Fall Style

Leopard scarf and 3/4 sleeve top www.zara.com Kasyapasana/an arm balance dedicated to Kasyapa

Every fall is the same kind of super fast pace for me as my children are busy in school and a few more workshops are added to my teaching schedule. To keep myself from feeling like Summer's sun filled days immediately blended into Christmas break, I practice paying attention to the in between moments by of course practicing yoga but also scheduling walks in nature, taking pictures of Autumn's foliage plus updating my Fall fashion, beauty and at home style.

Here are a few Fall inspired changes with me and my home that help in keeping me in the moment.

Sandalwood smells like Fall to me and this purse perfect perfume balm allows me to reapply and smell this grounding scent throughout the day with ease www.pacificaperfume.com crystal heart and yellow candle holder www.saffrontradingcompany.com

Dark vamp nail polish that is FREE of the harmful 3 chemicals found in most nail polishes www.nailtini.com  Eka Pada Rajakapotasana variation with Garudasana like arms/King pigeon pose with eagle like arms

Sacred altar corner space in pumpkin orange adds a little seasonal spirit to any room without changing everything. Cushion www.saffrontradingcompany.com Whole Trade dried flowers from www.wholefoods.com The pumpkin scented candle is from the drugstore while the sandalwood mala beads, goldstone crystal, Ganesh and scarf over a small bench are all items I have in the house.

Uttarabodhi mudra/a gesture of enlightenment in the golden woods.

King Pigeon Pose Variation

Sometimes you need to modernize a classic posture like King Pigeon Pose/Eka Pada Rajakapotasana to make yourself and your students feel as though we are getting further down our path. If you feel inspired, change it up the next time you practice this pose like I did here with eagle like/garudasana arms. Be sure to stay true to details like propping up under the front leg's hip if you need to find space and balance. The result feels refreshing and may surprise you and your regular gang how possible it is to do.

Below is a King Pigeon Split/Eka Pada Hanumanasana variation.

Chakra Healing and Balancing Art

Base of pelvis

In preparation for my Chakra Yoga Workshop at Ramapo College of New Jersey, I've put together what I call Chakra Healing and Balancing Art. Since chakras are spinning wheels of light that are found at the base of the pelvis and run up our spine plus through the crown of our head in a variety of rainbow like colors can sound abstract, I felt creating these visual images may help you better understand your chakra energy body.

There are 7 chakras and each corresponds to different emotions that I like to interpret as positive affirmations you can say to heal and empower yourself. Also each chakra like the muladhara root chakra shown above corresponds to a different part of the body, element in nature, color and mantra.

Take in each image and notice what you feel and where you feel it. There is no wrong or right answer, just notice. This is how we heal and balance our chakras, by feeling and not critically thinking about them.

Reproductive and sacral body

Navel, side body and back waist

Center of chest and in between shoulder blades

Throat

Center of brow line

Top of head