Family Yoga Fun

Family Yoga classes are my absolute favorite yoga classes to lead and the opportunities are few and far between . . . but  TODAY was one of those special days!!! Today we had two families and 11 participants have fun with Martin Luther King Birthday YOGA!!!  We took deep breaths, spent some time upside down, got on the bus with Rosa, strengthened our eye muscles to be on the look out for injustices, and closed with a dream.  Ahimsa is a yogi word meaning (1) nobody gets hurt (2) nothing gets broken.  Maybe MLK didn't physically practice yoga, but he did in his head and his heart.  His choices to make changes in peaceful, nonviolent ways are examples for us today.  His life made a positive difference in our world.  How can your life to the same?

Having fun with a Downward Dog Tunnel!  The youngest runs to go through the tunnel again.

Recipe for SUCCESS

When you're trying anything new and different or attempting a change, maybe taking on a project, I've found the following recipe to be most helpful:

(1) Research and Make a Plan--have other folks tried to do what you are trying to do? Google it and Meditate.  If Google doesn't have a plan, you might come up with one when you sit still and quiet . . . 

(2) Surround Yourself with Like Minded Folks--it's the bundle of sticks theory!  A stick may break, but a bundle has strength.  It's why people lose more weight when they "attend the meeting?!"

(3) Make Small Steps--get off the bank and jump in the water, flail around a bit.  The strokes will come!

(4) Celebrate Your Success--even when it's small

(5)  Be Encouraged!  Your mental strength is your success predictor!  Keep looking for the positives when you meet challenges along the way.

(6) It is a JOURNEY, not a final destination!  Be resilient and enjoy the ride.  :-)

zipaDEE-UPDATE

We begin a NEW SERIES on 1/18 and 1/19! Eight sessions of yoga for $60. S-t-r-e-t-c-h and strengthen, breathe and balance in 2017, no matter the weather.

zipaDEE-NOTE -- This week's yoga practice was NOTEworthy!

(1) We focused on the impact of jotting a NOTE to a friend: sharing encouragement, wishing wellness, or expressing gratitude. Small efforts of kindness make a BIG difference in a cranky world.

(2) We discussed journaling and NOTEtaking. How working out a day, lesson, activity, or problem in words on paper helps you reflect in a deeper and more quality way! 

(3) We also sang some NOTES. We didn't "worry if it was good enough for anyone else to hear!"

Next week is zipaDEE-VOTE: Wednesday, 1/11, 5:30 at Pisgah and Thursday, 1/12, 5:00 at Cedar Grove. We'll think about daily quiet and devotion time. Meditation and prayer are necessary because there are some questions Google can't answer . . .

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 .  .  .