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Oct 10
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Deep Yoga Thoughts by Laurie Labadie

By Yoga

30-Day Dare, Week 4 Recap: CELEBRATION

laurie deep yoga thoughtsDone! 30 classes in 30 days, plus I taught 70 classes in the month of October—100 classes, that’s a lot of heat!

I feel great. Sore, yes, but “I worked hard” kind of sore. It wasn’t all fun and good feels, but it was a great journey and I’m glad that I took the challenge. It’s even more fun for me to watch all the yogis take on the dare. I witnessed the struggle, and I saw light bulbs of awareness turn on. Some of you even dialed it up and set higher goals for yourselves. Awesome! Some of you realized that this was not your time to complete the dare and you bowed out, and I celebrate your ability to recognize what you needed. Really good work!

I saw growth, new possibility, positivity and awakening. I sense a growing spirit of community and a real desire for growth.

And now that we have summitted the 30-Day Dare mountain, “What’s next?”

How about a fun workshop? Christina will be teaching a “Yoga Party Tricks” workshop in both Eastown & Holland in November. You’ll have fun and build skills no matter where you are in your yoga journey, I guarantee it!

This I know for sure; what you focus on, grows. Where do you want growth? Where will you focus?

Next on my personal Growth Docket: I’m going to focus on my meditation practice, because with the holidays on the horizon, I want to stay grounded and present.

Here’s a guided meditation I really enjoy by Oprah & Deepak, Creating Peace From The Inside Out.

There are also many other sources for meditation we at the Funky Buddha recommend:

These people: Dr.Rick Hanson,  Sharon Salzberg, Dan Siegel OR these FREE apps: Stop, Breathe & Think , Headspace (and soooo…many more. We also have several books in our lobby on meditation. Check them out next time you’re in and let us know if you have questions!)

Also, watch for in-studio meditation workshops coming up this holiday season. (Rest Fest, info coming soon!!!)

Celebrate your success, and ask yourself what you really want right now.

Take aim, and grow!

30-Day Dare, Week 3 Recap: Slow & Steady Wins the Race

Deep Yoga ThoughtsI got up at 7 am on a Sunday to practice yoga.

I’m either crazy, or I’m crazy committed to this 30-Day Dare.

After the Sunday night Community Class, I’m even, with seven more classes to go.

Week 3 has me feeling stronger, and hungrier, and more tired. I seriously think I could crush a walnut with my thighs. Ok, maybe not, but my muscles are sore in a really good way. I talked to a yogi tonight who said she could actually feel her core muscles engage in a way she’s never felt before. Yes! Growth through practice!

There’s just one week left of the dare. Some yogis have already finished. Awesome! Even if you only have 14 classes under your belt at this point, you could still finish the dare. (Spoiler alert: We give you October 31st as a bonus day to get your 30 in.)

Nobody ever said this was easy. It’s not. It’s physically draining, and my social life has taken the back seat, but that can be a really good thing too. Saying no to things in order to work on yourself and take needed rest is amazing.

If you want it, go after it! It’s the final countdown. (These Big 80’s tunes are falling down like rain.) Bring us home, Europe!

P.S. See you Thursday night at Brush Studio for our YogABeats, yoga, drinks & dance party! 😉

—Laurie

30-Day Dare, Week Two Recap: Disillusionmentdeep yoga thoughts yoga geek

What was I thinking? I don’t have time for this. My body can’t handle this!

If that voice inside your head has whispered (or shouted) some less-than-encouraging thoughts, know that YOU’RE NORMAL. By the end of week two, doubt often creeps in.

Your body should be feeling the extra effort on your mat, that’s not a bad thing. You are growing in strength! You are becoming more in-tune with your body. Your body is awakening! Celebrate that you can feel!

You’ll only have time for this if you make time for it. With just two weeks remaining, you’ll have to prioritize your free time and make yoga a daily “must do” not an option. Make up any missed days as soon as you can, it’s just not a great feeling being behind.

Lets be real, some days I can think of a dozen things I’d rather do than get on my mat, but truthfully, every time I get on my mat, I’m glad I did. Now, I’m closer to the finish line than I am the starting gate.

Stay positive! We’re half way there! Bon Jovi, take it away…

—Laurie, out.

 

30-Day Dare, Week One Recap: The Honeymoon

Deep Yoga Thoughts

I’ve been down this road, so why again? It’s a challenge, every damn time. It kicks my ass and makes me physically stronger and mentally, more focused. It reminds me that reaching any goal is possible with a plan. Week one is the honeymoon phase of the dare. Yoga love is in the air. High fives and good feels, and a hint of, “Damn!, that class last night…”

Here are some tips from a seasoned dare-er:
– Map out your month.
– Look at every possible opportunity, and grab every one. “If I can, I must” is my mantra. Front load your month, people. You’ll be grateful you did.
– Make a habit of practicing when it naturally works in your schedule and stick to it.

Make good choices.
Fuel your body with nourishing foods and hydrate! All this extra physical exertion is going to make you hungry. Set yourself up for success by having good stuff on hand so you’re less likely to drive through Taco Bell when you’re starving. Rest when you need it, both on and off your mat. Really.

Enjoy the ride.
Choose your way of being. You can love this or hate this, your mental attitude is everything. Keep your own journal. These are days to remember. Let’s get shit done, then we can belly up to a bar and commiserate/celebrate in November.

We’ve only just begun… cue The Carpenters:

—Laurie

Sep 28
0

October Student of the Month: Michael R.

By Student of the Month, Yoga

Funky Buddha October Student of the MonthThis October’s Student of the Month was nominated by our super-spunky-sweet Studio Operations Coordinator for Forest Hills, Chelsea!

Michael is so deserving of Student of the Month! Since starting his 30-day trial I feel like we saw him almost every day at Forest Hills. Turns out, he came to 20 classes over the 30 day period, what a boss! He always shows up with an amazing attitude, and a smile, and even showed me a little Buddha his son gave him that he keeps in his car as a reminder to get on his mat.

As a New Yogi, and now a Member, his dedication to his practice during his first month at the studio was inspiring, and really shows how much hard work, patience, and a supportive community can pay off.
We are thankful he’s part of our studio and community, and look forward to many more Michael attended classes!

—Chelsea L.

Sep 22
0

Meet Our Fall Intern

By Yoga

 

My name is Zoë Loridas and I am a senior atMeet Our Fall Intern Aquinas College, graduating in the Spring of 2017 with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Communication. I am so excited to be the Marketing Intern for the Fall of 2016 at Funky Buddha and to start this journey.

For three months last fall I lived in Rome, Italy studying, working, and exploring the country along with traveling around Europe. This past summer I was a Marketing Intern at Global Health Charities, a nonprofit that assembles birthing kits to send to undeveloped countries.

I love photography and blogging about fashion, food, lifestyle, and travels. Being outdoors, especially hiking, makes for the best adventures and is something I try to do often.

I have practiced yoga in the past but hot yoga is going to be a new feat. I am very excited to start this voyage and work my way up in my hot yoga abilities!

If you are also a beginner, join me in experience to grow stronger mentally and physically. This fall look out for my photos, new ideas, and words of wisdom on Funky Buddha’s Yoga Hothouse social media!

Sep 21
0

#YogisAtArtPrize IG Contest

By Yoga

Funky Buddha Yogis At Art Prize

Celebrate Yoga. Celebrate ArtPrize. Celebrate Grand Rapids. 

Starting September 21 through October 9th – Instagram Yogis take over ArtPrize!! Use the hashtag #YogisAtArtPrize, and you will be entered to win a super artsy Funky Buddha Swag Bag filled with all sorts of Funky Buddha Yoga goodness.

Fine Print: You must follow us on Instagram (@funkybuddhayoga) for your picture to be entered into the contest.  Your Funky Buddha Jurors’ will select the top posts on October 6. Top posts will be voted on by the public via Facebook and Instagram during the last three days of ArtPrize. Winner will be announced on October 9!

Get hash-tagging and see you out there! Instagram Husbands, this is the perfect project for you. 😉instagram_husband

 

Sep 16
0

The Habit Loop & Your Yoga Practice

By Yoga

The Habit Loop

January is a time of new beginnings, self-reflection, and goal setting, and it’s a great time to recommit to the creation of routines and self-care in your schedule – including YOGA! Life gets busy, and if you don’t make your yoga practice a priority, it can easily fall by the wayside. Which is why carving out time and creating a routine is so important. Plan ahead, and then, if life gets in the way, you still have a plan and pattern to follow the next day.  And the next.  And the next.

Here is the fun nerdy science part. The Habit Loop. Behind every habit or pattern in your life, there is a steady structure in place. It looks like this: 

Habit Loop
“First is the cue, the trigger from the environment that tells your brain to go into autopilot and which habit to use. Next is the routine, which can be a mental or physical action you take whenever presented with the cue. And lastly is the reward, which is what you get from the habit that fulfills a craving in your brain.” – From The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

This pattern of cue–>routine–>reward will become automatic as it is repeated over and over.  The repeated behavior becomes entrenched, and eventually…..little by little becomes habit. The best way to maximize the benefit of your yoga practice is straight up consistency. Just keep coming. And in order for that to happen, you must create a habit.

Habit Loop

  1. Make an Appointment with Yourself: Use the Funky Buddha Yoga App or website to plan your yoga practice for the week. Put it on your calendar. Commit to yourself. Once you’ve set an ‘appointment’ for yourself, it’s easier to make sure it happens.
  2. Establish your “Cue.” Examples:
    • Bring your yoga clothes to work and change before you leave, next stop yoga! (Cue: Put on Yoga Clothes at Work).
    • Every day when you drop your kids off to school, your next stop is the yoga studio! (Cue: Drop Off Kids.)
    • Alarm goes off: Yoga clothes on, head straight to 6am yoga! (Cue: Alarm)
  3. Routine: Do Yoga!
  4. Reward: Usually just the physical feeling of release in Savasana!
    • Could be the rewarding feeling of pushing through a tough class.
    • Or taking Child’s Pose in the middle of class to take care of yourself.
    • You can also be more proactive in setting up goals for yourself like gold stars in your planner or a healthy dinner out once you follow your yoga plan for 2 weeks.

Just a note, missing a day is NOT detrimental to the habit creation.  Beating yourself up for missing a day IS!  The beating-yourself-up part causes a negative affirmation, rather than positive, and you’ll start seeing the behavior/yoga practice as stressful.  If you miss a day, no worries, just plan better for tomorrow and make sure you are vigilant about saving that time for yourself!  You. Are. Worth. It.

It is easy to love yoga, but sometimes getting to class (consistently) is the hard part. Commit to setting yourself up for success by planning a head and following your habit of practicing yoga daily/3times a week (or whatever your goal is for yourself). (And be nice to yourself if you miss a class!)

“I regret going to yoga class.” —said no person, ever.
Sep 14
0

Yogi’s in the Kitchen: Back 2 Yoga Lunches

By Yoga, Yogis in the Kitchen

burrito bowl

Packing a great lunch is one of the best ways to ensure you are making nutritional choices that support your LIFE, even when you are busy during the day. Christina’s got you covered with fun portable lunch ideas! Say NO to being #hangry at work! Here’s a couple ideas to get you started on your back 2 yoga lunches:

Creamy Tomato Soup (Vegan)

Ingredients:burrito bowl

  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated on a microplane grater
  • 1 small onion, finely sliced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 slices white bread, crusts removed, torn into rough 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes packed in juice
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Minced chives, basil, or parsley as garnish
  • Toasted bread or grilled cheese for serving

Directions:

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat until shimmering. Add garlic, onions, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently until onions are softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add bread and tomatoes. Roughly mash tomatoes with a whisk or a potato masher. Add 2 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes.
  2. Transfer half of soup to the jar of a blender. Blend soup, starting at low speed and gradually increasing to high (be careful starting up, it can shoot out the top of the blender—open the vent and hold a kitchen towel over the lid to prevent blowout). With blender running on high, gradually trickle in half of remaining olive oil. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a large bowl and repeat with remaining half of soup and olive oil. Ladle into individual serving bowls, top with minced herbs, drizzle with more olive oil, and serve with toast or grilled cheese.

Easy Homemade Burrito Bowl

What’s the best part of burrito bowls? There. are. no. rules. Here’s an easy recipe to pack up when you’re on the go!  Burrito bowls are a GREAT way to use up leftover chicken. Use brown rice instead of white, or try using quinoa or barley as the base of your meal.  Lighten it up by nixing the cheese and swapping sour cream for a dollop of Greek yogurt. 😉burrito bowl

Ingredients:

  • Cooked brown rice
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups shredded chicken (about 2 medium chicken breasts, approx. 1 pound)
  • 2 avocados, lightly mashed
  • 3/4 cup of  your favorite salsa
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

 

Aug 19
0

Yoga, Music, & Collaboration: Rick Chyme

By Yoga

Yoga, Music, & Collaboration Funky Buddha Yoga HothouseA few years ago, I was asked to do a 10-minute performance during a yoga class at The Funky Buddha Yoga Hothouse in Eastown. I agreed and the experience was phenomenal. It’s rare to perform to a completely silent audience. In this case, over 80 people laying flat on their backs with their eyes closed in 95 degrees of heat.

When my performance and the class concluded, the silence quickly morphed to an eruption of voices screaming, faces smiling, and hands clapping. Little did any of us know that this would be the first of many times we’d come together at different Funky Buddha locations. Since that day, we’ve collaborated dozens of times during classes in Eastown, Holland, Forest Hills and even took things outside this year with an acoustic performance during a community class at Wilcox Park.

Yoga, Music, & Collaboration at Funky Buddha Yoga Hothouse Grand Rapids, MichiganThe opportunity to share my art in a non-traditional environment helped me to see that there are truly no bounds to the places music can connect. I have been told that the songs have deeply touched those practicing yoga. This is probably because the typical daily distractions we face are eliminated during a class at Funky Buddha. People are there to re-connect with themselves. These collaborations have helped me to connect with myself and my art in new ways for which I’ll be forever grateful.

As our collaboration with Funky Buddha continues to grow, I fully encourage you to take part in a class that features live music. Please do not let the fact that you may be a beginner deter you. There will be an entire week of opportunities to experience these unique classes in August during Funky Buddha Fest.

Thank you to the staff at Funky Buddha for sparking the flame.

5iveit– Push It Past Potential Each Day Manifest Your Dreams.

Peace,
Rick Chyme

 

Aug 19
0

Live Music and Yoga: Only at The Funky Buddha

By Yoga

Funky Music (1)

 

This is the story of how our live music and yoga classes came to be.

There was nothing but dead air. It was my first day on the radio and I was shadowing a more legit programmer’s 3 hour shift at WYCE. I had been through the required training, recorded myself in a test run and followed my mentor for several weeks. I was ready. Right.

The plan was this. At 2:00pm I would take over the big chair, slip on the headphones, navigate the control board, prep the CD’s and talk (gulp) on air. So around 1:55pm my mentor slipped out of the chair, the signal it was my turn.  We started talking and joking…..I didn’t have to worry we had plenty of time. She had put on a looooong jazz song, plenty of time. Until it happened. Dead Air.

We looked at each other. An immediate panic hit me. I lunged for the chair, threw on the headphones, hit the control board to open my mic and said (with my voice trembling and gasping for air) “A world of music all in one place, 88.1 fm WYCE.”

I’ve never stood in front of a roomful of students to teach my first class, but I think I have an inkling of the kind of terror that happens the first time a new teacher opens their mouth to speak.

Back to 88.1 fm WYCE. If you don’t already know it, it’s a volunteer powered community radio station here in Grand Rapids. I was lucky enough to get to be a volunteer programmer for about 2 years. I got to interview national touring acts and had access to incredible new music from all corners of the world. But the single best thing was exposure to local artists. Many of them would come play in-studio shows, hang out at the station and perform at WYCE concerts all across town.

So fast forward to a random Slow Flow class I happened to be taking in 2012.  I‘m blissed out in savasana, mind completely blank when it happens. It’s when it always happens. Ideas from nowhere, mind completely blank and an idea appears. We ended up calling it the Savasana Surprise.

The Savasana Surprise: book an incredible local band to come in while everyone is laying still, eyes closed in savasana, and serenade the class. We premiered the idea to a packed 5:45pm class in Eastown not long after.  Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys were our musical guests. It was incredible. At just the right moment the door opened and in slipped the band.  They started playing softly.  A few people peeked, others smiled, everyone felt it.  The energy was off the chart.

Revue Magazine just called us a “local institution”.  It’s nights like this that cement our legacy.  Only at the Funky Buddha.

Since our Savasana Surprise series it was only natural to begin featuring local artists playing full class-length shows.  WYCE Jammie award winning artists like Rick Chyme, Vox Viddora, The Muteflutes, Valentiger, AB, Delilah DeWylde….and I can’t wait to see Lady Ace Boogie at our upcoming Funky Buddha Fest (starts August 22nd…you should probably pre-register now to save your spot!).

Supporting local artists is now part of The Funky Buddha’s DNA. I like to think of it like this….you go to a yoga class and a (hot) house concert breaks out. We love the experience and we love being able to support our incredible collection of local artists with a venue unlike any other.

So if you enjoy our live music and yoga classes blame my time at WYCE.  Better yet show up next February to the Jammies at the Intersection and check out the sheer talent on display.  Let us know who you like….we’ll have them play for you while you practice.

Chris

PS- If you already have local favorites you’d love to see at the studio, please list them in the comments!

Aug 19
0

The Creation of a Funky Buddha Spotify Playlist

By Yoga

Tribe Spotify Playlists

We like to play fun music! You like to yoga to it! 

We love our music here at Funky Buddha, so naturally, Spotify is our best friend. Here is how we make an awesome Funky Buddha Spotify playlist.

We try to make our playlists fun and diverse. Most importantly, they follow the arc of our classes to help you get your yoga groove on in our Power Flow with Music classes.

This means that we engineer our playlists to start a little slower, build up some momentum, get great energy moving, and then slowly chill out on our way toward Savasana, an exact mirror to your yoga practice.

Sometimes we’ll build a list around a fun theme like Beverages (think Strawberry Wine and Milkshake) or a musician like Gwen Stefani (that playlist has Gwen songs, solo and from No Doubt, and also songs from folks and bands that toured with her in the past). We mix in fun Pop songs, some Country, songs and lists from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, some Oldies and Hair Bands… We try to have something for everyone!

Laurie had a great idea several years ago to make a playlist from bands that played at Fredrick Meijer Gardens over the summer. That’s been a fun tradition we’ve kept up ever since then. (Garret Dutton of G. Love and Special Sauce came to practice in our Holland studio that summer!)

Funky Buddha Spotify playlist

Garret Dutton of G.Love and Special Sauce with yogi Arena after practicing in Holland!

Our Slow Flow lists are often a lovely assortment of acoustic, classical, and chill vibe songs to help you relax into some long, deep stretches and rest. Sometimes we add some vocals to mix it up, but mostly we want those to be the background soundtrack as you relax your way into the longest Savasana ever.

In a nutshell, some playlists are for funzies, some for relaxing, but the majority of our classes are still accompanied simply by the melody of your collective breath. And what a beautiful song that is!

Over the years, we’ve had input and suggestions from many students (thanks Brandon!), staff (I’m pretty sure Michele Bookie knows the lyrics to every 90’s rap song, and most definitely to every New Kids on the Block song…). There you have it, the method to the Funky Music Madness!

P.S. Did you know you can follow us on Spotify and listen to your favorite playlist anytime!? Just type spotify:user:thefunkybuddha into the search bar on Spotify and… Boom, soooooo many playlists.