We had a great, spirited turnout at Yoga Halloween this year (Wed, Oct 26).

Thanks to all who came out and made it a memorable occasion!!

Here are all the photos from the gathering. Had to put them up on Facebook (anyone can see them no need for a FB acct) as my own gallery had some techie issues.

Halloween Photos

or try

Halloween Photos

Oh and in case you were wondering, shown here is one of the jellyfish from the Bay!!!

As Katy settles deeper into pigeon pose (eka pada rajakapotasana) – a pose she has well mastered – she gets a helping hand, er stand, from another master.

Charlie may look young, but he is an old soul who knows the subtleties of alignment that are not openly apparent to the rest of us. By applying just the right amount of force on the proper chakra, he is able to make the pose perfect. On the chair behind is a famous reporter from a far distant land who has come to witness the famed technique first-hand.

So there you have it! One master helping another get deeper into the pose. (See a larger version of the photo here.)

We are trying hard to book Charlie for future workshops. If you leave a comment I believe he will be more inclined to honor our request.

Finally while this might come more under the realm of staycation, see here how other yogis practice while on vacation…

Recently Ashleigh, Matt, Eliza (3 1/2 months) and their two pups went on an outing to Gunpowder Falls State Park.

It looks like they are about to have a wonderful outing and enjoy the beautiful day.

A perfect, relaxing time….

Indeed Eliza in particular was happy about getting out of Dodge. After being couped up in the womb and then couped up in the mobile basket carrier, she was feeling ready to explore the world.

Personally I think that Eliza was also quite excited about getting some quality time in with D-A-D.

Indeed, with Eliza safe and secure with Dad, then Ashleigh opted to venture off…

…and indeed look what she found.

Here is Ashleigh among the trees.

Very neat shot – most certainly. Even Boots (the wolf-like entity in the lower right corner of the frame) was deeply involved, making sure Ashleigh’s pose was in proper form.

So you might think that that was all mom did that day – but uh-uh.

Check out what came next…

Seeing this below picture it is hard to imagine Ashleigh ever being an over-protective mom. Think about it: Crow Pose – approx 14 feet off the ground on a slanted rock! And she’s facing the downward sloping side.

So what did we do? We submitted this photo to Yoga Journal for their special “backpage” section where they display full size pics of people practicing yoga in neat places in interesting ways.

We are hoping this one catches their eye.

If not, nothing lost. We have our own special home for this.

So what about Matt: He calm, cool & collected one holding the baby, and the dogs, and the camera!!

See bigger versions of the photos here…

Plus here is our professionally made video -documentary of Ashleigh’s pregnancy: Watch the Video…

OK – the gig’s up! No more complaining or excuses about crow pose. If these two giants can manage crow pose, then you can too! This is now mandatory in every class – complainers and nay sayers will be escorted out of the hall.

Don’t you think these elephants are doing an awesome job!?! To see more of our animal friends doing asanas click here…

More seriously, many of the our yoga poses are of course named after animals as the yogis scanned the natural world and emulated those postures they thought would be helpful for human beings: cobras, cats, cows, and so much more.

What is interesting about these pictures (click on above link) is that they depict one animal doing the pose of another animal!!

There is no doubt about it: Life is challenging – it demands our all. We have to keep a close eye on what is going on.

To achieve that, flexibility is a must. Physical flexibility is certainly helpful, yet most of life’s endeavors demand our psychic flexibility. A rigid mind will not get far in life – rather it will be encumbered by the same trappings again and again. Our outlook and perspective must be dynamic to adapt to this ever-changing world. Failing that we will become static.

Just as the above golfer is gaining his angle, our yoga practice helps us reassess our current conditions and future engagements. Closing the eyes, slowing the breath and stilling the mind are the yogi’s sacred tools for keeping an eye on life. As we open our internal vision that naturally clears up how we view the world around us.

A grand restorative yoga program we had indeed this afternoon: A full house of 16 participants, 2 facilitators, a live flautist, and yours truly.

Using bolsters, blocks, straps, eye pillows, sand bags, pillows, blankets and much more, all got the opportunity to experience the calm within.

It is a highly individualized program. Our two facilitators, Annie J & Sharon B, did a wonderful job of keeping everyone aligned and comfortable. And our flautist, Mary Flora – a music teacher at Windy Hill Elementary (Owings) – kept us under her spell. Please listen to a short audio clip below of her playing.

This was our 3rd restorative yoga seminar of 2010 and we look forward to offering more in the new year. Please do join in and experience first-hand what it is all about.

Here are a few lines of what today’s participants had to say about the program:

- So relaxed in bhadakona asana (reclining bound angle) that I had to debate if I really wanted to move into the final posture.

- I liked supported child’s pose best; the music was wonderful.

- What did I like best? Relaxing, having assistance when needed – and I did [need it]!

- The best part of the seminar? being here! with my sister too!

- Well paced – feel ready to tackle the holidays.

- I liked it all! I would certainly recommend this to others.

Click here to see more photos.

Touch on the arrow below to hear a short yet sweet clip of our flautist play during the seminar. (1min 52 sec)

Podcast: Play in new window
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Crow and mother nature…here is Nancy in perfect form at Flag Ponds Nature Park.

Some yoginis need all the accoutrements – not this one!

Mat – nah! Yoga pants – nah! Short sleeves – nah! Smooth surface – nah!

Jeans – Sure! Hiking boots – Why not?!?

All she needed was a place – any place. And this one on the cusp of the bay was as perfect as any!!!

We recently sent an agent to cool down some trouble in the Lone Star state – Dallas to be exact. Per protocol, she went undercover…

Here she is in one of the toughest saloons in the land – as you can see she is mighty quick to the draw. Of course we we would never send down a slacker. She is indeed the real McCoy. Notice the long shadow she casts in the foreground.

This stance alone was enough to make the nastiest of gunmen shake in their boots. Yet, here is Lori, calm and cool as ever – keeping perfect equipoise.

Some may say it is the holster or the 5-gallon hat that makes the cowgirl brave, but we know it is the heart and mind that lie within.

After taking care of business and bringing peace back to town, we asked her to oblige us and strike a pose (and a glance) towards the camera – just to have it on record. Plus the Texas daily wanted to place this one on the cover. Here is that shot:

So there you have it – undercover yogini from the east goes to Big Texas to settle an old score and bring justice to the land. Is there a better story in town? I think not…

Great going Lori!!

Y’all stay tuned as our undercover yogini plans her next venture to deliver balance wherever it is needed!!!

Just in from Mary Flora’s  (Mon Nite NECC) team!!

The ground may be hard and burning hot, but that did not deter these brave, young souls from trying to get a handle on bakasana or crow pose…

Here they are captured in a number of creative variations, with a couple of onlookers making sure all goes smoothly. The guy in the middle just completed a perfect crow pose and now is just trying to find his money that fell to the ground!

Here they are trying their luck at viirbhadrasana II or Warrior II.

They get an A+ for spiritedness – after all the heat index was only 105 degrees, in the shade!!!

So while the back arm may be wilting a touch – their hearts are totally into the pose!!

Nirvana!!!

Anandam!!!!

Bliss!!!

Here are two confident youths doing handstands on the concrete – with the steadiness of mind they neatly pull of the pose. Well Done!!

Now back to the pool!!!

Thanks Mary for sending us these great pics!!!

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…

Please welcome Baby Caroline – the latest and greatest addition to our yoga and human family.

Born Caroline Juliette David to parents Sarah (Mon Night NECC) & Buddy David on 24 June 2010, Caroline weighed in at weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and was 20 inches long. A very warm welcome to Baby Caroline. (Note: In the above photo, she is all of 3 days old!!)

Many of you know Sarah who has been an ardent yoga practitioner the last 3-4 years or more. And she practiced in one of our challenging Strength and Fitness classes all the way to the late stages of her pregnancy. Sarah was doing side plank (vasisthasana) with the best of them – as well as lunges, Warrior III, Half Moon and more.

In fact one night when she was in her 8th month and had a big belly, Sarah calmly turned into side plank with such ease, that I literally stopped the class and we all just watched her as she gracefully held the pose and then seamlessly exited – all the while with Baby Caroline inside!! (I am still kicking myself for not having my camera that night!)

Great job Sarah on a marvelous pregnancy and congratulations to both Sarah and Buddy as they grow their family together.

A sublime shot indeed – part of me feels like it was taken by ‘ol Ansel himself shooting Georgia O’Keefe.

Nature – humanity – light – shadow… inspiration.

This is Sara (Mon NECC) at the Badlands, SD during her summer travels.

Here are more photos from Sara’s trip, Crow & Cat + Parthenon photos, and we hope to have a full gallery up soon of her many great shots.

Going away on vacation this summer!?! Send us your pics, along with a pose or two…

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!

Well, while the big snow storm – approx 28 inches – forced us to cancel classes, this fellow made it out in the aftermath of the storm to do a pose or two.

Click here to see more photos.

This is actually the road but I was not too worried about cars coming from either direction. My car was basically immobile and so were most vehicles on this day.

As you can see I was going nowhere fast. My car is at the end of the driveway with the front end facing the “road”. I would have needed a snowmobile or reindeer to get anywhere.

Amidst all this purity and serenity you would have thought a sublime yoga teacher like myself would have achieved perfect peace, i.e. the grand samadhi.

But it was not meant to be…

After hanging around outside for 20 min or so, I went back in only to realize an hour later that I could not find my keys – i.e. a key ring that has keys to all the major and minor halls, studios, and community centers in the area. I was at a loss as to whether I brought them out with me or not. I searched my messy room – nope not there.

The panic began to mount…

I put all my clothes back on and ran back out into the snow. One neighbor had already “gotten out” with his 4×4 and if my keys were out there they had to be found before the snow got disturbed.

I went to my handstand spot. I did not see anything. I got down on my hands and knees and started to scrounge around – even dig. I was losing hope wondering how I would ever find them – as I got up off my knees I saw the tip of a metal piece out of the corner of my eye. I stuck my hand down and alas my whole key chain was there! Never happier…

Skipped all the way back into the house and vowed never again to do handstands with unzipped pockets, especially when mother earth is blanketed with snow ensuring not a sound could be heard!

Click here to see more photos.

One of the famous yoginis of Renaissance Yoga, Alisha, had this divine interaction with an angel!!

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Here is her great wintry message for the holidays and for always!!

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Yes, there are more pics, perhaps I will make an album out of them.

One member of our yoga community - Carolyn Rodis – does yoga in essentially two places. When she is in So Co she is a regular on Wed and Sat at Galesville Hall. That’s about ten months of the year.

When not in So Co she lives at her other residence. Now take a look at her veranda and see her view when she does her yoga outside!!!

YES, we will all be going there soon for a yoga workshop!!! It will be the longest workshop in yoga history!!!!!