Challenge yourself, or you'll never know what you're capable of.

5 years ago, I wouldn't attempt this pose. 3 years ago, I couldn't hold this pose. I still have some work to do on crow/crane, but I'm getting there!

 Practice doesn't make perfect; practice makes progress. There is no perfect in yoga. Strive for progress!

"If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." ~ Fred Devito

Last Minute, Low Carb Dinner for "Busy People"

We were hungry. We had no meat thawed. We knew our local grocer had dry-rub ribs in-the-bag. You know, the kind that they market to "busy people". Those ribs were calling our names. We had just finished a challenging yoga class and we were hungry!

I had fresh vegetables, so I knew I could prepare a fresh salad and a side dish in a few minutes. This is what I did:

For the salad: Roughly chop 2 cucumber, 2 radishes, and 1 tomato. Make your own vinaigrette. I used olive oil, salt, pepper, honey, fresh chopped cilantro, and apple cider vinegar. Toss the cucumber, tomato and radish with the dressing and refrigerate (Sorry, no pictures of this step. I didn't realize this was going to be a blog post until AFTER I finished the salad.)

Cut 3 avocados in half; remove the pits.

Pierce the avocado "meat" with a fork, all the way down to the skin.

Squeeze fresh lemon or lime juice over the avocado halves. Add Tabasco if you like a little heat. The citrus and the hot sauce will penetrate the fruit and make it super tasty. Salt and pepper to taste.
Heat your broiler to high. Fill the "pit" area with Parmesan cheese. Broil for 2 minutes. Add more Parmesan to the top of the avocado half and broil for an additional 2 minutes or until the cheese is crispy and lightly browned.

Open the bag of ribs (or your choice of carnivorous deliciousness protein, such as chicken, fish, etc.)

Plate up and enjoy!

This is a low carb, very filling, and a delicious summer meal!

June 2013 B-MOVED Yoga Music Playlist on Spotify

Another new Yoga Music Playlist! Available on Spotify

One hour of eclectic music for yoga. Subscribe to my on Spotify to get new yoga music playlists.

(Song, Artist, Album)

Breathing Place, Vibrasphere (Lungs of Life)
Little Bit, Perrin Lamb (Back to You)
Intro, The xx (xx)
Regroovable, Chris Botti (The Very Best of Chris Botti)
Dusk to Dawn, Emancipator (Dusk to Dawn)
Loud Pipes, Ratatat (Classics)
Russia, Magna Canta (Sanctuary)
Dubstep Yoga: Yoga Breeze, Dubstep Yoga Music (Dubstep Yoga - Dubstep Meditation....)
See in You, The Album Leaf (Into the Blue Again)
Time, The American Dollar (The Best of the American Dollar)
Living, Moby (Songs 1993-1998)
Night Becomes Her, Patrick O'Hearn (Beautiful World)
Passing Away, Hammock (Raising Your Voice...Trying to Stop an Echo)

Gimme One Reason...to practice yoga

Yoga as “fitness” is becoming more mainstream. I’ve noticed that you can rarely get through a commercial break on TV without seeing someone in an advertisement that appears to be practicing yoga. Many celebrities have been vocal about yoga being a part of their fitness routine, and we are hearing more about professional athletes incorporating yoga into their training, as well as doctors and therapists recommending yoga to help treat certain conditions.

There are probably a lot of people that scratch their heads and wonder what all the fuss is about. “What exactly is yoga, and why does it make people feel so good?”

My first answer to this question is usually “I can’t answer that for you, you need to experience it yourself.” Based on my own personal experience and training, I will try to give you a more scientific answer.

Your body’s nervous system is comprised of more than one “part”. One part is the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the “Fight or Flight” response. The sympathetic nervous system is engaged during stressful situations, and causes the heart rate to increase, blood pressure to rise, and slows down the digestive process.

The parasympathetic nervous system counteracts the sympathetic nervous system, helping you to feel more calm, helping you to relax, and experience more restful sleep. When we practice yoga, we purposefully use a lengthened, deep breath, and we practice “asanas” (poses), and “vinyasas” (flowing movements) that help to lengthen and strengthen our muscles. Those two components alone - which are standard fare in most yoga styles - “turn on” the parasympathetic nervous system. The resulting side effects of this flow of energy by the parasympathetic nervous system are: lower respiration, reduced heart rate, stimulation of the digestive system, boosted immune response, and a general sense of calm and relaxation. Keep in mind, when you practice yoga, your respiration will increase as will your body temperature. You might sweat a bit. We’re working out here, folks!

What can yoga do for you? A regular home practice (even if it’s only a few minutes a day) coupled with a group class will help you find out! In my case, yoga has helped me to maintain lower body fat, more lean muscle mass, a stronger core, less visits to the doctor and chiropractor, and better sleep habits. There is no ‘magic pill’ to better health, weight loss, or overall fitness. There is work involved. But for me and many people, yoga is a great addition to a healthy lifestyle. I have never left a yoga class feeling worse than when I came.

Join us for a FREE “Yoga in the Park” class on Saturday, June 15. McNish Park Tennis Courts; 9:00 a.m. Bring a mat, water, and wear comfy clothing. For more information & tips, visit b-movedyoga.com and click on "Schedule."

B-MOVED Yoga music playlist "Spirit of Life"

I love Spotify for creating new playlists for my yoga class. The latest playlist is available here.

This playlist is slightly longer than 60 minutes.

Underwater Love - Original Mix by Jerome Isma-ae (Croatia - The Opening 2009) 6:14
Composure by B. Fleischmann (The Humbucking Coil) 5:35
Spirit of Life by Blackmill (Miracle) 6:16
Welcome Home, Son by Radical Face (Ghost) 4:46
Daybreak by Winterlight (Kissed) 5:29
Blue Eyed Bitter by Aeroc (Ghostly Essentials: SMM One) 3:48
Migration by Joe Panzetta (Migration) 5:03
Broken Monitors by B. Fleischmann (The Humbucking Coil) 7:09
Room Service (at the Tahiti Motel) by Leo Kottke (Peculiaroso) 2:53
Distant Blue by Project Skyward (Strange Synchronicities) 3:53
Elegia by Karl Jenkins (Adiemus 2: Cantata Mundi) 4:06
Aegean Wave by Suzanne Ciani (Peace of Mind) 3:14
Cradle with Love by Samite (Peace of Mind) 3:41

B-Moved Yoga Playlist #5

My latest Spotify playlist for yoga class. Just shy of 60 minutes. Super chill.

Song Title - Artist (Album)

Alone in kyoto - Air (Talkie Walkie)
Ooh la la - Goldfrapp (Supernature - US Version)
Secret Life - Psykosonik (Unlearn)
La femme d'argent - Air (Moon Safari)
Ghosts and Creatures - Telekinesis (Ghosts and Creatures)
Breathing Room - Psykosonik (Unlearn)
Whispering Wind - Moby (Play: The B Sides)
About Today - The National (Cherry Tree)
All I Need - Air, Beth Hirsch (Moon Safari)
Say - Vitamin Piano Series (The Piano Tribute to John Mayer)
Sweet Child O'Mine composed by Guns n Roses - Scott D. Davis (Rockfluence - Solo Piano)
Evening Star - All India Radio (Film Musik)
Rain - Reprise - Patty Griffin (1000 Kisses)

B-Moved Yoga Playlist #4

And it's another yoga playlist! Approximately 60 minutes, as usual. Find it on Spotify.

Groovy.

Song Title - Artist (Album)

Aquatica - Bryan El (Out of this World)
Forever the Optimist - Patrick O'Hearn (Windham Hill Chill 2)
July Flame - Instrumental - Laura Veirs (Hello I Must Be Going)
Ecouter - Jason Bentley Remix - Carmen Rizzo, Jem (Huvafen Fushi Maldives V. 2)
What I Got - Instrumental Version - Sublime (Sublime)
Posed to Be - Instrumental Version - Breakestra (Joyful Noise)
Dub in Light - Telepath (Contact)
By Your Side - Sade (Voices from the FIFA World Cup)
Dirty Paws - Of Monsters and Men (My Head is an Animal)
Talking Book - Darshan Ambient (A Day Within Days)
Jak's Back - Simon Gentry (Atmospheres)
Baal T'shuvah - Michael Hedges (Beyond Boundaries: Guitar Solos)
Take a Drink from My Hands - Hammock (Raising Your Voice...Trying to Stop an Echo)
Lady of the Moon - 2002, Pamela & Randy Copus (Across an Ocean of Dreams)