Day 43

I went to yoga yesterday morning and I'm definitely feeling it in my abs today. So sore! I love Sunday morning yoga with Danny Marshall. All the teachers at Easton Yoga are great, but Danny is my favorite! It's almost a religious experience, which is why I always say I'm at the "Church of Yoga" on Sunday mornings. A few things that make Sunday morning yoga different than other yoga classes:

1. Danny always takes a few minutes before we start to encourage us to set an intention. And he reminds us that the intention doesn't have to be for yourself. You can dedicate your practice to someone who may need some healing energy or positive thoughts.

2. All the teachers at Easton Yoga give lots of alternatives, suggestions for propping, reminders that you can take a break, etc. That's important because even if you don't need the modification, it's a reminder that your practice is your own - and it's not a competition. It's about doing the best for your own body. And when you make a modification - Danny praises you!

3. Danny is the only teacher I've had that takes an intentional approach to coming in and out of balancing postures. His mantra is "strength, grace, and control." And he reminds you in balancing postures that you can use what you learn in the studio out in the real world. When you're angry, when you're under pressure, when there's a temptation of any kind - remember the balancing poses. And that idea of strength, grace, and control has kept me from ruining the juice fast more than once.

4. At the end of the practice, we bring our hands in prayer position up to the forehead - to remember to keep positive thoughts and clear intentions, and to our lips to remember to speak the truth, and to our hearts to remember to live with compassion and love.

As a former Catholic, the Sunday morning class really resonates with me. I remember when the Gospel was read in church, we would make the sign of the cross with our thumb across our forehead, our lips, and our heart. For me, it was the most meaningful moment of the service - and it's kismet that I experience it now in a similar - but new - spiritual way.

So if you're in the Lehigh Valley - go check out Danny's classes!