Janelle Swanson Yoga

Back at it! Is it wasteful to pay for a gym membership just so you can go there and do yoga by yourself? If it helps you develop a routine and a sense of community, it is definitely #worthit

Being a woman is pretty remarkable. A woman can run a company, nurture a family, inspire multitudes, incubate a life inside of her and look graceful in heels, potentially all at the same time! Today I did not participate in a Women's March, but I am inspired by the intent and committed to lifting up other women. In that vein, here are some examples of strong ladies on my mind today: . My lifelong friend Aymie Spitzer organized the Women's March today in my hometown. On top of... being an amazing designer and legit event planner, she is also a great friend and just a fun person to be around. Her presence in that town is an absolute gift. . Years ago I was mesmerized by photos of Linda McCulloch doing advanced Ashtanga poses in a dress and high heels. I remember thinking, "Damn that's fierce!" This photo was inspired by her. . Love your sisters. We are all in this together. See more

Fall. Try again. Fall. Try Again. Nail it. Repeat. . The left photo is nailing it. The right one is one second later. #findyouredge

First time trying Fallen Angel pose thanks to this tutorial by Yoga Girl. http://rachelbrathen.com/tutorial-thursday-fallen-angel-po/ It's as fun as it looks!

¿Eres un fotógrafo? ¿Tienes una buena cámara? ¿Quieres aumentar tu portafolio con algunas fotos unicas? ¿Te gusta el yoga, abrazos y risas? . Si has contestado "si" al menos uno de estás preguntas, me gustaría trabajar contigo! Yo quierría intercambiar tu fotografía por mis clases de yoga privados (y/o abrazos y risas). Contáctame! . Mi animal espiritual @asta sacó esta foto.... -- Are you a photographer? Do you have a fancy camera? Would you like to add some unique photos to your portfolio? Do you like yoga, hugs and high-fives? . If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, I want to work with you! I would love to trade photography for private yoga sessions (and/or hugs and high-fives). Contact me! . This shot was taken by my spirit animal @asta

Last Christmas I received a lovely jade mala. It broke a couple months ago and I knew I had to reforge it. I spent a couple weeks searching for the perfect thread, guru bead and a single jade bead to match the one I lost when it broke. As you can see I had a change of heart about the guru bead between the time I started and the time I finished. Ultimately, I settled on the serene, meditative and introspective wisdom activation of the amethyst on the brow chakra to compleme...nt the jade's ability to balance and harmonize the heart chakra and facilitate connection with the outside world. . As for creating the mala, the struggle was real for the first 20 or so beads, but after that I started to get the hang of it. It really was a practice of patience and meditation to make it, but I couldn't be more proud of the result! Now I have a mala that is BOTH a gift and home made, two attributes that really resonate with me. . SO...now I want to make more, and put them up on Etsy but I could use a little practice. If you like what you see, message me your address and what type of beads you would like or what properties you want from your stones and I will send you a hand-knotted mala at cost. Consider it your reward for reading all my rambling! See more

I like to call this impossible-to-take-a-selfie pose. It took me a half hour to capture this photo. #newatthis

Thinking of the first couple times I ever tried yoga with @m9shell at the YMCA. At first, I was like "meh..." I think it was the third time we went and I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, finding depth in some pose I can't recall to save my life. I was like "WOW, I can do that?!" I was amazed by my own strength. After that, i was hooked and BE AMAZED BY YOURSELF remains part of my yoga purpose to this day.

Cheating in every way possible for this handstand press. Shoutout to Instagram for showing me that I can use my @dharmayogawheel for this purpose! #fakeittillyoumakeit

Throwback to sunny summer weather at @acehotelpalmsprings . I loved this photo so much I was saving it for a special occasion or a rainy day. Well it's probably raining somewhere! . When you see a lot of pictures of yourself you start to notice certain tendencies. For example, when I do yoga, my face reflects concentration. Rarely do I smile. I'm working on that! Props to the incredibly generous and talented Frank Leon for capturing the one moment where I remembered to smile.

The first time I went to a yoga class where they cued Mula Bandha checkup I was like, "You're kidding me, right?" Even now, every time I am about to do it and I see both legs in front of me, I think to myself How is this going to work? The answer is: One breath at a time. . Inhale - Twist your heart toward your forward foot . Exhale - Lean forward... . Inhale - Press palms into the floor, engage Mula Bandha and lift . Exhale - Hinge forward and thread leg between hands . Inhale - Lift leg back . And just like that, you're flying! See more

First time practicing in our new piso in Madrid! The place is really small but to my surprise there are three places where my mat fits perfectly. One of my favorite things about yoga is that you can do it pretty much anywhere, but a little nook or cranny that feels sacred can make a world of difference. Today I am grateful for space. #rocketyoga

It's easy to take for granted the majesty that surrounds you. Growing up in the desert, I never thought twice about desert ecology, never marveled at the tranquility and beauty of the landscape, never even visited Saguaro National Park...until now. We looked for the quintessential cactus but they are all so unique and statuesque, with their own little personalities! It's very difficult to find one that looks like thisso I made my own rendition.

Found a remedy to the loneliness of self practice. Yoga in the park! You never know who you'll meet...