Style is the mind skating circles around itself as it moves forward.

- Robert Frost

Practicing yoga is a great way to find a part of you that you never knew existed, or has been missing for a while, or one that you don’t ever really get a chance to unleash in our crazy world. At least that is what I have found through my own yoga practice. There are types of yoga classes and styles that I prefer and then ones I don’t. I used to wonder how this could be as much I truly love yoga and all that it encompasses, but as I continued to practice and listen I learned the answers.

One of my friends and I used to ride to the studio together and then seperate once we got there to take different classes, she Bikram and myself either power or flow. One day in class it came to me why I didn’t care for the Bikram over the flow (vinyasa style) and it had nothing to do with the actual poses. You see Bikram is a set series of 26 postures, each done twice in a heated room and flow is whatever the teacher makes it when they teach, each class being a little different depending on the teacher and their style. So, when I realized, gosh – my day to life is very structured and my friend Nicole’s hers was not, hers was very creatively open each day as she worked in sales. Her schedule was hers to schedule as she wished and mine was not. Therefore, when I went to practice yoga I wanted a more creative style and she wanted a more structured one.

Later as I learned more about Ayruveda and the principles that encompass it, I realized that with my pitta doshas (being a natural red head) I already generated enough internal heat that I really didn’t need extra added heat with a heater in my practice. Maybe if I lived in Chicago (in the winter) that would be different, but in Florida it was what it was.

Those of you who are new to yoga, or just experiencing all of the elements you can, you might find that there is a particular style that you enjoy practicing more than another and you might not. But, don’t let what you choose be determined (just like anything else in your life) by those around you. You decide! It’s your practice!

All that being said, many of you have asked as I have given you Yoga Vibes free class passes to try a class on their site, which classes I like the best and can I recommend some for you – well of course – I can and here they are, but please remember they are all about the styles that I like- Vinyasa Flow & Yin. I have to be honest though, I haven’t come across a single yoga class on Yoga Vibes that I didn’t like. However, it seems when I sit down to choose one and see how my body feels in that moment I choose according to that feeling. Actually, now that I think about it, that is another nice thing about Yoga Vibes, you aren’t locked down to what classes are offerred at the studio you are practicing at the time you can practice.

So here goes (in no certain order of course):

• Christina Raffa (shoulder opener)
• Denise Payne (level 3-4 class, poses you have never seen before)
• Elinore Cohen
• Chrystal Rae Almeida
• Erin Jacquez
• Erin Morgan (both classes)
• Gabriel Azoulay – yin
• Ingrid Yang – energetic flow/power
• Jene Rossi
• Jennifer Beyt Coffin
• Joan Hyman
• Kathryn Budig (handstands!)
• Teen yoga class
• Laura Schneider
• Rolf Gates (all)
• Sadie Nardini (live class)
• Sage Roundtree
• Shayla Worsley (great hips here)
• Shawn Shaw
• Issac Pena (different type of flow – one of my most favs)

Classes I haven’t taken, but are on the list to take soon-

• Joe Taft’s Anusara – this class fills up in Asheville, NC
• Faith Hunter

What is your yoga style?

Uncategorized ashtanga, bikram, flow, schedule, structure, style, vinyasa, yoga, Yoga Style, Yoga Vibes

“Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire,
and begin at once, whether you’re ready
or not, to put it into action.”

As you can see, I haven’t posted anything in quite a while. There are several reasons for this, one my site seems to have picked up something called a spam bot (I know it sounds like something from outer space- actually it is something from cyber space) and everytime I post a new post, I get what seems to be a like a million, although I am exaggerating, junk, jibberish comments on my blog.  It is so annoying! I get them other times too, but mainly when a new post goes up.

Then my school year ended and I have been really busy enjoying my flexible time this summer, traveled a little to the beach some, painted with friends, lunch dates with friends, more yoga of course, more fun computer time, etc. The Lululemon Tampa opened up and so I have been busy with my ambassador ship too.

I enjoy having my own blog to update too, but I decided that I didn’t want it to be a chore that I have to do, something that I have to keep up with. I decided that I would write, when I write and had something to write about. I have been enjoying writing for other blogs as well and decided I really like doing that more, it is like a contribution from me to them a gift to write for someone else.

In our lives, we transition, we have periods of deeper more profound transitions, we have short ones. Our brain adapts, our bodies adapt, our personalities adapt. We take it all in and in time a shift happens. I have just been experiencing my own shifting times lately, watching what I enjoy, listening to what my heart says, dreaming big, making time for friends old and new, listening to what my body says as I practice yoga,  and just being present.  There are times when life is simple, there are times when it is not.

Sometimes you just have to set an intention and put out to the universe what you want and see what the universe brings back to you.

Let’s see what happens!

Uncategorized intentions, shift, summer time, transition, yoga

Boy my blogging time has been reduced to, as you can see, null for a while now. I have been thinking a lot during the time I haven’t been blogging though and once again thinking about my life in general, my accomplishments and my personal time.

I bet you are wondering, hummm….what’s been going with Tiffany. Well here it is. You already know I teach full time at a middle/high school (so as the end of the year comes closer to an end – it just can’t get here fast enough), then I teach at the community college and the semester just ended, but another one is getting ready to start (no break there either).

A few weekends ago I wen to yoga at the Tampa Bay Museum of Art in downtown Tampa, after I journaled in my art journal after class and took some great pictures from the beach where I sat in peace.

Then Bryan and I headed down to Sarasota for our 13th anniversary (we even splurged a bit and stayed at the Ritz!) and that was supa dupa fun! No pics to share though because my battery charger was missing in action, had to get another one, but it didn’t happen in time. I took some pics with my cell phone, but blah, blah, blah I didn’t like how they turned out. While we were there we did this crazy hard workout, CrossFit.I am all about training that way this summer when my body is more rested from not having to get up at the crack of dawn.

Then you know I signed up to do the art journal class, that was going great the first week and then I just got behind and have now decided that I am going to resume when my summer starts so I can participate with mindfulness and ease.

I have been taking a lot of Yoga Vibes classes online because I just can’t seem to get to the studio when a class begins. That is working out great, but I do love to practice in the studio too.

Then a friend of mine and I met the Lululemon ladies (Erin and Amber) at the Soho Cycling spinning class on Fri. and I love it. I hadn’t taken a spinning class since last summer, but this location plays awesome music with screens where the videos show. New favorite dance song for now – Tea Party by Kerli from Alice and Wonderland.

Afterwards, they talked about a Tampa running club that meets on Tuesday evenings at 6 and everyone runs together. Sounds really fun and then they eat afterwards. I love it and will go this summer and check it, but waaah it’s on a practice night for me. Poo.

Two more great things going on lately, no actually I take that back, 3 more great things.

1. On Saturday 5/15 when I got ready to teach my 12 Flow class at Yogani, Erin and Amber from Lululemon asked me to be a Tampa Bay Lululemon ambassador, they wrote my name and all these fun adjectives about me, like othat I was fun, soothing, energetic, etc. n the mirror and then they proposed and asked me. They gave me the prettiest flower too. See above! So sweet. I almost cried. All of my dreams are coming true. Somebody pinch me!

2. I am headed to the keys this week with the seniors from my school, lots of activities like kayaking, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, etc. Should be really fun! I am excited.

3. Then my birthday is this week and on Sat. 5/22 a bunch of my friends are headed to Jackson’s Bistro to dance, dance, dance and celebrate. I will be 39 years old. I know – Supa Dupa old – the end of my 30’s. My dad is even flying down and you already know that he loves to dance.

All in all, I am busy as usual it’s life in the fast, but oh so fun lane! But, all this time, I keep seeing how much of life I have missed out on and still do, because I work so much and stay so busy. I have missed out on lots of great friends that I just don’t take the time to develop, or ones that fall through the cracks because I don’t have the time once me meet to get and stay close and allow the friendship to develop. I have been thinking – why is it that I feel the need to do so much, what is wrong with just being? Do I like being really busy? Do I really like it, or do I just do it because it is what I know? Do I have to be responsible for so much? If so, why?

I have decided that this summer, I am going to go to the beach a lot, spend time with new and old friends a lot, cherish each and every moment, travel, dance, floss and live each day a little more fully than before. Oh yeah, paddle boarding is on my list too!

What are you up too?

What are you reflecting on these days?

Uncategorized blogging, Lululemon, paddle boarding, running, Sarasota, soho cycling, soho spinning, spinning, teaching, yoga

“Truth is the beginning of every good thing, both in heaven and on earth; and he who would be blessed and happy should be from the first a partaker of truth, for then he can be trusted.” – Plato

One of the yamas that I have been having a tough time really adhering to lately is Satya – Truth. Growing up I didn’t always say that something was bothering me with my friends or even my parents until I just blew up and it came out. Some of that I might have been able to blame on my redheaded hair and fiery temper. But, nonetheless, not all of it and not at my age now.

In our world today, to speak our truth as many state it, can be a very tricky matter. My determination recently is that when I do say or speak my real feelings about something, to the best of my ability, of course, without dressing it up in an exaggerating nature and putting a huge bow on it (as that isn’t something we should have to do in order to say what we really think )- the world isn’t ready for it. Or at least, a lot of the world isn’t.

Humm…..to say what you think, not dress it and up and make it something it’s not, be tactful, acting without malice or harm in mind, but truthful in nature – I’m thinking that sounds so easy, so truthful, so honest. So how it is that it can get turned into something else, something it’s not, something different?

The answer is, it can! And very easily, here’s why:

We all have issues, some are listened to more by our inner egos than others. But they are there. When you tell someone something that you are thinking, feeling – your truth, even though it is not meant to hurt, belittle or demean them in anyway shape or form, they attach what you say to their own issues and then it gets hairy.

But, really satya is about living our truth. As is yoga, satya is a practice. Living your truth each and every day, not allowing the issues of the world around you take your truth away, not masking your truth until it isn’t a truth any longer. As Rolf Gates says, “We live in a world where truth is a rare commodity. Over time you will have the pleasure of watching this beautiful practice blossom in your life in a way that is honest and authentic. As you learn to speak the truth, you will learn to be true to yourself, to all that is best in you.”

So when you get an email at work that could be misread – don’t invest false energy into it.

When you hear what someone says, don’t judge them, really allow yourself to hear them and clarify what they mean by what they say.

Don’t involve yourself in idle gossip about others, do you know their real truth? Do they even know their own truth?

Then let it be. Commence yourself to the practice of satya and all that is and all that is says. Know that all is exactly as it should be as if you wear your truth on your sleeve.

How do you practice satya? What real world experiences do you have to share? Do you ever get overwhelmed after speaking your truth?

Uncategorized Plato, real world, Rolf Gates, satya, truth, yoga

This week has been my week off from work for Spring Break. I hate to say I was living in the future, but boy oh boy – was I waiting for this week to come. Of course, I was going to go out of town with my hubbie, but as always he ended up having to work. I didn’t really mind this year though because as you all already know, I work too, too, too much. Saying Yes! is a big part of my vocabulary because I love my life and I love saying Yes! To me, the word No means missed opportunities, no exposure, sometimes no fun! So, I say Yes! But, as everyone in our society experiences at one time or another we say yes too much and then the crash and burn effect kicks in. We can only do too much for so long before  our mind, body and spirit say, “What about me, did you forget about me, hello, I need some rest, hello I need some quiet, hello I need a nap!”

I hate to say this, but since I have always been a work aholic I haven’t always had a lot of friends, not because I couldn’t have, but because I never spent time with friends I would just work instead. It wasn’t until I began my yoga teacher training a few years ago, and someone asked me what I was going to do all summer while I was off from teaching and said work and she said, “What about hanging out with your friends?” that I discovered WOW! I don’t really do that sort of thing – do I? A huge eye opener for me. So, as I have been really trying to do is incorporate saying yes, to my friends so that we can be friends and better friends at that.

 “You can’t always sit in your corner of the forest and wait for people to come to you… you have to go to them sometimes.” – Winnie the Pooh

So, that is just what I did this week, I took a little me time and a little time with friends.

Monday began my week when I forgo sleeping in, so precious to a girl that gets up at 5 am each morning to meet a dear friend for coffee in Hyde Park. Carol is a new mom that comes to my yoga classes. We meet when she began coming when she was pregnant, practicing flow yoga up until the week before her precious baby girl – Grace – was born. Amazing. Then I headed off to yoga. The rest of the day consisted of an afternoon nap, shopping and then teaching my own flow class that evening.

Tuesday was a sleep in day- of course! Then to another yoga class, today was Hot Flow – with Thom. I love Thom, but his schedule is one of mostly Bikram classes so I never get to take his classes. I am not a Bikram girl – too much of the same for me, plus my Pitta doesn’t care for the intense heat.  Then running errands, a wax, the gym and nice run outside and off to teach another yoga class.

Wednesday - ahhh yes – you guessed it another sleep in day! Woot! Working on the computer, blogging, reading blogs, contemplating a new book to read, etc. Then off to get some new make up, practicing and playing with some new spring colors, to yoga, run Bayshore Blvd. in Tampa Bay – one of the most beautiful places to run ever. Don’t forget your sunscreen though, little to no shade.

Then a massage. I recently got one from a different girl and ewwww….won’t do that again, what a waste of money. This time Annette worked on me – she is amazing! Then you guessed it happy hour with friends!

The week is off to a great start and although I will be sad when it comes to an end, I am so thankful that I had it to begin with.  

So remember, when you need a little time for yourself  do what comes more natural
- TAKE IT!

What do you do when you have time off? 

Uncategorized Annette, Bayshore Blvd., debra dakin, Florida, friends, Hyde Park, running, sleep in, spring break, Tampa Bay, time off, yoga

If you haven’t heard of Yoga Vibes by now, you have certainly been missing out and you have GOT to get your vibe on.

Yoga Vibes is a hot, relatively new yoga web site (it launched in August) with live recorded yoga classes of all types, levels, from all over. The classes you buy stream live directly to your computer while you practice making you feel like you are in the class and with the energy of the class.

So far, my favorites are:

• Kathryn Budig
• Laura Schneider
• Shala Worsley
• Rolf Gates

Soon, you’ll have your favorites too, what are they?

I have blogged about them before. Click here to see that post. But this time, is different. I really, really, really want you to try Yoga Vibes. Here are all the reasons why:

1. You have never done yoga and are a little skeptical about going to a studio as a newbie. Not that you should worry because any studio would welcome you with open arms.
2. Let’s say you are a hard core yogi and the classes you can go to during the time you can practice are not quite hard enough or challenging enough for you in the areas you are working on in your practice.
3. Let’s say you planned to go to yoga, but got stuck at work and couldn’t leave and didn’t want to miss a practice all together.
4. Or maybe you want a type or style of class that is not found in your area.
5. Humm…maybe you want something different than the teachers you have been taking classes from have been teaching.
6. You want to practice with a teacher that lives across the nation and of course, we all know, travel ain’t cheap.
7. Ahh…yes, you are a yoga teacher, looking for some creative new sequences to use in classes, new tricks, new cutting edge vibes of energy.
8. You want a quickie class – 30 min. or an hour.
9. You want to save some money be it, travel, class pricing.

Can you think of any more reasons to take a Yoga Vibes class?

So, if you haven’t had the opportunity to take a Yoga Vibes class yet, I am offering –>

to the best, most creative, fun, freestyle reason to a take a Yoga Vibes class for yourself.

Get your vibe on and show me what you got!

Uncategorized Kathryn Budig, Laura Schneider, Shala Worsely, streaming videos, yoga, yoga classes, yoga online, Yoga Vibes

I decided to skip my regular Friday night yoga class in the studio. Mainly because I was tired of running all week and wanted to be home some. Of course, I still practiced, but used my favorite online, streaming yoga class site, Yoga Vibes.

I ended up taking Denise Payne’s Power Yoga class. I take Power yoga all the time, so it was like signing up for what I always do when I chose it. Little did I realize what I had gotten myself into. You see, I was beginning to feel that I was mastering my yoga practice, working on handstands, is my newest challenge and I am practicing it each and every day, getting better and better each and every day. So, I was feeling, sort of like, “Once I get this pose, I will be complete in my practice.” Of course, that was all ego, and I had to remind myself that I already have everything I need in my practice.

The class began with Surya Namaskar A and then B. No biggie!

Then began the journey-

Downward Facing Dog jumping into Bakasana (Crow/Crane) pose

- 5 times back and forth.

If that didn’t already poop me out on a Friday night when I was already tired, but then came the following poses of course taught in a flowing, nice, charismatic sequence:

Astavakrasana

Eka Hasta Bhujasana

Bhujapidasana

Titibasana

Kurmasana – Sleeping Tortoise

Eka Pada Sirsasana

Bhairavasana

Kasvapasana

Salamba Sirsasana II – by way of Sirasana (Headstead)
Try this one at home for fun!

Eka Pada Koundinyasana

And I saved the best for two last, of course!

Dwi Pada Sirsasana

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana

Headstand and then you keep your head on the floor and walk your feet around your body.

Try that one on a Friday night for fun.

I love a good challenge and although I have to admit at times during the practice, my eyes almost popped out of my head and my mouth out loud said, What?! (I was practicing at home). I still managed to at least try each and every one of the shapes.  Some obviously turned out better than others. I am sure many of you can do some or even all of the shapes, but it was indeed a deep challenge for me, but one that I loved and will cherish for some time to come.

Thanks to Densie for a great class! I especially loved your humor as you taught and my eyes bugged out.

So the moral of the story is that the journey of yoga is one of a lifetime. Just when we think we have mastered something, one pose, twenty, met our goals, calmed our mind, shined our spirit our yoga practice will show us something new, something more magnificent and something worth returning to the mat for each and every time we practice and with that I say, “Practice, practice all is coming” (Pattabhi Jois). Namaste!

What is your hardest, most challenging element of yoga that you are working on in your practice?

Pictures courtesy of Yoga Journal.

Uncategorized asana, Astavakrasana, bakasana, Bhairavasana, Bhujapidasana, crane, crow, Denise Payne, downward facing dog, Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana, Eka Hasta Bhujasana, Eka Pada Koundinyasana, Eka Pada Sirsasana, Kasvapasana, Kurmasana, Salamba Sirsasana II, Sleeping Tortoise, Titibasana, yoga, yoga poses, Yoga Vibes

My newest yogini adventure consisted of a Restorative Teacher Training at where?, of course, the Asheville Yoga Center, with who?, of course, Stephanie Keach.

I specifically decided to attend this training because she was teaching at. As I progress further in my teacher trainings, not only do I have fewer and fewer trainings to take, but fewer and fewer are with her or Shala Worsely. Bummer. I love them both!

I decided to drive up, like a crazy person, but really because the flights were just out of control expensive and since half the time when I go I end up getting stuck in ATL for one reason or another I decided in mid- Jan. this might be a better choice. I actually was looking for to the stillness of the drive (at least inside the car) after being so busy lately. Quiet time, just me and the road.

As soon as I arrived, I headed into the studio for Candra’s Hot Flow class at 4:00 PM (yeah, I got up bright and early to head to NC from FL) why? because I wanted to take a class with Candra. She also completed her teacher training at the Asheville Yoga Center and she is a massage therapist (trained at Shala’s school). I love her easy going voice and style, but rock solid, powerful class. What a great combination. After class ended, I chatted with her about some of her philosphies regarding Ayruveda and she replied, that she followed some of the principles, like scraping her tongue each morning. Interesting…. I love to her what people take and leave from Ayruveda.

After  a quick snack to refresh my body, I headed back for the beginning of the weekend training. Restoration is surely what I needed. I have to admit, I wasn’t too thrilled with the fact that I was going to be restoring all weekend, what I really wanted was some serious vinyasa. It is interesting what our mind wants  and what our body really needs, thus our mind does too. Stephanie immediately talked about why we are always in such a hurry, when what we really need is to slow down, take our time, really breathe. Even though I know this, I get swept up in all the activities of life. As soon as we began to practice my whole body and mind were like Ahhhhhhhhhhhh………..sigh……………..Ahhhhhhhhhhhh……….and then of course……thanks! That is pretty much the just of it.

I was also reminded about how great eye bags are for us to use regularly…I am so glad I share this with my students after I teach, as I tote my little eye basket for of bags like Little Red Riding Hood to all of my classes. Eye bags are great for the brain, relaxing it, taking pressure off the eyes – allowing them to rest, stimulating more of the parasympathetic nervous systems actions to kick in. I so love an eye bag.

In addition, to all of the restorartive poses I learned about and participated in doing over the weekend, my favorite other concept I learned was about the Lymph System. In case you didn’t know, the Lymph System is a 1 valved system, the valves move one direction. We want to move and twist and turn and take deeper breaths and get all of that lymph fluid pushed around our body so that it can do it job, cleanse!  By the way, did you know that the right lung has 3 nodes and that the left lung has 2 since our tummy takes up more room on that side? (I was reminded of that from my 200 hour tt).  We want to breathe deeper and bigger and exercise those nodes.

All in all, my favorite poses of the weekend were reclining big toe with some new tricks, modified shoulder stand with a block to activate the nadis in the sacrum (a great option if you are on ladies holiday too), and the serious shoulder openers we did. So come to my classes and make sure I include those poses in the class.

As I left to drive back home, on Sunday, I was completly refreshed. A little sad as one of my last trainings (maybe the last) with Stephanie herself was done, but so excited to share all of my knowledge with each of you!

Uncategorized 500 hour, ayruveda, Candra, hot flow, lymphatic system, north carolina yoga, restoration, restorative yoga, shala rain, shala worsley, teacher training, tongue scraping, workshops, yoga, yoga workshops

I am the type of person that never gets sick. I always tell people at work, especially those that are ill a lot, that I squeeze all my toxins out when I practice yoga through the peace of mind, sweat, twisting and balance that is achieved and practiced through yoga. And, I truly believe that this is entirely true.

In fact, I can’t even remember when the last time I got sick was, but I got sick yesterday. I had a great day, took Shakti Flow with Ashley at Yogani Studios,  photo shoot with photographer Kerry Travilla-Brown, then taught my own yoga class at Serenity Stream, came home made dinner, ate and oh what a feeling.

My tummy began to hurt like a knife was sticking in it and then twirlling around. I thought it was something I ate, but when I only had lentil soup and a salad what on earth could it have been? Even though I am still not entirely convinced that it wasn’t something I ate – maybe the soup was bad (it was from a can, but an organic soup – even so).

So the next day when I woke up and will still really sick, I realized, I can’t do yoga. I couldn’t teach my class last night either, oh no reality set in! I am defiantly not good at sitting around either, even though being sick you don’t have much choice, but beyond watching boring tv, sitting in silence, and talking to friends on the phone there isn’t much else to do. I couldn’t even be on the computer as I couldn’t sit up for very long. And the Blackberry was not working out either while trying to type laying down.

But, there was one thing I could do that is one of the eight limbs of yoga and that is – Dhyana- Meditation! I could do this lying down, I could keep my blanket on me,  and I could be in peace and get my mind off the pain of my topsy turvy tummy.

A good friend of mine, Loraine, gave me a bunch of CD’s from my favorite author, Jon Kabet Zen. You have heard me mention his book before in an older blog post. Inside the batch of CD’s there was one with Lying Down Meditations. Right up my alley!

As I meditated, it was interesting because although I was supposed to revisit the sound of my breath if my mind drifted, it seemed during that particular present time to refocus through the sound of my own tummy grumbling.

So, the moral of the story is, Yoga is something that you can still practice, even when you are sick! And even if you don’t have any meditation cd’s, or lying down mediations, you can do your own meditative practice, or even listen to one from Itunes (Meditation Oasis, etc.)

Uncategorized John Kabet Zen, KB Photography, Kerry Travilla- Brown, lying down meditations, meditations, Serenity Stream, yoga, yoga when you're sick, Yogani Studios

I wanted to get a Christmas present for a good friend of mine who has been coming to my yoga classes for over a year now and I wanted something to do with yoga, but not on a really deep level that might freak him out.

I remembered this book that I heard about somewhere called, “Real Men Do Yoga”, by John Capouya.

I thought, humm let me check that out. So I headed to the local bookstore so that I could get my hands on it and I loved it. Simple, easy to read, not too basic, but not too crazy hard either. It is a book written about yoga for real men! Men who work and travel a lot, men that have kids, men that participate in a variety of other athletic activities, Golf, Football, Tennis, Basketball, Weight Training, etc. There are tons of stories inside it from real live men (mostly more famous athletes – like Eddie George, etc.). I was impressed when I looked it up on Amazon.com to preview it before buying and it received 4.5/5 stars. Wow! I was impressed.

So if you are still looking for a Christmas gift for a friend or even a loved one that you wished would “GET” the whole yoga thing, this might just do the trick.

Uncategorized Eddie George, men, real men do yoga, yoga, yoga for men