The new Yoga for Dragon Riders website is up, and I’m pretty excited about this.

Why?

Because:

1) it looks awesome,

2) it’s got free stuff, and

3) I’ll have a whole 15 video Dragon Rider Series coming soon that goes with the book!

Okay, maybe I’m more stoked about this than you. But here’s why you’ll like it:

There’s two free yoga videos there for you.

Yep. Right now. Waiting for you to access them anytime you want. They’re full length classes (75 minutes) featuring my amazing local students who are all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes. This is awesome because it helps you remember to honor yourself and work at your own level.

One class is a playful and strong “Align and Flow” practice, and the other class is a gentle “Deep Healing” yoga practice including restorative poses. The two balance very well. Yang and Yin, if you will.

You’ll also get access to the first two chapters of the book for free. If you want to preview the book in more detail, you can look inside the whole thing on Amazon: Yoga for Dragon Riders the book.

If you haven’t seen the book yet, be sure to check it out. Though the title may be a bit of a surprise for a yoga book, it is a wonderfully comprehensive guide to yoga.

And the Dragon Rider theme makes it a joy to read! If you’ve ever wanted to delve deeper into your practice, this is a beautiful way to do so.

So…

What are you waiting for? Head on over and get access to your videos.

Click here to see the brand spankin’ new Yoga for Dragon Riders website, check out the book, and get awesome free stuff.

Oh yes, one more bonus is this: not only does this free stuff not clutter up your house, but it offers you a way to clean house… Move, breathe, flow, strengthen, surrender, and feel alive!

Good stuff, I tell ya.

Creativity is an essential and natural part of being human, yet for many people it is something that has been repressed or pushed aside. For others, art in any form, including writing, is an aspect of life that evokes passion and helps them process change.

This conversation with Susanna Harwood Rubin is touching, full of beauty, and addresses how each of us can bridge the world of yoga with creativity. Indeed, yoga is an invitation to creative expression.

In one of my favorite parts of the interview Susanna describes traveling to India with her teacher, Douglas Brooks. There is much to learn here, and many places to find delight!

Click below to listen to the show. Feel free to share!

Yoga Radio: Cultivating Creativity with Susanna Harwood Rubin
Recorded on April 17, 2012.

Guest Bio:

As a visual artist, writer, and recently resigned Certified Anusara Yoga teacher, Susanna infuses her classes with creativity, interweaving myth, poetry and philosophy to offer students an experience of intensity and grace. She has spent the past decade studying Rajanaka Tantra with Dr. Douglas Brooks, traveling regularly with him to South India. She is based at NYC’s Virayoga and is a founding member of Yoga Coalition.

Susanna has exhibited internationally, and spent years lecturing and writing for MoMA, including co-authoring “Looking at Matisse and Picasso.” She now takes delight in distilling complex yogic concepts into clear and vivid language so that her students can readily access their inner beauty. She writes for Elephant Journal, Origin Magazine, Social Workout, and teaches Writing Your Practice through the Yoga Teacher Telesummit. She has been profiled by FIT YOGA magazine, YogaSleuth, YogaCityNYC, and is 1 of 100 “inspirational women leaders” featured on ClaudiaChan.com.

Check out this blog to find out more about Susanna Harwood Rubin and her upcoming retreat.

I also highly encourage you to watch the video here of Susanna introducing her Telesummit class, Writing Your Practice.

This is my artistic offering to you and your yoga practice: Yoga for Dragon Riders. It truly is a call to creatively BE who you are. Click to visit the website, learn more about the book, download the first 2 chapters and get free yoga videos.

Do you see the cycles of life as they flow around you and within you? Do you find yourself in awe of the blossoming of Spring, glory of Summer, beautiful transition of Autumn, and quiet of Winter? Do you become fearful when you see things break down and die, or do you see how this gives way to new beginnings?

Recognizing and working with these ever flowing cycles are the key to understanding life and thriving! Yoga, as well as the archetypes of Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Kali, have much to teach us about the cyclical nature of life. Enjoy this magnificent show which is an exploration into these cycles with one of the world’s top yoga instructors, Sianna Sherman.

Click below to listen to the show. Feel free to share!

Navigating the Cycles of Change with Sianna Sherman.
Recorded LIVE on April 26, 2012.

Guest Bio:

Sianna Sherman is an internationally recognized Anusara® yoga teacher who delights in sharing her teachings with poetry, stories and expressive insight. Sianna teaches at festivals and holds workshops and retreats around the world. She is a regular contributor to YogaGlo online yoga, Origin Magazine, Yoga Journal, the Poetry of Yoga Project and other multimedia expressions, and wishes to serve students with accessible information that helps them in the true transformation of their lives.

Be sure to check out Sianna’s remarkable new DVD, Pranam.

You can find out more about Sianna and her offerings at opentograce.com

Here is the meditation at the end of this Yoga Radio show:

Meditation by Katrina Ariel

Sit beautifully and call your awareness to the present.

Turn your focus towards your breath. How does it feel?

Notice how each inhale turns into each exhale, and the space between.

This internal dance, which is also a relationship with the world,

measures each moment of life in ever changing cycles.

And yet, as you watch the cycles of your breath, it helps you find

the presence that is so often elusive in daily life.

It is this presence that helps you see all of the elements of the

cycles of change–creation, abundance, destruction–in so many

forms and expressions . . . within you and all around you.

As you sit and simply

breathe

enjoy the turning dance of life.

And know that every time there is a death, whether it is real or symbolic, there is a space in which a seed is planted and, very soon, something new springs to life.

This cycle is natural. And being able to see it, to honor it, and to flow with it, is to find the current of deep peaceful bliss.

May the waves of your breath guide you, in every moment.

And may the cycles of change bring you many gifts!

Click here to order the book: Yoga for Dragon Riders. Visit the website to download the first 2 chapters and get free yoga videos.

Photo from www.GoGrounded.com

Do you have little ones, or children of any age?

Growing up has its challenges, including wild hormones and emotions, pressure from school and social circles, and physical changes.

Kids of all ages are finding yoga to be immensely helpful. In fact, there are studies with children who have been labeled ADHD showing that yoga improves their ability to focus and harness their own emotions in positive ways, and helps them perform better in school.

In this show I’ll be speaking with author Maryellen Murphy Ruggiero, author of The Little Lotus Learns About Wellness, and Grounded Yoga teacher and co-founder Cheryl Crawford. Listen in and learn how yoga can be an empowering practice for all ages!

Click below to listen to the show. Feel free to share.

Yoga Radio: Yoga for Kids of All Ages!
Recorded LIVE on April 19, 2012

Guest Bios:

Maryellen Murphy Ruggiero

Maryellen Murphy Ruggiero is the author and illustrator of The Little Lotus Learns About Wellness. She received her B.A. in Wellness and the Healing Arts from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is passionate about yoga, the arts and the benefits of a holistic lifestyle.

She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband, son, and the family dog, Lola.

A portion of all proceeds from The Little Lotus Learns About Wellness will be donated to TargetCancer, which funds research into rare and lesser known cancers.

Click to learn more about Maryellen and The Little Lotus Learns About Wellness book at www.HipHealthyAndHolistic.com.

Cheryl Crawford

Cheryl Crawford, mother of triplets and Certified Yoga Teacher, is the co-grounder of Grounded Yoga. She’s been teaching her whole life. First to her stuffed animals and to her younger brother (when he sat still) and then in later years to the children of Atlanta in Fulton County Public Schools where she worked as an Elementary School Teacher and Curriculum Coordinator.

Cheryl began her yoga journey soon after her three daughters were born, and as her practice evolved, it became clear to her that she had to blend and balance her new dedication to yoga with her lifelong passion for teaching. She is committed to sharing her experience of artfully finding the balance between serious alignment and playful expansion. Cheryl listens to the wisdom of the children and teaches from her highest self.

Learn more about Cheryl and Grounded Yoga at www.GoGrounded.com.

Delight the child within and take an adventure in Yoga for Dragon Riders. Click here to explore the website where you can download the first 2 chapters of my book, and get 2 free yoga practice videos.

Do you want to change the world?

What about your own lifestyle? Is there something about yourself that you’d like to improve? A skill you’d like to learn or hone, a physical or financial change you’d like to make, or an attitude improvement that has been a long time coming?

Change is inevitable, so you may as well choose changes that help you get where you want to go.

Often, challenging yourself to commit to a specific goal for a specific amount of time is the best approach to making real change. The classic quote, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” rings true every time.

This episode of Yoga Radio will help you get focused, call on your emotions to support your personal growth, and give specific tips to get where you want to go.

Just like practicing yoga every day helps support health and happiness, you can apply that consistency to everything else in life. Tune in this week and find out ways you can get clear and take actions to make the changes you want in yourself, and also contribute to making the world a better place.

Click below to listen to the show. Feel free to share!

Yoga Radio: Change the World by Challenging Yourself
Recorded LIVE on April 12, 2012.

You might also like these blog posts:

How to Get Focused and Stay Focused

Change the World, Change Yourself . . . And Be Generous While You’re At It.

If you like an adventure, check out my Yoga for Dragon Riders website where you can read the first 2 chapters of my book, and get 2 free yoga videos.

Please watch, read, ponder. And then see what it makes you consider changing about yourself and the way you look and act in the world around you.

Video from KarmaTube

Amazing isn’t it?

And, one of my all-time favourite quotes:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

—Marianne Williamson

You don’t have to be Gandhi or Mother Theresa to change the world. All you need to be is YOU. Fully, completely, from the heart.

If each of us choose, sincerely and wholly, to shift the paradigm of “what’s in it for me?” to “what can I contribute, what can I give?” everything will change. And it will be beautiful!

The amazing thing? It’s already happening.

In this episode of Yoga Radio with Katrina Ariel:

Have you noticed yourself opening up to new ideas because of your yoga practice or other things that have happened recently in your life? Have you heard of shamanism or had any experience with shamanism?

My guest, Tony Samara, is a kind, wise, and internationally celebrated spiritual teacher who will be speaking about shamanism and the simple yet profound message it holds for us. Tony has written four books, including the new eBook, Shaman’s Wisdom.

In the show we address some of the most pressing concerns we’re facing today, and some of the ways we can shift ourselves to heal or dissolve those problems.

I especially enjoyed this conversation because many people don’t realize how many similarities shamanism and yoga share, so it is fun to gain insight from Tony’s vision and experience. Be sure to tune in for this one!

Click below to listen to the show. Feel free to share.

Yoga Radio: Shaman’s Wisdom with Tony Samara
Recorded LIVE on April 5, 2012.

Guest Bio:

Tony Samara, author of ‘Shaman’s Wisdom,’ ‘From the Heart,’ ‘Different Yet the Same,’ and ‘Deeper than Words’ was born in England, grew up in Egypt and also in Norway where he discovered the “Zen Buddhist philosophy”.

Tony Samara

This discovery eventually led him to the “Mount Baldy Zen Center in California, USA” where he learned the spiritual teachings of “Kyozan Joshu Sasaki.” He had curiosity to explore further the essence of spirituality and thus went to live and learn with shamanic communities around the globe including a period of time spent with some highly influential shamans in the Amazon River region and the Andes Mountains.

Now people from all over the world visit Tony Samara to take spiritual guidance and experience being in his presence. His main countries of activity are in Europe yet with the assistance of the Internet is attracting a Global audience through frequent online interviews and live satsangs.

His function is as a Spiritual Teacher who encourages all to lead their lives actively in a noble way in order to realize the evolution of human consciousness. Tony Samara is a mirror of what is possible, a shining reminder of the continuous possibility of being human.

You can learn more about Tony at www.TonySamara.org, and order his books including Shaman’s Wisdom on Amazon.com.

Walk between worlds in my book, Yoga for Dragon Riders. Click here to explore the website where you can download the first 2 chapters of my book, and get 2 free yoga practice videos.

So this article is all about getting focused and STAYING focused, even when life does its best to throw you off track.

First of all, what is your focus?

What is your number one priority right now?

You’ve probably heard this everywhere, but one of the essential keys of being focused is knowing what your focus is. That means writing down your goals, intentions, or dreams, and having a specific plan to make them happen.

Do you have an overarching theme such as a one year goal, or even a five year goal?

This is a great thing to have as it helps you remember the bigger picture of how you are choosing to direct your life. This is especially important to remember when you’re caught up in smaller goals that get you there, but perhaps aren’t as attractive or glorious.

What is your primary purpose for the big picture of your life?

If you don’t know, take some time to think about it. If you haven’t written it down, do so. If you wrote it down a while ago, do it again. Repetition is key and so is bringing that vision into the physical realm by writing, journaling, and saying it out loud.

Do you have short term goals that are actionable?

Short term goals get you from point A to point B. They enable you to tackle a big goal that would otherwise be overwhelming by breaking it up into baby steps or bite sized pieces.

So, what’s your plan to get you where you want to go? What small steps can you take so you actually see yourself making progress, and therefore feel gratitude and accomplishment for each small success.

Example: My overarching vision is to be happy, healthy and wealthy (while helping make the world a better place), so specific goals for this might be:

I will smile and laugh when I make mistakes or when I feel myself get frustrated. I will be a positive influence on the world around me by setting my intention every single morning, and living that intention throughout my day.

I will take time to be in nature at least two times per week.

I will work out three times per week and do yoga six times per week, even if it is just a short practice.

I will work 6 solid hours per day to grow my business. I will make 10-20 phone calls each day to my team, customers, and people who could benefit from what I offer.

I will post at least one blog post each week that promotes my book and offers value to my readers so that they are more likely to consider choosing my products when they want services that my business can provide.

Check out my last blog post about what I’m calling “Challenge YEAH“

In this example, you can see the difference between vision (happiness, health and wealth) and goals (specific, measurable events). Having both is important, because goals on their own can get dry, but when you have a vision to support your goals, then you will remain inspired.

Know your WHY.

The most important element in follow-through is having emotion behind whatever it is that you’re doing. In order to do that, you need to know WHY you want what you want.

In the example above, I’m using the vision of being happy, healthy, and wealthy. Well, why do I want that?

• Being happy makes me feel free. It feels good personally and makes me a lot more fun to be around. I have a positive influence on the world when I’m happy, so me being happy not only feels good but also makes the world a better place – something I’m very passionate about.
• Being healthy is important to me because I’m not happy when I don’t feel well. I want to be able to enjoy the things I love to do like hiking and playing in crazy pretzel yoga poses. And I just plain want to feel good in my body. So being healthy is important to me. It also makes me a living example and hopefully inspires others to be healthy as well.
• Being wealthy is important to me because wealth = freedom (only when you let it). Let me explain that. You can be rich and still totally stressed out, or poor and totally happy. However, for me being wealthy gives me the freedom to do the things I want to do such as travel, donate to the SPCA and World Wildlife Fund and other causes that do such important work to help people, animals, and the earth. Being wealthy gives me the freedom to feel like I can take time off work to become a mother. It empowers so many choices that I would otherwise not be able to make comfortably, and allows me to live the lifestyle of my dreams.

What’s your why? Go deep with it. The more you tap into the emotions behind what you want, the more focused you’ll be!

Once you know your focus, how do you stay on track?

Here’s a list of great ways to stay on focus:

• Write down your primary goal on your To-Do list every day. Take steps EVERY DAY toward your goal(s).
• Speak your intention out loud, every day.
• Remember your WHY every time you get discouraged.
• Set a timer (every hour perhaps) and every time it goes off look at your focus for the day. Are you on track? If so, great. If not, jump back into the groove.
• Play music that motivates and inspires you. If possible, theme it with your focus.
• Get rid of (or hide) the TV. Joseph McClendon III (Tony Robbins personal coach) calls the television an “Electronic Income Reducer.” It is also one of the biggest distractions for people. If it isn’t enriching your life and is taking time away from your focus, ditch it. Turn it off, drape a sarong or tapestry over it, and turn it into a plant stand except for rare occasions when you want to watch a movie (or actually use it for a purpose).
• Write yourself love-notes or inspiring post-its and put them in places that keep you on track. Some ideas: the fridge, the bathroom mirror, the TV remote, your computer, your wallet and your car.
• Post your goals and progress on Facebook to help yourself stay accountable and inspire others… Just don’t get sucked in. A few minutes is all it takes, you don’t need to spend hours on Facebook… That would definitely count as a distraction.
• Take breaks to stretch, go for a walk, or otherwise re-charge and get your body moving during your work day. If your focus is work oriented, be sure to balance it with self-care. You’ll be more likely to actually get things done while you’re working.
• Read personal development books and publications such as Success Magazine.
• Hang out with people who have a similar focus and are taking action to make it happen!

So, do you have some ideas to help you get focused and stay focused? I hope so. Write ‘em down, eh? 

Now go take action on your focus, eh?

(If you have ideas that aren’t in this article, please leave a comment below and add to the value here by sharing your own approach!)

Desiree Rumbaugh

In this episode of Yoga Radio with Katrina Ariel:

Have you ever seen someone in a crazy pretzel yoga pose and wondered how they do that? Or perhaps you seek inspiration in different ways, like wanting to get the most from a simple practice in yoga and go deep into how it can translate to supporting you off the mat.

My guest, Desireé Rumbaugh, is a world renowned yoga instructor who can not only get into those crazy-awesome advanced poses, but is well known for her light-hearted approach to bringing the depths of yoga to anyone, no matter what their level of practice.

I really enjoyed this conversation, especially the “Love is Stronger than Fear” message she brings so clearly to us. We got into talking about Avatar too… Des and I both loved aspects of that movie and how much it reflects some of the fundamental elements of yoga. Get ready for a fun discussion with this incredible woman!

Click below to listen to the show. Feel free to share.

Yoga Radio: Going Deep into Yoga with Desireé Rumbaugh
Recorded LIVE on March 29, 2012.

Guest Bio:

Photo from www.DesireeRumbaugh.com, photographer Jack H. Davis

Desireé Rumbaugh is an internationally recognized yoga instructor who has inspired people on and off the mat through her classes and workshops, as well as articles in publications like Yoga Journal.

She excels in leading people into deeper, advanced poses, yet she also guides many yoga therapy courses which are focused on shifting the patterns of pain into a state of ease and freedom.

Her Yoga to the Rescue DVD’s present yoga from a therapeutic perspective that you can do at home, and you can find the Yoga to the Rescue DVD’s on Amazon.com, as well as more info on Desiree including her workshop schedule at her website www.DesireeRumbaugh.com.

Dive deeper into your practice and understanding of yoga with my book, Yoga for Dragon Riders. Click to explore the website where you can download the first 2 chapters and get free yoga videos.

Dance outside your comfort zone. Every single day!

Recipe for Greatness

(This is my own wording, modeled after the Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle, by Jim Rohn)

1 part Philosophy: Take everything you know, assimilate it, and discern what works and what doesn’t. Live the wisdom that resonates.

1 part Attitude: Use your emotions to empower yourself.

1 part Activity: Do the important things, every single day, in balance and integrity. Have a plan and follow through.

1 part Results: We attract what we become. Who are you choosing to be?

1 part Lifestyle: What are you creating for yourself? Live a unique and fulfilling life, and enjoy doing so!

“It’s easy to be successful. It’s also easy NOT to.”
–Jim Rohn

It’s your life. Make it what you want it to be.

Carpe Diem!