Discover Kripalu
A conscious practice of physical body postures, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques for integrating body, mind and spirit.
Latest Yoga Notes
Yoga Off the Mat: as the seasons change and the days get shorter and cooler, you can sync with the season by noticing subtle changes in what your mind and body call for. In Ayurveda, this is understood as Ritucarya. đYou may find that youâre naturally inclined to tuck into bed a bit earlier than during the long days of summerđ„±. While âsleeping inâ can feel cozy, you might also try getting up before the Sun in the morning. Peace and quiet are perfect ingredients for early morning meditation, gentle stretches, or reflective journalingđ. Exercise can change from sweaty aerobic workouts to lower impact endurance activities like hiking or biking. Eating slightly heavier fall foods like root vegetables and squash nourishes your body and soothes the scattered mind. đ„Adding healthy oils, such as avocado, coconut and sesame, to your diet aids in lubricating your skin and joints as the weather becomes more drying. đ„Notice little changes, incorporate small adjustments to your routine, and youâll be on your way to optimum wellness đ
Yoga Off the Mat: traditionally in Ayurveda, mushrooms donât make the menu because they âgrow on dead things.â But when we delve a little deeper, different mushrooms grow on decaying and live matter, and the former often simultaneously break down and absorb nutrients from the very matter theyâre living off ofâpretty âgreenâ and symbiotic if you ask me! So if you enjoy edible mushrooms, no worriesâthey can be a low calorie source of fiber, potassium and protein. AND they are an excellent example of recycling and renewal đ
MyYogaJoy Monday is âAWEâ inspired about duality đ Experience healing and acceptance today đ
MyYogaJoy (the day before) Monday invites you to make time for yourself with this guided meditation body scan through the chakrasđâźïž
MyYogaJoy (the day after) Monday brings you peak performance, calm and centering with this simple 5+second breath đ
Yoga Off the Mat: have you ever felt like you had so much pent up emotion that you could explode at any moment? Most people can relate to feeling that way at one time or another, and often feel guilty later for feeling that way. But when this happens, you donât need to beat yourself up about it. Instead, you can healthily let off steam like this geyser! As long as youâre not hurting anyone (including yourself!), go ahead and let it outâpunch a pillow, go for a long walk/run, find a safe place to shout or sing it out, dance like nobodyâs watching, draw or paint your feelings, play a musical instrument even if you donât know how to play one, have a good cry of you need toâjust donât hold it all in! Once you release the physical feelings, you might be able to better navigate the situation that prompted the emotions. And if all else fails, exhaleâŠâŠ.đđ
Never felt like that said Mr mhm st heleen
MyYogaJoy Mardi/Martes: Volume Up! This eveningâs meditation brought to you by crickets and frogsđŠđžâźïž
Yoga Off the Mat: walking today, I was struck by a metaphor: how the elements (here: mainly Earth, Water, Wind) and Human Beings (made up of the same elements!) are the same. These spaces received a LOT of water. The first video shows Resistance: damming up, overflowing vs absorbing, stagnation vs change, cloudiness vs clarity. The second video, taken just steps away from the first, shows Transformation: flowing, cleansing, energizing, renewing. Regardless of your individual makeup or skill set or support system, when faced with a challenge at some level there is always the ability to choose your mindset and response to a given situation. I know, âdeep thoughtsâ on the weekend đ Your thoughts???đ€
Love walking, not on treadmill though!
MyYogaJoy Monday: (or on Medrol for inflammationđ) What to do when you arenât able to practice standing exercises? Sit or kneel down! Hereâs howđđđ
Yoga Off the Mat: growth only happens when youâre out of your comfort zone. Plunging into icy cold water after a sweaty hike was a metaphor for âsometimes you just have to take the plungeâđ (note Mandukasana frog pose in the second picđ)
Whether youâre hiking more difficult and longer trails than youâve ever hiked in your life (with your daughter đ„°đ), starting a new school, a new job, a new challenge, or a new chapter of your life, feeling uncomfortable is a sure sign that thereâs a growth opportunity waiting for you đ Go ahead, take the plunge!đ
Yoga Off the Mat: I recently had the opportunity to hike in Targhee National Forest with my daughter đ Climbing over slippery rocks and exploring this wind cave were a little scary, so I summoned my inner Warrior (Parsva Virabhadrasana)đ€ș! Yoga is with you wherever you are đ. Where have you found yours lately?đ€
Looks like a lot of work lol xox
Yoga Off the Mat: sometimes the whole practice is slowing down and being present to appreciate the simplest things đ
MyYogaJoy Monday helps you transition from vacation back to ârealityâ with centering, grounding and focus. đ€Șđ§ââïžđ
MyYogaJoy Monday invites you to practice yoga and mindfulness wherever you are đâźïžđ
Yoga Off the Mat: so we got our first fresh local corn of the season from our farm share this weekđ I cooked myself a couple ears and slathered them with ghee, salt and spices and ate them âwithâ my Dad, thinking how much he would enjoy them and the way he used to get kernels all over his faceâmakes me smile thinking about him! đ„° It was a sweet reminder that even when we canât be with someone we love, due to pandemic restrictions, living in another place for school or work, or because theyâve departed, we can always be with them in spirit đ„°â€ïžđ
Such a lovely thought, Roberta! And I can picture your Dad with those corn kernels on his face!
I love lobster when eat one I see my Dad too
Great memory
Memories
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Yoga Off the Mat: As Robert Frost wrote, âTwo roads diverged in a yellow (green) wood...â I literally canât help but see the âsignsâ sometimes! Just a friendly reminder that we always have choices, no matter what the circumstances, and remembering this little fact alone can be very empowering đđ
MyYogaJoy Mondayâwhere is the video and what is this photo of a kayak in a parking lot? Weeeeellllll.... no one is joyful 100% of the time, and today I was feeling a little âoffâ. Yoga on the mat consisted of a complete practice of breath work, stretching, strengthening and relaxation. And because I donât pre-record my videos, I still hadnât decided what todayâs post would be. Fast forward to the afternoon: the sun finally came out! My husband and I indulged in a long weekend bonus day kayak paddle on the river. đđŁââïž Still feeling a bit spacey, I committed the cardinal sin of kayaking: I stepped into the boat (at the boat launch, on the downslope side, in the river currentđ€ŠđŒââïž). I promptly rolled the kayak, filling it with water and simultaneously smashing my kneecap on the cement cinderblocks of the launchâall in less than one foot of water! Now, Iâm not looking for attention or sympathy hereâthere is a more universal purpose to this story! Amidst curses and tears, I righted my âshipâ and began to paddle upstream. After months of injuries, most recently removing a chunk of cancerous flesh on my upper arm, I was finally able to paddle, only to make a mindless mistake đ. Continuing to paddle, I had a sense that the tears were more of frustration and feelings that were insufficiently processed than actual pain. Stroke by stroke, aligning with the rhythm of the paddling, allowing the cool of the water to calm my flustered and frazzled self, the tears were gradually replaced with wonder and peace at the sight of hawks and herons, ducks and turtles... it was then that I realized how my earlier practice on the mat had opened my shoulders to paddle, had opened my Mind to the meditative rhythmic flow, to the calm grounding of nature juxtaposed with the cool spaciousness of open air...The Universal message here: there truly is no distinction between life on and off the Mat. When you feel something, if you can step back mentally and gain some insight about it, just observe it and flow with it, before you know it you find yourself in a more peaceful place. Regular practice on the mat prepares us for life off the mat. So keep moving, keep breathing...the only way through is through...Namasteđđ»đ
Share The Joy
Creating joyful living through yoga.
The goal of My Yoga Joy is to share the benefits of yoga, bringing healing and personal growth to as wide an audience as possible.
Personal transformation can be experienced by anyone through regular practice! Improved physical health, fitness, emotional and spiritual growth and well-being are just a few of the many benefits to yoga.
Here are a few of the ways I'm sharing the joy of yoga
with the Greater Hartford community!
Currently spreading the joy of yoga at St. Mary's Home in West Hartford where adults with mental illness are enriched through their discovery of self.
Offering the joy of yoga with residents of the Windsor Independent Living Association where adults with intellectual disabilities can expand their possibilities through practicing yoga.
Now enrolling cancer patients and survivors in a free Yoga4Cancer class series at the Bone and Joint institute through Hartford Healthcare at Hartford Hospital.
Contact me to find out if you are eligible for any of the above programs.