Yoga at 11,212 feet.

I've recently started doing Yoga for Skiers (and snowboarders) on top of Aspen Mountain.  It only took me 11 years to discover the benefits of doing yoga to start my ski day.

Yoga for skiers is the brain-child of Kate Giampapa and Jane Gottleib who somehow talked Aspen Ski Co. into offering free yoga at the Sundeck at 9.30 on Tues, Thurs and Sat. .  It's been going on for at least two years...maybe longer.  I recently gave Yoga for Skiers a try and all I can say is WOW.

After 110 ski days my hammies are pretty tight, my gluts are worked and my knees are tired. On a recent Tuesday, I decided to give mountain top yoga a try.  In addition to the obvious benefits of stretching, I also truly enjoyed stripping down to my long under-wear in front of 50 hot chicks.  It was extremely liberating and not creepy at all.

As a culmination to the long yoga season, Yoga for Skiers organized a special session with Simon Park a well known professional yogini from Philly.  About 75 people showed up early on Saturday morning to do Yoga at 11,212 feet.  Spirits were high, the music was kickin',  LuLu was out in force and of the 75 attendee's...65 of them were sleek, stylish, beautiful, athletic women.   So it was off with the outer wear and onto the mat for A. Party.  For the 3rd time in one week, bro???

I've come to realize that the Yoga for Skiers gets my blood flowing, it stretches out my tired joints and muscles and gives me a natural energy boost that really helps my skiing. I have yet to fully embrace the whole spiritual aspect of my practice, ooooooommmmm...but I do like to stretch and I love the girl-to-guy ratio.  I'm still eating cheetos for breakfast...but now I'm addicted to Yoga for Skiers.  

  Namaste!!! 

Hyper-Local in Aspen

Aspen is a small mountain town at the end of the road, but it's unlike any ski town in America. In addtion to a semi-thriving tourism business  Aspen also has the 3 C's; Community, Camaraderie and Culture.  Aspen maintains a tightly knit, highly nuanced social fabric unlike most resort towns.  This allows the Locals and the Tourists to coexist in harmony (mostly).  Hollywood has it's TMZ (Thirty Mile Zone)...but Aspen has THE TBR...The Three Block Radius. 

Last night AspenSpin pulled a Quad in the TBR,  4 events all within the three block radius.  Niiiiice.

Get the Girls Out Day on Ajax for SheJumps.org.SHEJUMPS.org had their first ever "Get the Girls Out Day" on Aspen Mountain as well several other ski hills throughout the U.S.  SHEJUMPS.org  strives to increase female participation in out door activities by building a supportive community. 

ASPEN YOGA SOCIETY  hosted their first-ever Yoga Rave last night.  An awesome DJ, a big room and plenty of stretching and dancing.  ASPEN YOGA SOCIETY uses yoga as a tool to discover and maximize human potential.

HOCKEY 4 HOPE.  The Aspen Police vs. The Mother Puckers in an ice-hockey tilt to support THE ASPEN HOPE CENTER.  The 2nd annual grudge match raised money and awareness for The Aspen Hopeline (970-925-5858) a 24 hour mental support phone-line.  Click 4 pix: Hockey 4 Hope.

SPELL WHAT?   The first ever full contact spelling bee featuring Aspen Celebs in support of THE ASPEN YOUTH CENTER (AYC).  For 20 years AYC has provided a safe place for thousands of Roaring Fork Valley kids to be a kid.  It's place to connect, learn and grow.   Spell What? was a highly contested, highly public spell off and raised BIG bucks for AYC. Click 4 pix: Spell What?

Yoga Rave with the Aspen Yoga Society. click 4 pix.Inside the huddle with The Mother Puckers at Hockey 4 Hope. click 4 pix.Aspen Ski co. CEO Mike Kaplan and Aspen Mayor, Mick Ireland on the hot seat at Spell What? for the Aspen Youth Center. click for pix.