yoga teacher training retreat uvita costa rica

We do a lot of healthy things: yoga, cardio, eat right...and then we buy all sorts of crazy chemicals to put on our skin?  The largest organ of the body!  What?

​Most of you know I am into making my own stuff.  From toothpaste to body lotion, I don't like ot buy chemical laden toxic crap from the store that costs a fortune.  Here's one of my "GO TO" sites for recipes.  You can look all over the internet but you may not find a better resource than this lady's site.  I've attached a link to a lot of recipes I love.  Of course I usually don't actually follow any recipe to the letter, but these are great just the way they are.  

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This seed has been around for thousands of years.  They placed some in King Tutt's tomb for his journey to the afterlife to be protected.  Not sure it helped him out with that, but here's a list of all the things it is actually good for in the link below.  

I went into the local Mediterranian store yesterday and found it.  Under the name "nigella seed"  I'm so excited to buy this locally I can hardly contain my joy.  And I got some awesome hummus.  Check out the link to see all it's uses.  Here's a few I found especially awesome: Anti-cancer, antifungal, good for skin, relieves soar throat, asthma....the list goes on.

This is also sold in oil form.  I'm working on a facial moisturizer as we speak that incorporates some black seed oil.  Found the oil on Amazon.  Have I mentioned my love for Amazon lately?

According to my findings, the whole seeds should be lightly toasted in a skillet (do not leave unattended). When they are done they begin to smell toasty yummy.  Let them cool, then grind.  I used my coffee ginder.  When cooled you can store and take orally.  We've been downing a small scoop every am.  The seeds are small, but do grind them after toasting so the body can use them better.  

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Yoga Maya's Fall/Winter 2016 200 hour YTT.  November 15 - December 6, 2016.  Join the fun in our lovely space near the beach and learn how to teach Vinyasa, Yin and a bit of Hatha Yoga.  

We are a Yoga Alliance Certified Center.

Make your own accomodations, or we can help just let us know.  Booking early is key to finding a great place.  

In just three short but intense weeks you will make massive strides in your own personal practice and you begin teaching DAY 1.

Please review the website's "Teacher Training" page for more info on our curriculum.  

I cannot tell you how excited I got when I saw this today!  So I am sharing.  Recycling is huge to me!  I'm one of those who goes through the trash to make sure people recycle.  We could make the stuffing for meditation pillows, bean bag chairs....whatever with the little pellets from the "grinder" machine.   It's endless!

I'm so pumped.  Share this please.  This wonderful human just wants this shared, his plan is to give out the blueprints on how to make the machines for free on line.  What a human being!

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Most people either love avacado or don't.  I don't understand people who don't.  This post is for the people who LOVE avacados.  Best sit down.  This one will change your world.  Especially during avacado season.  Lord have mercy.

​Why avacados?  Check out this chart.

Click the link below for an avacado chimicurri bruschetta recipe that you just may make a staple in your casa.  

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Yoga classes can vary tremendously.  From a gentle Yin to a sweat filled Power class.  One thing that many teachers try to do is to create a "theme" that carries throughout the class.    

This does not need to be a complex task.  It can be as simple as breath.  Reminding students to concentrate on the breath and incorporate a specific pranayama exercise here and there.  It's one of my favorites.  Without the breath, yoga really isn't yoga after all.

This theme can also be centered around for example "back bends" or a "peak pose" like Natarajasana..  These examples are themes many teachers use.  Backbends are very popular, as are hip openers

Below is a link to a reminder of how to incorporate a "theme" into your classes.  If you are looking for a few different ideas, this may spark your creativity.  

Remember to make it your own by being true to yourself and always adding a little "YOU" to it.

Try these new creations out in your home practice beofre taking it to a class.  If you do not teach yoga, this is still a great way to spice up your home practice.  Create your own classes!  You can do it!  It doesn't have to be perfect.  Perfection is an illusion.

I always try to have fun in yoga.  The picture below was from a shoot in Sayulita.  I was playing around with some seated poses.  Seeing what "looked good" to the photographer and just kept doing my thing.  Until that happened.  What fun!  AND, I put together a few new moves.  Had a good laugh, and continue to laugh everytime I see this pic! 

Enjoy.

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I have a new pain.  Not exactly sure what caused this because it seemed like it was just "there" two days ago.  Here's my best description of it:

The pain is dull, but sometimes intensifies as I move my back or left leg/hip.  It feels like an old injury, but is not.  Feels like what I think arthritis would feel like.  As if I'd broken or severely injured something back there 10-20 years ago and "old age" has finally settled into that area.  The pain is not radiating and at it's worst I would give it a 5 on a 1-10 scale.  Not horrific but:  It sucks.

This pain is in my left lower back, about 2-4 inches to the left of my spine and at the top of my "hip bone".  It is somewhat sore to touch, but not too bad.  Feels better with heat.  Yes, I got the heating pad out.  It is limiting my yoga.  I am still practiing, but taking it down a few notches on the badass scale.  This pain oddly comes and goes.  Intensifies and then in a few hours I feel fine...then there it is again.   

Rolling out of bed has begun to be quite a shock as far as pain goes.  Standing from sitting isn't exactly the fun it used to be either.  The heat is helping, but nothing else is.  Gentle yoga stretches do not seem to make a difference.  I am not sure, but think I will stop yoga all together for a few days.

What do you think it is?

I am no expert, but I'd bet you an ice cold coke it's sacroiliac pain.  It feels like the pain is exactly where that joint is.  As we have discussed in the past.  Back pain sucks.  So I am going to take it easy for a few more days and see my masseuse.  Probably going to take a few ibuprofens and continue with the heating pad.

There are amny causes of sacroilic pain, I'd say for me; yoga may be the culprit.  This affects more yogis than the average person and experts agree it is due to overuse and or unevenness of the hips and body in certain yoga poses that ask you to be "uneven"  for example, half pigeon, when one side of the hip is more forward than the other side.

Main culprits for this pain/probelm are:  arthritis, pregnancy, jogging and yoga.  15-30% of people have an issue with their "SI" joint.

I wonder if there will be some sort of welcoming party to this club for me?  Hopefully I am just passing through...

Watch the link below for a better understanding of this joint.  #iloveanatomy.

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Many people have tight hamstrings and ask me for a few stretches they can do at home.  Well here you go:  the following is a video which most anyone can do and not worry about injury.  Pay close attention the the adjustments and "levels" at which her bum is a way from the couch.  If you can get to the floor, and are not in ACUTE pain (and your doctor says it's ok) give this a try.  If it hurts...stop it.

Tight hamstrings are indicative to a tight low back.  Ain't nobody got time for that.  


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I'm not into being in front of the camera myself. And Instagram is pretty intimidating to me. But having a few good photos is necessary. Spend a few dollars and get a professional to take the photos. If she's a Yogini, thank the stars above.

Here is is a shot or two from Maria Hiilier. We had fun. She's a yoga teacher and a professional photographer. And a wonderful person.

Pick a good location and let the professional chose the time. Get a few poses thst are not advanced. So you can market to everyone. Get a headshot. Use these on your Facebook page and Instagram

​If you are interested in a one on one session with me about more marketing tips to build your yoga business. Shoot me an email.

I'm gonna toot my own horn here.  Check it out!  I'm writing for the local paper in Sayulita.   El Salulero.  Like a boss.  Like a Unicorn, Viking, Boss!  Boom!

​This article is on Pranayama.  Breath Work.

And yes, that is SUNSHINE coming outta my pit.  Like a boss once again.

http://www.sayulitalife.com/news/detail/475