Power to the Pita!

Happy holidays, everyone!

Still on the baking high from the past few weeks, I thought I'd share a recipe for one of my favorite staples, pita bread.  I love pita bread because it is not as heavy as other grain choices and is incredibly versatile-- at the risk of sounding like Bubba from Forrest Gump; you can dip it, stuff it, make pita chips... the list goes on and on!

For the website version, click here.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of yeast, or quick rising yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 cup lukewarm water

Preparation:

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup of warm water. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Let sit for 10-15 minutes until water is frothy. (*tip: test the water temp. on the back of your wrist; it should match your body temperature.)

Combine flour and salt in large bowl.

Make a small depression in the middle of flour and pour yeast water in depression.

Slowly add 1 cup of warm water, and stir with wooden spoon or rubber spatula until elastic.

Place dough on floured surface and knead for 10-15 minutes. When the dough is no longer sticky and is smooth and elastic, it has been successfully kneaded. 

Before... (thanks for modeling, mom)

After! 

Coat large bowl with vegetable oil and place dough in bowl. Turn dough upside down so all of the dough is coated.

Allow to sit in a warm place for about 3 hours, or until it has doubled in size. 

Once doubled, roll out in a rope, and pinch off 10-12 small pieces. Place balls on floured surface. Let sit covered for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 500 deg F. and make sure rack is at the very bottom of oven. Be sure to also preheat your baking sheet.

Roll out each ball of dough with a rolling pin into circles. Each should be about 5-6 inches across and 1/4 inch thick. 

My interpretation of a circle

Bake each circle for 4 minutes until the bread puffs up. Turn over and bake for 2 minutes.

Remove each pita with a spatula from the baking sheet and add additional pitas for baking.

Voila! 

Take spatula and gently push down puff. Immediately place in storage bags. 

Enjoy! 

In light and love, Ainsley 

Trust creates peace

Happy holidays, everyone!

Trust creates peace.
I came across this mantra while brewing some of my favorite Yogi tea.  I love discovering each tea bag's mantra like this one because I believe the tea bag, in some cosmic way, chooses me.  (**Blogger's note: Upon revision, I do realize how crazy that sentence sounds.  In my defense; however, I am quite superstitious and through experience have found things have a way of finding you when you most need them.)

This particular mantra, like most others, came to me at the exact right time.  With graduation (thankfully/hopefully..) in sight and the holiday season in full effect, I find myself in the midst of loose ends, uncertainty and questions.  While I do find joy in the mystery of it all, I also find myself exploring every possible question/outcome over and over again.  Which brings us to the mantra...

Trust creates peace.  Okay, now read that again... powerful, isn't it? Trust in the future, trust in the universe, trust in others, and most importantly trust in yourself.  It is easy to assume that uncertainty in our lives is a result of something we are lacking or are incapable of doing.  However, isn't there always  some level of uncertainty in each day?  With cultivating a sense of trust to replace doubt, life transforms into your own wonderful mystery, unfolding before you one day at a time.  Instead of thinking it will work out, know it will.  Have faith in yourself!  After all, you've come this far, haven't you? :)

Okay, now read it again: trust creates peace.  Say it to yourself.  Take a deep breath in and exhale slowly.  Ahhhhh.  Feel better?  Give yourself a hug.  Feel the peace.  Trust creates peace.

And because you can never say it too much... "You is smart, you is kind, you is important."
(If you don't know where that's from, click here.)

In light and love, Ainsley

FREE YOGA!

Who doesn't love free ish??

This is the PERFECT chance to come check out everything the Glowing Body has to offer!

This coming Sunday, enjoy FREE 30 minute samples of our classes and healing arts demos, too!
Discounts on class cards, books, yoga props, mats, and apparel to help fill those stockings with the gift that keeps on giving: YOGA!

Click here for the schedule.

(Can you tell I had coffee this morning?)

In light and love, Ainsley

Broccoli-Edamame Soup with (optional) Jumbo Cheese Croutons

December is here!  Unfortunately, that means cold weather is too (remember, I'm a heat-aholic).  The good news? It is soup season!!  Along with salads, I love how pretty much anything can be turned into a warm, delicious soup. 

This recipe- taken from Vegetarian Times  magazine, is sure to warm you and your loved ones up with healthy deliciousness!

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped (2 cups)
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 3 cups frozen shelled edamame
• 1 lb. broccoli, trimmed, stems and florets chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
• 8 1/2-inch-thick slices from skinny whole-grain baguette
• 4 oz. aged goat cheese, shaved

Directions:

1. Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion and nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Sauté 10 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup broth, scraping bottom of pot to lift off any brown bits. Add remaining 51/2 cups broth, edamame, broccoli, and garlic. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, partially covered, 20 minutes.

 
 **Optional step! I enjoyed my soup sans cheese croutons, although a little crunch does balance out the texture.
2. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange baguette slices on baking sheet, and bake 6 minutes, or until crunchy on both sides. Remove from oven, and arrange cheese over toasts. Return to oven, and bake 6 minutes more, or until cheese has softened.

3. Working in batches, transfer soup to blender, and blend until creamy and smooth. Return soup to pot, and warm over low heat. Ladle soup into 8 shallow soup bowls; float 1 cheese crouton in center of each bowl. 
(Note: I left a little chunk to my soup by not blending it all the way.  You can, too! Just leave ~ 2 cups unblended, or choose the "chop" option and pulse until soup reaches desired consistency.)  

Bon appétit!

In light and love, Ainsley 

"Dear ____, thank you for ______. Sincerely, ____"

Happy Thanksgiving, bloggers!

It seemed to be a no-brainer that I write today...

Call me oldfashioned, but I believe there is no better way to express yourself than through the written word (hence the blog). To me, letter writing is a lost art and, when the opportunity presents itself, there is nothing more appropriate or appreciated than a thank you note. Remember the days of thank you notes with "dear ______, thank you for the ______. sincerely, _______"? I used to dread the task; however, in my not-so-old age I've come to really enjoy writing (and receiving) thank you notes.

I love this holiday because it is an entire day dedicated to giving thanks in the company of family, whatever form that might take. Especially in the busy world we live in, it is easy to lose sight of the everyday miracles and blessings in our lives. For example, I often catch myself focusing more on what I can improve rather than the many things for which I am thankful. Nothing brings me back to center more than a good old-fashioned thank you note, whether it be to the universe, others, or myself. Taking time to write out exactly what you are thankful for is a great meditative, centering practice. For example, today I am lucky enough to spend the holiday with my famiky in the beautiful Appalachain mountains. During a morning walk with my family, I "wrote" a mental thank you note, starting with the obvious (family, friends, health, etc.) and moving into what I observed (the creek, fresh air, animals, nature in general..). For me, it is a spiritual practice as well; although, it certainly does not have to be!

I hope that in sharing with you we can give thanks together and work with one another to live our lives as one long, meaningful thank you note.

Thanks for being YOU! You are light, you are love, you are perfect just the way you are! :)

In light and love,
Ainsley

Kirtan

Happy Sunday, everyone!


Thanks to everyone for coming to the Glowing Body's customer appreciation party last night, it was great to see all you beautiful yogis outside the classroom! Also, a BIG thanks to Tammy Kaousias, Jen Coffin, Ajeet Khalsa, and the rest of the Glowing Body staff for such a great party!

The wine, yogi tea, and desserts were wonderful... but my favorite part? Kirtan, of course!
For those who are unfamiliar with the practice, Kirtan is a tradition from Bhakti yoga, one of the eight limbs of yoga.  Bhakti means "devotion" or "love" and contains different practices to unify the Bhakti yoga practitioner (bhakta) with the Divine.  The practice of Kirtan dates back to ancient India where people would gather in the streets praising deities and losing themselves in a state of bliss.  Kirtan is call and response chanting using the vibrational language of Sanskrit to "purify the mind, open the heart, and awaken the soul". 

What draws me in to Kirtan is the sense of community and connection I feel with myself, others, and the world around me.  The first Kirtan I attended was during my teacher training at the Glowing Body.  Being the third weekend to meet, I was reserved about fully opening my heart and mind to the practice in front of a group of people I just met- it seemed too vulnerable.  However, once the music began it allowed us to all shed our masks and just be.  That continues to be my experience with Kirtan and the reason why I love it so much-you see every individual's personal experience with the chant as well as their contribution to the powerful group energy in the room.  It provides a platform to say "here I am! here we are!", as well as an opportunity to fully realize the deep connections between yourself, others and the Divine.

Here is a link to one of my favorites... enjoy! Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

Cheers to YOU!

Let's party!!!


THIS SATURDAY, from 7:00-10:00 p.m, my home away from home, the Glowing Body is having a customer appreciation party to thank all you wonderful yogis (and everyone else) for your loving support and dedication.  What better way to spend the weekend than giving yourself a pat on the back (and having dessert fireside) and partying with your yoga community? 

Kirtan starts the party off right with a special performance by Sangita Devi from Asheville, NC.  It is a wonderful, soul-satisfying experience.  Maybe one of my favorite aspects of yoga!

After Kirtan, snack on some delicious treats made by your hardworking, talented teachers and GB staff. 

Click here to read more...

See you there :)

In light and love, Ainsley

Shameless plug..

Here is a great video Erica Palmer, journalist extraordinaire, did for a school project.  I had to share- it turned out great! Enjoy :)

Click here to watch

[Insert name here] in Wonderland

I often say if my life were a movie, it would be entitled Ainsley in Wonderland. 

Each and every day is filled with so much beauty and wonder it is almost silly.  I am always reminded of this during the changing of seasons, especially this fall.  Each individual leaf is a work of art in itself; and what luscious colors!  Taking a step back from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives opens our eyes and hearts (the Anusara in me..) to the overwhelming amount of beauty in each moment presented to us. 

I have to admit, some days certainly do not feel like Wonderland (or maybe just seem like the scary part with the Queen of Hearts...), but isn't that what makes our "Wonderland" so wonderful?  Even in those moments, grace and wonder still abound. 
For example, yesterday my schedule was packed with not a moment to spare.  While rushing from yoga to class (thank you, Taylor, for the ride!), I began to fixate on how rushed I was.  After allowing myself about five minutes to get all my "crazy" out, I took a step back and realized I was so busy because I was doing what I love most (teaching & practicing yoga) and fortunate enough to receive an education.  I have to admit, the school part took quite a bit longer to find the "wonder" in during class lecture...but just like in yoga, there is always a balance. 

Start with the minute details of your life and see the wonder.  Some examples:
- The food you are eating- Wow! Doesn't it taste phenomenal?! Isn't it amazing certain ingredients combine to create something so tasty?
- Or, the car you drive: How cool is it that we can take elements, pieces of metal, rubber, and who knows what else (certainly not me) to make a machine that drives you?
- Even crowds: Every individual in that crowd is completely unique.  No two people look the same; they each have their own set of natural abilities, skills, and interesting qualities...just like you.  Now, that is amazing!

As you work your way towards the overall picture- or should I say motion picture- it is surreal how much wonder, beauty and grace move in, around, and through our lives.  The best part? This isn't a movie.  Wonderland is reality. 

In light and love, Ainsley

Had to include some Louis Armstrong-enjoy!

Home Base

Forgive me bloggers, for I have slacked...it has been almost 2 months since my last entry.

In the spirit of the world series, of which I admittedly did not watch, I thought I'd blog about "home base" and (try to) use the sport as an analogy for life.
     What makes home base so distinct from the others? A single is nice, a double better, a triple better still, yet a home run takes the cake every time. Reverting back to my softball days in grade school, there was always something about touching home base that made it so much more satisfying than any other. The idea of home base has transcribed into aspects of life outside baseball. "touching base", having a home base"...Home base to me means my foundation. That ineffable, safe place from which to start endeavors of all kinds. It is the root that makes sense of the other "bases", or areas of my life. From home base, I am able to see more clearly how to realize my intentions & gain perspective.
     In yoga, this essence is often viewed as the root chakra, or muladhara.  Associated with survival, individuality, and groundedness; muladhara is the foundation upon which all chakras flourish and are sustained.
   For me (especially when ruled by vata), it is all too easy to focus on where I want to go rather than where I am in the moment. The old saying, "how do you know where you're going if you don't know where you've been" proves true time and again. After the busy month of October, I found myself feeling out of touch with my home base; focusing on the future rather than the here & now. With the holiday season and exams (!) quickly approaching, there is no time like the present to dust off your home base & from that perspective take a look at life from a solid foundation. There are a few people I consider a "home base" in their own right who both naturally & unconsciously keep me centered and help keep my inner peace. Home bases can be anything: places, people, favorite pastimes (including baseball! & yoga!), journals...& most importantly, that omnipresent space inside you.
     What's your home base? Join me in showing those home bases some love & giving our best effort to hit a "home run" in the amazing game of life.

In light and love, Ainsley

This breath, this moment

The full moon tonight brings lots of energetic shifts and is known to "stir the pot" of life.  As we begin to see the seasons change, change of many different kinds occur as well.  Many times I find myself getting caught up in the  small changes and lose sight of the present moment.  A meditation technique/mantra I've been working with lately came to me when, during a lengthy personal practice, I began to slowly slip away from the present moment and thinking about what I needed to get done as well as other thoughts that so often cloud the mind.  Upon realizing I was focused more on my to-do list than my practice, I started to repeat "this breath, this moment".  As I inhaled, bringing attention to "this breath"; as I exhaled, "this moment".  Slowly, I started to come back to my practice and reach that moment of effortless consciousness (otherwise known as the crack rock of yoga).  In our day to day lives, it is easy to think too much of the many "bigger pictures" and lose sight of the gift each moment brings, breath by breath. 

Especially in light of the anniversary of 9/11, I am reminded more than usual of the importance of each and every breath we take, each and every moment we are alive.  Many times I catch myself wishing things played out differently or had gone differently than I had planned.  But by focusing on this breath, this moment, I am quickly reminded that I have already been given the best situation of all- I am alive! I can breathe! Really, think about it- you are breathing in and out while all the organs in your body are being nourished and maintained by that breath.  It's fascinating! From this perspective, life really is a set of tiny miracles, strung together by each breath, each moment. 

Kale and white bean soup

Happy Thursday!

Given the relentless rainy and cold weather in good ole east Tennessee, I thought I'd share one of my favorite soup recipes to feed the body & soul.  (click here to view the cookbook.) 

Kale and White Bean Soup

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 cup (130 g) peeled and chopped carrots
1 celery stalk, chopped
1/2 cup (75 g) peeled and cubed potatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
6 cups (1.4 l) water
2 tablespoons white miso paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander (or equal parts cinnamon and nutmeg)
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups (135 g) chopped kale, with hard spine removed
1 (14-ounce/400 g) can white beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
Pinch of Pepper

Directions:
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add the onion and saute until golden brown, about 4 minutes. 
Add the garlic, carrots, celery, potatoes, and tomato paste, and saute until the ingredients are well combined. 
Add the water, white miso, cumin, coriander, and salt and bring to a boil. 
Lower the heat and summer 30 minutes. 
Add the kale, white beans, and thyme and simmer another half hour. 
Garnish with basil and pepper before serving. 

ENJOY! :)

In light and love, Ainsley

Meditation on the heart

This is a meditation technique I've been working with, I am sure there are other yogis who have come up with the same...

The past week and a half have been kinda crazy energetically-has anyone else felt the same? I've felt strong currents of highs and lows shifting all around and have a hard time not being affected by my surrounding energy (I am, after all, a Libra).  Especially with school starting and my funky muscle (Is it a hamstring? My ilipsoas?) problem, I sometimes find myself short of breath. 

It started as a reflex, when I start to feel overwhelmed I press my right hand against my chest and take deep, distinct breaths to calm down.  There is something so soothing about feeling my heartbeat with my hands as I breathe deeply; it reminds me that I am alive and okay no matter what circumstance (large or small) arise. 

Recently, I have been playing with adding visualization with my breathing/heart grabbing.  As I take each breath, pausing in between each one to feel my heartbeat, I visualize my heart and the life it is constantly giving me- the blood pumping throughout my body, the oxygen riding on that blood giving new life with each breath.  With each breath, I imagine my heart becoming increasingly lighter and freer.  I breathe in new life; I exhale that which no longer serves me. 

Whether or not you practice this meditation on the heart, know that with each exhale you make room for the new life that comes with each inhale. 

Remember to breathe.  Remember your infinitely powerful, kind heart.  Remember to share your heart with the world, one breath at a time. 

In light and love, Ainsley

Open to grace

It's funny how life works out.  Just when you think you can see the road for miles, it veers off in another direction that ends up being richer and more fulfilling than any perceived path.

In my personal practice as well as my classes, I have been drawing from Anusara yoga.  Both consciously and subconsciously, I have been captivated by the beauty of heart openers and the passionate expression of asanas (poses) in an Anusara practice.  Founded in 1997 by John Friend, Anusara yoga combines Tantric philosophy with Universal Principles of Alignment.  It is a "celebration of the heart".  For me, it is this celebration which allows me to express the infinite joy and inner strength I feel in yoga.  For me, yoga is the light switch that channels my inner "electric current" and turns on my lightbulb heart to shine forth off my mat and in the world.  Heart openers always have a "TA DA!" feel to them as my heart (energetically) hovers above my chest like a beacon.  (Did I mention I LOVE heart openers?!) 

One of the principles of Anusara yoga is to "open to grace".  Talking with an Anusara yogi, it finally clicked.  I was feverishly chasing this oppenness to grace found through the celebration of the heart.  It is amazing the difference between openness and resistance.  So many times in my life, because I am often able to, I push myself far beyond my limits to what I perceive is the "right thing".  Physically, mentally and emotionally, I catch myself using my high energy level to proceed down my path in a forced march rather than with an open heart/mind.  The funny thing is, no matter how much I want to, I never have the final say.  There is something much larger than I at work and the beauty of life is to open to grace and to see its presence every day.

Take a step back, a deep breath in and gaze in wonder at the path that has already unfolded before you.  Open to grace, and smile!  Life is wonderful, just like you.

In light and love, Ainsley

The Reverse Bucket List

Hello again!

You know the concept of a bucket list, right? Write a list of things you want to accomplish before you die... well how about the "reverse bucket list"?  Not too long ago I was introduced to this version of a bucket list by a woman who has accomplished so much and has such a great lease on life (Mrs. Becky, you're amazing!).  She said that she made a bucket list of what she was thankful that she has already done.  What a great idea!

Often times it is easy to keep setting goals or reaching for new and to forget to look back at all the wonderful things life has already given us.  It's important to always be reaching for that next star, but remember to take a look back every now and then to see the amazing constellation your life has already made!

There is so much in this life to be thankful for it's unreal!

This weekend, I am especially thankful for my oldest and dearest friends as well as the good friends that have come my way.  What are you thankful for?

In light and love, Ainsley

Updated class schedule

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Here is my current teaching schedule for the rest of August.. I added 2 new classes that I am very excited about!

Mondays: Hot Flow @ The Glowing Body 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m ; 7:45-9:15 p.m.

Wednesdays: Rise & Shine (vinyasa) yoga @ The Practice 6:00-7:15 a.m. ; Hot Flow @ The Glowing Body 11:45-1:15

Fridays: Hot Flow @ The Glowing Body 11:45-1:15

Sundays: Hot Yoga @ The Practice

See you there!

In light and love, Ainsley

Intention

With the end of summer and (for many) the beginning of a new school/work year approaching, I thought it appropriate to blog about intention.  For me, this time of year always has a New Year's feel to it because of the start of another chapter in my life.  There is an abundance of new: new classes, new surroundings, new schedule, new (or more evolved) outlook...etc.  All these facets to life give cause for setting a new intention to assimilate the new. 

In yoga, we see the power of intention shine through our practice by setting an intention at the beginning of class and honoring it throughout.  For example, my intention for the last class I took was to listen.  In yoga class as well as in life, I often find myself moving too quickly from one thing to the next too quick because I either know (or think I know) what the teacher is going to say or what is going to happen next; turning off my ears and missing the beauty in listening.  Before class started, I looked at myself in the mirror and said "For the next 90 minutes, I am listening to the instructor and following along".  Instead of approaching the intention with "wiggle room" (i.e. "I am going to try and listen"), setting an intention by stating that you are already honoring your intention sets you up for success.  (And who doesn't love instant gratification?!)

Take some time and reflect on what your goals are and what steps are necessary in order to accomplish them.  From there, your intention is easy! Write, blog :), journal or talk about it as if it is a plan already set in action...because it is!

My intention is to appreciate and truly live each moment.  What is yours?

In light and love, Ainsley

Come Practice at The Practice!

I am so happy to announce the Knoxville yoga community is expanding even further with a new yoga studio opening this Friday!! Jai Krishna!!

The Practice Yoga studio is a place where you can continue to deepen your practice through a variety of hatha yoga classes including restorative, vinyasa, hot power, hot flow (my class!) and balancing flow yoga.    I am excited to work with some of the most talented, insightful and inspirational yogis I know and cannot wait to see how my practice evolves.

This Friday, August 12th, The Practice Studio opening weekend starts off with a FREE yoga class from 4:30-5:30 p.m. followed by a Lululemon trunk show from 5:30-7:30 p.m.  No better way to start off the weekend!
This Saturday, August 13th, The Practice Studio and its sister business, Keyfit Sports and Fitness Training is offering a FREE Bootcamp at 9:30 a.m.

And now for the shameless plug... This Sunday 5:30-7:00 p.m. I teach hot flow at The Practice Studio and would love to see you there!

In light and love, Ainsley

Moksha

Namaste bloggers!

The past two days I have felt my Self in an energetic chokehold of sorts, unable to pinpoint both the source of my perceived restraints and exactly what undigested energy needed to be addressed.  Being a libra, it is in my nature to adapt to the present circumstances and go from there.  So naturally, being unsure of how I need to adapt or approach a situation leaves me 99% of the time overanalyzing and in an inertia of sorts.  Unfortunately for me, most times the universe does not cater to me and I am left with uncertainty for longer than I would like (wouldn't that be cool if it did!).  It is during these times of uncertainty where I feel infinite gratitude for yoga.

Yoga is my release, my "moksha", from all the "mind-stuff" (Sutra I.II).  Whenever I am feeling cast adrift or in a chokehold, I step onto my mat.  Most times I just sit there, thinking of where to go from there, stuck in the same restraints.  It is that action to breath, come into table, or just start with suryanamaskara A until I can tap into my inner teacher and move forward.  Those practices are always the most beneficial because I am forced to leave my thoughts, ego and distractions behind and in some form or another move forward.  My mat is my magic carpet that takes me away from what I don't need and brings me to my destination, wherever/whatever that might me.  Yoga is my magic carpet!

Today's apex pose was camel, a heart and chest opener to release any guarded energy.  Practicing and teaching today gave me that much needed release and although I am still uncertain about how to adapt to particular life situations, I am reminded to let go of the expectations of myself and others and allow my light to shine and my inner peace to remain constant. 

Say this outloud (don't be shy!): I AM INFINITE! I AM LIGHT! I AM PEACE!
Now give yourself a hug! You are wonderful. 

In light and love, Ainsley

Kombucha: The Wonder Drink!

Feeling anything less than your best? Reach for kombucha tea and feel healed from the inside out!

Kombucha is a fermented mushroom tea whose origins date back to the Chinese Tsin dynasty in 212 B.C.  It is said that wise men would descend from atop the Himalayas to harvest kombucha in the valleys below.  The formula was passed down through many generations to create a fermented tea that served as an effervescent elixir.  Kombucha was referred to as the "Remedy for Immortality" or the "Tea of Immortality", and with good reason!  Through trade routes the tea spread to India and Russia as well as Japan between WWI and WWII to share the drink responsible for their longevity, health and well-being around 415 A.D.

Nowadays, you don't have to hike over to the Himalayas to taste the nectar of the gods (or what I believe it to be, anyways...).  You can find a kombucha at most health food stores and now in some supermarkets, including Earth Fare, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, Green Life (Asheville), select Kroger stores and the Glowing Body in Knoxville (shameless plug!).  Nothing starts my day like a sip from this bubbly, scrumptious tea!

 I could write a love poem about this stuff! In fact, I think I just might...

"SONNET XLIV, FROM THE CHINESE" (For all the other poetry nerds out there, yes I am drawing from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Sonnet XLIII, From the Portuguese", one of my favorite poems!)

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways (or list the benefits)

• detoxifying, promoting healthy livers and preventing cancer (not yet proven by FDA)
• contains glucosamines, which help prevent or treat arthritis 
• probiotics improve digestion 
• rich in antioxidants
• noted for reducing or eliminating the symptoms or fibromyalgia, anxiety and depression

So what are you waiting for? DRINK UP!
Cheers to your health :)

In light and love, Ainsley

Breathe and Allow

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

After taking a quite respite with my sister in Asheville, I am back and blogging!

Sunday I took another Bikram yoga class at Bikram Yoga Asheville.  Throughout the class, two words that continued to echo in my mind long after the class finished were "breathe" and "allow".  "Breathe" is a common word heard in almost all yoga classes; however, "allow" is not so common.  The two words were brought together by the teacher's emphasis on finding our edge in each asana and then to breathe and allow.  Allow for stillness to find us, change to happen and growth as a person.  Like everything in yoga class, this lesson can be easily taken off the mat and applied to our daily lives.

In our day-to-day busy lives, reminding ourselves to allow is equally important as reminding ourselves to breathe.  Sometimes we are unaware of how much we are holding on to that no longer benefits us, preventing us from allowing new growth to take place.  We may also fear the newness or uncertainty change brings with it.  As you go throughout your day, remind yourself to breathe and allow.  Open your heart and mind to the possibility of letting go of what is no longer needed and allowing room for growth and change.  Breathe and allow.

In light and love, Ainsley 

The yoga community

Hello from Asheville!

I was lucky enough to be able to take a wonderful Bikram yoga class today at Bikram Yoga Asheville.  One aspect of Bikram yoga that I love is that no matter where you are or what language you speak, you are able to connect with a community outside your own and follow along with the class.

Which got me to thinking...yoga is also community.  It is the unspoken (and sometimes spoken) language everyone understands.  Often times in the fast paced world we live in I find myself feeling somewhat disconnected from others.  Being an avid texter and not a phone person does not help my case.  A yoga studio is one place I know I can go and feel reconnected to both my Self and others.  Today, during the second set of pranayama, the class took the last two inhales and exhales together without the teacher setting the pace.  The room was silent as we listened to and felt the breath move in and out of our body- it was beautiful!  There is something about breathing & moving in synchrony with others that fuels the fire of life within me and keeps me going back day after day to practice.

I hope this blog can serve as a community of sorts by connecting us all through the shared interest in yoga. :)

In light and love, Ainsley

Speak out to keep the Endangered Species Act!

World Wildlife Fund is an organization very dear to my heart.  As humans, we have an obligation to speak for those who do not have a voice.  PLEASE do your part and tell your congressman to keep funding for the Endangered Species Act!! Your voice matters!
To email congress concerning funding for the Endangered Species Act, click here.  Thank you!


In love and light, Ainsley

Blue Sky Meditation

Hello again! Thanks everyone for such a warm response to my first post. :) You are amazing! 

For today's post I wanted to share a meditation technique I came across in The Yoga Handbook, An Inspirational Reference for Teaching and Home Practice .  (click here to learn more about the book!)

In this particular meditation technique, you begin sitting tall in a comfortable seated position (easy pose, half or full lotus) and imagine an endless, clear blue sky.  See the color.  Smell the fresh air.  Feel the sun on your skin and on your face.  While sitting there, if a thought arises in your mind that distracts you from concentrating completely on the blue sky, imagine it as a cloud and watch it as it passes by.  Allow yourself to acknowledge the thought, but more importantly, allow yourself to let it pass by as a cloud does in the sky.  Notice how when thoughts or distractions occur while meditating on this clear blue sky, every one passes by, leaving the sky as it was before the cloud appeared. 

 Now imagine yourself as the endless blue sky.  You are pure, infinite, unaffected by the clouds that pass by.  Often times a "cloud" comes along causing us to lose sight of the bigger picture.  No matter what the size of these clouds, they can have the power to cloud our day or life only if we let them.  Similarly, ignoring the cloud does not make it disappear; often times ignoring a distracting thought or event simply makes it a bigger "cloud" to acknowledge later and usually not when we are ready to do so.  Just like the sky, life has clouds that come and go.  Some are bigger and darker than others, but they are temporary.  We are like the blue sky: infinite, vast and pure.  


As you go throughout your day or week, imagine distractions or thoughts as clouds and acknowledge them for what they are.  They are thoughts, they are not you.  You are the blue sky.  


In love and light, Ainsley

My first blog!

Hello fellow bloggers!  Welcome!  For those of you who do not know how clueless I am when it comes to technology, this blog is a HUGE accomplishment.


My intention for this blog is to share with whomever may stumble across this page my path with yoga and anything that might relate to yoga...which, conveniently for me (see ya writer's block!), is everything!

This intention raises the age old question, "What is yoga?" 
....Fellow RYTS (Registered Yoga Teachers), all together now.. "Yogas Citta Vriti Nirodhah" Yoga Sutra I-2.  Translated, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali states that "the restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga". 

But what is yoga to me?  For me, yoga is life.  Everything, at all times, is yoga.  Yoga literally means "to yoke", to bring together.  For me, every second of every day is part of my yoga practice.  Yoga is the breath that moves in, out and around me; it is my asana practice, the classes I teach, my relationships with others and most importantly with my Self.  Yoga is joy, knowledge, connection, integration, satisfaction, ananda ("bliss"); however, it is just as much pain, suffering, confusion and challenging.  If it were not dualistic, it would not be the infinitely powerful force it is.  Yoga is about finding that light within and acknowledging the infinite potential of your Self and that light.  Yoga is prayer, meditation, relaxation and stress relief.  I have been fortunate enough to have been brought so low at times I didn't believe I was meant to make it through.  Yoga has been the path back to the light and gives me the tools I need to find the good in all things.  Yoga has been the anchor in my life, either consciously or subconsciously, since the very first class I took my junior year of high school.  What keeps me hooked to this ancient practice is the continual learning process about myself, others, yoga and life in general.  Yoga has taught me just how incredibly precious each breath we take is and that the joy truly is in the journey.  Knowing that I get to share yoga with the world for the rest of my life makes my inner joy fountain bubble over in abundance (note to reader- my words may be cheesy but they are always heartfelt!).  Yoga is life, and boy do I LOVE it! 

What is yoga to you? I am new to this blogging thing, but I would to keep a continual dialogue answering or commenting on this question...let's "yoke" them all together! :)

In light and love, Ainsley