Image via Flickr user Stephanie Young Merzel

Yoga teachers devote a lot of class time to sharing how NOT to do a particular pose for good reasons: Sloppy alignment, over effort, and big ambitions can create unwelcome tension and even injuries over time.

That said, if I read one more article about how almost everyone does  _______ Pose incorrectly, I might scream. Can it be helpful to pick apart all the ways we do yoga wrong? Sure. Let's take a break from that and focus on all the things yoga students actually do RIGHT for a change, OK?

This post is for every student who's ever been discouraged when, no matter how closely you listen to your teachers' instructions, you just can't figure out why she runs over to you and pokes your ribs EVERY effing time you attempt Downward-Facing Dog. I've been there. Please know that one day it will all click and you will totally understand what your teacher means when she tells you to "knit your ribs" in.

Until then, though, take heart in all the many things you're doing absolutely perfectly!

For example:

You unroll your mat over and over again. Sometimes it's easy. Sometimes it feels like you've run a marathon by the time you've worked hard all day, rushed through traffic, dropped the baby off with the sitter, and finally FINALLY found somewhere to park so you could get a glorious hour on your mat.

You show up with a smile on your face even though someone just flipped you off in the parking lot.

You do your best to listen to both your teacher's convoluted instructions and your body's own wisdom and intuition--which is a lot harder than it sounds.

When you fall out of a pose, you laugh at yourself and try again.

When your neighbor on the mat next to you falls out of a pose, you chuckle to yourself and try not to embarrass her in front of the whole class.

When you're tired, you rest.

When you're energized, you challenge yourself.

When you're injured, you modify.

You focus on your breath moving in and out.

You soften where you're naturally hard. You firm where you're naturally soft. You bring your body and mind closer to balance every time you practice in more ways than you can probably even identify.

You make changes little by little, bit by bit. You know that the the smallest changes are worth so much more than the biggest, grandest ideas that you don't follow through on.

You make yourself, your health, your well-being a priority.

You recognize that your teacher has bad days--you smile at her and you come back the next week anyway.

You let the lessons you learn on your yoga mat spill over into all the other areas of your life: you stand up straighter, breathe deeper, leave a smaller footprint, and treat others with more kindness and compassion.

You are open to the unlimited possibilities this practice has to offer you--both physical, mental, and emotional.

You rock! Never forget that!

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The sun. The sand. That healthy sea breeze. The cackle of the sea gulls. The laughter of children.

The beach is one of the most awe inspiring place in the world. Sometimes just a quick walk by the ocean can really put things in perspective: Nature is a large and wonderful place, but we, with our petty problems and worries, are but a small drop in that ocean.

So of course, practicing yoga on the beach would be an awe-inspiring experience.  "When people are outside they feel more free, less stressed," says Melora Morgan, a yoga teacher in the Charleston, SC area who teaches beach yoga classes at Folly Beach. People are more likely to be playful in their practice."Just walking out onto the beach brings an immediate release." Unfortunately, some of the things that make a beach yoga session really amazing, are also the things that make it a challenge. You can't always predict when a beautiful day in SC will turn into an ugly thunderstorm, the wild will blow sand into your eyes, or all of a sudden a hundred tourists will set up camp right in front of the ocean blocking your view and your Zen.

 I asked Melora for a few tips on how to make sure your Namaste on the beach leads to bliss.

1. Avoid slipping on the sand. Leave your fancy $100 yoga mat at home--and don't forget a large towel to put under your old, crusty mat to keep you from sliding around on the sand.

2. Protect your feet. Under no circumstances should you bring a BLACK mat to the beach. The color absorbs heat, and can burn your tootsies.

3. Protect your skin. Of course, wear sunscreen! But beware: When sweat and sunscreen drip into your eyes, it's not a pleasant experience. A headband might help. Or use a waterproof sunscreen that won't run.

4. Don't forget your suit. Wear your swimsuit underneath your yoga clothes. "Nothing feels better after a hot, sweaty yoga class than to jump in the water," Melora says.

5. Go with the flow. Allow the sounds of nature the birds, the ocean, and yes, even the tourists, to be your soundtrack. Don't be flustered by the distractions. Let them bring you into the present moment and more into your experience.

Learn more about Melora and her beach yoga offerings through Serenity Tree Yoga by visiting her website and Facebook page.

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Image via Flickr user The Yoga People

Did your invitation to headline Wanderlust get lost in the mail? Yeah, mine too.

Bill Murray isn't begging you to come to his vacation home for a $500 private yoga session? Don't take it personally. I'm sure his agent is just having a hard time finding your contact information.

That yoga studio in Paris didn't return your calls when you pitched them with your great new workshop idea? Bummer. I've always wanted to go to Paris, too. Maybe you should work on your elevator pitch?

Or maybe it's time to get creative! There are so many cards stacked against the small town, independent yoga teacher. I won't belabor the point--the brilliant Michelle Marchidon nailed it a lot better than I could in this post.  Unless you're one of the, oh, 25, yoga teachers nationally who get invited to travel the world teaching festivals and workshops, appear on the cover of yoga magazines, or teach the rich and famous, making a living as a yoga teacher these days is no easy feat. It's a nice dream, but it's time we ll came to the realization that for most of us, teaching lots of yoga classes just isn't going to be enough to pay the bills.

I 'm still figuring it all out for myself, but I've been paying attention to how some of the most financially free yoga teachers make a living. And it may not be what you think. Here are a few ideas I've been toying with.

1 - Create and Sell a Product. 
Whether it's a book, DVD, or online video course or teacher training, many teachers are supplementing their incomes by creating a product once, and selling it over and over again. Even if you're not a well-known teacher with a huge following, with a little Internet savvy it shouldn't be that hard to make enough on the project to make it worth your time. And of course, once you're a social media superstar, companies will be happy to pay you for your influence.. (But yoga teachers with that much influence, really don't need my advice, do they? So, let's move on!)

2 - Cut Out the Middle Man. 
Once upon a time, it was my goal to teach at cute, local yoga studios--then I realized that if I was lucky enough to get a slot on the schedule, the studio owner would take as much as 80% of what the students pay to take a class. If you're doing tons of marketing yourself anyway, you might as well set yourself up so YOU can pocket most of the class fees. I've done this by teaching in a public park (free!), renting stand up paddleboards for SUP Yoga classes, partnering with a painting studio to have yoga and painting classes, renting out a local dance studio, and even renting out a room in a yoga studio during their off hours. I've seen other teachers have lots of success by teaching at public beaches and even in their own living rooms! It can be a lot of work doing all the marketing yourself (and it's a liability going it alone, too), but most yoga teachers have to market themselves to fill their classes anyway. You might as well maximize your earning potential, too. You may never make tons of cash this way (I haven't yet!), but at least there's the POTENTIAL to make some if a class idea takes off. Plus, it feels good to me knowing your success (or failure) is completely in your own hands.

3 - Join a Network Marketing Company You Love. 
I admit that the first time I saw Elena Brower had become a high level "beauty ecologist" for natural skincare company Pangea Organics, my ick alarm sounded pretty loudly. Is it taking advantage of students to sign them up to be a part of a "network" and then make commission from the work that they do? (For the uninitiated, that's how companies like Pangea Organics, Pampered Chef, Arbonne, Young Living, etc. work. Person X signs on to be a consultant and works hard to get Person Y to sign up, too. Once Person Y makes the investment to become a consultant, Person X makes a small percentage on any sales Person Y does as well as her own sales.) There's a lot of money to be made for a persuasive go-getter with a lot of contacts and influence in her community. After I thought a little more about this idea, I came to the conclusion that while the way network marketing companies PAY is a bit different, being a part of one of these companies is a lot like selling your students any other product--even yoga class becomes product when you're getting paid, am I right? Why not share a product you love and make some extra income when someone you know decides to purchase it based on your recommendation?

4 - Don't Just Teach Yoga--Teach Life!
I know lots of yoga teachers who teach yoga part time because they love it. The other part of the time they pay their bills through one-on-one life coaching, health and nutrition coaching, or even business coaching. Of course, all of these things probably require a little more training (something I'm unlikely to do), but I wanted to throw it out there because coaching seems like a good option for teachers who are really gifted at helping others take their yoga practice off the mat.

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Image via Flickr user katerha

I haven't had a summer reading list since high school. That could be because that was the last time I had enough free time to sit down with a big stack of books to read for pleasure (Oh wait!, I had to do it for a grade?. Nevermind.)

This year I'm not working full time, so I've found myself with a little more down time. Sure, I'm writing whenever I get assignments, teaching a few yoga classes week, keeping my 2-year-old busy in the sweltering Charleston, SC heat, practicing yoga as much as I can, cooking a lot.... OK, I don't have time to read books now either. But, I am more motivated than ever to learn, grow, find financial freedom, clean up my act, and generally enjoy every moment as much as I possibly can. (If for no other reason, then because I've started to notice my daughter mimicking nearly everything she sees me do--from asking her Daddy to turn down the TV (oops!) to my Downward Facing Dog.) I want her to see me more often with a book in my hands and less with a screen in my face. (And, yes, I do read on a Kindle. It was just a figure of speech, OK?) So, I made my own summer reading list. You'll notice these are not all yoga books--but they all are very relevant to my life as a yoga teacher, mother, freelance writer, woman, etc.

Money: A Love Story. I think all yoga teachers should read this book by Kate Northrup about valuing yourself, spending money on the things you value, seeing sound financial decisions as a form of self-care, and understanding that there are a billion ways to create abundance in this world. This one was the first on my list, and I've already devoured it.. but still need to go back through and do all the journaling exercises.

It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys: The Seven-Step Path to Becoming Truly Organized.  Kate Northrup mentions this book a couple of times in Money: A Love Story, and I knew it would be the next book I'd dive into. Even the title kind of strikes a nerve with me because I'm the type of person who has a million grand ideas and a ton of ambition and drive, but my life is just too chaotic right now to be as productive as I'd like. Case in point, the e-book I'm "writing" that's been collecting electronic dust in my Google Documents list for two years now... TWO!

Pushback: How Smart Women Ask--And Stand Up For--What They Want. This is another one that I think people in the yoga community have trouble with. Compassion is a part of the practice, and so it's really easy to think, "Yes, I do need to make X amount teaching this yoga class, but I certainly wouldn't want the studio owner to sacrifice what she needs to meet her bottom line... so I'll just take what she offers me." This attitude never helped anybody pay their bills, and settling for less than we deserve doesn't help the thousands of other yoga teachers out there struggling to pay their bills either.

Breathe: A Novel. Sure this sounds like just another fictional story of someone transforming through yoga... But, every now and then, I like to be reminded in a don't-take-yourself-so-serious way that yoga can be fun, healing, and, yes, even entertaining. I'd like to read this one on the beach, with a fruity umbrella-shaded drink in hand.

Miracles Now: 108 Life-Changing Tools for Less Stress, More Flow, and Finding Your True Purpose. I've followed Gabrielle Bernstein online for a long time now--and I have loved her video tips and tricks for using meditation and Kundalini Yoga techniques to deal with everyday life. So I can't wait to dive into this book, which promises to offer 108 simple solutions to combat complicated problems like "stress, burnout, frustration, jealousy, resentment" without spending hours meditating and practicing yoga everyday. We'll see. I'm skeptical of anything that offers quick fixes, but I don't doubt I'll learn at least one or two more things to add to my toolbox.

To keep myself motivated and honest, I'm going to review each of these books when I'm done reading them. Will you join me? What are you reading this summer?

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Now that my girl is nearly two years old she's saying all kinds of things. Some of them are less than pleasant, like yesterday when she screamed "NO, Mommy, NO!" as loud as she possibly could for a solid 5 minutes while I was trying to interview a source for an article. (To my credit, this particular interview had been scheduled for nap time but the source wasn't available then and called me back later--when my daughter was feeling particularly disagreeable.)

But she also says a lot of really insightful things that, with a little imagination, can could easily be really profound themes for a yoga class.

Things like:

1. "Take ya time, Mommy! Take ya time!" Confession. She got this little phrase directly from an episode of American Idol a couple of weeks ago when we had it on in the background as my daughter played in the floor because she was refusing to sleep at her predetermined bedtime (8 p.m.). She looked up just at the moment when one of the judges told a contestant not to rush through a song. "Just take your time." My sweet girl has been reminding me to slow down, move more deliberately, and stop re-examine my definition of the word "late."

2. "This is fun! This is fun! This is fun!" Sometimes it's swinging at the park or bouncing with me on my yoga ball. Other times it's just running in circles around the living room or throwing a toy for the dog. My little one feels (and expresses) joy and happiness in so many moments that I take for granted each and every day.

3. "Wake up!" It's true that these words are most often uttered at me when I'm pretending to be asleep on the couch--often following the direction of a toddler with mad leadership skills who just told me to "Close ya eyes!" But, I also think that she might be catching on that life is a lot better when you're fully engaged in the moment. There are many times when I'm basically asleep at the wheel--incessantly checking my email or Facebook feed while I could be taking in (and enjoying--see No. 2 above!) the moment.

I can't wait to find out what's going to come out of her mouth next. Om Namah Shivaya?

What profound little nuggets have you heard your little ones say?

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When I was pregnant I thought I'd need a million different things to help me care for my baby--from cribs and co-sleepers to bouncy chairs and Bumbos--my Must Buy List was impressively long. I used all of that stuff a little bit (though, admittedly, there were some gadgets that I barely got out of the packaging before my daughter had outgrown them). But nothing (really, NOTHING!) has turned out to be as useful as my yoga ball (also known as exercise or stability balls). Yoga balls are inexpensive, fun, and, most important, versatile--seriously, they have a million different uses.

For example:

1. Back savers. When I was in my third trimester of pregnancy, there were two things that could ease my low back pain. One was a vibrating lumbar pillow that I used behind my desk and behind the wheel of my car every single day (kind of like this one). The other was squatting in the floor with my back leaded up against my yoga ball.

2. Inducing labor? I heard that bouncing on a yoga ball is a way to start contractions and ultimately induce labor. I'm pretty sure this is a crock of crap (it definitely did not work for me!), but I'm throwing it out there just in case.

3. Laboring at home. Once my labor started, my plan was to stay at home for as long as I possibly could so there would be fewer chances for interventions that I did not want at the hospital. Of course, I ended up rushing to the hospital positive I was going to have a baby any minute, then spent a good 8 more hours in a hospital bed before I finally got to meet my little one. In any case, for the early part of labor it was nice to have a yoga ball ("birthing ball") to help me move into different positions to get as comfortable as possible.

4. Colic calmer. Until my baby was a good 9 or 10 months old there was really only one way to calm her down when she cried--cradling her in my arms while I bounced gently on my yoga ball. I was elated when she finally let me sit in a rocking chair with a nice, solid back to rock her to sleep instead of bouncing. But, honestly, bouncing on a ball was definitely better than, say, walking the halls with her strapped to me in her Moby Wrap.

5. Indoor playground equipment. When my little one had gained good control over her head, she giggled with delight when I put her on her belly on the ball and gently rolled her back and forth. Once she learned to stand on her own, the ball made for an excellent bongo drum!

6. It "tickles" my toddler. Now that my little one is 21 months old, we've been using the ball a lot again. One of her favorite things to do (again!) is to sit on my lap as I bounce up and down on the ball. When she was teeny tiny, my bouncing was to soothe her. Now, the bouncing is strictly for entertainment purposes. There's nothing more gratifying than hearing your toddler laugh and say (in a voice that sounds so grown up it's crazy!), "This is fun, Mommy! This is FUN!"

So there you have it.

If you're a mommy-to-be who I love and adore in real life (as opposed to just online) and you get a yoga ball from me as a gift, please do NOT think for a second I'm interested in encouraging you to "lose the baby weight" after you give birth. Please don't worry about that at all. You have your whole life to think about how you look in a bikini, but these precious moments with your little one will be over in the blink of an eye. Your body is amazing! It grew a person! I digress.

A yoga ball (exercise ball, stability ball, birthing ball, whatever you want to call it) was one of the best things I had as a new mama. If you've got one in your house already, I hope this post will give you some ideas about how to use it with your little one. If not... Buy one immediately! :) Here's a link to the the one I have.

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Practice and all is coming. - K. Pattabhi Jois, Founder Ashtanga Yoga

1. It's a home practitioner's dream. I don't know about you, but one of the reasons I love to go to a yoga class is that someone else tells me what to do--so I don't have to think, I can just BE. The Ashtanga Primary Series gives me the same thing, and I can do it at home while my daughter naps and for FREE. I can also add in things I want to work on and skip stuff I'm not in the mood for without much extra brain power.

2. Progress is inevitable and oh-so-obvious. When you're practicing the same set of poses every single day, you might think it would get boring. (I know that's what I used to think before I found myself addicted to the Primary Series.) But, after just a couple of weeks of practicing the series, I noticed I was getting better at the poses I found really difficult the first few times I did it--namely, Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Head to Big Toe Pose). No side-by-side selfies necessary to SEE the progress, I could actually FEEL myself getting stronger.

3. Follow your own breath--really! You know those vinyasa flow classes that claim you align your movements with your breath? It's more like I'm aligning my breath and my movements with the teacher's cues. I like that Ashtanga was designed to be practiced independently, so you really can follow your own breath and listen to your body's cues.

4. There's a plan. There's enough chaos in my life--I don't need more. So, I love that Ashtanga Yoga offers so many guidelines for the practice. hoot for practicing six days a week. Always practice the postures in a certain order. Hold poses for 5 breaths. Master the Primary Series before moving on. Don't practice on a full moon or new moon. It makes me feel all safe and secure knowing that there's always room to accommodate for growth, and even though I almost always fall short of the recommendations--I usually only get to practice 4 days a week right now and, as I've mentioned, sometimes I stray from the sequence--I love knowing I'll always have a structure to fall back on whenever I need it.

5. It's a workout. Obviously, yoga is much more than a fitness routine. But there's nothing wrong using your asana (the physical poses) practice to help you stay in shape physically as well as mentally and emotionally. I love that when I've practiced the Primary Series, I feel like I really worked my body. It lets me move, stretch, breathe, and work up a sweat so when I'm ready for Savasana (Final Resting Pose), I feel the most amazing release and a calm washes over my body.

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There are many reasons a new mom needs a good yoga mat--the most obvious (and most important!) one being that when that little cherub of yours is sleeping soundly, you're going to need something you can do in the house to maintain your sanity (and laundry isn't going to be much help, trust me!). It's also a great idea to let your little one see that you take care of yourself. In the almost two years my daughter has been in this world, I've found there a few other practical uses for yoga mats than actually practicing yoga when you have a baby. I'll share them below.

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Every year I get inundated with emails from marketers hawking yoga gear for consideration in my holiday gift guide. I'm not opposed to yoga gear. I have several quality, environmentally friendly yoga mats, practical bags that help me schlepp my mat to the studio, and a beautiful collection of yoga tops and yoga pants. I have blocks, straps, bolsters, and eye pillows. I have those socks with the sticky rubber on the bottom and a special yoga towel to absorb sweat in hot classes (it should be noted that I am not a fan of hot classes so I've only used this towel a couple of times). And, yes, I have more yoga books, magazines, and DVDs than I can count. While I love all of my yoga "things," I just don't need any more.

Photo via Flickr

Here are some things I'd really like for the holiday to help my yoga practice.

1. More hours in the day. That's right. I'd like to ask Santa for more time to practice. Maybe he could just arrange for my daughter to sleep in past 6 in the morning so I could squeeze in an hour or so of yoga before she wakes up, then I'd be set for the rest of the day. Santa is magical right? I believe he can make this happen...

2. Yoga clothes and a yoga mat that repels dog hair. I know I said I don't need more yoga "stuff," so if someone could just invent a non-toxic, organic, environmentally friendly spray I could douse everything I own with, that would be perfect. It drives me nuts that all of my yoga stuff seems to attract my animals' light-colored fur. I think I'd practice more if I didn't get fur up my nose every time I take a break in Child's Pose.

3. A personal chef. I feel great when I eat healthy foods, and the more I practice yoga the more I want fresh, natural whole foods. But, I'll be honest, I often have to make a choice between practicing asana and meditating or taking the time to grocery shop, chop fresh vegetables, soak beans, and prepare the best foods for myself and my family. I just haven't figured out how to do it all. Having a personal chef to take care of the food (I'm not a great cook, anyway) so I can focus on spending time with my family and practicing yoga would make me a very happy woman.

Of course, coming into a ton of money so I could work only when I feel inspired would take care of that too... but I'm trying not to be greedy (aparigraha is one of the yamas, you know).

4. More yoga experiences. I'd love to go on a yoga retreat some time. Who actually can afford to take these? Anyone? Well, someone must because it seems like tons of yoga teachers offer yearly retreats to places like Hawaii, Mexico, Bali, and India. I'd be content with more weekend workshops in my own town with my teachers. 2014 will be my year. I can feel it!

5. More yoga students. I'm putting this out there, not because I'd like to make more money as a yoga teacher to support my desires for yoga retreats and personal chefs (though that would be great!), but because as a yoga teacher, there's nothing in the world that inspires me more than watching students learn and grow. It's motivation to keep learning and growing myself. I'd like more of that, please.

What's on your list?

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Photo by Chris Chavez

As a yoga teacher, I'm always trying to make my language more clear. Sometimes that means giving more instruction, but most of the time it means learning when to shut my trap and allowing my students to feel and experience the poses on their own.

Here are a few of the things I know I need to strike from my yoga teaching vocabulary...

"Did you feel that?" Students nearly always just nod. Uh huh.. sure.. I feel that. (Now will you leave me alone?) If you're making an adjustment, just make it. Watch your student's body with your EYES for confirmation that they understood what you asked them to do. If you don't see a difference, they probably didn't feel it. Try saying it in a different way. If you did see them make a change, make sure they know it by giving them some feedback. Yes! There! That's it! 

"Does anybody have any requests for today's class? Anything you want to work on?" I've been doing this in my classes every class for months. I've noticed in classes that I attend, other teachers ask the same questions, too. The response is almost always a lot of blank stares, shrugging shoulders, and "anything's fine with me." I've come to this realization: My students expect ME to plan the sequence. That's why they're there. Sure, I want to leave the door open for any questions or requests, but when something comes up for one of them I trust them to come to me and ask.

"Now we're going to ...." and other words that don't mean anything. "OK. Now, we're going to place our hands down on the mat." "Then, you're going to step your right foot back." "Great, now you're going to bring your hands up toward the sky." My goal is to teach yoga class in the same way I'd write. That means cutting out all the unnecessary words. I've noticed myself saying "Now you're going to.." about 500 times in class, when it would be so much more effective to abolish the phrase entirely and just give the flippin' instruction. "Place your hands on the mat. Step your foot back. Reach your hands up toward the sky." My goal is for each and every word I say to have meaning when I'm teaching. No fillers. It's a work in progress, and practicing speaking in clear and concise language is as much a part of my practice these days as Triangle Pose.

Also... anything on this list should be abolished immediately.

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1. My dog licks my face every time I go into Downward Dog. Or Handstand. Or Headstand. Or Plank. Or Up Dog. I should really put the dog outside before I practice.

2. My 14-month-old daughter climbs onto my back every time I rest in Child's Pose. (Seriously. I used to think this pose was called Child's Pose because it's easy so a child could do it. That makes no sense at all because kids are way better at yoga than adults. So it must be called Child's Pose because of how fun it is for children to mount their parents like horses when they're trying to take a breath.. Yep. I think that must be it.)

3. My daughter always wakes up from her nap at exactly the time I"m finishing with a long sequence of standing poses with my right foot back. She screams. I go get her. I have to stop practicing. I walk a little to the left the rest of the day.

4. My husband insists on watching TV, listening to music, or loudly singing and it drowns out my Krishna Das. It also pisses me off when this happens. And being pissed off is an instant home yoga practice killer.

5. When I practice at home my gadgets are a little too accessible. I get Tweets and text messages from friends. My email beckons. Is it my turn on Words with Friends? Must. Resist. Urge. To. Check. Email.

6. The UPS man or the postlady have a knack for ringing my doorbell just as I've started to practice. It sends the dog into a frenzy, wakes up the baby, and ruins my day. (Unless the package is something fun for me.. then it only ruins my practice for the day, but the rest of my day is probably pretty awesome because I love new things!)

7. My yoga mat is where a lot of magic happens, and sometimes the flood gates open and creativity comes pouring into my head. As a writer, I know that when inspiration comes I have to stop what I'm doing immediately and write before it goes away. Sadly, this sometimes means I roll my mat back up and plan to come back to it later.

8. Grrrrr... My stomach growls. Hunger is an annoying home practice deterrent.

9. My phone rings. Or, in my case, vibrates (I never have the ringer on).

10. My needy cat tries to force me to pet her. When I ignore her and shoo her away from my mat, she stands on the end tables and starts knocking everything on them to the floor. Crash! Boom! Bang! (See Learning to Purrrr-severe.) What are your most annoying home practice distractions?

What keeps you from your home practice?

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A couple of years ago, I made a big move from the yoga rich San Francisco Bay Area to Charleston, SC. Charleston is one of the most beautiful cities I'd ever visited. It has old buildings, cobblestone roads, romantic gardens, and some of the most amazing beaches. Charleston also has some of the best restaurants and a thriving art culture. When Charleston was named the Top Destination in the WORLD by Conde Nast Traveler 2012 Readers' Choice Awards, I wasn't even a little bit surprised. This is a great place to live! But how does the Charleston yoga scene stack up? I've done a lot of yoga in a lot of different places, and Charleston is one of the best places to get your Om on. Here are just a few of the reasons.

1. Studios Galore and Amazing Local Teachers. I've heard a rumor that the Charleston area has more yoga students per capita than anywhere else outside of New York City. I have no way to confirm this rumor, but there are TONS of studios offering nearly any style of yoga you could want. I'm a notorious yoga studio hopper so I've tried most of them--and they are fantastic! I'll share my favorites in another post soon!

2. Traveling Teachers. Since I moved to Charleston, I've been able to take workshops with Kathryn Budig, Cora Wen, and Jason Crandell (three of my most favorite yoga teachers of all time). I've recently missed workshops by Briohny Smyth, Dice Iiada-Klein, Doug Swenson, and Chrissy and Kenny Graham. Because this town is SUCH a celebrated destination--and because we have such a thriving community (offering the best in Southern Hospitality, ya'll)--top-notch teachers want to come here. And Charleston residents get to benefit. Lucky us!

3. Community Events.There are plenty of yoga friendly events in Charleston. From the annual yoga marathon to benefit Louie's Kids in Marion Square to the new Green Fest there are plenty of opportunities for yoga students to come together to celebrate the practice and the lifestyle. Back in June, the new Lululemon store on King Street organized one of the coolest yoga events I've seen called King Street Yoga. One Big Ass Yoga Mat .. They closed down the street so yoga students could line their mats up to practice. Check out the pictures here. More than 500 yogis showed up.

4. Yoga Adventures. Want to try something new and exciting? Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga? Check. Aerial Yoga? We've got that, too. Beach Yoga? Oh yeah!

5. Healthy Lifestyle. It's true. Charleston, SC is steeped in Southern culture. And that means sweet tea and deep fried foods! But Charleston is a pretty progressive city with a lot of healthy options for local, organic foods as well as active pursuits--both of which are pretty important for a thriving yoga lifestyle.

Have I convinced you? Or do you think your city has Charleston beat as the best yoga city? I'd love to hear why!

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I’m going to share with you a little dream I have (I hope President Obama and Mitt Romney are reading): That politicians will spend less time pointing fingers and cutting deals and more time self-reflecting, breathing, and stretching.

Why should politicians do yoga? Here are just 5 reasons:

1. Make better decisions. Lobbyists, businessmen and women, members of their party, and  constituents all try to persuade politicians to vote in a particular way. I’m sure it can be hard to discern what’s right and wrong at times. I believe yoga helps you to make better decisions because by learning to listen to your body’s intuition, you also become more in touch with your authentic self and learn to listen (and trust) your own truth.

2. Cultivate Compassion. Empathy and compassion are vitally important attributes for our elected
officials because they are responsible for making decisions for so many different people. As yoga students learn to be more aware of their own bodies and actions, they often notice they’re able to more easily put themselves in others’ shoes.
 
3. Manage Stress. I can’t even begin to imagine the stress politicians feel on a day-to-day basis. Most of us feel incredible stress just having the responsibilities of our work and family lives. Elected officials carry the burden of a community, state, or the whole country on their shoulders. That’s a lot of pressure. A regular yoga practice helps keep stress at bay so you can focus on doing your job!

4. Model a Healthy Lifestyle. Health care might be one of the biggest issues of this election in a lot of places. No matter where you stand on the issue, you can’t deny that we’d all be better off if we stayed healthier to begin with. If more elected officials did yoga (and/or maintained a healthy lifestyle), it would send a message that healthy lifestyle is important. Two sayings come to mind: Actions speak louder than words. And practice what you preach. Just sayin’!

5. Ethics. The yamas (truthfulness, non-harming, non-stealing, greedlessness, and sexual responsibility) are important principles that yoga students try to live by. But really they’re just a basic code of ethics. Does practicing yoga immediately turn you into a better person? No. Are all yoga practitioners upstanding moral people? Nope. But I do believe that the practice of yoga gives you more tools for self-reflection and a clearer view of your impact in the world. And I think that makes you want to be a better person.

This post was adapted from a post on my blog at YogaJournal.com.

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Not me.

1. I no longer have a Buddha statue or candle at the front of my mat for an alter. Instead, I have a sleeping baby in a bouncy seat, who inevitably wakes up screaming several times during my 30 minute practice session.
2. Asana sessions are interrupted several times by demands for attention, food, or the need to be rocked back to sleep.
3. During those breaks, I often have to change out of my cute yoga top into something looser so I can nurse … Poses that require me to lay on my belly still feel horrible, so I modify or skip those altogether.
4. I look up and say "Boo!" almost every time I find my way into Cobra or Upward Facing Dog.
5. My dog Penny, who will take every opportunity to cuddle she can get now that I almost always have a baby in my arms, comes running to practice with me. She licks my face every time I take Downward Dog and lies down on my calves for the seconds I'm in Cobra or Up Dog. I stop to pet her every time.
6. Thirty minutes of uninterrupted practice is cause for a celebration. If I make it through I'm elated for the rest of the day.
7. I know yoga isn't about the poses. I've known this for a very long time, but deep down it still has been a little bit about poses for me. No longer! I practice because it feels good to do something for myself. It feels good in my body and for my spirit. I also want to be a role model for my little to girl—I want her to grow up seeing the importance of self-care. For the first time in 10 years of practicing yoga, I really don't give a flying flip what I look like or what poses I can accomplish.
8. My yoga mat doubles as padding for Tummy Time. I put a blanket down, too, to avoid getting drool all over it. This is when I get in my forward folds. (Penny licks me in the face then, too.)
9. Any activity is fair game for a quick meditation session: the shower, an evening stroll through my neighborhood, holding a sleeping baby (who refuses to sleep anywhere other than my arms)… I just take 10 deep, mindful breaths. That totally counts, right? 
10. Savasana... I remember that!

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