This week I am in Barcelona, Spain competing in Life Fitness' Global Personal Trainers to Watch competition.

Since I am in the learning phase of my yoga training, yoga is always on my brain. Being in Spain made no difference. Thus, in the wee hours of the morning, jet-legged and all, I was up writing a yoga sequence that I could do on the Life Fitness Synrgy BlueSky.

Here is what I came up with!

Having a chance to "play" on a new piece of equipment is always fun for me. This event was an experience of a lifetime and my yoga teacher in training came along for the ride too!
LW

Sprinkling yoga into my day to day life is just how things have to go. No formal classes or dedicated practice, just "hits" of yoga when it works. Here is a list of my current favourite yoga poses and where they fit into my day:

• Deep squat when doing sidewalk chalk outside with my toddler

• Cat-Cow when watching TV for 15 minutes after both kiddos have finally gone to bed (time to zone out but still move!)

• Tree pose while brushing my teeth (the mirror provides helpful cues and my electronic toothbrush counts the time!)

• Breathing! When the day to day crazy gets to be too much, I just focus on my breath

• Pelvic floor/kegel work while driving...I haven't been able to master this one yet (too distracting!)
  

Yoga has to fit. And this is just how it works...for now,
LW

Simplicity. Keep It Simple Silly (or whatever "S" word you'd like to use).

This past week I ended up practicing in my master bedroom of all places. I am very lucky to have a gorgeous view out of my window of tall green conifer trees and blue skies (most days!) so I opened my blinds to let the beautiful view be seen. It was an impromptu session where I'd been debating whether or not to practice. My achey sick body wasn't sure it was ready for anything. But I persevered and went through my poses.

As I was transitioning into tree pose (Vriksasana), I had the oddest feeling that someone was watching me. My peripheral vision was giving me the cues that someone or something was there. And there perched on the stunning tree was my backyard squirrel, at perfect visual height, enjoying a red berry. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself that I had an audience during my most sluggish practices in a long time!

But what the squirrel reminded me was to keep things simple. And isn't that what yoga is about too. He was just chilling out on a tree branch (two-stories up), enjoying his morning snack. It was his nourishment and the yoga was mine.

We can get really bogged down with life and can forget simple pleasures. In this morning's practice, I was reminded to take a deep breath and let the simple things be what is most important. Nature can be our greatest teacher.

Have a moment for yourself and remember to KISS,
LW

I was very fortunate to travel to Mexico this past week and enjoy the sun, beach, and ocean. The resort we stayed at offered outdoor yoga classes. I knew I had to participate in at least one class. By the end of the week, I had attended three!

Practicing outdoors is a new experience for me. I would highly recommend it, not now in the dead of a Canadian winter, but when the weather and/or location permits. It is a feast for the senses and it is a whole other type of practice.

My five senses were on high alert through the downward facing dogs, tree poses and corpse pose. The first sense that was heightened was the sense of touch. The coolness of the wet grass we practiced on to the pressure of sand pressing back on my fingers on the beach, the sense of touch kept me engaged with my practice. The sense of sound resonated with the rustling of the palm trees and the crashing of the waves. And the smell and taste of the salty Sea of Cortez was moving in and out with every breath.

It was in practicing outdoors that I was encouraged to keep my eyes open. In my regular practice I typically have my eyes closed. Well, this certainly was not the case. Sunsets of pink, orange and red allow for such an inspired practice. Watching the waves crash into rocks on the beach bring power and strength to a warrior II (virabhadrasana II) pose. The teacher even said, "draw energy from the moving water". How amazing is that!!!

It is in these moments of yoga that really invigorate my soul and gratitude to the world around me. As I become a teacher, it is my hope to bring this sort of energy and experience to the mat even when not on the coast of Mexico.

To many more outdoor yoga classes,
LW