Stand TALL on Friday!

Be a GIRAFFE

by yourself .  .  . 

or with a friend!

Playing with "Dogs" and "Children?!"

Begin in Downward Facing Dog

Extend one leg for a Three Legged Dog

See in your mind, then make it happen:  (1) Swing the leg through and place the foot forward for a Warrior 1  (2) Squeeze the tummy tight, your tummy is hooked into the grounded feet and lift (3) You. Are. There!  Relax your shoulders, put a smile on your face.

Reach the arms behind your back to stretch open the chest!  If your hands don't meet for a clasp, spread the fingers strongly and reach back.

 Lean forward to Humble the Warrior 1

Release the arms, heel toe the foot so the hands are now on the inside of the foot.  Lean on the outer edge of the foot and Rock the Lizard gently back and forth, back and forth.

Bring the feet together, take the knees wide and rest in Child's Pose.  Breathe and rest.  Repeat the sequence on the opposite side.  Thank you to Kelly Branning for sharing this fun with me so I can share with others!

Sunday Afternoon Tree Sequence

Be a Tree!

Move from Tree to Stork

Now the foot that's up comes down, keeping a bend in the knee while stretching the outside of the standing leg as you fold and twist.  You may use a block to bring the ground to you!

Repeat this fun on the other side!

  

Take a Deep Breath

 Blowing bubbles is one way to take a deep breath!  You can also .  .  . 

ABCs of Yoga

We will begin a new series next Wednesday, 11/2 (Pisgah, 5:30-6:30) and Thursday, 11/3 (Cedar Grove, 5:00-6:00)!  

*ABCs of Yoga*

11/2-3/16 -- A-Armor of God Yoga

11/9-10/16 -- B-Beattitudes Yoga

11/16-17/16 -- B-Boundaries Yoga

11/30-12/1/16 -- C-Circles Yoga

12/7-8/16 -- DEEclutter Yoga

12/14-15/16 -- DEEbug Yoga

1/4-5/17 -- DEEnote Yoga

1/11-12/17 -- DEEvote Yoga

Invest in yourself, take to time to renew!  It's $60 for 8 weeks of balancing and breathing, strengthening and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g. We'll laugh and sing, be quiet and still.  It's a GREAT way to wrap 2016 and kick off 2017!

Unlocking Your SUPER POWER!

Getting anxious about Hurricane Matthew? Find your breath! Breathe. Breathe IN. Breathe OUT. Having trouble finding your breath? Lay on your tummy and feel your belly expand on the inhale and feel it contract on the exhale . . . Breathing helps your body calm down. Breathing soothes your anxious mind. It "feeds" the prefrontal cortex or "downstairs brain" so you can make better decisions. You ALWAYS have your breath, no matter the weather!

#ThrowBackThursday

We had so much fun yoga-ing in the pool this summer! It is fun to explore how postures work in the water vs. on the mat. Here's one sequence we could do more gracefully IN the water, not so on dry land . . . 

 goddess to half-moon, moving right

reset in goddess . . . 

 

then rock left!

HIPPO-Hurray for Thursday!

HIPPO-Hurray for Thursday! What is a SMALL thing you could do today to make a BIG difference in the quality of your Thursday? Did you know stretching for 20 seconds can have a HUGE effect on your energy levels? Close your eyes for 2 minutes to relieve the physical and mental strain of phones, TVs, computers, etc. Even it's just for 5 minutes, get up and get out for a walk! It'll get your blood flowing, muscles moving and reset your brain! Or smile, make a phone call, send a note -- tell someone why they matter! It'll make your day and their day better! It's the little things . . . :-)

Mindfulness Magazine, October 2016, p. 42

Get Your Yoga On for a Cure

Support Mammo Diva Lifesavers' "Get Your Yoga On for a Cure" at Palmetto Health Baptist Auditorium, 1501 Sumter Street, on Wednesday, October 5th from 5:00-6:00 PM. The cost is $10 (or donate more).  All Funds stay local to benefit the Palmetto Health Foundation Walk for Life. 

It's Good to Be HONEST!

We studied chapter 5 of Liz Curtis Higgs' "It's Good to Be Queen!"  We worked a "box" move to remind ourselves that BEING TRUTHFUL breaks us FREE of the "boxed in" feelings that lies, secrets, deceptions, and disguises lock us to.  Queen Sheba "shelved her pride, ditched her embarrassment, and spoke the truth, holding nothing back."

We moved one side of the box with goddess steps:  step sideways into goddess pose,

 then slide feet and hands together and repeat.

1st Box Corner:  "SHELVE YOUR PRIDE" 

Standing on the left leg, cross the right ankle over the left knee.  Bend the left knee and balance your half lotus.

Step back in Warrior 1 to make the 2nd box side.  Step back left,

 step back right.  Be intentional and strong as you move.

2nd Box Corner:  "DITCH YOUR EMBARRASSMENT" 

Again, standing on the left leg, crossing over with the right.  Left elbow stacks in right, arms back to back and maybe twisted once, depending on your flexibility!

Move the 3rd side of the box with cross steps.  Step to the side,

then cross right over left.

Step to the side,

crossing right behind left.

3rd Box Corner:  "SPEAK THE TRUTH"

Standing on the right leg, crossing over with the left.  Right elbow stacks in left, arms back to back. Wrap the arms if you need more stretch!

Step forward in Warrior 1 to make the final box side.  Step forward left,

step forward right.

4th Box Corner:  "HOLDING NOTHING BACK"

Standing on the right leg, cross the left ankle over the right knee.  Bend the right knee and balance your half lotus.

It's GOOD to Be OPEN

We explored chapters 2 & 3 tonight of Liz Curtis Higgs' It's Good to Be Queen.  We highlighted the author's idea to be OPEN you must be (1) Willing (2) Eager and (3) Available -- Here's our yoga moves to help us remember:

(1) Willing

(2) Eager

(3) Available

To be OPEN you also need to have ON your listening brain, your listening ears and your listening eyes!

Pose of the Day: Down Dog

Pose of the Day:  Down Dog

Thank you, Roxie, for demonstrating the "Pose of the Day!"  The "Down Dog" movement strengthens and stretches!  You work the top of the body, and the lower body too.  You’ll feel it in your hands, arms, shoulders, back, calves, hamstrings and even the arches of your feet. When your body is "inverted" (or your heart is above your head), you encourage blood flow and energize and calm the body!

Put a little microbend in the knees.  Heels reach to the ground.  Roll into a plank and the back to down dog to check the distance between your hands and feet.  Push through the ground and separate or lift the shoulder blades.  Feel strong and feel the stretch in your arms, back and legs!

Try to be a little upside down EVERY day!

Be Ready for Battle

Suit Up with the Armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-19

The BELT of Truth provides stability to the core.  All the other pieces of armor attach to this one!

The BREASTPLATE of Righteousness -- Righteousness is "Right Living"   

If a boat is stored upside down, the environment created encourages creepy crawlies, legless and otherwise .  .  .  not so when the boat is upright!  Create the environment for "right living" by aligning your behavior to God's standard.

The SHOES of Peace give us strong footing on a chaotic path.  Peace guards AND guides.  ". . . the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:7

Your FAITH IN ACTION is a protective SHIELD!

The HELMET of Salvation gives you COMPLETE coverage!

The SWORD of the Spirit, The Word of God, is our OFFENSIVE tool.  

SUIT UP with the Full Armor of God

For more preparation, check out The Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer!