a video on being alone

 Sometimes I feel so lucky to have such wonderful friends who can shift my perspective on things. My friend Ainslie just showed me this video and it made me think about how awesome life can be when you're exploring it on your own. It made me smile. Maybe it will make you smile, too.

Breathe Yoga Playlist

Music is pretty amazing, ain't it? I really enjoy looking for and finding new music, and lately I've totally been drawn to chill bands like Bonobo and Emancipator, especially when practicing and teaching yoga. I get a lot of comments about the music in my classes, and was asked to share my playlist. So here are the goods from my latest playlist! Enjoy :-)

Terrapin- Bonobo
Stay the Same ft. Andreya Triana- Bonobo
Days to Come ft. Bajka- Bonobo
Recurring- Bonobo
Scuba- Bonobo
Eyesdown ft. Andreya Triana- Bonobo
Kiara- Bonobo
All in Forms- Bonobo
Anthem- Emancipator
With Rainy Eyes- Emancipator
When I Go- Emancipator
Islands- Young the Giant
Nightlight ft. Bajka- Bonobo
Cello Song- The Books
Painting by Chagall- The Weepies
Broken Horse- Freelance Whales
Hanging On- Active Child

A note: I am always, always looking for and open to new music suggestions! Do you know a song that would fit well in my class? Contact me through facebook.com/yogawithmel or email me: melb17@comcast.net

Share the wealth :-)

DeStress with Yoga During Finals! VIDEO!

Hello to you out there in cyber world! A couple weeks ago I recorded a short little yoga sequence for Get Moving UMass, a campus-wide initiative to get everybody on campus, well, moving. It's being led by my lovely boss, Jill, and the talented Emily McLaughlin recorded videos of a few of us instructors doing some short sequences. So, over the course of the next week, if you're feeling stressed because of finals, try my short 10-minute sequence! As always, remember to listen to your body. If something feels too intense, be sure to back off! Have fun, take it easy, and take a couple deep breaths. If you're feeling brave and up for a challenge, try the sequence with your eyes closed!

in her blue submarine world,
she could not know what lay in the surface above her

Feelin' Grateful

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." Meister Eckhart

 

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beattie

                            

I've begun to notice something over the past couple months: the power of gratitude. Every day, we run around from point A to point B, passing in assignments, eating lunch with friends, reading, writing essays and running up against deadlines. As students, we're stressed. It can be difficult to slow down and take a breather when we've got so many more important things ahead on the daily checklist. Gratitude, I believe, can deeply transform one's appreciation for the little things, and it may even lead to some great things!

For me, I try to make time to slow down every day. Even if it's just closing my eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath or two, I try to make the spaces between those busy random thoughts a little bigger. And I try to always have some level of gratitude within me.

Entering the holiday season is the perfect time to start with your own practice of gratitude. The great thing is, you can be grateful for literally anything--small or large--at any hour, on any day. I'll give you an example.

Today marks the first day of December (rabbit rabbit). Where did the last months go? Where does the time disappear to? As you think about the last few months, I bet you had some good times. For a moment, close your eyes and practice sending gratitude out (to what? A person? An animal? The universe? The energy of life? You choose.) Send gratitude--deep thanks and appreciation--to those times, the friends or family involved, the laughter, your strength and ability to overcome obstacles. Maybe you want to send gratitude to the shoes on your feet, or the money that allowed you to buy them. Maybe you're grateful for the chair you're sitting in, or simply the breath that passes in and out of you without your permission or observation. Bottom line: we've all got something to be grateful for, even when the world seems unfair and turns you on your head.

Take a moment out of your busy day and cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
Close your eyes, take a deep breath and think: What do I have to be grateful for today?