Once in a while — just about every February — things get a little mushy around here, and it’s not because of the slushy, melty snow outside. We know Valentine’s Day isn’t loved by everyone, but we’d like to think it’s a time of year when you can give yourself a little extra love and attention so that maybe the good times vibe will reverberate to others. This year it’s our pleasure to present a giveaway for a guide book that may help you in your efforts to, you guessed it, tend your heart fire. Literally. It’s called Tending the Heart Fire: Living in Flow with the Pulse of Life and it’s a new book by Shiva Rea. (Read the review here, and read on below for more details.)
WIN: We are giving away three copies of Tending the Heart Fire: Living in Flow with the Pulse of Life by Shiva Rea courtesy of Sounds True. This book has been described as a “rich guide” full of yogic history, personal anecdotes from Rea herself, and methods for practitioners of all levels, types and preferences to bring their yoga off the mat.
TO ENTER: It’s love poem time! (Oh, humor us.) Sure, Valentine’s Day, is totally cheesy and over-commercialized, but doggone it, if we can’t help but enjoy a little poetic and heartfelt expression. Remember Sir Edmund Spenser’s epic The Faerie Queene? You know, he’s the famous “roses are red, violets are blue” guy, dating all the way back to 1590. Taking his timeless words, we ask you to join us in writing your own updated version of the cheeseball heartwarming tradition and make it your own.
We’ll start:
My mat is red, my face is too
It’s so hot in here
and smells like a zoo.
OK, OK here’s our real one:
yoga is rad, you’re pretty cool
let’s make a date with a mat for two.
ooh la la
Your turn! Please share in the comments. You can also share on our facebook page or @yogadork on twitter.
The giveaway is open until 11:59pm, Tuesday, February 18. Three winners will be chosen randomly and announced soon after. Good luck!
UPDATE: Congrats to Kenny Jervis, Red Lotus Mama and Jenn R! Thanks to all for your sharing your fiery heartness. We enjoyed your poems. Keep it up!
——
Earlier…
Some Studios are Hot
Some are Cool
Lend me your Heart
Ill treasure the Jewel
Open your heart,
Breathe through your nose,
I’ll be thinking of you,
in savasana pose.
I think I may fart,
I think you might too.
Thank god for the incense,
Shit, I missed the next cue.
Hips are open
My heart is too
After we OM
I will show you
Muladhara is red.
Vishuddha is blue.
My chakras are aligned.
Let the energy flow through.
Up dog, Down Up,
Warrior One and Two
After this straddle,
Let’s you and me do a twist.
Yoga is bendy
Yoga is strong
You, me, and coffee?
We can’t go wrong.
Yoga in person
Yoga online,
When you’re off your mat,
Please won’t you be mine?
Yoga is ancient
Asana is not
Let’s share a shala,
Vinyasa and hot?
Steady my breathing
And limbs in a knot
A guy who does yoga?
Now that’s super hot!
The gift that yoga has given me
could not be wrapped in gold foil
Now there is space in my heart, where moments are stretched
over time, like canvas making room for art
Turning inward, like an oragami bird, gently
folding the soul, one thousand times, and then over again,
and what you are left with is your presence.
Calm mind, full heart,
Quiet breath, oops, a fart.
Calm mind, full heart
Quiet breath, oops, a fart.
“Ode to my yoga mat”
Thanks for never letting my hands slip
Even when I have ounces of sweat go drip, drip drip
I knew from first savasana that you were the real deal
I love how your eco-friendly material feels on my heel
My portable safe haven
With no judgement when my legs are unshaven
You let me take you any place
And you’re always there to create a quiet space
I promise to cut my toe nails
So never will I give you holes or unfavorable details
Maybe even paint them from time to time
As long you don’t mind OPI’s “lime sublime”
Now I must confess a bright pink mat to our right,
For only a moment may have caught my sight
But alas, you are the only mat for me
For you, I’ll even lunge to one knee
I’m sorry I spilled my kombucha on you
and the time I went “ACHOO”
We’ve been through ups and downdogs
But you always keep me grounded when my minds a bog
I’ll roll you up and tuck you into your bag
You’ll always be a part of my yoga swag
You’re my soles’ mate
I look forward to our next yoga date.
Love who you are
Love what you do
Raise the bar
Raise the glass
To yourself be true
Find your path in the stars
Or your path on the ground
If you trust in yourself
The lost becomes found
After savasana has long past
My asana practice transcends my mind
This positive prana is built to last
More easily can I put the negativity behind.
Root chakra is red, throat chakra is blue
I love yoga
I hope you do too!!
Roses are red,
my heart is true. Listen and follow close for you’ll never go blue. #Yoga ❤️
The lotus is white
My tears have been blue
Now petals expand
for the arrival of you
Asanas are sweet
So are you
Meet me on my mat
Partner yoga for two
You’re the prana to my yama
So lay your mat next to mine
I’ll be your acroyoga mamma
Cause you’re downdog’s looking real fine
You’re the prana to my yama
Llay your mat next to mine
I’ll be your acroyoga mamma
Cause you’re downdog’s looking real fine
Breathe in the stillness
Breathe out the funk.
Nimble mind dances freely
Releasing the junk.
Yogis are good,
Yogis are wise,
You can always tell,
By looking them in the eyes.
<3
Yoga is Love
My mat is red
My feet are above
When I’m on my head.
Sweaty yoga clothes
In forearm stand pose
Can’t get enough of this flow
Helps me forget all life’s woes.
Calming my cittas vrtti
Getting down to the nitty gritty
Of life’s oneness and love for me and you
Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu
Shanti Om, happy valentines day <3
Sweaty yoga clothes
In forearm stand pose
Can’t get enough of this flow
Helps me forget all life’s woes.
Calming cittas vrtti
Getting down to the nitty gritty
Of life’s oneness and love for me and you
Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu
Shanti Om, happy valentines day <3
Oh, yoga mat, I am sorry I left you in the car
I looked around the house & everywhere
It sure was cold out & the driveway was not far
Please don’t doubt me that I care
But, Dear Lord, it was too cold & snowy out there!
I went to
The studio
To find myself
On
My
Mat.
Once discovered,
I left
Without using
The
Door.
Om.
My man is deployed so far away
Yoga helps my heart stay light
So I stretch and I breath till my hearts delight .
I also have lupus a tiring thing
But yoga makes my muscles sing
I’m gretful for it’s grounding ability And how it makes me.. Feel like me 🙂
Breathe in, breathe out
Open heart to the sky
I’m thinking of someone
Who’s just right in my eye.
My root chakra is red,
My throat chakra blue.
When I’m balanced and aligned,
Oh, what a beautiful hue!
Inversion faces are red
Shivas are blue
My love for yoga grows
When I get to do it with you! <3
Yoga makes you feel alive
But arm balances and inversions are like a dive
Not in the deep blue sea but into the red hard floor
And yet we can´t help it to want it more and more
So let´s stick to savasana
Or maybe some bananasana 😉
Heels drag in,
Don’t want to go.
Up dog, down dog
How time left to go.
Warrior 1,
Warrior 2
Now I’m getting the flow.
Is it already time to go?
YogaDork is awesome,
Books are too,
I hope I can win this book from you!
roses are red
but the sky is blue
im new to this
but am loving so true
meditation is great
so lets make a date
to fulfill our soul
and fill the gaping hole
My community cares,
My family, too,
I have so much gratitude
Even when blue.