Healthy Living

Habitual Harm

What may start out as a good decision, if turned habitual, may become a detriment. It is important to remember that every moment of every day we are a different person with different needs. For example, I was once on an 80 mile bike ride and my friend and I misjudged the number of calories we would need to have with us. I felt my energy getting low and bought a Snicker bar. Normally, I would never eat processed candy full of hydrogenated oils, but the gas station only had…read more

Jan.11

Yoga with Wings

Posted by Katie Armstrong in Solo Practice, Yoga Etiquette

I travel as much as possible, but I don’t like to sacrifice my practice. Yoga in airports has its own complications. Here are a few tips that will hopefully motivate you to practice even if your life frequently has you a mile in the sky. 1. CLOTHING: Wear loose, dark, conservative yoga clothing. Avoid bright colors or clothes that are low-cut or revealing. The main goal is avoiding unnecessary attention that can make staying focused on your practice more difficult. Make sure your clothes are comfortable. This is not only ideal for…read more

Jan.10

Being True to Your Heart

Posted by Katie Armstrong in Focus: One Asana at a Time

Honoring your heart takes courage. Whether that means sharing your truth in the face of a loved one’s discomfort, or holding strong when the wave of a deep hip opener surges your body with emotion…listening to this internal guru can only lead to good things. Asana Practice: Today my practice was lethargic and my mood a tad heavy. It was dark and bleak outside and I miss my friends and home as I prepare to set off on a long voyage. I started my asana practice on the ground in child’s…read more

Jan.08

Hanuman Festival

Posted by Katie Armstrong in Yoga

I’m delighted to announce that Boulder, Colorado is going to have its first Yoga/Music Festival and Expo this summer. This lovely event will happen June 16-19, with fun for all ages. http://hanumanfestival.com/ The main yoga teachers include: Seane Corn, Darren Main, Kathryn Budig and Amy Ippoliti. Oh boy! I was asked to teach a yoga class for adolescents and teenagers for the festival. I am so excited. I found my practice inspired today by what I would like to share with people of this age. In addition, I will have…read more

Jan.07

Honoring the Body

Posted by Katie Armstrong in Art Of Yoga, Weight Training

Our bodies communicate to us. The trick is learning which messages are true and which messages are deceptions. Pain and discomfort are interesting messengers. As an athlete, it is important to learn which variety of pain means STOP, and which varieties of pain are safe to push through. The same can be said of fatigue. When is it best to listen and lay down, and when is it important to show the body who is boss? Part of answering these questions requires knowing your body and your own personal tendencies. …read more

Jan.06

Churning the Sacred Fire

Posted by Katie Armstrong in 8 Limbs of Yoga

Yoga Philosophy: The second limb of yoga is Niyama. Niyama means “rules” or “laws.” The five niyamas describe the type of rules we should place on ourselves. They are the code of conduct we hold ourselves to in order for each of us to live soulfully. Of the five Niyamas, the fourth is svadhyaya. Sva means “self,” adhyaya means “inquiry” or “examination. Therefore Svadhyaya means self inquiry and refers to any activity that cultivates self-reflective consciousnes. Svadhyana means to intentionally find self-awareness in all our activities and efforts, even to the point of welcoming…read more

Jan.05

Jan.04

The Key to the Heart is Found in Mysterious Places

Posted by Katie Armstrong in Self Help

When in doubt I start my practice dancing. Whether I’m tired, hyper, full of food, tight, or sore, one of my favorite ways to start doing yoga is by shaking my booty. I recommend dancing as a start to most activities. Dancing is healing and rejuvenating and a great way to check in with your body and spirit. Today, dancing revealed a message from my heart. It wanted attention and it wanted more space. Asana Practice: My first pose was a gentle back bend from tadasana (standing with arms raised). I think its…read more

Distilling Distractability with Distraction

Posted by Katie Armstrong in Art Of Yoga, Self Help

Heavy dreams last night and a busy morning had me awake shortly before my alarm went off. The day was what I like to refer to as a “natural caffeine” day, one where I’m careful to provide calming substances such as fish oil and relaxing tea to my system. I used a cornucopia of practice techniques to occupy my mind in order to rest in the bliss of meditative mind. Meditation: On mornings like these, I try to do breath work (“pranayama”) or mantras prior to beginning my normal meditation routine…read more

Jan.03

Jan.02

Bright and Shining Velocity Control

Posted by Katie Armstrong in Self Help, Yoga

I woke up enthusiastic and playful and I wanted to be sure to take that energy to the mat. I set the intention of a solar (as opposed to lunar) practice that would be upbeat and challenging. I found myself very well-balanced and able to pay attention to detail. It surprised me to find that I could slow poses way way down and maintain vibrancy. I actually found the partnering of high vibrations and slow movements to be very vitalizing and will intentionally slow down the next time I find…read more