HAPPINESS IS...

Yoga Engagement Photos

Here's an engagement session you don't see every day. Kelsey and Isaac are doing acro-yoga, which I'd never heard of until now. It's a partner style practice that combines acrobatics and thai massage. It's supposed to be great for couples who want to build trust and foster a sense of play.

I'd like to think Hal and I would enjoy this. But knowing us, we'd be laughing too hard to hold the poses. Have you ever taken acro-yoga before?


{Images via Junebug by Kiera Eve Photography}

Staying Afloat

My loves, I knew this time would come, but I'm afraid it's happening sooner than anticipated. It may seem like everything is perfect in Shannon land, since I only blog about things that make me happy. But in all honesty, I've been drowning emotionally. With the wedding planning, work, family, and some recent personal issues, my stress level is through the roof. Which defeats the entire purpose of Happiness Is. No matter what I do, I can't quite keep my head above water.

This blog will stay alive, but I need to cut back. Since 2009, I've been posting 3x every weekday. I knew it was an ambitious schedule and I don't know how I adhered to it for as long as I did. From here on out, or at least until my life slows down, I'll only be posting once a day. I hope you'll forgive me! I realize I may lose some readers with this change, but I guess I'll have to take that risk. I appreciate your continued and loyal support over the past few years. This blog would be nowhere without you. xo


{Image via B Tru Yoga by Daan Verhoeve}

The Top 10 Most Relaxing Tunes

According to scientists and sound therapists, the most relaxing song in the world is Weightless by Manchester band, Marconi Union. The tune uses specific tones, frequencies and intervals at a continuous rhythm of 60 beats per minute, which causes brainwaves and heart rates to synchronize.

Apparently, it has been tested to be even more relaxing than a massage, walk, or cup of tea. So relaxing, that people are advised not to listen to it while driving!

The top 10 most relaxing tunes:

1. Marconi Union - Weightless 
2. Airstream - Electra 
3. DJ Shah - Mellomaniac (Chill Out Mix) 
4. Enya - Watermark 
5. Coldplay - Strawberry Swing 
6. Barcelona - Please Don't Go 
7. All Saints - Pure Shores 
8. Adele - Someone Like You 
9. Mozart - Canzonetta Sull'aria 
10. Cafe Del Mar - We Can Fly

What music do you listen to in order to relax?


{Pre-image via Nom Nom Kiwiii; List via Short List}

How Pilates and I Met

Fun fact: I was THIS close to being in a pilates infomercial. One lonely night while living in LA, I was lured into purchasing the Windsor Pilates DVDs. Soon after they arrived, Windsor Pilates called and offered me 3 months of free mat classes in exchange for my before and after testimonial. They were testing out a new resistance band product and wanted "real people" to demonstrate its potential on the next infomercial. I didn't want to show my bikini body photos on national television, but I really wanted free classes! So I bit the bullet, said yes, lost massive amounts of inches, and fell in love with pilates. And lucky for me... they eventually decided to not release the product or film the infomercial  ;)

Now, many years later, I've decided to get back into it. I can't wait to have a super strong core again. Do any of you practice pilates?

{Image via This Made Me Smile}

Ballerinas

So I went to a party at my yoga studio on Saturday and it was full of members of the Pacific Northwest Ballet, who frequent the same classes that I do. As honored as I am to share the same floor space as these rubber band girls made of pure muscle, including this girl and this girl, it is admittedly quite humbling to do the standing splits next to them. Their legs go beyond their heads while mine barely get off the ground. Jealousy aside, ballerinas are beautiful and phenomenal creatures, aren't they?

P.S. Needless to say, I was the only one wolfing down the hour'derves.


{Images by: 1. Visualize Us, 2. and 4. Stefano Rapino, 3. Weronis, 5.The Things That Excite Me, 6. Richard Calmes}

Shanti Town Yoga Blog

For my fellow yogis out there, you might want to check out my dear friend, Lia Aprile's yoga blog, Shanti Town. She is an incredibly talented yogi, actress and writer who has the ability to draw you into her world by humorously revealing the life lessons she learns from her daily yoga practice. Thank you Lia for your beautiful and hilarious words. You are an inspiration.

P.S. She's going to be on the February cover of the Kripalu catalog!


{Image via We Heart It}

Hot Yoga

I'm off to clean the studio of Urban Yoga Spa.  No, I do not moonlight as a janitor.  I'm incredibly lucky to be a "karma yogi" where I get free unlimited classes for simply cleaning the studio a couple hours a week. I've been doing yoga for the past few years, but I was new to hot yoga. To be honest, I was adamantly opposed to it until now.  Once you get used to the heat, sweat, dehydration, slipping and sliding, and the potential stink of neighboring yogis, it's all good!

P.S.  Can you believe people are now going on "yoga dates"?  I don't know about you, but I look horrible after my hot yoga class.  Nice first impression!  I did get my man to take classes as well, but we've been together for 7 years and he refuses to take the same class as me!


{Image via Master Jack}