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9/20/2021 0 Comments Espresso Shot Yoga for Abs
“In a self-centered world, be the centered self.” ― Cristie B Gardner
If you've been around here for a while, you'll know that I value a quick, power-packed class. The type of class that you can feel good about doing; like you've accomplished something great, even though the class is short (ish). The kind of class that you come back to again and again, because 30 minutes is waaaaay easier to fit in than an hour. I know, at least for me, an hour is just too long. I don't have that kind of time free. But 30 minutes? 30 minutes I can do. There's more to it than just being a 30 minute class though. Sure, it's quick, and it's easy to fit in. But no class is without a purpose. And anything having to do with core work is not meant to make you only stronger physically. No, ma'am! There's energetics in there too. And the core is the energy aligned with your values, your willpower, and your ego. Now, the ego gets a back rap sometimes, but I think it is important. The ego is what makes us individuals. It's needed for us to stand in our power. Where it can sometimes go awry is when you become too pushy or selfish in your power. That's a conversation for another day though. What I want to share here is that when we build strength in the core we are really building strength in our internal and intrinsic power. We are building that center point from which we emanate outward. To have a strong core is to have that strong center. So, maybe this is just a quick core class. But maybe.. MAYBE, it's the class that propels you into your power. I'm just sayin... Enjoy! And I would love love LOVE it if you would share your practice by tagging me @yoga.infusion on Instagram! Sat Nam, Dylan
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9/6/2021 0 Comments Espresso Shot Yoga for Legs
“More espresso less depresso”
– Anonymous Are you a coffee drinker? ☕ Or do you prefer a tea? ? Actually, that's a great idea! Maybe I'll make some tea inspired classes...? Anyway, this post, like this class, will be quick and too the point. This espresso shot class, like a coffee cup class only shorter, is for those days when you want to get an hour's worth of work done in under 30 minutes. Though, this is definitely a double shot espresso, and a little on the longer side. It's sure to energize you (don't we all need a bit of a boost sometimes?), keep you on your toes (brain yoga), and help rid your body of all those things it doesn't (sweat and ego to name two...) I'm excited for you to try it! Make sure to give it a ? on YouTube and leave a comment with your favorite caffeinated (or non-caffeinated, we don't judge) beverage! Sat nam, Dylan
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
But, like, a strong body is pretty cool, too, right? I don't know if you've experienced this, but I have loved watching my body change over time. In 2013 I was someone who had literally zero concept of body awareness, healthy habits, nutritional value, the benefits of sleep, or how to plank. Then I found yoga and it changed everything. Fast forward to 2021 and I've completely transformed my body, learned how to better control my mind, understand how sleep affects hormones and weight loss, and get to teach others all of these magical things! It's been a crazy journey. And I've experienced all of it within this very body. That changes, adapts, fluctuates, rises to the challenge, sinks into bed, and does each and every other thing I need of it in this humanly life. The body is really a wondrous thing, but it gets a bad rap most of the time. Because we have this notion that it should look or be a certain way. That it should bend to our very will so that we can be happy. But our body isn't made to bend to our will. It's made to keep us alive and kickin'. Our minds are there to deal with the happiness side of things. So when I say that it's pretty cool to have a strong body, I don't mean in the way that it looks. You could have all the muscle in the world and not be able bend over and pick up your cat for cuddles OR hoist yourself up over the ledge. Pretty useless muscle in my book. When I say a strong body I mean in how it supports your life and your dreams. How it functions when it swings you out of bed, when it moves and grooves with your partner, and when it holds a solid and aligned squat. Who doesn't want a strong body to enjoy during this life time? So without further ado, let's dive into today's quick, strong, yoga workout! Guaranteed to have you shaking in all the best of ways! Sat Nam, Dylan PS: whether your goal is to lose weight, do 3 pushups, work on your balance, find stillness, or any number of other things, private yoga can help you get there! But it takes time. And commitment. If you're ready to take that time and make that commitment to finally build the mind that will appreciate the body, and the body that will please the mind, sign up for my VIP 1:1 private sessions. For three months we'll meet 1, 2, or 3 times a week to help you achieve your goals on and off the mat! If you're not sure but want to learn more about how yoga can help you, book a consultation call and we'll talk all about your goals and see if it's a fit! No pressure, only love. 7/19/2021 0 Comments Yoga Inspired HIIT
“I think that we are like stars. Something happens to burst us open; but when we burst open and think we are dying; we’re actually turning into a supernova. And then when we look at ourselves again, we see that we’re suddenly more beautiful than we ever were before!” ― C. JoyBell C.
Good morning! This will be short, sweet and to the point, just like today's class! I used to practice workouts like this one at least once a week when I started my yoga practice, and over time, as I carved out more and more time to devote to yoga, I've let these quick classes kind of fall to the wayside. As one does. As things change as time goes by. It's totally normal and totally ok. But it's a shame really, because these quick classes can really be powerful, and have a long lasting burn that a longer class doesn't have. Physiologically I mean. HIIT workouts are shown to burn more calories, improve cardiovascular health, and build greater muscular strength and endurance in a shorter amount of time. So, all of that to say that you, and I, should schedule more classes like this into our lives. Especially on busy days. Everyone has 15 minutes they can devote to their health. Tell me I'm wrong... Enjoy! Dylan
“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
-Rumi Good morrow, dear friend! When you move on your yoga mat, and as you move through your life off of the mat, do you pay attention to your internal environment? Do you ever pause, take stock, and notice the thoughts that flit through your brain? Do you identify with these thoughts, or attach feelings, beliefs, or meaning to them? Or do you let them flow on their way? Like the clouds across the sky. With today's practice, I encourage you to become aware of the thoughts as they flow through your mind, and open your heart to love and kindness. For yourself, as you move through your life. For others, as they move through theirs, and in and out of yours. For each and every being on the planet, that exists as you do. Today we choose empathy, kindness. Let it sink in, embody it, and let it open you in ways that change you. Don't worry, don't be scared. Your yoga practice is here to support you, and change is a beautiful thing. Sat Nam, Dylan 7/5/2021 0 Comments Beginner Backbends Flow
“The end is in the beginning and lies far ahead.” ― Ralph Ellison
Every once in a while I think it important to stop and take stock of where you're at, what you've accomplished, and where you're going. This could be at any moment, with a reflection on any aspect of your life. It could be your relationship with your spouse, how far you've come since your first day teaching, how much progress you've made on your weight loss journey, or something much shorter like what you've been able to do since yesterday! But the pause is necessary. Why? Because without the pause you will continue moving full speed ahead and, likely, will miss out on all of the progress you've made! Because society tells us that we're not doing enough if we're not always doing. But, sometimes, simply being is ENOUGH. Existing in this moment is a miraculous thing. And yet we ignore it because we're still HERE and not yet THERE; there being the goal location. Here is a pretty damn cool place though, believe it or not. Here is where all the fun things happen. Not there. Nothing actually happens there. Because once we are there, we are actually here, striving to reach another there. Make sense? So with today's free class, I invite you to put on your observer's shoes and be present to the progress that you have made. Maybe this is your first time hitting the mat! This is a great way to start tracking your progress! Come back to this class later and see how you've grown. Or maybe you have been practicing with me for a while now, in which case, thank you. But also how can you be more present in this class and practice being here and not there, hm? Practice being intentional and let me know what profound insights you ignite! Sat Nam, Dylan
“When you reach the end of what you should know, you will be at the beginning of what you should sense.” ―Kahlil Gibrán
It is a wonderful week, is it not? Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and the beginning of the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, had us starting out this week on an energetic high! As you know, when we align with the energies of nature, of the moon for example, we align with universal flow and can create and manifest the life we desire with ease. This is why we practice moon circles and intention setting rituals: to help align with lunar energy. Because, SURPRISE! We naturally take part in that energy, even if we don't recognize it anymore. A woman's body naturally sinks with the ebb and flow of the moon, just as the waves in the ocean respond to her pull. Through modernization, though, we have forgotten this, which is why it's good, from time to time at least, to reconnect. Anyway, did you know that we can also align our energy with the sun? As the moon cycle is something that we work with each month, the sun is something we work with on a yearly basis, by celebrating the equinoxes and the solstices. The spring equinox was a time for renewal, celebrating the rebirth that comes after winter. This summer solstice, which marks the beginning of Cancer season, is a time of patience and nourishment, a time to turn inward and nurture the light within, as the sun provides the light without. Oh, but the summer solstice isn't the only exciting thing about this week! We also had International Day of Yoga on Monday! Though I believe we should all be practicing yoga every day, IDY is definitely the day to get on the mat! What flow did you practice? Hit reply and let me know! The energy of hundreds of thousands of people finding self-awareness on the mat has the power to change the world. And finally, after all of this talk of energies, let's add one final one. The chakras. You may remember that a few weeks ago I shared a class on the Sacral Chakra? Well, now we hop all the way up to the Third Eye Chakra, Ajna (pronounced Ahg-nya) which means to perceive or command. This is the seat of intuition, another skill set that many have lost in modern times, myself included. Located in the Pineal Gland, Ajna is also home to your imagination and your dreams, so it is incredibly important for this space to be clear in order for you to have those dreams to reach for! This class is designed to breathe life into this all important energy center, with the hope of unblocking it and allowing connection to return to the Divine (however you perceive the Divine). So, if for some reason you did not practice on IDY, then make sure you hop on this vinyasa flow today! xoxo, Dylan PS: Want to practice live with me? Meet me at Garfield Park in South Pasadena on Wednesday at 5:45p, or Saturday at 9:30a. Reserve your spot HERE and use code FIRSTTIME to get your first class free :) PPS: Want to get in depth alignment help, a strong workout, some fun yoga philosophy, and my attention fully on your practice? Start your 1:1 yoga practice with me today! Classes held in person or via zoom. Book yours HERE!
“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.”
- Earl Nightingale Good morning! If you've been around me for any amount of time, you will have gathered that I am a big dreamer. I always have been and I suspect that I always will be. Move to the other side of the world? Easy peasy. Let's go! Build a business from the ground up to support a particular lifestyle? Sounds better than the alternative... let's give it a try! Dream big or go home, that's what I say! Ha! I'm kidding. But honestly. I've never understood how people can be content with playing small, moving down the road from where they grew up, following the path laid out for them with the one job that they have for the rest of their lives. That kind of life terrifies me. There's nothing wrong with that kind of life. I've learned that kind of life can provide stability for those who need it; that following that path can provide space to prioritize other things, like families or wealth. But that path is not for me. And for those of you who dream bigger dreams than the life you're living right now, whatever that looks like for you, I AM FOR IT! Dreams don't happen unless you make moves toward them. They can be messy. They might not always work. But you have to make the moves or, I can guarantee you, in ten years you'll be exactly where you are right now. So. Go make move! And this week's class will help you make those moves! What better place to build up the strength to push through obstacles? What better place to try new things and stumble? What better place to try new things and succeed? Yoga is not only on the mat, my friend. Yoga starts within you, sometimes on the mat, and often not. Yoga is the way you live your life, the way you stretch toward your dreams, and the way you trust that your practice will catch you if you fall. xoxo, Dylan PS: There has been a change to the weekly live classes in Pasadena! Our Wednesday classes are now at 5:45, while our Saturday classes remain at 9:30. If you're local, I would love to see you there! Reserve your spot HERE and use code FIRSTTIME to get your first class free :) 5/24/2021 0 Comments Power Yoga for the Sacral Chakra
"Let's not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it." - Vincent Van Gogh
Ah the Chakras. Such magical power centers, and the space from which we create our existence. Have you heard of the chakras? It is commonly recognized that there are 7 main chakras, while Kundalini Yoga recognizes an eighth. They start with the first chakra just below the base of the spine, and run up the physical body to end just above the crown of the head with the seventh chakra. The eighth comprises all of the first seven and creates your aura. They cannot be seen with the eye, nor do they live directly on your spine. They live in the realm of subtle energy. BUT, they do tend to line up with nerve ganglia that you CAN see. I wont go into the deepest of details, but the first chakra, Muladhara, corresponds to all things foundational of your being. Your right to exist, your physical space, your physical safety. The second, Svadhisthana, the one that we work with the most in today's class, resides in your lower abdomen and pelvic region, and corresponds to emotions, creativity, feeling, and sexuality. It's your right to feel. Third, we have Manipura, which resides in the solar plexus. This is your power center. Your will power, core values, self-esteem, ego identity. This is your right to act. Fourth, the heart, Anahata. This chakra lives, unsurprisingly, in the heart center and controls everything having to do with love. Not just romantic love, but platonic, familial, self, etc. All relationships stem from here. This is your right to love and be loved. "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be love in return." Now tell me what movie that's from! Fifth, Vissudha, the throat chakra. Expression dwells here. Your voice. But also the expression of your creative ideas. This is your right to speak and be heard. So if you notice you have a small voice, or lots of throat issues, it might be worth looking into where you feel you're not being heard in your life. Sixth, the third eye, Ajna, pronounced Ahg-nya. This is the space above and between the eyebrows, and is the seat of intuition. Knowing that you know. It's also where your imagination comes from. This is your right to see. And finally, the Seventh, Sahasrara, which I always struggle to pronounce. Your crown chakra, located just above the crown of your head. This is where you connect with source, whatever that means to you. Wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual connection. Your right to know. The beautiful thing about these energies is that they don't have to be tied to any sort of religion or belief system. They exist. By whatever name you call them. That understanding is a powerful thing. Finally Finally for real, as noted in Kundalini Yoga and according to Yogi Bhajan: “The Eighth Chakra is located in the aura. the magnetic field generated by a human being that surrounds him or her up to nine feet in every direction. The quality of the aura reveals the personality in the projection of power or the depression of defeat.” Ok, I know that was a lot. I love everything having to do with the chakras, and always love learning more. And I thought it beneficial to at least share these basics, before we move on to the class! Which is mostly about the second chakra, Svadhisthana, but also includes the lower triangle, which is the bottom three chakras. You can't really work with one without affecting the others. So, without further ado! Let's get into the class! You've waited far too long... xoxo, Dylan 5/10/2021 0 Comments Fluid Interval Yoga for Change
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” ― Leo Tolstoy
But, changing ourselves is where we start. Because, when you become aware enough, you begin to realize that the world that you see in front of you is vividly colored by your perceptions. The world that you are living in is in fact called Maya, in sanskrit. Illusion. That is not to say that you're living a lie, or that the wall in front of you is not actually there, or that you're living in a movie set. It means that the life you are living, and the experiences you are having, are based on how you perceive the world to be. This perception is based on your past experiences, your upbringing, societal expectations, and the lack of ability or willingness or understanding that you are just an observer in this body in this lifetime. I could smell a perfume wafting by and think it smells like summer and happiness. You could smell the same perfume and be transported back to your grandmother's deathbed and feel sorrow. (I took it dark there, I know. I'm sorry.) The smell is the same. Our experiences of it are different. Therefore our responses to it are different. I don't hesitate to reach my hand out to a new dog, because history has shown me that I can trust dogs. You may have been bit as a child, and your history tells you you can't trust dogs. We will see a dog in the street and have different reactions. It's the same reason we close our hearts off the love when we've been hurt, why we settle into our ways and refuse to believe that anything could be different, why we don't even know that we have the ability to change. Yoga taught me that we can change the world. Starting with ourselves. Because the world relies on US to exist in the way that it does. In our eyes, rather. The world will go on existing with our without us, but we have the ability to view the world through our perceptions. Change our perceptions and we change the world. So I encourage you to begin to find that change in yourself. Begin to work on who you are and how you see things from the inside out. Use the tools that yoga gives you to take a step back from your thoughts and notice what they're telling you. Notice how you respond to things, how you react. Sit in meditation and contemplate. Or move your body, like in today's class, and FEEL the changes settling in. It all starts with you taking that first step. And I hope it's as transformative for you as it has been for me! This week's class is a full length Fluid Interval Yoga for Change. Make sure you carve out an hour to challenge your body and mind and I'll meet you on the mat! xx, Dylan |
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