ReJoyce Yoga Cartoon: Sun Salutation A

Here's a little cartoon for the kids: How to do a sun salutation A. (Good for adults too.. I love teddy bears) 

ReJoyce Yoga Cartoon: Ahimsa

Random Act of Kindness 66: Yoga Birthday Party

I love my Goddaughter, Violet, like she is my own daughter. When she was born and I saw her face, I cried. 

That is why I always try to be a part of her life and do my best to make her feel loved. I asked her mom, Susie, if I could help her out with her 4th birthday and she was more than happy to accept. Susie is a super mom; she works, has two kids and raises her beautiful children to be good people, and allows me to be a part of their family. 

Susie and I decided to make the theme of the party about yoga. So I handmade thank you cards, created gift bags and yoga flash cards for the kids. Overall I think they came out great. Violet seemed to have had a lovely time with her friends doing Children's Yoga. 

Here is one of the drawings I made. It's teddy bear doing "Cobra Pose."

ReJoyce Yoga Cartoon: Subbing Classes

Summer is that beautiful time of the year where everyone goes on vacation. It's also about this time that I get asked to sub a lot of classes. 

When you are a yoga teacher, one thing that you learn is that people generally don't like subs. People have a huge attachment to their teacher and will either not attend class because the teacher is away or freak out when they see you sitting in the teachers spot. Some students even leave before class starts. 

To tell you the truth I use to be the same way. I would not go to a class if my favorite teacher wasn't teaching or get very unhappy if I found out that there was a sub. 

This all changed when I heard someone say "Love the practice, not the teacher." 

Now, whenever I see that my favorite teachers are not teaching but I want to practice, I just go. I always learn something great from each teacher I encounter. Learning to "love the practice and not the teacher," made my practice stronger. It also enhanced my concentration (Dhahran), one of the 8 limbs of yoga, because when you encounter a new teacher you really need to pay extra attention to their verbal cues. It's a wonderful exercise in concentration.   

I also find that every subbed class has a great asana tip that I have never thought of. It's amazing wheat I learn when I open my heart and mind. 

So next time you have a sub in your class... give them a chance. You never know what you will learn. 

If you happen to have me as a sub... thanks for coming and trusting me to share my practice with you. 

ReJoyce Yoga Cartoon: Yoga Nidra

A bunch of yoga friends and I met up the other day and we were talking about insomnia.  I joked that my friend should do "yoga nidra," to fall asleep. 

Yoga Nidra, also known as "yogic sleep" is one of my favorite practices. I do it after my Dharma Maha Sadhana practices, right after savasana.  It's a beautiful guided meditation. If you do it right you enter a sleep-like state during a rested meditation. You still retain full consciousness but have little awareness of anything outside your physical body. 

If you do it wrong, you fall straight asleep... but it is the most beautiful, peaceful and rest you will ever have. 

So, if you ever have insomnia, you should try doing yoga nidra wrong. It might give you the best restful sleep you had in ages. :) 

ReJoyce Yoga Cartoon: Dhanurasana

I've been practicing the Dharma Mittra Maha Sadhana, at home, for a while now.  There is a section of the practice where you do Dhanurasana (Bow Pose). I dread this pose.

When I am in this pose I feel like the earth is reaching up with thorny vine fingers and wrapping it's hands around my legs, waist, chest and arms dragging me down. The earth whispers "just lay down."

I'm waiting for the day where I can do this pose with ease. Till then... I reach back for my ankles, breath in and lift my body off the ground and smile. Only two more sets and a mini-shavasana (Corpse Pose). Whew.

Random Act of Kindness 65: Trekking The National Parks

Above is a picture of my friend Charlie Binkele with his mom, Terry, and his dad, John. Charlie is a very talented artist. You can check out his awesome art on Tumbler, or buy his art on IN PRNT.

Charlie let me know that his family created a game called "Trekking the National Parks," and they created a Kickstarter page. (Update 8/20: So happy it met it's fundraising goals!)

Since I always believe in supporting my friend's dreams, I made sure to donate to his family's venture. 

If you are interested in buying his awesome game, check out their online store at: http://www.trektheparks.com/store/ 

"Trekking the National Parks is a spirited family board game that lets players visit America's National Parks in a fun and competitive way. Players compete for points by visiting Parks, claiming Park Cards and collecting Cairn stones as they travel across the country experiencing the uniqueness of each of these magnificent landscapes." -Trekking the National Park

Check out their video on Vimeo.