💋 Want a Valentine’s Day That Won’t Bleed Your Wallet Dry?

When was the last time you got lost in your beloved’s eyes?Ideas for Valentine's Day

When was the last time you had an endless loving full body embrace?

Get that 5th date feeling back with a spicy and soulful Yoga-licious night.

As you go through the motions together, you and your partner can expect a closer, more romantic and more soulful relationship than ever with each other through gigglesmovement and massage.

Start off the class with a guided meditation where you are your partner will form an intention together.

You and your partner will do a silent blessing of gratitude to each other.

As we progress, you will do poses where you mirror each other, juxtaposing your bodies.You’ll start to synchronize your breath and then slowly move in unison.

You will be assisting and adjusting in each other in poses in simple easy-to-follow instruction.

The poses are sometimes silly, sometimes challenging and sometimes restorative.

After we are done with partner yoga poses you will then receive a guided Thai massage from your partner emphasizing loving intention.

You won’t be worrying about technique or skill.

Your partner will do moves that relieve pain and stiffness and leave you feeling like you are blissfully floating.

After you both have received loving massages you will relax in stillness curled up in your beloved.

Connect in a revitalizing, strengthening, energizing and uplifting wayThe class ends with you in a loving and lingering full body embrace with your beloved.

  • Release stress and stiffness.
  • Explore playfulness, nurturing and buoyancy.
  • Learn how to guide, honor, encourage, support and receive support from each other
  • Yoga virgins, the stiff and inflexible are especially welcome.
  • Ideal for Birthdays, Celebrations, Anniversaries, Proposals and Romantic Date Nights

Our Couples Yoga Classes voted Best Valentine’s Day Spot by Patch and VisitPhilly.com!

Cost: $100 Per Couple. Pre-Registration with payment required via online purchase.

Click here to buy a class.

Jasmine’s yoga classes are relaxed and comfortable. She teaches to the level of all the students in the class so the poses are accessible to everyone and no one is left out. Jasmine is a kind and patient teacher who is committed to the growth of each student. She also plays a great mix of music during her classes!  Cindy

“Whole New Yogic Trip” 
“We really enjoyed the class. It was a gift for our 

Anniversary ideas near Philly

relationship and so badly need. So thank you for your gift of yoga. Because for a (yoga) newbie, my husband really felt comfortable and wished we could have done more. The class you lead last week really touched our spirits which was amazing! And for me partnering is a whole new yogic trip!”  Summer

“Exactly What Our Relationship Needed”   Barbara
We really enjoyed your class today.  We will be seeing you more…I can’t wait to tone my body, mind and spirit (not necessarily in that order).  I think your class is exactly what our relationship needs too, we needed a way to re-connect.  I just graduated and was busy 24-7++.  Now I have a business and am busy 24-7+++ so we hardly ever see each other or even have meals together anymore.  It was good, quality time with my best friend.

Click here to buy a class.

4 ways to get the right start in partners yoga

1. Don’t assume partner yoga is only for couples.

Some partner yoga classes allow you to sign up as a solo participant and seek out a partner in the class itself. If you go this route and you’re new to partners yoga, try to pair with a student who’s about your height and weight. Mahoney notes that as you get used to the practice, learning to adapt the postures to two different body types is a rewarding challenge. How do you feel about it just being couples doing yoga and not strangers or friends?

2. Don’t expect miracles.

If you begin a couples yoga class with an existing partner, talk with each other before going to the first class about what you want from this. Try not to let your expectations get overblown in terms of how the class can remedy any specific relationship challenges you’re having. Go in with an open mind and heart — not with a sense that this is going to fix something, but a willingness to learn and grow together by sharing and connecting through yoga.

3. Be ready to be giving.

As a supportive partner, your role is to listen as well as share openly, and to treat the person you’re practicing with as you’d like to be treated. Sound familiar? By exploring physical give-and-take, you and your partner can dive deeply into the principles that govern successful, supportive friendships and loving relationships.

4. Enjoy the moment.

Be present and focus on each other during your partner yoga class or practice — and try not to take anything too seriously, cautions Mahoney. “Take a deep breath and relax. Laugh together. Partner yoga is full of the hilarious and the divine.1. How is partner yoga different from traditional yoga? Traditional yoga is an internally focused experience while partner yoga is about connecting, trusting, supporting, balance in relationship and play.  Some poses challenge your balance, strength and flexibility, others require your total trust and surrender. You need to be mindful of your boundaries and limits while being sensitive to your partner’s boundaries as well.

couples yoga pic Each exercise and breathing technique uses the power of the partner dynamic to achieve more than one person could alone. From creative exercise to profound spiritual work, Partner Yoga delivers a diverse range of benefits to a wide array of people. This well rounded practice requires no special equipment and can be done in any open space (the living room, gym, or park). Working with a partner can also help you move beyond your own self-limiting ideas of what you can and can’t do.  You experience being able to support and also be supported, trusting that someone will be there for you and letting someone trust you to be there for them,  letting go and holding on as well.  You can focus on your inner awareness and spirit and enrich your partner’s as well.

2. How does partner yoga enhance intimacy and communication? The poses are simply a doorway for you both to step deeper into your connection. When you stretch with you partner, your bodies melt each other’s tension and tightness. As a supportive partner, your role is to listen as well as share openly, and to treat the person you’re practicing with as you’d like to be treated.  By exploring physical give-and-take, you and your partner can dive deeply into the principles that govern successful, supportive friendships and loving relationships.  Be present and focus on each other during your partner yoga class or practice — and try not to take anything too seriously,  Partner yoga is full of the hilarious and the divine

=

🌹 Ideas for Valentine’s Day in Philadelphia

If you are just thinking expensive dinner and a movie this year, then you will be doing what most couples do and it will be over-priced, over-crowded and rushed…. not exactly a romantic recipe.

Go on a photoshoot – So many scenic spots to choose from such as the Art Museum, Love Park or Society Hill.  Try on different moods  that range from silly, brooding, sexy to serious.  Take the best shot and frame it for your sweetie.

If you are going to celebrate with the kids then decorate the house in red and pink, break out the arts and crafts and make Valentines cards for each other while listening to sappy romantic songs.Tropical Spa Treatments You Can Make and Prepare at Home this Valentine's Day

If you want a kid-free night, then drop the kids off at grandma’s house, turn off the phones then decorate the house in red and pink along with candles, soft music, and herbal tea or red wine.  Start off with a long bubble bath together then get some almond massage oil.  We usually do something like this every year and we make a special dinner at home with lobsters we bought at the market.

Have a electronic free night.  No phones, computers and no tv.  Just doing this will be treat enough for your loved ones.  Conversations won’t be constantly interrupted by dings, pings and rings.  Just giving someone the complete gift of your presence and attention is quite special.

Can’t get away anywhere, even local for a special night out?  Decorate the house with lawn chairs, beach towels, have reggae music on and serve pina coladas and make plans (again, device-free) on your next special trip.  Get magazine and books of the places you want to go and talk about what you will do and where you will go together.

Still have the need to get out and about?  Make a scavenger hunt.  It can be some of the special places you had dates together – your first date, your first kiss, your first %#$#$.   It can be g-rated with the kids or x-rated without them.

Need to have a racy Valentine’s day?  For women, go out somewhere elegant such as a Tea House, nice restaura or fancy bar  and wear a short skirt or dress.   Shortly after sitting down at the table, let your man know you are not wearing panties.couples and partner yoga at Amrita in Fishtown

We are quite partial to what we think makes for an ideal night for this Valentine’s Day in Philadelphia for 2020.  We teach gentle and romantic couples yoga classes.    The classes are buoyant and bonding, weird and wonderful, restorative and relaxing,  We get to meet so many new fun couples this way, some of who we end up becoming great friends with beyond the class and we get to be a part of some very magical moments with people.

💞 10 Wallet-Friendly Romantic Things to Do For Valentines Day

Look your Best on Date Nights I remember a Valentines Day about 15 years ago.  My boyfriend didn’t think to make any plans in advance so we called a bunch of restaurants and they were all booked.  So we went to a mediocre restaurant and they only had a 5:30 seating available and that was it.  We sat down at 5:30 and we were given a prix fixe menu instead of their normal menu and had only a few options of things to order. We were rushed through our dinner so that they could accommodate the next wave of seating at 7 pm.  Instead of a memorable, leisurely dinner, we had a rushed, overpriced and limited selection dinner and felt cheated out of what should have been a beautiful evening.

So now, what me and my hottie, hellenic hubby do to celebrate Valentines Day is we go to the best seafood market, get two live Maine lobsters and cook them at home with some chocolate fondue and asparagus by candlelight.

We then give each other warm oil massages… quite a luxurious and decadent night for under $50, instead of the $300 plus if we went out to each at a pretentious restaurant and then to a fancy spa.

It’s evolved into our tradition since it’s just not romantic to eat out at restaurants on Valentines Day. They are so focused on making as much money as they can, that it end up being a price-gouging kind of day for all their customers.

So here are some things you can do with your sweetie…  For God’s sakes turn off your phone, tv and no internet either.

10 Wallet-Friendly Things to Do For Ideas for Valentine's Day Day

1.  Cook dinner at home together-  Make sure it is something decadent that you would not normally eat like scallops, lobster, fondue, oysters, red wine.  Ideally they are finger foods that you can feed each other.  Total Savings -$150.

2.  Spa Night – Oh, how I love to be pampered and fawned over while lounging around in my white fluffy robe.  Give each other facials, manicures, shave each other, foot and back massages.  Total Savings -$200.

3.  Dance like the Stars –  Put up your disco ball, turn on some funky music for the beginning and then have some slow music for later.  Dress up in your suit and tie and your black cocktail dress to make it more special.

4. Karaoke Night – Is there anything more romantic than being serenaded by your sweetie.  Make sure to get nice and liquored up first though.

5. Dessert Party – If you are more inclined to spend Vday with other friends, then invite them over for a dessert and wine party.  Everyone should bring their favorite wine and dessert ……..and everyone should come dressed in red or pink.  We did this a few years ago to a smashing success!

Cook Dinner Together on Valentines Day

Cook Dinner Together on Valentines Day

6.  Partner Yoga – You didn’t think I was going to leave this out.  If you’ve never done this, get some partner yoga DVDs or find some on youtube.  Light some incense, crank up the Deva Premal music and twist and bend away.

7. Board Games  – If you are going to be home with the kids then get the Monopoly and Clue out and find out who killed Mrs White in the library with a candlestick.  Everyone should wear red or pink and decorate the place with hearts to stay in the spirit!

8.   Staycation – Can’t afford to go away to Aruba? Decorate your place all tropical, put some beach towels out, get out your tropical attire, Bob Marley music and some margaritas and start planning your next vacation like this.

9.   Cook him dinner in your bikini – The kids better be away at Grandma’s.  Get some fake spray tan to get that nice golden glow in the midst of winter.  Put on your high heels and bikini or lingerie and start cooking your pasta primavera.

10.  Watch a Chickflick – Rent a copy of The Notebook, Lust-Caution, or The Lover and turn the lights down to snuggle in close during these tearjerkers.

Any other free things that I left off of here?

☎️ How Yoga Helps Me Battle My Cell Phone Company 🥊

How Yoga Helps Me Battle My Cell Phone Bill

How Yoga Helps Me Battle My Cell Phone Bill

Instead of blogging about yoga poses or alternative health or wellness, I wanted to share a victory I had against Verizon so I can inspire you to see how yoga can help you when you are dealing with unfair and difficult people and situations.

We signed up with Verizon Fios with their cell phone, internet, cable and land-line package earlier this year.  I’ve had a lot of problems understanding their confusing billing practices and they messed up our install as well.

They actually had our calls going to our neighbor’s phone since they got the wires crossed.   I’ve been a customer of Verizon’s for over 10 years and can’t tell you how many times I’ve had some gi-normous bill that I had to battle against.  One bill (which was $900…not a typo) made my knees buckle and I just fell on the ground and started to bawl and decided the only solution was to join an ashram and get away from the complexities of modern life.

This last few times I called them, I was calm but assertive, polite but firm about the $200 that was owed to us as a promotional gift for signing up with their bundled service.  (On a more practical note, whenever you are not getting anywhere with the customer service rep, always ask to speak to a supervisor as quickly as you can since they are the only ones able to modify or add credits to your bill.

The other tip that works really well is to call the cancellation department and just say you want to cancel.  The reps at the cancellation department will go to great lengths to save you so if they ask if there is anything they can do to keep your business, tell them what the grievance is and what you would like.)  With patience and perseverance, I was able to get $208 as a credit on our bill going forward.

Because I have a pretty steady and committed yoga practice, I’m able to not be so reactive when faced with unfairness and unjustness.  I stay steady and calm with whoever I am dealing with but I know that my peaceful yet powerful persona is helping me get through to the other person.  I find that I am not as quick to get angry and I know that the other person is just doing the best that they know how from their level of consciousness.

And that $900 bill?  After a few calls and with persistent determination I got it reduced to $250.  I didn’t join an ashram to escape the responsibilities that go with living in a complex and highly wired world.   My yoga practice helps round out the rough edges for me so that life goes smoother.  Challenges and problems still come my way, but I find that I handle it much better by coming to terms with my response-ability….my ability to respond to chaos, challenge and confusion.

What about you?  What spiritual practices help you stay grounded?

💋A Date Night That Doesn’t SUCK? Couples Yoga 💑

Yoga for couples is a fun adventure into intimacy, play and relaxation. The poses are simply a doorway for you both to step deeper into your connection. When you stretch with you partner, your bodies melt each other’s tension and tightness. Whether your relationship is new or old, partner yoga will reinvigorate your life and renew your connection.

Teaching Couples Yoga in Philadelphia. What happens in a class.

Partner Yoga is a great way to learn surrender, build trust, and deepen intimacy. Partner Yoga can be practiced by anyone – no previous yoga experience is necessary.

Some poses challenge your balance, strength and flexibility, others require your total trust and surrender.

Each exercise and breathing technique uses the power of the partner dynamic to achieve more than one person could alone. From creative exercise to profound spiritual work, Partner Yoga delivers a diverse range of benefits to a wide array of people. This well rounded practice requires no special equipment and can be done in any open space (the living room, gym, or park).  The classes are not official tantra workshops although people that have done a tantra workshop before will appreciate the yoga and meditation.

Couples Yoga Therapy

Couples Yoga is a medium created to build stronger communication and intimacy between human beings in a relationship. These Yoga Postures which you can learn on couples yoga DVDs and couples yoga videos videos,  have breathing exercises and meditations are designed specifically to bring communication into a tangible form. We are here to help you to discover and experience the dynamics existing within your relationship.

Couples Yoga compels companions to lay aside their differences while working to achieve a common goal. The simple act of breathing together and participating in a practice grounded in acceptance, unity and love translates to more open and authentic communication between partners.

This practice re-establishes weakened bonds. On the mat partners must have complete faith in each other. Postures are dependent on showing up for one another and giving equal effort. It is developed on trust and is a great metaphor for the nut and bolt aspect of all relationships.

There’s no finished, perfect pose or situation. This is about learning new methods to connect, and cooperate, while finding new ways to support each other.

In these sessions you will learn a combination of the following practices:

  • Yoga postures
  • Breathing exercises
  • Partner Meditations
  • Massage techniques
  • Affirming your partner and Being Affirmed
  • The Power of Intention