Daily Downdog

03/04/2025

Found a class from the Covid archives....

Are you an empath, highly sensitive person (HSP), or intuitive being looking for a way to release tension and restore balance? I created this Yoga & Reiki practice just for you!

Confession: This session was buried in my 2021 hard drive archives and I almost deleted it—not just because the audio and video weren’t perfect, but because it felt "old." Then a Gary Vee podcast convinced me otherwise.

"Feeling off-balance? This Yoga & Reiki practice is designed for empaths, HSPs, and intuitive souls. Open shoulders & hips, strengthen core, and restore energy flow through Reiki-infused breathwork.

11/07/2024

I am beyond delighted to share Medical Qi Gong with my San Diego community.

Medical Qi Gong will help you ground, grow and nurture powerful, healing energy. You can do it seated or standing. You can also begin to infuse it into your other movement practices.

Best part is that this practice is available to all. You don't have to be strong or fit to learn it!

Saturday - November 9th,
2pm - 5pm
Sojourn Healing Collective

create magic and activate your inner healing potential!

https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/main_enroll.asp?studioid=936956&tg=&vt=&lvl=&stype=-8&view=day&trn=100000372&page=&catid=&prodid=&date=10%2f12%2f24&classid=0&prodGroupId=&sSU=&optForwardingLink=&qParam=&justloggedin=&nLgIn=&pMode=0&loc=1

09/06/2024

New Post is Up:

Discover the transformative power of Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, also known as alternate nostril breathing.

This ancient yogic practice not only balances your energy but also offers profound benefits for your mind and body. It reduces stress, enhances cognitive function and improves respiratory health.

This simple technique can be your go-to tool whenever you need to pick your energy UP or center yourself and ZONE IN!

Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (alternate nostril breathing) reduces reduce stress, improve respiratory function, and enhance cognitive abilities

08/23/2024

Ever wonder how to use your movement practices to cultivate specific energy outcomes?

My latest post discusses how Yoga and Qi Gong both employ energy practices, but most of us as practitioners are unaware of how to use these energy practices to our benefit. Unlock the secret to energy balance by discovering how your arms can harmonize internal and external energy flows.

Yoga and Qi Gong both employ energy practices, but most of us as practitioners are unaware of how to use these energy practices to out benefit. Unlock the secret to energy balance by discovering how your arms can harmonize internal and external energy flows.

08/19/2024

I watched this beautiful video and had to, had to share...so I made a post about it. Honestly, if even 1/3 of our world could be as humble and joyful as this 96 year old, we'd be living in a drastically different space.

Much love to all!

This post is a celebration of wisdom and joy that transcends age. A beautiful 96 year old woman shares what keeps her alive, joyful and in awe of life.

08/16/2024

Way back in the late 90's, my neighbor kept inviting me to yoga, and I kept resisting, for months! I thought I'd be stuck in a room with long-armpit-haired "stinky" hippies burning incense bowing down to a white-clad guru. Nope. No way.

When I finally gave in, I knew I would never go back.

Yoga was far beyond anything I had ever experienced: simultaneously the hardest thing I'd ever done and absolutely the most relaxin thing I'd ever experienced.

A new blog post is up: "Discover the True Meaning of Yoga"

https://dailydowndog.com/discover-the-true-meaning-of-yoga/

08/16/2024

Didja know that back in the late 90's I resisted going to yoga for months? My neighbor kept inviting me, but I honestly thought I'd be stuck in a room with long-armpit-haired "stinky" hippies burning incense bowing down to a white-clad guru. Nope. No way. When I finally gave in, I knew I would never go back. Yoga was far beyond anything I had ever experienced: simultaneously the hardest thing I'd ever done and absolutely the most relaxin thing I'd ever experienced.

A new blog post is up...

What is the true meaning and purpose of yoga ? Learn how can you tailor what your body needs to a daily sustainable practice.

08/15/2024

How to Shift your Mercury in Retrograde: This video is me reminding you of your divinity and offering up an energetic stretch/release so that the messenger god can arrange the universe to conspire entirely in your favor.

I was thinking about the meaning of the messenger god (Hermes/Mercury) during this Mercury in retrograde, and noticing how being in retrograde is akin to being stuck in our hands and wrists. Our hands hold a tremendous amount of energetic potential and power and if the energy is stuck there, it is limiting how we express ourselves in every single way. I'm also forever-fascinated by the myth of Hanuman in that he needs his friends to remind him of his divinity.

52 likes, 8 comments. “A powerful wrist stretch for mercury in retrograde season. Free up the energy moving through your hands so that you can allow the messenger god (Mercury/Hermes) to arrange the universe in a way that it conspires to help you.”

08/08/2024

In my post yesterday, I mentioned yogic techniques on how to mitigate stress and tension while in your car, in traffic. I made a "how to" video explaining the basics.

On YT: https://youtu.be/8gPHJ1I26n0?si=b4i4bo_-IHIQOOaj

On TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com//video/7400844226629487915?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7358140204043028014

Check out DailyDowndog’s video.

08/08/2024

My brand new yoga site just soft-launched! I'd love to get your feedback.

Have a beautiful day!

Know that icky, stuck feeling after sitting in traffic, for far too long? This stretch sequence helps release tension and stress!

07/29/2024

Hive Filmmaking/Shooting/Editing/Streaming Mind Help, Please:

I am in need of some video and editing/compressor advice for a brand-new wellness site I am in the process of launching. My goal is to eventually have streaming educational (Yoga, Qi Gong, Meditation, Mindfulness, Breath) videos available for purchase/download.

My set up:
- Shooting indoors, daytime, in a fairly well-lit room.
- 2 NEEWER lights on a tripod for additional lighting
- iphone 13 on a tripod at 30fps* (camera will change.)
- Subject is about 15 feet from the iphone.
This is because I need a "full body" frame for yoga. So if someone is standing and raises their arms overhead, I need about 8 feet of vertical visual space.
- Sennheiser mic (no audio issues)
- video length ranges from 30 min - 60 min.

My Problem:
I seem to be aggregating too large file sizes for the video I am shooting. *I have a feeling I just need to purchase another camera (maybe the GoPro ?) but also may need some help in getting my FCP and Compressor settings "right."

File Sizes:
My videos have ended up being massive - 5.95 G for 50 minutes as MOV files, 7.95 G for the same video as MP4 files. I am shooting at 30fps. I lose quality when I try to reduce file size. Currently using:

FCP:
Choosing "Computer" for export in FCP.
1920 X1080. H.264.

Compressor:
I tried H.264, Automatic, Progressive, Automatic fps, with a bitrate of 2500kbps for 30fps, but the videos still end up 1.27G/ hour.

Does anybody here do or know of someone who does video streaming in this capacity and can give me some specs?

I am also happy to pay for professional set up advice if in my budget to do so. I was recently quoted $500/hour for advice and I had to kindly pass this up.

Thank you!!!

07/01/2024

Deep Core Sequence + mini blooper, aka "Riley Speaks Russian."

Filming almost always involves bloopers, most of them kinda funny. This was supposed to be a short core sequence for my new site, but with a few interruptions (and tech errors), it's now a video on my brand-new You Tube. Enjoy, and LMK what ya think!

I started filming this as a video for my new site (launching soon!) and ended up having not one, but two mini bloopers, so I'm sharing here, now, instead. Th...