1/23/2023 0 Comments 10 Minute Plank Abs
"The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”– Vince Lombardi
How much time does it take to commit to something that matters to you? Is it in an instant? Or does it take a bit of persistence... a bit of hemming and hawing? When I found yoga, through a class just like this one you see below, which many may say is not even yoga...but I'll come back to that. Anyway, when I found this practice, I leapt on the wagon with no regrets. Full commitment, yoga every day. I used to be like that. All in or all out. And that kind of mentality got me to where I am today: a yoga teacher online and in Los Angeles. And all it took was a 15 minute abs class. Over time, of course, we all change. We have different lives, different priorities, and I am no longer that person who berates herself for missing a class, though I still try to get on my mat daily. Whether yoga look like this 10 minute plank class or an hour long vinyasa. Because, for all those naysayers out there, yoga is not, in fact, the series of poses you practice on the mat. The asana, or postures, is only one part. You can find yoga in any workout, because yoga is your lifestyle, your mindset, your presence in the practice. Whatever the practice looks like. So, have you committed to your practice yet? Daily movement? Consistent dates with you mat? A little bit of work every (or most) day(s) that will lead you toward being a better and healthier version of yourself? What is your yoga story? Please share by hitting reply and let me know!
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1/9/2023 0 Comments Floor Abs on Fire [35 Min]
“If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.”
– Michele Ruiz Continuing from the quote above... Not only people, but your own mind. If you are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can't hear the doubt in your own mind anymore. Our minds like to tell us that we can't do things. That we're not good enough, or strong enough, or smart enough. But none of that is true. The mind lies. It lies to keep us safely closed up in a box with no change and no advancement. And the only way to move forward toward a different life, a different body, a different relationship, or a different job, is to pat the mind on the head, say thanks for trying, and forge ahead in spite of it all. Your mind will give up before anything else. The practice here is to learn to know when the mind is actually being useful vs when the mind is holding you back. Today's class will definitely be an opportunity to explore that practice. Because today's class is all about core strength. It will burn. You will yell at me. It might hurt to laugh for a bit. But it's all in the name of building strength and resilience! You can do it. I know you can. Do you?
"For many years I mistook discipline as ambition. Now I believe it to be more about consistency. Do get on the mat. Practice and life are not that different."
— Judith Hanson Lasater I am back, dearest! Did you miss me?! I was off galavanting around the Caribbean and it has given me a much needed opportunity to reconnect with myself, to take a step back from the anxious energy of the day to day and rediscover what it means to live a yogic life. And believe me, I am far from the most "yogic" person, on or off the internet. I'm just a human, trying to learn how to do this life thing with a little less conflict, a little less pain, and a lot of love. But the point here is not to strive to BE the "perfect yogi." After all, perfection doesn't exist. We all know that a this point yes? You don't have to be anything! But you do need to be moving forward, as time moves forward, right? It is impossible to remain exactly where you are now for the rest of forever. So you have to move forward. But there are many ways to move forward; not all of them beneficial. That's why we have yoga. That's why we have movement. That's why we have breathwork and meditation. These are the tools that we use to move forward intentionally. And in this last love letter of 2023, this is what I hope for you. Intentionality in your life. A toolbox of the highest caliber at your fingertips. The space for you to reconnect with what it means to be you. Thank you for being here, for taking the time to read this every week, and for practicing with me. And now for our final class! May you find strength. May you find fluidity. And may you find balance. In this thing called life. Love to you. Sat nam. Dylan
“Coffee is a lot more than just a drink; it’s something happening. Not as in hip, but like an event, a place to be, but not like a location, but like somewhere within yourself. It gives you time, but not actual hours or minutes, but a chance to be, like be yourself, and have a second cup” ― Gertrude Stein
And yoga, like coffee, gives you the time and space to be yourself, to be present within yourself, and to work on yourself. It's what's brought me to this practice, {{ subscriber.first_name }}, and perhaps it's why you're here too? That opportunity to be alone with your body, to leave the day behind you, just for a little bit, and to try to be a better person. Sometimes we find growth in the silent long holds. Sometimes that growth is found through shaky legs and sweat. Every day, every experience on the mat is different. That's one of the things that makes it so beautiful. You progress, you get stronger, you hold that warrior II just a little bit longer. Then two days later you lose that particular progress and find something or somewhere else where you grew. It's not always evident. But it is always changing, moving forward, in some form or fashion. Even when it seems like it's going backward. Today's class is one I filmed many many moons ago, that has lived in my archives waiting for the time to shine. And now is that time! It's unique (aren't they all?) and focuses heavily on plank-based core exercises. You will develop a stronger connection to this space. You will experience better posture. You will thank me after you've stopped cursing me. All in a day's work! Enjoy! Be present! Experience the experience of the experience! ✨ Leave me a ? on YouTube so that I know you're a part of this community! Sat Nam, ❤️ Dylan PS, I do not expect you to actually thank me for any of this. These classes are my gift, my passion, my creative expression, and I only hope that you find value and growth through practicing with me! 10/17/2022 0 Comments Lunch Break Power Punch [15 Min]
“Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it.”
– Anna Taylor Happy Tuesday, dearest friend, In my last little love letter to you, I mentioned that I am not a morning person, and, to be honest, I'm not trying to make you one either. I'm all about getting as much sleep as possible, and I have yet to get to bed by 9. Therefore, that sleep is caught up in the morning. So most days, I'm not getting my personal yoga practice in before work. Does this sound like you, too? I know it's hard, but when you want something bad enough, and you know it's good for you, you have to make the time for it somehow right? That may mean that you don't get that hour class in every day, and that's fine! There's no set amount of time that makes a yoga class a yoga class or a workout a workout. There's only your dedication to the practice and the experience you have with yourself on the mat. How I've been squeezing my practice in between teaching classes before and after my full time job? Lunch break yoga! Luckily, I work from home so I can eat while I'm working. I realize that might not be the case for you, but hopefully this class is quick enough to squeeze in and get food before starting getting back to work! Plus, it was requested from all of your over on Instagram. So make sure you've got your yoga gear and a bottle of water, and roll out your mat next to your desk (or preferably outside if you can make it happen) and get a little movement in to energize your work day! ✨ Leave me a ? on YouTube so that I know you're a part of this community! Sat Nam, ❤️ Dylan 10/3/2022 0 Comments Busy Day Morning Flow - [15 Min]
“Fall in love
with the energy f the mornings trace your fingers along the lull of the afternoons take the spirit of the evenings in your arms kiss it deeply and then make love to the tranquility of the nights.” ― Sanober Khan If you don't think you have the time or the energy to fit in a full-length yoga class in the morning then... I wont be the one to tell you to get up early! ? But I will encourage you to try to squeeze in a brief movement flow before starting your day! The movement of that energy that has become stagnant overnight, the recirculation in the systems that have become stiff with sleep, has the power to really change the start of you morning. And a good morning is the very best set up you can give yourself for a spectacular day! There's a lot of talk out there about morning routines, and I wonder, {{ subscriber.first_name }}, do you have one? If not, here's what I would recommend!
What do you think? Think you can do it? Let me know which practice you want to add into your routine this week! ✨ Leave me a ☀️ on YouTube so that I know you're a part of this community! Sat Nam, ❤️ Dylan
“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” ― Maya Angelou
Ah Gratitude, Yes, with a capital G. Because it's special, isn't it? It's special, and sometimes a bit rare. Rare things turn out to be more valuable do they not? Even though, I hate to tell you, gratitude is not actually rare. It's just...well hidden. Maybe ignored. Not altogether sought out as often as it should be. Which is why I want you to focus on gratitude this week. Or should I say Gratitude. In this class we train the mind to find Gratitude in the more challenging moments, as we train the body up to meet those challenging moments with more grace, and maybe more strength. If we can train the neural pathway to seek gratitude rather than frustration, imagine how much more enjoyable life would be? We'd find so much to be grateful for! It's something I'm working on these days, so I, of course, wish to share that process with you. So, I hope you'll join me on the mat and find something challenging to be grateful for. ✨ Leave me a "I AM GRATEFUL" on YouTube so that I know you're a part of this community! Ps, use that as your affirmation this week and see what energy it shifts! ❤️ Dylan
“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” ― Rumi
I wrote this class while trying to exploring the concept of mind over matter. No one likes ab workouts. Like, not actually. Everyone likes the AFTER of an ab workout, but not actually doing it. So I've been playing in my classes with the idea of finding the joy in the struggle. Because it's all a matter of perspective, is it not? Not only that, but it's also a matter of taking control of your mind rather than letting your mind have control of you. And finally, it's about flipping the script. Learning how to change how you feel and to reestablish new feelings about a certain difficult thing. In this case, it's core work. How can you smile, laugh, and find uplifting joy while you're holding a plank? How, then, can you smile, laugh, and find uplifting joy while the second leg of your flight is cancelled and your luggage is still stuck at LAX? There is a joy that lives within us, a happiness that embodies our natural state of being. But we lose that happiness so often. Let's train ourself to find it on the yoga mat shall we? ✨ Leave me a "I AM JOY" on YouTube so that I know you're a part of this community! Ps, use that as your affirmation this week and see what energy it shifts! ❤️ Dylan 8/22/2022 0 Comments Virgo Season Vinyasa
“Healthy striving is self-focused: 'How can I improve?'
Perfectionism is other-focused: 'What will they think?'” -Brené Brown Two years ago, I filmed a class called Fierce and Exuberant Leo the Lion Vinyasa Flow, and, to be honest, it was quite a hit. So when I realized that the first day of Virgo season fell on a Tuesday, which is when all my new classes come out, I couldn't resist making a Virgo version! This 30 minute class is designed with Virgo energy in mind, a very analytical, detail oriented energy that grounds down firmly through the earth. Virgo rules the nervous system and intestines, so we focus on calming postures as well as twists to stimulate the intestines, which is a major point of assimilation in the body. The place where we take from the outside and turn it into something that works within us, something that either nourishes or doesn't, so be careful with what you're consuming! Have fun playing with this Virgo energy today, and let me know what your astrology sign is so that maybe, just maybe, I can make one just for you! ✨ Leave me a "I find power through routine" on YouTube so that I know you're a part of this community! Ps, use that as your affirmation this week and see what energy it shifts! ❤️ Dylan 8/8/2022 0 Comments Side Plank Prep Vinyasa 2
“It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It's what we do consistently.” ― Anthony Robbins
As we begin our alchemization journey through the month of August, I invite you to ponder how much does consistency play a role in your transformation? I don't mean consistency as in repetition, doing the same thing over and over again, although that could be part of it. I mean consistency as in the continuously taking steps toward your goals, no matter what setback might occur. And we all know that setbacks do occur, and often. So, what role does consistency play in your goals? What does it look like in your life? How does it play out for you? Think about that, journal about it, share about it, and meditate on it during this second part of the side plank builder series. This free class is just under 40 minutes long, and continues to build on the postures that we began working on in the last class. Both of these classes are meant to be practiced multiple times, as you develop your confidence, strength, and balance in these postures. And remember, what we do on our mat flows into our lives off the mat as well. We are constantly training and retraining our brains. Each time we succeed on the mat, we train our brains into believing that we can succeed. Each time we try something on the mat and wobble, or fall over, and get back up, we reinforce the belief that we are resilient. I don't know about you, but I think these are powerful, foundational beliefs that we all need to work on integrating. ✨ Leave me a "I can do hard things" on YouTube so that I know you're a part of this community! ❤️ Dylan |
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