Day 10 - Meditation Challenge - Yoga Nidra

This weekend was the grand opening of a beautiful Yoga studio in Brooklyn, NY named Yoga Nidra.  I was so thrilled to come for a weekend trip to participate in this amazing event, especially since the owner is my lovely student Stephanie.  In honor of her wonderful studio, todays tip for meditation is about Yoga Nidra.

Yoga Nidra is basically Yogic Sleep with conscious awareness.  There are a variety of techniques that yoga teachers use to help students come into this deep relaxation, and sometimes students can also opt for audio guided meditations for Yoga Nidra.  In a typical yoga class, nearly everyone's favorite part of class is Savasana, where we lay down on our mats and relax, unfortunately in many classes savasana is over in what seems to be a blink of an eye.  In the practice of Yoga Nidra, it allows the Savanasa fans to truly relax and unwind for an entire session.  In this practice we scan the body with guided imagery, connecting to each part and inviting relaxation with breath.  The soft soothing voice of the instructor or audio guides us to soften each part of our body.  Sometimes tibetan bells or singing bowls aid in this magical experience.

Yoga Nidra is considered conscious awareness and is referred to in the Mandukya Upanishads, sometimes referred to as "prajna".  Some swamis say that this is when the mind is in the middle of wakefulness and dreaming state of sleep.


 Though students lay in Savasana during this guided meditation, it is not uncommon for teachers to use blankets, blocks, bolsters and any other props to allow for the student to be craddled in a comfortable position.  Yoga Nidra is gaining popularity in the west, as people are realizing the benefits of stillness.  This practice is also beneficial for people who find it hard to sit, although the challenge is to maintain the ideal of mindfullness throughout and avoid sleeping.  With this deep relaxation, students are guided to connect with their bodies, the koshas, chakras, with conscious awareness of the sensations as they travel with the breath throughout the body.  This allows students to release stress and find a sacred connection with their body.

Soon there will be a guided meditation audio for Yoga Nidra on my Youtube Channel.  For those of you in New York, I highly recommend heading to Stephanie's beautiful Yoga Studio, Yoga Nidra.  The energy in her studio is amazing, she is dedicated to bringing you a beautiful experience, and depending on the weather you may be lucky enough to have class on her outside back porch/garden area.  Wish you all a beautiful experience in your journey with Yoga. Namaste

Story Time with Karma Kids

Today was Story Time with Karma Kids....The Yoga Adventures of Priya & Pooch was introduced to an amazing group of adorable little Yogis. I am so grateful to Shari from Karma Kids for inviting me to share my book, some of my music and Yoga with the lovely kids. Despite the Rain we had an amazing turn out of little kiddies!!! They spread out all over the room, slowly crawled towards me, and at the end crowded around for photos! As we progressed more Kids entered into the Karma Kids Studio and joined us for the fun adventure!!!

We began with the Karma Kids Om Song, and as The book is filled with many yoga poses we did the poses from each page, occasionally did a musical number to coincide with the Story, and at the end I played my guitar and led them in a few more of my Yoga Tunes. With Elephants, Monkeys, Butterflies, Tigers, Camels, Trees and many more poses to explore, these kids maintained the most inspirational level of energy!!! Kids have the most sincere way to inspire people to Yoga. When we were on the floor rolling like Caterpillars, one gorgeous little yogini pointed out how her Caterpillar was growing! When asking the kids to count or name the animals, the enthusiasm & excited responses were awesome. Many of the kids come to Karma Kids, and are familiar with the practice of Yoga from the incredible guidance of Karma Kids Yogis.

5 YOGI Lessons we can learn from Kids:

1. When the music plays they shake and sing with all their hearts

2. When they fall, they get back up with a Giant Smile

3. When they practice yoga....the approach is with tremendous JOY

4. When someone else knocks them over....they laugh and get back up as well.....and most often go and play with the person who accidentally knock them down without any memory of the fall

5. Tree Pose is really not that serious.

Thanks Shari for inviting me to your amazing Studio, and helping in demonstrating the Yoga Poses during the Story and Songs, YOU ROCK!!! Thank you to all the amazing kids, parents and nannies who particpated....You are all amazing!!!

Supermodel Yogic Diet - Coconut Oil

So while many people embrace yoga for various reasons, it is also important to maintain a clean diet. Clean diet can include veggies, fruits and "good fats". A common staple growing up for me was the use of coconut oil. Coconut oil was the oil of choice for every food prepared or cooked, it was like how people use "butter" in the Western part of the world. The irony of this was mostly all of my relatives consumed a healthy amount of food with dietary staples like (Sambar, Dahl, Vegetable Thorin, Rice etc) all made with a coconut oil, and everyone of my relatives and neighbors were slim and healthy. It was not until Western Scientists deemed that Coconut oil contributed to high levels of Cholestorol, that many Indians made a switch to Sunflower or Olive Oil.

The switch altered the taste of the food, and I noticed how my relatives and neighbors were changing their body structure. Coconut oil and coconut water has many medicinal values for the human body. When taken internally it is a healthy fat which our body needs for cellular function. It also provides Vitamin E and K, and high amounts or minerals and high amounts of Iron. While it is an oil that has been extensively used in Ayurveda, it is especially a wonderful oil for those in the Ayurveda Dosha type of Pitta, as it has wonderful cooling properties. This "medium chain triglyceride fat assimilates well in the body. According to research antibacterial, anti fungal, anti microbial, and anti oxidant properties are rich in Coconut Oil which is attributed to the high amounts of lauric acid, and capric acid.

The Ayurveda research concludes that Coconut oil when applied topically sinks into the subcutaneous levels of the skin to break apart fat particles and give a smooth glowing appearance. Coconut oil was also used in our hair, basically in most every Indian girls hair to provide nourishment to the scalp and hair follicles, and perhaps the reasons for strong, shinny, healthy hair. It can be used like conditioner or a leave in treatment.

If you are worried about consuming coconut oil and it's high caloric count, well Mirranda Kerr (Victoria Secrets Supermodel) consumes 4 tbs a day, and she is, ummmm, well she is pretty slender. If anything, try it out, and consult your doctor to discover your cholesterol level before making any switch. The reality is, if you add coconut oil to your diet and you are still consuming McDonalds or various other popular weaponized foods, you may want to blame other dietary sources for your cholesterol levels or weight loss hurdles. Find the foods that give you optimal energy, optimal taste, optimal beauty, and optimal longevity for a healthy life.

Juicing - Cheers to Good Health

Since I have been back in Canada, I have spending time with a relative who is in semi paralysis, enjoying time with my niece and nephew, exploring and enjoying teaching yoga up here, and of course missing my lovely yogis in NYC. Seeing the rapidly growing cancer rate in Canada, and witnessing how many people are sadly oblivious to how their diet affects their body has inspired me to put my juicing into full affect. So with my Cinematic Team My 7yr old niece Katarina (Director) and 4 yr old nephew (Prop Manager) we are making juicing videos to inspire the world to health and wellness.....and in the process these amazing kids are enjoy Drinking Healthy Drinks!

For the past couple years, teaching up to 6 classes a day in NYC (and loving it!), I have maintained my Vegetarian lifestyle (and loving it), and had MAXIMUM energy. Juicing has been a staple in my daily life.

Why does our body need to have more vegetables and fruits?

• Vegetables provide more alkalinity to the body, and oxygenation to cellular development and our blood
• Reality check, our body is made up for 75% water, we need to be replenished
• The body requires the most amount of energy for Digestion, NOT ANY WORKOUT, but digestion....therefore we need to eat and drink things that provide optimal benefit and least taxation for our digestive system.
• While many yogis abide by AHIMSA (non-harming to all living things, myself included) when embarking on Vegan/Vegetarian dietary habits, we must understand that when we eat meat (especially hormone fed meats of today) our body does not have the enzymes to break down the extremely high amounts of URIC acid in the meats, which is a direct reason for the ever growing colon cancer, liver, pancreatic and Diabetes rates in north America.
• Vegetables are the richest source of water, vitamins, minerals, calcium, iron, and phytonutrients, that is something we want!
• YES I SAID CALCIUM! Calcium found in the whole "Milk Does a Body Good Campaign" is untrue.....because while Milk may be high in Calcium, it is not AT ALL absorbed by our HUMAN BODY. We are not COWS. Our body does not have the enzyme, or chemical ability to break down the truly minute amount of calcium found in Milk. Milk is also high in hormones, and other additives. This can be directly linked to our growing population of people with bone density issues and osteoporosis.
• The vitamins and minerals from juicing instantly absorb into the blood stream.
• Veggies give you the highest source of energy. What was my before Zogaliaties (a class known for intensity and high energy) snack? A Banana or Kale Salad and I was bursting of energy!
• Veggies and Fruits are low in calorie, rich in taste and have nutritional value for the body, therefore much better than anything processed or in a package which takes longer for your body to digest.
• Veggies help to clear skin, detoxify the body, purify the blood, decrease mucous, neutralize free radicals, energize you, stimulate digestion, reduce fat, and provide iron.

SOME VEGGIES I LOVE:

• Spinach - High in Iron and Calcium (Popeye ate it)
• Kale - Rich in Calcium, and Amino Acids
• Parsley - High in Vitamin C, Strengthens Adrenals
• Cilantro - High in Vitamin C, Removes heavy metals
• Basil - High in Vitamin K, great for Lymphatic system (excellent to reduce Celulite)
• Cucumber - high in Water, detixifier (put it on your eyes and watch the puffy go away)
• Watercress - SUPER DUPER High in Calcium!!! Anti Mucous for Asthma sufferers, jump on it!
• Ginger - Excellent for the stomach and Circulation
• Celery - Alkalizing and detoxification for the body!
• Beets - Excellent for Kidneys, Blood purification and helps mens prostate health.

These can be easily juiced for a yummy, delicious, healthy drink! If you want to inspire someone to be healthier, invest in a juicer and drink to your health.

A side story.....growing up, my beloved mommy was embracing a predominantly vegetarian type of diet. Her preference was organic and we had a lovely garden. She was known to add spirulina and eat her greens. When she had cancer in full affect (it was in her family history), anytime I made fresh juice for her, her body would literally reject it, and instead she wanted to eat ribs (Something SHE NEVER ATE BEFORE, EVER!). The disease in her body (which is ACIDIC and made her blood acidic) was craving more acidity, therefore rejecting the Alkalinity found in the juice.

So if you are wondering why you hate the taste of Veggies.....it is perhaps because your acidity level of your blood is high....acidity craves more acidity, acidity also eats away at your internal organs and inhibits healthy cellular development. Perhaps you need to monitor what your daily intake of food is. Is your diet consisting of more processed foods? More with white flours, sugars, salts etc? Then your blood may be more on the acidic side.

There are ingredient listings on your daily snacks....with some chemicals we cannot even pronounce....yet when you purchase a head of lettuce, there is no bizarre ingredient list....because it is just plain lettuce.

Remember, being skinny does not mean you are healthy on the inside. So for all those on the fad diets that are super high protein, or starvation-esque....if you are contracting diabetes, or issues with your digestion....you may want to rethink your approach to health and wellness. You may want to think about your inside body.

Look to inspirations like Paramahansa, Sri Dharma Mittra, Lou Corona etc. Make subtle changes and watch how your energy sky rockets, your skin glows, your pants sizes drop, and you look and feel AMAZING!!!

CHEERS TO GOOD HEALTH!

Please visit my Newest YouTube Channel, Share it with your friends, Subscribe, leave comments, ask questions, share recipes ETC. Let's spread the movement of better health with everyone!!!

http://www.youtube.com/user/Ambriali

Yoga Quote of the Day!

"If you can Dream it, you can do it" ~ Walt Disney

Yoga Pose: Anjaneyasana - Cresent Moon

Anjaneyasana is often found as you flow through Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation. You begin from a lunge placing with hands near the feet, on the mat, with your heart shining up to the heavens. Gently placing the back knee on the mat, softly float the arms up. While we want to invite the concept of sun-moon energy....as we inhale shine the heart further to the heavens, as we exhale sink your hips/thighs further to the earth. Let your breath get deeper as your body gets deeper into the pose. The balance comes from keeping your navel to the spine (Uddiyana Bandha). Tuck the the tail bone down and forward as sink deeper into the pose, you pull your lower ribs into your back, expand through the heart & ribs and keep the shoulders relaxed away from the ears as you lift the finger tips further to the sky. This pose is a beautiful offering in your practice as it opens the heart and awakens the tightness in the hips that affect our root chakra. Depending on your comfort you may want to have a blanket under your bent knee or roll up your mat. For those of you advanced in your practice....You may work on you pigeon variations, bringing your back foot up & inviting a beautiful stretch for the quadricep. You may even attempt this pose on the narrow ledge over looking the Atlantic Ocean like I did (wind blowing, a steep drop to jagged rocks and all...of course wearing a skirt....gotta be a lady)....again awareness of Bandhas is important for balance.

This pose is an excellent way to get into the psoas, the quads the gluteus. Hip Abductor Stablizers (glut medius, minims, magnus, longus) all become toned. Arms are worked and delts, triceps, biceps, traps, rhomboids and lats are all strengthened and toned. For people with tightness in the shoulders work on shining the heart up and keep your arms relaxed.

While this pose is amazing, and anatomically opens the body to prepare for deeper asana work, it is also a lovely pose to open the heart chakra. As you breathe in, breathe in love & compassion, as you breathe out...release any unforgiveness/baggage that burdens your heart, that occupies unnecessary space......So we not only get lighter physically with Yoga, we also get lighter emotionally, mentally while our Spirituality and connection to God gets even more AMAZING!!!

Yoga at Governor's Island

This weekend hoards of Yoga enthusiasts brought their yoga mats to the grassy area of Governor's Island. With an Ocean of Yogis taking a variety of FREE Yoga classes with Sri Dharma Mittra, Dana from Laughing Lotus, and ACRO Yoga with the incredible Matt Giordanno.....it was an amazing site to see. There were some Hari Krishna folks chanting and giving out yummy food, and onlookers who just went to meet other friendly faces. After taking class with Elena Brower, I headed over to the Island to participate in the lovely Yoga event. Initially I was sad because I thought I would miss next weeks Sri Dharma event, but my Dharma Yogi friends told me that there is yoga on that Island this Weekend too. I figured if anything I can be like a tourist and enjoy the Island. It is so beautiful to see how thousands of New Yorkers have embraced the Yoga Practice as part of their daily routine for health and wellness. Next weekend Saturday August 14th, Sri Dharma will be there again at Governor' Island for FREE Yoga from 10-4. Awesome events, Yoga with Heaven above and mother nature all around.....It can't get much better.

Photo: The Ocean of Yogis leaving after an amazing class with Sri Dharma on Governor's Island

Yoga with Sarah @ Infinite Yoga

After embracing the Yoga practice for quite some time, a lovely lady named Sarah embarked on Yoga Teacher Training last year. She did her training with Bamboomoves, and I was happy to be on board to help teach the amazing group of Yogis. She has been a dancer since the age of three, so to watch her flow through her asana practice with grace & fluidity is really breath taking. Her body is strong, her spirit is angelic, and she is a fellow Aquarian. I love this lady! During her training, she was reluctant to do "Hands on Adjustments", so at the end when they climbed a giant mountain, I flipped back into wheel and told her catch me/spot me to prevent my breaking my brains all over the mountain top....that was really how I explained it! It was really fun to challenge her, because I knew she could do it....and she did! Sarah has gone on to be an Incredible Yoga Instructor. This year when I broke my toe, I had the honor to take her class, and she was so attentive to every student with adjustments, kindness and a challenging flow that left our bodies feeling fantastic. Sarah's ability to demonstrate poses is awe inspiring as her dancers body is able to do pretty much everything! She is a huge heart! This year after taking an awesome class together at Life in Motion, we had a wonderful lunch at Zen Palette (a Yummy Veggie Restaurant).

It is important for Yoga Instructors to support & encourage each other, to listen and grow together, as we are all on the same mission of helping transform peoples lives. Having the humility to be a student & having the awareness that every experience is a valuable learning experience, is what makes a great teacher. While I have been blessed to have the Yoga Practice with me for years as part of my culture, I still take classes with newly certified teachers, with gentle Yoga Instructors and Master Teachers, looking past their experience, and seeing them as a facilitator of an experience whereby I can surrender to something Divine. All teachers may make mistakes, butcher the sanskrit, play music too loud, they may even have tremendous arrogance with primary focus only on how remarkable their ASANA practice is, but to be able to see past that & look towards the actual practice, is how we learn to be humble and yogic. The minute your ego tells you that your practice has exceeded one of your teachers, instead of having gratitude and appreciation, you should perhaps go back to the start of your Yoga Sutras and reevaluate your Ahamkaram (ego).

Thank you Sarah for being an incredible friend and fellow Yogini. While you were my student, you have also been my teacher, and I am grateful for this. Sarah teaches at a beautiful studio in Larchmont, New York called "Infinite Yoga Center", for those of you in the area, she is the lady you want to learn from.

Photo: 1) Ambria & Sarah @ Zen Palatte

2) Sarah Spotting me as I drop back to Wheel on the top of a giant Montain.

An AMAZING Anusara class with Elena Brower

Today my Yoga Sista, Carissa, and I ventured off to Vira Yoga to take Anusara Yoga with the amazing Elena Brower. Elena is an incredible teacher, who is extremely famous. She has been on numerous covers of Yoga Journal, she was the teacher at the Rained out Central Park Yoga last year where I was honored to be an assistant, and most importantly she is also the proud Mamma of the incredible Jonah. I know Elena as a lovely lady, an amazing Mamma, a fellow Karate student, and a remarkable Yoga Instructor. Her adorable Son takes class with me alongside some incredible Teachers at Harmony By Karate each week. For weeks I have been invited to take class with Elena @ Vira Yoga by the whole family, as they all practice with me at Reebok & know I am a Yoga Teacher too. It was a Harmony Family Reunion. Normally, I am teaching at the same time as Elena, so I was never able to take her class, until today....YEAAAA!!!

I walked in and saw my lovely friend Carissa waiting at the entrance for me. She laid out two mats for us side by side in a packed Yoga Class. The Studio is Vira Yoga in Soho, and there had to have been over 60 people in attendance, and these seem to be regular students. Our mats were towards the back of the filled room. Elena began by announcing how she has been recently studying with the Incredible Rodney Yee. She announced how class would be slightly different as she has been inspired by her recent experience with Mr. Yee. She shared how Rodney had noticed how most playgrounds have gotten rid of the "See Saw". This observation was related to the awareness of the fulcrum action in a pose, the subtle tilt of the pubic bone and tail bone that initiates the safety in a back bend, softens the sides of the feet, articulates the spiral movements of the thighs, and also ensures longevity for the Psoas by making sure that we softly ease into the pose with proper alignment. She led us through a lovely class that kept returning to this theme of the tilt in the pubic bone and sits bones in order to get the safest alignment in our back bends. This is true Iyengar style Alignment, and it was so lovely to experience. Class was truly remarkable. At one point in the middle of her Instructing, Elena recognized me through the sea of Yogis, came towards me, smiled and welcomed both me and my lovely friend with whisper & smile, I couldn't help but thank her. I had already been in a state of gratitude for being in her awesome class. For an instructor to be so connected to each individual in the room is really magnificent, and Elena is that magnificent of an Instructor. Her eloquent way of speaking through the poses, with purposeful guidance, and encouragement is something everyone should experience. I am so grateful to have finally had this amazing experience with the Incredible Elena Brower, and hope to have many more. I was hoping to see the amazing Garth Stevenson. Garth is featured in this months Yoga Journal, he is a talented Bass Player, who normally plays live for Elena's class. Garth and I graduated Berklee College of Music together, so I was hoping to have had him play for the Yoga Class too, but he was out, perhaps another time.

If you have not opened your heart to the heart opening experience of an Anusara Yoga Class, you need to. Elena is one of the founders of Vira Yoga, an incredible famous Yogini, and an awesome woman to learn Yoga from. The Savasana was one of the most heart healing experiences I have had in a long time. After class Carissa and I were filled with so much gratitude for the experience. It was exactly what our Mind-Body & Spirit needed. Thank you Elena for an amazing Class!

Photo: Ambria, Elena & Carissa

My Yoga Sista - Carissa

I have posted about this lovely lady before.....She is my Yoga Sista. When I began my journey at an amazing Yoga Studio in the Bronx, formerly called Bamboomoves and now Excel Yoga.....I met this lovely fairy like princess. With wild curly hair, a spunky personality, and energy that matched mine and sometimes trumped it.....I knew she was my Yoga Sister. I felt like I knew her before. We spent almost two years as Lead Teachers at this beautiful location. We laughed, taught classes, took each others classes, laughed and laughed some more! On my last day in the Bronx, she came for class and it was beautiful to have her there. This girl gives an amazing Yoga class, Zumba Class, Rebounding Class, and she is a remarkable dancer & actress. On many levels we felt a strong connection towards each other. Her yoga classes bring spirituality, peace, sweat and incredible anatomical discoveries for every participant. Her heart is pure and loving. She is the real deal. As an actress any time I watch her perform, I and everyone watching are truly moved. Recently, I watched her in a play that was all in Spanish.....I understood nothing......but I understood everything.....because the acting was just sooo superb. Since most people are used to seeing us in Yoga Clothes, with sweaty wild hair, and big smiles....On our recent outing to support a beautiful student on her opening night in her play....we snapped a picture in dresses.....a rare occasion that should be shared. I had been telling her of one of my little Yoga hideaways for over a year....I place I wanted to practice with her.....with another of my favorite teachers, Isaac.....and ironically we discovered that she found her way to that studio too. I am not surprised that both of us had the same experience towards this teacher and studio.....and both agree that we would be honored to just sweep the floor there. If you get a chance to take a class with this amazing lady Carissa....DO IT...you will be elated! If you get a chance to watch her perform on stage or film....DO IT....you will be watching a soon to be famous actress!

Picture: Ambria & Carissa

Another Amazing Dharma Class

While I am slowly preparing to say a temporary Au Revoir to NYC for a while to spread the awareness of Yoga in Canada & visit family, I am also soaking up as many amazing Yoga classes as I can. Therefore, it is only expected that I would be immersing myself in as many Dharma classes as possible! Last night I went to Dharma (again) and was met with two soon to be certified Yoga Instructors, Stephanie & Jessica. Both women spent months with me and a variety of other amazing Instructors in the Zoga Yoga Teacher Training experience, hosted at Excel Yoga Studio. We sat and waited in the lobby and I introduced the ladies to my friend & founder of Yogi Beans, Lauren. We chatted and waited for class. We walked into the Temple and laid our mats in the back, I mentioned how my body was slightly sore from a kick butt Karate Class with Sensei Joseph @ Harmony By Karate, and both the ladies told me they were a bit tired too. This class was Jessica's first experience, but Stephanie had been to Dharma before. Dharma led the class in an amazing Yoga Asana experience, with his wise words weaving through the sequence, and occasional jovial quips. Sri Dharma made fun of the entire class at one point when all of us mixed our right from our left. The energy at the Dharma Yoga Center is incredible, like nothing else. Not only do you learn from an incredible master, you are also encouraged to copy and learn from some incredible Yogis who practice regularly with Dharma too. One thing I noticed is that some poses that you normally do not do in your regular asana practice can be done at Dharma's and I have to say it must be because of the amazing energy in that beautiful Temple. At the end of class Dharma speaks for sometime and reminds us about the depth of the practice beyond the asana, with advice on diet, meditation, the importance of being receptive to the Grace of God and much more.

He is a blessing to NYC. As always I recommend every person who practices Yoga to take a class at Dharma, and it is actually part of the requirements of the Zoga Yoga Teacher Training that students must attend one Dharma Master Class. We could not stay afterwards to request a picture with Sri Dharma because he was teaching his Stress & Anxiety Talk, so we left, bought some shirts (btw Thank you Stephanie for the lovely gift) and took a picture by an amazing photo of Sri Dharma doing his famous Headstand on the streets of NYC. Thank you ladies for sharing this amazing experience, and thank you Sri Dharma for another incredible class!!!

Photo: Stephanie, Ambria & Jess in front of Dharma's famous picture @ Dharma West

Acro Yoga with Agustin

On Joseph's teacher training experience ended with exposure to the amazing world of Acro Yoga with an amazing Dharma Yogi and Acro Expert, Agustin. Agustin is beautiful both inside and out, and this year took over some Yoga Classes that I was unable to teach due to scheduling conflicts, so all around he has been a real blessing to me. He led us in the most amazing afternoon I have had in weeks. Every time I have seen Acro Yoga, I have been intimidated, wondering if my height, weight, or at sometimes day dreaming or controling mind would pose as a problem. The mind is really the biggest thing in Acro Yoga, because as Agustin said "the rest is just Physics". Agustin was quick to notice how I like to be in control, because when I was flying it was hard for me to trust and surrender, this is a perfect way to practice non-attachment. If you think left, right, up and down cues are hard, try it upside down while you are balanced on someone's feet. We went through so many vinyasas, flipping, turning, laughing, heads in crotches, wardrobe malfunctions, the discovery that Indian girls have booty, and a lot of mental discoveries. In more ways than one I felt exposed LOL. When I shared the account of my experience with a friend afterwards, she jokingly told me "somebody owes somebody a dinner". Acro Yoga is more of a mental workout than anything else. You have to trust your partner, and surrender. While it was easy to surrender to both Joseph & Agustin, the listening while flying and transitioning was a challenge at times (for me). It was hard for me to believe that I could hold Joseph up when it was my turn to be the base, and I learned that it is more physics than strength. Joseph of course did amazing both as a base and flyer. Agustin is truly a blessing to the Yoga community and the world of Acro Yoga. His knowledge, skill, and approach to teaching make it easy to trust. I hope to have more opportunities to do Acro Yoga now, as I understand for a Yoga Instructor it is important for us to maintain that practice of non-attachment & surrender. We concluded with some lovely Tai Yoga Massage, which was so wonderful!!! After our amazing session the three of us had a brilliant discussion that Joseph later told me helped him a lot as a new Yoga Teacher, and ironically it opened my eyes to a lot too. The little things that teachers say, tend to stick with a student, and for me, many things Agustin said to us were exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you Agustin for sharing your wonderful energy & expertise with us, it was such an incredible experience, I hope I have more chances to learn with Acro Yoga and you in the future. Thank you Joseph for being so receptive as Sri Dharma says. At the end of our amazing afternoon of Acro fun, Joseph was awarded his certificate of Zoga Yoga 200Hrs Certificate. I know he will go on to transform lives and inspire Balance, Peace, Strength and Beauty in people's lives.

Yoga with Magi again!

For a whole week I was waiting to be in this amazing lady's yoga class again. Her name is Magi Pierce, and she is truly an incredible Yoga Instructor who will inspire many people. After teaching the Central Park Class, I headed over to Life In Motion on the Upper West Side to take Magi's class. Since I teach a lot on the Upper West Side, I know that summer time is usually not a busy time for Yoga, as many people head to the Hamptons and other vacation spots. Well as the attendance seems to be booming in Magi's class, it looks like people are taking their vacations with Magi, myself included. She led us through a wonderful class. I went into class feeling slightly under the weather, and hoping that a good sweat would cure me, I did get a good sweat and left feeling grateful that I attended. Magi has a very purposeful Yoga Asana Sequence that is carefully crafted with dynamic flows, holding of postures with pranic awareness, poetic conscious verbal cues, and the hands on adjustments that I could compare to a Renaissance Sculptor. She truly crafts the class from beginning to end. Thank you Magi for yet another amazing morning class! You are an inspiration to many people, including myself.

Maggie is giving an incredible Inversion Workshop this Saturday July 30th at Life in Motion, go and play with her, learn and fly with her, you will be glad you did!

Photo: The Magnificent Magi Pierce & Ambria @ Life in Motion

Yoga in Central Park - The beauty of Nature

Recently, I was asked to sub a lovely yoga class in Central Park for my friend/fellow Yogi Agustin. The group is normally around 7 people, a small intimate group that meets in Strawberry Fields. I woke up with a slight fever, and feeling under the weather, but I knew It was too late to call out of the class, so I headed down to the beautiful Central Park. I wish I had known about this spot beautiful before, because my other times teaching in the park were curbside with bikers, runners, dog walkers, gawkers, and once a dog that came right to my Yoga Mat as I was teaching trying to invite me to play, while those experiences were still amazing, this time it was serene. Four Ladies showed up, and we waited a while to see if anyone else would come, and slowly I was led to their "Spot". It was truly gorgeous! An amazing hideaway surrounded by beauty! Soft lush green dewy grass, brilliant trees around, the sounds of sweet birds, the sounds of silence, and subtle rays of sunlight that peaked through the trees. It was really a magnificent site. We laid out our mats and progressed into a semi Gentle Yoga Flow, embracing the concept of connection to the Universe, letting go, and embracing gratitude. My dear friend and soon to be Yoga Instructor, Joseph, came along to do adjustments. Like in any Yoga Class, we joyfully learned the most difficult part is awareness of your right from your left. We smiled and embraced our inner Goddess amidst the beauty of Mother Nature. We felt the connection to the earth in possibly the most incredible Tree Pose ever, and had a lovely time. The experience only further reminded me how I wish to teach Yoga outdoors more often. Thank you Agustin for inviting me to sub, Thank you lovely ladies for sharing your yoga practice with me, it was such a blessing to share that collective energy with you all, and thank you Joseph for your beautiful adjustments. That class made my fever lessen, and made me feel much better. It was the start of an amazing day!!! For those who have not experience Yoga with the Sun above and the earth below, go roll out your mat on a beach, at a park or in your back yard, after one sun salutation you will feel amazing!!! ~ Namaste