Yoga Interviews : Maria from Daily Downward Dog

Today is the 6th week our 8 week yoga interviews series where we’re presenting interviews of 8 influential yoga bloggers. We ask 8 engaging questions and release an interview every Saturday at 8am US EST.

For this interview, we’re happy to learn more about Maria from the popular blog Daily Downward Dog. We originally connected with Maria on Twitter. Maria is one of the pioneers of yoga blogging, we’re fortunate to have the opportunity to feature her. Enjoy the interview and leave a comment or question for Maria in the comments section.

1)      When did you start practicing yoga?

Back in my early forties, I started having trouble getting out of bed in the morning due to back pain brought on by scoliosis and stress. I told myself I was way too young for that nonsense, and took the advice I’d been given about practicing yoga to relieve back pain. After I did my first few downward dogs, I was hooked and knew that yoga was the elixir I needed. Like most people, though, the daily grind of the corporate world kept me off the mat for extended periods of time. I took a deep dive back into the world of yoga five years ago, eventually traded in my black power suits for black stretchy yoga pants, and have been riding the waves of an incredible yoga high ever since. If you had told me five years ago that I would now be teaching yoga, I would have thought you were crazy.

2)      What drove you to share your message & your practice with the world through a yoga blog?

My first blog MariaMedia was a place to share all the things I was passionate about, like yoga, travel, books, food, and strong female role models (aka Women Who Rock). On that blog I began chronicling my yoga journey with daily snippets on a page titled The Daily Downward Dog. As my yoga practice began to blossom the snippets turned into longer posts and it was a natural progression to spin The Daily Downward Dog off on its own in 2011.

Yoga has completely changed my life in many ways. I used to be a stressed out executive, and today I’m a blissed out yoga teacher. My back pain has gone away, and most of all, I just notice that I’m a happier person. I’m blessed to be doing work that I love and am passionate about. I smile more, I laugh more, I’m full of gratitude, and I wanted to share all of the benefits of yoga with anyone who would be willing to read my blog.

3)      Talk a little bit about one of your top three yoga blog posts.

Wow, that is a really tough question because I have so many favorites. I will say that I started to notice in the summer of 2012 that I really began to come into my own voice in my yoga teaching, which was very exciting and fulfilling for me. It seems that I can find yogic inspiration everywhere and I take these experiences and weave them into my yoga class themes and also began sharing them on The Daily Downward Dog. Now I get requests all the time to post my class themes and I love it when people come up to me and tell me that they read one of my posts and it inspired them. A few of my favorites: Top Thrill Yoga about using the power of pranayama breathing in stressful situations, like right before taking off on one of the scariest roller coasters at Cedar Point with my niece, Plenty of Fast Out There about taking the time to slow down both on and off the yoga mat, and P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E about why it’s called yoga practice, not yoga perfect.

4)      Music can be such a powerful tool in asana and/or meditation practice. How do you make music selections for your own personal practice and for practices you teach?

I’m not a fan of the harpy, Zen-like genre of yoga music. During portions of my playlist I like to include upbeat music. Sometimes that means a song has a little soul or maybe even a little rap (thank you, MC Yogi), and I always include a little reggae. Some of my favorite artists are Donna De Lory, C.C. White, DJ Drez, Girish, MC Yogi, Trevor Hall, Snatam Kaur, and Michael Franti. I have a whole page on the Daily Downward Dog devoted to posts about my yoga class playlists, yoga theme songs, awesome yoga musicians and new music releases.

When I first started teaching I used a lot of mainstream music with lyrics. As my teaching has evolved I’ve found myself turning to more instrumental and kirtan music. It is important to me that people can hear the cues and also that the music does not distract or take them away from their practice.

I have to say that the sounds of waves, wind, and birds chirping make up my favorite soundtrack while practicing and teaching yoga on the beach.

 5)      You’ve written about how yoga has healed your back pain. Let’s say someone comes to you having had 5 years of chronic back pain. They’ve never practiced yoga, but they’re at the point where they’re willing to try anything. What’s your advice?

I would encourage them to speak to their doctor first to make sure they are able to practice yoga. Then I would offer suggestions on which classes to take or private instruction, so they get a gentle approach that focuses on the asanas that will stretch and strengthen the back and core body.

Some back pain is brought on primarily by stress, so starting out with basic pranayama breathing exercises and meditation can be a huge help in reducing stress and alleviating back pain.

For those suffering from back pain brought on by scoliosis, I highly recommend Elise Browning Miller’s Yoga for Scoliosis DVD.

6)      What yoga or wellness books have had the biggest impact on you?

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is my go to book and bible of yoga.

7)      What style of yoga do you practice & why?

I practice several types of yoga, but my favorites are Hatha and Vinyasa. I like the classical approach to the asanas in Hatha and the flowing breath with movement of Vinyasa. When I take a Vinyasa yoga class I feel like I’m dancing on my yoga mat. My favorite kind of yoga class is when you start with a pranayama exercise to clear the mind and get centered, spirited Vinyasa flow, and then time after savasana for meditation.

I’ve been known to try different kinds of yoga to mix things up, so in the last year I’ve tried SUPYoga, Bikram, aerial, acro-yoga, and wall yoga. I love that there are so many different types of yoga, and enjoy trying them all.

8)      On what form of social media do you connect with other yogis/yoginis most effectively?

Facebook is really effective for communicating upcoming classes and workshops with my local students. Twitter is a fantastic way to connect with yogis all around the world, and I’m beginning to use Instagram more as a tool for sharing pictures from my yoga retreats and beach yoga classes.

Bonus Question:      What advice do you have for people who are 40 years or older and are just beginning to study & practice yoga?

It’s never too late! Come to the practice with an open mind and accept the fact that you won’t be able to do everything perfectly. Yoga is not a competition, and no one is going to judge you if you are not super flexible. We come to yoga to become flexible, not because we are flexible.

Take your time, learn to breathe, turn off your internal critic, turn up the corners of your mouth, smile, be curious, explore, and embrace this awesome practice of yoga. I think one of the most important things to remember as students of yoga is this simple fact – Yoga is a practice. You have the rest of your life to practice and grow in it. No need to beat yourself up if you can’t touch your toes or do a handstand. Instead, repeat this mantra: How cool is it that there’s still so much to learn about yoga? I have the rest of my life to go on this amazing yoga journey.

About Maria: Maria Santoferraro, E-RYT, is first and foremost a student of yoga and hails from the beautiful shores of Lake Erie, Ohio. A former marketing executive with a ‘Crackberry’ addiction, she now enjoys spending her time teaching yoga on the beach, building yoga brands, and creating meditation videos forHangTen Meditation.

Her playful, heart-opening teaching combines meditation, breath, alignment, and asana in flowing Hatha yoga classes that encourage students to reconnect to their bodies and breath and to fill up with joy. Maria incorporates uplifting class themes, music, poetry, laughter, and the spiritual teachings of yoga to create a peaceful environment where students can quiet their minds, let go, and experience a deep sense of calm and well-being.

In 2011, she was able to combine two of her greatest passions – yoga and the beach – to start her own beach yoga “studio” on the beautiful shores of Lake Erie, Ohio, where she has shared yoga with hundreds of students. She has added her passion for travel and adventure to the mix with her second beach yoga retreat on the idyllic Caribbean white sand beaches of Aruba from April 22-27. This beach yoga bliss retreat will include daily inspirational yoga and meditation classes led by Maria and the opportunity to bust out some yoga moves on a standup paddle board (SUP yoga).

Go from stressed out to blissed out on her blog The Daily Downward Dog, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Join Maria this coming April for Beach Yoga Bliss in Aruba on Eagle Beach at Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa or for one of her yoga workshops.

8 weeks, 8 yoga bloggers, 8 questions, posted each Saturday at 8am.

Hope you’ve enjoyed our yoga interviews series and that you’ll join us next Saturday AM for our next interview! Check out our previous five interviews:

• Meredith LeBlanc of The Pondering Yogini
• Tonya of The Yoga Deck and Ultima Healing
• Jen and Liz of The Travel Yogi
• Brandon and Anne of The Yoga Nomads
• Roseanne from It’s All Yoga, Baby

Yoga Blogger Interview : It’s All Yoga, Baby

Today is the 5th week our 8 week yoga blogger interview series where we’re presenting interviews of 8 influential yoga bloggers. We ask 8 engaging questions and release an interview every Saturday at 8am US EST.

For this interview, we’re happy to learn more about Roseanne from It’s All Yoga, Baby. We originally connected with Roseanne after reading her interesting views on yoga in the west. Roseanne is one of the pioneers of yoga blogging, we’re fortunate to have the opportunity to feature her. Enjoy the interview and leave a comment or question for Roseanne in the comments section.

1) Can you start by giving us a bit of background about yourself and your blog. How did you start practicing? When did you start blogging, and what did you expect readers to get out of it? 

I started practicing yoga casually while I was a university student in the mid-90s, but I got deeply into it 10 years ago. I started blogging, reluctantly, while I was working as editor of ascent, an independent yoga magazine. This was around 2006/7, when the magazine industry hadn’t yet figured out how to work with the internet or these new blog things. When ascent went out of business in early 2009 and I found myself out of a job and with an abundance of free time, I started It’s All Yoga, Baby. I wanted to stay connected to the community of teachers and practitioners I’d met while working at the magazine, and I also wanted a place to develop my voice and opinions on yoga in North American culture, to be able to speak out in a way that I couldn’t when I was at the helm of a magazine. I didn’t expect anybody would actually read it or be interested in it, and for the first three months I kept the blog a secret while I built my confidence. Slowly, from there, I started to comment on other blogs and share my posts with colleagues and friends, and then it just kept growing and growing.

2) It’s All Yoga Baby examines the relationship between yoga and popular culture. Can you touch on general or specific hypocrisies of yoga in the West when compared to the roots of traditional Eastern yoga?

First of all, I don’t think traditional yoga is without its hypocrisies; the roots of yoga are often tangled and complicated, and I’m not interested in idealizing or romanticizing them. Nevertheless, one of the general hypocrisies of modern yoga that I find fascinating is the value system that has gotten lost as yoga has become more popular and mainstream. My feeling is that at its essence, yoga is about living a simple, immaterial life and being content with what we have – but yoga has in many ways, ironically, become a status symbol, with a code of fashion, “spirituality lite” trends, and cult of personality teachers.

3) Tell us a little bit about one of your top three yoga blog posts.

One of my favourite blog posts is my coverage of Yoga Journal’s dismissal of an international boycott of Hyatt Hotels in order to hold their 2013 conference in San Francisco. I had followed that story for six months, interviewed union activists, and published the post just before the January conference. I was amazed at the response and the discussion that ensued (although not surprised at all by YJ’s lack of engagement and their generic corporate reply to the issue) – SF yoga practitioners even showed up at the hotel and picketed in solidarity with workers and activists. The whole thing affirmed that there is a powerful and thoughtful cohort of practitioners who align their yoga practice with a vision for social justice. It was beyond inspiring.

4) There are organizations sprouting up in an effort to preserve traditional yoga and to prevent the rampant commercialization that we see in the West. Do you think these organizations will be successful in decelerating the Westernization of yoga or will the practice continue to be diluted here in the West?

I’m less concerned about the dilution of the practice than I used to be. I think yoga is in a constant state of evolution, and it’s responding to North American culture in diverse and fascinating ways. Some of these are awesome (like yoga as part of this holistic stress reduction program in Toronto schools) and some are ridiculous (like doga, yoga raves, SUP yoga). What will be interesting to see is what has a lasting impression, what forms yoga in the West will take in the next 10, 20, 30 years and beyond. We’re in the midst of a massive boom, and the popularity of yoga is showing no signs of slowing down. I’m curious to see if it will hit a tipping point, and what will happen then.

5) What yoga or wellness book or books have had the biggest impact on you?

Stephen Cope, Yoga and the Quest for the True Self; Swami Radha, Kundalini Yoga for the West; Michael Stone, Yoga for a World Out of Balance.

6) Do you practice a specific style of yoga? If so, why?

I happily practice a no-name unbrand of yoga in my living room, responding to whatever is happening in my body on any given day. My roots are in the service and reflection based Yasodhara Yoga, which I studied at an ashram in western Canada, and I’ve also studied and trained in Anusara Yoga, before that scene imploded. To shake things up, I practice once a week or so at a community studio near my house, and I also love to check out new classes and teachers around town. But my home practice is essential in keeping me grounded, connected and sane.

7) On what form of social media do you connect w/ other yoga practitioners most effectively?

Twitter, for fun conversations and up-to-the-minute news (on not just yoga but culture and politics), and Facebook, where a community of people discuss blog posts and yoga news on the IAYB fanpage.

8) What advice do you have for people who are just beginning to study & practice yoga?

Just do it. There is a practice, teacher and style for everyone, so be willing to experiment and explore until you find something that clicks. Avoid reading yoga blogs. Don’t talk about yoga non-stop with friends and family, you’ll just annoy them.

About Roseanne:
Roseanne Harvey is a writer, editor and geeky girl who lives and loves life in Montreal. She is the founder of It’s All Yoga, Baby, a blog about yoga and other things, with a mission to spark investigation into the relationship between yoga, the body and popular culture. IAYB questions, provokes thought and shines a critical light on yoga culture ~ while celebrating community, service, creativity, the independent spirit and good ol’ fun. Founded in spring 2009, IAYB has grown to be a leading voice in the North American yoga community.

As the former editor of ascent magazine, Roseanne isn’t afraid to use her media literacy skills to call out the hypocrisies and contradictions of modern yoga. She is all for dismantling the dominant hegemony of rock star teachers, expensive class fees and designer clothes/accessories/products. She also loves supporting progressive yoga projects, innovative and independent teachers, and general awesomeness. Active offline as well as online, Roseanne is a co-producer of Yoga Festival Montreal and the co-editor (with Carol Horton) of 21st Century Yoga: Culture, Politics & Practice Find Roseanne. You can connect with Roseanne on It’s All Yoga, Baby, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

8 weeks, 8 yoga bloggers, 8 questions, posted each Saturday at 8am.

Join us next Saturday AM for our next interview and check out our previous four interviews:

• Meredith LeBlanc of The Pondering Yogini
• Tonya of The Yoga Deck and Ultima Healing
• Jen and Liz of The Travel Yogi
• Brandon and Anne of The Yoga Nomads

Joshua A Parable for Today Summary, Notes, Discussion

You are the Salt of the Earth Meaning

“You are the Salt of the Earth” — those are the ever important words that Jesus spoke 2000 years ago during the Sermon on the Mount. Most scholars agree that the Sermon on the Mount (which is part of Matthew’s Gospel) encapsulates the core of Jesus’ teachings. The meaning of You are the Salt of the Earth is best analyzed by examining the phrase’s context within the Gospel. Let’s take a look at Matthew’s Gospel:

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

You are the Salt of the Earth Meaning

The phrase, “Salt of the Earth” is best understood by thinking of the importance of salt ~2000 years ago when Jesus lived. Salt was an extremely valuable commodity because it was a natural way for flavoring and preserving food. Salt was also important because of its healing powers. In short, salt was essential. Therefore, when Jesus calls of the Salt of the Earth, he’s saying that we’re invaluable.

You are the Light of the World Meaning

“You are the light of the world” means that we are God manifested on Earth. God dwells within each and every one of us. As a result, we are called to be Christlike, to act in love, peace, and charity. One of my favorite quotes from Jesus is, “Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21) For more on this philosophy, I highly recommend reading The Yoga of Jesus by Paramahansa Yogananda.

Definition of Good Deeds

Within the Gospel that defines us as the Salt of the Earth, the light of the world, we are called to do good deeds. Well, what are good deeds? One need look no further than the beginning of the First Reading from the same Sunday’s Mass:

“Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them.”

So, What’s the overall meaning of Salt of the Earth Light of the World?

The overall meaning affirms my belief that we are called to be bold in life, not to give in to societal norms. Not to live comfortable, meek existences but instead to create positive change and to do good deeds. It is positive impact that defines us, nothing more. I feel we are called not only to do no harm unto others but to be the light…. to be a beacon of light and to create significant positive change in this world. The line that spoke to me most today was: “your light must shine before others.” I believe this is a call for us to do more and to share Jesus’ message of love, peace, charity, and kindness with as many people as possible. There’s a connection between this Sunday’s Mass and a great Steve Jobs quote:

“When you grow up you tend to get told that the world is the way it is and your life is just to live your life inside the world. Try not to bash into the walls too much. Try to have a nice family life, have fun, save a little money. That’s a very limited life. Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it, you can improve it… Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.” ~Steve Jobs

So friends, I urge you, do not live a limited life. Passively watching television every night serves no one. Perhaps “succeeding” in our corporate careers but doing little else is not actually success. We are capable (and called to do) so much more! It is only with action that we can create positive change rooted in love, peace and charity. You are the salt, now be the light. This is only my humble interpretation…. What’s yours? To you, what’s the meaning of “You are the Salt of the Earth, the Light of the World?” ~Paz

Yoga Blogger Interview: The Yoga Nomads

Today is the 4th week our 8 week interview series where we’re presenting interviews of 8 influential yoga bloggers. We ask 8 engaging questions and we release an interview every Saturday at 8am US EST.

For this interview, we’re happy to learn more about Brandon and Anne of The Yoga Nomads. Brandon and Anne reached out to us on Twitter and we learned that their hometown is right near Danielle’s (in Minnesota.)

Brandon and Anne recently touched down in Mumbai, India. Their mission is similar to Lucid Practice in the sense that they’re creating a travel and yoga community. Enjoy the interview and leave a comment or question for Brandon and Anne in the comments section.

1. Can you start by giving us a bit of background about yourself and your blog. How did you start practicing? When did you start blogging, and what did you expect readers to get out of it?

Deep down I’m a nerd with an insatiable appetite to learn and discover. Constantly seeking new experiences and looking for “it.”

I’m a Minneapolis native (and advocate) and aspiring location independent entrepreneur. Craft beer geek. Live music junkie. Obsessive nomad.

I started practicing yoga a little over 5 years ago. One random Saturday in college, a buddy invited me to tag along for a ‘free yoga class.’ Had nothing to lose so I went along and ended up really liking it. Pretty boring story actually…

My girlfriend (Anne) and I started The Yoga Nomads for a couple reasons:

1. We both have a passion for yoga and want it to be a big part of our life. (and recently completed our 200hr teacher training certification through CorePower Yoga.)
2. We think there is more to life than sitting at our old desk jobs and are striving for a location independent lifestyle

We started The Yoga Nomads in July of 2013. Originally our plan was to teach yoga in exchange for accommodation as we travel the world. We booked up teaching gigs throughout Colombia, Bolovia, and Peru. Then we decided we wanted to do Asia instead and scrapped our entire South American plan. Funny how life goes…

The new focus for The Yoga Nomads is to provide like-minded individuals with the tools needed to practice yoga while traveling. We will create a guide for each country aimed at nomadic yogis, review studios, retreat centers, etc. There are a couple bigger ideas that we’re working towards, but that’s all I can say for now 🙂

Also, we just arrived in Mumbai, India via a 1-way ticket on January 28^th, we’ll be traveling Asia for an undetermined amount of time!

Anne and Brandon – camping in the BWCA (2013)

2. You mentioned that you and Anne never envisioned yourselves creating a career in yoga. How were you introduced to yoga? What has changed since your first practice?

We were both introduced to yoga through friends about 5 years ago (prior to meeting each other). We each spent a few years practicing but not taking it too serious. Then we started dating and our passion for yoga increased, as it was something special that we shared. We ultimately decided to take training through CorePower Yoga. Upon completing teacher training we both knew that a big life change was on the horizon. So we decided to set a date to travel and teach yoga, 6 months later we quit our jobs to do just that.

Since our first few classes, our practice has steadily become a larger part of our life. Early on it was a workout, now it is a way of life. I cannot imagine not having yoga in my life. When we started studying and reading about yoga it took on a deeper meaning. Teacher training also taught us about the rest of yoga… you know, other than the physical practice 🙂

3. Tell us a little bit about one of your top three blog posts.

Since getting serious about my personal yoga journey I’ve often wondered what I can do to improve my practice. I found out that several of my peers felt the same. So, I did my research and compiled 24 ways to supercharge your yoga practice. Students with any experience level can benefit.

4. Many of our readers are interested in earning enough to live sustainable lives while traveling. Can you talk about your preferred ways to earn money while traveling?

Currently, we have relationships with hostels/hotels where we can teach yoga to guests in exchange for accommodation. Although this requires readers to be yoga teachers, I know hostels/hotels offer similar ‘skill exchanges’ such as web development or even tending the hostel/hotel bar.

Bonnaroo music festival

5. Let’s talk experiences — what has been the most memorable experience you’ve had while traveling?

I would have to say trekking in the mountains outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. We white water rafted, rode elephants, and the scenery was amazing. The reason it was so memorable was because of the people… it’s always about the people! We went in a group of 10-12 people, representing 7 countries. Started off as strangers and ended the 3 day trek as lifelong friends.

6. What yoga or wellness book or books have had the biggest impact on you?

There are 2 books that come to mind. If you want more book suggestions, I wrote a piece on the top 9 books every nomad should read.

• Be Here Now by Ram Das – This book is a work of art and always gets me thinking
• The Wisdom of Yoga by Stephen Cope – Makes the ancient wisdom/benefits of yoga accessible to the average modern yogi.

7. Do you practice a specific style of yoga? If so, why?

We were schooled in Vinyasa style yoga but regularly incorporate the Bikram series in our practice. We both love trying new styles and feel that students can benefit from exploring. We look forward to practicing Ashtanga “mysore style” in Mysore, India in March.

8. On what form of social media do you connect w/ other yoga practitioners most effectively?

We use Facebook and Twitter mainly. Yoga practitioners seems to be more receptive on Twitter. It’s always fun connecting with other like minded individuals. As a matter of fact, our relationship with Lucid Practice started via Twitter!

 Two bonus questions:

9. What advice do you have for people who are just beginning to study & practice yoga?

• Explore multiple styles of yoga. There are many to choose from and people benefit from different styles.
• Realize it’s not a competition and everyone started somewhere. Wherever you are right now is exactly where you’re supposed to be.
• Also, don’t take it so serious, have fun and do what feels right to you!

10. What are your upcoming plans, both travel and non travel?

Anne and I arrived in Mumbai on 1/28. We’ll spend about a month in each country for the foreseeable future. However, our itinerary is very flexible. During our travels, we will be focused on teaching/studying yoga as well as working on The Yoga Nomads with a goal to become location independent.

If you are interested in putting together a yoga retreat, please email brandon.quittem@gmail.com to discuss how we can work together!

About Brandon:
Brandon is a co-founder of The Yoga Nomads which provides the tools needed for you to practice yoga while traveling. Brandon is an avid outdoorsman, yogi, obsessive nomad, craft beer geek, and live music junkie. Favorite country is Thailand. Currently spinning: Tame Impala, Ratatat, Father John Misty, Bassnectar, and Alt-J.

8 weeks, 8 yoga bloggers, 8 questions, posted each Saturday at 8am.

Join us next Saturday AM for our next interview and check out our previous three interviews:

Meredith LeBlanc of The Pondering Yogini

Tonya of The Yoga Deck and Ultima Healing

Jen and Liz of The Travel Yogi