A note for the New Year

Most of us make New Years resolutions about losing a little weight, getting healthier, maybe cleaning out the garage and donating more. These are all great ideas. This year, why not think big!? Ask yourself: Are you living the life you want? Are you doing the most with your gifts? Are you making the most out of your time on this planet? I realize that these are big questions. I'm not assuming (nor should you) that there is anything wrong with the life you have now. I'm talking about living the life you dream of and deserve. Consider it a check up for your spirit and your soul. What small steps do you need to take? It might be as simple as breaking a habit that is detrimental to your health, leaving a job that is no longer fulfilling (or starting one that feels a little scary) or finally taking up a hobby or sport that has intimidated you in the past (I'm going to take ice skating lessons at the new local ice rink!) It might mean figuring out how to carve out more time for an activity (like Yoga classes) or for a person you love.

I'm sure you can think of a million reasons why you can't or shouldn't "rock the boat" in your life. Instead of focusing on the obstacles, why not begin by envisioning what your life would look like if you could design it to your exact specifications. How would you spend an average day? Who would you like to be with? How do you picture yourself feeling physically and emotionally? When you really let that sink in, you may decide the end result is worth the risk of taking the steps you need to get there.

It's your life, after all. Make this your year!

Peace & Blessings for the New year~Andrea

Be present.

The 'present' is a gift.

It is no secret that dwelling on the past and worrying about the future causes us stress, sadness, guilt, regret and ultimately mild to severe depression. Too often we are stuck on a past event or looking too far into the future. In other words, not being in the 'now'.
When I am teaching yoga, I give many gentle verbal reminders during class to "Be present" to "Be here-now". One easy way to bring yourself into the present moment is to focus on your breathing. Allow yourself to feel the length of your inhalation and the quality of your exhalation. Filling and emptying the lungs completely not only brings the awareness to the breath, it brings you into the moment. Deep breathing is also good for you! Breathing deeply lowers your blood pressure which in turn slows your heart rate making you feel more calm and relaxed.
The idea of being truly present in our lives and liberated from our past and our future can transform our thinking.Can transform...your life. The result? More joy, right now!!
Namaste~Andrea

Help with your Holiday Shopping!

For those that need a little help shopping for that special "yogi" or "yogini" in your life, visit www.rapunzelgifts.com for some great ideas.

Peace...Om Shanti~Andrea

Trip to Sedona

My trip to Sedona last week with my sister Cathy was amazing! This photo was taken at the Secret Garden Cafe in Tlaquepaque where we had a delicious lunch. We enjoyed spending time together, talking, window-shopping and ...breathing. We welcomed fall with open arms and open minds. Fall means change, something we have to keep our minds open to (and sometimes our hearts)
This was probably my 12th visit to Sedona. My first was when I was 12 years old and new to Arizona. I'm positive that back then I didn't appreciate the beauty and spirituality of this sacred place as I do now.
When I am there, I feel more connected to the earth, to nature and to my authentic self.
When hiking, or just walking, I am reminded to be mindful and present.
When entering a restaurant or shop, I am reminded that I am bringing my energy into that room, into that space.
Yes, it is easier to be present and grateful when you are somewhere so beautiful, so grand. The challenge to us all is to find the beauty and gratitude in the everyday.
Peace & Blessings~Andrea

Mini-Yogi Testimonial

Congratulations to Kelly Kettrick!
Kelly won a $15.00 Starbucks gift card for sharing her Mini-Yogis class testimonial.
(pictured above Kelly and new baby Millie in their new home-Spokane Washington.)
Thank you Kelly! We miss you!!

Sedona!

Join me in Sedona Oct 8, 9, & 10.

Find out how by leaving a comment...

Andrea

Walking Meditation

There is a Buddhist exercise that teaches us to appreciate the spiritual qualities of nature and living in the present moment. It is called, "walking meditation". It is designed to stop us from hurrying, dashing, rushing...when our "steps print anxiety and sorrow on our earth". In this meditation we walk slowly, mindfully alone or with a friend, preferably in a beautiful place. We walk as though we were the happiest person on earth. We walk not thinking about the past or worrying about the future. We walk, being present. We stop our minds from darting around. We transform our walking path to a field for meditation-our feet taking every step in full awareness. Breathing (pranayama) and stepping in harmony. Calming the chattering mind (citta vritti nirodhah). Namaste~Andrea

Photo Shoot

Today I have been invited to be a part of a magazine photo shoot at Yoga Deva Studio.

The photo shoot is actually to showcase the work of the wonderful architect that designed this beautiful space-Matthew Trziabatowski. If you haven't visited Yoga Deva Studio in Gilbert yet, what are you waiting for?! Come see me...come see this beautiful, sacred, blessed yoga space.

Come find out what it means to be more of yourself than ever before through yoga.

Peace & Blessings.

Namaste~Andrea

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I guess we have Ganesha to thank for this one! Since my blog has been restored just after I posted all of our good thoughts go to him-the remover of obstacles. Namaste -Andrea

Yoga Classes!

I will soon be teaching at Yoga Deva studio!
Please keep checking back for my class days and times!
Peace and Blessings to you all!!~Andrea

Yoga Testimonial

What Yoga and Andrea mean to me

"Honor yourself and those in the room for being here", is how Andrea ends each yoga practice. Having Andrea's yoga classes come into my life when they did, was a very important event for me personally. When Andrea says this, it is at the end of the practice, and it really does feel like we have honored ourselves and those around us. We have taken steps in very busy lives to do something for ourselves. Yoga with Andrea is a luxury that is similar to going and having a great massage at a spa-where you leave feeling relaxed, refreshed and energized at the same time. Yoga helps I think, particularly busy women who are constantly giving to others, but not always filling their own needs. This 3 to 4 times a week experience helps me to not only tone my physical body- but also to renew my spirit and help me to deal with life's experience better.

My thanks to Andrea for always making each class special and for putting so much of herself into each and every practice. Everything from the selection of the wonderful music that she plays and her step by step verbalization of what each pose is and how to do it has made going back to yoga for me very easy and relaxing.

Andrea also uses our classes to remind us of who we are-that we are not our work and whatever that is- it is just the work that we do not who we are, that the poses we embrace will help our bodies be more supple for each and every day ahead.

Thank you Andrea for being a great teacher and person!

Sharon-A returning Yoga advocate and devotee.

(pictured above: Yoga Instructor Andrea Hutchens with Lisa El Tawil, Sharon Dorris, Susan Baumhover, Joan Von Feldt and Kim Greene.)

Coming soon....

Yoga testimonials from Sharon Dorris and Rick & Grace Greer.
*If you would like to submit a testimonial
email me at missdaisy7169@gmail.com.

A nice young man

This is a Hello to a nice young man named Nate Horne that I met in the security line at the airport yesterday. I was flying back to Phoenix from BWI when Nate turned around in line and asked me if I was flying to Charlotte (his final destination). We talked for nearly an hour until Nate caught his flight. He is in his second year in the Air Force stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland right now and has never been further west than Texas.
There is a reason that we ran into each other yesterday morning, Nate is searching for peace of mind (aren't we all). He wants to take yoga classes, be a gardner, and a massage therapist. Since Nate is only 22 years old I said, "You should do all of those things!"
Nate, when you finally travel farther west than Texas and you take that Yoga class, please let me know what you think.
Peace and Blessings all.-Andrea

Where did she go

Contact Andrea directly at missdaisy7169@gmail.com
to see where she'll be teaching yoga next!

Peace of mind.

Recently I did a scrapbook page that was called "Peace of Mind". On the page there were three spots for different pictures. Then I stopped and looked at the page, wondering-questioning...what brings me peace of mind. What is peace of mind?

A quiet mind. No thinking, no thought or the absence of sadness, frustration, worry?

Peace of mind for me means content in the moment.

I sit on my back porch swing in the evenings and watch my unobstructed view of the sunset. I feel content. Yoga, whether I am practicing or teaching makes me feel content.

My boys, my husband and my dog all sleeping in their beds at night. I feel content.

What brings you peace of mind? Makes you feel content? What pictures would you chose for your page?

Pose of the week.

Coming soon...

The Pose of the week.

Learn a new yoga pose each week.

The benefits of the pose and the contraindications.

Example above: Malasana, squat or The Garland Pose.

Benefits: A great hip opener/ hip flexor stretch.

Great for pregancy!

Not so great for those that have undergone a complete hip replacement.

An unforgettable homerun

Sometimes, just sometimes, winning isn't everything.
Sometimes, the power of character and the spirit of team
work are even more important.
What does this have to do with yoga?
Yoga inspires you to be a better person, and so will this
video. Please click on the please watch over there to the right.

This says it all...

One of the very best "perks" of the work I do at Seville as Group Fitness Coordinator and yoga instructor is that I have become friends with so many of our clubs wonderful members. Many of whom are nice enough to visit my blog on occasion.
One of the families I have had a chance to get to know is the Medveds; Kristin & Val (short for Valentino-you gotta love that) and their two fantastic young boys Luca and Ethan. I have had the privilege of having Kristin and Val in many of my adult yoga classes and their boys in Mini-yogis on Saturdays.
This past Saturday the message in our yoga class was to "Be mindful. Be present." Kristin took this message one step further and wrote it down on her beautiful kitchen message board at home
as a constant reminder for herself and her family. Kristin was nice enough to then send me a photo of the chalk board and special thank you for that days class!
Thank you Kristin. If only one person hears the message from class and takes it out into the world then my work is complete.
Making the world a better place one yoga class at a time. -Andrea
Namaste.

Smile

I just loved this Yoga Girl! She is everthing I aspire to be...animated-no just kidding. She has a wide smile on her face for the world to see. Clearly, she is content and happy in her heart. She is on her pink yoga mat, her favorite place to be. Her hands are on her knees in saraswati mudra- a gesture of openess that you are ready to receive all good things into your life.

What do you aspire to be?

Are you open and ready to receive all good things into your life?

Happiness-it's a choice.

For just a moment I want you to think about the happiest person you know.
Someone who every time you see them they are full of joy, bliss, contentment.
You always look forward to seeing them, they never complain about anything
and you feel better for just having been around them.
Now ask yourself, what is the difference between the person you thought of and you?
Of course, the answer is- nothing. There is no difference. Happiness is a choice.
Happiness, joy, bliss- what you decide to give to those around you in your life is all
up to you.
Happiness is a choice. It's a choice, a decision that you make everyday when you swing
your legs over the bed each morning. You put one foot down and then the other and you
decide that breathing in and out for this day is enough to bring you happiness.

Chinese symbol for happiness

Coming soon...Who is the happiest person you know?

And why?

Just feels like home...

When I was 12 years old, my parents moved to Arizona. We lived literally 15 minutes from the base of the beautiful Superstition Mountain. I quickly grew to love that mountain. Still, to this day, I always take the time to look at its magnificence. I take the time to be grateful to live so close to something so amazing. A symbol of timeless beauty, nature, peace and to me...it just feels like home.

In yoga practice, we stand in Tadasana or Mountain Pose to bring ourselves back to center. Many yoga poses or asanas were named by the ancient rishis for the beauty they saw in nature. Reminding us to be grateful for the earth and its natural beauty.

As an adult, I quickly grew to love the practice of Yoga. I take the time each day to be grateful that I have found this ancient practice (actually, I believe yoga found me). Much like the Superstition Mountain, yoga is also a symbol of timeless beauty, nature, peace, and to me...it just feels like home. Namaste-Andrea

Looking for direction

So, it has officially been about a week now that I have been "Blogging".
I find myself mostly looking for a direction in which to take my blog spot.

In yoga training I was taught to listen to or follow the energy in the room-this is how we learn to teach a class from the heart. We were never allowed to have a certain "routine" written down on paper. Then your teaching would seem 'mechanical' or forced. It is best to see who is in the class, know their strengths and weaknesses and then try to teach something that everyone will enjoy. So, going forward, I will try to apply the same principles to my little corner of the web...I'll see who shows up and try to post something that everyone will enjoy!

Ask Yoga Queen

Dear Yoga Queen,

My yoga instructor is wonderful and at the end of every class she ends with 'praying hands', then bows and says Namaste. I say it back to her, only because the other students do, but I am always compelled to say thank you afterward. Then I feel awkward because she simply smiles and remains silent. Help! What is the proper etiquette and am I offending her by saying thank you? -Cyndi

Dear Cyndi,

The way you describe your teacher ending your class has become fairly standard in western yoga classes. Namaste is translated as "I bow to you," making it a lovely gesture of equality since the teacher bows first to the students and the students then return the favor of gratitude and respect. Although it isn't necessary to thank the teacher again in english, it is in no way rude. If you feel incomplete without saying thank you, you should continue to say it as no one could possibly be offfended by words of gratitude.

Namaste (and thank you)

Yoga Queen (aka Andrea)

Quote of the day:

"The only reason for being alive, is to be fully alive!"- D.H. Lawrence

Welcome one and all!!

First of all let me say how excited I am to be getting my first blog site off the ground!

Instead of an 'official' website -you'll be able to visit me here for yoga advice, yoga events,yoga photos and basically anything to do with yoga in az and anything to do with me!

So, sit back, relax, take a deep breath and join me on my journey.

~namaste.

Andrea