DC Yogi Top 5 Posts of 2012

Balancing rock spotted during a walk in Rhode Island

I am on a 12-day vacation from work and really taking the time to rest, relax, practice yoga, run, read, spend time with family and friends, and take care of myself.

My travels started in Rhode Island where I write this seaside and I head to North Carolina later this week for a few days in the mountains. I will then land back home in DC to bring in the new year.

2012 Reflections
2012 has been a great year.

I got engaged to my best friend and we are busily planning our Fall vineyard wedding. We have a great group of friends and family supporting and helping along the way and to each of them, I am grateful.

I continued to deepen my personal yoga practice by diving into some amazing reading, attending great workshop and teacher trainings, and developing a consistent home asana, pranayama, and meditation practice. I also delved into a daily gratitude practice which makes me a happier person.

This blog, which I started long ago and in April started posting to weekly, has been a great way for me to explore new topics and engage with family, friends, and the greater yoga community in a new way. I love that people bring up the blog and reference posts I've written or tell me how something I wrote stuck with them and brought about positive change in their lives.

I also love teaching two weekly yoga classes and taught my first workshop this year. 

I am lucky enough to have a great job where I learn new things every day and work with a dedicated group of people who are trying to make the world a healthier place for everyone.

Forward to 2013
2013 is shaping up to be a year of new beginnings.
In February and March I will teach two new workshops: yoga for beginners and yoga for relaxation. These are both types of yoga that I believe are critical in the yoga community. People are flocking to yoga for the first time and a thoughtful beginner's class is important for anyone new to yoga. And I think so many people are flocking to yoga because we are more stressed out than ever and in need of practical tools to help us relieve stress and anxiety. In the new year, I look forward to exploring ways to teach these topics and sharing them with anyone who is interested.

I am also getting married this year and committing to a life-long partnership with a man who I love and respect with all my heart. I can't wait and look forward to the big day in September.

DC Yogi Top 5 Posts of 2012
I am happy to see that DC Yogi readership steadily increased over the year. I enjoy taking time each week to write about topics that I find interesting or useful and I hope you learn something new or find something that resonates with you.

Okay, I know you opened this post thinking it was going to be a list of my top 5 posts of 2013...and I rambled on about myself for long enough.

Drum roll please...looking back at my 2012 blog posts, here are 5 of my favorite posts that you may have missed and I think are worth a read:

1. Why I Practice Yoga
2. Breathing to Reduce Stress and Anxiety
3. How to Relieve Neck and Shoulder Tension
4. Beginner's Guide to Meditation
5. How 10 Seconds Can Make You Happier

At this moment I can only pause and give thanks for all of the wonderful people in my life, for yoga, for my basic needs being met, and that I am fortunate enough to live the life that I do. Cheers to the now!