Twelve Days of Yoga

I have to give credit to my favorite people at the Palace (there was a hummingbird nest in the fruit tree outside the studio-- check out blog entries) for the inspiration for this holiday yoga song, sung to the tune of "12 Days of Christmas." Special thanks to Jagrata Minardi for the 5th day (+) and Ed Clark for the 2nd day inspiration.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
a Hummingbird in a pear tree!

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
2 Titthi-Bs
and a Hummingbird in a pear tree!

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
3 handstands
2 Titthi-Bs
and a Hummingbird in a pear tree!

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
4 lunge twists
3 handstands
2 Titthi-Bs
and a Hummingbird in a pear tree!

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
5 CHATTURANGAS!
4 lunge twists
3 handstands
2 Titthi-Bs
and a Hummingbird in a pear tree!

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
6 lotuses blooming
5 CHATTURANGAS!
4 lunge twists
3 handstands
2 Titthi-Bs
and a Hummingbird in a pear tree!

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
7 dogs a-downing
6 lotuses blooming
5 CHATTURANGAS!
4 lunge twists
3 handstands
2 Titthi-Bs
and a Hummingbird in a pear tree!

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
8 crows a-flying
7 dogs a-downing
6 lotuses blooming
5 CHATTURANGAS!
4 lunge twists
3 handstands
2 Titthi-Bs
and a Hummingbird in a pear tree!

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
9 Shivas dancing
8 crows a-flying
7 dogs a-downing
6 lotuses blooming
5 CHATTURANGAS!
4 lunge twists
3 handstands
2 Titthi-Bs
and a Hummingbird in a pear tree

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
10 peacocks strutting
9 Shivas dancing
8 crows a-flying
7 dogs a-downing
6 lotuses blooming
5 CHATTURANGAS!
4 lunge twists
3 handstands
2 Titthi-Bs
and a Hummingbird in a pear tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
11 Hanumans leaping
10 peacocks strutting
9 Shivas dancing
8 crows a-flying
7 dogs a-downing
6 lotuses blooming
5 CHATTURANGAS!
4 lunge twists
3 handstands
2 Titthi-Bs
and a Hummingbird in a pear tree!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

12 Suns Saluting
11 Hanumans leaping
10 peacocks strutting
9 Shivas dancing
8 crows a-flying
7 dogs a-downing
6 lotuses blooming
5 CHATTURANGAS!
4 lunge twists
3 handstands
2 Titthi-Bs
and a Hummingbird in a pear tree!

Hummingbird Update

This isn't the best quality image, but this was the picture I took of them two days before they left the nest...their eyes are glowing from the flash, and if you look carefully, you can see their baby beaks, one pointing right and one pointing left.

I decided to do a follow up note on the hummingbirds, because the response was overwhelming to the story I told in last month's newsletter. Here're a couple of the responses I got:

From James:
I had to write because I know exactly what you mean about feeling pleasure and satisfaction over other people's growth and it was a nice reminder that others may feel the same for me.

Hummingbirds as shaman totems represent joy, the sweetness and abundance of life and the ability to change direction easily, great totems for a yoga studio!





From Cathy:
I love your hummingbird story. We had hummers in our bamboo in our backyard. Look at the attached picture - top center are the two babies in the nest. We would watch them every day. And when it got windy and rainy, I worried. I worried they were going to get wet and not survive. I thought about putting out one of those patio heaters for them..... But it only took one sunny day & they were off. The nest is now vacant. But I look at it often and think of those little hummers. They are still in the hood. I hear them in the bamboo - a distinct little clicking noise. They zip around and occasionally stop on a branch to say hello. Super cute! I believe it is a good omen to have hummingbirds nest in your tree. And even more so to notice they are there.

Here's a picture of Cathy's hummingbirds...
Ever since I wrote last month's hummingbird story, I've noticed more hummingbirds, hummingbird images, and all things hummingbird related. I'm not sure it means anything, but it does make me happy and I remember the little guys that I watched from the time they were eggs to when they were old enough to leave the nest. A microcosm of life, no?