Yoga, Health, and Wellness Articles + Recipes

I really liked this theme … sovereignty: having supreme authority over oneself. It was an interesting one to follow “connection” but yet, so timely and complimentary.

I often hear people talk about how expensive it is to be healthy; that organic food is so much more expensive than regular food, that joining a gym or taking yoga classes all seem pricey, but you could just as easily drop $300 a month at Starbucks. I consider the money I spend now on my health a long term investment, because I don’t want to have problems with my bones or organs when I get older. Here are some ways that I invest in my health:

You have probably already heard or read about it, yoga seems to be everywhere these days. There are a lot of pre-conceived notions about what yoga is, ranging from a strenuous, acrobatic endeavor only for the very strong and flexible; to some sort of new age, spiritual practice where you sit around chanting. Sure, those are out there, but the vast majority of yoga classes are fun, relaxing and full of normal, practical people just like you.

The ubiquitous trope that “yoga is stretching” is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of both yoga and human anatomy. Now that scientific research is largely debunking ingrained notions of what it means to “stretch,” the language that yoga teachers and media are using to describe what yoga practice does needs to be questioned.

Welcome to Kapha season! Kapha (or spring) is a time of year known for wet, damp, warm weather. When in balance, this season can bring on a sense of peace and well being. Kapha individuals are even known to be loving, loyal and patient. But when out of balance, we may be prone to feeling congested, lethargic and lazy (read: too much Netflix!).

Start tomorrow today An evening routine is a great way to set yourself up to experience an awesome tomorrow. A relaxing bath, a yummy glass of warm, spiced milk or maybe even some journaling are a few actions that could make the morning great. Another great choice is yoga, right there in your bed.

There is an interesting book, "The Healing Power of Meditation" I’ve been reading about meditation and it’s effect on the mind and body. It’s a collaborative piece written by multiple experts in the fields of Psycholoy, Buddhism, and health professions, such as neurology. In the portion of the book that talks about meditation and emotion, it describes the process the human body, and mind, goes through when experiencing an emotion. Emotion is a fast response and usually subside. When we say we’ve been “feeling bad all day” what we’re doing is revisiting the same emotion, over, and over. We think the whole day has been “bad” when we really are just thinking about the same thing that gave us that emotion, calling for the response again, and again.

So you are helping yourself keeping fit. Your commitment to Being Healthy is on track. First, you have been doing some cardio every day, maybe some running or cycling, getting your heart rate up to the threshold and surely your heart is getting stronger. And you are trying to do this outside, in nature, even if it takes a little more effort, it is great to be outside this time of year.

Inspired by the wisdom of nature, Ayurveda is the oldest continuously practiced health care system in the world. The word ‘Ayurveda’ comes from ‘Ayus’, meaning life (mind, body, senses and soul) and ‘Veda’ meaning science or knowledge. We can translate Ayurveda as “Science of Life”. According to this science we are all microcosms of the natural macrocosm. The five great elements found in nature are also found in each of us. We are all unique combinations of Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth.

Bored of brown rice? Okay, I love the stuff but sometimes I just need a break. So lately I’ve been all about Forbidden Black Rice, which is every bit as cool as it sounds. Cultivated in China, this rice is composed of a natural purple pigment—the same pigment found in blueberries and acai—that is said to be high in antioxidants called anthocyanins. It’s also a whole food, meaning it hasn’t been refined and contains bran, germ and endosperm.

The theme courage came flying to me the moment I heard that the New Moon was in Aries and that Pluto had went into retrograde. Huh?

Ayurvedic philosophy teaches that we are all unique, not just by looks, but by the things we are made of. We know we are made of bones, skin, hair, and squishy stuff. And true, we all are built with two eyes, two arms, two feet, and a liver, but none of these parts are the same shape and size in any of us. In Ayurveda, one size does not fit all.

Chances are you’ve heard or read at least once that meditation is that practice that can help bring peace to most any sort of internal chaos. You might also have heard that it’s not only for Zen masters and Buddha followers, but that anyone can do it. So you decide to give it a go yourself. Heaven knows you could use that feeling of peace that you’re being promised!

I started practicing yoga in 2009. My best friend Laura got really into Bikram Yoga and kept telling me all the wonderful benefits of yoga, so eventually I decided to give it a go. I’ve practicing for 6 years now. I go through phases where I’m doing yoga many days a week and then sometimes not often. In Namibia I practice on average one day a week. It is a great way to de-stress.

On the outskirts of the last decade, a small and humble minority has been pushing back against the pumped up power craze that swept through the nineties, and still largely has a hold on modern postural yoga. Now that the longstanding kingdoms that once guarded yoga's legacies have fallen, and individuals are left more to their own devices, this once obscure and unsung song is finding a new chorus of practitioners.

10 Simple Ways to "Get Your Joy On"

When I was a little girl, my parents, who both were doctors, always asked me to show my tongue if I complained of not feeling well. I don’t know if you remember, but several decades ago doctors in Western hospitals also examined patients’ tongues as one of the first diagnostic steps.

If I were to ask you what a working Mom looks like, would you imagine power suit and latte, or something picked out from last weeks laundry and sippy cup? The truth is, most of us are somewhere in-between, wishing we were polished and hoping no one noticed the stains, yet somehow we make it happen. This is my life as a Mompreneur.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this week’s theme … transmutation. It’s divinely perfect as always. And in meditation all week, I’ve reviewed these last few years. You see transmutation is a change in form, appearance, structure or nature of something. It can be an alchemical shift of who you are and how you show up in the world energetically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. And in that alchemical shift that begins on the inside, we eventually take on a different form on the outside.

Many of us begin our yoga practice after years of inactivity or as a result of injury, pain or limited mobility. Maybe we turn to yoga for stress relief, to increase our flexibility or offset the hours we spend in front of a computer. Whatever the reason, so many people choose yoga as a form of therapy – to improve themselves in some way. So it’s no surprise that our early days on the mat can sometimes be discouraging or frustrating as we are faced with body positions that seem impossible for our current state of physical fitness.

Crocodile, Crocodile! Spring is in full swing – fresh air, sunshine, lollipops, rainbows and… Oh my, some calm, grounding centering might be in order to help counter some of this buzzing spring fever energy. Crocodile pose can perfectly balance the delightful yet dizzying effects early spring.

Broccoli that actually tastes good! Remember being served broccoli as a kid and hating it?

We fill our day with stories. What is that person doing? I wonder what that person is thinking?

Have you ever had one of those weeks where things just seem to stack up against you, like nothing goes your way and the more you try, the less things seem to improve. You feel stretched to the limit with nowhere to turn. Believe me, we’ve all been there at one time or another.

Spring is here… trees are budding, birds are chirping and beautiful floral blooms will soon abound. Create your own beautiful finger flowers (think, hand stretches for busy winter ipad hands) and teach the art of long, slow, mindful breathing with this fun breathing technique for kiddos.