Miley Cyrus + Jackie Chan + Monkey Gods = Yoga fun

Up at 6AM in San Francisco after a sleepless night, too excited to actually sleep. Is it because Santa came to town? No. It's because Yoga Journal Live came to town. As I walked through the hotel lobby, I'm nothing but eyes and teeth. My eyes were wide with enthusiasm and a smile so big it took up my entire face. I was instantly at home as I was greeted by a sea of tie-dye, mala beads, tapestries, local organic samples, and yoga products galore. My feet started an almost involuntary dancelike movement thanks to the beats DJ Drez was spinning. The upbeat electric mantra tunes flooded my ears as I walked through the marketplace to soak it all in. Even the smells were divine, lavender and sage tickled my nostrils. I took a deep luxurious breath in followed by a long sweet exhale, I was in heaven!

I didn't have time to stop for a coffee, but I didn’t need it. Kathryn Budig's “Sun Solutions” workshop ended up being more energizing than my usual venti quad soy mocha latte. She taught creative and new ways to amp up traditional Sun Salutations. Her class was more fun than I could have possibly imagined, almost whimsical. Bundled in one exceptionally cute package, the energy she exudes is infectious, her practice incredibly inspiring, and she moves like a performer in a defying gravity act. She somehow managed to get a full room, upwards of 70 yogis, to twerk like Miley Cyrus before at 8am! Comparing the twerking action of the hip hinge to the range of motion experienced when floating in a pike position from Adho Mukha Svasana (Downward facing dog) to Uttanasana (forward fold) actually helped! 

Typically, if I can’t find time to take a yoga class at my local studio, I'll roll out my Manduka and turn on one of Kathryn's online classes featured on Yogaglo. Now, that I have witnessed and experienced her class first hand, I am even more hooked. I'm not even afraid to admit that I have a total girl crush on her. Lucky for me, I still had 2 fabulous workshops to take with her.

Next up on my agenda: “Kick Your Feet Up,” a workshop on arm balances, my absolute favorite variety of yoga poses. Not only did she give detailed explanations and precise alignment cues to demystify the balancing act necessary for Bakasana (crow pose), Kathryn also shared clever and imaginative new variations and transitions useful when arm balancing. Some fun new tricks were sprinkled in there, like Hot Crossed Buns and Baby Crow. As we kicked our feet up we ditched the twerking Miley and invited the ninja Jackie Chan into our practice. Just as Jackie Chan shows his fearlessness in his pre-fight stance by bracing his biceps by his side, elbows bent, forearms out with fists clenched, we did the same. This was her playful way of getting us to really fire up the serratus anterior muscles needed for the stable, strong, and solid foundation required as you lift off into the lightness that is accessible in arm balances. 

The hours flew by and it was time for my last workshop of the weekend, journeying down the “Highway to Hamstrings.” Kathryn was well aware at this point that 90% of us were sleepy yogis, who actually belonged in a restorative-hug-a-bolster-workshop. I was no exception, I would have hugged a bolster so hard at that point...alas, I had some work to do.  My hamstrings and I rarely have good days together, especially since experiencing a deep hamstring injury last summer. I was there to strengthen my biggest weakness and to create a healthy relationship with those hammies. A piece of our inner ninja, Jackie Chan, remained with us as we called upon the great deity Hanuman, our inner monkey god. My vision was complete with a bright cape as my monkey king flew across oceans to save the damsel in distress. The damsel in my case was my ego. Prepping for the flying monkey pose, Hanumanasana (splits), is no monkey business. Kathryn managed to make me smile, even as I felt confronted and tight in this magnificent leaping display, that conjured up all the flexibility and strength I could possibly manage. 

As the weekend event was winding down, I was overwhelmed and consumed with such deep gratitude and a profound feeling of love that flooded my entire being.  Love for myself, my yoga practice, and for life in general. My physical body was spent and sore all over, but I felt free, light, and uplifted from surrounding myself with people who came together for their greatest good and shared the healing practice of yoga. 

It's official! I joined the band of devotees that follow the darling yogi goddess, Kathryn Budig. I crave to continue learning from her. If you have never taken a class from her, or if you have never heard her name before this post, please do yourself a solid favor and Google her name. Immediately. She is as real as it gets. She makes yoga accessible, and applies the age-old fundamental philosophies into a context that is new, fresh, fun, and modern.

Fortunately, for us Los Angelinos, she happens to be back in LA to teach some classes at Yogaglo in early February (and again for Yoga Journal’s San Diego conference). I can't wait to pop into them. The intensive workshops empowered my practice, cleared my mind, gave me confidence, the effects struck me so deep, I even felt it on a cellular level. I know it will do the same for you. Hope to see you there!

Namaste