Who made #HolidayLoveAndLights TOP POSTS?

Recently, I posted about the #HolidayLoveAndLights Yoga challenge that ran from December 15-24th. It was a super fun challenge that encouraged participants to include twinkles light and/ or candle light into their photos to honor the spirit of the season. While I didn't celebrate Christmas this year in the traditional sense I did utilize all of the festive sparkle of my environment.

Being in Hollywood it seems there was Christmas trees, color lights, glitter and glam everywhere I turned so when I saw the giant tree in the Highland Mall I knew that I had to pose in front of it for one of my photos. Lucky Day 7 was Anjaneyasna or low lunge and it was the perfect complement for the tree.

As much fun as it was making this picture perfect it was even more fun once I posted it to my instagram. (Follow me @yogibee8 to see all my Yoga Challenge photos) After each post I always search the hashtag so that I can like and comment on my fellow challengers photos. To my excitement, an hour or so after adding my Christmas Tree Lunge to the interwebs I noticed my photo in the "Top Posts" for the hashtag #HolidayLoveAndLights !! Now, I don't know exactly how Instagram determines this type of thing but it was super cool to see! So cool that I couldn't resist sharing it with everyone :)

Time Flies When You Yoga Challenge

Wowzer! I wrapped up the #YogEmojiChallenge on the 15th of this month and hopped onto the next one so fast I forgot to honor it with a blog! I discovered the #HolidayLoveAndLights challenge on the same day as the last one ended, new hosts (@robinmartinyoga and @rebeccaleann_) and new vibe but same general concept. The sponsor @MyInnerFire will be giving away some sort of fabulous prize to the randomly selected winner so cross your fingers for me :) Generally, I tend more towards challenges that last at least 20 day up to the entire month but December ended up working out great because I was able to complete two challenges Dec. 1-15 and Dec. 15-24 which I really enjoyed.

This challenge was particularly fun because of the incorporation of some festive twinkle, candle or sparkle lights into your pose and photo. While I'm not big into the celebration of consumerism, I do love the beauty of this time of year because of all the lights, so it has been really fun to dazzle out my photos.

The #HolidayLoveAndLights challenge included a lot of familiar poses and one pose that I had never attempted before which is always fun. With the foundation that I do have in my practice I find that I am usually get into most new poses for at least a breath or two. Granted my alignment won't always be perfectly on point but that's why it's a practice right. Try new things, create new pathways in your brain and become better, stronger and wiser. I look forward to adding Tittibhasna or firefly pose into my regular practice.

 This is a really tough pose, it requires a lot of core and arm strength plus wrist and hip flexibility!(Tittibhasna)

Day 9 was Pincha Mayuranasa or forearm stand, a pose that always intimidates me. I have had moments of feeling the sensation of balance in this pose after I am fully warmed up and done a bit of core strengthening but I've yet to grasp the full expression of the pose. Thank you #HolidayLoveAndLights challenge for encouraging me to face my fears. Just more practice and more trust. One of my favorite yoga quotes says "Falling out of a posture makes you human, getting back into that posture makes you a yogi" - Bikram. It's okay to fall. Just try again!

Never hurts to use a wall when you're learning! (Pincha Mayuranasa)

Stay tuned to watch my yoga challenge journey, I already can't wait to find January's. Sending you all much Holiday Love and Light. Blessings. 

Yoga Challenge Part Deux

As soon as #TheGratitudeChallenge from November was over I immediately began searching for the next opportunity. At first I couldn't find that many but the closer December got the more challenges began pouring into my feed. I decided to run with @kinoyoga and @beachyogagirl again and participate in the #YogEmojiChallenge celebrating the release of their YogEmoji app (even though its only on iphone...#LAME #AndroidsRule)

Anyway, it's 8 days into this challenge and I'm feeling very humbled. In November I felt like "hey I'm pretty good at this yoga stuff, my poses look alright!" There have been some really simple poses so far, ones that I do every single day, multiple times a day and don't think much of them. Postures like paschimottanasana (seated forward fold) from Day 2, chaturanga dandasana (bottom of a push-up) Day 4 and Day 5's adho mukha svanasana (downward facing dog) that have not reflected as flawlessly in photos as I had always thought I was performing them. 

 Paschimottanasana - Granted this was not one of my flexible days, my back should be straighter, and my head more relaxed, normally I am able to go deeper in this pose, but not today!

Chaturanga Dandasana - I feel stronger than ever in this pose and I know my alignment is better than ever too but it still needs work. Time to eliminate that dip in my lower back by using more core!!

Adho Mukha Svanasana - If I had taken a little bit longer stance, then the slight rounding in my mid-low back would disappear, downdog is a deeply complex and ever changing posture. Dende's on the other hand is flawless :)

 

Since I am not one who practices in mirrored studios regular it is interesting to see that the way my body feels in the asana is not synced with the way it looks and this is my first take away from this challenge. Just like anything else if you want to improve at something, watch yourself do it on camera. The camera doesn't lie and in this day's world truth can be hard to come by. So I am thankful that these photos have given me specific areas of focus to improve my alignment. 

My Blog. My Journal.

Here's the thing. I like to talk about deep shit sometimes and Facebook just isn't always the platform for it. People want to catch feelings, take it personally, judge it and argue about it. So on my blog. I'm going to just say whatever I want because there really aren't that many people reading this regularly right now anyway. Okay. On with this.

How real is this statement. Yeah, put a period there on purpose.

“If you look today at the books of law they can cover a whole city block and go ten stories high. When you have to write that many laws to regulate the people that means the people have become stupid and you have created a sense of ignorance in them and a sense of morality in them so that right and wrong have been bred out of them.”

Thank you Dr. Phil Valentine for being one of the first to spark my consciousness into awakening. Nothing about our government is by the people, for the people or about whats best for the people.

Oh and not every blog post HAS to have a photo. Whatever. I'm a rebel.

#TheGratitudeChallenge Half Way Point!

We are half way through #TheGratitudeChallenge and I'm still super stoked on it. I struggle with social media sometimes, knowing that it is highly valuable and at the same time can be really destructive but this experience has shed a new light on it for me. For the first time, I'm feeling really inspired to post, for one because the challenge is a guide for creating content but also it doesn't feel as intimidating as it has in the past. Snapping photos everyday in different locations, excites my IG, my practice and my heart.

And it's aptly named, "A Challenge" since many of these poses are 1. poses that I often choose not to practice or teach and 2. are poses that I am not yet capable of achieving so I'm having to approach my practice and teaching with a fresh perspective which of course always yields positive results even if I struggle in the moment. I actually taught Ustrasana (Camel Pose) in my Vinyasa class last Friday in honor of the day's post and I hardly ever feel brave enough to teach that pose for some reason. Thank you #TheGratitudeChallenge

Another aspect that I am really enjoying is the instant community I've connected myself into by participating. It's so fun and amazing to see hundreds or maybe thousands of people from all over the world at all different levels of practice with smiles on their faces detailing the vastness of their gratitude. It just feels good and I'm so proud of everyone!

That's all for now...stay tuned for more updates! And check out my instagram for the daily post! 

#TheGratitudeChallenge Day 2

Hi! Okay, it has been a luke warm minute since I've written anything on my blog, but now I am participating in November's Gratitude Challenge on Instagram, hosted by @beachyogagirl @kinoyoga and @yogaprowheel. I always see these yoga challenges on IG but have never really been inspired to join one on until I saw that my favorite youtube teacher, Maris Alyward of YogaUpload had committed.

Yesterday's pose was Virabhadrasana 1 (Warrior 1) and my gratitude went to Maris for this Day 1. Her channel has been a staple in my life over the last year. I feel extra grateful because I've never had a post get over 100 likes until now and right now my first #TheGratitudeChallenge pose has 257 likes and 57 comments! Woah!! Cool!!! Shout out to the instant community I just united with through this challenge!!

Anyway, today is Day 2 and the pose is plank. Gratitude given to my body. Recently my skin broke out in a random case of pityriasis rosea, not contageious, not dangerous or detrimental to me at all but really ugly and itchy feeling. It lasted about 2 weeks and did a little number on my confidence. As of today it is almost completely gone and I owe it to my faith in God's healing power, plus continual affirmation and support from my boyfriend.

It feels great to wear a sports bra today in this photo and have my smooth, healthy, vibrant skin back. I am so very thankful for my body. I love my body and this experience was just another reminder to appreciate her even more everyday. The strength of this pose and core activation required reminds me that my confidence comes from within.

All Ways Us Living Love - A Practical Guide

In challenging times, I turn to books. I have a few reliable titles that always anchor me down and out of my own head. Lately, I've found immense support and service from Ken Keyes Jr's, The Handbook To Higher Consciousness. I discovered this personal growth text about 5 years ago and immediately found it's direct, no non-sense explanations to be highly refreshing. I'm all for factual information and intellectual reasoning but I LOVE a practical guide. A step by step process for achievement. That's my favorite. And this is one of the best of it's kind.

Ever since I was introduced to Louise Hay around the same time, I've always been a fan of affirmations, so in my first effort with this book, I thought I could just simply learn the 12 affirmations or "Pathways" as Keyes calls them, and skate my way to higher consciousness. Not so. With years more wisdom I realize now that a steady practice of the "Living Love Way" offered in the Handbook is the route to seeing results.

Fortunately, I gave myself a good head start. I memorized seven of the 12 pathways all those years ago. And in the last few months, I closed out 8 through 12 and today I can swiftly repeat each one word for word. My study is as follows, every day I do my best to:
1. Say all 12 pathways out loud in the morning.
2. Read at least one chapter of The Handbook out loud.
3. Notice when I am leaving the present moment and implement a pathway to return me.

I will leave you with the first of "The 12 Pathways to the Higher Consciousness Planes of Unconditional Love and Oneness"

(:(~*~):) I AM FREEING MYSELF FROM SECURITY SENSATION AND POWER ADDICTIONS THAT MAKE ME TRY TO FORCEFULLY CONTROL PEOPLE* AND SITUATIONS IN MY LIFE, AND THUS DESTROY MY SERENITY AND KEEP ME FROM LOVING MYSELF AND OTHERS. (:(~*~):)

*I added "people" to this one...

A Trusted Friend in Donuts

Quest for the Best: Mission:: Vegan Donuts

Okay, so a lot of dairy consuming, flesh eating, silly people will often claim that sticking to a Vegan lifestyle requires one to sacrifice too many favorites and is just less delicious in general, therefore they could never. Ignoring the fact that 98.44% of the time they are speaking off pure speculation, I'm here to tell you...ANYTHING YOU CAN EAT, I CAN EAT BETTER. You know facts? Yeah, this is one.

The prize perfect example can be found in a trusted friend...Donut Friend to be exact. These are donuts done differently and by differently, we mean Vegan. Free from all animal products including their tears. These donuts are softer, fluffier, sweeter and more melt in your mouth than any donut I've ever loved. Flat out, double blind taste test or whatever, its just a fantastic donut.

 

(From L to R, Top Row to Bottom: Polar Berry Club, Bacon 182, Fudgegazi, Strawberrylab

)

It's true there are a lot of vegan products out there that don't taste great, but I want to help guide you in the right direction. Unfortunately, Erin McKenna’s Bakery in Larchmont does not represent in the donut department. Cute shop and stuff, but they just don't get it like "Friends" do. So take my advice, make the trek to Donut Friend in Silverlake and experience bliss. Oh! And, they also offer an assortment of fillings and toppings for DIY donuts. Genius.

My intention is to seek out the best of the best of all Vegan everything so that when those sillies try to stump me with some food that can't be made amazingly vegan, I will have the rebuttal lined up and ready to be devoured.  

Nothing Short of Epic (Mineral Beauty)

Hey Internet-Land, I'm back with another make-up review! So, in this second edition of The Quest for the Best: Mission Make-Up, I'm breaking down my experience and impressions of Epic Mineral Beauty. Fact of the matter is, "Epic" is an accurate characterization. This make-up is a winner!

This company made my short list of brands to try, boasting minimal ingredients, no chemicals, and vegan options. Automatically, I appreciated their beautiful, easy to use website and variety of color options. Plus, they offer a quiz to help you determine the right colors for your skin tone! I ordered some samples of the powder foundation and the under eye concealer, which has actually become my go-to for all over coverage and the powder foundations feel lightweight and fresh.

I was so pleased with these testers that I went back for more and when I did their website was re-vamped with more new products and colors! I ordered the Pink Coral Pure Mineral Blush or Lip Butter, with Shea and Jojoba, and the Browns Trio Pressed Eyeshadow and with those two additions, I have almost replaced all my old toxic favorites.

 

Blush, Eyeshadhow Trio, Under Eye Concealer & Adaptive concealing Cream

In addition to great products, they also have beautiful packaging and great customer service. I look forward to testing out more of their creations and I'm thankful for the uprising of responsible brands offering safe and cruelty-free products. Keep up the Epic work!

          

         My Epic Mineral Beauty Face             

Yoga Mat Misty Eyes

It's the first day of my new blogging schedule, from now on every Wednesday is my day to write a little something. Cruising around social media for inspiration, I found it from my favorite online yoga teacher, Maris Alyward and Yoga Upload. She shared a post from Yoganonymous about crying on your yoga mat. I didn't even read the article, Maris' brief narrative and pressing of question "Have YOU cried in yoga?" was all  I needed to get my fingers moving.

Short answer, yes. I have cried on my mat many times. Usually its a song that gets me. Specifically a song the brings me back to my yoga home of Pavones Yoga Center in Pavones, Costa Rica. My time practicing, learning, teaching and growing in that studio along side trusted friends, inspiring spirits and like minded individuals are some of my most cherished memories. My experiences at PYC are filled with so much love and personal transformation that each time I am transported back there through song, scent, thought or image its as if my body relives each moment in a condensed flash of gratitude. And the waterworks flood in.

(me, not even close to crying at my first PYC teacher training in 2012) 

Other times mat tears result from a personal situation that resolves itself as I weep through a pose or two. To experience emotional pain in conjunction with a challenging pose creates a channel for that pain to escape from your physical body. A release of unprocessed emotions. Deep hip openers like Pigeon or Frog pose are usually a culprit for this kind of clearance.

As a teacher, only a few misty-eyed students have graced my classes, but each time I've felt a deep sense of connection and compassion for their process. I feel honored that they have chosen to allow themselves to be so deeply personal in the yoga space that I helped to create for them. Not to say that sobs are required by any means, but crying on your mat brings you closer to yourself and opens the way for you to experience the spiritual essence of yoga which can often be omitted from our Western mind and practice. So maybe? Next time? just let it flow.