carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Jan 9, 2012, 5:52 pm
Most of us spend considerable time sitting at a desk and/or working at a computer and let’s face it, our necks and shoulders get really cramped and tight. Depending upon your particular line of work and your physical condition, those knots can begin tying up your mind as well as your shoulders. Th...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Jan 2, 2012, 1:05 pm
Yoga is about learning to channel energy. Using your power involves channeling your energy. Not recognizing your power is perhaps the easiest way to negate the energy at your disposal. This tribute to women who have transformed their own energies into action to change the world in big and small ways...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Oct 23, 2011, 4:58 pm
Holy Smokes. There’s been a huge shift and I have finally created a perfectly imperfect meditation video. My first ever. Oh such wonderful new areas for me to grow and improve upon. Thank you to my sis (in law) who is bravely battling cancer. You have inspired me. And inspired healing in circles ...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Oct 13, 2011, 4:12 pm
Do you wish you could live more fully present in your life? I sure do, so I am working on expanding my sensory awareness. There is so much that passes me by, that never registers in my consciousness every waking (sleeping!) moment What is sensual living, but a life spent paying attention. It’s a ...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Jul 21, 2011, 1:39 pm
This morning in class after we chanted OM ~ and the class is becoming less self-conscious and more vibrational as they grow accustomed to chanting ~ a student remarked how “good we sounded” as we had reached that exquisite blending of voices ~ that community of OMs.The experience reminded him of...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - May 24, 2011, 11:05 pm
Okra Eggplant curry (barefoot photos) Though okra is very nutritious, I have detested it forever, until Mike discovered a way to make it not so slimy, by baking it in the oven before adding it to the dish.This dish has now become my FAV curry! INGREDIENTS Okra ~ 1 lb. frozen Eggplant ~ 1 medium ...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - May 12, 2011, 9:44 pm
Rolling Brook Restorative (barefoot photos) I am so sorry dear readers that it has been sooooo long since I’ve posted. This is the thing, my father-in-law who moved into assisted living in Fredonia last fall, fell out of bed and clunked his noggin’ at the end of February. Ten days of hospitali...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Mar 17, 2011, 12:45 pm
Mike enjoying cauliflower soup & salad dinner (barefoot photos) This easy easy soup is a delight to make as well as enjoy. If you cut the milk portion in half you can use it to replace a side dish of mashed potatoes. This is Mike’s recipe; I like to use even less oil. As the onion begins to c...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Mar 13, 2011, 8:37 pm
Spinach & Tofu (barefoot photos) In my continual quest for GREEN dishes, I have been enjoying this fairly simple spinach and tofu meal. Saag aka Palak Paneer, is a delicious and satisfying staple of vegetarian Indian cuisine. Unfortunately, we live over an hour away from the nearest Indian supermar...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Mar 9, 2011, 1:34 pm
Savasana, corpse pose (barefoot photos) I am an experimental yogini. Lately, I have been approaching savasana, the pose of deep relaxation that I “do” at the end of my asana practice to see what I can learn from ten or twenty or thirty or sixty minutes reclining in a prone position. The physic...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Feb 24, 2011, 10:38 pm
I exist in BLISS when I exist in Reality Bliss is an integral part of existence Bliss is not euphoria or ecstasy Not sadness or anger or self-loathing (duh!) Bliss is deeply related to Equanimity It resides in Not-Wanting Not-Avoiding Not-Moving Bliss is found in STILLNESS (that stilln...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Feb 10, 2011, 12:35 pm
Dianthus (barefoot photos) Are you holed-up and snowbound today?  Home with the flu? Just plain lazy, lethargic, tamasic? Sounds like a good opportunity to watch an inspiring TED talk.With grateful permission, I am reprinting this post from Online classes.org. 15 TED Talks to Help You Find Happin...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Feb 9, 2011, 2:34 pm
Snow Shadows (barefoot photos) A rambling excerpt of a practice journal entry that I thought might be of some use . . .  . December 15, 2010, Wednesday morning, 9:10 AM Just meditated with soft ujjayi breath for an hour. Shocked when I opened my eyes and realized how much time had passed. That ...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Feb 5, 2011, 7:05 pm
Thinking about trying YOGA but afraid you’re too inflexible? Is it the mind or the body that is inflexible? Or is it the heart that stalls, afraid it might just fall in love again? I use laughter in my yoga classes as a means of “getting over myself.” That’s giving the ego a kick in the but...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Feb 1, 2011, 3:04 pm
after two cloud-filled weeks, a day of sun Black Pine Boughs with Snow (barefoot photos) Life is beautiful. There’s treasure in every moment —treasure you may overlook unless you are aware of the impermanence of everything. Steve Ross a red tail floats above then slides into white-cr...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Jan 27, 2011, 9:45 pm
Prescott AZ Clouds (barefoot photos) I LOVE the energy of a new year. So many possibilities. Such delicious energy to savor and digest. In the studio, we opened the intentions we compiled last January. At least one of us (me!) felt a shiver of excitement up and down my spine as I realized how...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Jan 13, 2011, 2:13 pm
Wrapped Gift (barefoot photos) Woohoo….let the drums roll and the bugles blare. There are two winners of the Free Yoga Book Giveaway announced on the Your Presence, The Most Generous Gift post. Kathleen commented that “It is not about the “stuff” but about being with each other and spendi...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Jan 9, 2011, 2:44 pm
Eggplant Parmesan (Nate Grady photo)             INGREDIENTS 3 T. olive oil (approximate) 1 medium eggplant, sliced in 1/4 inch rounds 4 oz. part-skim mozzarella, grated 4 oz. Romana cheese. grated 1 large onion chopped 1 large green pepper chopped 4 cloves garlic minced 3 eggs,...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Jan 5, 2011, 5:02 pm
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (Nate Grady photo) Did you have your beans today? It is incredibly easy to whip together a delicious dip for snack, lunch, or dinner. If you already have the ingredients in the house, it only takes about fifteen minutes to assemble and whip. This version walks on the li...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Jan 2, 2011, 2:30 pm
late afternoon echo tea leaves afloat in hot water china cups a slate-topped table on worn-down ground white feather like a word murmured slowly lonely floats onto the gray slate no more daylight rolling over the green mountain Frosted Oregano Flower (barefoot photos) Related ...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Jan 1, 2011, 8:55 pm
This delicious radish dish will stoke your potassium. They lose their “radishy pepperiness” as they roast, so even non-radish eaters may enjoy this one. Fresh radishes are recommended for the fullest flavor. I don’t care for the texture of radish greens, so I added some also weathered fresh...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Dec 30, 2010, 10:15 pm
Reclining Supported Cobbler's Pose (barefoot photos) My yogic journey is a beautiful adventure into the Cave of The Heart. When reclining, either in savasana or supine upon an angled bolster, I am most aware of relaxing and entering this sacred cave. My true home of holiness. The Silence within an...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Dec 17, 2010, 12:45 am
  Red Bow (barefoot photos)                   Yogini-blogger, Donna Suguna Marguglio (Emotional Healing Through Yoga) commented on an earlier barefootandupsidedown asteya post that “Teaching and practicing yoga has lifted the burden of wanting “stuff”.” Why is that? ...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Dec 10, 2010, 1:03 pm
Home Cooked Applesauce in a BeckyBowl (barefoot photos) Having lived in Western New York state for 25 years, making applesauce has been an autumn tradition. Apples are now grown all over the world, the sauce is easy-schmeasy to make, and the taste is NOTHING like store-bought, so try some soon.  ...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Dec 9, 2010, 5:51 pm
A Yogin’s Cuisine, Recipes for Health & Happiness Latkes aka Potato Pancakes I love Latke season! Even though the ‘taters we grew last summer were hit with a blight, we still made a batch using red potatoes for Mike’s dad. He ate with gusto, re-stacking his plate several times. I was tick...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Nov 28, 2010, 11:19 pm
Seeds Ready For Flight (barefoot photos) The Yoga Sutras, the ancient text of yogic principles recorded by the sage, Patanjali, reveal the path for a yogin’s practice.  In the second Pada thread 23, he says: sva-svami-saktyoh sva-rupa-upalabdhi-hetuh samyogah Bernard Bouanchaud offers a transl...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Nov 28, 2010, 12:22 pm
Pumpkin (barefoot photos) A Yogin’s Cuisine Pumpkin pie is loaded with Vitamin A, delicious, and easy to make, so why  not enjoy it beyond the holidays? My version focuses on a deep dish of pumpkin but sometimes I go one step further for a gluten-free version, and make it crust-less. Deliciou...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Nov 27, 2010, 5:16 pm
A Yogin’s Cuisine, Recipes for Health & Happiness Nutty Cranberry Goodin Puddin (barefoot photos) The recipe for Cranberry Goodin Puddin originally came from Gramma Von Hofe’s collection of cranberry recipes about 30 years ago. We’ve always loved it and made it for the holidays. As recipes ...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Nov 11, 2010, 4:55 pm
(2010 barefoot photos) As a person who makes up names for people, I thought I should flip the cart and look at my own names. Recently someone asked if I preferred Carol over Carolyn and immediately I quipped about how my birth family never got that my name was Carolyn since they all still call me ...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Nov 10, 2010, 1:23 pm
Apricot Petals (barefoot photos) 1:39 Patanjali: yathabhimatadhyanadva Bouanchaud:Choosing meditation according to one’s affinities also brings mental stability. Iyengar:Or, by meditating on any desired object conducive to steadiness of consciousness. Fuerstein:  Or restriction is achieved th...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Oct 31, 2010, 10:25 pm
Red and Green leaves (barefoot photos) Occasionally, it’s helpful to look at the trends in your practice over time. For me, this month started out with a focus on the inversions of downward facing dog, headstand, shoulderstand, and plough, but then, when I experienced more and more tightening in...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Oct 25, 2010, 9:49 pm
"Oklahoma" rosebud in October (barefoot photos) One of my teachers offered a teleconference course on sacred self-care. Oh, I thought, this is pushing things a bit, I mean, really sacred self care? Furthermore, why should I sign up, I already teach self-care. Certainly I know how important it is ...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Oct 6, 2010, 8:19 pm
Practicing yoga postures without breath awareness sustains physical benefits such as increased flexibility, deepening strength, improved balance. Seeds at Watson Lake, Prescott AZ (barefoot photos) When breath becomes an integral component of asana, the mind focuses and can achieve the single-poin...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Sep 7, 2010, 10:35 pm
Xi'an dragon (NKG photo) Slow breath Slow thoughts Are they the same? Related posts:early spring meditation, birdsong In Western New York, Spring, the mud-licked goddess of joy...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Aug 30, 2010, 4:26 pm
Butterfly bush flower (barefoot photos) For those of us in the northern hemisphere, the dog days of summer have settled in with a big ole lazy heat wave. Who wants to move when the air is so heavy? Yoga class today? No, thanks, set me in front of my fan with an icy latte and a spicy novel. It’...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - May 6, 2010, 5:07 pm
Beet Salad (barefoot photos) I love this delicious, colorful, and very healthful salad. It garners rave reviews at potlucks too. The first time I made it, I hand grated everything. Wow. It took a LONG time. Now I use a food processor. Don’t worry too much about exact amounts. I’m sure it’l...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Apr 30, 2010, 2:27 pm
Sutra 2.45: samadhi siddih isvara pranidhanat Samadhi: contemplation. Siddih: power, accomplishment, realization. Isvarapranidhanat: through devotion to the Lord, positive behavior and the ritual act of devotion. Contemplation and its powers are attained through worship of God. (trans. Bernard Bou...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Apr 20, 2010, 11:22 pm
Yoga Sutra 2.44: svadhyayat ista devata samprayogah Polish door (RKG photo) Svadyayat: through reading and chanting sacred texts. Ista: desired, chosen. Devata: divinity. Samprayogah: union, fusion. Union with the chosen divinity comes from the study of self through the sacred texts. (trans. Bern...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Apr 13, 2010, 9:55 pm
A Yogin’s Cuisine, Recipes for Health & Happiness Roasted Chickpeas in carnival glass bowl. (barefoot photos) This is my favorite new snack food. The entire family enjoyed them while we lived in Mumbai. Recently, I found a simple version in an Italian grocery store. They fulfill my deep need...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Mar 22, 2010, 11:42 am
Baby Wren (barefoot photos) In Western New York, Spring, the mud-licked goddess of joy and rebirth, has floundered through the melting snows of March and found her way with the warmer, softer breezes, flowering snowdrops, and brilliant birdsong. Neighbors are sweeping off salt-littered stoops and ...
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carolyn g posted an article on LaughingYogini - Mar 14, 2010, 10:56 pm
Yoga sutra 2.43: kayendriyasiddhirasuddhiksayattaapasah Kaya; the body. Indriya: the eleven sense organs, including thought. Siddih: power, perfection. Asuddhi: impurity. Ksayat: by the destruction, elimination. Tapasah: discipline, asceticism, austerity. By eliminating impurity, a disciplined l...
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