by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | Summer’s in full swing, and while that means lots of good things, it can also feel a little too hot sometimes. Most of us love the chance to get outdoors more often to enjoy warmer temps and longer days, but too much heat and humidity can feel oppressive…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | It’s a bit amusing what some people imagine Cowgirl Yoga to be when they first hear of it: visions of handstands in the saddle, hanging upside down off the horse, or wild arm balances at the gallop all seem to dance through their heads. The reality is, riding and yoga are separate practices on the physical level…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | I know some of you out there aren’t yoginis. You’d rather lace up your running shoes, hop on your bike, or do whatever other activity calls your name. I know your type well, and I must admit to having a part in bringing many of you to the yoga mat — even if it’s just for a few poses — because my philosophy is that yoga helps you do anything better, and it’s my mission to prove it. This is my attempt to get you to sprinkle some yoga into your workout, the quick and easy way…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | The return of ski season means sore muscles that are trying to remember all the right moves (you want me to do what?!). Many other activities emphasize the importance of what you do to warm-up, and while I’m not negating that for skiing, I’ve found that what you do après-ski is even more important in terms of managing soreness and maintaining flexibility…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | One too many glasses of bubbly at a holiday fête? Family desserts weighing you down? Don’t wait until the New Year to detox. If you take small steps to balance overindulging now, it will be much easier to get back in the groove in January. Yoga poses can help facilitate your body’s natural detox process…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | We live in a culture that thrives on results. We like that feeling of accomplishment that comes from crossing items off our to-do list, and from achieving larger goals. It’s not all bad, but one place this drive to achieve backfires is on the yoga mat. There are many life lessons to be learned on the mat, and one of my favorites is being reminded to slow down and honor the three P’s: Practice, patience, and process…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats
We can’t necessarily go on a getaway every time we need it, but there are many ways to carve out nurturing retreat space in your daily life. Sound like mission impossible? Yes, it may pose certain challenges, but even the perfectly planned vacation has those too (missed flights, not-so-perfect weather, etc.). Like practicing yoga at home, the more you do it, the more renewing it can be. Here are some ideas for creating your own ‘metreat’ without having to travel far…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats
The fall season has always felt like a better opportunity for a fresh start than the New Year. It’s a great time to make some changes and clear your head. Cue Yoga Sutra 1.2 yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ: Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats
There are many similarities between practicing yoga and riding a horse, which is how Cowgirl Yoga, a merging of horses and yoga, came about. Despite the similarities, there is one very, very big difference between yoga and riding: when you practice yoga you are on your mat, an inanimate object; when you ride a horse, you are on a living being that possesses its own feelings, intuition and instinct…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats
In Be An OMbody we focused on sun salutations as the cornerstone for a home practice. Now that you’re feeling comfortable saluting the sun at home, the next step is to build a well-rounded practice. Many wanna-be at-home practitioners have the misconception that, in order to make their practice well-rounded, they need a huge chunk of time to dedicate to yoga. Not so. The sequence that follows should only take 20-25 minutes…