In the interest of all things natural, peaceful, and happy, I bring you laughter yoga.

On my college campus, there was a “Laughter Yoga” club, and I’d heard mixed reviews about it. However, one day when final exams rendered me incredibly grumpy, I decided to head over with my roommate to the “Laugh Chance” to participate in this club.

There were approximately twenty people all in a circle, in a grassy area on campus. As the meeting began, the sun was brighter than my mood.

Led by two other students, Sammi and Molly, we breathed deeply, in an adaptation of “yoga breathing,” and laughed as we introduced ourselves.

We then did a variety of games of “theme” laughter. For instance, “Kung-Fu” laughter involved pretending to kung fu fight, but instead of actually fighting we laughed. Each punch or kick was accentuated with a “Ha.” My personal favorite was “angry” laughter, in which we pretended to be angry, but instead of yelling, we laughed. My goodness, did we look awkward!

After the club meeting, we talked to Sammi, who turned out to be quite a kindred spirit. We chatted about a class we would be taking the next semester, the joys and frustrations of creating a Planned Studies major, and outdoor adventures. I made a new connection, sent out some positive vibes, and left feeling fantastic. Grumpy, to fantastic- here’s hoping the universe sapped up some of that positive energy!

If you are interested in learning more about laughter yoga, please visit: www.laughteryoga.org

Cheers to cheer,

~Amber~

Deep breath, calm space, quiet heart and interior re-alignment in my meditation room.

So, as I’ve shared with you here, I have been gifted with such an infusion of love around Christmas…Wow so fun and now….well as I’m sure many of you are feeling….exhausted?

I noticed on the day after Christmas that my nervous system felt out of wack (you know that feeling where you are tired but are challenged to relax…yes, that’s it!)…..so I said to my higher self…..extreme self care was an order, not a request….

This restorative yoga pose is called, Savasana or Corpse pose…Yes, I did that pose first and no, sweetness…that’s not me.

The first thing I did was to just sit in my candlelit meditation room (shown above) for quite awhile with a blanket wrapped around me….Ah….long deep breaths were a great start as I counted 1, 2, 3… and felt the air move deep inside of me.

That alone calmed me down and got me re-connected to my body. I then listened to the silence…Have you ever tried that? It’s actually very pleasant and almost intoxicating after so much noise, both internal and external.

I then lay in Savasana (yoga pose shown above) where I simply relaxed into the earth, releasing the tension in my neck, jaw, back and shoulders….Ahhhhh….Is it possible that something so simple (and free!) can relieve tension and feel so good? Yes, I really think so….After just a little while of relaxing and being still, my energy level increased and my emotional state felt so much more balanced….love that!

We humans sometimes make things so complicated.

Lisa Mae Osborn’s personal sacred space. Isn’t it Divine?

I took this photo of Lisa Mae Osborn’s sacred meditation room where she connects with her higher self and regains her sense of balance. I loved the feeling in here. It’s one of those spaces you just melt into. Lisa Mae is the co-owner of The Bhaktishop, which you may have heard me talk about lots of times….all well deserved. She is one of my favorite yoga teachers just for her mere presence and ability to bring me (and her students) to a calm, centered place. Thank-you darling sister.

One last suggestion. You might request a massage from one of your loved ones, friends or family members. Even a ten minute rub can do wonders for calming the mind and reconnecting to our body and Spirit. I can tell you from first hand experience….

…Just recently, the Blue Buddha (sometimes referred to as the medicine Buddha) gave me an eco-shamanistic massage. Thank-you, your hands were very healing…you know who you are….

Excuse me now…I’m going for my weekly massage with Carlos…Deep breath and a lot of gratitude…here’s to extreme self-care!

A powerful meditation. Just staring into the flame is very calming.

Last night I went to Lisa Mae Osborne’s yoga class at The Bhaktishop Yoga Studio here in Portland, Oregon, honoring Winter Solstice which this year falls on December 22, the shortest day of the year and the longest night. It was a powerful practice for me as I was able to go deep inside and embrace the darkness with love. I highly recommend it.

The class took place in the above studio, however, all the lights were turned off and only candles were lit. Actually…Lisa Mae lovingly suggested to keep our eyes closed (as much as possible) through the entire class. Have you ever tried that? It’s really challenging. I could barely stand in tree pose….

Lisa Mae played the harmonium as we all sang to Kali, the Hindu Goddess who represents the Mother and the destroyer of illusion to make way for a rebirth….Hmmm….

At the end of the class, we each sat on our mats staring into our individual candles lit in front of us. Lisa Mae led us through a guided meditation–describing in detail all the colors in that small flame of light and how we are all connected to it and it to us. It brought me to another level of awareness….

I went home, wrapped myself in a warm, fuzzy blanket and lit my own fire…staring deeply into it…

Happy Winter Solstice.

(Photo on Right) Lisa Mae Osborn and Diana Hulet discussing color options for the new Bhaktishop Yoga Studio

It was another “aha” moment for me when I consciously became the observer of pure Divinity. Yes, I’m talking about two powerful women who are following their bliss and opening their dream yoga studio The Bhaktishop right here in Portland, Oregon.

It was that feeling when I knew the magic of the Universe was showing up through these two souls….right before my very eyes and let me tell ya…it was powerful. Keep reading.

On Friday evening, I was over at Lisa Mae Osborn’s beautiful home in SE Portland supporting and guiding both Lisa and her partner Diana Hulet is choosing non toxic, no and low voc paint colors for their new yoga studio, The Bhaktishop, scheduled to open its door in Spring of 2008! Oh heavenly joy.

The beauty of the experience was simply stepping back and watching them embody the dream which together just melted into the Oneness of The Bhaktishop–an extension of their heart space.

It reminded me of a passage in a book I am reading right now called, “The Astonishing Power of Emotions, Let Your Feelings Be Your Guide” by Esther and Jerry Hicks…. This passage…..”Everything that you see around you (land, sky, rivers, buildings, and even people and animals) was thought-vibration before it became the physical things that you now observe.” What truth!…..right then and there Lisa and Diana were synchronizing their thought-vibration and it is manifesting into physical form as I write this….Can’t get more powerful than that!

The lesson I take away from this? Well…..As Lisa Mae gently quoted Joseph Campbell during Saturday morning’s yoga class, “All the time. It is miraculous. Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.” Amen.