Welcome to the Yogalosophy homepage, where you can follow the intention of the month.

What is Yogalosophy (View Video):

I have found that changing my attitude affects my emotions, and my body changes accordingly. Sometimes I am motivated by nurture, sometimes by intensity. My motivational hybrid technique revolves around cycles of change. Yogalosophy can help you use the natural flow to recreate your body through intentions, emotions, and other motivational triggers.

JULY/AUGUST 2009

CREATIVITY: RECREATION: RE-CREATE YOUR BODY

This month's themes (click below):

• Create!
• Be Sexy!
• Play!
• Celebrate!
• Open Your Heart!
• Act!

Create!

RECREATION = RE-CREATE your body.
This month holds the energy of creativity. Children are masters of creativity and recreation. I remember being a little kid, and that feeling of exhaustion I would have at the end of the day because I had played so hard - it felt so good. Everything from the Kid Olympics that my dad created for us, to reenacting scenes from Young Frankenstein with my mom. The art projects were endless and we would dance for hours at a time, just because.

In the spirit of that creativity and recreation, I also remind myself that my body is a work in progress. There is no final product. When I was a little girl, I thought that when I grew up I would be a certain weight. Now, after becoming a woman and seeing that my body fluctuates, it reminds me that I am changing all the time. Usually, what I do today has a great effect on what happens tomorrow, so I try to remember that the activities I do today feed the creation of the person I am becoming. Play this month and be creative!

For more about creating what you want to experience and have in your life, watch the video about the Vision Mat that I made. Think about what you would like to recreate, and try your hand at making your own vision board.

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Be Sexy!

When all else fails, think about sex. Seriously. Sexual energy is creative energy. You can create an entire person with that energy. Have you ever noticed that when you have a crush on someone, you can stay up all night and not get tired, that you are not hungry, and everything rolls off of your back? Tapping into this aspect of yourself is both energizing and completely entertaining. And, guess what.. No one needs to know what you are thinking. Plus, as an added bonus, it is a fact that you burn more calories when you are thinking about someone you have a crush on!

This is a picture I drew of my ideal relationship. Share your own artwork on the Yogalosophy Group page on Facebook.

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Play!

When I look at this picture of myself, I remember the self confidence of exploration. The sprit of play and joy is a great way to make yoga and cardio fun. When I was a child, I would try things simply for the sake of play. I might think of my favorite child, or I might call into mind that little 3 year old Mandy that hasn't changed one bit since then. That child is completely untouched and ready to play. Thinking we know it all doesn't leave much room for new experiences and discovery, and I want to leave myself open for that.

Exercise is fun. I sometimes say: "If you are a dog, this is your walk". Notice how excited your dog gets to for a walk. That's how excited your body is to move! One of my old teachers works with animals and autistic children, and he says the universal language is PLAY! When we play, we don't have to worry about looking silly... that's the POINT! Trying something like crow pose or one-arm balance can be daunting when we think that there is a right way to do it, but there is a sense of play in just giving it a shot. So play around this month. If you fall... so what. Tap into that spirit of joy and try not to take yourself so seriously.

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Celebrate!

I consider exercise an absolute celebration of the body. I feel that the body is a gift and celebrating that we have bodies that can move in these ways is joyful. Yoga doesn't have to be so serious. Blast the hip hop and make it like an old school stretch and tone exercise class. Or get a group together and have a yoga party. Practice together, and let each person teach a few poses. Bring your favorite childhood food. (Mine was whipped cream!) Get creative.

Check out pictures of the wrap party for my Yogalosophy DVD, and celebrate our fun website. See who is helping me. Party with us and send us your good cheer at the Yogalosophy Facebook page.

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Open Your Heart!

Opening my heart is truly one of my life's goals. I am a big thinker and planner, and I try to do a lot within my own head. The truth is in my heart. When I explore ways of sharing myself, I do not always know what the outcome is. This can be challenging... to trust. I tend to be a perfectionist, and I don't like to look bad, so often times I stay shut off. Safe. Part of why we love actors so much is because they are sharing the intimacy of their hearts. We all have similar feelings, just different triggers. Opening your heart can sometimes be messy, but that is the fun of it.

Here are 3 ways to open your heart:

1. Add cardio into your practice this month, to get the heart rate up. You can join my Yogalosophy Group on Facebook to get my periodic cardio suggestions.

2. Sun salutes are not only celebrating the sun, but are very much like the cardio aspect to the yoga practice The breath oxygenates the blood and the heart pumps the blood to all the extremities, giving us that endorphin rush. Click here for my video breakdown of the Sun Salute.

3. Energize your practice with some stimulating Back Bends. Check the Yoga Poses of the Month for some great heart-opening poses.

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Act!

When I was a child, I was very shy. I was more of an intellectual than an emotional or physical being, until I went to a school that encouraged the arts and the development of the WHOLE CHILD. I discovered that when I was on stage, I could say, be or do anything. I could be fully self-expressed, and I felt safe to express it. What may be too much in real life is perfect when we play or act. The same thing goes for your workout. Act as if you can do anything and that is how you will feel!

This month is the energy and spirit of the ACTOR. Peruse my site for special guest stars this month. And hey, check out some of my childhood acting roles!

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