Yoga Frog on Frog Pose

Frog Pose (Mandukasana)

If you want to free your hips and really let go of stagnant energy surrounding the hips then you must try frog pose. I have been working on this one all week in my personal practice as well as in my classes. One thing I observed is that frog pose sure makes me sweat!! I really felt the joy in it today, 2 days ago I felt a lot of anger, stirred up a lot of emotion for me and didn't want to stay in ...the pose (but I did), very resistant! Today I was finally able to release deeper and felt like I was on the other side of those emotions, pure joy, love and release. Also on a physical level the subtle discomfort that comes and goes in my right hip for the last 6-12 months hasn't been bothering me this week. Nobody ever said yoga was easy and it's not meant to be but it's so worth the hard work.

Link to video of dude doing Frog Pose

That's it, breathe through it, big man! There are a few different versions of frog pose and I wanted to find a reference for the one I've been doing and (I can't believe it) this is the best one I found. I think it's great and shows that an...yone can do this pose, unless you have issues/injuries with your back, knees or hips. You can use pillows under the knees, folded blankets or towels (as shown in video). When coming out of the pose use any method that's most comfortable for you, I bring my feet together and move my hips towards my heels and go straight into child's pose. Enjoy your happy hips.

The Blissology Project

One of my Christmas gifts this year was The Blissology Project by Eoin Finn.  Eoin refers to himself as a blissologist.  The blissology project is a set of 6 DVDs that includes yoga and meditation.  The blissology project has 6 big easy bliss commitments: 1) yoga, 2) meditation, 3) food awareness, 4) nature appreciation, 5) gratitude, 6) wild card (which changes every week and is posted on his website).

Each DVD has 2-3 yoga practices, one is a "quickie" version running about 30 mins and the others are a longer practice from 45 to 60 mins, depending on disk.  Each disk also includes a meditation.  Five of the disks are titled Bliss Monday- Bliss Friday and the 6th is Bliss Weekend.  If you would like more information on this DVDs or the Blissology Project please check out Eoin's website Eoin Finn Yoga + Blissology.

I haven't had the chance to do all the yoga practices yet but the ones I've done are great!  I've always enjoyed going to Eoin's classes and the DVDs do not disappoint.  Even the quickie sessions leave you feeling lighter and blissified.  I've even used some of the sequences in my yoga classes when I teach.  The great thing about the DVDs is that he only charges $49 + shipping!  Or you can buy the video download version for the same price, no shipping.  For the amount of yoga and meditation you get it's a great deal!

Namaste

New Year Resolutions

I don't really believe in new year resolutions.  I don't ever remember making them so I don't have any experience or any attachment to them or feel the need to make them.  This year I have made so many healthy changes in my diet long before New Year's that I don't need to reiterate them as a resolution.  I'm already doing it.  I suppose I could make an "I plan to exercise more" resolution but I already do that too, for the most part quite regularly.  I will admit that I have been on a 3 month hiatus from my exercise routine but looking back I think it was because of my diet changes.  Now that the new diet has acclimatized itself, I'm ready to get fit again. 

I've always liked the expression "never say never".  This is a good place to insert it.  Not that I ever said I would never make a New Year's resolution because over the years I've learned not to say never.  I just never planned on making any...but this year I think I am going to make an official new year's resolution.  I came across a status update on facebook on Jan 1st that caught my eye "any grudges or ill will you have towards someone, leave it in 2010.  Let's all start 2011 with love in our hearts."  The author is Eoin Finn, the infamous blissologist from Vancouver, BC.  I have one relationship in my life that is not the best it could be and I feel helpless because there is nothing I can or can't do to make it better or (hopefully) worse.  As they say the only person you can change is you.  So my new year's resolution is to leave my grudges behind and with effort move forward without any expectations or attachments to this someone.  Is indifference a negative word?  I hope not.  And for the record I don't have any ill will towards this someone and do my best to approach them with compassion because I only have room in my heart for love these days.  I can see how holding onto negative feelings towards someone can have a negative affect on your own health and that is my motive, to be free of negativity.