Snow Day

"4 of a kind" on Wednesday~a pun can be made on any subject . . . except a KING who is not a subject?! Feeling like a queen on this Snow Day, warming up with ROYAL TEA! zipaDeeBee's Infinity and BEYOND Yoga series will be back in action next Monday, January 22 @ Cedar Grove and Wednesday, January 24 @ Pisgah!

Did you ever wonder?

Did you ever wonder what "namaste" means?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_IZ6bjf6pY

Yoga MOOOOves!

We explored different ways to MOOOOve in this afternoon's yoga practice!  We took a hot air balloon ride, hopped with bunnies and the Masai, and danced with the chickens!

Shaking tailfeathers in the Chicken Dance

MOOOOving some more with Yoga Jenga

Breathing like a Lion ~ ROAR!!

Tangled up in Knot Posture

Blooming in Flower Posture!

She called this "Legs Up the Table?!"

Declutter and Create Space

We enjoyed cleaning consultant Marie Kondo's ideas for tidying up tonight as we decluttered and created space, packing away any lingering Christmas . . .

11th Day of Christmas -- BREATHING with the pipers piping

7th Day of Christmas -- swimming with the swans -- LOCUST

8th Day of Christmas -- get in the barn with the maids a milkin' -- CAT/COW

12th Day of Christmas -- rum-a-tum-tum on the drum with the twelve drummers -- DOG/PLANK

5th Day of Christmas -- 5 Golden Rings -- SUN SALUTES  (three warms you enough . . . )

3rd Day of Christmas -- TRIANGLE

4th Day of Christmas -- two of the 4 Calling Birds -- HAWK to SANDPIPER to HAWK

1st Day of Christmas -- be the Christmas Tree -- TREE

9th Day of Christmas -- dance with the ladies -- DANCER

2nd Day of Christmas -- a doveless turtle -- TURTLE

4th Day of Christmas -- another Calling Bird -- HERON

10th Day of Christmas -- leap with the lords -- HALF LORD of FISHES

4th Day of Christmas -- another Calling Bird -- PIGEON

6th Day of Christmas -- rest with the geese -- LEGS UP THE WALL

We also read Sally's Room by M.K. Brown.  

Hold onto what "sparks joy!"  Everything else -- LET IT GO!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J39GVju5Y-U

On the 12th Day of Christmas

Today rat-a-tat-tat on your drum by moving from Downward Facing Dog posture to Plank then back to Dog again!  Tying these two postures together builds strength and warms the body.  You can also check the placement of feet with the movement~I often work Downward Facing Dog more steeped and this movement helps me keep good space between my feet and hands.  Rum-a-tum-tum on the 12th and FINAL Day of Christmas! #zipaDEE12Days

On the 11th Day of Christmas

On the 11th Day, the pipers piped.  Playing a musical instrument requires a healthy diaphragm and strong command of the breath.  Sit today and practice breathing.  We are breathing all the time, but to take a moment and FOCUS on breathing improves the quality of my day.  I did not crop the above picture even though there is a lot in the foreground and background.  We have many things to do (foreground), we have accomplished much (background), but breathing helps us to be present in the moment.  It is grounding and calming and FREE and freeing!  To create harmony and the "best music," BREATHE on the 11th Day of Christmas. #zipaDEE12Days

On the 10th Day of Christmas

This twist energizes the spine and stimulates the digestive processes.  In the Twelve Days of Christmas carol, the "lords were leaping" on the tenth day.  This posture is entitled "Ardha Matsyendrasana"= Half Lord of the Fishes.  Matsyendra and Goraksha are often credited as the founders of the Hatha Yoga lineage.  Legend has it Matsyendra was tossed into the ocean when a baby and swallowed by a fish, hence his title, "Lord of the Fishes."  "Half" refers to the posture being modified and not the fullest expression where the foot of the bent leg rests in the hip crease of the straight leg . . . so TWIST on the TENTH Day of Christmas with a royal flair!  Sit up straight and tall, extending one leg with the foot flexed.  Bend the other leg and rest the foot inside or outside the knee.  You may hug the knee versus tucking the elbow on the outside of it, a modification or option I sometimes prefer.  The other arm reaches back as a second spine and you sit up tall and breathe.  On the inhale grow taller and on the exhale twist a fraction more.  Happy 10th Day of Christmas!  #zipaDEE12Days

On the 9th Day of Christmas

On the 9th Day of Christmas, dance with the nine ladies! Dancer posture is a balancing pose.  Feel the foot really grow roots into the earth and then bend the opposite knee.  Catch the ankle with the same side hand, inside or outside the ankle.  Tip the belly button to the ground, keeping hips square.  Reach out with opposite hand to help maintain balance.  You open the shoulders, chest and hips while stretching and strengthening the thighs, ankles, and abdomen.  You also increase flexibility in your spine, shoulders and hamstrings with this posture.  Dance morning, noon and night on the 9th Day of Christmas! #zipaDEE12Days

On the 8th Day of Christmas

On the 8th Day of Christmas, join the maids a milkin' down on the farm!  To be a cow, inhale and drop your "udders" while lifting your chin and tailbone.  On the exhale, round the back while dropping the chin and tailbone.   Moving back and forth between these two postures relieves stress from lower back pain and sciatica and increases flexibility of the neck, shoulders and spine.  The pairing also stretches the muscles of the hips, back, abdomen, chest and lungs.   4 COWS + 4 CATS = 8th Day of Christmas #zipaDEE12Days