Urdhva Dhanurasana at Kathryn Budig's class: commitment in action

should i stay or should i go?

I wouldn't be doing my job here at Wanderlust if I didn't tell you honestly about my first class of Day 3. Right from the get-go, everything felt wrong: the teacher's voice, the music, the sequencing, even what I was wearing. I took a child's pose and thought about what to do: peace out or stick it through? After three days of yoga, my hips, wrists, and ankles are starting to let me know they need to rest, and the thought of leaving to find a spot in the shade under a tree was sounding seriously appealing.

My second class of the day was with Kathryn Budig who opened our hearts with deep and multiple Urdhva Dhandurasanas and creative, new-to-me boat pose variations that had our arms and feet in places that my brain had trouble mapping out with my eyes closed. Just when I thought about chilling in child's pose, she said, "Yoga is all about how you deal with the pose, not the pose itself."

Are you sensing a theme here?

Spontaneous acts of yoga are popping up all over Squaw Valley

Third class: Rock 'n Roll Vinyasa with Vinnie Marino and it was just what the doctor ordered. From the very first downdog of the day when Come Together started to play, yogis were joining in, and I found myself humming several times in the sweet moments between fast-paced vinyasa. We ended with a deep hip opener of our choice to the Rolling Stones' Wild Horses. Order had been restored in my universe.

the people i met today

Daniel, acroyogi and raw chocolate advocate at Fearless Chocolate.

Amy, a lululemon ambassador from Ann Arbor who is studying how yoga can change your brain and possibly replace medication for things like anxiety and depression.

Juliette, an east coast yoga teacher from NYC.

Chris, a writer and yoga teacher from Portland.

Tracy, lululemon community manager, with Ananda Lion, our ambassador Eoin Finn's brand new baby.

in conclusion

So what did I do in my first class? I stayed. Leaving would have been too easy. I'm curious: what do you do when you're not enjoying something: stay or go?

♥ Alana

p.s. only one more day left here in paradise. I'm packing in as much learning and yoga as I can! If you're here I'd love to meet you -- get a hold of me here or through the @lululemon twitter account!

ustrasana, camel's pose

Camel's pose is known as a heart opening pose. Sometimes for those who are not open to love, self love or external, have difficulty getting into this pose because it can make you feel vulnerable. If you focus the energy in this pose toward a love for yourself it may become easier. The pose in general helps to relieve tension and stress.

Learn more about getting into camel's pose.

urdhva dhanurasana, wheel pose

Wheel pose is also great for opening your heart up as it helps to increase your energy, and counteracts depression. Breathe easily and stay grounded through your feet and hands, which should help you trust and be open, allowing you to open up your heart space.

Don't be discouraged if you are unable to accomplish this pose right away. Even attempting this posture without successful completion holds great benefits. Accept where you are with this pose every time you try it, and patience and acceptance itself will reflect inward.

Learn more about getting into wheel pose.

lotus mudra

Mudras in yoga are typically hand gestures that send energy throughout your body and an intention to your brain invoking an overall intended feeling and presence. Lotus Mudra belongs to the heart chakra, and is a commonly practiced when one is feeling lonely, misunderstood, or sad and in need of releasing tension.

Lotus Mudra can be practiced by placing both hands at your heart's center, and touching only the tips of your fingers and edges of the hands to each other. Sit and breathe easily focusing your attention inward. After a few breaths you really cannot help but reflect on all the beauty in your life.

You can use lotus mudra during seated meditation, or in an extension of a posture to open your heart up to change and light.

Find your breath, heart's center, and love your body everyday. Namaste.