March IN!

Wow so many wonderful things happening at the "house!"

Teacher Training coming to Hot Yoga House has been a dream of mine since I first opened the yoga studio. I love to share yoga and by sharing it with alike minded people who want to in-turn share makes that dream a reality! Yoga truly can be for everyone, no maybe not "hot" yoga but that's just the physical part of yoga. Living yoga should be our intention.

But what does that really mean? Well simply put you've all heard it before, follow the "Golden Rule"...treat others nicely....be kinder....more gentle....less harmful...slow down....breathe...find patience.....UGH sometimes those are just to dang hard aren't they! I mean let's be real...people cut you off while driving, you get stuck in traffic, there's that certain co-worker, a kid who just won't cooperate...the list could go on and on! BUT what all of those situations are, are just simply opportunities to see how you react to each situation. It's your chance to LIVE out your yoga...take it off the mat....maybe don't react to the person who is driving on your bumper...just breathe!

It's exciting to see all the new faces and I am so pleased that my "regulars" have reached out and made all our new folks feel like family. I love to see hugs, smiles and well wishes as new folks come in...it's like a big family...all cheering each other on.

Love to you all on this BEAUTIFUL March day...The SUN FINALLY!

See you at the "house!"

What kind of yoga do we do at Hot Yoga House?

What a loaded question….let me tell you what we do and then YOU come and do a little yoga!!

Hatha Yoga by definition is “HA” meaning “sun” and “THA” meaning “moon”, hatha yoga can be translated as the yoga that brings “union to the pairs of opposites”. Sometimes it’s translated into the “forceful yoga” because it is the most physical type of yoga. This type of yoga is the most popular in the west.

Hot Yoga House’s definition of the hatha yoga we do? We have power classes, iron classes, fast tempo classes and they are HOT to get you more flexible so you are able to go deeper “physically” but then we “pair the opposites” as we cool you down and take you to a state of calm and peace, maybe even stepping into the meditation room to go a little deeper still

Karma Yoga basically consists of entirely selfless service, where ego is given up to serve God in everything, be it man, animal or planet. It’s about doing the right thing.

Hot Yoga House’s Karma yoga? Well it’s the countless people at the studio who give their time and talents to create a place where everyone feels welcome. It’s Robin who paints and decorates without wanting a thank you, it’s Ron who makes shelves and fixes lights, it’s Sherrie who brings toys and has even taken laundry home, it’s Keith who shoveled snow so everyone could park safely, it’s Michael who spent hours working on a pond just so we could enjoy the sounds of the waterfall, it’s Rupert who makes fabulous meals for us to enjoy at our get togethers… WELL….it’s SO MANY wonderful people who make up the “house” you’d have to come and meet them all!

Bhakti Yoga by definition is pure spiritual devotion of love for God which is Love

Hot Yoga House’s Bhakti yoga? This is very personal for each person who enters. For ME the physical part of hatha yoga gave me an opportunity to SLOW DOWN from the busy lifestyle and truly focus on what’s important. I was able to come to a place after my asana practice and BE STILL! If you come into our meditation room you will see posted over the door “Be still and know that I am God” Psalms 46:10 because for me yoga allowed me to be still enough to spend time with God. I often say you can’t minister to others until you minister to yourself, come and spend 75 or 90 minutes on getting filled so that you can give to others.

Ashtanga yoga purifies the mind thru 8 steps or “limbs”..the 8 Limb Path:
Yamas (control), Niyamas(rules of conduct), Asanas (postures), Pranyama (control of breath), Pratyahara (withdrawal of sensory perception), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (uninterrupted meditation), and Samadhi (complete equilibrium)

Hot Yoga House’s Ashtanga yoga? We strive to be on this path and we aren’t necessarily walking together, we are all at different places but on the same path. But at some point we strive for these in every class. For example, we all want to be good people (Yamas and Niyamas). We practice Dharana (concentration) thru the asana practice, think of when we do bow! AND I don’t’ know anyone who has practiced hot yoga that wouldn’t tell you that it takes meditation to get thru the class! It’s a moving meditation during the practice and then stillness at the end.

We practice this and so much more at Hot Yoga House. There are so many more things I could say but to truly feel yoga in all of these examples just come in...that’s all…..just come in….let yourself be bathed in the love and compassion of our house, I promise you will leave with much more then you came in with!

Haiti Donation Classes THIS WEEKEND

Our church goes to Haiti every year on a few mission trips. ONE is a medical mission trip, one is a Dental mission trip and another for a school mission trip. Our church is very involved with the people of Haiti! I went a few years ago and it changed my life, while we were there we treated over 600 people in 6 short days and saw more life than I could ever put into words.

Ironically our medical mission trip was already planning to go to Haiti NEXT week and is still planning on making this trip. The team needs prayers....it's already very difficult to get the medication in for the people of Haiti and now with everything happening our team will have even a more difficult time.

I am unable to go this year but feel strongly the desire to help this team in some way! SO one thing I'd like to do is give....so I am making ALL CLASSES THIS WEEKEND DONATION BASED CLASSES!!

All weekend we will be taking donations AND I will be giving this DIRECTLY to the doctors and nurses going on the Our Lady of the Lake medical mission trip. I can promise you that your donations will go directly to those in need NO middle man. Many of the people that create this team are people who live in these villages... from interpretors to the drivers to the cooks and ALL have been touched SO our team will be able to personally take our donations and see first hand what it can do.

So please keep that in mind this weekend.....and again God is still wooing me, I'm not quite sure SO if I take off and am gone next week you know where I might be...after all I kept that nursing license for something!

Laughing at yourself....

Okay this is from Robin (one of our more quiet clients so you may not have met her) she said she sometimes feels this way about Hot Yoga...NOW I am just wondering if she is calling me Satan under her breathe...Enjoy the laugh! PS For a funny actual account of someone's FIRST visit to Hot Yoga House check out Jennifer Johnson's blog on our site.


A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM

If you read this without laughing out loud, there is something wrong with you This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular workout routine.

Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, I purchased a week of personal training at the local health club. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
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MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!
Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines.. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!
Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!
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TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.
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WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.
Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members.. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.
My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other crap too.
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THURSDAY:
Butthole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late-- it took me that long to tie my shoes.
He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny witch to find me.
Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine-- which I sank.
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FRIDAY:
I hate that demon Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.
Christo wanted me to work on my triceps I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the darn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.
The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
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SATURDAY:
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel..
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SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

What Yoga Pose are You?

(excerpt from Yoga Journal)

I thought this would be fun....let me know what pose YOU are!



Every yogi, no matter how much or how little experience you have with yoga, has one: one particular pose you love above all others. It's the pose that feels most like home, and the one you keep wishing the teacher would call out next.

Here's a guide to what a propensity for a certain pose might have to say about you.

Tree Pose

You’re grounded but you enjoy testing your limits. This is often a favorite pose of newer yogis–it's a first foray into challenging balancing poses and when you nail it, it feels effortless. If you wobble more than you stand still in this pose, focus on feeling your connection to the earth by rooting down through the big toe mound of your standing foot and the sole of the foot that's pressing in to your inner thigh. If you're pretty stable here, prioritize lifting your ribcage and fingertips up as high as you can.

Backbends

Whether you're a wheel junkie or just love lying down with your ribcage draped over a rolled up blanket, a propensity toward backbends indicates an open heart, loving nature, and excitement about the future. Be careful that your exuberance doesn’t lead to injury—if your quads, abdomen, chest and shoulders aren't open in your backbends, you could tweak your back. Translated to daily life, if you aren't as flexible as you are strong, you could wind up with too much on your shoulders.

Forward bends

Sitting or standing, a love of folding forward indicates that you are introspective and not afraid to let yourself get quiet so you can hear you own thoughts. Forward bending is also associated with looking to the past—be sure you don’t spend so much time folding forward that you forget to be open to the present or anticipate the future.

Revolved standing poses

You're not afraid to take a bite out of the cookie of life. You've got a lot going on, and yet it all seems to work because you know that it takes a delicate balance of hard work and surrender to keep it all together. Just remember to treat yourself to rest and a quiet practice of restorative poses to keep your batteries charged.

Headstand

You're interested in building your intuition and learning how to maintain a sense of trust in the face of a scary situation. You're also not afraid of a challenge. Like handstand fans, you're open to seeing things from multiple points of view. Your challenge is to learn how to find your center even when your world is turned upside down.

Handstand

You're a thrill seeker and yet know how to find balance in the midst of chaos. Or, at least, you’re working your way toward it. You also aren't afraid to look at things from a different vantage point from the average soul. The trick for you is to balance your exuberance with grace, and to learn how to fall softly for those times when your enthusiasm leads you into a precarious position.

Cobbler's pose, pigeon pose, and/or split pose

You're not intimidated by a little discomfort and crave the release that comes from working your edges. You also tolerate emotionally charged situations well – the hips are often storehouses for unprocessed emotions, and many people shy away from these poses because they aren't comfortable with accessing the hidden feelings they may have. Just remember that boundaries are healthy. You don't want to overextend yourself, making you either overly vulnerable emotionally or prone to muscle pulls physically.

Corpse pose

You are likely tired, over-scheduled, and craving some profound rest. And what’s so wrong about that? Our society may prize people who can keep up a furious pace, but some part of you knows that there's a time and a place for stillness, quiet, and reflection. Indulge in a few moments of rest each day, always keeping in mind that the true challenge of the pose is to allow your mind to quiet without falling asleep or planning what you're going to have for dinner.


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Be Joyous

For some, the holiday season is a time of joy, family and celebration. For others, this is a time of profound sadness — wrought with pain and suffering from failed relationships, financial challenges, job dissatisfaction and self-worth issues. Today I want to share a tool to help you or someone you love transform feelings of depression by looking at circumstances as gifts.

On the other side of depression is expression. I believe the reason each of us is here is to express our feelings, thoughts and talents — to share our gifts in service to humanity — in a way that moves us forward, beyond limited thinking and choices that do not serve us. This is where we can move from fear to faith, from doubt to trust, and from pain to power.

Let go of toxic energy
As this year comes to an end, it is the perfect opportunity to release any unwanted experiences, thoughts or belief systems that no longer serve. It feels to me like cleaning out a storage room that is holding broken and restrictive energy. Whatever you are holding onto that is keeping you small, now is the time to let it go! Peace is here. Love is available. Joy is around the corner. Harmony is surrounding you. Light is expressing as your very life. Take advantage of this life you have been given, and dare to step out into a field of freedom that is your divine inheritance.

Take a moment to think about how you have grown, the unexpected gifts you have been given, and the simple ways you have been shown that you make a difference. You are powerful. Shine your light this holiday season. Many await your beauty. Grace is available right at this very moment to guide you to freedom and peace.

Happy holidays to you! I am so grateful that we have had the opportunity to share time together this year!

Take a moment to remember this:
Today, I let go of anything that will not support my peace. I proclaim that my presence is the gift, and it blesses all who experience me. I am joyous and ready to express love and light in every situation.

(excerpt from yogablog)

My Birthday wants to THANK YOU!

What a special treat to actually get a birthday present that you want AND that can generate such happiness to so many others!

WHAT DID WE GET?

Well THANK YOU for my "party" this morning and to those of you who donated funds to our Hot Yoga House Foundation! With these fund we are able to share hot yoga with people who cannot afford it right now. Each of you has gotten something from your mat that you may be didn't expect and want others to share in that too.....I couldn't have asked for anything more!

The people who are able to come to yoga because of your generosity are speechless and would tell you that they have been blessed beyond measure!

Thank you....I don't deserve such wonderful people in my life but I am sure glad I have you!