Yoga @ Home

Hello sweet potatoes! I’ve been on an accidental hiatus of late, but my notebook is literally brimming with fresh ideas that I’m excited to write about and share with you.
Such.Different.Skies has been getting more attention that usual lately, which I’m grateful for, so I wanted to say a big thank you to Rach of In Spaces Between for including my baby in her Blogs to Bookmark post a few weeks back. Also to Jess, the Wellness Warrior; this blog was featured in 8 Inspiring Websites I’m Loving at the Moment. To both of you and to every one of my readers, both new and old, thank you.

It’s been cold here in British Colombia. Real cold, super snowy and conveniently photogenic.

Now, with all of this crazy cold, combined with plenty of snowboarding and not a whole deal of stretching, I’m the most inflexible person ever! I remember when I was a kid, I used to be able to do the splitz. How on Earth did I manage that! Seriously, sometimes it just seems so fair gone that I would ever be able to achieve such limberness again. Of course though, despite my hesitation, it’s certainly not too late to change this. The first of my words to live by for 2012 is exhale, and to me that encapsulates stretching both our physical and spiritual bodies. With conscious breathing we can oxygenate our cells, calm our anger, think compassionately and indeed, stretch a little further. So, yoga it is!
Yoga aint cheap around these parts, but I’ve made a little online discovery. Tara Stiles and her youtube videos for yoga at home are just what I need. Plus, she’s funny, sassy {nicknamed the Yoga Rebel}, young and somehow seems approachable as her voice guides you through your smooth moves. I love doing a couple of rounds of her Morning Yoga for Flexibility routine upon rising {after dry brushing} and already my hamstrings hate me less. This is a good thing! You’ll love Tara, she also shares tips on living life in a meditative state, recipe ideas, and general musings that excite and inspire her. Here’s an awesome little intro video on her youtube channel…
Keep reading…

Next, I wanted to share this video posted by Equinox. Although it caused a little bit of a stir, I think it’s one of the most aesthetically gorgeous short videos I’ve seen in a long time. The possibilities of the yogic body are endless. Does this video cause me to doubt myself? To feel depressed? To hatefully stare at my body in the mirror? No, of course not! I understand that that’s not the message. Will this video keep me on my yoga mat? Yes! This showcases a gorgeous, disciplined, healthy woman. I didn’t know who Briohny Smyth was last week, but now, she’s a woman I truly admire. What do you think?

Let’s finish on some fun, silly stuff. If you like this video, you’ll probably also love Shit New Age Girls Say. I laughed as I watched it, realizing that I say half of all that crazy mumbo jumbo.

I hope these videos inspire you to breathe a little deeper, stretch a little further and to never give up.