Category: Leigh

Making Shapes

Leigh, Yoga

If you’re a yogi, have yogis in your life, or even just follow some on social media, you’ve probably seen them get into postures in the strangest places.  They might even use a hashtag like #yogaeverywhere or #yogaoutside and to a non-yogi it might seem a little narcissistic… or just silly.  I’m sure, depending on the yogi, it can be both, but I think it’s sometimes something else.

I was at a park today and it was filled with interesting architecture and sculptures and I must admit, I thought, “This would be a great place to do yoga!”  I saw all these lines and shapes and I was thinking about which poses would go with them, or contrast with them in a visually interesting way.  Yoga is one of the ways I try to free up my creative side, and sometimes a doorway or a statue (or an ice castle!) just looks like the perfect place to practice.  I guess it’s like wanting to paint there, or sing there, or write….

So the next time you see an interesting space, and you get the urge to launch into a handstand or ease into wheel, go for it.  And if you take a picture, share it with us.  We’ll understand.

 

Snow: Hang Out or Hide Out?

Leigh, Travel

Some people see big flakes and get their skis ready, while others put another log on the fire.  Which camp are you in?

“You can’t get too much winter in the winter.” -Robert Frost

“I say to myself that I shall try to make my life like an open fireplace, so that people may be warmed and cheered by it, and so go out themselves to warm and cheer.” – George Matthew Adams

Fear of Falling

Leigh, Yoga

I fell attempting a new pose this week.  I actually didn’t just fall, I fell on my face.  In a crowded gym. In front of people I was convinced were paying attention.

I have always struggled with struggling. I want to be good at whatever I attempt, immediately.   It doesn’t matter if it’s something I’ve never tried before, I just expect myself to be good at it. Sometimes when I’m not, it’s really tough not to just write it off as I can’t do such-and-such and leave it at that.  Not an expert immediately?  It’s dead to me.

But I know there is growth in the process, and for most things, I can improve, even if I never get to expert level. (Boo.) So I try new things.  I attempt a new recipe.  I agree to give a public presentation.  I go for a new yoga pose in a gym full people.

And I fall.

Sure, it hurt my face, but it bruised my ego more.  I tried to do that thing adults do when they’ve hurt themselves and they want to pretend it’s all fine and probably won’t even leave a mark and yes you do like Jessica’s leggings and you too wonder where she got them.  I got up and did a couple sun salutations and got into a modification of the pose I was attempting.  I set my gaze and focused on my breath.  And as I was holding baby grasshopper instead of the full-on grasshopper, one of the gym-goers walked by and said,  “I wish I could do that!”

Progress not perfection.  Don’t be so afraid to fall, that you don’t even try.  Bruises are cool and modifications are awesome and strangers can be encouraging.  Aim for the jump you don’t know if you’ll land.  Falling isn’t the end; it’s just part of the journey.

What Your Yoga Teacher is Really Thinking

Leigh, Yoga

I can’t speak for every yoga teacher of course, but as a student I do wonder what the view is like from up there, at the front of the class, and what the instructor might be thinking as he or she is taking us through the flow.  On the flip side, I know exactly what I’m thinking as I’m teaching a class.  Here are some of those thoughts:

I like her outfit.  Total chick move, but yes, I am noticing the cute tanks and leggings the students wear to class.  If I ask you where you got it, just tell me it was super expensive.  I need to stop.

I’m sorry my hands are so cold.  Every time I assist someone, I rub my hands so they are aware of my presence, but also to try to warm them up.  It’s a lost cause. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone waived off an assist because I was freezing them out, but so far that hasn’t happened.

Am I making sense?  Even though the cues I’m giving come from my training, experience and my own practice, sometimes I wonder if they make sense when they fall on my students’ ears.  I know your can’t really “shine” your chest forward… unless it’s a really sweaty class… but it might make you open up more and that’s what we’re after.   If I ask you to breathe into your left thigh, you have my permission to throw a block at me.

I’m really glad you’re here.  I am grateful for everyone who shows up to class.  I know the good that it’s doing them, and I selfishly feel good about helping them feel good.  It’s a regular feel-good-festival going on.

Y’all are doing so great!  I give encouragement during class all the time, but sometimes I just want to yell, “Oh my gosh! You guys look great!!”  I don’t want to disrupt everyone’s flow, so I don’t.  But just know that watching a class all flow together is awesome.  It’s like a dance.  It’s expressive and vulnerable and just beautiful.  You’re doing amazing.  Trust me.

Until I became a teacher, I didn’t realize how much instructors root for their students.  We notice if you look stressed walking in, and we hope you are less stressed walking out.  We notice if you are hard on yourself or if you are pumped at holding dancer for a few seconds longer than usual.  We see your focus and your progress and we are just so dang proud.

At the end of class, when we’re seated in easy pose and I look out at the faces, what I’m thinking most, is thank you.  Without the students, there is no teacher, and the act of teaching makes me a better student…and there’s that feel-good-festival all over again.  So when I bow I am saying thank you.  Thank you for choosing to be on your mat and to be in this class and to contribute to our flow.  The light and love in me, sees and reflects the light and love in you.  Namaste.

Harmonizing the Om

Leigh, Yoga

I’m just going to go ahead and say it, and then we can dive into why.

I harmonized the “om” tonight in yoga class.

Quite honestly, I’ve considered it many times before. It just feels right to me. A group of people, all saying something together, kinda drawn out like you’re meant to sing it… it seems natural.

Now for those of you who practice yoga for its spiritual enlightenment and for whom the “om” is a vocal manifestation of all that is light and love, let me just say that I’m in no way trying to take that away from you. I’m trying to add to it.

I’ve been practicing yoga for a while now, and it’s becoming a big part of my fitness journey. I love the poses and the breath and it’s been a remarkable calming presence through some really turbulent times. And yet, the word I would use to describe my overall connection to yoga is playful. I like to make up poses. I like to do yoga with my dog, who really enjoys being on the mat and preferably, wherever I’m just about to put my body next. He’s very into the playful part of yoga also, and the part that makes me fall on my head so he can lick my face. I enjoy yoga outside, with the sun on my face, and I love trying arm balances and poses that are beyond my reach, so I can laugh at myself and make up my own modifications. Playful.

So when the end of class comes, and we all sit tall with our eyes closed and reflect on our intentions, I take a moment to reflect, be grateful, be honest with myself and with the reasons I am on this journey. I appreciate my body and my breath and all that it allows me to do.  And when the instructor says we’re going to “om” I take a moment before I come in. I listen to the other voices fill the room, and for most of them to find and match the teacher’s pitch. I let the outliers shift and lock on to the note, and then, when they’re all on “mmmm” – I take the third.

It’s not very loud and it’s not meant to draw attention. It’s just meant to be fun, and an understated note of beauty and appreciation for the moment. Tonight I was the only one, but I have hope for the others with a musical ear. Maybe some time soon one of them will join me with the fifth. And when I bow I will have a special nod just for them. The playfulness in me, recognizes and honors the playfulness in you. Namaste.

 

Snoring Pigeons and Barking Up Dogs

Leigh, Yoga

I taught yoga to a group of kids this weekend, and it was pretty hilarious.  If you have a chance to teach yoga to kids, or at least attend a yoga class taught to kids, I would strongly recommend it.
Here are some things I learned from my students:

Try it.

You should have seen these kids go for whatever pose I said we were going to do next. I had to slow them down because they wanted to jump into it. I’ve never seen such excited yogis. My class intention was to challenge themselves to try new things, since most had never tried yoga before, and they certainly followed that suggestion.

Be creative.

Some of their poses looked nothing like the pose I was demonstrating and describing. Who cares?! You prefer to do chair pose in a low squat? Go for it! Your up dog likes to bark as she shines her chest forward? Why not?!? As long as you’re not causing injury, do you.

Giggle.

I laughed through the entire class. So did they.

It’s okay to get teary.

One little girl of about four came in crying. I asked her what was wrong and she said she “didn’t know how to yoga.” I told her none of us did and we’d learn together.  She got into the first game and got on board.

Stray off course if it feels right.

When we got to pigeon pose, and then sleeping pigeon, some of them started fake snoring. That lead to talking about how we each sleep at night and they all demonstrated their sleeping poses for a minute before we moved on.

At the end of class, they did have a hard time staying still in savasana. I didn’t force it — even adults have a hard time letting everything go and not wiggling. I heard movement to my right and opened my eyes. A cute little yogi was face to face with me. “I lost a tooth,” she told me. “I left it for the tooth fairy and she gave me a receipt.”
Namaste, friends. Namaste.

Sayulita

Informational, Leigh, Surfing, Travel, Yoga

Sayulita, Mexico.

When Edgar first invited me there, I had never heard of it, and now it feels like I hear it mentioned everywhere! This eclectic, artsy little surf town is getting some travel buzz, and for good reason. It’s a great mix of locals and visitors, with a healthy dose of misfits thrown into the scene. It’s happy. It’s safe. It’s on the beach. It’s beautiful. It’s Sayulita.

Before you go:

In addition to researching where you want to stay, and what you want to do, you’ll want to check the current exchange rate and get some pesos in your pocket. Most places in Sayulita will take US currency, but they won’t give you the best rate. We’ve found the best deal is to order some pesos from your home bank before you go. Some bigger banks will have them on hand, but others will take a few days to get them for you. It’s worth it, and will save you money when you just spend like a local.

Getting there:

Flights to Puerto Vallarta are easy to find, and as long as you have some advance notice, pretty reasonable. We recommend giving yourself a couple of months to search, so you can see patterns of when prices fluctuate. Holidays are tough, as the airline industry is well aware that you’d love to go someplace warm and filled with sea air, but you can still find a deal if you get creative. Once you have your dates in mind, do some sliding around of days/times and see what works best. If you end up with a layover in Mexico City, make sure you plan for enough time to go through customs and find your way around the airport. Their second terminal is not well-marked and is up a level and a tram ride over from the main terminal. (I once had to “tip” an employee a $20 just to find the tram station, so learn from my mistakes and look for the escalator going up.)

Arrival:

The airport in PV is pretty easy. Once you flow out of customs (press the button and cross your fingers for no searches!) you’ll be ushered right into the main lobby. Don’t have a ride? No worries. Cab drivers are everywhere. If you have something arranged in advance, ignore all the people waving you over. They’ll ask where you’re going or guess where you’re going and act like they know you. A few “no gracias” waves will do the trick. Step outside and you’ll see two lanes of traffic and lots of pick ups and drop off, just like any airport, with maybe an extra dose of chaos. If your ride is arranged, they’ll be holding a sign with your name on it. If you don’t have one arranged, just tell any cabbie where you’re going. Trips to Sayulita can run you anywhere from 1000-2000 pesos, roughly $50-$100 USD. You’re expected to negotiate, so take whatever they quote you and whittle it down. If you say no to their price, they’ll probably ask you what you want to pay, so have that number in mind.

Getting around town:

Sayulita is walking city. Most of the hotels and B&Bs are right in the heart of the city, or a short walk outside of it. The beach is walkable from just about anywhere in town, so unless you like to pack a bunch of stuff with you, you’ll be fine to head over on foot. Some visitors can be seen cruising around on golf carts, since they’re easy to stash on side streets, but we’ve found these to be a bit pricey and prefer the exercise.

Restaurants and shopping:

There are good deals to be found on food and souvenirs, but like most places you have to be ready to look at little off the path. The shops right by the beach offer lots of swimsuits and clothing, but at tourist prices. Some of the best deals on blankets, hammocks, jewelry and so forth can be found right on the beach. Sellers walk the beach all day offering all sorts of wares, and they’re all ready to ask you what price you want to pay.

Some of the best food can be found right on the street, at the taco stands! The churros (fried dough) are also delicious, and the perfect post-dinner snack for your walk back to your hotel. If you’re more in the mood for a sit-down meal, there are plenty of great restaurants serving delicious seafood, pizzas, salads and of course, traditional Mexican cuisine. Prices are reasonable, and the service is almost always great.

After dinner, take a lap around the square. There are musicians, skateboarders, fire twirlers and all sorts of performers ready to wow the crowds. The vibe of the city between 9p-11p is fun and vibrant, and there are still tons of families with young ones milling about. I can’t speak to the late night crowd, but at least until 11 or so the majority of the city is just having an innocent good time.

Surfing:

If you go to Sayulita, you can rent a board for a day for about $15 USD. There’s a surf break right there on the main beach, and there are plenty of beginners paddling out on their foam boards for the thrill of their first white water rides, and more experienced surfers showing off their skills a little farther out. You can rent boards right on the beach, or at any of the surf shops in town.
If you’re an avid surfer and want more variety, there are a number of nearby breaks that the locals will help you get to, but keep in mind the best spots you may need to find yourself. Not every surf instructor wants to find tourists on his break on his only day off. But in all, folks are very friendly and if you’re looking for a wave someone will tell you what’s working that day.

Yoga:

Sayulita is a great place to practice your beach flow. I’ve enjoyed several morning sessions flowing to the sound of the waves. Because folks tend to have dinner late and then stay out late, the beach is quiet in the mornings. Surfers and yogis who want a little quiet time would do well to hit the beach before 8:00am. If you prefer to flow with a group, there are also several yoga studios on the side streets of town, and they’ll have morning and evening classes. It’s also a great place for yoga retreats, so keep an eye out for those ads and you can return to flow for an entire weekend. The instructors I’ve had have all spoken English and usually conduct their classes in a mix of both English and Spanish. For single classes, expect to pay a drop in rate of about $10 USD.

Other Activities:

Of course there other activities to explore, if you are not surf/yoga inclined. Sayulita offers horseback riding, zip lining, fishing, ATV tours and much more. You can make reservations in advance, or talk to your hotel clerk and other people in town to see what’s available. People are very friendly and eager to help you enjoy their city.

Safety:

I’ve always felt safe in Sayulita. But of course, whenever you travel you don’t want to leave common sense behind. Stay in groups when you can, but if you explore alone, stick to the main drag. Evenings are joyful, but as the night goes on, some folks transition from eating to drinking, and it can get a little loud. This is usually when we call it a night! If you do like to stay out late and enjoy adult beverages, just keep an eye on your drink and your friends. Look out for each other just like you would in your home city, and you’ll be just fine.

The fact that Sayulita is gaining in popularity is no accident. It’s a fun town that combines a beautiful beach with a vibrant cultural experience, while its reasonable prices and English-speaking residents make it accessible to all kinds of travelers. It offers adventure for the daring, and relaxation for the weary. For first-timers, it’s the perfect weekend getaway. After that, it will never be long enough.