Blissful Body Yoga and Wellness

Embracing Vitality Through Yoga and Plant Healers in Your Garden

2014-04-28T14:39:00.000-04:00

This post is a bit of a follow up for the wonderful yogin who attended my Embracing Vitality, Yoga and Natural Medicine Making workshop last Saturday. We had a great morning of yoga, went on a garden walk, ate lunch in the sun, made infusions, decoctions and tincture and ended with a gentle, restorative yoga practice. I will be holding this and similar workshops in the future and I hope you will join us!

One of the energy cleansing and management techniques we did is the Four Thumps. Here is a great info graphic to serve as a reminder. Many thanks to Gwenn Bonnell for creating it.:

Yoga and Energy Work
http://www.tapintoheaven.com/charts/Four_Energy_Thumps_TIH.pdf

I hope you will continue to use the Ashvivi (horse) bandha, Ashvaranta (Precious Horse Mudra) and Horse Goddess pose as part of your daily yoga sadhana. After a workshop when you are feeling inspired is a GREAT time to start or rejuvenate your practice!

Herbal Healing
Here is a fun write up on one of our plant friends, Chickweed. Susun Weed is a preeminent herbalist and there is a wealth of info on her site:

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/May08/healingwise.htm

Some other sites with great info:
http://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/
http://www.matthewwoodherbs.com/Mattwood.html
http://blog.chestnutherbs.com/

http://7song.com/blog/

We barely touched on adaptogens, but they are so important for us in this bustling, busy world we live in. David Winston has a great book you will enjoy:

http://herbmentor.podbean.com/2013/10/07/david-winston-adaptogens/

Hope this gives you some more fun and food for thought on the path!

Love and light,

Teal Chimblo Fyrberg

Blissful Body Yoga

Blissful Body Yoga is located deep in the beauty and magick of the Appalachian mountains, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Mudras for Healing and Transformation by Joseph and Lilia Le Page, Book Review

2014-02-25T11:32:00.001-05:00

Mudras for Healing and Transformation [Kindle Edition]

Joseph Le Page (Author), Lilia Le Page (Author)

I love mudras. They are one of my earliest discoveries of yoga, dating back to my childhood when I would "play" with my hands. Bend them, press them together, make them soar like wings. I let my hands dance as the true expression of my anahata (heart) chakra that they are. As I grew into an artist, yoga teacher and healer, the magical emanations of energy from my hands became an even deeper part of my practice, and how I share healing with others.

The Kripalu tradition is part of my lineage as a yogi, and Swami Kripalu, like many yogis, was known to have eruptions of spontaneous mudras while deep in meditation. Mudras create powerful energetic "circuits" in our system on many levels, in all of our koshas (energetic sheaths.) They hold energy, heal, protect, enlighten and express.

Over the years I have learned mudras from my teachers, but many, many more have simply come through my hands in a natural way. This is the point I want most to share with you, that mudras, like all yoga, are already in you. All aspects of yoga will express themselves naturally if you allow them to, and take the time to be mindful and notice what is occurring. The more you do this, the more it will occur. In Kripalu yoga we use the acronym BRFWA (Breath, Relax, Feel, Watch, Allow) for the process which encourages meditative states to arise, which will in turn lead to many things including spontaneous asana and mudras experiences.

So, as always, got first to your own practice and explore with the wonder of a child.

But, then go and purchase this book. Mudras for Healing and Transformation by Joseph and Lilia Le Page of Integrative Yoga Therapy. This is by far the most extensive, well-research, clearly organized and beautiful book on yoga mudras I have ever seen. This book is clearly a labor of love and I can't imagine how long it must have taken for them to write it.

The book is organized into section for the different uses of mudras, some of which are: mudras for the koshas, chakras, vayus, health challenges, the 5 elements, protection and spiritual awakening.

Each mudra has a "quick reference guide" which not only outlines the steps for performing it, but the benefits, characteristics, core qualities and more.

Additionally, their are seven appendices in the back illustrating mudras for the main asanas, pranayama, chanting, therapy and other uses.

And the illustrations are really, really beautiful.

At 658 pages this is an incredible resource and it is very nice that it is now available as an ebook (on Amazon.com) so that you can take it with you without carrying an encyclopedia! However, the softcover version is also available through their website.

I give this book my highest rating. It is an absolutely must-have for any yoga teacher or serious student of yoga. Or anyone who simply loves mudras and their transformative power.

If you would like to learn more about how to incorporate mudras and mantras into your yoga practice, please join me in Asheville for my exciting new workshop Into the Mystic: Journey into the Mystery with Yoga, on March 5, 2014 and March 13, 2014.

Wishing you magick in your hands, and all that you do.

Love and light,
Teal Chimblo Fyrberg

Blissful Body Yoga is located deep in the beauty and magick of the Appalachian mountains, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Into the Mystic Yoga Workshops in Asheville

2014-02-17T14:43:00.000-05:00

Into the Mystic

Journey into the Mystery with Yoga

Come discover where a deep practice can lead you.

This gentle, meditative workshop will include:

Deep, long holds of asanas (postures),

Balancing pranayamas (breathing exercises),

Mystical mantras and mudras, and

Guided meditation.

Join us for a journey that will help you unlock greater clarity on your path, and a deeper bond between yourself and the Mystery.

Two workshops in March:

Wednesday, March 5, 9-11:00 AM

Thursday, March 13, 6-8:00 PM

Learn more and register today at

www. blissfulbodyyoga.com

10% of proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation®. Use this link donate to The Trailblaze Challenge. We will be walking 24.1 miles across the Western North Carolina mountains to help make wishes come true for children with life threatening illnesses!

Blissful Body Yoga is located deep in the beauty and magick of the Appalachian mountains, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Yoga for Strength and Endurance Workshops in Asheville

2014-02-17T14:38:00.002-05:00

Yoga for Strength and Endurance Workshop

with Teal Chimblo Fyrberg of Blissful Body Yoga, Asheville, North Carolina

Spring is just around the corner!

Come build functional strength and endurance for everything you do, with yoga!

This workshop will teach you how to:

Pratapana — stoke the sacred fire to warm and ready your body for activity.

Build Strength and Endurance — develop flexible, balanced strength in your body, and energy reserves that will see you through challenging activities and everyday life.

Rest and Rejuvenate — embrace constructive rest that will allow you to recover and be ready to come back to your activities joyful and refreshed.

Two workshops in March:

Monday, March 3, 6-8:15 PM

Wednesday, March 12, 9-11:15 AM

Learn more and register today at

www. blissfulbodyyoga.com

Blissful Body Yoga is located deep in the beauty and magick of the Appalachian mountains, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Handmade Organic Face and Body Cream Giveaway from Blissful Body Yoga

2014-02-12T16:03:00.004-05:00

Handmade Organic Face and Body Cream Giveaway from Blissful Body Yoga

Enter to win $113 worth of handmade organic face and body creams from Blissful Body Yoga's Healing Apothecary. You can see a selection of all the divine things we make at www.blissfulbodyyoga.com

Share and enter daily!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blissful Body Yoga is located deep in the beauty and magick of the Appalachian mountains, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Yoga for Strength and Endurance Workshops coming soon to Blissful Body Yoga

2014-02-07T14:17:00.002-05:00

I will be doing a series of these workshops February-May 2014.

Please sign up for our newsletter for times and places!

Yoga for Strength and Endurance

Spring is just around the corner!

Come build functional strength and endurance for everything you do, with yoga!

This workshop will teach you how to:

Pratapana — stoke the sacred fire to warm and ready your body for activity.

Build Strength and Endurance — develop flexible, balanced strength in your body, and energy reserves that will see you through challenging activities and everyday life.

Rest and Rejuvenate — embrace constructive rest that will allow you to recover and be ready to come back to your activities joyful and refreshed.

Multiple workshops coming up!

February- May 2014 (times TBA)

For more information join our newsletter today at www. blissfulbodyyoga.com

10% of proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation®

Instructor/Owner Teal Chimblo Fyrberg has been teaching yoga for over 15 years with love and passion. Blissful Body Yoga is located in Asheville, North Carolina. 704-837-7278

Blissful Body Yoga is located deep in the beauty and magick of the Appalachian mountains, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Simple Wishes: Love and Gratitude

2013-12-31T10:41:00.000-05:00

On this, the last day of 2013, I sit with my dog enjoying our morning ritual: cup of coffee and a book for me, warm rug and neck rub for him. It's a good way to start the day. There is love and gratitude in it.

As this year comes to a close there are two things that keep coming up again and again for me: love and gratitude. Truth be told, I'm always thinking about these things because my life is permeated, saturated – full to the brim with them both. And because, I've discovered a secret about them...

They are the secrets to life.

I read two things this morning. The first was 10 Things Wives Want to Hear From Their Husbands, and I cried with gratitude because somehow I managed to marry a man who says all those things to me, without prompting, and more. And you know what? I say them too, because my heart is always on fire with gratitude for our life together, because I see with total, searing clarity what I have and it is beautiful, whole and overflowing with love.

You can never say "thank you" too much. Never. Go say it to someone right now. Say it real, and say it deep, from the bottom of your soul where real gratitude lives.

"Thank you" is more than a simple statement of appreciation, it is pure magick...alchemy. It has the power to transform. If you doubt me, try turning to it in a situation where the very last thing you feel for someone or something is gratitude, and see what happens. It will turn your frown upside down.

There is a saying I love...

If the only prayer you ever said was, 'thank you,' it would be enough.

It's true. Thank you is a prayer, an affirmation and an offering on the altar of love. Say it more, and don't forget to say it to yourself.

Here is another one I love...

If not for love, then why?

No, it's not just a bumper sticker on my teacher's car, it's the one and only benchmark we need for everything we do in life. It's what mindfulness is all about. Because if we ask ourselves in every single moment of our lives, 'If not for love, then why?'...what happens? By asking ourselves that simple question we are holding ourselves to a higher standard, and that is the standard that keeps us unwaveringly on our Soul Path.

Try it. See what happens. Then say it more, and don't forget to say it to your children. Imagine what a human life could look like if that were its only measure of success from Day One. Imagine what our planet would look like.

The second thing I read this morning was, 21 Unexpected Ways to Say I Love You. #13 really got me. It says...

The gift of seeing someone. And naming what you see.

Have you ever experienced this? Really, truly being seen in your life? God, I hope you have. If you haven't you need to change the people you have in your life.

When someone sees you, they get you...for real. Hook, line and sinker....balls to bones, and they honor that. They aren't trying to make you into somebody your not, they aren't judging who you are. In a way it goes back to that thank you thing again. They are saying, "I see you, and who you are is glorious. Thank you for being you."

Recently my mum, for no good reason at all, sent me a package. Inside was a beautiful silver ring with the inscription...

Hear my soul speak.

When I asked her about it she said, "I just saw it and it reminded me of you and all the work you do with your art work, and yoga and everything." When I showed it to my good friend Jessica later that day she looked at it and said,

She sees you.

Yes, yes she does. And that makes all the difference in my life.

See someone in your life today– for real– and name what you see to them. Give them that precious gift. It will be a gift to yourself as well, because it will give you clarity and gratitude for how lucky you are to have them in your life. See people more, and name all the beauty that you see. And don't forget to see and name for yourself, because we dream the world around us into being with the words and actions we take towards ourselves. The world is simply a mirror reflection of how we see ourselves, and so as we love ourselves more all the love in the world grows.

Imagine all the people, living life in peace. – John Lennon

This Christmas was a bittersweet one for us. We spent it with my father-in-law who knows a thing or two about love and gratitude. He is mourning the loss of the love of his life who died earlier this year. They were together for 43 years and I know they not only made it that long, but thrived and grew in their life together because they were grateful for each other in every moment, and because they saw each other. They loved, respected and valued each other just the way they were. And even now in his loneliness and grief I know that that love and gratitude sustains him, because Death is a cheat, and cheaters never win. Nothing conquers love.

As usual, he gave us a Christmas card. Inside he wrote...

I feel that I should say something profound —

but my wish for you is simple...

I wish you love.

And that, is my wish for you.

Love and light,

Teal Marie Chimblo Fyrberg

31 December, 2013

Blissful Body Yoga is located deep in the beauty and magick of the Appalachian mountains, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Another Way The FDA is Trying to Kill Organic Farming

2013-11-21T10:10:00.000-05:00

Raspberries from my home garden. No chemicals. Lots of poop.

Buy local. Buy Organic. Grow your own food.

So this morning on NPR I hear a story about how the FDA is trying to impose major restrictions on organic farmers using manure on their crops because of health dangers.

WTF??????

Manure, something that is natural and has been used since the dawn of agriculture, is a bigger danger than Round Up, chemical fertilizers and all the other shit our food supply and planet is being subjected to???

Just another example of a government agency in the pocket of Big Ag and Pharm that has NONE of our interests at heart. Organic farmers already have safe guidelines for how they use manure...this is just another bullshit regulation aimed at undoing all the progress that is being made in going back to more natural ways of raising food.

Don't let them fool you. Support local farmers and organic farming. Vote with your dollars with every meal you eat.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/11/21/246386290/organic-farmers-bash-fda-restrictions-on-manure-use

To your good health,
Teal Chimblo Fyrberg

Blissful Body Yoga is located deep in the beauty and magick of the Appalachian mountains, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Beat the Flu Naturally The Wise Woman Way

2013-11-13T13:25:00.000-05:00

I have never had the flu shot...ever. I haven't had the flu in over 25 years. Not even when I was teaching over 1200 students a week in inner city schools in Houston. I focus on building my health, all the time, year round, and I don't depend on things that are proven to have very limited effectiveness and are full of mercury and the goddess knows what else.

If you are looking for alternatives to the flu shot and want to build your immune system overall, here are some nice suggestions from master herbalist Susun Weed:

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/November04/healingwise.htm

To your growing and glowing good health!
Teal Marie

Blissful Body Yoga is located deep in the beauty and magick of the Appalachian mountains, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Roasted Winter Vegetable Salad, Gluten Free

2013-11-13T13:09:00.001-05:00

Last weekend I went to a WONDERFUL workshop presented by Jude at Celtic Soul Craft. In addition to an amazing day of shamanic journeying, deep sharing with fantastic women and art making (we made ancestor holders) we also had a lovely potluck lunch. Everything was SO good, and gluten free was a big topic of discussion. Almost all the food was sans gluten.

The wonderful women liked my salad so I thought I would share it with you, as well as them. My amazing husband, Mike, made the cool design on the top with zucchini. He really is the perfect man... really.

You could use any roastable veggies in this...next time I will toss in a bit of sauteed kale as well. I feel all dishes should include kale:)

Roasted Winter Vegetable Salad

Ingredients
1 head of cauliflower, broken/chopped into bite size florets
1 smallish rutabaga, chopped
1 smallish celleriac, chopped
2 large parsnips, chopped
2 large carrots, chopped
1 red bell pepper
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tsps fresh ginger, chopped
salt, pepper, seasonings of your choice (I used some basil, thyme, paprika)
3-4 Tbs olive oil

Place above ingredients in a big and toss until all the veggies are coated, then place them all on two big sheet pans and roast in the oven for about 30-40 min. at 375 degrees (F).

2 zucchinis, peeled with a julienne peeler (so it looks like a pile of zucchini spaghetti.)

Dressing
(Good to make this a little ahead of time, even the night before for flavors to combine.)
Juice of 2 oranges + one lemon.
A little zest from the oranges and lemon
olive oil
1-2 tsp of mustard (we used out local Lusty Monk, made here in Asheville.)
1-2 tsp fresh ginger, chopped very fine
salt, pepper

Mix well - we put it in the blender for a few seconds.

Putting It All Together
Throw the roasted veggies back in the bowl and toss with the dressing.
Put the zucchini strings on the bottom of a large casserole dish, like a wee nest for the veggies.
Spoon the veggies on top.

If you have another zucchini or some other veggies you can make a design on top.

Enjoy and share the nourishment with your family and friends!

To your health!
Teal Marie

Blissful Body Yoga is located deep in the beauty and magick of the Appalachian mountains, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Review: The Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter

2013-10-20T20:57:00.000-04:00

The Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar--Your Brain's Silent Killers

About eight years ago my brother Christopher read a book called The Better Brain Book, by David Perlmutter, M.D. and immediately emailed our whole family and said, "You need to read this book." We did, and subsequently began to apply many of the ideas within it. Like many, we had already been touched by the suffering of family and friends stricken by the devastating effects of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, dementia, and Parkinson's Disease. We were interested in keeping our brains as healthy as possible.

Fast forward 8 years and Dr. Perlmutter has continued his exhaustive research into what makes our brains healthy, and what makes them sick, and has released a new book called The Grain Brain which outlines his most significant findings. They may be hard for many to receive, but I assure you if you read the book you will be compelled by the research and evidence he gives, and encouraged that the changes necessary to keep your brain healthy are both doable and enjoyable.

And this comes from some one who really, really loves bread. So I don't say that lightly. I'm Italian and Irish, we basically specialize in carbs.

A Bit About The Author
Before I tell you a little about what you will find in the book and my personal experiences with eliminating grains from my diet, I'd like to give you a little background on Dr. Perlmutter, M.D. F.A.C.N. He is a Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Nutrition. His treatment center, The Perlmutter Health Center in Naples, Florida, specializes in treating neurological disorders, but also many other illnesses. I love that he points out on his Web site that the word "doctor" comes from a Latin word meaning "teacher" and "one who gives people the knowledge they need to facilitate their own healing processes and achieve a state of well-being."

And if you follow my blog you know that I am all about empowerment. Read the book, do the research, make up your own mind.

Possibly as important as any of those qualifications is that his own father has Alzheimer's. So this is also very personal for him.

The book is such a deep resource that I feel it will take many posts for me to share even a fraction of the important things I have taken from it. So this post will serve as a start...stay tuned for more.

The premise of the book, as you may have surmised from the title, is that carbohydrates are killing our brains (a depressing thought for any bread and cake lover.) However, he immediately hits us with another revelation: FAT IS GOOD! Not only good, but precious brain food. And goes on to suggest modifications to our diet that leave us with plenty of rich, satisfying foods to eat. Gluten, is definitely not one of them, but there are ways to eliminate gluten from our diets and reduce our overall carbohydrate intake without eliminating all the foods we love. It just takes a little re-education and Dr. Perlmutter gives us a good start with recipes and resources on his site.

Here is some of the evidence he presents:

"As many as 40 percent of us can’t properly process gluten, and the remaining 60 percent could be in harm’s way but don’t even know it. The question we need to be asking ourselves: What if we’re all sensitive to gluten from the perspective of the brain? Unfortunately, gluten is found not only in wheat products but in the most unsuspecting products—from ice cream to hand cream. Increasing numbers of studies are confirming the link between gluten sensitivity and neurological dysfunction. This is true even for people who have no problems digesting gluten and who test negative for gluten sensitivity."

"Researchers have known for some time now that the cornerstone of all degenerative conditions, including brain disorders, is inflammation. But what they didn’t have documented until now are the instigators of that inflammation—the first missteps that prompt this deadly reaction. And what they are finding is that gluten, and a high carbohydrate diet for that matter, are among the most prominent stimulators of inflammatory pathways that reach the brain."

"The good news is that I’m going to show you how to control your genetic destiny
even if you were born with a natural tendency to develop a neurological challenge. This

will require that you free yourself from a few myths so many people continue to cling to.
The two biggest ones: 1) a low-fat, high-carb diet is good; 2) cholesterol is bad."

"Study after study shows that high cholesterol reduces your risk for brain disease and increases longevity. By the same token, high levels of dietary fat (the good kind, no trans fats here) have been proven to be key to health and peak brain function."

"We’ve known since the late 1970s that gluten breaks down in the stomach to become a mix of polypeptides that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Once they gain entry, they can then bind to the brain’s morphine receptor to produce a sensorial high. This is the same receptor to which opiate drugs bind and have their pleasurable, albeit addicting, effect. The original scientist who discovered this activity, Dr. Christine Zioudrou and her colleagues at the National Institutes of Health, named these brain-busting polypeptides exorphines, which is short for exogenous morphine-like compounds, distinguishing them from the body’s naturally produced pain killers called endorphins.

"Given what I just explained, is it any wonder that food manufacturers try to pack as much gluten into their products as possible? And is it any surprise to find so many people addicted to gluten-filled foods today—fanning the flames of not just inflammation but the obesity epidemic? I think not."

If that doesn't make you mad as hell...make you never want to eat another processed food in you life, it should. Companies poisoning us in the name of greed is something will all need to bring our awareness to, and grow that awareness into action.

Dr. Perlmutter goes on to say:

"But apart from gluten, there’s much more to the story of carbohydrates in general and their impact on brain health. Gluten isn’t the only villain. To shift your body’s biochemistry to one that burns fat (including the hardest kind that “never goes away”), tames inflammation, and prevents illness and mental dysfunction, you need to factor in another big piece of the equation: carbs versus fats. In this chapter, I’ll take you on a tour of why an extremely low-carb and high-fat diet is what your body fundamentally craves and needs. I’ll also explain why consuming excess carbohydrates—even those that don’t contain gluten—can be just as harmful as eating a gluten-laden diet."

And perhaps, for me, one of the most important quotes in the book:

"Ironically, ever since we “scientized” nutrition, our health states have declined. Decisions about what to eat and drink have gone from habits of culture and heritage to calculated choices based on shortsighted nutritional theories, with little consideration for how human beings reached modernity in the first place. And we can’t forget about all the commercial interest out there. Do you think the makers of high-carbohydrate breakfast cereals (read: the entire aisle in your grocery store devoted to boxed cereals) truly have your health in mind?"

We need to take back our health from companies that manufacture "food-like substances" and eat REAL, WHOLE FOOD — the right kinds, in the right amounts.

This hopeful quote also caught my eye:

"Some of my most remarkable case studies involve people transforming their lives and health through the total elimination of gluten from their diets and a new appreciation for fats instead of carbs. I’ve watched this single dietary shift end depression, relieve chronic fatigue, reverse type-2 diabetes, extinguish obsessive-compulsive behavior, and cure many neurological challenges from brain fog to bipolar disorder."

I'd also like to mention that as I write this Dr. Perlmutter is schedule to air in an episode of the Dr. Oz Show tomorrow October 21, 2013. So you can see a bit of him in person in that venue.

My Personal Experience
I am a yoga teacher, a runner, hiker, healthy eater...I have a 10 acre FARM for goodness sake. To say that eating healthy, whole foods is important to me would be a slight understatement. I was also either a vegetarian, or mostly so (meaning I only ate flesh foods a couple times a month) for most of my adult life.

But in recent years, adrenal exhaustion from years in stressful corporate jobs before I became a full time yoga teacher, and what I thought was a really healthy diet had taken it's toll. I was feeling exhausted all the time, brain foggy, I was gaining weight and in weird places...I just felt really poorly.

In October of 2012 I attended the Southeast Women's Herbal Conference in Black Mountain, NC and it was there that I became aware of herbals that could help heal my body and mind, and learned of the work of Sally Fallon and the Weston Price Foundation. I started eating a lot less carbs, and much more wholesome grass-fed beef and other meats, pastured eggs, butter and coconut oil. I started to feel better. I started to heal.

At the conference I met herbalist and acupuncturist Jessica Godino of Four Flames Healing, who is also one of the founders of my favorite herb company Red Moon Herbs. I knew this was the woman who could take me on the next steps of my journey of healing, and in May of 2013 I was able to begin treatments with her. After some lab work and a long patient history, the first things she suggested (beside acupuncture and certain herbs that I will discuss in a future post) was a fish oil supplement, and a diet very similar to what Dr. Perlmutter advocates called the Whole 30 Program. I did the program faithfully, which is low carb and gluten free, and lost 12 pounds (without increasing my already very active lifestyle), reshaped my body, and my energy went through the roof. The dark depressive cloud and fogginess I had been under lifted. It has been incredible and I have never looked back. The eating style outlined in Dr. Perlmutter's book is essentially the way I eat 95% of the time (common, nobody is perfect) and it has changed my life. I feel satiated after meals, I have stamina and don't feel plagued by huge energy fluctuations, and my mind feels clear and strong. I have the energy to pursue my Soul Purpose and lead a fulfilling life.

So, I implore you to have a look at the The Grain Brain. Give it a try and see what YOU feel. That has to be the real measure. Give it a month and see what the results are. What will it really cost you to try something for 30 days of your life? What could you possibly gain?

I want to leave you with a quote from another one of my favorite teachers and healers—doctor, midwife and herbalist extraordinaire, Aviva Romm, M.D. She recently stated that one of the most subversive acts we can all do is to eat healthy. Yes, subversive. Rebellious. It is the deepest form of sovereignty over your own destiny to eat whole foods that support your body, mind and spirit – and it is an act of rebellion and defiance against big food manufacturing companies, "Big Ag" and "Big Pharm" which are all, by the way, virtually one in the same. Every time you make a meal, you can say I am mad as hell and I am not taking it any more. I will not let you poison my body, my family and my planet. That is empowerment, and that will create lasting change on this planet.

Sat Nam. Hari Om.

With love and light,
Teal Chimblo Fyrberg

Blissful Body Yoga is located deep in the beauty and magick of the Appalachian mountains, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Woof! Help us raise money for Brother Wolf Animal Rescue with Run for the Paws!

2013-04-03T13:22:00.000-04:00

Help Mike, Bhakti the Devoted One (our super rescue pup) and I raise money for the wonderful Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, North Carolina.

This Sunday, April 7, 2013 is their Run for the Paws 5k Run/ 1 Mile Walk and it's not too late to participate and donate!

Please help any way you can by donating on our fundraising page.

Brother Wolf helps save the lives of thousands of animals every year. They are wonderful loving people and need your support.

Woof Woof! Bhakti the Devoted One (our rescue pup) says, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS! You did a beautiful thing today by helping a lonely animal on it's path to health and love. Thank you for being a giving human being and helping to make our planet a better place to live.

You can learn more about Brother Wolf Animal Rescue here http://www.bwar.org/. Remember to spay and neuter your pets, and please consider adopting from a shelter. Hundreds of thousands of animals are gased to death every year...they need loving homes. There are lots of breed rescues out there if you like a particular breed:-)

Namaste with Love, Teal

Book Giveaway! Core of the Yoga Sutras by B.K.S. Iyengar

2013-01-29T13:26:00.002-05:00

Core of the Yoga Sutras: The Definitive Guide to the Yoga Sutras Giveaway!

Today is a happy day for anyone who is a lover of Iyengar yoga, and the teachings of its founder B.K.S. Iyengar. Harper Collins has just released Guruji's new book, Core of the Yoga Sutras: The Definitive Guide to the Philosophy of Yoga, and I am delighted to announce I am hosting a giveaway for one copy of the book on my blog!

First a little information on this insightful work from one of our great yoga masters.

From the press release:

Iyengar has devoted his life to the practice and study of yoga. It was Iyengar’s unique teaching style, bringing precision and clarity to the practice, as well as a mindset of “Yoga for all,” that has made it into a worldwide phenomenon. Iyengar, who turned 94 in December last year, and calls this his “last major work in this lifetime.”

In Core of the Yoga Sutras, he applies the philosophical core of yoga–the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. These are 196 aphorisms forming the foundational text of yoga philosophy. Each sutra is presented as Sanskrit text, transliteration and English translation, followed by Iyengar’s unique commentary and authority only he can bring to the work. This is a wonderful introduction to the spiritual philosophy that is the foundation of yoga practice, and we are excited to share this wonderful new title with you. To view an excerpt of this title, please click here <http://www.scribd.com/doc/120672906/Core-of-the-Yoga-Sutras> .

I recommend you visit the link above. A glance at the Table of Contents alone will give you an indication how important this work will be to the study of yoga.

Iyengar yoga and the teachings of B.K.S. have been transformational in my own life. His teachings transmitted through excellent teachers such as Phyllis Rollins, Mary Reilly, Ramanand Patel and Aadil Palkhivala have brought so much clarity to my practice and saved me from years of frustration and injuries. These teachings have also informed and expanded my knowledge as a teacher, to the great benefit of my own students.

For the wisdom of Mr. Iyengar and for all of these teachers I am eternally grateful. Namaste.

To enter my giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the book, just follow the steps below. You may enter every day. Bon chance!

Great thanks to Harper Collins for providing the giveaway copy. You can LIKE them and see their Tweets and info on this title and many more at:

https://www.facebook.com/HarperCollins360

https://twitter.com/Harper360

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Group in McAdenville, North Carolina

2013-01-14T15:40:00.000-05:00

Learn more about Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, here.

Do you fill your day with one overwhelming experience after another, just to try to get through what has become a life out of control?

You don't need another overwhelming experience. You need a shift from a life out of control to a Life in Transition.

This 8-week Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy (PRYT) pilot group will give you time to slow down, show you how to regain clarity, support you to reconnect to yourself, and provide a sense of hope.

The result? Your life becomes a life you can guide throughout your transition.

The group will meet every Wednesday, 6pm - 8:30pm from January 30th to March 20, 2013 at the Pharr/McAdenville YMCA ballroom. Participants will also participate in a one-day group retreat to be held on February 23, 2013 from 9am to 5pm.

The group will be facilitated by Allison Roberts Miller, LMSW, RYT and Certified Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Practitioner. The cost of the group is $150.00. Register now with an email to arobertsmiller@yahoo.com.

Home For Sale: 341 Dublin Court, Gastonia, NC 28054

2013-01-14T14:27:00.000-05:00

It's official! Our house in Gastonia, North Carolina (25 minutes West of Charlotte) went on the market last Thursday, and we have already had 6 showings so it will sell FAST!

Those of you who have visited us know how lovely it is. Please pass on to those you know are looking for a beautiful, home with a huge zen garden:-)

It's going to be really hard for me to leave, it has been such a happy place for us.

The listing...

http://www.trulia.com/property/1081465352-341-Dublin-Ct-Gastonia-NC-28054

It's The End of the World As We Know It, and I Feel Fine!

2012-12-21T11:22:00.001-05:00

It's the end of the world as we know it...and I feel fine!

Well, here we are! The world didn't end!

Or...did it?

You know what the Mayans were talking about, right? Not a cataclysm... not a bang, nor a whisper. They were talking about the dawn of a new era in our spiritual evolution.

In yoga we cultivate an awareness that we are always dying and being reborn in every moment. That when we tune in and embrace everything as it is and live fully in the present we are really and truly alive.

We are AWAKE.

So...take in a deep breath

get out there

and

in there

a part

of the

shift

and let this moment

and

this next

and the one

after

the first of the rest of

your life.

Wishing you a day of new beginnings

and

great joy and peace always.

Download your solstice celebration ritual at GoddessDownload.com

The Body Is My Temple, Asanas Are My Prayers, BKS Iyengar

2012-09-11T14:51:00.002-04:00

Some inspiration for you from one of the greatest yogis ever. BKS Iyengar still alive and well in his 90s. Still teaching and inspiring. Enjoy!

Heal your heart with guided meditations from Teal Marie Chimblo Fyrberg and Blissful Body Yoga. Download yours and begin your journey today.

Join us at Blissful Body Yoga in Gastonia, North Carolina for Mandalas: A Creative Journey Into Stillness.

If you love yoga and art and want to learn more about ancient forms of deep meditation, this is the workshop for you. In this 2.5 hr workshop you will learn about the history of mandalas and their use as a meditative tool for thousands of years. You will create your own mandala based on what you want to manifest in your life right now (mandalas are a tool for transformation!) We will share our creations and experiences, and then use our mandalas in seated meditation. Space is limited so reserve your spot today! September 18, 2012: AM and PM sessions.

Remembering and Healing on September 11.

2012-09-11T10:24:00.000-04:00

As we remember today fill your heart with love, spread loving kindness wherever you go.

Remember with love in your heart, but don't spend time watching those awful videos again and again. We all remember what happened, we do not need to traumatize ourselves again and again to honor the living or the dead.

Instead, spend your time today doing something to heal our planet. Look into your own heart and find the places that are hardened by anger, hatred and fear, and soften them with love. Reach out with tenderness to yourself and others. Sing and chant for peace in whatever tradition you follow. Do a Fire Ceremony to release all that is not serving you and replace it with radical acceptance and love.

Imagine.

Today is a wonderful day to begin a Metta Meditation practice.

Start by offering this energy to yourself, and then begin extending it to others:

May I be happy. May I be well. May I be safe. May I be peaceful and at ease.

May you be happy. May you be well. May you be safe. May you be peaceful and at ease.

May All Beings Be Happy,May All Beings Be Free from Suffering.

Om shanti, peace to you all.

Heal your heart with guided meditations from Teal Marie Chimblo Fyrberg and Blissful Body Yoga. Download yours and begin your journey today.

Join us at Blissful Body Yoga in Gastonia, North Carolina for Mandalas: A Creative Journey Into Stillness.

Blue Moon and Double Dragon Moon- August 31, 2012

2012-08-31T11:51:00.000-04:00

Blue Moon and Double Dragon Moon- August 31, 2012 an opportunity for personal and planetary transformation!

Today is a wonderful day! A fantastic opportunity for each of us to transform our wounds, our ancient stories of sorrow and pain, our feelings of victimhood into FREEEEDOOOOOM!

Today, August 31, 2012 at 6:58 AM PST the moon became full. It is Blue Moon, the second full moon of the month, which is powerful in itself, but this particular moon is also a Double Dragon Moon. All of this comes together to give us a wonderful opportunity as individuals and as Cosmic Community to move, as Beatrex Quntanna says in the video below, from "victimhood into victory."

So watch this video (it is WONDERFUL and so full of information and humor), learn more about this fascinating moment and what you can do to transform the energies that are holding you back. Go outside, dance in your garden, gather in groups, do a fire ceremony, burn up the old and make way for all that you are meant to be. Don't get in your own way for one second longer.

Many blessings and great thanks to Beatrex and Janet Lightstone of http://lightstonesource.com/ for sharing this information with all of us.

My deepest gratitude also goes to Melinda Allec. Melinda is an amazing modern medicine woman and energy healer who I have had the great good fortune to begin working with lately. Several weeks ago she turned me on to this Dragon Moon event coming up and gave me wonderful guidance on how I could make the most of it. You can learn more about Melinda Allec and the powerful healing work that she does on her website http://www.melindaallec.com/index.php

An interesting side note. I was guided to receive energy healing from Melinda after I read the books Shaman, Healer, Sage: How to Heal Yourself and Others with the Energy Medicine of the Americas and Mending The Past & Healing The Future With Soul Retrieval by
Alberto Villoldo Ph.D. which changed my life. Melinda trained with Dr. Villoldo. If you have not read his books this would be a great time to pick them up. They are transformational.

May you be blessed, may this powerful day bring you healing, joy and grace. Hari om...sat nam. We are all One. Love. Love. Love.

Heal your heart with guided meditations from Teal Marie Chimblo Fyrberg and Blissful Body Yoga. Download yours and begin your journey today.

Join us at Blissful Body Yoga in Gastonia, North Carolina for Mandalas: A Creative Journey Into Stillness.

Joseph Campbell on the Chakras

2012-08-15T15:16:00.000-04:00

Joseph Campbell on the Chakras

Fantastic explanation of the Chakras given by one of the great masters of consciousness, Joseph Campbell. Enjoy!

Yoga Classes and Mandala Workshop at Blissful Body Yoga

2012-08-15T11:07:00.000-04:00

Registration for Fall 2012 classes at Blissful Body Yoga is now open! Space is limited for our group classes and workshop so reserve your spot TODAY!

We will also be offering several amazing workshops this Fall. Here is the first...

Mandalas: A Creative Journey Into Stillness

Tuesday, September 18, 9-11:30 AM. Cost: $45 (includes art materials.)

Tuesday, September 18, 5:30-8 PM. Cost: $45 (includes art materials.)

Reduce your stress, free your mind with Blissful Audio Classes. Download yours today.

Big Discounts On Iyengar Yoga Conference in Washington, D.C. with Patricia Walden

2012-04-18T15:32:00.000-04:00

The Maitri Southeast Regional Conference is almost here (May 3 - 6, 2012 - Washington D.C.) and there are some great discounts. This conference features world class Iyengar yoga teachers such as Patricia Walden, Manuoso Manos, John Schumacher, Karin O’Bannon, Lois Steinberg, Dean Lerner, and Joan White.

If you were thinking of attending the Maitri Yoga conference in DC., we have an amazing discount on our block of rooms through tomorrow! We are discounting the conference registration from $485 to $395 and the offering a rebate of $50 per night on the cost of the room. If you share a room with someone, that can be a savings of $300!! We also have a couple of free offers for the first people to register today and tomorrow. Today's offer is a free mat. Tomorrow is a discount on a great prop called the 3 Minute Egg. Let me know if you would like to take advantage of this great opportunity and I can get the discount code to you today for your registration. Our website iswww.iyengarconferencedc.com

Come and join us in Washington D.C. at this unique, one-time event in the Southeast Region! Register now!

How to Be Happy All The Time

2012-01-31T15:07:00.000-05:00

This is really one of the only things I am absolutely sure of in life. What we think, we become.

Choose the happy thought.

Words of wisdom shared with me by friend Natalie Fox Maisel (of goddessdownload.com) from the work of Abraham-Hicks...

You will notice that those who speak most of prosperity, have it. Those who speak most of health, have it. Those who speak most of sickness, have it. Those who speak most of poverty, have it. It is Law. It can be no other way…The way you feel is your point of attraction, and so, the Law of Attraction is most understood when you see yourself as a magnet getting more and more of the way you feel. When you feel lonely, you attract more loneliness. When you feel poor, you attract more poverty. When you feel sick, you attract more sickness. When you feel unhappy, you attract more unhappiness. When you feel healthy and vital and alive and prosperous—you attract more of all of those things.

And the winner of the Blissful Body Yoga class giveaway is...

2012-01-31T14:56:00.000-05:00

‎::DRUM ROLL:: and the winner of the BBY audi class giveaway (according to Random.org) is...Bubba Seethos! Bettie will be able to select TWO audio classes from my yoga downloads section: http://blissfulbodyyoga.com/p15/downloads.html

To everyone else, thank you SO much for participating and helping us to get to 101 FB followers. Stay tuned as I will be having other fun ways you can win classes and other stuff. Peace!

Enter the Blissful Body Yoga Audio Class Giveaway!

2012-01-23T17:48:00.000-05:00

Enter the Blissful Body Yoga Audio Class Giveaway!

What you win: TWO FREE audio classes, of your choice, from the Blissful Body Yoga Website!

To enter:
1. LIKE the Blissful Body Yoga Facebook page and leave a comment.
2. Share the page on your wall and invite your friends to join.

That's it! The winner will be chosen Monday, January 30th, 2012.

Bonus for Twitter users: if you TWEET about the giveaway you will receive an additional entry. Just mention @blissfullyteal

You can check out a list and descriptions of all the awesome classes you will be able to choose from when you win on the Blissful Body Yoga Downloads page.

Please spread the word and good luck!
Namaste,
Teal Fyrberg
Owner/Teacher, Blissful Body Yoga