A 10-minute, seated practice that combines MFR with gentle stretches and breath work to help you wake up and expand your lung capacity before paddling out for a surf.
Another September has come and gone, and for the 2nd year, I participated in the SurfAid September #MakeAWave Challenge of surfing 30 days to raise funding and awareness for the SurfAid Programs.
My current, go-to, Pre-Surf Stretch for when my body is feeling stiff and a bit surfed-out. This sequence could also be nice for a brief Active Recovery practice post-training or post-surf/sport
It was an honor to have the opportunity to write a piece for the Manduka Blog as a part of the Manduka x Gerry Lopez collection launch. In this article, I share my personal experiences with surfing and yoga and how I view the two as similar spiritual paths that reconnect us to life.
Now don't get me wrong, sometimes simple can be easy. And that's great. And sometimes there is a place for complexity as well. But the simple, the simple is available. Accessible. And when noticed and practiced regularly, the simple can support us in coming back to center. Back to what's true.
Yoga came into my life when I was 21 years old. Growing up I was an avid athlete – I played soccer and basketball, I was a competitive surfer, and I loved to run and train. Slowing down, moving with compassion, and sitting in stillness were words that most definitely weren’t in my vocabulary, let alone things that I ever practiced regularly…
A big part of surfing is learning to navigate the ever-changing and often unpredictable lineup. Similar to life, the ocean and her waves are influenced by many different factors, most of them being totally out of our control. And as surfers, we learn that the key to navigating these often tricky lineups is to stay present and remain calm.
Taking the time to reflect and to set goals helps me to cultivate a clear and intentional path for navigating my day-to-day. If journaling is new to you and you’re looking for a place to start, or if you’re just looking for a little inspiration, here I share five journal prompts for monthly reflection and goal setting.
A 60minute Spotify playlist that’s nice for practice, movement, or general listening. This one’s called “Just Get Moving” because I like to use it for Sculpt Yoga classes or a more vigorous Vinyasa Flow. I find it supports a more grounding yoga practice as well, especially if you like to use energy + movement to help bring you into stillness + surrender. Enjoy!
This playlist was inspired by the transitions of life. Most recently we've all gone through the big transition from one year to the next, but let this playlist (and your practice) encourage your attention to notice the subtle transitions we flow through from one moment to the next. Can we navigate these transitions with a little more gratitude and grace?
Needless to say, 2020 has been a challenging year for us all, affecting humans all across the globe. But I believe that challenges eventually pave way to solid foundations, growth, and expansion. So I thought it would be nice to compile, and share, a list of lessons that 2020 has taught me, and this is what came to mind…
As we find ourselves stepping into what we commonly refer to as “flu season,” still bobbing and weaving our way through a pandemic, there’s a lot of talk around boosting our immune systems, and for obvious and very good reasons. But a strong immune response isn’t just critical now, it’s crucial for keeping us healthy and resilient throughout every season of our life.
Happy Monday! And to kick off the week, and a new month, here’s a NEW Spotify playlist for you. This one was inspired by the transition from summer to fall, and as we switch seasons here in the northern hemisphere, the autumn months always seem to carry with them a sense of slowing down, turning in, and a return to routine. So, enjoy this mainly instrumental playlist to encourage introspection in your practice. Enjoy!!
As some of you know, or maybe you weren’t aware, I committed myself to a 30-day detox program leading up to my 31st birthday, which was this past Friday the 25th. Surprisingly enough, or maybe not surprising at all if you really know me well, this was the first time that I’ve actually successfully completed a “detox” program, and here are a few of my takeaways…
On average, it’s estimated that US adults spend about 90% of their time indoors. And although this tendency is not something new (the indoors is comfy with heat/air, TV, wifi), I also think that it’s really important for us to recognize and utilize the many mental & physical benefits that come from something as simple as stepping out into the sun.
Our ability to notice 'on the mat' fine tunes our ability to notice 'off the mat.' If our practice stays limited to the confines of our yoga mat, then it is not really yoga. As our practice reminds us, we can learn so much when we give ourselves permission to get quiet and to notice... So why wouldn't we want to apply this to the external world??
NEW Yoga-inspired Spotify Playlist. Over the years, both my personal practice and classes have definitely transitioned from Power Vinyasa Flow to Gentle Vinyasa Flow, and THIS playlist here is a lovely soundtrack to inspire a little bit of mellow movement. Press play, turn up the speaker, roll out your mat, and get moving!
A cue that’s commonly heard in many a yoga class is: “Relax the shoulders away from the ears.” It’s like as a collective we hold tension in the neck & upper back. Relieve tension and stiffness, ease pain, and encourage tissue health and hydration with this myofascial release (MFR) technique that targets the tissues of the upper traps. You’ll need 2 therapy balls and a yoga block.
