Whirl Yoga Fest

This weekend, I was lucky enough to be able to attend Pittsburgh's first annual One Whirl Yoga Fest + Healthy Lifestyle Expo. In a word, it was awesome. Complete with great company and wheat grass shots, it was everything I expected and more.

Just some of the spoils...info, coupons and recipes from Yoga Fest!

One of the first classes of the morning

Reminiscent of my yoga teacher training days, we schlepped our mats, snacks and bodies from one practice to another for a total of about 5 classes. (For $75, yogis could attend 2 exclusive workshops and unlimited classes throughout the day.) It was an enriching experience to be able to enjoy so many different types of yogis, teaching styles and yoga all in one place. From power yoga to chakra work, there was so much to learn and share.

Taken by WHIRL Magazine, my friends and I are technically in this picture on the VERY far left. :)

My favorite class happened to be the very last one of the day, one that we dropped into on a whim. I'm so glad we did! The class was called Alignment Flow & Transitions, taught by Kristi Rogers, founder of BYS Yoga in the South Side. The focus of the class was "the moments between the poses." Not only is this something often overlooked in our yoga practice, but Kristi made the connection between asana transitions and life transitions. As we rush from one activity, one life event or one job to the next, we sometimes forget to fully participate in what's happening right now. Backed by this great philosophy, Kristi's class brought a new awareness to "the space between" yoga asanas. I can't say enough about the energy and insight that Kristi brought to her class, and I look forward to taking some of her classes again soon...but in the meantime, I will enjoy the space between. ;)

It's really not everyday that you get to sample so much yoga and I'm sure it was a great experience for seasoned yogis as well as first-timers. What a great way to be welcomed into the yoga community! It's exciting to be a part of it as a teacher and as a life-long student.

And I almost forgot to mention, we even got a t-shirt. :)

head to toe asana tips

Even if your mind is clear of distractions, there's still a lot to think about when practicing yoga asanas. Sometimes, trying to physically perfect a pose may seem overwhelming, but being mindful of your body alignment is one of the ways in which you can find a comfortable challenge in each pose and stay mentally focused on your practice. Keeping in mind that everyone's "perfect" asana looks different, the following suggests a simple method to align your body and remain present in any pose.

Warrior 1

I like to remind students to mindfully scan their bodies from their toes, all the way up to the crown of the head. This simple method is a great technique because it's easy to remember and is applicable for any yoga asana. It does take time and concentration, but it works well.  Using Warrior 1 Pose as an example:

1.) Toes & Feet: Beginning with the toes and feet, be sure that they are facing at the right angle and direction (ask your instructor for tips if you're not sure). Then check to make sure that toes are active, spread wide and engaged with the mat. Our feet and toes form the foundation and provide stability in all of our standing yoga asanas, so it's important to keep them flat.

2.) Lower Legs & Knees: Working your way up the body, be sure that the bent knee is directly over the ankle, not leaning forward, back, inward or inward. Scan the back leg and make sure that it is active and reasonably straight. In Warrior 1 Pose, it is important for the legs to stay engaged, so that we're not just hanging out.

3.) Upper Thighs & Bum: Upper thighs are really working in Warrior 1, but don't forget about them in other poses, such as Mountain. As for the bum here, it is fully engaged, helping to support the lower back and legs.

4.) Hips: For Warrior 1, the hip bones should be parallel to the front of your mat (if you're able.) Proper hip alignment can "make or break" a strong and comfortable Warrior pose.

5.) Abdominals: In Warrior 1, the abdominals are very active (uddiyana bandha), so zip them up from bottom to top. This helps to keep the pelvis tucked forward and also aids in a strong ujjayi breath.

6.) Chest: The chest should be open here, so lift up the heart center.

7.) Shoulders & Arms: Scan the shoulders and arms for tension. Shoulders should remain relaxed down and back, away from the ears. The arms are engaged, reaching upward.

8.) Neck: In Warrior 1, the neck is in a neutral position, but we have a tendency to stick the shin forward. Be sure it's tucked back slightly, flattening out the back of the neck a bit. It should feel comfortable, so don't force anything.

9.) Face & Head: Check for proper head alignment by focusing your gaze (drishti) straight ahead or slightly upward. Make sure to release any tension from the face or jaw.

10.) Fingers & Hands: Open the palms and fingers wide and focus on feeling the space between each finger. Our fingers are something we often forget about, but keeping them engaged can make a big difference in many asanas.

With a little guidance from your instructor, you can use this method as a tool to strengthen your entire practice. Checking the whole body from the bottom up is a comprehensive and easy way to develop a strong mental practice as well as muscle memory. The next time you're struggling in a pose, trying to cultivate focus or just want to do your best, break down your asana to small increments...from toes to fingertips!

pretty peacock invite

Designing invitations isn't something I choose to do very often, but when a friend asked me to create a bridal shower invite with a peacock theme, how could I say no!? Especially since there were essentially no restrictions, I knew it would be a fun little project.

Peacock sketch - pen/paper

Unlike other invites, I knew what I wanted to do right away. I sketched up a peacocks, scanned it in and got to work coloring it in Photoshop. I used a brush with a rough edge for a sketchy look and did each color on a separate layer to play with. My peacock-loving client knew that she wanted to go with a fun, yet sophisticated look with lots of blues, greens and some feather-flair, so this is what we ended up with:

It turned out to be the perfect opportunity for some bright colors, a peacock sketch and a very bridal-shower-esque font I've been dying to use, Sudestada. The body text font is Cochin, one of my favorite go-to serif fonts.

Now here's hoping it suited the bride-to-be! :)