Kiss My Crow You Planking and Owling Daredevils

Not too long ago I learned about planking.  My hubby tells me it’s the newest craze.  Everyone’s doing it.  They’re doing it everywhere.  (Insert annoyed voice)… “aaaaand what is it and why should I care?”  He says, “it’s like your yoga graffiti but with plank pose in odd and interesting places and post it online.”  Me:  “that sounds boring… anyone can do plank.”  He:  “but their arms are by their sides.”  Me:  “how the heck do you do plank pose with both arms at your sides?  I don’t know anyone who can do a plank aka high push up without arms.  I’ve seen people do it with one finger, but no arms?! Seriously?!”

The other day I finally googled it and got to the bottom of this planking business.  If you don’t know what it is, it is a lying down game, but don’t call it that in front of a serious planker because they’ll probably drop kick you.  Basically, you lie face down with your arms by your sides.  Obviously if you lie on the ground or anything flat it’s easy.  If you’re more risky, you’ll find an interesting surface that will involve a little bit of core work to hold your body in a “plank” position.  Check these out:

planking or sore loser? photo: http://www.inquisitr.com

now this is interesting (photo: http://www.washingtonpost.com)

ok, I give this guy props (photo: http://www.geekosystem.com/best-planking-pictures)

The day after googling planking, I came across an article about someone starting the owling game.   Apparently planking is so 2 months ago and owling is the newest trend.  Some might call it squatting and some countries would call it sitting.  Or perhaps the owling innovator was rejected as the voice over hooter for Hedwig in Harry Potter 7.

more owling photos: http://www.buzzfeed.com/toddvanluling/owling-is-the-new-planking

Let me say that planking is so 2 months ago and owling is so a week ago… stop lying down and squatting, you guys can kiss my crowing.  

legoland fun town!

guess who else can kiss my crow?

Send me your crow poses (snikkin @ yahoo dot com)  and let’s do some real yoga graffiti.

Drowning and Tagging in Italy

Ciao!

It’s been another interesting day here in Italy.  My post today is on Debbie’s site.  Definitely click the link if you want some belly laughs:   Drowning in Italy, Part 1

Here’s some yoga graffiti in Florence:

Rub this hog's nose for good luck!

My beautiful friend, Adrienne

Gazing anywhere but down in half moon is easy with this view.

a super statue in what looks like baddha konasana

Tomorrow we head off to tag Venice!

Tagging Kauai

It’s hard to compete with the environment that is as beautiful as Kauai, so here are my simple yoga tags on the Garden Isle:

Hanumanasana (Monkey Pose)

This was before the morning wave crushed me

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (Mermaid Pose)

Receiving Waimea's Love (see her heart in the mountains?)

Sirsasana II (Tripod Headstand)

Tree or Headstand?

Navasana (Boat Pose)

What a view!

Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel Pose)

This felt so good after the two hour hike down Waimea Canyon

Vrksasana (Tree Pose)

Life is full of winding roads full of twists and wrong turns

Padmasana (Lotus Pose)

Waiting for the Nene bird to cross

Natarajasana (King Dancer’s Pose)

Half way thru my practice one morning, this seal swam to the shore to bask in the morning sun after a good breakfast.

Seals love savasana in the early morning

Sav-aaaaahhhhh-sana

And how can I forget my yogi friend, Buzz

Acro yoga, Buzz?

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana

Buzz doesn't like sand in his toes or nooks and crannies

Happy Friday!!!  Go tag somewhere

Backpacking Thru Vegas

Are you one of those peeps that take a ton of pictures and video clips but don’t view them until months later?  Yes, I am one of those peeps.   I’ve decided that my excuse is to surprise myself and relive those moments when I stumble across the pic or video again… especially when my memory card becomes full and I’m forced to download them off the camera.   Here’s one of those moments from my Vegas trip not too long ago.  This takes yoga graffiti to the next level:  backpacking (acroyoga style) through one of the casinos.  Nadia and I tried to select a pretty remote isle to do this cause we didn’t want to get kicked out for video taping.  There was a guy in the next isle who kept on peeking at what we were doing.  I think he wanted to come play at one of the slot machines in our isle.  I bet this was the most excitement the surveillance person saw on video.  Believe it or not, this is a great ab work out… more fun than crunches!  “You walked into the party like you’re walking onto a yacht…”   I would’ve chosen Madonna for the background music for abs

Being At Ease Or At The Effect Of…

I am finally back home after a week of an untypical Vegas trip.  After the 10 hour drive to the desert, my not so typical trip went something like this:  110 degrees, police officer, hiking in heat, buffets, vibram advertisement, yoga graffiti taggings, loan officer, made to order vegan ice cream, birthday, roller coaster, car chasing, back and forth trips to lowes and home depot, interviews, getting dropped on my head, kale cravings, airports, extended trip, leaks, fireworks… all this under the influence of soberness.  I have not had any of alcohol since New Years Eve 2009 at the Poetry Night Club at Caesars Palace.  Let’s just say it was not a good way to start the new year   So either I was not wanting to relive any part of that  night or I am just getting too old for drinks and nightclubs because I had no desire to do Vegas the typical way.

After Nadia flew home and left me to melt in the desert for another 5 days, I began to feel myself being at the effect of the heat, the house projects, my parents, the kids, did I say the heat? It was HOT!  It was so hot, I had no desire to do power yoga and skipped it all together.  Ohhhh I know.  I know.  I know.  I skipped yoga.  Power yoga that is.  I managed to squeeze in three light vinyasa classes.  Towards the end of the week, I found myself really irritable and annoyed by every little thing and person.  I became effected by my environment, the very thing that my power practice teaches me how to handle.  I was being at the effect of my lack of practice.  Every yoga teacher will say The Practice is not always physical, but in my case it has to begin that way.  Like a child on artifical sugar, I have too much energy that needs to be released.  My power practice teaches me to be at ease during a challenging pose (in the heat!), but yet I found it so difficult to be at ease doing nothing in the heat.  So what to do?  Practice of course!  Now I remember why I love hot yoga in the first place.  Once you get over being at the effect of “it’s too hot, it’s too hard, or I don’t have time” or any other “excuse” that your mind uses to take you out of your body and out of the present moment, you lose your power and you become effected by your exit doors.  But if your mind can be at ease when it’s hot, when it’s hard, when you think you can’t, you can.  And you can be at ease with what is.

The thing that helped me get over from being effected by things and being at ease with things is the Manhattan Express, a roller coaster at NY NY that Nadia gave me for my birthday present.  I was thinking about it all day and was hoping that the morning hike in the heat would wear her out, but oh no!  I even left her out in the sun for 2 hours and she was running out of water.  That girl was determined to take me on this crazy 4,777 feet of intertwined tracks that is 203 feet high with a 144 feet drop and a loopty loop speeding at 67mph:

photo credit: joyrides.com

If I didn’t feel bad about Nadia getting a speeding ticket, I would’ve refused to go on this monster.  My stomach was up to my ears before we even found parking at the casino.  And to make matters worse, I am reminded of this loopty loop everywhere we go:

I'm pleading: but but but there's a loopty loop

After 2 minutes and 45 seconds of heart pounding and screaming, came the laughter.  It was am amazing ride.  It was ridiculous how I feared this roller coaster so bad.  I had never been on such a fun coaster and later that week I went on it again with much excitement and ease

Here are some pics from the trip:

The Strip, your typical Vegas scenery

Redrock Canyon, your not so typical Vegas scenery

Your not so typical Vegas attire

And of course some random taggings:

how could I not? Sexy sideplank (pic by Nadia)

How could we not? Mannequins doing yoga in the window!

Trying to win with the power of intention (pic by Nadia)

We didn't need to go to any magic show, look at this leg illusion (pic by Nadia)

I can fly even when I'm sober

The Golden Nugget pool at closing

Chillin' and lounging

I can see you over there.

I heart you, redrock canyon

Jazzy tagging the water feature

Trees in Vegas need lots of water.

The heat got to Buzz Lightyear’s head and he decided to be at ease in the desert as well:

hanumanasana

Buzz, you need to untwist that forearm!

To infinity and beyond!

Buzz is too macho for sexy slide plank.

And the best part was chasing this car to get this pic:

Om is everywhere, even in sin city! (pic by nadia)

Yay! for an untypical vegas trip

Yoga Graffiti Winners

Drum roll please….

The winner of the Yoga Graffiti Photo Contest is:

Bravo Tacoasana by Amanda

I could not stop laughing at this one.  Taco, bravo,open… Very creative and brave, I must say.   Congratulations, Amanda!

Here are the runner ups:

The coffee shop is now open by Jennifer

Tree pose at such an inconvenient time by Scott.

Emma, I will always think of this pic when I tell my students to get into fire hydrant dog.

Nadia, I will try to remember this the next time I freak out in swim lessons

And of course the real winner is Africa Yoga Project who will be receiving $500!!!!

Raffle winners: lululemon headbands:  Emma, Lisa K, Tyrah
AND lululemon water bottles:  Gina, Nou, Cindy
(If you’re reading this, email me your address so I can send these to you otherwise I will contact you this week to get that info)

T H A N K  Y O U! You guys rock!  And as they said at the 1st grade field day:  you’re a winner if you had fun!

If you do more tagging beyond this contest, I would love to see the pics!

A HUGE THANK YOU goes to lululemon athletica:  Palo Alto Store for letting me teach to earn the $200 gift card and Santana Row for donating the raffle prizes!  I love me lulus!

10 Things I Learned This Week (+ extra Yoga Graffiti Stragglers)

1.  Expect the unexpected.

2.  Don’t bother with planning because it will almost always get changed.

3.  Communicate!  Communicate!  Communicate!

4.  Don’t take things personal.  (I know I said this several weeks ago, but again don’t take things personal).

5.  Even if you’re hundreds of miles away, home is never far away if you are at peace where ever you are.

6.  Don’t judge people.

7.  Family:  Can’t live with them.  Can’t live without them.  One week is enough!

8.  No restaurant or buffet is worth waiting an hour for.

9.  NY NY Roller Coaster:  fear + screams + loopy loop = best ever!

10.  I truly am blessed in so many ways I have not imagined to be.

Here are some yoga graffiti straggler pictures that I received after posting the other ones.   Tomorrow is the horrid 10 hour drive back home… maybe I’ll get another opportunity to do some more tagging to break up the time   And of course the winner will be announced!  Stay tuned…

#54 (Sleeping trees)

#55 (Castle Rock, Santa Cruz)

#56 (Coyote Hills Regional Park)

#57 (visvamitrasana aka "hangle dangle" at top of the world)

#58 (escalator at some casino)

#59 (underwater seated meditation)

#60 (leap frog)

Yoga Graffiti Photo Entries

I am filled to the brim with GRATITUDE and INSPIRATION from all the participants and donors! Africa Yoga Project is the recipient of $500!!! YAY!!!  I am overwhelmed with the responsibility of choosing the winner   These are all soooooo GOOD! Here are the entries in no particular order. Winner of $200 lululemon gift certificate and 6 raffle prize winners to be announced July 5th.

What is your favorite?

~~~~~~~

#1 (flip dog)

#2 Urdva Dhanurasana on a surf board

#3

#4 (Lake Muskoka, Ontario Canada)

#5 @ Cool California

#6 Sequoia Tree in Sequoia, CA

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11 (snow storm backyard NJ)

#12 (tour bus in India)

#14 (skip the unlucky number)

#15 (yoga in snow in montana)

#16 (Varansi India on the shore of the Ganges where only the men practice)

#17 (This is the tree that was uprooted during the last tornado storm through Michigan, I thought this is going to be the new kind of eagle to perch and fly from this tree now)

#18 (A crow has perched in this fallen tree)

#19 (cliff hanger)

#34

#20

#21

#22

#23

#24 (These guys were transfixed by the power of asana)

#25 (side crow trying to stay dry)

#26 (on top of half dome in yosemite)

#27 (Cool, california)

#28 (home stretch)

#29 (mountain on top of a mountain - half dome in yosemite)

#30 (calm in the midst of chaos)

#31 (crow on top of half dome, yosemite)

#32 (bravo tacoasana)

#33

#34

#35

#36 (mind over madness, time square, NY)

#37 (san jose museum of art)

#38 (dueling bow on a moving tube)

#39

#40

#41

#42 (crow on a tube)

#43

#44 (yoga on the tracks)

#45 (adho mukha firehydrasana)

#46 (leap of faith)

#47 (Makapu'u Mountain ,Honolulu, Hawaii)

#48 (Makapu'u Mountain ,Honolulu, Hawaii)

#49 (YogAmor)

#50

#51

#52

#53 (coffee stand below Mt. Shasta)

And one creative video that was submitted: yoga retreat

Yoga Graffiti Contest Update

What should you do with procrastination?

… put it off of course!

Ever wanted a second chance?  Often wish you had more time?  Well you asked for it and the way the Universe works is “ask and you shall receive!”  Sometimes we ask and we don’t get it, but sometimes if we keep asking, She may just answer.  

Many have asked if they could submit their photo after the 25th because they were going on this “big” trip and wanted a good photo op, so I am extending the Yoga Graffiti contest til June 30th. Please, please, please submit your photos and donations by midnight June 30th. If you don’t have a pic by June 30th, please consider donating to this amazing charity, Africa Yoga Project (AYP).  They are living and sharing the true essence of yoga and transforming lives like magic.  I can only imagine the impact that I would be able to make on my own but the Africa Yoga Project has united so many people together and have really shown the world what a great difference we can make if we all did a little bit to help out. Within a month of announcing their new project for July, AYP has raised about $17,239 of the $50,000 needed for their July programs.

Here’s the amazing work they’ve done so far and the contribution of two amazing Kenyan teachers who’ve benefited from the program.  AYP’s 43 teachers reach over 2300! that’s 2300! people each week.  I’d say that’s incredible!!!

Send in your pictures and donation to snikkin@yahoo.com no later than June 30th

Sexy Vasisthasana

WARNING:

Eyeballs may roll to the back of the head or hysterical laughing may occur.
You are entering cheesy territory.
Read at your own risk.

Side plank or vasisthasana is a strengthening pose but more often than not students end up trying to look sexy instead.  No matter how many times I offer the modifications to students, they are either refusing to modify this pose or they really want to look sexy and end up looking like this with hips sagging to the ground and they’re shaking trying to hold themselves up:

The sexy version of side plank at the "family planning" isle of walgreens

It is far superior to modify by either placing the lower knee under the hip:

Image credit: http://www.tracis.info

or placing the top foot in front of the hip:

image credit: http://www.tracis.info

You will build strength much faster with these modifications than sinking into the sexy version.  However, the real strength is in your ability to surrender your ego and take a modification.. unless the sexy Cleopatra look is what you’re going for:

Image Credit: http://www.lisashea.com

I heard this joke in a yoga class once:

A girl asks her boyfriend to come over Friday night and have dinner with her parents. Since this is such a big event, the girl tells him that after dinner, she would like to have sex with him for the first time. The boy is ecstatic, but he has never had sex before, so he takes a trip to the pharmacy to get some condoms. The pharmacist helps the boy for about half an hour. He tells the boy everything there is to know about condoms and sex. At the register, the pharmacist asks the boy how many condoms he’d like to buy a 3-pack, 10-pack or family pack. The boy insists on the family pack because he thinks he will be rather busy.

That night, the boy shows up at the girls parents house and meets his girlfriend at the door. “Oh, I’m so excited for you to meet my parents! Come on in!” The boy goes inside and is taken to the dinner table where the girl’s parents are seated. The boy quickly offers to say grace and bows his head. A minute passes, and the boy is still deep in prayer, with his head down. 10 minutes pass, and still no movement from the boy. Finally, the girlfriend leans over and whispers to the boyfriend: “I had no idea you were this religious.”
The boy turns, and whispers back: “I had no idea your father was a pharmacist!”

Bwahahahaha!

Don’t Forget to Submit your Yoga Graffiti entries and donations this week!