My week included a meeting with Mantra Public Relations to pick up some Kulae Elite Hot Hybrid yoga mats to try out, a super chill yoga class at Sacred Sounds Yoga over on Bleecker street with the inimitable Juliana Mitchell (thanks for hooking that up Fergus), another meeting, this time over pizza and wine near Times Square with the highly focused Michael Hess of Hotdog Yoga, and finally a chance meeting with Tara Stiles outside of Strala Yoga when I walked over there to check it out at the advice of the aforementioned Fergus Higgins.

Meeting Tara and her husband Michael Taylor was definitely a highlight of the trip as they were extremely warm and very accommodating. Tara has a reputation of being down-to-earth and super nice and she definitely was. I’m hoping to get back to NY later on this Summer and get in a class at Strala before they head off to the Netherlands to promote her new book “Yoga Cures“. YfM

Related articles

• Slim Sexy YouTara Stiles’ Yoga Gets You Fit in 15 Minutes (deals.com)
• Yoga Cures by Tara Stiles: a book giveaway! (justherejustnow.wordpress.com)

Related posts:

1. Yoga Book Review: Yoga Cures by Tara Stiles Is Yoga really a panacea? Yoga Cures is a new...
2. What Are You Doing to Deepen Your Yoga Practice? What have you done for “ME” lately? Sometimes we yogis...
3. Happy Birthday B.K.S. Iyengar – 5 Quick Quotes from the Master Happy Bday to the Lion of Pune In honor of...

Yoga Cures is a new book by New York yoga instructor Tara Stiles that is hitting the stands with a loud boom. Throughout the book, Stiles offers yogic cures for all types of ailments; from anxiety to fatigue, wrinkles to a hangover, shin splints to car ride anxiety. Stiles seems to have a yogic remedy for whatever ails ya.

I’m a huge fan of yoga literature with books giving me that kick of inspiration I need to get off the couch and onto the mat. I was extremely motivated to dive into this book and start learning. After finishing this fresh new read, I decided that it was pretty good. Not the best yoga book I’ve ever read, but definitely has its fine points. Allow me to break it down via the very evolved column method.

Things about the book that makes me want to wave my hands in the air and say “YAY!”

Tara Stiles has a reputation for being down to earth and non pretentious in her teachings. I feel that this book exemplifies those characteristics very much, and makes the reader feel comfortable in understanding what shes trying to say. She writes as if you are talking with a friend about yogic cures, and throws quip in here and there which makes the reading process even more delightful. Also, the overall layout of the book is very clean and simple, complete with sample boxes and pictures. Very helpful to the average youtube watcher and visual learners all around. Stiles ended the book with three unique “at home yoga retreats” complete with an asana sequence, for day and night, and includes some encouraging tips to keep the reader on a holistic cleansing path. I liked this added little bonus and think it was a great personal touch sending a strong message of support.

Things about the book that makes me shrug my shoulders and say, “ehh…maaaaybe”

Although I agree that practicing hatha yoga can help in many ways, I failed to understand the connections between the specific poses Stiles suggests in conjunction the “ailment” she lists. In the hangover section Stiles suggests a headstand as a remedy. Granted she does offer a precaution about not practing the pose if not completely comfortable with it, but she doesn’t give any insight as to why this inverted pose would help your hangover. I have been practicing head stand four about two years now, and I have had many hangovers…oh so very many hangovers. I don’t think anyone could have paid me enough to do a headstand when I was hungover. Flowing blood to my head just sounds like it would make me even more dizzy and sick. Plus, my hangovers are usually complete with nausea, and usually when hungover I work to flow my energy (and toxins) downward because if it starts moving the other direction, I’m vomiting. Don’t care where, don’t care on whom..it’s happening.

I think suggesting headstand for a hangover would have been much more credible if Stiles gave any explanation as to why she believes it’s helpful

I actually felt the asanas Stiles suggested throughout the entire book were more on the advanced side rather than beginner’s. I got the impression that she was talking to the beginner yogi, but when offering sequences for each cure, she did not offer any modifications, contraindications, or easier variations. The argument Stiles is trying to present – that “Yoga Cures” – would have been more supported if the “cures” where more accessible to everyone, not just power yogis.

Lastly, although the list of “cures” was long, I felt that Stiles simply, yet creatively, just found a bunch of ways of saying the same thing: yoga makes you less stressed. Stress is a very powerful component in a person’s life and really should not be underestimated; studies have shown that stress contributes to things such as overeating, out-of-whack emotions, high blood pressure, etc. Stiles may have just googled “affects of stress” and boom! There was a list of things yoga can cure and a new book.

There were a couple of other minor annoyances such as the absence of the asana sanskrit names, the title of the book being “Yoga Cures” when it should really be called “Hatha Yoga Cures,” and the tone that yoga is a panacea…which I adamantly argue that it is not. What it is is a kick ass supplement to life. But I think these things would only bother a real yoga dweeb (like myself) and some other folks who’ve been the game a long time.

If you’re new to yoga and are wondering why it’s so trendy, then I would definitely recommend this book. It gives a great list of the different areas where yoga can help improve the quality of life (and it’s a quick and simple read). On the other hand, if you have been practicing for a while and have a fairly good idea about the effects of yoga, I don’t think you’re going to find any new inspiration here…it may be best if you go chase down that new Iyengar book if you’re looking for wisdom, detail, or detailed wisdom. YfM

Related articles

• Tara Stiles takes Yoga Out of the Studio with New DVD and iPad App (themactrack.com)
• Friended by Jane Fonda (mindbodygreen.com)
• Exhausted? Hungover? The Moves to Get You Back on Your Feet! (self.com)
• Yoga cocktail (mixing yoga with other moves) (marcbestgen.net)

Related posts:

1. Yoga and Flexibility: The Disconnect Yoga’s not just about flexibility. Really I remember when I...
2. Yoga Mat Review: Manduka eKO Lite Love at first Trikonasana Just the other week, Manduka sent...
3. Yoga Newbie – Beginning Your Home Yoga Practice Answers to your essential Yoga questions One of the most...

Related articles

• Meditation is bigger than we think. 6.17.11& 5.9.12(wisdomformysons.wordpress.com)

  ---

• Meditation Posture(40daycommunitymeditation.wordpress.com)

  ---

• Meditation Builds A bigger And Better Brain!(happinessguru.wordpress.com)

  ---

Related posts:

1. I think every person has the ability to effect change “I think every person has the ability to effect change…...
2. What Are You Doing to Deepen Your Yoga Practice? What have you done for “ME” lately? Sometimes we yogis...
3. One Moment Meditation Learn the value of simple meditation and understand the absolute...

Sometimes we yogis miss very clear opportunities during our daily lives to take our practice off of the mat and place it firmly and prominently into our every day existence. It can be all too easy to become comfortable with how we view our practice and the world around us. Yoga provides a wonderful toolbox for us to use to continually hone the physical asana aspects of our practice, but even more importantly, the mental (mind) and spiritual aspects as well.

A potential hazard of the yogic lifestyle – and this is true for pretty much any skill that we work to acquire throughout the course of our lives – is the tendency to become complacent in furthering those skills. If we make the effort to live more consciously and mindfully become aware of our surroundings, we can discover that opportunities to deepen our yoga practice are around us at all times.

The key is in being able to not only notice them, but to capture and leverage them into activities that strengthen those parts of our practice that we would like to take off of the mat: equanimity, consciousness, awakening, and ultimately a more holistic way of being.

Remembering to set your intention before you practice

I know this sounds very “Yoga 101″, but it’s also one of the most important things that you can learn to consistently do in your practice. Why? Because setting an intention not only establishes a tone for the next 1-2 hours or so of your life, but it also it helps to channel and focus your energy for the rest of the day in the very positive direction that you set for yourself or others with your intention.

Days of positive energy channeling turn into weeks, weeks turn into years and years become your lifetime. With more and more use, these positive energy channels become deeper and more ingrained like the grooves in a old record. Before you know it, the theme of your life has been one of positivity.

One of my favorite intentions to set is simply to repeat the wordclarityto myself because with clarity comes all of the answers, solutions and direction that my mind and spirit are subconsciously seeking. Just think, all of this goodness gained from the simple little practice of remembering to set an intention for your practice.

*Another option to setting an intention is to dedicate your practice to someone in your life, alive or not. Surround them with white light and energy and think of them often throughout your session.

Commmon every day moments of stillness, are you noticing them?

Truth is, we meditate all day whether we know it or not. We meditate standing in line at the store, we meditate while driving, we meditate while folding laundry, we meditate during our morning shower…But often times, we miss out those little moments of stillness when our mind is not chattering like a little monkey at the end of a leash. It’s important to learn to notice these small moments of peace and more importantly learn to cultivate, grow and expand them. These simple moments of stillness are like seeds being planted of a much greater consciousness that we are ALL working toward. Water them so that they will grow like vines that will eventually cover your house.

It’s possible to recognize these moments by thinking about how you feel when you are mentally lost in activity that you enjoy – whether it be painting, sports, playing guitar, woodworking – or whatever it is that you do well. You know those moments where it’s almost like something else takes over, your mind is clear and you can do no wrong (when you’re “in the zone”)? That’s actually continuously happening to you throughout the day. Uncover these moments and build upon them.

Are you consistent with your home practice? Ok, then how about a disciplined meditation practice?

The purpose of asana practice is to prepare the body (and mind, mostly mind) for mediation. That being said, it seems that with the current asana-mad Yoga explosion we are experiencing right now in the US, meditation doesn’t always seem to get its fair play.

It’s one thing to GO to a Yoga class 4 times a week, but in reality, your Yoga class should always be with you. Take as much…no, TWICE as much time to practice meditation and breathing techniques as you do your physical practice. Be dedicated, consistent and persistent with practicing and learning new techniques – just as you do for the physical parts of Yoga. You’ll find very quickly that the physical practice will take a complementary and somewhat backseat role to the inner fulfillment that meditation and breathwork practices can bring. YfM

featured image via

Related articles

• Eight basic premises of Yoga to cultivate in and out of the classroom (amandaclaire.me)
• Yoga is about eliminating the ego to realize selflessness, but how? (mydailyyogapractice.wordpress.com)
• Yoga and Meditation – An Ancient Answer to Modern Day Stress (everydayhealth.com)

Related posts:

1. One Moment Meditation Learn the value of simple meditation and understand the absolute...
2. Yoga Newbie – Beginning Your Home Yoga Practice Answers to your essential Yoga questions One of the most...
3. Yoga Newbie – Mountain Pose Answers to your essential Yoga questions One of the most...

Related articles

• A Beastie Boy’s Surprising Legacy(humanrightswarrior.com)

  ---

• RIP MCA – Beastie Boy’s Adam Yauch: 1964-2012(grizzlybomb.com)

  ---

• “Sometimes, you just gotta’ shut down”(salon.com)

  ---

Related posts:

1. Happy Birthday B.K.S. Iyengar – 5 Quick Quotes from the Master Happy Bday to the Lion of Pune In honor of...
2. Yoga and Dating, or How to NOT Be “That Guy” “Somebody forgot to eat their goji berries…” Well, this is...

These words hold us back. They hold us back from being the person we see our TRUE selves as. How many times have you said, “I want to be….” “I wish I had….” “When will I….” So what’s stopping you? What’s stopping you from going back to school? What’s stopping you from learning to play the keyboard? What’s stopping you from spreading peace through out the world? What’s stopping you from being you?

You are!

And I’m sure you know it too. You play that game in your mind, you let others influence you, and you don’t get off your BUTT!

“The only reason we don’t have what we want in life is the reasons we create why we can’t have them.”
~ Tony Robbins

So here’s a little tough love for you!

Shut up all that interference. Stop making excuses (because no one is listening), and JUST DO IT!

Will it be hard at first…YES! Will you fail at times…YES! Will others laugh…YES! But just put on your blinders and keep pushing. Be relentless, be a hard-ass, get ugly and get dirty!

I want to have a strong, health body. So every morning I’m up at 4:30 am so I can exercise, prepare my food, and meditate.

I wish to be a successful Health Coach. So each day I work to accomplish something in order for my business to grow so that I can inspire others to live better lives.

When will I begin to make the world a better place to live in…NOW! By being mindful, being love, and being peace. (And believe you me, THAT is very hard work).

This did not happen over night. It took many failed attempts and dedication. But for the first time in my life I feel like I’m in control and my heart in filled with love!

We all have dreams, desires, wants, and wishes. But what separates the “shoulda-coulda-woulda” people from the “I am, I can, and I will” people is that they got off their couch, put on their shoes, and walked out the door! And you can too. You just have to go get it! So unpack your dreams, dust off your desires and JUST DO IT! (Thanks Nike!) YfM

Related articles

• Tony Robbins on giving Bill Clinton advice: “What I felt was a sense of responsibility” (piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com)
• Confusion Nation (wisdomwithinconsultancy.com)
• Become A Better Footballer or Soccer Player (the-soccer-essentials.com)

No related posts.