Find Your Bliss

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Gaia Leave a comment

“No one is where he is by accident, and chance plays no part in God’s plan.” Course in Miracles

Back in St Pete! With all of the traveling and moving around I do, I continue to be reminded that everything happens for a reason. At the time bad things are happening I may think how bad it is, but I know the right thing is coming. Instead of throwing my hands up screaming NO! I have found to be thankful for moving even closer to my correct path.

Find beauty and growth where you are. I learned in Maui, the land of rainbows and smiles, that there is always a rainbow ahead. Sat Nam, Debra

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Yoga and Retreats

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Gaia Leave a comment

I am back in the US! I offer private sessions in yoga and tantra in west Maui on an out-call basis. Thailand was a great experience in managing a retreat center, and learning more yoga and massage. I will miss traveling exotic places, but is great to be settling down closer to family and friends in the US again.

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The Joy of Outdoor Yoga Practice

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Gaia Leave a comment

When hurricane Irene was coming along the coast this month, I thought what a great day to get in some beach yoga. The strong wind and the loud breaking surf created a sweet setting for a practice. With the added intense energy of the elements, I was pushed further to strengthen my balance on the already shaky sand in poses that are normally easy for me.

We can enjoy the sense of known calmness that occurs in the privacy of a yoga room away from the distractions of the outside world. Going outdoors in nature brings us to uniting with nature which many people lack in there daily lives nowadays. We can harmonize and relax more in our practice. Unknown surprises that may come up can add laughter to the asanas. There is no breath sweeter than that coming in from the fresh smell of trees or sea air. Prana (energy) is in more bountiful amounts outside. Feel the prana energize you as you salute the sun in it’s beautiful light.

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Yoga Specials

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Gaia Leave a comment

Moving Sale!! If you have not heard by now, I have closed my studio space to expand my tantra yoga workshops around the world.

Orlando and Melbourne private yoga: I am offering 1/2 off your first private session PLUS you can bring a friend/spouse for free! Expires August 31, 2011

The goal for my students is to teach them to feel confident in the poses and reading what their own body wants, so that they can create their own regular practice. Everyone can use more flexibility that yoga gives no matter what their fitness program. An hour of yoga will make so much of a change to your body and energy levels. The root of all my practices is being joyful, having fun, letting go, and honoring your body and spirit, while breaking into a nice detoxifying sweat.

I am excellent with teaching fellow yoga teachers to expand their own practice to higher levels.

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Tantra Yoga Practices to build your foundation

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Gaia Leave a comment

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Tantra Coaching for Individuals and Couples

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Gaia Leave a comment

Tantra is an ancient art form that means “the path”. Tantra is a path to connecting to yourself, a partner, and to the divine or universe. Important with tantra is to do healing practices that allow for free movement of kundalini energy through the chakras. A part of studying tantra is learning to feel and move the sexual energy, but that is only a small part of the spiritual practice. Tantra yoga can be used to create an awakening, heal your body & mind, and create an immediate relaxation that continues…

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Yoga Breath Work (Pranayama)

Posted on December 6, 2009 by Gaia Leave a comment

Breath work is not only important in yoga but in our daily lives. It is key good health, fitness, energy and relaxation. It can replace the liquid controlling many do with the cup of coffee in the morning to wind up and then a glass of wine to unwind at night. There are dozens of different types of pranayamas taught regularily today.

The first one I teach my students is long deep breathing. Notice your breathing. Are you taking full breaths or shallow chest breaths? Shallow breaths cause anxiety and stress on the body. Long deep breathing should be the type of breathing we do throughout the day. During times you need to relax or need help falling asleep, meditate on the breath making it slower and deeper.

Long Deep Breathing

Exhale completely. Inhale first bringing breath into your lower belly, then into your diaphragm, and finally your chest all the way to the top. Exhale down the same way. Empty your lungs, so that the lungs can be filled with fresh new air each breath.

Bring awareness to your body. Is their anywhere you are holding tension or that feels tight? Upper back, lower back, and the solar plexus chakra are common areas for tightness. Bring attention and take several long  breaths into that spot. You should notice a change right away and will become more aware of when you are sending tension into that spot.

Inhale and Ahhhhh!

*Pranayama techniques should be practiced with care and advanced pranayama techniques should be practiced under the guidance of a teacher.*

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Allowing More Life to Happen

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Gaia Leave a comment

By allowing life more- the more life you live- the more life happens. I am learning to fully live where life takes me. Plans and goals do not allow the universe to flow calmly. We become frustrated when plans do not turn out as we layed them out. Those of you who have spent long periods of time traveling as I have most likely have experienced the way these silly plans can change so so easily. You’re walking though the train station, slip and fall, and then you miss your train to New Delhi. What happens next? You book the next train to New Delhi right? Nope. All of the trains going there are full for the next week. You can get frustrated, curse, cry, curse some more, but you are still not going to Delhi. The universe is sending you somewhere else instead. You step off the train in Nepal to find something that train to New Delhi wouldn’t have given you. In time, you will be thankful for falling and destiny landing you in magical divinity. Perhaps you are so far on you path that you laugh simply passing the frustration of spoiled goals.

The Alchemist by Paolo Coello is my favorite book for reminding me to allow life to flow and follow the signs. One finds treasure when they give up everything. They are not left with anything to stop the universal spirit from flowing through them blissfully. When we have goals there is anxiety, an uneasiness, a struggle to get somewhere, and a need to do everything on the list to get it done as quickly as possible. Instead of just being, we are saying that life in this moment is not good enough and thus the future will not be good enough unless we make goals. A funny thing started happening when I stopped listening to others (and myself) telling me I needed plans. I started having more living in my life.

The universe is RICH. It wants to share it’s wealth. It wants make you abundant. If you do not feel like you are good enough in this present moment then the universe will feel this and it will not share it’s abundance with you. If you feel good where you are, the universe will shower you with it’s abundance. It will drench you with bliss until you no longer remember what it was to be dry. You probably can’t quit working, sit on your front porch, and just wait for someone to walk up with a briefcase of cash. What I am saying is to relax, live in now, accept yourself, bring Bliss to your being, watch for the omens, laugh, and most important: listen to your heart.

In Practice:With hands in kubera mudra (thumb, index, and middle finger touching) repeat: “I am blessed by the universe. I am truly abundant and more abundance is coming everyday. I give and I receive the best.”

Be Love

Yoga

HoHoHaHaHa!!!

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Gaia Leave a comment

Laughter yoga at Sagada Fiesta

What the world needs more now is more laughter. With a global economic crisis happening now, there is so much stress and worry in the lives of many people. Laughter is such a great release and sends out stress-bursting endorphins.  With Laughter Yoga, the goal is to laugh for 20-30 minutes straight. Comedy movies can help provide a few seconds of laughter here and there. What can provide more laughter than watching comedies or reading jokes? Laughing for absolutely no reason at all. Yes, NO reason at all. We get the same physiological benefits from fake laughter as from real laughter… your body doesn’t know the difference. Even if you have to start laughing by faking it, your laughter will quickly turn real.

1) Find a laughter club near you (they are free). You can search on http://www.laughteryoga.org/ . If you can not go to a club then you can join an online laughter community. I teach free laughter yoga in Orlando.

2) Find a time everyday to laugh. Washing dishes, when you wake up, driving your car- be creative and have fun laughing. I like to laugh in the shower (Yes, my neighbors may think I’m nuts- Oh Well).

3) Spend time with kids. Kids laugh and giggle for no reason all day long. Why not let your own inner child run free and join them in some laughing?

4) If you want a good release at the end of the day, try this exercise: Laugh as hard and as long as you want into your pillow. Let it all out.

Spread the Laughter- It’s highly contagious, but the best medicine of all.

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