Fly Yoga

admincirque du soleil, fly yoga, i.d. gym, silks, Uncategorized, yoga%s Comments

I had heard the hype, I had heard how amazing it was, I had heard that you feel like a regular Cirque du Soleil.  So I went up to i.d. gym in Lincoln Park to try Fly Yoga and see if I could fly through the air with the greatest of ease.

I don’t know about ease but I certainly got my yoga on in a silk cocoon.

Basically, you go through your flow using the silks to help you move deeper into your postures, increase balance and flexibility.  Created by the owner of i.d. gym, Brent, Fly Yoga is a one-of-a-kind thing and  I cannot believe we have it here in Chicago!  I love yoga and to add a playful, creative spin to my practice was really exciting.  What was not so exciting was overcoming my fear of heights/suspension that is getting worse as I get older (Hey, I AM turning 26 next week).  You might say “Wait- you were only 3-4 feet above the yoga matted floor at any given moment, pull it together!”.  While this is true, I usually keep this body safely on the ground so relying on a silk blanket thing freaked me out at first.  Particularly when my head was hovering above the ground.   But once I started to trust that the silks and rock climbing hooks really could hold up to 3,000 lbs, I was amazed by what I could do!  Pigeon pose with my shin tucked under my chin? Done.  Downdog with my legs in the air?  Definitely.  Splits upside down?  You got it.

My favorite part?  Looking over at my fellow fliers and seeing us all upside down, red faced, and giggling.  Fly Yoga is fun but it was even better to do it with friends I do regular yoga (read: on the ground) with all the time.  Ya gotta mix it up, ya know?  I’m so glad we did and I can’t wait to go back!

 

 

Vino and Vinyasa

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Wine.  Yoga.  360 degree views of Lake Michigan and downtown Chicago.  One of my favorite yoga instructors in the city.  Wine.

Did I mention that I had a great night last night?

The Vino  and Vinyasa event at The W Hotel Lakeshore combined a majority of my favorite things (if someone would have thrown in Christmas carols, I would have been beside myself).  55 people getting their yoga on in the incredible Altitude room, unreal views, and a glass of wine at the uber chic Wave Lounge made for one of those evenings where you go “I can’t believe I get to do this.”

It never ceases to inspire me to see people make the choice to be invest in their health after work when they could have instead chosen to go home and sit on the couch.  I saw 55 people take the time to be good and connect to themselves  so that they, in turn, will be able to offer up more light and love to everyone they come in contact with.  Totally powerful stuff.  The fabulous Jonny Vu was there, Leah from Bright Pink, my lulu girls, girlfriends from Lincoln Park… like I said, powerful evening!

Getting back into yoga full force post-marathon feels A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.  I attribute getting through the marathon entirely to continuing to practice during my training.  It feels really good to give my body some yoga love for hanging in there with me through 26.2 miles of pounding the pavements.

Namaste and Happy Hump Day!

(“I’m gonna make you girls a Hump Day treat!” Name the movie….)

Here.

adminFall in Chicago, Harvest Moon, Uncategorized, yoga, Yoga House Chicago%s Comments

Shortly after 10:09pm last night, the Super Harvest Moon was visible in Chicago.  I read and re-read the technical descriptions of what and why that is and here’s my understanding: it was super big, super orange and marked the transition to fall without asking; this Super Harvest Moon was telling us it was here and it is now Autumn.  Period.

I went to the Sunrise Yoga class at YogaHouse Chicago this morning and the instructor, Annika (who was fantastic, btw), said some sweet words as she set the intention for the class.  She said that as we experience this Harvest Moon, to reflect with gratitude on that which we have harvested in the past  but to also look forward to what we are harvesting right now, what we are creating right now for future harvests.  I have never harvested anything in a figurative sense (we all know how growing a basil plant went) but her words touched me in that I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the goodness in my life; however, I know that what went into “harvesting” that may or may not be what gets me to the “harvest” of what I’m working on now.  Humble gratitude for the past but absolutely focused on the here and now and learning new ways to get to my next Super Harvest Moon.  Both figuratively and literally.

Namaste and Happy Autumnal Equinox.

Rooftop Yoga

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Despite the threat of rain, I ventured to Whole Foods Lincoln Park tonight for a little rooftop yoga.  The event was hosted by the lululemon athletica in Lincoln Park and lots of other yummy vendors like Honest  Tea (Honest Tea-Honesty, get it?  I love it).  The weather held off so myself and 170 other yoga enthusiasts got our downdog on just as the sun set.

Have I ever mentioned my deeply rooted love for the Whole Foods in Lincoln Park?  Mind you, there is a Whole Foods downtown crawling with the most attractive 20-somethings you will ever see (note to single Chicagoans: go to the Whole Foods on Huron).   But Whole Foods Lincoln Park is an experience.  First off, it’s freakin’ huge.   I’m not sure how big but it’s big, man.  And in addition to lovely things like seafood soup bar, olive bar, trail mix bar and bath salts bar, there are actual bar bars in it.  A bar that has fantastic beer from micro-breweries and a wine bar to have a seat at to listen to whatever jazz trio is likely playing on any given night.  I’ve been known to suggest going to this Whole Foods like an event.  The night before Thanksgiving when my mom gets to Chicago, I suggest a little trip to Whole Foods.  Most people would have taken their mom to dinner or a play.  Not me–we go to the wine bar in a grocery store.  Man-Friend and I have had many a date night sharing a beer as we walk through the aisles, carefully selecting the dinner we will devour while listening to whatever guitar/cello/sitar player happens to be plucking their strings in the lobby area.  It’s the stuff romance is made out of, I tell ya.

Back to the yoga.

It was fabulous, it was a  gorgeous night, I caught up with a good friend and I  got to lay in savasana while looking at a clear blue sky.  Perfection.


Every Body Needs a Home

adminChicago, CTA, Home, Melanee Cooper, Uncategorized, yoga, Yoga House Chicago%s Comments

Yoga mat strapped to my back, I tapped my foot impatiently as the Brown Line train I was riding crept along.  It probably knew that I had a noon class to make it to.  I got off the train 5 minutes before yoga was supposed to begin.  I didn’t want to be that girl who walked late into a zen environment only to ruin the calm vibe with the plopping down of her mat and water bottle.  Sigh. No yoga for me–to Trader Joe’s I go.  While going to put more money on my CTA card, I saw a sign for Yoga House.  I had heard this studio opened only a few weeks before and was looking forward to trying it but wasn’t sure exactly where it was located.  Well, here is was–740 N. Franklin.  And there was even a class starting right that second.  It was too much of a sign to not go in and see what Yoga House was all about.

Yoga House is the rebirth of the Melanee Cooper Gallery.  Melanee was in the art business for over 20 years and started practicing yoga 10 years ago.  Suddenly, she found herself structuring her work around her practice.  She had this beautiful space, felt yoga was art in itself and wanted to share that passion with others.  Yoga House was born.

Their mantra is “Every Body Needs a Home” and that’s exactly what it felt like–home.  I’d been having a hard time quieting down the “busyness” in my head that day–work stuff, to-do lists, more to-do lists, should I be feeding my cat organic cat food, should I be drinking more water, you know–hamster wheel brain.  But going into that studio felt like I had found the most silent space in Chicago.  The quiet rumble of the train. a lone fountain in the studio and some pranayama breathing later and I had lassoed in the stillness and contentment I had so been craving.  I was fortunate  to have Melanee lead my practice.  The class was fantastic–practicing yoga in a former art gallery is now my new favorite thing.  Beautiful hardwood floors, perfect lighting, amazing art still on the walls, a lovely little fountain that convinces you that the hustle and bustle you see outside on the street is nothing but an illusion–Yoga House is on to something.  Probably because it is so evident that Melanee is living her passion and you can’t help but feel good being around that, ya know?

By the time I got home, Melanee had emailed my descriptions of all of her teachers and I cannot wait to try their classes as well.  You should too.  I’ll see you there–I’ll be the girl in the corner who doesn’t want to leave.  740 N. Franklin, Chicago, IL 60654 www.yogahousechicago.com

Ommmmmmm.

adminCore Power Yoga, getting sweaty, lovely, Lush, Uncategorized, yoga%s Comments

More often than not, whenever I don’t know what it is that I need, yoga fits the bill.

I’ve been practicing yoga exactly 6 months today, a fact I realized after a really fulfilling practice at Core Power Yoga. I hadn’t practiced in awhile and was feeling a little off kilter all day.  Make that the last few days.  Ok, fine–the last week.  I’ve been really trying to reconnect with myself (how anyone gets disconnected from themselves beats me), figure out why I’m so off balance, come up with an action plan…and nada.  Couldn’t come up with anything.  But after work today, my body was just crying “Do yoga.  Do yoga.  Go get sweaty and twisty.  Do yoga.”  So I did yoga.  I brought all the excess noise of life to my mat.

And you know what?

I feel better.  I didn’t solve global warming (what is up with it snowing today, btw?) or anything other huge issue but an hour and fifteen minutes of focus on only my breath and my postures…wow.  I always underestimate how amazing it makes me feel and how back down to earth it brings me.  It’s not that I’m “good” at yoga–it’s that it’s a practice. It’s called a yoga practice, not a yoga show so there’s never any pressure to do it perfectly (at least for me–forgive me if I’m wrong, yogis).  My “utkanasana” was not pretty today but I held crow for 10 seconds!  There was not a snowball’s chance in hell that I was getting up into birds of paradise today but I was a super good frog.  It’s just all about wherever I happen to be that day.  How many things can you say that for?  “Sorry, boss–this sub-par performance is just where I’m at today” or “Sorry, kids–this lame meal and picking you up from school 4 hours late is just where I am today.”  Not so much.  But with yoga, you just show up and that’s a beautiful practice in and of itself.  Not everything can be like that, I get it but I think that my relationships and my yoga should be.  Just showing up and being you.

High Five of the Day: The “bb seaweed” masque I picked up from Lush.  Lush is a fresh, handmade cosmetic company and I am in love with their masques. Everything made from fresh, organic fruits and veggies so you could eat it if you wanted to.  Imagine that–putting something REAL on your skin instead of chemicals.  I usually  get the Love Lettuce one that has crushed almonds in it to get rid of yucky winter dry skin but I was pleased with bb Seaweed and even had a few pieces of seaweed on my face.  Lovely.  Oh and because it is handmade and only lasts 3 weeks, there is a sticker at the bottom with a picture and the name of the person who made it!  So, thanks Joanne–you made my night.

She’s grateful.

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This is Luna Bell.  She has been my cat for 2 years.  I went to PetSmart a few months ago looking for a water bowl.  And not just any water bowl–a water bowl that would end her favorite past time of whacking it across the room the second it is filled, thus littering my kitchen floor with water and getting my feet wet every time I want a Diet Coke out of the fridge.  In other words, something heavy and skid resistant.  While I was at PetSmart, I was talking to a lady who was there with a pet shelter.  When I told her I had a “rescue kitty”, she started gushing about how grateful rescue pets are.  That no matter what happens, you just have a grateful animal on your hands.  Let me tell you about my grateful cat.

Luna Bell enjoys cocktail parties, wet cat food and sleeping at the top of my pillow (see above).  She hates beef, being cold and Justin Timberlake.  Since we started our life together in a studio apartment, she has to do everything with me, even though we’ve now hit the big time and live in a one bedroom.  She will only eat if someone is standing near her, she takes up half my pillow at night (again, see above–that was taken at 10pm yesterday) and I swear, when I was practicing yoga last night, she crawled on my mat and did a stretch that totally looked like downward dog. LB always lays with her chin flat on the ground or with her arms crossed, preferably on top of my Blackberry.  Ryan does nothing to help the cause–he feeds her canned cat food every Sunday and I once came home to the two of them sitting on the floor in the kitchen, sharing a can of tuna.  Oh and when the temperature in my apartment drops below 70, she digs her way under the covers so I can see is a Luna Lump in the center of my bed.

When it comes to being grateful, I think that’s me. Thanks, LB, for being my favorite friend under the weight of ten pounds.