Let me put it to you simply… opposing energies, both working in our benefit, both taking courage to harness. Huh?
Simpler … it takes courage to leap forward in life, like the fiery energy of Aries. AND it takes courage to sit still and examine our stuff that has been shoved into the back corner of our closets (or under the rug) before leaping forward.
It takes courage to do it all.
I started thinking about it really and … I think we display courage in every waking moment. I mean, we’re courageous when we speak, we’re courageous when we’re silent. We are courageous when we try something new, and we’re just as courageous when we sit and wait our turn.
I used to think that courage came from our will, our drive to move forward and follow our passions and … impulses. I used to think that it took courage to leap without thinking. And I used to think it took courage to stand for what you believe in and speak your mind.
I still believe that.
And I think it takes courage to sit and see what happens for a moment. And I think it takes a helluva lot of courage to listen … especially when you may not like what you hear. It takes courage to expose your heart and be seen for who you truly are. And it takes courage to accept and unconditionally love those around you.
I used to think it took courage to live and stand in your power. Now I think it takes courage to live from your heart. To expose the truth of how you feel without expectation or attachment. To love without knowing how the other person feels. To let go not knowing what is next.
I came home from work tonight to some you know, pre-teen drama. And I witnessed my daughter courageously admitting that she was wrong, saying how she felt, and then taking responsibility for her actions from her heart… on her SLEEVE! So proud, so inspired ..
The world NEEDS courageous hearts … those souls willing to SPILL IT, fall on their face, get back up again and do it again. The world NEEDS more people willing to LOVE ALL OUT and go ALL IN; diving deep and coming back to the top refreshed and in reverence for it all … every, last bit.
Repeat after me … I am a courageous soul, I am a courageous soul, I am a courageous soul. Now go be that.
By Dana Damara
“My passion on the mat is proper alignment, powerful breath and effortless flow so you feel that off your mat. Your practice becomes sacred space where you arrive to find more meaning, depth, authenticity and integrity in your life."
- Dana Damara: mother, author, yoga instructor, speaker and yogini. Visit DanaDamara.com for more inspiration from Dana.
Click here to download or stream one of Dana's YogaDownload classes!
Ayurveda recognizes and honors our uniqueness. 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. Ayurveda recognizes and honors our uniqueness.
This is where Ayurveda gets interesting. There are only five elements that exist. Those five great elements are: space, air, fire, water, and earth. Simply put, the Universe has lots of space in it. The mountains (earth), the oceans (water), bon fires (fire), trees (space, air, fire, water, earth), are all part of the nature surrounding us. Now think about your body. You have hard parts (earth), liquid parts (water), warm parts (fire), parts that move other parts (air) and holey parts (space). Since big nature is made of the same things we are, it makes sense that we feel best when surrounded by nature because we ARE nature.
From those five elements, come three energies. Those energies are called doshas. We are each made of all three doshas, but each have our own unique combinations. This unique combination of doshas is what makes us, US! It’s our individuality and authenticity—our stamp on that says, “Yessss this is ME!
The three doshas are vata, pitta, and kapha. Each dosha serves a different purpose and works together to create our unique physical, mental, and emotional make-up.
Vata, the energy of movement.
Elements: Space & Air.
Nature: Wind
Main Location: Colon
Qualities: Cold, Dry, Rough, Light, Mobile
Vata is responsible for the movements of the body including heart beating, eyes blinking, food moving though digestion, breathing, talking, walking, jumping, pooping, and giving birth. Pitta and kapha cannot move without vata, so vata is considered the king of the doshas.
Because vata is made of space and air, there really isn’t much holding it together. In nature, vata relates to the wind as it is quick to change, moves fast, and is usually cold. Vata people tend to be thin with visible bones, thin dry skin and hair, long delicate fingers, and oval faces. They talk and move a lot (and fast), are highly creative, animated storytellers, great musicians, dancers, actors, artists, vivacious, full of exuberance, and the ones who “light up a room.” They change their mind often, can come up with a million creative ideas, but tend not to finish what they start. Vatas are impatient, often distracted, and complain often because something usually hurts, including their brain. Their mind worries about the future rather than staying present and focused. Remember, they HAVE no ground because it’s not in their nature! Vatas are busy doing many things at once and if they are not careful they will turn into a tornado (talk about wind!) to the point of exhaustion.
Constant vata motion creates inner turbulence and the energy runs amok, no longer functioning as it should. Some vata imbalances include anxiety, panic attacks, low self esteem, insomnia, constipation, chronic headaches, tremors/twitches, overall weakness, memory loss, osteoporosis, even heart attacks. If you are with an out-of-sorts vata, give them a space heater or throw them (gently) in a hot tub. They will feel much better.
To stay balanced, vatas need grounding, structure, slowness, warmth, and oiliness. They feel best with a reliable schedule they can stick to. They should favor saucy vata foods that are heavy, warm, and mildly spicy. Vatas desperately need fats and oils in their diet because of their dry quality. They need consistent, quality sleep, and an exercise routine that builds strength and stamina like yoga, walking, or light weight training.
Pitta, the energy of transformation
Elements: Fire & Water
Nature: Sun
Main Location: Small Intestines
Qualities: Hot, Sharp, Mobile, Oily, Light, Smooth
Pitta is responsible for transforming our food, thoughts, and emotions. Pitta is the main player in digesting our food as it is closely related to our digestive fire. It is the only dosha with the fire/heat element to it. Without pitta, everything would be cold and rigid.
Pitta is made of fire and water elements, so think of pitta like a hot, sharp, oil transforming everything in its path. In nature, pitta relates to the sun, the giant fire in the sky. Pitta people tend to have a medium build with good muscle tone, pink skin with moles or freckles, straight silky hair, early gray or early balding, usually wear glasses or contact lenses, pink finger nails, and have sharp features on their face. They have a sharp intellect and tongue, are quick-witted, organized, disciplined, make great athletes, lawyers, politicians, and anything else that has a competitive edge. They love politics, news, and talk radio. Pittas are leaders and people instinctively want to follow them. They stick to the plan (they do not appreciate spontaneity) and strategy comes natural to them. They are not quick to agree to someone else’s ideas and ask a ton of questions until they have analyzed the situation down to nothing. Pittas live in the present moment, which makes them excellent and fast problem solvers. Because they are smart and not afraid of hard work, pittas will carry the weight of the world on their shoulders while holding in a lot of stress. This is partly because they want to ensure high quality results and partly because they want things done their way.
But, have you heard of burn out? Pitta imbalances are the results of stress and heat, like acne, rashes, eye irritation, high blood pressure, acid reflux, heartburn, blood or liver disorders, any inflammation, and are easily burned by the sun. If you have an inflamed or angry pitta on your hands, give them ice cream (or put it on their sunburn). They will chill out in 10 seconds.
To stay balanced, pittas need calm, serenity, cooling, grounding, and downtime. They feel best when they have a balance of mentally stimulating work and challenging fun, which is likely to be physical activity. They should favor pitta foods that are heavy, cool, and mild, with lots of fruits and vegetables. Pittas can eat most anything because their digestive fire is so strong, but they should avoid high-heat foods like red meats, alcohol, and very spicy foods. Pittas need enough sleep so their mind can rejuvenate. The best exercises for pitta are bike riding, swimming, yoga (not hot yoga), and evening walks. Pittas should never exercise in the hot sun.
Kapha, the energy of lubrication and structure
Elements: Water & Earth
Nature: Moon
Main Location: Chest & Stomach
Qualities: Cold, Wet, Heavy, Oily, Static, Gross, Dull
Kapha is responsible for sticking everything together. Kapha brings coolness and creation and without it, everything would be a windy inferno. They may even refer to themselves as the “glue” that holds a family or team together.
Kapha energy is cool, heavy, and wet, like a dollop of yogurt, which moistens vata and cools pitta while sticking these doshas together. In nature, kapha relates to the moon which is soothing and cooling. Kaphas are mentally and physically strong with a sturdy build and thick joints, but they don’t like to move. They have oily skin, thick lustrous hair, substantial fingers and hands, round angelic facial features, long eyelashes, and beautiful teeth. Kaphas are the caretakers, nurturers, chefs, and singers, and have a love for music. They tend to be on the shy side and listen more than they speak. They are averse to change and love familiarity and routine. Kaphas are extremely patient, slow to anger, and smile almost all of the time. They often live in the past and have a tendency to linger in sadness, grief, or past trauma that is hard for them to shake.
Kaphas carry extra emotional, physical, and material stuff which adds to their heaviness. Some kapha imbalances include depression, weight gain, obesity, water retention, swelling, allergies, extra mucus or congestion, lethargy, laziness, cloudiness of mind, and grief. If you have a heavy kapha, make them laugh and give them garlic. This will lift their spirits and stoke their digestive fire. So will the garlic.
To stay balanced, kaphas need lightness, warmth, dryness, spiciness, and movement. They feel best around people who are light-hearted, funny, and sharp. They should favor kapha foods that are vegetarian, light, warm, and spicy. Kaphas will want sweet foods, but need to limit them since “sweets” in Ayurveda are heavy foods. They need good sleep, but not too much because it can cause heaviness. Kaphas need dry heat, like a sauna or Arizona! Kaphas feel amazing when they are in dry, sunny, hotness. Exercise should be a fun cardio to help raise their heat and break a sweat. A challenging yoga class or brisk walks are also good, but kaphas will best stick to exercise with a fun, chatty buddy.
Aren’t you curious to know which dosha is prominent in your being?! Take this quiz to learn more about YOU!
By Monica Bloom
Monica Bloom is an Ayurvedic practitioner, writer, lecturer, and creator of the blog, HeyMonicaB.com: A Blooming Resource on Ayurveda. Her purist delivery of Ayurveda’s ancient wisdom fused with Midwest humor and practicality make her an impactful & entertaining healer. Monica is a wife, mama of a spirited toddler, and ‘parent’ to three animals. She currently works a 40-hour corporate grind in San Francisco, making her an expert at tucking Ayurveda neatly into our modern lives. Join the fun on facebook and her blog.
"Introducing the Three Doshas" is courtesy of Prana’s ‘Ayurveda Life’ - a comprehensive series on the practice of Ayurveda from some of the most influential Ayurvedic authors and organizations.
“Yoga and Ayurveda are sister sciences that developed together and repeatedly influenced each other throughout history. Yoga and Ayurveda work together to enhance their great benefits on all levels”.
“The link between yoga and Ayurveda is prana, or the life force. Yoga is the intelligence of prana seeking greater evolutionary transformations, while Ayurveda is its healing power…” ~ Dr. David Frawley
So you start applying the rules: go to a quiet room, light some candles, dim the lights, play some soothing music (or not) and sit. It takes a few moments to get into the right posture – you try them all: cross legged, chair sitting, kneeling, lying on the bed, they all seem to cause some discomfort to your body. After a few long minutes you decide to go for cross legged - you feel this is the real thing, after all it is on the cover of all health magazines! So you close your eyes and start breathing. You try to relax your muscles, focus on the gentle music and the breath. “Yeah, that’s easy”, you rejoice,” I can do it”. “Nice”! Then, before you’ve even reached your fourth deep breath, you realise you’re making a grocery list in your mind, setting a meal planner for the week and before you know it, you’re mentally going through the recipe for raw chocolate cake for the weekend, as you’re having friends over. “This isn’t working, I just can’t focus”, you worry. “I don’t think meditation is for me”. Nevertheless, you decide to give it another try. You bring your focus back to your breath and try relaxing again. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out... This time you’ve got it!
But, again, before you have any time to savour the victory, your mind has already decided the seating plan for the Saturday dinner and it’s now busy choosing the right tissue napkins to go with the table cloth. “Oh, this is not going to work”, you decide. “I’m obviously too busy and have too much on my mind right now. I’ll try another day when I don’t have so many things to deal with”.
And that’s how most people introduce themselves to meditation. But the verdict you give yourself after that first session is really important. You can either go for: “No one can say I haven’t tried. It’s just not for me. It’s probably more suitable for the more spiritual kind of folks” or “Boy, it’s hard quieting this chattering box, this is going to take a while”!, which leaves the door open - or at least ajar!
I believe it’s important to keep in mind that almost everyone attempting to meditate will have had a similar experience to the one outlined above. Meditation is a process, it just gets better and better every single day and it’s not something that you need to be good at, it’s just something that you need to be willing to experience.
Mindful meditation as “you” time How you perceive the act of meditation is really important. If it feels to you like a task, then I guess it’s better to reframe it so that it becomes something you look forward to. You might want to see it as your “you” time. Any amount of personal time is very much welcomed in the anarchy of our busy lives, so meditation can provide that safe and undemanding place where you go to, well, meet yourself. Your thoughts, your emotions, your sensations. The entirety of you.
When you do start your practice, be gentle with your expectations. This is utterly important, because if you set your mind on achieving something in particular, not being able to meet that goal will bring along disappointment and a feeling of not doing it right. Simply be there with your kind awareness and just notice without judging. Meditation is not about accomplishing something, at least not in a practical and tangible way. I would say it’s more about exploring and cultivating emotions, sensations or ideas.
Once you’ve started meditating you might notice that the mind seems to just get in the way of your achieving that long sought after relaxation. Don’t fight it. Let the mind manifest itself, it’s what the mind does. Simply notice your thoughts, let them be and then let them go, one by one without following or paying particular attention to any of them; nor need you judge yourself for not being able to keep a blank mind during the meditation - that’s not necessarily the purpose. You might have become aware of the fact that the harder you try to push away those thoughts, the harder it seems for you to acquire any sense of serenity. The truth is that the less you try, the easier it becomes. It sounds simplistic, but often this plain truth eludes us.
And so this attitude of tolerance, patience, lack of expectations and judgement becomes one of the most important emotions one can cultivate during a meditation practice. I don’t believe the aim is to stop our state-of-the-art Swiss mechanism of a brain from working so that we no longer hear the ticking of our worrying thoughts, but more to witness and try to better understand its ways.
If you find it hard to stick to your practice... ... just know that it’s perfectly all right. Many people find it hard to commit as they might think they’re not good at it, or that it will interfere with their religious practice, or that they’re not the spiritual sort so why would they need it, or that they’re too busy and meditation is obviously for people who have lots of free time, and so on. If you find you’re giving yourself excuses for not meditating or being mindful, don’t blame yourself. Be patient. But, also, be perseverant, in the most gentle and non-judgemental way.
And so, in this safe space where you learn to let go of control, of expectations and simply live your present circumstances with the aim to cultivate a better understanding of yourself, the journey within begins. So, travel widely!
Namaste
Written by yoga and meditation probie, Monalisa E. Formagiu
My name is Monalisa and I live in the UK. I have been on a journey for the last three years trying to teach myself the way out of chronic pain. I am quite dedicated to my yoga and meditation practices as they have become the load bearing structures of my healing process. And I must confess I no longer look for reasons as to why I shouldn’t stick to them (except for when I come up with the most ingenious excuses and that’s when I have to at least give myself credit for my inventiveness and celebrate with ... a yoga session!) But it’s not all play, as I am also studying and training to become a psychologist and life coach and am happy to be able to put all the hardship to good use. Hurray!
Josh and I began showing Namibians our love of yoga at our host family in Okahandja for our 2 months of training. We would do yoga with the kids on the porch. We called our style of yoga “Shusk-tanga.” Patent pending.
Our host family loved it. It was a nice way for us to bond with them. We saw the 3 year old from our host family in Okahandja over Christmas Holiday and she still remembers “Downward Dog.”
I then brought yoga with me to our site and my school. I did it once with the Girls Club and many girls enjoyed it so much they wanted to keep doing it together. When I am free on the weekends, I’ll put together a Saturday morning yoga session. It’s been a fun way to share something I enjoy and am passionate about.
I always enjoy hearing everyone in my class say “Miss! I feel so good!” after a class is over. I am not a trained teacher myself but I have done it long enough to give people the basics. I usually put a yoga dvd on halfway through class to let the experts tell us when to breathe in and out, etc.
The website YogaDownload.com offers a free membership for PCVs. It really makes yoga more accessible and introduces people all over the world to new styles of yoga. It’s a great way to keep your yoga routine fresh.
Workout videos and running have also been a great way to help cope with stress here. If you’re a person who likes to turn their headphones on and ignore the rest of the world when running, well then running in Namibia might not be for you. On days when I’m feeling social I’ll go run in town and on the sandy paths and greet people as I go by.
Seeing the Kavango River as you run by isn't a bad way to spend 30-45 minutes. Running and exercise in general really isn't a popular thing here. (most want to save their calories) so this white lady gets some funny looks, but it's a fun atmosphere on the walking path new our flat. I see ladies carrying baskets on their heads, men walking home from work, feral dogs who want to bite me and little kids playing with one another.
By Lisa Shusko
Lisa is a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Namibia, Africa since 2013.
Two years ago I wrote a piece called: "Gentle is the New Advanced." It was mostly a response to a NY Times article on the meme of the yoga selfie. I observed that some old-school teachers seemed to be finding a niche among the new-school vinyasa scene by billing themselves as "Gentle Flow." I also suggested that the allure of the flashy pose and its ability to attract followers was a hollow pursuit that would wither over time. Recent trends might suggest that not only are people reevaluating the merits of Instagram, but younger teachers are beginning to embrace and emulate old-school wisdom.
People are discovering again that yoga is not necessarily something you do to yourself so much as something you do with yourself.
I first noticed the old-school teachers reemerging while at one of the larger holistic learning centers on the national circuit. Whenever I teach at one of these venues, I feel like I am getting a glimpse into the broader commercial yoga world. Over the last three years, I have been changing the title of my program. First, it was: “Fundamentals of Therapeutic Yoga” and the folks who showed up all had conditions that they wanted to have addressed. Then, I called it: “Making Vinyasa Yoga Safe” and a number of old-school teachers attended to bolster their repertoire and ability to meld into the new vinyasa conventions. This year, I presented: “Vinyasa Slow: More Power, Less Pain.” My hope was to attract new-school teachers with a sizzling title. It didn’t work. The participants ended up being people who I had previously met or were already on board with a slower and safer approach.
But a funny thing happened on the way out of my program one day. You see, there was a “Vigorous Vinyasa” class happening in the space after us and the teacher was waiting in the hall. She had noticed the title of my program. She said: “Are you the teacher? I saw the title of your workshop and that is totally what I do.” I looked at the sign that had replaced mine with “Vigorous Vinyasa” quizzically and she continued: “Moving slow is so much more work.” She then proceeded to immediately come into a high lunge and slowly lift and lower her arms to demonstrate. I smiled and said: “I couldn’t agree more.”
For many, power and hot yoga have become like that friend who you initially hit it off with and had so much fun with but now when you hang out it just feels negative and draining. Eventually, you drift apart.
The concept of “Slow Yoga” is not just about the pace with which we move our bodies. It’s a question of purpose. Are you doing yoga practice because you want to sweat? Are you doing yoga practice because you want to be stronger and more flexible? Are you doing yoga practice because you have pain and want relief? Or are you doing yoga practice because you just want to learn how to be well? Perhaps, all of the above. Whatever question you’re asking yourself and whatever the answer you may arrive at, space enough for the inquiry is going to be required. Slow Yoga takes emphasis off accomplishing something and puts it more on experiencing something.
Like any relationship, as a yoga practice progresses over time, the initial buzz wears off and we are left with either an appreciation for the subtlety and nuance of the in-between moments or the empty feeling of nothing ever being enough. We can struggle and fight against this, attempting to forever change things and find new ways to spice things up or we can embrace this mundane inward turn and see what it holds. One thing is for sure: yoga practice that covets what has yet to be attained will always overshadow the beauty of what is already in place.
I told myself that I would stop writing about what is happening in the “yoga world” and just focus on yoga. But it occurs to me that there is no way to separate these out from each other. The “yoga world” consists of people who are interested in yoga practice. The motivations at work and the actualities of people’s experience that make up the yoga world have everything to do with yoga. And up until recently, singing the song of simplifying and slowing things down have always felt like pushing against the tide. Now I’m seeing a wave of new voices picking up the tune.
Fast and intense may serve for a time but it is unsustainable and will invariably require some reevaluation. For in the slowness of our lives is where we are able to perceive its worth. Yoga practice is no different.
By J. Brown
J. Brown is a yoga teacher, writer and founder of Abhyasa Yoga Center in Brooklyn, NY. His writing has been featured in Yoga Therapy Today, the International Journal of Yoga Therapy, and across the yoga blogosphere. Visit his website at jbrownyoga.com
Click here to try J. Brown's "Slower is Stronger"
Over the past five years since taking on the Conscious Cleanse and learning to live the 80:20 as a lifestyle, my health has completely changed.
Because this has been such a life-changing shift, I wanted to share some of my tried and true foods for keeping those nasty spring allergies at bay.
Check out my five favorite foods for reducing spring allergy symptoms below. Do you feel like spring kicks you in the tush? Come drop me a line below and share your story.
With spring-blooming love,
5 Foods to Fight Your Spring Allergies
1. Fermented veggies. Gut health is key in combating the spring-time funk. Just a few servings of your favorite fermented veggie can increase the good bacteria in your gut, keeping your immune system strong. Our recommended brand, Ozuke, comes from our friends right here in Boulder.
2. Dark leafy greens. Kale, spinach, chard oh my! Dark leafy greens contain quercetin, which is a natural antihistamine blocker. Our favorite way to incorporate greens is by drinking a green smoothie. Join the green smoothie revolution with us!
3. Nettles. Make your own nettle infusion to remedy spring symptoms. Nettles fight inflammation and help your body build up a tolerance to the histamine response, making it nature’s natural allergy shot.
4. Salmon. Known for being one of the best sources of omega 3 fatty acids, this wild fish has been shown to improve lung function. Breathe easy this spring with just 2-3 servings of salmon a week.
5. Broccoli. This cruciferous wonder contains high levels of vitamin C which helps to combat inflammation. In just 500 mg you’ll notice an improvement in your allergy symptoms. Two cups of broccoli contains 160 mg, so eat up and feel better fast!
Jo Schaalman and Julie Peláez are co-authors of the book The Conscious Cleanse: Lose Weight, Heal Your Body, and Transform Your Life in 14 Days, a best-selling, step-by-step guide to help you live your most vibrant life. Together they've lead thousands of people through their online supported cleanse through their accessible and light-hearted approach. They've been dubbed “the real deal” by founder and chief creative director Bobbi Brown, of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, beauty editor of the TODAY show.
To learn more about “Jo and Jules” and to download a free e-cookbook for a sampling of the delicious food served up on the Conscious Cleanse, please visit their website.
After you make this yummy recipe try a healing yoga class with Jo or Jules:
Conscious Cleanse Detox Flow - Jo Schaalman
Heart Opening Forrest Yoga Flow - Jo Schaalman
Traditional Hot Yoga - Julie Peláez
1. Breathe Become more aware of your breathing patterns throughout the day. Cultivate a calm smooth breath whenever possible. Try the Breath of Joy to lift your mood and energy!
2. Connect to your body Create a daily practice of connecting to your body, your temple. This could be in the form of a bath or foot massage, yoga, dancing, swimming, or anything that makes your body feel good.
3. Connect with loved ones Initiate contact with joyful friends and loved ones and make room in your schedule for this on a regular basis.
4. Try something new Always wanted to try scuba? Go for it. The curiosity and playfulness involved in doing new things can be a satisfying mood booster.
5. Gratitude Create a daily habit of recognizing the abundance and goodness in your life. Find creative ways to express gratitude, whether that is repeating it to yourself, writing in a journal, making art, or sharing with a friend. Don’t skip over the ‘small’ stuff…if you have two feet – be grateful and celebrate!
"The attitude of gratitude is the highest way of living, and is the biggest truth, the highest truth. You cannot live with applied consciousness until you understand that you have to be grateful for what you have. If you are grateful for what you have, then Mother Nature will give you more." -Yogi Bhajan
6. Listen to music Listening to joyful music can actually cause the brain to release dopamine, a feel good neurotransmitter.
7. Get out in nature A study in 2013, "Benefits of Ecotherapy..." showed that simply taking a walk in nature had the capability to reduce symptoms of depression in 71% of the participants.
8. Smile & laugh Buddhist monk and activist Thich Nhat Hanh said, “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” Smile more and engage in activities that make you laugh. You’ll also find that you get treated differently when you move through your day with a smile on your face.
9. Stay with positive experiences I love neuropsychologist Rick Hanson’s concept of ‘taking in the good’. Fully focus on positive experiences for about 30 seconds; let them really sink into your mind and body so you remember the feeling and can more easily access it next time. You are essentially training your brain over and over again to notice and remember the positive over the negative.
10. Make space Leave room in your schedule to simply do nothing. Rushing from one activity to another is a sure way to suck out your joy and leave you feeling emotionally and energetically depleted.
By Jennifer Meek
Jennifer Meek is a Certified Yoga Teacher (RYT 500) specializing in Yoga Therapy for common conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and back pain. Utilizing her 25 years of movement experience as a dancer in combination with the tools of yoga and mindfulness she teaches people how to tap into their innate potential for health and happiness. Read More from Jennifer at jennifermeek.com
More than 10 years later, I finally started to learn exactly what my parents and doctors were looking for. The tongue is a detailed health map. Our tongues change colors/shades, shape, and surface texture, providing a current health status update. Tongue analysis is an ancient health assessment technique that is still used in Chinese medicine and by Ayurvedic practitioners.
Much as in reflexology, different parts of the tongue correspond to different organs. As a mirror of the body’s digestive system, the tongue can reflect the toxicity level in the gut, show potential food sensitivities or a weak digestive fire, point to malabsorption of nutrients, and reveal the health of other organs in the body.
Trained Ayurvedic practitioners will be able to provide a complete health analysis by examining a patient’s tongue. Dr. Vasant Lad, the founder of the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico and one of my favorite Ayurvedic teachers, encourages everyone to learn the basic tongue diagnosis principles as they can serve as a useful health analysis tool.
Our tongues contain a wealth of information, and learning how to interpret the looks of our tongues can be very helpful in understanding our bodies on a deeper level. It is a great way to build a closer mind/body relationship. Any trusting healthy relationship has to be based on mutual understanding.
A daily look at the tongue helps us to become more aware of the effects of food on our body. The tongue doesn’t lie. It provides the feedback about last night’s dinner with full honesty first thing in the morning. This is your free daily health report.
The beauty of a tongue diagnosis is that its basics can be learned and applied by anyone to monitor their own health. While it might take years to learn the intricacies of tongue diagnosis, there are some general guidelines that anyone can use to evaluate general health and digestion.
Dr. Lad advises you to look at your tongue in the morning before brushing your teeth.
There are a few factors that are worth noting when you look at your tongue: shape, shadings, markings, wetness, texture, and coating. A healthy tongue should look like a kitten’s tongue or a young baby’s tongue: symmetrical and evenly pink. It should not tremble. It should have a thin, transparent coating. All the taste buds should be flat, orderly, and free from bumps, lines, cracks, and patches. It should not have foam, hair, fur, be too dry, or too wet, or have a foul odor or taste.
As a beginning tongue explorer, there are a few things you should pay attention to:
Tongue coating. Excessive coating usually means sluggish digestion and toxins in the colon. Depending on the food that you eat, coating will change from day to day. If you have a late night heavy dinner of pasta and wine, your tongue is more likely to be swollen and have a thicker coating. This is the way your body is trying to tell you that the digestive system might be overburdened. Knowing that your colon is full of material that doesn’t belong there, that spreads toxins into your blood, makes you sluggish, your skin dull, and your head foggy might be exactly what you were waiting for in order to change your diet. If you wake up with a heavily coated tongue, take a break from heavy, oily, and processed foods and choose foods that are easiest to digest until the coating clears up.
Dr. Lad strongly encourages the use of a tongue scraper on a daily basis. Why walk around with a ton of toxins if you can just scrape them off?
Scraping the tongue first thing in the morning removes overnight build-up of bacteria and toxins. Rather than brushing the tongue, which will only push bacteria and toxins into the tongue, scrape your tongue with a tongue scraper or spoon. You can use a metal or a copper one. To scrape your tongue, extend it out and place the scraper as far back on the tongue as comfortable.
Using one long stroke, gently pull the scraper forward so that it removes the unwanted coating on the tongue. Rinse the scraper and begin again if necessary. I usually do this five or six times.
Teeth imprints. Teeth imprints around the contour of the tongue can mean malabsorption of nutrients, inflammation, or too much salt in the diet. If your tongue has teeth imprints, your digestive system is not very happy. Most likely it is overloaded and weak. To stimulate digestion in a natural healthy way, add fresh ginger tea, avoid iced drinks, and start paying attention to food combining, which we will discuss later in the book.
Trembling tongue. This is a sign of anxiety or fear. We live in such a high-stress society that anxiety can crawl over you without you even being aware of it. It might even be your permanent state and you are so used to it that you can’t tell the difference. Time to take a break from caffeine, have some chamomile tea, and nourish your nervous system with warm and easy-to-digest light soups.
The changes on the tongue will show the effects of changes in your diet. You will be able to watch the changes on your tongue as you begin improving your diet and healing your digestion.
By Nadya Andreeva
Nadya Andreeva is the author of the #1 Amazon best-selling book on digestive health for women Happy Belly: A Woman’s Guide to Feeling Vibrant, Light, and Balanced. Professionally trained in mindful eating, yoga, and positive psychology, Nadya helps women create a healthy relationship with food that honors their body’s unique chemistry and eliminates bloating and irregularity. To learn more about improving your digestion, check out Nadya’s free Happy Belly cookbook http://www.spinachandyoga.com/100recipes/
**Tongue Diagram images reproduced with permission from Ayurveda: Science of Self Healing, by Dr. Vasant Lad. Lotus Press, a division of Lotus Brands, Inc., PO Box 325, Twin Lakes, WI 53181, USA, lotuspress.com ©1984 All Rights Reserved.
Easy, no. Worth it? Hell yes.
You know, this notion that you can “have it all” is so not true in a way. Yeah, I can be a mom, run a successful business, have a great marriage and amazing friends, but I’ve had to redefine what that looks like for me and how to accomplish it all.
A Mompreneur will quickly discover her priorities become whittled down wish lists. She’s become the expert of efficiency. Figure out your exercise balance.
When I started my business I had to put some things aside, like training for a marathon. So instead, I invested in a cardio machine and began holding meetings while on a fast incline.
I love running and I love my business, but I need efficiency and was unwilling to give up either.
Let me be clear. If honestly getting out of the house is what you need, go do that. Get in your exercise where you can and find your balance. I schedule in daily exercise and treat it equally important as I would a meeting. When it pops up in my calendar there’s no backing out.
Outsource everything that distracts you from your priorities.
My priorities are having time in my day with my daughter, husband and my team. If anyone gets shorted I look at outsourcing.
This means I hire a house cleaner who helps with meals, or I delegate work tasks to my team, so I have bath time with my daughter or alone time with my husband. By knowing that these priorities are absolutes I can outsource with greater ease.
One of the best things I did was get a house cleaner who makes our meals. She’s incredible. We need to get over the idea we should be doing it ‘all’, instead totally rock our priorities and the stuff we’re actually awesome at.
Really know your health.
Listen, none of this is going to work if you’re run down, stressed and nutrient deficient. What’s worse than kids sick, is you sick. I know that feeling of wishing you could stay in bed. One extra hour please.
And, you know what?
Sometimes I trade with my husband morning shifts so I can rest longer. I’ve learned over the years that health has to come first. If I need rest, I take it without apology or guilt – and you can too.
We eat a raw, vegan menu in our house and exercise every day. We take herbs and natural medicines when we need to, and practice living a healthy lifestyle because I know my health is a non-negotiable.
Show up to your marriage.
Moms, sometimes it’s just not going to happen tonight. Sometimes it’s the kids. It’s work. It’s a lot of things that get in the way.
My husband & I have dates nights, date days, date lunches. We set goals and priorities together so we can help keep focused on each other. I’ve seen my marriage significantly improve when I showed interest in my husband, which means I turn off the cell phone and list making to fully focus on him. It means I listen to him and respond lovingly. It takes work, and oh yes, it’s worth it. He gets her up in the morning and gets her ready so that I can get going, and I take care of her in the afternoon. This is about the negotiation of time, communication between each other, and flexibility to make it all fit in. The key is that we do it together.
Success means knowing your priorities by not doing everything to exhaustion.
What does having it all mean to you? Moms with careers pack a lot into their lives. From drop-offs, pick-ups, meltdowns, multi-tasked meetings, forgotten appointments and overdue oil changes, we’re well stocked up on hectic. Have you found your sweet spot in family, life and business? How would you feel about letting go of some of your tasks to someone else? What stops you? I’d love to hear from you and I know your comment could help other women struggling to find her balance. Post in the box below and share with someone who you think needs to hear this.
Originally posted in Positively Positive
XO, Hayley
By Hayley Hobson
With her unique specialization in the combination and complement of pilates, nutrition and yoga, Hayley offers a cocktail of lifestyle changes that produce real and lasting results. Hayley is a columnist for Elephant Journal and has been featured in Pilates Style Magazine, Natural Health Magazine and Triathlete Magazine. She currently lives in Boulder, CO with her husband, former world-ranked triathlete, Wes Hobson and their two beautiful daughters, Makenna and Madeline. Read more about Hayley and check out her new book at HayleyHobson.com
Core Yoga 4
The post got so many responses, that I knew I had to share with you my own personal Veggie Lover’s Conscious Cleanse Meal Plan.
We are currently in week one of the Spring cleanse so hopefully this is helpful to all of our current veggie loving participants, as well as anyone looking simply to incorporate some more springtime cleansing meals into their rotation.
I should probably mention that the weekends in this meal plan account for our first weekend of Purification, which is when we consume only veggies and fruits with a small about of healthy oil, to ramp up the detoxification process.
Also, I didn’t include any green smoothie recipes here but I have really been enjoying adding cilantro and parsley to my morning ritual. If you’re looking for new green smoothie recipes, be sure to check out our brand new 80:20 Lifestyle Plan. One of the bonuses included in the membership is our I ❤ Green Smoothies Guide, including 10+ of our favorite new green smoothie recipes.
Check out my Veggie Lover’s Meal Plan below and be sure to drop me a line. Are you detoxing your diet this spring? Let me know your favorite springtime cleansing foods?
With veggie-lovin’ r-e-s-p-e-c-t,
Veggie Lover’s Sample Meal Plan
Monday
Breakfast: Green smoothie AM Snack: Apple Lunch: Cucumber Radish Salad over bed of spinach, option to add walnuts or garbanzo beans for more protein PM Snack: Blue-green smoothie (blueberries, spinach, banana, chia seeds, coconut water) Dinner: Warmed Zucchini Noodles and Pesto topped with steamed broccoli and green peas
Tuesday
Breakfast: Green smoothie AM Snack: Celery with almond butter Lunch: Leftover Cucumber Radish Salad over bed of arugula PM Snack: Handful of walnuts and cup of sweet rose tea Dinner: Millet Buddha Bowl with Tahini Drizzle
Wednesday
Breakfast: Green smoothie AM Snack: Apple Lunch: Kale Avocado Salad with a Kick (recipe in our book – pg 244) topped with pumpkin seeds PM Snack: Carrots dipped in leftover Tahini Drizzle Dinner: Thai Coconut Soup (with brown rice)
Thursday
Breakfast: Green smoothie AM Snack: Apple Lunch: Mixed green salad (arugula, spinach, cucumbers, radishes, sprouts) drizzled with Green Goddess Dressing PM Snack: Lara Bar Dinner: Leftover Thai Coconut Soup (without brown rice)
Friday
Breakfast: Green smoothie AM Snack: Carrots dipped in leftover Green Goddess Dressing Lunch: Chilled Cucumber Dill Soup (recipe in our book – pg 254) PM Snack: Handful of cashews Dinner: Quinoa Beet Arugula Salad
Saturday Purification
Breakfast: Green smoothie AM Snack: 1 English cucumber, sliced, topped with lime juice and sea salt Lunch: Meal-sized salad with leftover beets, steamed broccoli, cauliflower and asparagus drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice PM Snack: Sliced pear and apple Dinner: Bieler’s Broth (recipe in our book – pg 253)
Sunday Purification
Breakfast: Green smoothie AM Snack: Apple Lunch: Meal-sized salad (spinach, radishes, cucumbers, sprouts, carrots, cabbage) with Citrus Squeeze Dressing (recipe in book – pg. 250) PM Snack: Green juice Dinner: Curried Carrot Soup
So like I was saying, I have been reviewing the last few years and I’m blown away at how much I’ve changed. And when I look at photos of myself from just three years ago (the ones from five years ago blow me away), I can’t get over how much I don’t see a resemblance to my current self at all. Not even in the least bit. It’s odd really; to see a photo of yourself and feel like you are looking at a stranger.
It’s taken some time, it’s taken some courage, and it’s taken some grieving and struggling. More than anything else though, it’s taken love to be here now.
Self-love, unconditional love, tough love … you name it, it all dissolves into love.
And in this moment, on the eve of the New Moon, just before Pluto goes into Retrograde and lines up with the Ascendent (the cusp of my 1st and 12th house), I am in awe of my life. I am in complete reverence for the magic and the shifts in my awareness. From where I stand right now, I remember so vividly, as if it were yesterday, when that alchemical shift started inside my heart. I knew there was more to life … so much more but my body was so tight and so stagnate and so … congested with fear, doubt and worry that I couldn’t get to it. It was so dense and scattered really.
My physical body needed to catch up to my spiritual body and it was having one helluva time. It’s like my spirit was on a jet plane and my poor body was still be pulled by horse and carriage … and it was carrying all of my old ancestral patterns with it.
The cry to shift was so subtle, but came up consistently in Eka Pada Rajakapotasana. I struggled and literally cried every time I would enter it. It was a cry that got louder in Ustrasana. My yoga practice was the beginning of my alchemical shift that has brought me here; and it’s what keeps me shifting every single day.
We are not stagnate beings, in fact, we are 75% water … we are supposed to shift and change … A LOT! And that can be really scary for a lot of people! I mean, what would we do if things were different when we woke up in the morning! EEEK!
And what’s really cool, when I look back just two years, and then five years, the change in my personal life hasn’t shifted immediately. I remember thinking it would. I remember assuming that if I simply stated that I was ready for a change, well then it would happen exactly when I wanted and how I wanted it to work out.
Yeah, not so much.
It happened just like the books say … in a time-lapse, slow-motion crazy sort of way that is different every time you look back at the unfolding of it all. Because that’s how it works, it isn’t up to you. The only thing that is up to you is the willingness to shift and expand.
For real.
It’s a willingness to see magic, believe in your path, and trust in the unknown. It’s a vulnerability to love and a readiness to create a grandiose life outside of your own imagination!
I remember, when I was 21 years old, I said I wanted to write a book about how you live your life in chapters. And how they are always leading you to the next one and the next one and the next one. I haven’t written that book just yet, but I sure am living it. The odd thing is … every chapter ends in love and begins with wonder.
It’s tough to see what or who we will become – how we will change as a result of our actions.
I remember my early days with yoga and how sore my wrists used to feel in downward facing dog – how it was a struggle to be there for more than a few seconds. The instructor said it would eventually get easier, that my wrists would get used to it and that I would one day appreciate it as a resting place. Hah! I thought, I couldn’t even imagine that. Then, one day, several months later, I was feeling worn out during a particularly difficult flow sequence and I found myself looking forward to down dog, a rest. I’d reached a point in my practice that I thought would never happen!
I was reading a fellow yoga blogger who was talking about how yoga teaches us to believe in what we cannot see or perceive. If we have been practicing yoga for any length of time we can now see how our bodies have changed, adjusted to the consistent actions we take on the mat. Over the course of a few months, we notice how we’ve become stronger. We move with more fluidity, we can hold challenging poses longer. we can stretch beyond our former limits, maybe touch our toes in forward fold.
When was the last time you stopped to acknowledge how far you’ve come?
We don’t always acknowledge that what was once impossible for us, is now possible.But we should because honoring that gives us the mental power to apply that awareness to other areas of our lives where we find ourselves facing what we think are impossible challenges. When we can’t see ourselves any differently.
The fact that our physical form can and does change if we believe it will is an amazing teacher for our life and our ability to believe in things we can’t see for ourselves. This reminder comes at a very important moment in my blogging career. I would have never thought a year ago, when I opened my WordPress account that I could have written 100 blog posts. That’s a lot of writing for no reason other than a desire to share ideas and maybe help someone else facing similar challenges. When I started, I didn’t think about the number “100.” If I had, that might have stopped me. I just thought, keep going. Write another, and then another. I kept the idea of “what’s next” for the blog in my mind at all times and the ideas for it came to me on a regular basis. All I had to do was sit down at the computer and write them up, one at a time. It’s been a year and 100 blog posts later. I have come to rely on it as an enjoyable place to rest, to sift and filter thoughts about life and goals and making dreams come true.
And that is how the impossible becomes possible – by implementation of a tried and true formula: Consistent Action in a Singular Direction.
Transformation is a quiet, and somewhat slow process. The work of change happens from the inside out. The more often we show up, the quicker changes happen – once a week, three times a week, or every day actions are going to produce results at a different rate. The more you believe in your ability to grow and change and attain your dreams, the more often you will show up and the faster it will happen. That’s just the way it works.
By Tracy Martin
Tracy is a dancer, writer, runner, yogi, and lover of adventures large and small. Breaking through barriers, building bridges and basking in the glow of life's fabulousness. Meeting other fabulous people on the way and telling stories to share the good news that the Universe is indeed All Good! Visit Tracy at http://soulsetinmotion.wordpress.com/
Crocodile
What is Crocodile? Crocodile is a restorative body posture that uses props rather than muscle engagement to support the body and maintain the posture, allowing the body to relax fully.
How does it help me? Crocodile is a very grounding posture, meaning the body and mind will feel anchored and connected to the present moment rather than scattered and/or anxious. It is very calming and relaxing.
What do I need? • A bolster (or folded up blanket or pillow) • A yoga block*
How do I do it? • Lie face down on your belly, placing yoga bolster (or folded blanket) under your ribcage. • Place a yoga block under your forehead. • Relax your arms and legs completely, allowing the body to be fully supported by the props and the floor. • Breathe deeply, feeling the belly expand and release against the floor. • Allow yourself to be heavy, imagine sinking deeper into the floor with each exhale. • Stay in this deeply relaxing posture for 5-10 minutes.
*Tip: If you do not have a block you can stack your hands or fists on top of one another and rest your forehead on the top hand/fist.
By Lisa Roberts
Lisa Roberts E-RYT 200, RCYT, and Certified Children's Yoga Therapist, has worked in the pediatric wellness field since 2006. The founder and director of YoYo Yoga Therapy (www.yoyoyogatherapy.com) she works with individual clients and small groups on a regular basis, and teaches at a variety of family and youth support centers in the Saint Louis area including a major children’s hospital where she founded the yoga therapy program offering yoga, meditation and relaxation to patients, patient siblings, parents/families and staff. Lisa also offers professional trainings on Kids Adaptive Yoga for professionals who work with children. She is the author of Breathe, Chill - A Handy Book of Games and Techniques Introducing Breathing, Relaxation and Meditation to Kids and Teens.
Chances are good that you didn’t like it because it was either so overcooked that it was soggy or it was served raw with no flavour.
This recipe is so simple that a kid can do it and is better than any broccoli side dish at a restaurant. In fact, when I say so simple a kid can do it, my 11 year old son who aspires to own a healthy food-truck made and created this recipe for my lunch one day and it takes only five minutes and five ingredients.
Tasty Sautéed Broccoli
Ingredients 2 cups fresh broccoli florets 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp sea salt Pinch of red pepper flakes
Directions Cut the broccoli florets into smaller pieces so they cook quickly. Typically each large floret is cut into two to three pieces. In a large sauté pan over medium to medium-high heat, warm the olive oil and then add the broccoli, garlic, sea salt and red pepper flakes. Turning periodically for about five minutes or less. Broccoli should still have a firm texture and be bright green, but be soft enough to enjoy.
By Jessica Wyman
Jessica Wyman is a Certified Nutrition Coach and Yoga Teacher at Jessica-Wyman.com. She has authored two books available on Amazon, Finding Your Foxy and Girlfriends Organic Kitchen.
She believes that women are created by everything they eat, drink, breathe and believe and that concept is the cornerstone of the Wildly Nourished programs she co-created. As a clean eating foodie and wellness maven, she teaches healthy living without the complicated rituals by focusing on simple ingredients to create your ideal life (and meals).
Join Jessica’s FREE 5-day lifestyle program at Jessica-Wyman.com
Connect with Jessica at:
Facebook: facebook.com/jessicawymanwellness Instagram: Instagram.com/wymanjessica Twitter: twitter.com/wymanjessica Pinterest: pinterest.com/jessicafwyman
Judgement of others and self judgement. It keeps us organized and civil. It keeps us going. It keeps us chasing the milestones like mice and cheese. Car, graduation, celebration, engagement, wedding, first home, first car, first car payment, first child, graduation, celebration...
Surrounded by people in a busy coffee shop I sit and observe. Fueling my curiosity. Quietly trying to make eye contact with as many people as possible. Why do we pass others with our heads down? For fear of connecting with another person? Fear of what, awkward eye contact? The moment passes, you nod, they nod, they walk away. We forget the encounter a moment later.
Judgement fills our active brain space. What if they see me? What if they see through me? We are fearful of exposing the carefully pieced together mask that we present the world. Not a sequin out of place, not one misshapen eyelet.
I am a student, I am a mother to one and grandmother to three, I am wealthy, I am a doctor, I am a high school athlete and belong at this table not that one, I fought in the war. This is how we define ourselves.
When we meet each other the first question we ask is, what do you do? We base the value of others on their occupation. You have one answer to make it in the club. One answer to make me trust you.
The result of our frustration is being categorized so quickly by another person. We are more than our occupation, we are more than our family name, we are more than the countries we have visited, or the events of our past.
What is holding you back from living your bliss?
We are infinitely great and are capable of creating endless possibilities for ourselves. We are capable of choosing contentment.
The only person holding you back is you.
The only thing that is holding you back is how you define yourself.
By Cicily Amrita
A life-long athlete, Cicily was introduced to the practice of yoga at a very young age. When she was eight years old, her grandmother began teaching at a small yoga studio in Grand Junction, Colorado. She practiced yoga and varsity dance in high school but did not begin to experience the power of a consistent practice until she left the nest and became a daily practitioner. She has been an avid student of yoga for over 10 years. http://www.cicilyamritayoga.com/
Cucumber Radish Salad!
Nothing says spring to me quite like radishes do. They’re always the first to pop up in our garden at home, signaling the tasty beginning of the bountiful harvest ahead.
Radishes could be the perfect Spring Cleanse food. Known for cleansing the liver, radishes help improve digestion and prevent constipation. Radishes are also a great source of vitamin C, fiber and potassium.
Enjoy this crunchy, creamy salad chilled on a hot afternoon. It’s hydrating, fresh and delicious!
What’s on your Spring Cleanse menu? I’d love to hear from you, so please leave me a comment below.
With love and spicy radishes,
Cucumber Radish Salad
Yield: 2 Servings
Ingredients:
2 cups cucumber, skins on, diced 1 cup radish, diced 1 avocado, diced ¼ cup fresh herb of choice (cilantro, dill, mint or parsley would be delicious) 2 TB lime or lemon juice 1 TB apple cider vinegar 2 TB olive oil Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions: In a large bowl, toss together cucumber, radish, avocado, herbs, lime juice, vinegar, olive oil until well combined. Avocado should become creamy but still chunky. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes before serving.
I recently had one of those weeks myself, when my car (in the middle of winter here) began to leak antifreeze and overheat. I borrowed a vehicle from my brother until I could get my car repaired and while I had his car, backed it into another woman’s car in a dark parking lot (yeah, her car was black –didn’t even see it).
This is okay, I think, I have insurance, but as it turns out, my insurance says they won't cover the accident because I was driving someone else’s car. I will have to claim the accident on my brother’s insurance (something I'm not willing to do).
So we’re off to get estimates for the damage (to both cars) and I find out that my fifteen-year-old car has a leaking water pump. With 212,000 miles on it, I decide the repair is too costly for such an old car with a limited lifespan, to say the least. I will just have to get something newer to drive. I start looking online for a possible replacement, but without knowing the cost of the repairs on the other two cars, I can’t even think about buying a new car. Suddenly, I feel stuck. One part of me wants to just push through the situation, to make everything right, but I can't. I just can't do it.
I like to compare these challenging times to the yoga posture, pigeon pose - let’s take that idea a step further, sleeping pigeon pose (the forward fold version). If you have a yoga instructor like mine, she’ll want keep you there deep in pigeon, folded for two full minutes which seems like an eternity with your chest and shoulders shaking as they hover just above your knee, your hip on fire, fighting to get free from the bind.
And if you’re REALLY lucky while you are there, with your hip flexor, hamstring, knee and glutes stretched to the limit, she will remind you, that when things get tough, force will never work. If we push or force the posture we will wind up hurting ourselves. The only real way through the pain is to release and allow. We can even back off a little if we need to. When we can take a deep breath and let go, even just a little, we make room or space for something new. We let go of the things that are binding us and we find a tiny bit more freedom.
At the very least, when we can let go, surrender to the sensations and not judge them (or ourselves) one way or another, we can relax enough to open our eyes and see that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We remember that we have been here before (or someplace similar) and we came out of the situation with renewed ability to handle stress without breaking.
I don’t know why we experience times like this in our life, but what I do know is that although they can seem pretty overwhelming, they do pass and life eventually returns to something like normal. What we can do to help is examine our judgements about our circumstance, release our expectations and allow the Universe to help us solve our troubles. Deep breathing can help too.
Blooming Flower Breath
What is Blooming Flower Breath? Blooming Flower Breath encourages our mind and body to experience the freshness, peace and serenity of a garden in full bloom on a gorgeous spring day.
How does it help me? Tapping in to our senses we visualize our hands as a beautiful blooming flower encouraging a sense of relaxation. Building on this visualization we deepen the experience and sense of relaxation by introducing slow, even inhales and exhales to calm and relax the body and mind. The gentle hand movements provide a beneficial stretch for our — often over-worked and over-looked — very busy hands and fingers.
Ever heard the expression, “Slow down and smell the roses”? Well, here’s your opportunity to do so any time you need to:
How do I do it? • Begin in a comfortable seated position. • Bring hands in front of your torso and hook the thumbs together, spread your fingers wide – this is your flower in full bloom! • Keeping the thumbs hooked together, gently close the fingers and fingertips to touch – this is your flowing closed in a bud. • Gently lift your bud to your nose and take a deep, long slow inhale – taking in the scent of your flower. • Spread the fingers wide, allowing your flower to bloom and gently exhale, blowing the air on your flower’s petals. • Really enjoy the color, shape, scent and bloom of your flower as you continue this exercise for several rounds.
Because not believing in magic means that you have an “equation” that works out every single time, for every single thing. It also means that you can control everything about everything and that it’s all black and white.
I don’t know…there seems to be something wrong with that.
I’m living in vibrant color these days and it’s flippin’ magical! I say things and they appear, give or take a day or two. I feel something, and it manifests. I have to be really, really careful with my thoughts these days. Truth!
Here’s the deal that brought me to magic…
The stars, the planets, the cosmos, none of us know exactly how they got here right? I mean for sure, for sure. You don’t know right? If you do, please tell me! Do you have it on video?
And, we don’t get to control the way they all move up there in the Universe as far as I’m aware. And what about the whole “energy of the Moon”, I mean, it creates the waves on the Earth! That’s kinda crazy isn’t it?
And how about your own body? You know, the one you walk around in all day, every day? Do you wake up and turn your systems on and make sure everything is working according to your plan? No… I didn’t think so. It just does it’s thing … even while you’re sleeping!
I’m mesmerized by that!
I still remember looking at my daughter, at 2:00am when she was 5 days old. She was crying and crying, screaming really. And I held her on my lap and looked down her throat and thought, “Wow, I grew that in my belly.” Astounding.
That’s magic.
Our body and how it moves, and how the brain functions … to me, magic. And I know doctors have scientific answers for everything but I say, yeah, whatever. There has to be some magic in there somewhere. You can’t know it all, you just cannot!
And what about synchronicities? Or unexpected events? Or what about love? Have you ever met your soulmate? Or your twin flame? Have you ever met someone and instantly felt connected to them, like you had met them before? Or had such chemistry the moment you laid eyes on them? Have you ever been so connected to your dreams that you woke up and that dream manifested within a day, a week, a month?
I mean … just take a look at the picture I chose for this blog. It’s by Android Jones and it’s called Union. It’s my all time favorite painting… ever. How did he do that? How did he paint that? It came to him and he did it. About his own art he says, “If I could distill into words exactly what motivates me to create the art that I make than it would not be worth making it. Instead I have chosen the Pen.” Magic.
I think our society discounts magic too much. I think we think too much and rationalize too much and put things in categories and label everything so it “makes sense.”
Magic doesn’t make sense. It just is and it just happens.
We can’t plan everything … you don’t WANT to plan everything! At least I don’t.
I want to take care of what I need to take care of, make sure my bills get paid, my kids get where they need to get to (which is magic on some days) and I skillfully continue to find passion in my “work” until the day I pass.
In between all of that I am open to the magic of it all. I am open to looking at my lover in the eyes and knowing our meeting was magic. I’m open to staring at the ocean and contemplating all its majestic unknown rhythms. I am open to enjoying all Hindu or Greek mythology stories without needing some proof that it’s true. And I’m open to loving the magic of life unfolding before my eyes.
It’s way more fun that way don’tcha think?
I’ve tried to listen to purposeful calming meditative music. The music became so banal its effect worn as quickly as that first jolt of morning coffee. Online discoveries of melodious voices male or female attempting to talk me through stages of quietude reminded me of a priest's last rites droning on to the dying. My mind wandered wondering if the voices were always so relaxing and calm. Did they every yell for a child to “move it” or everyone would be late for school or at a spouse for – well for anything? Maybe their households and acquaintances are in trances around them. My pursuit to incorporate meditation into my life has gone so far as attending a week long Vispassana retreat of forced meditation. I dropped out on day 5.
Oh how I want the benefits of meditation. So, I defined what meditation is for me: a moment of quiet, inner peace and appreciation for life. Moment, ah ha! Moment isn’t just a time quotient but an image or situation that triggers my definition. Mourning doves or 2 turtle doves if you are a fan of the “12 Days of Christmas,” are my triggers. Mourning doves have a soulful coo, are monogamous and will perch on a bench or post in my backyard for the length of my attention span. When I see the pair I stop and listen or just watch. I’m meditating. My mind is quiet and aware simultaneously.
Find your momentary trigger for meditation.
By Karin Cooper
A great admirer and fan of committed people possessing the trifecta of health in mind, body and soul but am an admitted failure of all 3. A writer and college writing teacher. I focus my students on incorporating habits into their writing process and life.
Through research I learned that when blackberries overripe they mold and grow a fungus which affects the whole plant. In other words, when not picked berries harden and affect their neighbors. I can’t help but think about this on a personal level. When we stifle our hurts, don’t move toward opportunities, become afraid of change, or cling tightly onto the past, we can become hard but more importantly we don’t grow our “fruit.” When the blackberry is not picked, the bush does not fruit. When we do not move forward, we close up. Similar to how fungi on overripe berries infect the entire plant, our attachment to past experiences can limit our capacity to grow in subtle but vital ways. Some yogi belief suggests we are made up of seven energetic levels, each vibrating at a different frequency. Our physical body is the lowest vibration and visible to everyone. Although we may not be witness to the remaining six layers, they are always functioning and always affecting each other. For instance, our emotional body, the second level, often is reflected in our physical body. When in a state of joy, our skin is flush, eyes bright, and our whole being radiates. When depressed our skin is ragged, hair greasy, and sometimes we physically feel pain in our muscles and bones. Many of us are afraid of feeling or expressing emotional pain. We avoid confronting others and ourselves because we don’t want to experience hurt. But, we must feel, and we must let go in order to move on and flourish to our full potential. Just as we are to acknowledge our pains, sorrows, and losses, we must also release joys and successes. To fixate on a past love, past success or glory can be so fun at times, but sometimes we attach ourselves to shining moments and therefore dim everything else in comparison. When we do this, we dishonor the present and no longer see the amazing gifts in our life. This often occurs in relationships. We can cling to the good times, unable or unwilling to see how both people are unhappy. Or we move on from the relationship and compare everyone we meet, every new experience against the past relationship, thus making us unable to forge new bonds. When we refuse to let go, we only hurt ourselves.
We all know that change is inevitable yet so many of us resist any form of transformation. Yet, when we don’t allow ourselves to evolve, like the overripe blackberry, we shrivel up. We harden and do not fully develop into our majestic self. Take time in your yoga practice, in your meditation, and in your day to day life, to feel and experience your natural rhythms and let go of the past. By releasing the old baggage that weighs you down, you will find yourself lighter, happier, and more apt to enjoy the fruits of life.
By Kimi Marin
Kimi has a master’s degree in literature and loves to combine the power of stories with yoga. Her Yogic Lore workshops are a fun combination of stories, asana, meditation, and mantra. Kimi was featured in Origin Magazine’s Inspire Series and was the featured ambassador for Ahnu Footwear June 2013. Visit www.kimimarinyoga.com
Much like a coal miner coming out of the cave they work in, the light looks brighter – shockingly so – when we emerge. The air smells fresher. The sounds sing sweeter.” – says Chani Nichols about my Leo path. Ah… I’m not sure she realizes just how spot on she is with this.
You see … About 6 years ago I decided to leave a life that was seemingly so stable and lovely and secure. From the outside it was beautiful and perfect. But inside I knew I was dying. And as I look back from an even deeper place, I know now, there wasn’t anything wrong with my life; I just wasn’t being true to myself. I had hidden myself behind so much and I knew I couldn’t shine until I faced it all.
I knew I had to leave, but there was so much preparation that had to happen. I slipped into an underground survival mode and went to work. I stashed money away, worked my ass off, and prayed every day. I prayed for forgiveness, for clarity, for protection, for grace, and for truth. But most of all, for freedom.
Freedom from my pain, my past, my hurt and the lies I told myself about what my life was supposed to be. I had put myself in a safe little box but my light was not shining … at least I didn’t feel it. People around me could see it, but my heart was so clouded by my past, I just couldn’t see it. And I didn’t feel safe to share it completely. There was healing to be done and it couldn’t happen in the space I was in.
I knew I had to leave in 2009 but spent an entire year planning and praying. Then, in 2010 I traveled to Squaw Valley with two very dear friends and on our way back to the NW, I told them I would be leaving my current life. I was gifted this beautiful bracelet that I have worn every single day since.
In 2011 my life completely unraveled and I was scared shitless. The noise outside of my head was so loud and it was an effort to block it out, listening to only my heart. I realized that this underground journey had only just begun. Through fear, guilt, shame, rage, grief, judgment, ridicule and projection, I kept walking, kept yoga-ing, kept praying, and kept diving in deep.
Only 11 months into the first transition, in 2012 I was offered an opportunity to change my life even more and I took it. It would change things drastically and force me to step out onto a huge ledge. The ledge I stood on was this:
You are going to be alone – this is your path.You must be self-sustaining – you cannot rely on anyone for help. You must leave your two daughters for an indefinite period of time.
I could stand on the edge of those fears and peer over the side or I could leap. Heart wrenching; still brings tears to my eyes when I think of it. But the BIG DREAM required BIG RISK so I leaped. And keep in mind, big risk is just that, it’s a risk; there are no guarantees. And let me be clear; the BIG DREAM had nothing to do with fame or fortune … only freedom.
Truth, freedom and love. Period.
My move wasn’t all roses and chocolate. Nope. It involved being vulnerable, transparent and it involved hard work, and sleeping on lots of couches. It involved asking for help and kicking ass. It involved me looking at all of my dark stuff with truth and compassion. It involved setting boundaries that hurt and put me into a space of even more needed isolation. It involved losing my mind over my heart, big time. It involved leaving my soul mate whom I loved dearly. It involved crying alone and meditating a lot. It meant putting lots of miles on my car in the hopes to make a difference and an impact.
You see, when you leave it all, I mean all of it, and arrive with only what fits in your car, you start over. You believe, you trust, and you keep moving, and you keep loving. You keep praying, you keep yoga-ing, and you keep moving. There isn’t time for intimacy, or partnership, or doubting, or partying. There’s work to be done when you rebuild for the sake of a big dream.
The Guru Mantra, Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Ganesha and Shiva all became my consort. A far cry from the Catholic home I grew up in that’s for sure. But it worked! Quan Yin was my protector every single day. Live in compassion for it all.
In 2013 my lovely daughters moved back in with me. After nine months of being apart, nine months of traveling into the dark corners of my life, nine months of deep introspection, I emerged a lighter being. My heart was at ease. But still, work to be done, as always. Still somewhat underground.
In 2014 I could afford to take my kids to Palm Desest on vacation. I exhaled, finally. I stopped worrying about how I was going to pay for food, clothes and gas in my car. I could finally breathe a bit easier and didn’t grind my teeth at night. I stopped fighting about what I thought was fair or just and began falling into the space of flow instead.
This year… this year feels good. I am dreaming big. I see my light and I am moving swiftly into an even brighter light, which of course is scary, but so necessary.
We live in an apartment that is on the bottom floor of our building and faces the trees. We don’t get direct light but it’s beautiful. We just bought a little furniture set to sit out on the deck. My kids do their homework out there and argue over who can use the table. I have to get the other one now to match, so they both have one. I can do that. I have the resources.
I think of these words from the wise Chani Nichols,
“You are ending a recent and significant underground-type of journey but the good news is that it ends with Friday’s solar eclipse/new moon. Above ground you go!
Much like a coal miner coming out of the cave they work in, the light looks brighter – shockingly so – when we emerge. The air smells fresher. The sounds sing sweeter.”
every time I walk up three flights of steps and emerge from the beauty of my safe place, my apartment where I became self-sustaining, self-loving and at ease with growing. The words that permeate my heart when I emerge every, single morning is
“I am so ready to move up into the light.”
It’s time to dream bigger than you can imagine. Don’t plan it, just move into the light without fear, doubt of worry. It’s time.
My mat of choice is the Jade Fusion, it was an absolute game changer. Given that I have some of the boniest knees on the planet, I tried numerous mat and supplemental padding permutations. When I found the Fusion mat, my life changed. No more folding mats or setting up towels, I could just kneel and focus on the stretch, rather than counting the seconds until I could get back up.
This is not to say I think this is the right mat for everyone, it has some downside. First, it cost a small fortune by comparison to other mats. Second, it weighs as much as my cat, so lugging it around can be a burden. And, because of the extra density, it makes balance poses a bit more challenging. But to me, those are prices I am more than willing to pay.
My standard advice when buying a mat is look for density. There are some nice mats out there that won’t break the bank. If you have been practicing for a while and are ready to treat yourself to a premium mat, check out Jade and Manduka. I have a Manduka mat that I use at my office and it is really nice, not quite as dense as the Fusion, but a really good mat at about half the price.
There are good options at places like TJ Maxx and Target. Gaiam is probably best known, they have a premium line which I am seeing a lot of and people seem pleased with them. When looking at mats, try to find a minimum density of 5mm, you can generally tell by the size of the roll how dense the mat is, if it looks like a taquito, it is probably 3mm so move on.
Also, consider length. Standard length is 68” which is fine if you are 5’8 or shorter. If you are taller, there are longer mats available, you just may have to order them. For taller clients, I recommend they spend the extra few bucks for the 74” mat, it is a rarely regretted decision. Extra wide mats also exist, so don’t just buy the first thing you see, get what you need.
While there are plenty of mats which will serve you well out there, I have definite opinions about those big puffy “fitness mats.” Stay away from them. They are not designed for yoga, they have no grip, the ends roll up, and they condense to a tissue thin sheet when you press on them. I cannot tell you how many people have bought them thinking the puffiness will make them more comfortable, only to be disappointed and frustrated when they don’t work.
Bottom line when buying a mat, consider how often you practice, if it’s more than once a week, spend a little more for a premium mat. If you practice once a week or less, get yourself a nice quality 5mm from one of the mass retailers.
A final word of warning, if you float the idea of getting a mat as a present, be specific about the mat you want, otherwise the decision will be made on color and price and that does not always end well.
By Tara Kestner
Previously published on Next Level Yoga's Blog
Tara Kestner is a registered yoga instructor who specializes in working with athletes of all levels. She designs programs based on specific sport requirements and challenges. Utilizing the principle that strength plus flexibility equals power, her classes give athletes the tools they need to enhance their performance. Tara is the owner of Next Level Yoga, Ltd., in Toledo, Ohio.
Seriously! So many people are glued to their computers, iPhones, TVs ALL DAY LONG. They don’t even really know how to talk to each other anymore. Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and they say LOL or IDK? Really?? Actually laughing or saying ‘I don’t know’ doesn’t take more effort.
I’m probably a hypocrite for giving you this advice because I spend most of my day between my phone and my computer, doing work. Even Madeline knows that I spend a good chunk of my day on the ‘conkuter’. I am working, reaching out to clients, responding to emails and text messages, placing orders for my essential oil business. But I am not rotting my brain or my body on all the other crap.
I’m fired up about this because it seems like we Americans keep getting fatter and fatter, and lazier and lazier, and it scares me! Where are we going to be in 20 years if we’re all constantly glued to our technology? Like those people in the movie, Wall-e, who speak to the person next to them on a screen in front of them instead of turning their head, and can hardly walk when they get out of their chairs??!! We all need a technology and information detox. Here’s what I want you to do:
Turn off the news My husband makes fun of me for not knowing what’s going on, but the news is stupid. Do I REALLY need to know about the guy from 10 that just killed his whole family? Do I need to know about every car accident and murder that’s happened in the world? The news has become so sensationalized anyway, you never know if what they’re telling you is the truth. If something big is happening, I’ll hear about it. I’ll read it on Facebook or friends will tell me about it.
Turn off the TV Yes, Madeline watches movies, but they’re on her iPad. There’s just so much crap on TV, stuff that I don’t want her to see, stuff that I really don’t want to see either, it’s hardly worth turning it on. Reality shows are like a sociology experiment gone wrong - do I REALLY CARE if some goofball ‘survives’ on a desert island? Please - SURVIVE???!!! In 30 days on that show, they’ve still eaten more than the average person in India has. Gimme a break. Is THAT what you want to spend your time on?? Watching someone pretend they’re acting ‘natural’ while actually being scripted and directed to have a temper tantrum? Shouldn’t you be out walking or playing catch with your kid in the front yard? The only time I watch TV is for a few specific shows that I like to watch, as I’m winding down for the night. Other than that, the TV is off.
Turn off the computer Whether you’re in an office or working from home, it is so easy to spend the entire day sitting in front of a screen. Not only is it hard on your eyes, your brain is being constantly stimulated by the light. And if you’re following your Twitter or Facebook feed, you’re being over-stimulated by the constant influx of information. Whether you work for someone else or for yourself, force yourself to find a stopping point and then shut it off! Take a walk around the block, find a spin class to take, go read a book! Your Facebook feed will be there in the morning. I promise.
Turn off your phone I admit, I am one of those people that will leave my cell phone on the dinner table - and I will look at it while I’m eating with my family, if I don’t turn it off. Every time I get out of a workout or a class, anything that I can’t have my phone with me, I have to check my phone. All day long, I am answering texts, emails, phone calls. I get nervous and can’t sleep if I go to bed without responding to people who have contacted me. Yes. I know. I’m obsessed. That is why I HAVE to turn it off. I force to wait 30 minutes after I get up to check my phone - it gives me a little peace before my day really gets going. And when it’s time to put Madeline to bed, I turn it off for the night, to guarantee that she and the rest of my family have my undivided attention. Just… put the phone down and walk away from it! Cover it up with something if you really have to keep it out of sight to stay off it. Give it to your spouse! I bet they’ll help you forget where it is!!!
Take a wifi vacay It is amazing how relaxed you get when you don’t have any gadgets constantly going off in your face. A girl on my marketing team recently had a weekend at a cabin in the mountains, where there was no wifi or cell signal. It took hours for her ears to stop ringing and her eyes to adjust to natural light and she slept better than she had in months, without the constant bombardment of technology. But you don’t have to go to the mountains to get that peace. Just… shut everything off! Sure, your friends will miss you if you’re not there for every single post - won’t it be fun to catch up when the vacation is over?
Your body and mind deserve to unplug from the steady flow of information thanks to technology. Your family and friends deserve your undivided attention.
I’ve just given you some suggestions for how to do an information detox. How do you unplug?
This time of year we often feel the urge to tend to our gardens, our yards, our closets and our living spaces. It’s a natural and healthy result of being in sync with the seasons and the world around us. And it can be very therapeutic to do so. Just think of how good it feels to clean your house from top to bottom with the windows open and the fresh crisp air blowing in the sweet smell of springtime.
But how do we prepare the physical body for this big transition?
Just like the brown grass and weed-filled garden, our body needs tending to. We need to excavate the residue of winter and reset the body back to a “new normal.”
Are your insides in need of some spring-cleaning? Let’s find out!
Check out our list below to find out if you’re due for a tune up. If you answer yes to any of these symptoms, join us for our next live cleanse. You can get the details for the upcoming program here.
Regular and seasonal cleansing is foundational to vibrant health. It’s like planting seeds now for the season of harvest ahead.
Check out the list of signs below and then leave me a comment. How are you not feeling your best? Are you ready to ditch the heavy comfort foods and lighten up before summertime?
With love and springtime cleaning,
10 Signs You Need a Cleanse
1. I feel fatigued, lethargic or low energy a lot of the time. 2. I have trouble sleeping and/or I wake up not feeling rested. 3. I have brain fog and am unable to focus. 4. I have pain in my joints or recurring headaches. 5. I’m constipated and only go to the bathroom every couple of days at most. 6. I have a hard time releasing extra weight. 7. I have bags under my eyes and/or a puffy face. 8. I have acne or other skin conditions. 9. I have irregular mood swings and sometimes feel depressed. 10. I have regular indigestion, gas or bloating.
Did you answer YES to any of the symptoms above? Join us for the next live cleanse here.
After you sign up for the next cleanse, try a yoga class with Jo or Jules: