Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Flowin' with Cohen!


This weekend in ATT (advanced teacher training) we had a guest teacher. The beautiful Lisa Cohen came to Inner Vision Yoga to guest teach a master workshop called "Being in the Flow".

Lisa taught us about creative sequencing, fun music, incorporating a theme or metaphor into your teaching and above all~ don't forget to be JOYOUS and have a sense of humor!
* Here are a few more teaching tips from Lisa:
~ Teach what you know!
~Create a Theme or idea for each class have a message you want to convey, something they can take with them into the world.
~Find your voice (not someone else's). It is okay to borrow someone else's words, but messages that ring true to you will stick with you and seem more genuine.
~Be joyous! Rejoice! Ujayyi-victorious, try not to take it all too seriously.
~Being scared is a waste of time! Feel the fear and do it anyway (on or off the mat).
Namaste~Andrea

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Movie recommendation...


Last weekend in my master teacher training program at Inner Vision Yoga studio in Chandler, we talked about quantum physics in relation to yoga practice, specifically Patanjalis last three limbs; Dhrana, Dhyana and samadhi.
I highly recommend this movie, "What the Bleep (do you know)!?" This movie will make you think, question your own existence and hopefully open your eyes and mind to a whole new way of thinking about your relation to the universe we live in.
Namaste~Andrea

Sunday, October 25, 2009

My Yoga Kula

Every once in a while, if we are lucky enough, we get the chance to spend some quality time with like minded individuals who share a common passion or a common goal. This weekend I had the chance to escape from the every day and find some peace and serenity on a 3- day Yoga Retreat with Inner Vision Studio.

The retreat was in the white mountains of Arizona in the quaint town of Christopher Creek just past the city of Payson. The air was crisp with fall, the sky so blue against the tall pines and the trees were joyously turning colors for our arrival.

The group of 40 self-proclaimed yoga enthusiasts joined our fearless leaders and master teachers for the weekend; Maredith and Josh, up at Christopher Creek Lodge. With pine needles on our sticky mats, we embarked on our journey of 4 yoga classes in three days and a beautiful 3 mile hike around Woods Canyon Lake. Meals were shared together, some enjoyed dancing, playing board games, and even a bonfire til the late hours of the night. Making new friends and enjoying conversations about how we found yoga and what it means to us today makes us all realize, that we come for one reason or another- to share a common experience of creating more peace in the world one breath at a time.

In sanskrit the word Kula means community. An intentional community which promotes creativity, wellness, healing and personal growth with an awareness of the sacred. A yoga kula means friends, energy, spirit and support. I was privileged this weekend to become part of the Inner Vision Yoga kula. I take with me from this weekend the love and warmth of my yoga kula, knowing that it is there for me anytime I need it, on or off the mat.
Namaste~Andrea
(photo is of the entire Inner Vision retreat group before saturdays yoga hike around Woods Canyon Lake).

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Downward Facing Dogs!!

Not sure what the soldier is doing, but to me this looks like an outdoor Yoga class
with some beautiful dogs being lead by their Yoga Instructor!
Just thought you might enjoy this one!!
Namaste~Andrea

Sunday, September 20, 2009

The Bhagavad Gita


The Bhagavad Gita
This ancient yogic text was the subject of the first weekend of my advanced yoga teacher training studies at Inner Vision Studio. This text is challenging to the reader to say the least.
Is it a true story? An allegory, or maybe a metaphor?? Is it possible for a book to be all three; true, an allegory and a working metaphor all at once?!
*More answers and insights will be coming soon!!
Namaste til then~Andrea

Monday, September 14, 2009

Andrea recommends...








These are just a few of my latest and greatest finds in the Organic -better for you- world that is available to us all.
I figured that this time, I would take the pics of the food items on my actual kitchen table so that you know for sure that I walk the talk! In other words, yes I really do eat and drink all of this yummy/good for you stuff!
All of my current "Andrea recommends..." items can be found at Costco.
From top to bottom we have:
1- Organic Creamy Tomato and Basil soup
2- Pacific- Organic Free Range Chicken Broth (great to start a nice homemade soup out with)
3- Kirkland Organic Mocha Caffe Frappe
4- Pacific - Organic Ready to Drink Iced Tea (in lemon, it also comes in 2 other flavors)
5- World Gourmet-Garden Veggie Staws- my new favorite -when I need a crunch snack!
6- Tribe- All natural Hummus- in the Classic Snacker Pack Box. **These are truly great because you get 16 little/single serve containers. All you need is a zip-loc of cut-up celery and you are ready to go!!
So enjoy!!
Namaste until next time~Andrea

Monday, August 31, 2009

A new journey!


Come with me on a new journey! On Friday September 11th I begin my Advanced Teacher Training studies at Inner Vision Yoga Studio. I will do my best to post more frequently and keep you updated on what I am learning in my continuing education training. The next 300 hours of my certification (to become a 500 hour RYT) will take me 16 months to complete. Even though I already have a 200 hour Hatha Yoga certification and have taught more than 1,000 hours of Yoga classes, I am scared and excited about the upcoming training schedule and requirements. My life is already busy with a husband, full-time job in marketing and two teenage boys with activities such as football and church youth group. But the one thing I know for sure, after a busy day with my boys and the stress that comes with work-my mat-my yoga mat is the one place I feel totally in my skin, at peace with the world around me. I teach yoga to share this feeling with others-so that they can feel at peace with themselves and the world too.
Namaste~Andrea