Green Smoothie Demo With Allay Yoga's Leslie Edsall!

Join Leslie for a Green Smoothie Demo -Sat., Dec. 3, 2011.  10 - 11 am.  Learn how green smoothies can be fun and nutritious for the whole family.  Come away with samples of new recipes for breakfast, on-the-go, post workout shakes and more!  FREE @ Anytime Fitness, 4265 Howard Avenue, Kensington.  No pre-registration required.


About Leslie:
Leslie has spent over 20 years in the health & fitness industry.  Beginning as a long-time gymnast and head coach, she spent ten years as a personal trainer.  Leslie has a B.S. in Exercise Science & Health Promotion from George Mason University and went on to become a Certified Health Education Specialist focusing on nutrition for woman, children and athletes. Leslie enjoys helping people develop a healthy relationship with food based on her background as a Board Certified Holistic Health Counselor. Leslie instructs yoga classes at Anytime Fitness, Mandara Yoga and Allay Yoga, holding an RYT 200 hr certification in Hatha Yoga.  As a yoga teacher, she focuses on beginners yoga, level 1/2 classes and athletic flow.  Leslie’s favorite aspect of teaching yoga is simply being in the moment, learning from her students.  To learn more about Leslie, visit:  www.LeslieEdsall.com. 


Leslie teaches Beginner Yoga at Allay Yoga on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 PM

The Difference Makes The Practice

I am on my way home from a weekend training in NYC. It has been an interesting weekend, filled with a number of challenges and breakthroughs physically, mentally, and emotionally (as many trainings are). I was very excited about this training because it was on a topic that you do not see often, but plays a part in many of my daily experiences as a teacher, student, and now studio owner. I came in with certain expectations of what I wanted to learn and how I would implement my new knowledge. But, of course, as life often goes, what I took from my practice over the last few days doesn't fit into the neat little package I had envisioned. As it turns out, the teacher and many of my fellow trainees had a different idea of what this training was about and what we were all supposed to takeaway.

As the weekend progressed, I found myself experiencing a range of emotions from anger and frustration to guilt for feeling angry and frustrated during a weekend dedicated to yoga, to excitement to awe to joy and beyond. Although I am still processing what occurred, I think that a majority of these emotions stemmed from my studying what is familiar and comfortable for me in a place that felt neither familiar nor comfortable in a way that felt neither familiar or comfortable.

As a teacher, I often invite my students to tune inward and let go of the comparison of their practice to their neighbors' because their body and their needs may be different than those of their neighbor. And, furthermore, I often propose that how they feel today may be different than they felt the day before or will feel tomorrow, and that recognizing this and listening to this is all part of their mindfulness practice. I do this with the hope that they can find ease in the moment, but also ease when the tendency to compare and judge arises off the mat.

This weekend was a true test of "practicing what I preach" or, more accurately, of living my yoga.  At first, my reaction was to look at my "neighbors" and to say to myself, my practice does not look like their practice and to see this as a failing in some way on my part. I observed difference and turned that observation into right and wrong instead of acknowledging that our differences stemmed from the fact that we are in fact different, in different situations, with different experiences, and different needs and wants.

In this specific example, what  I came to realize is this:

 Each yoga studio has its own vibe, its own perspective on how a class flows, how poses are taught and assisted and its own unspoken language of how yogis interact before, during and after class. It is this unique vibe that draws us to certain studios and certain teachers.  Another way of thinking about this vibe is authenticity. We are all different, with different experiences, different needs and wants and this allows us all to offer something a little bit different to our yoga community both as teachers and as students.  And, the fact that we do all offer something a little bit different allows for a great diversity of options, great learning and growth, and great satisfaction with the connections that are created as a consequence of seeing and appreciating another individual's authentic vibe. My practice both on and off the mat is never going to be perfect because there is no perfect. The best that I can do is to keep my gaze (both inner and outer) open, and try to be authentic with where I am and what I can offer to myself and those around me in this moment.

I took so many valuable nuggets from this weekend's training. I may not implement them in the way that the teacher anticipated, but I will do it in a way that is right for me.  Although I was resistant at first, in the end, it seems that the difference makes the practice.

Muse*Practice*Allay Welcomes Guest Blogger Jo Ann Kester: Jo Ann's November Bite: Savoring Harvest TIme (On the Time You Have)

november is a good month for food.   thanksgiving decorations appear with pictures of cornucopias and magazines show off perfect turkeys and glossy cranberry sauce. farmers markets are still overflowing with vegetables and i start thinking about what i will cook for thanksgiving.  of course even though i am dreaming of pumpkin pie my time for full days in the kitchen are pretty much limited to thanksgiving.  it can be frustrating to think of delicious meals only to end up with 20 mins to make dinner (when i am already hungry!) and realize making that nice dinner is just another thing that isn’t going to get done.  some days i want to use up the tasty food from the farmers market in my fridge, but end up dialling up pizza delivery instead.  while there is nothing wrong with the occasional pizza delivery (or more than occasional - just ask my husband) there are ways of enjoying the plenty of fall without elaborate dinners.   my yoga practice helps me to remember that things don’t always have to be complicated to be good.  sometimes simple is just perfect.  on thanksgiving i will spend the day cooking with multiple dishes and new experiments.  but not every day will i have the leisure to cook all day (and have grandpa to baby sit).  so some nights we keep it simple (and some nights i will call for pizza without guilt).  

some ideas for enjoying the harvest simply include making hot mulled cider, making a stew in a slow cooker, or roasting squash or sweet potatoes.   eat a fresh local apple or pear!  i recently tried black bean chili with butternut squash.  it was tasty, filling, and made a ton of food.  i froze some of it for a quick meal at another time.  do you have a favorite fall recipe that is good and easy?  let us know in the comments.  


about jo ann:
jo ann is a full time mom and part-time yoga teacher who has been know to go to three different farmers markets on consecutive days. she tries to be a  mindful eater of local foods (when she isn’t sneaking a piece of chocolate). collecting cookbooks and reading food blogs are things she loves even though she can’t follow a recipe without changing something. in 2007 she graduated from the tranquil space teacher training program where she also worked as a studio manager for three years.  she teaches beginners yoga on monday nights at allay and writes the monthly “jo ann’s bite.”

Muse*Practice*Allay Welcomes Guest Blogger Marisa Martucci: Open the energy of your heart on 11/11/11

On Friday 11/11/11 we have the opportunity to energetically enter the new era of Unity.  What does this mean? Energetically talking, we have been living in the era of divisions/separation, between our human duality of good and bad. Starting Friday, with this energetic shift, we will all become aligned in the same shift of energy. This is why it is the era of Unity. Unity is based in love and its home in our bodies is the heart chakra.

In order to be open and receptive to this shift, take a moment this Friday (11/11/11) to connect yourself with the energy of the Universe. How can you do this? Just take some time to settle down, project yourself into this loving energy and allow your dreams to flow.

Here are some ideas how to connect and align with the Universal energy of love:

• Take a moment and just slow down. Open your heart and let it shine.
• Burn a candle; just take a moment to set an intention to the light of the candle, the same light that lives in your heart.
• Go for a walk. Let your senses open and feel the love inside you connecting with your surrounding.
• Practice some yoga. Connect your body and mind with your breathing, and feel the love and joy of your practice.
• Practice any kind of meditation. At least 5 minutes to center your mind in your heart, and be there

No matter what you decide to do, just feel it with your heart and give space to your dreams to flow in your life.

About Marisa:

Marisa is an Usui Reiki Master Teacher who holds a 200 hr Yoga Certification from Tranquil Space Yoga, Washington DC. Marisa started her yoga path back in her hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2003. When she came to the States, she expanded her yoga certifications to children and children with special needs. Marisa enjoys diversity, small steps and the combination of different techniques to approach quality and wellness in life. She believes that everything happens for a reason, and the reason is always found during the journey. Marisa can be described as a joyful, energetic and creative yoga teacher. 

Marisa's classes at Allay: Open Flow (All Levels), Mondays 7-8 pm; Kids Yoga (ages 4-6), Tuesdays, 5-6 pm.