Had a great outing this afternoon up in Balto working with the Loyola Men’s & Women’s X-C teams. We did a big session in their main gym. This is my third year doing pre-season sessions with their teams. And as usual, they all did very well!

Go Greyhounds! Have a successful season as well as a strong academic term!!

Thanks Coach Woods for having me up again…

No, that is not a striped horse that mom is feeding – that is a zebra.

Some of you may be thinking that mom took a jaunt to Africa. Not exactly…

Get this – that zebra is living in the Green Mountain State, i.e. Vermont!! And mom is up there this weekend visiting family & friends – and yes zebras too!

ZEBRA FACTS:

- Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual.

- It was previously believed that zebras were white animals with black stripes, however, the animal’s background color is dark and the white stripes are additions.

- When chased, a zebra will zig-zag from side to side, making it more difficult for the predator.

- Zebras have excellent eyesight. It is believed that they can see in color. Like most ungulates, the zebra has its eyes on the sides of its head, giving it a wide field of view. Zebras also have night vision.

Ahhh…summer: Sunshine, beaches, family outings & handstands!!

Here is Jean Rupard, one of our NECC faithful, airing it out under the sun!

You might think that Jean is flanked by curiosity seekers, but alas – no. Those are her grandchildren!! And it did not take long until gram’ got them into the act – is that a cool grandma or what!!

So here they are!! For the first 2 minutes, they all had their legs perfectly straight together, and then as a grand finale they decided to shake it out a little and do an inverted dance! That is what we see here.

The moral of the story: If you think you are going to have a relaxed day at the beach with grandma – think again!!

Warrior III – on a slope no less!!

Here is our good friend Gillian majestically doing Warrior III on the dunes of the Outer Banks (N.C.)

While many may have exercised caution on such terrain, Gillian dove right into it, which is what our warrior poses are all about: fearlessness.

Here is another balance pose, no less easy mind you – not with that wind anyway!!

Tree pose overlooking the dunes – a nice addition to the landscape.

So nice to see everyone doing yoga on their vacations – to see all our yoga vacation posts and pics, click here.

When you are on the road this summer – share with us your yoga best!!

Ahhhh….vacation time amongst the cool waters. See here what the Crofoots are up to.

Here is Teresa Crofoot (i.e. mom) striking a great Warrior II pose at Great falls MD.

Many of you know Teresa from classes in Dunkirk & events in Galesville, in addition she is a great maker of yoga mat bags & accessories, 1treeeyoga.

But no mother-daughter duo would be so without the daughter…(and these two are a real duo – similar in look, likeness, grace & spirit!)

… here is Ms Amber (i.e. daughter) doing a neat variation of tree pose. She chose a fitting background to her pose.

In fact her pose is so good, one might mistake her for the trunk of the tree itself – save for her sweet smile.

Amber has been known to come to yoga classes in the summers – when she is not on vacation, that is – and show us all a few things about flexibility.

Note: Notice the ankle on the front side of the left thigh.

Going anywhere? On vacation? Strike a pose and send us your photos…

After a recent yoga retreat in Boston, Monica Sizemore, 4th Chakra Photography, was head over heels, or make that heels over head. Retreats can do that!

Monica is a professional photographer and long time yoga practitioner. We first met 2 – 3 years ago in a Community Yoga class. In  a very short time she agreed to do the cover shoot for our Yoga/Sitar CD as well as the shoot for the inside booklet.

Needless to say, she did beautiful work!

As you can see from both of these pictures, Monica has an excellent eye – as well as wonderful form.

This second shot here combines so many elements: light, stillness, action, and so much more!

The man’s seated posture is quite good – a nice straight back – and Monica’s wheel pose is very nicely done – on a bench no less. The main difference is that Monica does not smoke cigars.

Please do share with us your yoga pics from your travels!!

Yoga is all about broadening our horizons – physically, emotionally, psychologically, mentally, intellectually, morally & spiritually – as we seek out our true place in this cosmos. This short video by the American Museum of Natural History offers an interesting perspective.

Here is how they describe their video:

The Known Universe takes viewers from the Himalayas through our atmosphere and the inky black of space to the afterglow of the Big Bang. Every star, planet, and quasar seen in the film is possible because of the world’s most complete four-dimensional map of the universe, the Digital Universe Atlas that is maintained and updated by astrophysicists at the American Museum of Natural History. The new film, created by the Museum, is part of an exhibition, Visions of the Cosmos: From the Milky Ocean to an Evolving Universe, at the Rubin Museum of Art in Manhattan through May 2010.

Here is Cheryl Kerwin, vacationing with her granddaughter, Phoenix, on Jekyll Island GA practicing yoga together.

If you look carefully you will notice that Phoenix is also doing the yoga pose, ardha urdhva hastasana. Check out the shadow under her right foot! She is trying her best!

Actually Phoenix has great interest in yoga – she practices poses regularly and has even come to observe class, silently practicing in her chair while the class is in action.

One other news of note, Cheryl is not just a grandma, she recently became a great-grandmother when another of her granddaughters had her baby, Kylee Ann, born June 25th. Cheryl was present for the birth in Clearwater – both mother and baby are doing fine.

Thanks Cheryl for thinking of us while you were away on vacation!

As Sara (Mon Nite NECC) continues her vacation travels and does yoga at all the hot spots – shown here in Albuquerque, N.M. – a grand question comes to mind.

Who is in greater bliss – Sara or the resident feline?

What is your opinion…

More of Sara’s vacation pics are available here and soon we will create a gallery for the many photos she continues to send us.

When you are on your summer holiday, please send us pics of what’s going on and if you are able to strike a yoga pose or two, even better!

One of our yoginis, Sara Rivers Cofield (Mon nite NECC) sends us these pics from her cross-country cruise which she recently embarked on.

The Parthenon stands proudly as the centerpiece of Centennial Park, Nashville’s premier urban park. The re-creation of the 42-foot statue Athena is the focus of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece. The building and the Athena statue are both full-scale replicas of the Athenian originals.

By looking at the picture, you may think you are seeing a Grecian goddess doing a yoga pose – and you are!!!

Here is a shoulder-stand for the ages. The Greeks of old would be hard pressed to keep up.

(All kidding aside, I had no idea such a structure was in Nashville Tennessee! As a 12 yr old I walked up to the Acropolis and saw the Parthenon – it was quite a sight – now I feel even more surprised to know there is an exact replica just a few states away!)

If you look carefully in this next picture you will see a 3-pointed downward dog going on!

Pretty neat to see in front of this awesome architecture!

So when you take your vacation this summer, send us the pics and let us know what’s happening – and yes, include a yoga pose or two!

Who Am I?

As good as my plank was then,

it is better today.

If you tell me my hair is still straight,

I’ll just say okay.

A yogini I am, inside & out,

the main difference now

is that I no longer pout.

Back then and now,

I always knew how,

To do namaskar to you, I shall always be true…

Who Am I?

Had a wonderful outing with mom this mother’s day weekend at Jug Bay – a neat little wonderland of a park here in Lothian.

We hiked the forested vegetation, strolled the “boardwalk”, enjoyed the great vistas, and talked and reflected plenty.

See all the photos here

It was a great place to celebrate and share. I highly recommend it – and hope to get back to Jug Bay this fall for a collective yoga program. It was only the weekend prior that we did yoga at Jug Bay for their women’s day event.

So mom and I had a great time together – talking, taking in nature.

And…

…and….

…and…

Even got in a little yoga…

See all the photos here

(oh, did I tell you that I got mom a beautiful Jug Bay T-Shirt also!)

Namaskar! Everyone please meet our new magnolia tree. The planting on Saturday was a real collective effort – everybody did something. Yours truly forgot to have his camera ready. Only after did it dawn on me…

But the universe saw what happened and that’s enough.

Thus far in two Eco-Yoga Days we have planted six trees and shrubs for the hall – and counting. The $225+ from Eco Yoga Day 2010 will go towards further plantings at the hall.

Thanks to everyone for your support and good cheer. Please do welcome our new tree when you come to the hall.

Finally, kudos to Greenstreet Gardens for donating this tree. We have a “Thank You” letter at the hall – many have already signed it – you are welcome to sign it too – the next and final day to sign on is this Wednesday…

As yogis and yoginis, we should know our home and we have many homes. We have our body, our mind, our physical house, our neighborhood, our local community, and yes our planet & universe.

In celebration of Earth Day & knowing our home – i.e. Earth – this week during classes we’ve been reviewing some facts about mother earth.

1. Current Population: 6.6 billion

2. Circumference at equator: 29,901.55 miles

3. Diameter at equator: 7,926.28 miles

4. Average distance from the sun: 93 million miles

5. Time it takes the sun’s rays to reach earth: 8 min 20 sec

6. Average distance from the moon: 238,857 miles

7. Lowest elevation: Dead Sea 1369 ft below sea level

8. Tallest Mountain from base to peak: Maua Kea (HI) 33,480 ft (13,796 ft above sea level and 20,000 ft below sea level). Note: Mt Everest is the tallest mountain 29,028 ft, but does not represent the most elevation gain.

9. Duration of a day on earth: 23 hr 56 min 4 sec. (That is why every 4 years we have a leap year. Add up those 3 min and 56 seconds each day for 4 years and you get one more full day!)

10. How to remember the order of the planets around the sun: My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas. (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune,  Pluto – except our dear Pluto has recently lost is planetary status due to “inconsistences” in its orbit.)

We have a new temporary Friday location for our 9am class:

10358 Southern Maryland Blvd, Dunkirk, MD 20754

(In the Safeway shopping center next to Atlas Carpet)

Had a wonderful program today at the Nat’l Breast and Ovarian Cancer Connection benefit at the Sheraton Hotel in Annapolis.

The 40 participants in my session were lively, contemplative, eager, and spirited all rolled into one. And their balance was terrific. Thanks for being such a great group.

Our session together was part of the annual Rejuvenate events in Annpolis. This was my 4th year participating and it always proves to be a great event.

This year was particularly good because the Sheraton supplied us with such an ideal space – a perfectly shaped and sized room with picture windows on two sides.

Many thanks to Beth Lennon, Pat Major, Nancy Long and the entire Rejuvenate team for this great occasion and wonderful opportunity. Look forward to next year…