80s Yoga

Eighties music. Eighties fashion. Eighties babies.

Spontaneously, I agreed to make my final Yoga class at Florida State University into an eighties theme. There are hot tub time machines, so I thought there should be a yoga room time machine. I would not have had an eighties yoga class without my good friends Audrina and Olivia. Their passion for eighties music exceeds mine so they gathered their favourite eighties music and created a facebook event page.  We through the yoga themed class together in less than 48 hours when I should have been studying hard for my finals!

The yoga room time machine was totally awesome. Everyone came with some sort of eighties attire. There were a lot of neon colours and swooping t-shirts. A charming lad, Magnificent, even wore glow in the dark sunglasses. My wardrobe coordinator, Audrina, crimped my hair and helped me find the perfect pair of hot pink leggings.  Audrina was in high fashion! Her eighties workout wear included a short gold skirt with a tight black tank top, crimped hair in a high pony tale and sky blue eye shadow matched with bright pink rouge. Olivia surprised us all, with her sporty running buns and cropped t-shirt from Texas. Everyone bowed to her classy look. The ladies helped me lead the group to a different decade.  I had trouble teaching to Madonna's 'like a virgin' but the class energy kept us flowing through until the end :o(  Vinyasa really can be done anywhere and with any kind of music.

It was fun to try something new with something old. I was born in the eighties but never thought I would return while teaching or practicing yoga. I think this might have been my final eighties yoga class, but I was glad to do it for my dedicated students and for the people who love the eighties.

One of my favourite studios, Joschi Body Bodega, in NYC is apparently doing 80s Yoga on a monthly basis! The link shows a high energy experience!


yours gingerly,

Whitney Schnarr

Gluten Free Carrot Cake Recipe Request

Ingredients:

1 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

1/2 cup Raisons

2 1/2 cups raw whole carrots grated 

2 cups Gluten Free all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

4 large eggs (can be replaced with ground flax + water or just egg whites)

1 1/2 cups Natural Sweetener (stevia, honey, raw, raw cane sugar)

1 cup Crushed Pineapple with Juice

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1) In a separate bowl, sift dry ingredients together and set aside.

2) Preheat oven to 350 F

3) Beat four eggs until stiff and frothy

4) Add sugar to eggs and continue to beat until sugar disappears.

5) Add vanilla and Pineapple into wet mixture.

6) Gently fold in dry ingredients into wet mixture.

7) Add walnuts and raisins.

8) Grease a 9 x 13 x 2 inch (23 x 33 x 5 cm) pan.

9) Add ingredients and bake for 45-60 minutes.

10) Check cake after 45 minutes and decide how much longer it should bake. It takes a good amount of time due to the wetness of the pineapple.

After cake has chilled you can ice with a cream cheese frosting!

1 Package of Cream Cheese

1/4 cup Unsweetened vanilla Hemp Milk (any kind of milk works- my preference)

2 teaspoons of Vanilla

1 teaspoon of Cinnamon 

Let me know how it tastes!  Bon Appetite! 


yours gingerly,


Whitney Schnarr

Yoga For Everyone + Rock Star Status

My professor sent me a great Yoga article this morning  from the New York Times. The article, Yoga Manifesto, focuses on Yoga Rock Stars and the booming Yoga business. The author, May Billard, suggests that some Yogis are as recognizable as Oscar winners. It also mentions the costs of Yoga in NYC and how studios are starting to create affordable business plans to accommodate everyone's budget.

For instance, Yoga to the People has focused on providing Yoga classes to everyone. Participants donate whatever amount of money they can afford on that particular day and many do not pay for classes. Class sizes range up to 60 people and they average 450 studio visitors per day. In a place like NYC it is very expensive to own or rent space but by having huge numbers attend classes the studio is surviving and has expanded to other states.

In order to eliminate the Rock Star status, students do not know who is teaching the class until they arrive at the studio. The owner of Yoga to the People, Mr. Gumucio, is trying to reduce instructor preference by not advertising the instructor's name.

Mr. Gumucio found an excellent market niche. In NYC, there is a colossal of amazing instructors and I am sure everyone has something wonderful to share. Yoga for the People gives each instructor an opportunity to have a group of people who just want to practice Yoga.  There are so many instructors wanting to teach Yoga but often have trouble finding a group of people interested. Just getting a job at a Yoga studio is a challenge. The thrill and energy received from guiding a class is inspirational. Everyone interested in teaching Yoga, deserves the experience. I love my Yoga highs from teaching.

Please feel free to read the article and share your insight on the idea of Yoga Rock Star status.

yours gingerly,

W h i t n e y  S c h n a r r

Coffee Smelling Shirt

Dear friends and followers, please do not take offence to my opinion in the following blog. It is personal and heavily influenced by my developmental years. A previous blog focused on my admiration for coffee shops because of their ability to draw in long lines of customers.

Last Thursday I spent my afternoon in a Starbucks Coffee Shop. Starbucks always looks appealing for scholarly work and has a nice atmosphere for group projects. Sometimes Starbucks plays loud and interruptive music but for the most part it has an appealing ambiance.

Sitting in Starbucks last Thursday was rare because I have never been a fan of coffee due to the strong smell and taste. Coffee breath, stained teeth, dehydration, rapid bowl movements and acidic stomach pains describe my experiences. I enjoy some teas but for the most part I avoid caffeinated hot drinks. GT's Kombucha is my beverage of choice and I prefer to sit at New Leaf Market to do my work because it does not smell like coffee.

Right after my group project at Starbucks I headed out on my bicycle and road to Prana Power Yoga for an advanced vinyasa class. I was really excited for class but as soon as I went in the studio all I could smell was the coffee scent on my shirt. The smell was overpowering and it kept interrupting my practice. Too much chita vriti (a previous blog)! Not to mention this was the day that my instructor wanted to give me extra adjustments. As a product of American culture, I am always aware of my scent. I do not wear obnoxious perfumes but I try not to have any profound odors. The coffee was blowing my mind and I was so concerned with my teacher's reaction to the smell that I could barely practice the asanas.

My practice was completely disrupted by the pungent smell of coffee. My lesson was to avoid coffee shops in general. I have such a strong resistance to them that I just need to choose different locations to study.

Please enjoy your Yoga practice and your beverage of choice.

namaste yoga lovers,

Whitney Schnarr

Celebrating Spring

The seasons seem to keep those of us who feel still, in forward motion. The blooming flowers and the changing leaf colours have the power to show the progression of life. The visual effects of each season is miraculous.

I generally follow holiday and birthday events as a representation of time moving forward. It is easy to recall dates when you remember big events; however, the seasons represents earth's longevity and give me a different perspective because I do not like to count each year. Life in my 20s is disappearing quickly and I am working hard to embrace my youth (wheat grass, ice baths, and lots of yoga). Not everyone enjoys counting how many years have flown by and it is nice to just reflect on your surroundings rather than your numbers. The cool thing is that nature will continue to survive even after our lifetime. We can follow it because like each human nature has its own course.

For most northerners (Canadians etc), spring generally represents the elimination of the cold weather. A lot of Ontario citizens love to escape the cold weather and travel to Florida because weather impact daily enthusiasm and emotion. Cold winters make you really appreciate the change of season.

Over the past two weeks I have noticed a substantial increase in energy and enthusiasm around Tallahassee. My Yoga classes, discussions and brief interactions have been vibrant. I am having a blast riding my bike all over town and open to meeting new faces as I wander.

After my heart opening experience with Anusara Yoga, I started researching the practice online and discovered a perfect depiction of my feelings toward the Anusara practice and the arrival of spring.

Please enjoy the you tube video and feel free to post other media that represents the birth of spring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehBjnQZCP54&feature=player_embedded#

namaste

W h i t n e y   

Florida State University's Flying High Circus

I had to post a blurb about the FSU Circus because I went to the opening night and was amazed. The show was free for students and it was full of excitement.

Two of my students were top performers last night; therefore, it is totally Yoga related! The students tried out for the team in the Fall and those who were successful have been practicing ever since. I keep hearing about the chin-up achievements and the increase flexibility. I have seen four different Cirque Du Soleil performances and I loved 'Spectacular' just the same. It was great to see a performing team that has such a long standing tradition of excellence. It is rare to see an opportunity at a University that involves producing and performing in a high quality circus.

The precision, patience and strength needed last night was phenomenal. There was tight rope walking, juggling, unicycling, Trapeze, lion taming and Spanish rope ballet. My nerves were racing and it was amazing to see a performer capture their challenging skills. There were millions of different acts and setting up the props had to be done with precision. Teamwork led the way to a successful 2.5 hour show. I might go back for another free show.

From a Yoga perspective, practitioners and instructors can relate based on the amount of time and energy they put into their practice. Each posture, and breath takes practice. Your body is constantly changing and adapting. I am sure that some of the freshman Circus performers will grow stronger over the years and see a huge improvement in their skills. There were lots of partner poses similar to Yoga as well.

Make some time to check out the 'Spectacular' Circus at FSU and maybe consider trying out yourself.
Website: http://circus.fsu.edu/

flying high

Whitney

Etiquette and Comparison

Ideally, instructors and participants want the perfect class.  A class with communal energy, inspiring words of wisdom and a balance in the variety of postures, sounds ideal. We are not all looking for the white picket fence and Julie Child's perfect cooking techniques. Unfortunately, we all have our own vision of the perfect class on the specific day. It does not always turn out to be perfect but it is important to modify and work with what you can. Giving-up is not always the best option. Work with your emotions and do not let them overcome your designated time for physical, mental and spiritual release.

The challenge of setting aside the time to practice Yoga or exercise in a group is admirable, and it is hard when the class does not suit your needs. Trying to modify the class to suit you and  reaching for the positive will only make your time worthwhile.

Recently, I have noticed a difference between my Yoga classes and my body tone class at my fitness center. Yoga class continues to hold strong attendance and when people have to leave early they tell me in advance. The students love the class but they have academic time tables, too. In my body tone class, lately students have been leaving ten minutes before the end of the 55 minute class.  They leave as soon as stretching and the final steps begin. As soon as one person leaves nine more follow. One student always reminds me that she has class and has to dart quickly before the end of class. Thank you for consideration. It is hard to understand whether a student is appreciating the class or completely miserable.

Another significant difference I have noticed is the level of energy and stimulation found in each class. Yogis are constantly challenging themselves, asking questions and looking for more opportunity to practice. The body tone participants are far from engaging because they keep their cell phones close, leave early, and struggle putting the equipment away properly. Who answers their cell phone and texts during a workout? Not all participants in each category I mentioned above match up, but this is the majority.

My body tone class could be lagging because I am much more focused on Yoga and incorporate alignment and breath throughout the class. The students in body tone are looking for someone to motivate them throughout the whole class and give them the "perfect" workout. Yogis seem to be always ready for a new pace and style. They show more exploration and bring their own energy to share with the students.

Last night I went to a restaurant to specifically have its Tallahassee, FL famous black bean burger. The black bean burger was unavailable and two of us were disappointed. We had anticipated the ideal meal and it was hard to find another item on the menu. After a little adapting and looking further into the options I chose the perfect item. I survived and had a black bean burger today at another location. Somehow the stars aligned and I was able to have what I wanted a day later.

Finally, if a class does not suit your needs talk to the instructor and see if they have any suggestions. Share your insights or just move on after the class is completed. The instructor wants to give their best and it is nice to share in the giving energy. Karma.

Peace friends.

Whitney =)