next, my yoga journal email subscription. I receive veg recipes weekly, but I'm not much of a cook so I use skim the article and delete. Today, I decided to peruse the website (I guess that video influenced me!) and found this awesome "Vegetarian Starter Kit" guide.

Currently, I'm pescatarian, which means I eat fish/seafood but no other kinds of meat. (Going on 6 months now!) I'm not too strict about it -I don't mind picking pepperoni off the pizza on the odd occasion - but I try not to be too wasteful about it. (And I definitely don't judge meat-eaters!)

Reading more about the subject, it does make me want to cut back a bit more on some certain things, like dairy (although I could never give up cheese!)  and scale back the fish/seafood to not more than 2-3 times per week.

I'm curious about other yogis, are you some sort of vegetarian? Do you feel it is (or isn't!) an integral part of "living yoga"?

Namaste,
Callah

P.S. I'd love it if any yogi/ni bloggers want to "exchange links" for my blogroll!

world water day

Just a friendly reminder that today is World Water Day - the 2010 theme is "Clean Water for a Healthy World"!

Today, I'm going to take an extra-quick shower, and last month I chose to donate to the Footprints Water Program (picture below) when I bought travel insurance.

What are you doing to help?

Namaste,
Callah

a little about me...!

Since I'm new to the yoga blogosphere, I should introduce myself!
I live in Ontario, Canada. I started doing the BodyFlow classes about 5 years ago, tried my first "real" class - Bikram - about 2 years ago, and have regularly been doing the Moksha hot yoga series since last October. I energy exchange at the Moksha studio in town, and next month will be taking the Kids Yoga teacher training weekend course our studio is hosting. (The course will be taught by Aruna at Young Yoga Masters ). I'm also on the waitlist for the Moksha teacher training in Toronto this summer, so fingers crossed!!

I'm really glad I found the energy exchange program, I've totally been "sucked into" the yoga community, and I love it! I work part-time as a dental hygienist, and I'm just not totally satisfied. I feel like I've been led to yoga, and can't wait to see where it takes me!

Now, some poses I love... and some poses I'd love to master!
Poses I love:
Camel - i actually disliked this one to start, but since October I've managed to work my way back into the full pose. I love it!

Pigeon- I love that you have to surrender yourself to fully get into this pose!


Awkward pose- i just love it!

Poses I'd love to master:
This variation of Pigeon - I tried this for the first time the other day, and my foot was so far away from my head! This will take some work!

Crow/ Crane. I can feel my arms toning up from all my chuttarungas, so I can't wait to have enough balance and strength to pull this one off!

Half Moon- I can get myself into the pose, but I am VERY shaky- I want to stabilize the pose!

images from here, here, here, here and here.

What are your favourite poses, and your goal poses?

Namaste,
Callah

Yoga Wars

Perusing It's All Yoga, Baby I came across this old debate, including Ted Grand, found of Moksha yoga. (Which actually happens to be my "home" studio in Milton, I energy exchange there!)
Interestingly enough, in the last 5 minutes they discuss yoga competitions.

Looks like I'm not the only one who thinks they're nuts!

Namaste,
Callah

Do one thing a day that scares you.

Ah, the good old Lululemon manifesto. Well, today, my scary thing was... WEARING SHORTS TO CLASS.

Yes, I have never before worn shorts to practice in public before. And I'm one of those people who carry my extra weight in the thighs, so it was a bit daunting. But it's laundry day, and I was out of options.
It's amazing how such a seemingly small change can really make your practice feel so different. I kept looking in the mirror and thinking, "Wow, it doesn't even seem like me!" I thought the sweaty legs (hot yoga) would be more of a problem, but really in the end, I got over my self consciousness and liked the change!
Looks like my yoga wardrobe has expanded :)
What do you like to practice in?

Namaste,
Callah

Asana Competitions

I can't quite recall how, but a few weeks back I stumbled upon these Youtube videos of the Asana Championships. To be quite honest, once I got over the awe of people's bodies ACTUALLY bending like that, I was a bit horrified. My teachers always talk about how your practice is your own... and NOT a competition. This seems to throw that all out the window!

Watch the videos of this years champions.





What do you think? Is this a good way to make yoga competitive, or do you believe your practice should be just that... YOURS?

Namaste,
Callah

Welcome!

I figured that yoga is becoming such a big part of my life, I may as well blog about it. So, welcome to my yoga blog, where I will post things yoga related or that tie in to the yoga lifestyle!

Namaste,
Callah