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Lessons from the Mat: Floating
Have you ever let yourself float on the top of moving water, in a pool or on the lake? I know some people who have grown up swimming on a regular basis might not get what I’m describing here, but for the rest of us…have you ever had that sudden panic feeling in your stomach when the water threatens to pull your body under or a wave splashes against and over your face? If you fight it, your body will sink. If you ride it, your body will just keep floating. For me, the pull and the splash are often too much to endure; I naturally fight it. And, as…
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Lessons from the Mat: The Paradox of Intimacy
Often at the beginnings of my yoga classes, the instructors read passages from books or share quotes that might help us to look inward or set particular intentions for out practice that day. This week, one of the readings was from The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo. It is called “Swimming in Our Love.” It’s short, just a minute or two. I’ll quickly read the passage to you, so I don’t have to type the whole thing out. Some notable ideas from the passage that struck me, personally were: –New relationship energy is thing. –Time slows that energy, but that is when deepest intimacy can take hold, because we…
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Lessons from the Mat: All You Ever Have
Eckhart Tolle is commonly referenced in my yoga studio, and this is one of the quotes that recently made it into one of our restorative classes. I wouldn’t want to focus on it too often or too much, lest it lead to anxiety over possible loss of what I have, but I think being intentional about my awareness of just how fleeting life can be is not a bad exercise. I have a tendency to take for granted the life I have, even though I practice near daily gratitude (5 Minute Journal). It’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day and the to-do lists. Every once in awhile, I take…
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The Mind-Body-Breath Connection
Some time ago, I remember listening to a comedian make fun of women who get those little “breathe” tattoos on the inside of their wrist. As if we really needed to remind ourselves to fucking breathe, right? Are we really that stupid? Actually…we aren’t…and a little reminder to breathe – THE RIGHT WAY – isn’t a bad thing. The heart of sensuality for me is touch, and that means body awareness. Taking a moment to check in with your body – how it feels, where it is tight, where it is hurting – is imperative to living sensually. It all begins with the mind-body-breath connection. Simply slowing down enough to…
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A “30 Days of Yoga” Challenge You Will Love!
And you can start today! This is not an affiliate of mine…though I would love for it to be and will be working on it this month. I’m never sure how non-sex-related companies and organizations will feel about having their brands shared on a sex blog like this. Anyhow…the 30 Day Program starts today (she does a new one every January to challenge us to get back to the mat). Adriene is a great yoga instructor (and her dog is adorable – wandering around as he pleases in the background). It’s all very down-to-earth and made available for every level of yogi. No need to feel intimidated if you’ve never…
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Yoga and D/s (revisited)
It’s been some time since I wrote about my personal life, something that used to be somewhat of a trademark for me as a blogger. There are a few reasons for that. Some negative things have happened, and I don’t want to complain or seem like I’m bitching. I also find that my fiction is not only received more positively (duh) and elicits more comments and interaction, but also that it is easier to hide behind, even in my real life. So, I’m taking a break from erotica tonight to delve into the current state of affairs in my marriage, specifically the power dynamic, which we are struggling to define…
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The Yoga Sutra and D/s
The 8 Limbs of Yoga YAMA – Restraints, moral disciplines or moral vows NIYAMA – Positive duties or observances ASANA – Posture PRANAYAMA – Breathing techniques PRATYAHARA – Sense withdrawal DHARANA – Focused concentration DHYANA – Meditative absorption SAMADHI – Bliss or enlightenment Maybe it’s blasphemous to connect D/s to spirituality…or maybe it’s exactly the right thing to do. I leave that for you to decide. Follow me on this, though… A few months ago in class, my yoga instructor brought up the Yoga Sutra. She explained that the studio would be trying harder to embody all eight limbs of the path, rather than just focusing on asanas and pranayama (with a bit of dhyana to mix things up…
