Month: May 2018

Mindful Monday: Memorial Day

Good morning and Happy Memorial Day, friends.

This holiday weekend always brings me right back to my public sector roots. I worked more than a dozen years in state and then municipal government. My former bosses State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and later Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel were both huge advocates of the military. Treasurer’s son Pepe serves as a JAG officer in the Army and Mayor Pradel himself served as a Marine.

So I spent many memorial days walking in parades and attending memorial services.

Memorial Day is the time to show honor and reflect upon those that have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of our nation. Officially declared by Congress in 1968 as the final Monday of May; Memorial Day exists to honor our countries fallen.

Whether relaxing by a pool side barbecue or taking that out of town trip, Memorial Day weekend has evolved into a celebratory and festive time and an unofficial kickoff to summer vacation.

Many will argue that the weekend has lost its value and meaning amongst Americans today. We may not all visit a burial site or attend a ceremony for the fallen, but we should all take a personal moment to reflect and remember those that were lost. I can think of no better way to honor those that have fallen in the name of this country, than to live the greatest life that we can within our communities. I hope you live today in remembrance of those that have fallen, respectfully honoring their self-sacrifice that give us the freedoms we enjoy each day.

I always take a moment to remember the families of those who gave their lives in the support of the ideals of our nation as well.

Our studios are open today with a holiday schedule with last classes at most locations at noon today. 11 am in South Naperville. Please check the schedule at all of our locations to find the time and format that works for you!

Happy memorial day, friends!

Mindful Monday: Blessings Counted

Good morning, mindful ones!

As I lie here in my warm, cozy bed admiring the sounds of rain and thunder, I am overcome with the feeling that today is a great day to be alive!

Right now is the perfect moment to count my blessings.

  • It’s a blessing that I woke up this morning.
  • That I am able to hear all of the sounds of nature.
  • That I am in a warm bed sheltered from the rain.
  • That my hands can hold my phone and I have fingers to type.
  • It’s a blessing that both of my parents are still alive and healthy and strong.
  • My son Julian is my blessing and my teacher.
  • It’s a blessing to have a brother and nieces and nephews. And cousins. And uncles and aunties.
  • I’m blessed to be healthy, happy and so darn clever 😜
  • I’m blessed to have amazing friends in my life; old and new, gold and silver. Some since kindergarten!
  • I’m so blessed to have my yoga practice.
  • It’s a blessing to have so many talented and wise yoga teachers and students.
  • I am blessed to have all of my hurts, disappointments and sadness for all of the wisdom and experiences they’ve brought.
  • I am blessed to experience the full range of human emotions in this life experience.
  • I am blessed to work at yoga by degrees and actually make my passion a career.
  • I am blessed my little Coco is in my life.
  • I am blessed to be surrounded by love always. And to finally see it and appreciate it.
  • It’s a blessing to have running water and access to clean drinking water.
  • It’s a blessing to have electricity.
  • I am blessed to have a vehicle to get me through my day safely with ease and comfort.
  • I’m blessed to be able to share my thoughts with you through this blog.

Won’t you take a few moments this morning to count your blessings?

You are a blessing to me and so many others.

Anicca! Anicca! Anicca! Be happy. Be happy. Be happy.

Mindful Monday: Mamaste

Good morning and happy Monday!

Yesterday we celebrated mommas everywhere. Those who birthed us; those who nurtured us. All of our maternal figures that have impacted us in some way. Remembering that you don’t have to give birth to be a mom! Anytime we put someone else’s needs above our own, we are essentially “mothering.”

Moms are our first yoga teachers. They teach us all about unconditional love, acceptance, sacrifice and so much inner strength.

And being a mom teaches us so much, too! It turns your world upside down. In the beginning, little things you took for granted, like sleeping, bathing and eating sit-down meals, become the biggest luxuries! And this teeny little bundle hijacks your heart and soul. Of course, it changes you forever.

And as your baby grows and is no longer a baby, you learn tough lessons in letting go, inch by inch, little by little. You learn to trust that you’re doing your best because little man didn’t come with an instruction manual. You learn that life is messy and sticky and it’s never gonna be picture perfect. You learn to forgive yourself again and again and again.

And suddenly you have a teenager, and you learn acceptance and compromise and respecting boundaries. And you marvel at this amazing human being that you have helped shape along the way. And slowly it dawns on you that your entire role as a mom has been to prepare your child to leave you!

And you hopefully see so much humor along this crazy path! You realize that no matter what decision that you made, it will be the “wrong” one for your teenager. And that your kid is so strong and resilient that he’ll always be ok, no matter what you did or didn’t do.

So here’s to all of the mommas and momma figures out there! Yesterday, today and every day, remember that you’re doing a great job!

Happy rainy, thundery, beautiful Monday, friends!

And Mamaste!

Mindful Monday: Rise Above

Happy Monday, friends!

My dad always told me growing up, “If you can’t bring someone to your level, don’t lower yourself to meet them at theirs.”

You know how you feel when you leave a yoga class? Lighter. Happier. Kinder. More compassionate. Stronger. More confident. Generous. Exuding positivity. Tolerant. Accepting. Open. Abundant. And beaming love, peace and contentment.

Am I missing anything?

Those are your natural states of being. The work is in maintaining those feelings no matter what happens around us. No matter what someone says or does. Whether teeny, petty things happen or some of the big body blows hit us.

Let’s continue feeding the positive. Don’t waver from it. No matter what happens pivot towards the positive.

Have a great week practicing, yogis!

Pose of the Month: May 2018 Padmasana

April showers bring May flowers, and our pose of the month is Padmasana or Lotus Pose.

Padma= Lotus Asana = Pose

LOTUS is the quintessential yoga pose and probably the most recognizable. It’s deeply associated with meditation and is named after the lotus flower.

In Eastern religions and cultures, the lotus flower is a symbol of purity and enlightenment. It blossoms in stagnant, muddy waters floating pristinely above the surface, untouched by the murk and mire in which it is rooted.

Lotus is considered an advanced pose, as it requires hip flexibility in order to protect the vulnerable knee joints.

Here’s how:

  • Sit on your mat with your legs stretched out in front of you, keeping your spine erect.
  • Bend your right knee and cradle your lower leg with your right foot in the crook of your left elbow. Begin to externally rotate your right hip and carefully place your right foot on your left thigh. Make sure that the sole of your foot points upward and your heel is close to your abdomen.
  • Repeat with your left leg.
  • With both legs crossed and feet placed on opposite thighs, place your hands on your knees.
  • Root your sitting bones down and elongate your spine. Draw your head directly above your hips.
  • Lift your shoulders up towards your ears, squeeze your shoulder blades together and lower them down your back.
  • Hold and continue with long, gentle breaths in and out.
  • To come out, gently remove one foot at a time from your thighs.

This can also be practiced in the half lotus position, ardhapadmasana by sitting in sukhasana easy seated pose and only drawing one foot to upper thigh.