YogaBirds Pilates – Page 9 – YOGA PILATES ROLLER

May 14, 2013

On Not Teaching Yoga

I continue to receive messages from folks looking for my public teaching class schedule. For the record, I joyfully report that I am on a teaching ‘Sabbatical’ and spending some quality time in my home away from home, New Orleans.

It feels a little bit strange to not be teaching a regularly scheduled public yoga class. It is the first time in nearly seven years that I have taken more than a week off from doing it.

This break has been utterly restorative. It is giving me fresh perspective on my reasons and intentions for practicing and teaching yoga. In a nutshell it is that yoga provides a relief from suffering.

Until there is no suffering, I will continue practicing and teaching yoga to the best of my abilities, in the context of perpetually evolving life.

I am still meeting with private clients and working with folks in therapeutic and restorative applications of yoga. I really enjoy working one on one. sharing yoga in this format, I feel like I am really helping people identify with good practice techniques for relief from the individualistic physical pains that we all suffer. This teaching break has also been a great opportunity and time for me to re-commit to my studentship and finish the Therapeutic Anatomy training with Leslie Kaminoff.

Combining my love of the Classical Ashtanga Primary Series with training in therapeutic yoga (which, believe it or not really can integrate well), this Summer I am excited to present a workshop at The University of South Alabama Recreation Center in Mobile. And then there’s the retreat to Jamaica in September. All of the info for these events is on the website. One thing not yet posted on the website is a Fall one-day retreat at Camp Beckwith, Saturday October 26. Be sure to save the date for that.

I am enjoying being more active on Twitter (@yogabirds), Facebook, Instagram (@melaniebuffett), and sometimes Vine. If you’re on any of those platforms. I’d love to connect and keep in touch while I explore life outside of Fairhope and the yoga studio for a while.

Wishing you all the best Summer ever. And of course PEACE LOVE & YOGA!
xoxo Melanie

P.S. If you liked this post, please leave me a comment! I’d love to hear from you. Also, if you’re there, we can keep in touch on Social Media too!

May 1, 2013

Jazz Festing & Yoga (of course)

It’s festival time! Every year for almost 40 years, there has been at least one (if not more) member of my family present, out ‘in the Gumbo’ of music, food, art, and culture that is the New Orleans Jazz and Heritge Festival. This year my cousin Savannah and I are carrying the torch. We have been festing together since we were kids.

The fairgrounds can seriously tap energy stores if not adequately prepared. From experience and lessons learned we know to carry a bag of survival essentials to deal with sun, mud, port-o-lets, and logging miles on the track. It takes practice and stamina to work it right.

latenite — **(Very) Late Night Dance Party**

Along with the festival comes about ten straight days of incredible night shows all over town that run into the wee early morning hours. A big fest day can literally mean 18 hours.

Considering that one of the main reasons to be out in all of the wonderful madness is THE DANCING, it’s essential to keep our bodies feeling good and well. This year at the fest I heard more than a few folks talking about aching backs. And this just breaks my heart. No suffering allowed at Jazz Fest!

But, I can relate and it’s totally understandable. My back gets tired and aches after doing anything strenuous for an extended time and a New Orleans party is no joke! Whether it is the joyful occasion of a marathon of music and dancing, or any event that calls us into full mobile action for a considerable duration of time, we can and should participate fully without it taking a massive toll on our bodies. This is about enjoying life after all, right? So how do we do it all and still feel great for another day?

And yes, my answer is once again yoga. In this year’s scenario of epic Jazz Fest stamina, I have been extra diligent about weaving 5-15 minutes of restorative yoga breaks throughout my days. When I do the poses, if it’s possible, I give myself the full treatment of bolsters, blankets and an eye covering. If that’s not possible (or if I am out on the fairgrounds) I simply lie on my back with bent knees and cover my face with a hat or t-shirt or something. I turn the cell phone ringer off, and use the cell phone as a timer to make sure that I stay in the pose for a good amount of time–at least 3 minutes, but preferably 10. Using a timer actually helps to calm and quiet my mind more deeply and quickly which leads to the deep relaxation of the muscle fibers that restores them. Then the timer lets me know when it’s time to resume with activity.

fairgrounds — **The Pearly Festival Gates**

This past weekend I did a supported bridge pose for 10 minutes before leaving for the fest. After a full day of walking lots and dancing in the sun to funk, blues, and rock-n-roll, when I got home, my back was tired. I did legs up the wall and reclined cobblers pose. And voila, the ache-y tired back was completely restored in a matter of minutes and I was ready to go out for another round of fun. Saturday night required a few supported poses too, and the payoff was great. I had enough energy to stay up and watch one of the greatest music lineups of the year which started at 3am. Yes. Oh yes I did stay out all night long dancing! Which I have not done in as long as I can remember. My alarm clock (that wakes me up) went off before I went to bed. I can safely say that has never happened.

I even surprised myself that I was still up with energy to spare! No aching feet or back. And I am ready for another 4-day full weekend of it starting tomorrow. It hasn’t always been like this for me. There was a time when at this point in the festivities I was having to force and push myself into unhealthy places to endure the fun. That’s one way to do it, but I am much more happy and healthy (which is really what it’s all about) this go around. It’s all yoga and dancing and art and culture and most of all good company that fuels my fire.

At 40, I am more vibrant and have more stamina than I did in my 20’s and 30’s. This year’s Jazz Fest I feel better in body mind and spirit than ever. The longer I explore the art of restorative yoga as a daily practice, the more I believe in the healing and supportive gifts it offers in every scenario that life presents.

So…Get thee to a bolster, and then meet me ‘in the Gumbo’ for some dancing!

If you have enjoyed this post and photos, you’ll find more good stuff at the Yoga Birds Facebook Page, Yoga Birds Twitter Feed, and at Instagram. PEACE LOVE YOGA & KEEP IN TOUCH Y’ALL

April 24, 2013

It’s Pronounced KEEN-WAH Y’all

And it’s become one of my top favorite foods. Quinoa is satisfying, has appealing texture, is easily digestible, and is super versatile. Incorporating more of this magic grain into my daily fare is one of the lifestyle dietary changes that I attribute to helping me manage a healthy weight for these last 15 years.

I’m always on the lookout look for vegetarian sources of protein in my diet. Quinoa contains more protein than any other grain; an average of 16.2 percent. Some varieties of quinoa are more than 20 percent protein. Quinoa’s protein is high in lysine, methionine and cystine and is of an unusually high quality. It is a complete protein, with an essential amino acid balance close to the ideal nutritional complex similar to milk but without the effects of dairy.

Quinoa is light, tasty, and easy to digest. It is not sticky or heavy like most other grains, and it has a delicious flavor all its own. I used to love to eat rice, pasta, and white potatoes. But those foods were hard to process and caused me weight gain and lethargy. Quinoa can be substituted for almost any grain in almost any recipe. It looks and tastes great on its own, or in any dish from soup to salad and even as a sweet treat.

Quinoa is quick and convenient to prepare. A whole-grain dish of quinoa takes just 15 minutes.

Many people eat grains only during the colder months, but quinoa’s lightness combined with its versatility in cold dishes like salads and desserts makes it an ideal source of good summertime nutrition.

Here’s a quick and easy Quinoa Salad recipe that I make almost weekly. Enjoy!

Quinoa Salad

Serves 12

1 ½ cups quinoa
½ cup pine nuts
1 English cucumber, peeled and finely diced (2½ cups)
3 Roma tomatoes, seeded and finely diced (¾ cup)
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup olive oil
3 Tbs. lemon juice
2 tsp. grated lemon zest

1. Bring 2 quarts salted water to a boil. Add quinoa, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 12 to 14 minutes, or  until quinoa is tender and small “tails” bloom from grains.

2. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread pine nuts on baking sheet, and toast 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool, then transfer to large serving bowl.

3. Drain quinoa, and rinse under cold running water. Drain again. Add quinoa to pine nuts, and  stir in cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and parsley. Fold in oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment below. Also, LIKE the Facebook Page and FOLLOW @YogaBirds on Twitter. Thanks for your support! PEACE LOVE YOGA,
Melanie Buffett

April 18, 2013

In Memoriam: Clarity In The Face Of Sadness

This week one of my oldest best friends died suddenly of a heart attack at 43. His funeral was yesterday. It has happened so fast that it has not even begun to sink in. In the midst of funeral planning and friends coming in from all over the country, the Boston Marathon was bombed maliciously in a terrorist attack. And a day later a factory explosion in Texas is still burning with untold casualties. Not to mention earthquakes, war, and giant sinkholes freakishly swallowing large tracts of land.

Unbelievable bad news continues to pile on. Meanwhile old friends bid the final farewell to a brother, his family, and then to each other as we return to the daily routines that run our lives.

When someone dies everything seems to come into a more clear perspective. We enter a heightened state of awareness of the preciousness of time and relationships. We complain less, are more forgiving, and show more kindness and compassion towards one another. These are traits of our true Nature.

Then, it seems, that the grasp on the splendor of our reality slowly fades. Not long after touching the sensitivity of Spirit, we find ourselves back in the fast paced, anxiety addled, harsh contexts from which we temporarily emerged. Once again we are separated from ourselves and the connection to the radiance of the forever-illuminated Light within.

The loss of life and limb awakens us to the actuality that life is utterly fragile and that we have a finite number of heart beats allotted to us, pre-determined by our Maker.

How can we stay more consistently connected to this precious certainty?

Humbly, I offer, from my own experience, yoga. Every time I come to a place of vibrant repose, awake and aware in relaxation, I become deeply still and internally quiet. This enables a connection to subtle realms of consciousness. Some call this the Higher Self or the part of us that is eternal, unchanging and luminous. I enter this brilliant and fragile state most often in Savasana, not ironically translated as ‘corpse pose’. Meeting this other-worldly part of myself on a daily basis is Yoga. And it’s from this place and experience that I can relate tangibly to the Spirits of those who have gone before me.

The physical loss of my friend hurts. Even more painful is thinking of the hole that has been left in his home amongst his immediate family. It’s almost unbearable and I can not stop crying for them and selfishly for myself at never being able to see his smile or hear his laugh again.

Life in the physical world stops for nothing. We must find ways to move through the days without being crippled by the unending tide of bad news and sadness.

We will all eventually be together in the blissful Eternal Light. Those of us temporarily left behind, will continue to explore ways to stay connected to the intrinsic goodness of life and Spirit. It’s simply impossible to ever forget those we have loved, and we must find the ways and means to peacefully soldier-on in true joy in their honor. PEACE LOVE YOGA

April 11, 2013

LuLus, A Perfect Fit For Yogis

Most people don’t associate eating at LuLu’s with a yoga retreat. But Friday afternoon that collaboration manifests with the first ever Yoga Birds weekend retreat, catered by my mother’s restaurant LuLu’s at Homeport.

The retreat has been seven months in the making. I am ready and excited for the yogis to arrive. In the beginning planning stages I forecasted 8-10 folks attending. The coordinator at Camp Beckwith advised me to set my capacity higher, really just to be on the safe side to reserve rooms. So I set it at 20. Fifteen sign-ups in the first two weeks. I called the retreat center again and upped it to 30. I really did not anticipate selling out. But it happened.

This is totally great news, right? Yes. And then well… a couple of months into it, my original plan for catering fell through. And my second choice was not available. Teaching yoga…I got that. Feeding 30 people over an entire weekend…panic mode set in.

Obviously a call to my mom was in order. I needed motherly comfort-words and somebody to tell me ‘everything will work out.’ Plus, she is, after all, THE ultimate dinner-party guru of the Gulf Coast. If yoga is clarity, steadiness, and skill in action, then my mother’s yoga is the ability to feed large numbers of people with brilliant ease and a smile. Hence, the phenomenal success of LuLu’s.

Her restaurant is one of the top tourist destinations in Alabama and one of the highest grossing restaurants in the U.S. Her most famous offerings are her stellar Gumbo and (naturally) the Cheeseburger in Paradise. And although the burger is consciously made with local grass fed beef (which is unheard-of in these parts and in the high-volume restaurant industry in general), it is probably understandable that LuLu’s was not my first choice in doing the food for my all-vegetarian yoga retreat weekend.

Like an awesome mom, she totally stepped up for me, offering to help in any way that she or the restaurant could. In our initial conversation we thought there might be a few items on the LuLu’s menu that we could use. And then the plan was for her to personally work in her home kitchen to make the remainder of what the LuLu’s kitchen could not accommodate.

With yogis in mind, we embarked on detailed menu planning. We pulled items from all areas of the LuLu’s menu. And before we knew it, we had crafted nearly the entire vegetarian yoga retreat menu. We altered a few things by placing cheese and dairy products on the side and making soup with vegetable instead of chicken stock. We did add a couple of ‘outside’ items. But the majority of the meals are ‘ALL LuLu’.

Alabama Caviar (vegetarian black-eyed pea dip salad)

A brief synopsis of the weekend fare is: Friday night, a Greek salad, lentil soup, hummus, and pita. Saturday lunch is a big beautiful garden salad, LuLu’s famous Alabama caviar (pea dip salad), and raw veggies. Saturday dinner is black beans, brown rice, Cantina Salad, guacamole, salsa, and tortilla chips. Sunday is a ‘brown bag’ to-go lunch with my recipe for quinoa salad, an apple, and pita chips. Breakfast is granola, fresh fruit, juices, and muffins.

LuLu’s might be most well known for cheeseburgers, crab-melts, key lime pie, and margaritas. But you don’t have to dig too deep in her menu to find excellent choices fit for a bunch of vegetarian yogis.

It’s easy to be healthy at LuLu’s if you want to. And sometimes it’s fun to indulge in good old-fashioned comfort food. It’s all about balancing discipline and joy. Either way, mom’s got you covered and she’d LOVE to have you over for lunch or dinner this summer. PEACE LOVE YOGA & LULU Y’ALL

Check out mom’s place at www.lulubuffett.com.

April 6, 2013

Bathing Suit Trauma No More

For almost ever, there has been nothing that paralyzes me with anxiety more than wearing a bathing suit in front of people. This was highly inconvenient growing up on waterfront property and living in a town where life happens on The Bay. Not to mention that Summer is about 8 months long. A crippling negative body image settled in to my psyche around five years old. And has pretty much held a grip on me (manifesting into a rock hard ball of tension in the core of my belly) until very recently.

Last year when I turned 40 I ‘gave’ myself Restorative Yoga for my birthday. Basically I allowed myself to use more of my mat time in less vigorous practices.

A couple of funny and wonderful things have happened. My active practice has evolved into a few times a week doing the traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Primary Series (which has always seemed ‘out of reach’ physically but is now quite joyful). I do restorative poses daily…sometimes as a full practice, sometimes just one or two poses. Really whatever time and schedule allows. Everyday I take my restorative medicine. Everyday I allow myself to meet my inner state. It, like daily meds tend to do, has profoundly affected my overall mental state in a most positive fashion.

When the editor of Access Magazine called and said she wanted to feature me in the April issue I was flattered and grateful. But then the ‘dreaded’ details emerged…”Oh, I have to wear a bathing suit?” My auto-pilot defense mechanisms immediately surfaced and I almost declined, as it would be unfathomable for me to pose in front of a camera in my most vulnerable state. But as if someone else was speaking I heard my voice say, “Yes. Where do I show up?”

I’m not sure what force intervened that day and helped me accept this great honor and offer by the magazine. But I do know that as shoot day approached, with nervousness rising, I just–did what I do- pause, turn in, focus on breathing, calm again. Repeat. My daily practices of yoga and meditation continue without fail no matter what is happening, so I always have the support of my ‘meds’.

I carried my yoga practice with me to the shoot and throughout the whole day. The most liberating part about the whole experience was that I felt comfortable and confident in my skin. I had a blast trying on as many bathing suits as time would allow. Who is this person?!?!? It was fun. I felt great. And I am not only still breathing, but excited to get out on the beach in a bathing suit this Summer!

Thirty-five years of the shackles of severe self-consciousness issues…gone bye-bye! Bathing suit shopping here I come! I could not have arrived at this victorious moment without my yoga. I bow to it and to a new found 40 year old inner peace and calm…the depths of which are apparently endless.

April 4, 2013

Jamaica Yoga Retreat w Melanie Buffett

CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION INFO

April 1, 2013

King Of The Juice

Yesterday, Christians all over the world celebrated Jesus. I was one of them. I admit though, that for most of my life the Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg really did steal the show on Easter Sunday. Even in my adult yogi years I have been known to go out on my own version of a desperate ‘egg hunt’ on Easter Sundays looking for any drug store to be opened and to hopefully find one or two of the always faithful giant Resse’s Peanut Butter Cups (in my view, disguised as holy candy) still available. They really are a favorite among many and are hard to find past 5pm on Easter Saturday.

Last week, a Champion Juicer moved into my house. Along with a 10 lb bag of carrots, both thanks to my sister who must make room in her kitchen for the needs of her twin toddlers.

So this year I thought that instead of succumbing to the peanut butter egg drama (which never leaves me feeling all bright and sunny on the inside), I would start a new tradition of making a big pitcher of carrot apple ginger juice for us all.

And so it happened.

My sister’s family and my own drank the juice and started our blessed Sunday with a healthy dose of fruits and veggies.

We really had one of the best days together in as long as I can remember. Yesterday was testament that good food in our lives equals good vibes all around.

The Champion Juicer is awesome! I can’t believe it lives in my kitchen now. We are destined to become great friends. And the Peanut Butter Egg….well, it will always be around at Easter if I need it. But from here on out, I think I am much better off with The King of The Juice.

March 23, 2013

Fibromyalgia & Restorative Yoga

**Rest in ‘Legs Up The Wall’ gives relaxation & vibrancy to the body.**

Fibromyalgia is an arthritis-related condition characterized by chronic muscle pain and stiffness, aches, soft tissue tenderness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, disordered sleep and more. Because the causes for it are unknown it is referred to as a syndrome rather than a disease. Approximately 11 million people in the U.S. are affected by it. Most are women ages 30 – 50.

If you or someone you know well suffers from fibromyalgia, you are more than likely aware of how debilitating it is. I have seen many women- loved ones and friends, suffer so badly from it that they can barely walk or prepare meals, let alone participate in any kind of joyful activity.

Often physicians or health practitioners will suggest yoga to fibromyalgia patients. Vigorous styles of yoga are obviously out of the question for those in the depths of chronic fatigue and muscle pain. More appropriate is restorative yoga, which is passive, yet vibrant, and adaptable to any individual including those with special conditions and needs like fibromyalgia.

Restorative yoga poses are supported by props such as bolsters, blocks, straps, blankets, and chairs. They emphasize relaxation of the muscles. The support helps the body let go of deeply held tension. By letting go of that tense energy, the inner body is spacious, more vibrant, and energized. The props also encourage good alignment which facilitates energy distribution throughout the whole body. By practicing good alignment, posture and balance improve.

**Restorative Poses in the chair encourage good alignment and posture for optimal energy flow in the body.**

I work with several students suffering from fibromyalgia. Some days conscious breathing in savasana is all they can do. Other days they have more energy to work in various poses. Across the board, those suffering who have made the practice a consistent part of their wellness regime have had major improvements in the quality of their lives. It is amazing and utterly gratifying to see this kind of healing happen.

Restorative yoga is not only wonderful for those in critical need of relief from the constellation of negative symptoms of chronic pain and fatigue. Everyone needs to recharge their energy batteries regularly.

We are a stressed out nation! What a wonderful world it would be if we all allowed ourselves to rest and restore as regularly as we truly need it.

Rest thee on a yoga bolster today! If you are interested in private or semi-private restorative yoga sessions in your home or mine, please click here to see my offerings.

March 6, 2013

Best Yoga Practice For Weight Loss

When asked “what is the best yoga to do?” by people who have weight loss goals, my first response is usually Restorative yoga. Considering the scientific fact of the matter that weight loss is brought about by creating a negative calorie balance through decreasing energy intake (eating fewer calories) and increasing energy expenditure (burning calories, i.e. moving and sweating), it seems counter intuitive that to practice rest and stillness would be my answer to the question.

There is almost nothing more frustrating to the overweight person than to be told….”it’s simply a matter of eating less and exercising more”. Well, no shit Sherlock! Thanks for the info. Pardon my angst.

My personal experience with being overweight was that I was completely mentally consumed with a negative body image and gripped by food obsession issues. I KNEW what needed to happen, I just couldn’t mentally get there.

Restorative yoga helps to bring calm not just to the body, but to the nervous system and mental state as well. This is integral to changing the behaviors of compulsive and mindless eating that so many of us are prone to.

In the very first yoga class that I ever attended (which is a whole other blog post), when we were led into savasana (the final rest pose, which is a restorative pose) I was able to completely let go. I let go of the grip that I had been unconsciously holding in my belly for Lord knows how long. My shoulders which had also been holding unconscious tension, softened to the floor. And my consistently clenched jaw gave way to its natural supple state. These were no small feats.

I had not experienced this kind of peace in my body EVER. I didn’t even know that this kind of clarity and lightness of body existed. Afterwards, when I was alone, I wept. I knew I was carrying excess weight around, but I had no idea how much stress, and anxiety I was carrying in my body. I knew I had to release this pain out of my mind, body and Spirit just to live. Yoga simultaneously illuminated that I needed to release the suffering and gave me tools to do it.

There was literally no turning back.

That is how yoga, and specifically Restorative yoga saved my life.

After my first class, slightly desperate to find that same savasana experience again, I eventually and quite accidentally found an Iyengar Yoga class wholly dedicated to restorative postures. I was a dedicated student of that method for 10 years and still incorporate much of the philosophy into my daily practice and my own teaching style.

Ever since these early experiences I have been an advocate for the restorative practice for myself and others, no matter what the health aspirations are.

Restorative yoga (in addition to active yoga practices and cardiovascular workouts) has been a vital component in my wellness regime and healthy weight management for the last 15 years. It is and was THE answer for me.

Please check my Teaching Schedule for Restorative Yoga Offerings. Or contact me if you have any questions or are interested in Private Sessions.

I wish you Peace on your journey to balance and the life you are meant to live.

Love,

Melanie