Yoga

Desiree Rumbaugh rocked! I had an all day intensive with a master teacher of Anusara Yoga and couldn?t have been more happy. She was very clear and concise with her directions but also had the Yoga Comic Relief factor in their as well. Very peppy, but not overly and pushed us to. It was the right combination to a perfect all day yoga intensive. I was also able to get into pretzelasana (a pose in which I forgot the Sanskrit name to) which surprised and excited me as well. I?m opening up?in more ways than one.
Jennifer Lynn one of my primary teachers in Maui was also there as well. It was nice to see some Maui goddesses.

I loved these ladies…both in their 60′s they showed the true meaning of inspirations.

The Pretzal Pose.

Desiree, Jennifer Lynn, Monica and I after an all day intensive.

More shopping. Now, don?t get the idea that I?m some shopaholic because I?m really not. But?when I?m off island, I do admit, it?s one of my fun things to do. There?s way more to choose from than Maui shopping.
Anyway?
I went to the Yoga Journal Conference marketplace and connected with some really cool companies. One company in based out of beautiful Colorado and is called TrailWise Guides which is a private and guided hiking tour company that also includes activities such as mountain biking, snowshoe, yoga and retreats. They have a cozy cabin near Vail Colorado for their overnight retreats and owner and lead guide, Tanya Wiesen, informed me that she is adding a new retreat to her repertoire titled Soulful Adventures ?Finding Connection in a Mountain Landscape.? I may have to check one of her retreats out! Bravo Tanya.
Another company that I connected with is called Adventure Yoga Retreats owned and operated by Ted McDonald. It?s a cool concept that allows interested yoga teachers a chance to do retreats with their students without all the fuss and planning. Adventure Yoga Retreats does the work for you while allowing you to do what you do best?teach. They have retreats all over the world like Maui, Costa Rica, Africa, Brazil, etc?
I also got a new yoga mat!!! Thrilling. Really it is thrilling, it?s like getting a new pair of jeans. I bought my mat from Jade Yoga Mats and really recommend them for their extra stickiness. They are environmentally safe which is a big bonus too!
I also met a really, really sweet family from Grand Junction (see photo below). They seemed to be our ?family? and had such nice energy. Monica and I enjoyed seeing their beautiful girls daily. If ever in Grand Junction check out their pizza place called, ?Pablo?s Pizza.?

The TrailWise Guides…check them out if ever in Colorado.

Yoga teacher looking to do a retreat…check out our friends at Adventure Yoga Retreats. Ask for Todd.

Everybody Loves Pizza…how about a really nice and cool pizza yoga family. Check out their Pablo’s Pizza if ever in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Halleluuuuujah. My prayers were answered. As I suspected, the food we ate was not the conference food but the regular food that is offered to people staying at Estes Park. Once the conference started, the buffet changed from a Fried Frenzy to a Vegetarian Feast. Did I say Hallelujah? I?m not one for buffet?s and would always cringe when my parents would take me to one but the Yoga Journal Conference buffet was actually not that bad. Props to the chef! It was pretty tasty and healthy. Hallelujah.
Enough about food?
My sister and I signed up for the Therapeutic track the first 3 days which consisted of Therapeutic applications of Yoga that can be integrated into your life for improved well-being. Sounds good to me, sign me up! After the first day of lecture only, my body ached from sitting. This isn?t what I signed up for! So we dropped out of Therapeutic and decided to convert to the other side. Ashtanga Intensive that is! Not having much experience in Ashtanga, with my training being in Interdisciplinary Yoga and my current practice being Anusara, I was curious. We experienced some wonderful teachers like Chuck Miller, David Swenson, Tim Miller and Matzy Ezraty. David Swenson was one of my favorites for the Ashtanga courses as he was an exceptional speaker/teacher as well as quite the comic. Yoga Comic Relief. I always tell my students that if they laugh in class that they not only up their endorphins but release muscles as well. More bang for your yoga class!

Yummy Veggie Food!

David Swenson, Monica and I just after David’s awesome workshop.