Newsletter: Winter 2024
Yoga Off The Mat
I’m currently reading an historical fiction book called Chateau Lafayette (highly recommend!), in which one of the main characters states that “Why Not?!” is his family motto. To which his new wife says “It challenged me…To ask why was only to demand justification. To ask why not assumed endless possibility…..”. It may be the English major in me, but I love when a moment in a book hits me so hard that I have to read it again a few times, take a photo of the page to save it, share it with my yoga students, and write about it here. Whew! As I am about to lead my retreat attendees through a vision & goals exercise, a beloved exercise from my years as a Lululemon Ambassador. You begin with your vision for your life 10 years from now, with NO limitations of time, place, energy, or money. I am struck by framing our work in this and everything we do with “why not?” Instead of “why?”. Where is somewhere in your life where you are looking at all of the obstacles, challenges, negatives, and reasons why you can’t do something? WHAT IF you shifted your vision to ask “why not”? I believe that what would often happen with this change of perspective is that you will see that a few of those “why not’s” don’t hold much water and are actually surmountable. What if you operated from possibility in your yoga practice and in your life, instead of from limiting belief? Breakthroughs and BIG things may be possible - why not?
Highlight Pose - Headstand
For the first few years of my yoga practice I was absolutely fearful and avoidant of headstand. Maybe I’d practice it against a wall, but I sure wasn’t holding it long. I remember being at a 100 hour training with Baron Baptiste in which he said “take 5 Sun B’s and finish in classical headstand.” I proceeded to take tripod headstand because that felt more stable and less scary to me. And in front of 70 students, I hear Baron say over his microphone….”Libby. Classical. Headstand”!! I’ll never forget it. For a year following that training, I went upside down in headstand for 10 breaths daily. Headstand (and any inversion in general) is beneficial for many reasons but I’ll give you a few of them - physically, an inversion sends oxygen & nutrient-rich blood to your brain without your heart having to work so hard to pump blood upward; headstand strengthens your shoulders, arms & core; improves digestion; minimizes swelling in the lower body. Mentally, headstand is a reminder to Shift Your Vision and look at something upside down occasionally. Why Not?!? Here are my step-by-steps to work towards Headstand:
Begin with setting up your 3 points of contact: either Classical Headstand with your head and 2 elbows forming a triangle on your mat, or Tripod Headstand with your head and 2 hands forming a triangle on your mat. Imagine if you had paint on your body, you would be able to draw a triangle between your 3 points on the mat - NOT A STRAIGHT LINE.
From your tripod, straighten your legs like down dog. Walk your feet up your mat towards your head and keep walking until your feet get light and most of your weight is in your head and hands or forearms. You should feel like your feet can’t help but start to lift off the floor at this point.
Use Drishti - set your gaze on a fixed point.
When you are ready to go up - hug your knees into your chest first. This will allow you to get your balance vs. throwing your full legs up to the sky.
Stack your pelvis to neutral over your torso, and slowly take your legs up. Hug them towards each other and flex your feet.
UPCOMING RETREATS & PROGRAMS:
*My 2024-2025 Retreats & Programs Schedule will be released March 1st! Here is a general preview so you can get excited. If you have friends who will want to join you, make sure they subscribe to my email list to get the release dates and full details.
Sunday April 21st 1-5pm: 1/2 Day Mother/Daughter Retreat in Greensboro
May 5th-7th: Yoga & Tennis Academy Retreat at Boar’s Head Resort in Charlottesville VA
September: Women’s Retreat at Sage Lodge in Montana
November: Co-ed Yoga & Activities Retreat at Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic
December 2024: Annual Wring Out program (online)
January 2025: Warm Location Women’s Retreat
*Weekly classes - I currently teach 2-3 times per week at Greensboro Power Yoga. Come practice with me at my favorite studio!
*Private Retreats - I have space for only TWO private retreat groups at your own location and tailored to your group. Message me to discuss and book!
