Happy Valentine’s Day G33ks! On this day of love I would like to thank you for all your kind comments & support here at YogaG33k.com. May you have an open heart full of love and happiness this day and always…

Hello! And happy Wednesday! Since there is less than a week’s time until Valentine’s Dayyy I wanted to share the partner pose photos that came out of the “February Yoga Photo Shoot”. My friend Cheryl from AppalachianHikingYoga.com stopped by and was sweet enough to strike a pose with Tracie for the camera! Aren’t they cute?!

First We’ve got a Warrior 1 combo that builds trust and the feeling of support from your partner as you reach back to find eachother’s hands in the sky. It’s also a nice backbend and heart-opening pose. They make it look so easy!

Next, A nice forward bend that require trust and full connection with your partner also helps to open the shoulders and stretch the hamstrings. It was so sweet to watch Cheryl and Tracie instantly bond on the mat, but if you happen to feel odd about gazing into your partner’s eyes you can always tuck your chin into your chest. Yay yoga!

Which pose are you most looking forward to trying out on the mat? Do you already have a favorite partner pose? Please share with us here or on the Facebook page! Yoga Teachers: Are you teaching a partner yoga class for Valentine’s Day? Please let me know how it goes and take pictures! xo

Greetings G33ks! I have a surprise for you! A couple of a weeks ago…Eliza Tobin & I came together and decided that we really really wanted to expand on our work together involving yoga & art! We sat with the dream of how we could bring inspiration, tutorials, meditations, and guided creative expression to anyone who wanted to know more about the blending of the two practices we love most….

We knew we had to start a podcast!

So, being that this is our first…we have titled it “beginnings”. We talk about how to start a yoga practice, art practice, or just START SOMETHING! Enjoy a guided meditation, journal prompts, and extra sources that we collected online for you!

You can subscribe on itunes here:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yoga-art/id500302793

Please find the show notes for Episode 1 below and always remember to dream BIG <3

How to start a yoga practice:

-go to a class in town, find a beginner’s series

-check out some online yoga videos:

Elsie’s Yoga Kula (free)

Yoga Today (One free class a week or paid subscription)

Yogaglo (paid)

GiaiamTV (10 day free-trial, then paid)

Wanna start something?? Here are 3 Ways you Can Take Action Now:

Hello sweet G33ks! It’s here! the month of the heart…February! A week or two ago I met up with my friend Tracie at Fusion Yoga! We played with streamers and she demoed some perfect yoga poses for February. Whether you are single or in a relationship, yoga can be a great way to manifest love in your life. What is your favorite pose for this month?!

Check out two poses that will open your heart and encourage you to love deeply! Revolved Anjaneyasana/low lunge & Ustrasana! Oh! And isn’t Tracie’s Lotus Flower tattoo adorable?! *swoon*

 Stay tuned for part two, which includes partner poses!

This past week has been a whirlwind! Moved into a new pad and didn’t have internet for almost a week…GASP! But, that’s another story. In the meantime, I had to eat! And I have been observing Britt Bravo’s new site dedicated to trying out Vegetarian & Vegan cookbooks together! You try out some recipes and post a photo…share any comments you have about the dish! That way you get to see OTHER’s work as well as your own without having to try every recipe! This month’s cookbook is Appetite for Reduction: 125 Fast and Filling Low-Fat Vegan Recipes by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. I couldn’t find it nearby so I just tried some of the recipes she had online. They were delish!

I tried the Quinoa, White Bean and Kale Stew  and Hottie Black Eyed Peas with Ginger Mashed Potatoes Sweet Potatoes and Apples! It’s so much fun cooking in a new kitchen…the whole household loved it : )

And what would dinner be without a glass of wine? Please check out Britt Bravo’s site and try going Vegan for a day…or two! Namaste.

Wanna know how Elsie got started teaching? Where and who she learned from? What her favorite tunes are and her form of creative expression? It’s all here! Once a month for the Winter season we’ll hear from Elsie and learn a bit from her yogic wisdom. Thank you for sharing this with us Elsie! 

You want the yoga down low?

• I started practicing yoga in 1997
• Took it back up in 2000
• Did my first teacher training in 2001
• Started teaching in 2001 (chose Anusara Yoga as my style of choice)
• Continued doing a few more trainings until 2005
• Currently I long to do more yoga trainings and workshops but my life as a Mama is my constant immersion
• I teach publicly very little.
• I work privately with clients a lot more, both in person and virtually.
• I teach creative multi-passionate yogis and artistic types how to add new media to their arsenal (podcasts, video, etc)
• I offer tech geeks specialized programs to get them back into their bodies and onto optimal health.
• I produce a long-running audio yoga podcast whose classes have been downloaded over 2 million times all over the world
• I have started a new endeavor, Elsie’s YoGeek Hangout, where I answer yoga and technology questions as well as have guests come by and join the conversation.

My creative expression:

Making sure that every day has magic and instilling that into my girls.

My favorite yoga tunes:

Anything from Wah! She’s my favorite ever ever ever
My heart also really resonates and craves Krishna Das’s Door of Faith. soul healing

It’s that time again! Time to tune in and write about what I have been experiencing in my corner of the world…being fully present to notice little moments like these is what its all about.  Please share a moment from your Sunday in the comments or on Facebook! This week I’ve rounded up some photos from today when I went on a walk in the woods with my little family! Hope you’re enjoying your weekend!

Hearing:

The water rushing down stream.

Smelling:

BUTLER! He decided to roll around in some despicable patch of God knows what and was quickly ushered back home for a bath…with the hose! Now he smells lovely! Instead of sharing a picture of him covered in…well I’ll just share a picture from dinner last night with my dear friend Kathie Billing…who by the way was featured in WNC magazine this month! This candle didn’t have a scent, which I find much preferable over Butler’s aroma today.

Feeling:

So happy & at peace. The woods have always been my favorite place. There aren’t many spots around here that I haven’t been to yet, which made this trip even more special. Every turn was full of surprises!

Seeing:

This incredible moss and lots of lichen…

Tasting:

Mmm I had some dairy free ice cream last night at Kathie’s and it was delicious…that was followed by a mug of tea <3

Have you had some adventures this weekend? If you had to pick one moment that stands out from this weekend what would it be? Share in the comments or on Facebook! These are the moments that our days are made of…make sure to be present for them. xo

Happy Wednesday G33ks! Today I wanted to share an outfit that I wore a few days ago before the temperature plummeted and we had snow on the ground! It was warm outside, which meant that a thin wrap around top I had been itching to wear would be perfect! I also had some new boots to try on…although they are not the easiest to slip on and off, they sure are cute!

I tried wearing the top to yoga class, but it kept falling in front of my face so it had to go. What I do love about the top is that you can style it so many ways and its super soft. All I had to do was spend a few minutes getting my boots off…change into some yoga pants and I was ready to hit the mat!

What are you wearing yoginis? Share a link to a photo in the comments or on Facebook. I would love to see! Namaste.

Happy 2012 G33ks! First, I want to begin the new year by saying, “Thank You”. Thank you to all of you for your comments, likes, and support this year on my little blog. It’s been a year of growth and expansion here on YogaG33k and also in my own personal life and I had all of you beside me along the way. It means soo much to me and I just want you to know that. 

This morning I closed my 2011 planner and journal to pull out the new. Looking over all the blank pages that I’m sure to fill up throughout the year is exciting, but also intimidating! Where do I start?! I wondered if other people have the same nagging thought when starting a journal….

so I came up with 5 creative ways to fill the blank page!

1. Paint! One creative & easy way to fill the first page is to bust out your watercolors and fill the entire page with brush strokes. Use your favorite color or choose a color that resonates or evokes a feeling you want to cultivate in 2012. You could even write over it once it dries with an affirmation or quote.

2. Vision Board - I did this last year with my planner! Cut out images that speak to the life you want to manifest in 2012, trips you want to take, how you want to feel, or even images that you just find visually appealing! Sometimes I wish I could just take my pinterest board and plop it on a page or two!

3. Time Capsule - Use the blank slate to begin penning events of 2012. They can be milestones you’ve reached toward a goal, accomplishments, current events, or simply special moments that you want to remember. At the end of the year you’ll have a time capsule that you can keep!

4. Get Messy - Take items that you have surrounding you or that you use daily and fill the blank page with them. You could smudge your favorite lipstick, make a coffee ring, tape a receipt from your last purchase of 2011, doodle with nail polish, spray your favorite perfume on the page…the possibilities are endless! Just let it be free form and you!

5. About Me - You know how almost every blog has an “About Me” page? Create one for your first blank page! A snapshot of yourself, favorite things, your mission statement, and what projects you are currently involved with.

Most importantly…don’t stress about the blank page! You can always just…leave it blank!

How are you filling the first page of your new year? Please tell us in the comments or on Facebook!