It’s nearing the end of the first month of 2012 already! And we’d like to remind you in this roller coaster whirlwind of tornado-asana we call life, that it’s just as important to nurture your Yin along with your Yang.
There are just some days when thinking about getting on your mat for several rounds of Surya A and Surya B conjure up visions of torture tactics rather than methods of feelgoodness. Ugh. We know the feeling.
Even still, we may have a hard time slowing things down and taking that time out we so rightly need to chill and relax. Which is why we’re so thankful for restorative yoga and practical resources like Judith Hanson Lasater’s ‘Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times‘. And the props, oh yes, that lovely proppiness to get us in just the right zone and position.
WIN: As part of #365yoga we’re delighted to be giving away 3 copies of ‘Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times‘ by Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D., PT., a practical resource for finding your own deep relaxation for newbies and veterans alike. (courtesy Rodmell Press)
BONUS: One lucky reader will win this beautiful, handmade bolster from Inner Space Yoga. It’s truly an honor to be hosting a give away of YD pal Angela McWilliams’s gorgeous and unique creations. Perfect for meditation, yogaing, lounging or interior deco, because it’s so pretty!
TO ENTER: It’s Relax and Renew Haiku time! NYC Resident Restorative Yoga Maven, Jillian Pransky reminds us, “Tension is who we want to be, relaxation is who we are.” Tell us, in three phrases of 5, 7 and 5, what helps to bring you back from the brink of tension and stress to a state of relaxation and to who you are (yoga-fied or not).
here’s ours:
snuggled on bolster
hot tea brewing, inhaling
love, exhale relax.
3 ways to enter:
1. Post in the comments here.
2. Tweet @yogadork, @RodmellPress, @innerspaceyoga
3. Find us and like us on facebook: yogadork, Rodmell Press, Inner Space Yoga
Entries open until 11:59pm January 31st. A winner will be chosen at random and announced soon after. Good luck!
UPDATE! The wait is over. Congrats to Bill K and Deirdre R for winning a copy of the book! And a huge congrats goes to Lisa ~ Fat Yogini for winning a copy of the book AND the beautiful bolster. Yay! Thank you to all for your inspiring haikus, in whatever form they ended up 🙂
May you find yourself relaxed and renewed again and again.
——
Earlier…
- This Week In Yoga: Robert Downey Jr, Naked Judgment, Yoga Ruts and Fascia-nations
- Tom Myers on The Century of the Body: Fascia, Yoga and the Medicine of the Future
- The Poetry of Yoga: Book, Event, Movement
- Robert Downey Jr., the Comeback Yogi, with Vinnie Marino
- YogaDork Ed: How To Get Out of That Yoga Rut
Relaxed downward dog
staring up between my thighs
to my soul’s window
following my heart
shrugging my shoulders upward
phone, computer off
you are all you need
yoga brings you to your needs
all you need, you are
**namaste**
PS I also “liked” Rodmell Press and Inner Space Yoga, and tweeted to all you guys! Thanks.
Empty Crowded Mind
Relax, Restore, and Renew
Enter state of Bliss
I “like” YogaDork, Rodmell Press, and Innerspace yoga on FB
records are playing,
breathing in and breathing out,
writing for my soul
And I tweeted @yogadork, @RodmellPress, @innerspaceyoga!
open up the lounge
insert self into the seat
open up a book
Cat lays on my leg,
Purring while she is asleep.
How can I be tense?
Love breath- body- moment:
Accepting imperfection:
Find strength, trust, release.
Always a long exhale
music
hot tea in a pottery mug
sun toward warrior beams
electric om warms within
stand taller, expand.
returning to breath:
deep, shallow, searching, center
grounded in my Truth
steam rising, give thanks
sharing sips, bites, socks, fears, oms
community love
corpse pose on my mat
mind and spirit free of crap
smiling blissfully
renewed in practice
blanket tucked, palms up, release
each new day, open, full
Music in her voice
Earth breaths renewal for me
Salute the warm sun
Ancient wisdom deep:
Body shaking, trust:
All passes. Embrace.
Deeply breathing in
With an exhale I regain
Inner calm and peace
Focus, Set My Intent
Breathe, Flow, Breathe
Calmness flows over me
imagine earth sky
ancestral voices echo
feel rhythm, melt deep
my stress melts away.
husband, friends on right and left –
beautiful picture.
coming full circle
honoring the breath of life
peace anf joy abound
typo above
coming full circle
honoring the breath of life
peace and joy abound
working together
renewing vitality
mind, body, and mat
Breathing in deeply,
Exhaling all completely,
Trusting all is well.
Pranayama om
Waterfall for a drishti
Practicing with friends
Reiki,yoga, cats
Carol’s class with lavender
Peace love & joy
assuming a pose
gratefully seeking the mat
accepting the day
Morning Yoga Sun
Warm embrace of joyful love
Breathing flow begins
I liked you on facebook!
Quiet the mind, now
For the asanas are those
That bring on stillness
Time goes rushing by
Mindless, many thoughts, blah, blah
Mindful focus, ah
My mat welcomes me.
Hips to heels, sinking to earth.
Ah, balasana.
welcome Monday song
sarcasm flies toward new ease
laugh at happy space
Close my eyes, to see
The heart space deep inside me
Just Inhale, Exhale
Tweeted!
https://twitter.com/#!/HeartsExpanding/status/161633965571190784
clenched fingers until
i remember to exhale
all is well again
Great giveaway! I love the bolster.
hands to heart center
be in the present moment
quieting the mind.
🙂
surrender to mother earth
then inhale exhale
sweet sun kissing my shoulders
Deep breath – in and out
Confidence and clarity
Mind open, want more.
Dreaming by window
Full body stretch, head to toe
Cuddle with kitty
reaching to blue sky
then bowing to mother earth
I salute the sun
take just a moment
close your eyes and start breathing
smile and feel the sun.
Listening to waves crash
Watching the sunset ease down
Hope, freedom, intent
Deep breaths in
Graceful exhales out
Restore complete, joy.
so much depends on
a change in perspective and
deep breaths in my soul.
Sit at the window
Warm coffee cup in my hand
Shoulders going down
Long slow smooth in breath
See with compassion what is
Long slow smooth out breath
Bolster props me up
While I surrender inward
Blissed within my Self
I am here, right now
And I am breathing, right now.
So I continue.
i liked yogadork, Rodmell Press, and Inner Space Yoga on Facebook!
Tension melting down
Sweet prana life-force flowing
Energy is rising
Sigh, inhale deeply
Pet my purring cat, so soft
Tension drains away
legs up the wall pose
blissfully draining downward
apana rescues
Silence melting in
The sweet deep sound of my breath
Like waves rolling in
oh my, my last line is 6! lol
My boyfriend and I have started doing yoga together:
Hand in hand with love
Moving with breath together
He is by my side
The room, the light, the props are set
To carry me away
Then back to ‘not yet’
Teaching from the heart
Witnessing transformation
Cup over flowing
the props are in place
time is suspended, rest now
peace is at hand. bliss
Relax, supported
Inhale vital energy
Exhale, Surrender
Shirshasana one
Sarvangasana on chair
Shavasana two
relaxed butterfly
hips melting, neck releasing
pure, still and quiet.
I inhale deeply;
I let go of what holds me;
I count my blessings.
Facebooked (Rodmell Press) and Tweeted! 🙂
Rolling out of bed,
hit the mat to start my day.
Sing my soul, Sing loud.
what is full power?
it is in full surrender —
bolster, blanket, blocks.
Sorry, I posted two. 🙂
The kids go to sleep
The television is off
Yoga then some wine
thorax open wide.
fresh prana uplifts my soul.
full Setu Bandha.
Ok, hopefully last one… 🙂
Earth, sun, grass, wind, trees.
Nature wraps me in it’s arms.
I am home, free to be me.
yoga studying
fun Netter’s anatomy
draw sketch paint learn breathe
I’m a nerd 🙂
Recline into ease
Release into gravity
Remember myself.
pose of surrender,
nobody doing nothing –
present. alive. now.
Chatarunga to
upward dog flows back
Into downward dog
long morning practice
freshly brewed gyokuro tea
a new day awaits
(hello, yogadork! please visit again soon. yoga spy)
Winter sun streams in room
My special zone of zen motivates me
To practice reaching better place
(Is this what a 5,7,5 is?)
I tune into breath
Whether on or off the mat
To re-find myself
Steam. Warm water soothes.
Bubbles float on top. Pop. Pop.
Close my eyes and breathe.
frost and tight schedules
yoga and stretching fusion
running absorbs stress
Nature Caresses
Energy, Light, Sound, Belongs
Peace, Karma and Love
today tomorrow
now i breathe inhale exhale
now the present breathe
i love him so much
he goes to yoga with me
thanks me after with kisses
lets try this again,,,hahahaha,5,7,5 not 5,7,7-oiy
i love him so much
he goes to yoga with me
kisses me after
Pranayama flow
Viparita Karani
Savasana, Ahh…
Inhale and exhale
Sink down into the soft mat
Open heart, relax
inhale, pause, tense, tight,
exhale, release, soothe, relax
in prana, out love
Blanket and bolster,
Tell me, what more could I need,
Maybe a book, please?!
Yoga helps me breathe
hopefully this haiku stuff
wins me the bolster
Backed up, my body
opens like a lotus bud:
supta bolsterasana
Eyes shut connect to breath;
Inhale, pause, exhale deeply.
Presence, namaste.
Breathe life into your Body
Find Connection and Strength through your Yoga
Renew and Relax your Mind
I am here right now
The only place to be
I will breathe slowly
catch a still moment
curl the breath into the heart
release for presence
relax with each breath
restore body, mind and soul
renewed and grateful
silence in breathing
mind, for the first time, quiet
welcome back to myself
Belly softening
Breath spilling down to my toes
Coming home again
my thoughts are without
across my bolster I lie
peace comes from within
Couch, dog, boyfriend, me,
Nestled in a ball of three,
Loving harmony.
Relax, restore, rest!
Surrender to peace, calm, joy!
Give in. Time for YOU!
Peace, calm, relax.
Lie comfortably on your mat.
Yoga relieves stress.
Floating on air.
Cool breath flowing and ebbing,
Profound abandonment and joy.
peace….
Here we are and breathe
They tell us all is coming
Peace and truth arrives
identifying the stress/tension, in my body/mind
becoming present with my breath
I call on my higher self, to do my best in this moment
Conscious of moon, sun
Abundance in every breath
All troubles are gone
breathe love, expand wide,
melt down into your goodness.
it is all there is.
take a few deep breaths
settle down into pigeon
centered, happy, here
On sun-shined green lawns,
Standing on my head, breathing
I sigh, let go, Be.
Jai Jai Ganesha
Helping to carry me through
Melt the Self away.
the gift of yoga
Pay attention to your breath
In the moment now
See body presence
Feel mind length from root to crown
As within yoga
deep breath open heart
within sweet serenity
on and off the mat
goddess warrior child
strength and softness in balance
full breath surrender
mindfully living
here in the present moment
life’s joyous embrace
arms extend reaching
for the stars, feet on the earth
much more than a pose
sink into sukha
tension displaced, watered down
floating, drifting, peace
My lips taste salty
Why, yes, I’d love a bolster!
Melt away, deep peace
Pillowy clouds – yes,
Prenatal ladies love ’em,
Bolster dreams – Jai Ma!
😉
close your eyes and breathe
mind and body drift away
inner calm is yours
legs up the wall, in-
hale joy, exhale suffering,
a smile on my face
lying on my mat
breathing deeply into my soul
even with the chaos
Spirit guides me
To find the answer within
Through spirit it’s found
Time to move slowly
From the outside to in
Taking care of me.
Namaste!
mind cacophony
you will return to calm now
I created this
Soft candle flickers
Tension is melting away
Savasana~ bliss
Slowly exhaling
Slowly inhaling, breathing
Seeing the present
please put my name in that hat! tx.
sitting straight and tall
anchored, open, delighted
hatha two begins.
Savasana clears
the air and lightens the weight
of the mind’s burden.
breathe in peace
exhale stress and disorder
relax, release, just be
Making time for me
Remembering who I am
Not just reacting
breathing in and out
again and again until
it at last takes root.
connecting with breath
surrendering fully
lovely sensations
elephant bolster
you support my back just right
my heart is open
heart is open wide
half moon pose into the night
from my yoga mat
It would be lovely to win these great items.
YAY!!!!!! You just made my day!
Thank you so much!!
Namaste,
Lisa