Madonna Night @ Bamboomoves

Yoga-laties class always has a fun playlist to keep the energy going. With the class being challenging, the music helps with the motivation to get us in the groove. Last night we had a Madonna night! A whole yoga-laties class with amazing music playlist from the amazing Madonna. I am a huge Madonna fan, she is a friend in my mind, I just think she is an inspiration. Her ability to reinvent herself, make great "feel good" music, stay in killer shape, and maintain a sense of humanity is great! Did I mention she is a friend in my mind? Growing up, I used to perform Madonna songs for a conservative Indian crowd, and despite suggestions to pick a different singer to sing songs of, I stayed true to my girl! We began class with "Like a Prayer" progressed into a mix of Madonna old and new, and then ended with "Take a Bow". You really don't need other music when you have Madonna songs! I am so thrilled to be part of the journey with the devoted faithfuls that come to class. Stephanie came in showing off her sexy toned abs, referring to it as "Body by Ambria". I love it!!!! Every participant has noticed changes in their body. At the start of class I felt the need to ask if anyone felt the heat today, and gave the disclaimer to take it easy, somehow I sensed the energy of heat exhaustion in the air. I am no stranger to heat exhaustion, as I have had my fair share from the many trips to India where I would be entertaining my relatives with fainting, nausea, and more fainting. Unfortunately, my instincts were right, and one devoted participant had the nausea feeling, later admitting to me that the AC broke down at her job. Thankfully she was fine. With the weather on the humid side, lets all be mindful to stay hydrated as it can bring on the dizzy, nausea, and fatigue. Also, putting ice on the wrists is a nice way to cool the body.

Yoga-laties at Bamboomoves

This past wednesday we had a nice full class for Yoga-laties AT Bamboomoves. While it wasn't mat-to-mat jam packed, it was still cozy. We began class with one participant saying she was looking forward to the class all day, one person saying her husband didn't come because he "chickened out", one participant who yawned in the first few seconds of class (which was quickly pointed out by me), and another person who dared to take the decision of keeping the fan off! We progressed into a sweaty, challenging class with moans, groans, eye rolls, jokes, light hearted talking back to the teacher (it is the bronx after all), and bliss. This class is truly a challenging class and the title can be deceptive. I am so thrilled to be a part of the yoga journey for the Bamboo family. These people have deepened their practice, uplifted/encouraged each other in class, and most importantly let go of the ego. In yoga classes, especially challenging classes, it is easy to enter with our ego, but when you have to fart in class during navasana, when your wrists hurt and have to do knees-chest-chin instead of your beloved chatturunga, when you have to take childs pose in the first 10 minutes of class, you have let your ego go. Letting your ego go is the first step in deepening your yoga practice beyond the body. Good work yogis. See you Saturday at 4.

Bamboomoves goes Cherry Picking

Every week the Yoga-laties groupies join together to moan, groan, sweat, sweat, and sweat some more with me. This class is a high energy class packed with yoga, pilates, Indian wrestler moves, football core work, JOKES, and much more! While the class is only 1 hour long, within a half an hour people feel like they have been there for at least 2 hours! Despite the fact that some of my regulars could not make it due to "a date", "need to sleep" and "the gorgeous weather", (which are not entirely justifiable excuses as it lacks collective consciousness, but I will let it slide LOL ) the room still had a good amount of folks ready to sweat out the core! This past Saturday we rocked out with Pearl Jam, Nickleback, Madonna, and had three new people in the class. I love new students because they enter with excitement and joy and leave with both, along with sweat! One punctual lovely lady, (who I later found out was the boss of a regular yogi at Bamboo), and two gentlemen (one regular "yoga" student and his buddy) who entered in a little bit late, who I quickly deflected the blame to in advance for the challenging class that we were about to progress into. I like to tease and rib the participants, deflect blame, and make jokes as often as possible in order to distract participants from the grueling workout that they are joyfully participating in. It is no secret that week by week, the class increases the challenges and works the muscles to screaming fatigue. The whole process is bliss and joy. While many participants refer to the class in a loving way, as "torture" and often call out for divine intervention by moaning "Oh My God" they return every week. Some may ask why they return, and the answer is simply, results! Most of the group has admitted to seeing physical changes in their bodies, and new found strength for their regular yoga practice! I admire their dedication, and it inspires me to come up with new fun variations, and new songs for our play list. One of our beloved exercises is "Cherry Pickers" which involves a variation on "Navasana" or boat pose. We imagine we have a gorgeous bushel on our backside, and cherries on our toes, then alternate hand to foot we go picking! This is usually done after doing a lot of other exercises, so the divine intervention "Oh my God" moans are generally echoing around. I love to encourage the faith building! Last Saturday, Our gorgeous April Yogi of the Month (Milta) stepped in just in time to capture the brilliant yogis "smiling" in the middle of "Cherry Picking"! Thank you Milta for getting the group in full smiles, mid pick with glistening sweating bodies! You Rock! I bumped into a few students two days later and the responses/gossip was "I felt it everywhere", "I couldn't walk up the stairs without feeling it in my butt", "You tortured us", "I couldn't take class on Sunday because I was too sore from your class", "the two new guys really felt it", "my boss took your class and said it really kicked her butt"! Your feedback is always appreciated! Thank you Michelle for treating me to the delicious Vegan Carrot Cake after class! You Rock! Two more Wednesdays will be covered by Wendy, and this Saturday will be Mary, as I am completing my Pilates certification. Love you all, See you soon!

BOOGIE DOWN Pellham Bay

In the heart of Pellham Bay is the lovely Bamboomoves. This location has authentic Bronx energy (friendly & feisty all in one). Saturday was a record high day of heat in NYC, a sizzling 90 degrees. After teaching level 2, Kids, Level 1 yoga, I decided that I will not necessarily demonstrate everything in the Yoga-laties class. Because I had a meeting at 6:30 in the city, I was avoiding getting sweaty. While yoga-laties is the fun, sweaty class that promises to having you laughing, sweating, sighing, praying to God, and maybe even cursing me out under your breath all at the same time, it is usually always a packed house. The playlist I create, promises to be a collection of upbeat and high energy hits meant to drive us through these core inspired exercises. I do my best to tease and encourage participants to keep momentum. But this Saturday, I decided to just call out the exercises, again to avoid getting too sweaty. Well that lasted all of two lines in the fabulous Madonna song "Holiday".....special thanks to Dorris for calling me out, reminding me to get back into it, by jokingly asking "What about you?"! I LOVED IT!!!! It was clear everyone shared in the laugh. So much for me avoid the sweat. It was a highlight of the day for me....and has inspired an extra special yoga-laties class for Wednesday. See you all then! Special thanks to Carissa for giving me the packet of wet nap things, that I could cleanse myself off with. What a life saver!

Yoga-laties @ Bamboomoves

Every other Saturday at Bamboomoves, BX @ 4pm we have Yoga-laties!! I am so excited to instruct this fantastic class that dives deep into the core. We explore our bodies with Sun Salutations, Pilates inspired core work, and more. This Saturday at Bamboomoves, BX, 4pm, bring your yoga mat, the goal of a slender mid section and healthy body!

Bikini Body with Yoga-Laties

As the summer is proving to redeem herself with beautiful sunny days, many of us want to head to the beach. Bikini season is still upon us. For ladies looking for a fun way to strengthen that core and still maintain the bliss of a meditative Yoga practice, try Yoga-Laties. I have taught this class in studios and private sessions.

This is a fun class! A typical way that I sequence the class is to begin with Yoga Breath work, cat cow stretching, Surya Namaskar A, and progress into the Pilates 100, Roll Up, Roll Over, Leg Circles, Leg Stretches, Saw, Bicycle, Crunches, Navasana, and if you dare Cherry Pickers. The class tapers off with Surya Namaskar B, Trikonasana, Goddess, Pigeon, Bridge/Wheel, Happy Baby and Savasana. The results are fantastic and is guaranteed to turn heads at the beach. While I mentioned that this is a fun way to strengthen the core for ladies, men will also see amazing results with this class. Enjoy the rest of Summer!