Jam Sessions @ The Peoples Lounge 09/16/09

So the other night, I was invited back to perform at the People's Lounge "Jam Sessions", hosted by the lovely Shelita Vaughns. The cozy lounge was busy with a chilled out crowd ready to hear smooth, soulful music. I had an entire day of yoga sessions (starting from 5am), so lets just say I was a bit tired. Since music is one of my passions, it was a pleasure to be invited to play with such a talented group of artists. I opened the show with a small set of originals. Somehow, the boom mic was broken, so it required some flexibility on my part to adjust the mic between my legs and play keys around the stand. It was a new approach for me. After my set was the amazing Miss C. Devone, followed by Mr. Zuwadi and another performer who I unfortunately never got to see but heard was pretty amazing also. The audience was wonderful as always. The band musicians brought fire to the live music scene and the performers energized the crowd. Once again it was a lovely night of music. Thanks Shelita for organizing a wonderful event.

Pumkin Seeds & Protein Shakes

Many yogis who are vegans and vegetarians have asked me questions regarding protein shakes. When embarking on a disciplined physical fitness routine, it is important to have adequate amounts of protein. Since vegetarians may not be eating the required amount of daily protein, which is 1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight, a shake may be the best choice.

I prefer natural protein shakes that are free of chemicals and sweeteners. The Vitamin shop brand makes an excellent vegetarian shake that is free of whey and soy, which is my preference. Be aware since the majority of the protein for this brand is based from peas, you will feel like you are drinking liquid peas. Like me, you can always add fruits for taste, fiber and added vitamins.

I also like the Nutri Biotic brand of Vegan Rice Protein Shakes because along with being healthy, they are really yummy! Picking a protein shake that uses stevia and or cane sugar for sweeteners are my preference also, as the long term effects of artificial sweeteners have been linked to tumors and cancer cells. I also like to use rice milk mixed with water, but almond and hemp milk are also good choices.

Finally, one of my newest additions to my protein shakes is pumpkin seeds. These seeds are loaded with goodness like: zinc (good for skin and linked to lower chances of osteoporosis), magnesium (1/2 cup has daily requirement which most of us are deficient in), L-tryptophan (which is a compound that naturally fights depression), and these seeds promote a healthy prostate, bladder function, act as a natural anti-inflammatory, lower cholesterol (which can also protect against some cancers), and help prevent kidney stones.

Make sure to get the adequate amount of protein to replenish your muscles after you work them out. Just a handful a day, grinds up smooth in a good blender and does a body good. ~ Peace & hugs, Ambria

Sunrise Yoga @ Bamboomoves

One of the best times to practice yoga is at Sunrise. It is a wonderful way to stretch out the body, get the blood flowing, loosen up the fascia, meditate, begin the day with a positive outlook, and truly be connected to the universe. That being said, the dedication it takes to rise out of bed on a Monday morning, to attend a 6:30 am yoga class is truly inspiring. Just wanted to write a note of appreciation to the dedicated group that attend the new morning Sunrise Yoga classes at Bamboomoves. Early morning is a wonderful time to practice yoga. For anyone interested in taking a group morning yoga class that stretches, challenges and rejuvenates the body, come to Bamboomoves (Pelham Bay, BX, NY) Mondays & Wednesdays at 6:30 am. Join us to begin the day with a positive breath. Peace & hugs ~ Ambria
(Painting By: Ambria, Watercolor on Canvas)

La Dolce Vida - Positive Thought

A sweet life comes from a sweet heart. Seeking joy in precious moments, finding wisdom in both triumphs and disappointments, and realizing that all encounters on our journey are meant to help us grow. La Dolce Vida is ours to live. La Dolce Vida is ours to love. This sweetness shines bright through our meditation & Yoga practice, connecting us to the Universe, consciousness, and transcending us to a sweet life.

Forearm Stand with Legs in Bound Angle

Let's do Forearm Stand with Legs in Bound Angle (Pincha Mayurasana with Legs in Baddha Konasana). It is always fun when students want to dive into more advanced postures/asana. While it is important to stretch the body out and build up the strength to do intermediate/advanced poses, the positive outlook to face a challenging asana is always a brave start.

With forearm stand, students want to be sure to have warmed up the body. It is good to stretch toward the wall, extending the hands, and forearms to rest on the wall which will stretch out the back, hamstrings and triceps. So Imagine that you are facing the wall, lean towards it and face the floor so your body is in an L shape.

To begin the pose:

1. Inhale, Face the wall and bring forearms to the flat to the floor. Exhale.
   
2. Inhale, Bring legs into Downward Dog, keeping the arms bent with forearms perpendicular to upper arms.
3. Walk feet closer to hands.
4. Inhale, Bend one knee and kick the other leg up. Exhale.
   
5. With a steady downward gaze on the floor, find your balance and bring both feet up in the air, use the wall to assist. Breathe.
   
6. Keep the head up off the floor. Keep chest open to lift the ribs. Keep elbows in line with shoulders, careful not to splay.
   
7. Finally, to be fancy, bring the soles of the feet together in Baddha Konasana/Bound Angle. Smile.
   
8. To come out of the pose, release one foot at a time to the floor and rest in childs pose. Breathe.
   

Remember while doing the more challenging poses/asana it is important to breathe. Yoga is about connecting your mind, body and spirit with the breath. It is important to breathe and relax into each pose. Forearm stand is a strong pose and Bound Angle has many benefits for urinary and menstrual issues. It is best to be honest with yourselves about your own body's current abilities and work up to advanced asana. ~Peace & hugs, Ambria

Oneness

Since I have been busy teaching Private Yoga sessions these days, I have been eager to take some Yoga classes myself. Tonight, I had the chance to experience Yoshimo's Yoga class at Bamboomoves. Many of the other people at the studio were surprised to see me there as a participant, rather than in the front teaching. I was so thrilled to be on my mat, and practicing with everybody as a student. There were over 35 people at Bamboomoves, our mats were lined up side by side, and the energy was incredible.

After the class, we had another treat of a Oneness blessing. In India, it is known as Deeksha or Diksha. Oneness is non-denominational, transfer of energy to raise levels of consciousness. As I have been spending more time in my own personal meditation and prayer, I felt as though this was such a timely experience. For me it was very similar to Reiki. I enjoyed the energy of the two oneness practitioners. The final treat of the day was the delicious Vegan Chocolate Cake that Michael bought to celebrate the people who completed the 21 days to health & wellness challenge. The cake was the yummiest!!! Congratulations to all of you who completed the challenge!!! ~Peace & Hugs, Ambria

For more information about Oneness visit : https://www.onenessnorthamerica.org/

Shala High - TV PILOT

After many days of shuttling around from teaching yoga sessions, and singing in the studio for my various music projects, today I had the chance to use my passion for Yoga and performance in a different way. Today, I spent my morning with a delightful group of people at the Jivamukti Yoga Center, NYC. The yoga studio was the backdrop for a scene in a TV Pilot called Shala High. The concept is wonderful, so I am very thrilled to be part of this pilot! The cast, including myself gathered together for a Yoga Class, and filmed what would usually be the first intro to Sun Salutations (a minute) of a Yoga class, only for filming sake, the scene took a little over 2 hours. So basically, 2 hours of Down Dog, Plank, Cobra, and a few Warriors here and there. It was too fun! There was a wonderful energy in the whole group! The director is also a Yoga Instructor. At the end of filming, I quickly had a fellow cast mate snap a picture for me. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that such a lovely show gets picked up. With the growing attention to the yogic path to enlightenment, it is a great way to bring this positive energy to the mainstream, and I would love to have more opportunities to be part of the cast! Happy Labour Day! Peace & Hugs ~ Ambria