June 2016 archive

Cool down with hot yoga?

You may have heard of Sun Salutations in yoga but have you ever heard of a Moon half moon  FBSalutation (Chandra Namaskar)?  This week’s yoga class will warm you up and then cool you down with some poses and sequences that emphasize the lunar (cooling) aspect of the yoga practice. Are you wondering how a hot yoga class can be cooling?  Join me this Friday at the Towson Yoga Works studio and you’ll find out! As the weather heats up here in Baltimore, you’ll leave class feeling refreshed and in sync with both the sun and the moon!

 

Yoga Glow Flow

real fireflyThere are about a million things I love about summer and one of the most magical is the appearance of the bioluminescent beauties, fireflies! Also known as lightning bugs, these creatures are so amazing they have a yoga pose named after them.  Now, my firefly pose will most likely never grace the cover of firefly butt FBYoga Journal and is definitely still a work in progress, but after watching these incredible creatures light up my backyard this weekend, I couldn’t resist creating a yoga flow to prepare our bodies to attempt one of the versions of Titibhasana (firefly pose).  Not ready for the full pose?  No problem!  Check out beginner firefly FBthe version below using yoga blocks. Regardless if we can actually do firefly pose, a vinyasa flow class that opens the hamstrings, strengthens the shoulders and core and, most importantly focuses on the breath and having fun, is sure to make us glow!!!  Take flight with me this Friday from 2-3pm at the Towson Yoga Works studio and you’ll leave glowing from the inside out.

Eat this to stay cool this Summer

Recently, many of my acupuncture clients have asked which foods are best to eat to stay cool this summer.  Below is a list of foods to add to your diet to help you cool down this season.strawberries!FB

Apples, bananas, pears, strawberries, broccoli, cabbage, eggplant, spinach, Swiss chard, celery, buckwheat, papaya, watermelon, grapefruit, tomatoes, asparagus, cucumbers, summer squash, romaine lettuce, seaweed and barley.

Can you tell which cooling food is my personal favorite from the big smile on my face?

Happy Summer!

Yoga for the Summer Solstice

Every week I choose a theme for the yoga classes I will teach.  This week, as we are on the cusp of the longest day of the year, I have planned a fiery, heart opening flow to keep us in alignment with the change of season.Mermaid dancer FB

Traditional Chinese Medicine tells us that the summer solstice represents the beginning of the season when life and energy are at their peak.  Summer is closely linked to the element of fire and the heart meridian.  The heart, mind and spirit are all ruled by the fire element and, when all are in balance, the season of Summer evokes the emotion of joy.

Want to start your summer right? Open your heart, feed your fire element and experience the joy that summer brings! Interested in learning some heart opening yoga poses?  Check out my community yoga class ($6!!!) Friday from 2-3pm at the Towson Yoga Works studio. http://charmcityyoga.com/schedule