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!!

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!!!

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!!

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!

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!

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!