Optimum Health

Exploding Heart

2021-10-19T17:20:00.004-07:00

Do you ever have moments where you look at your precious children and your heart almost explodes with such deep love for them? I do!

The love goes inside your heart and fills it to maximum, thus allowing for a near explosion. This feeling overtakes me often and its so warming to my once cold heart. I dont take these moments lightly and I often find myself not wanting that feeling to leave my body.

On the complete contrary to this thought, I often catch myself having such deep love for my son who is no longer on this earthly realm, that it almost makes my heart explode but explode because of love and pain all at the same time. Its polar opposite feelings but then again are they? Maybe they are so close but yet so far from one another that they can actually feel very similar? Not quite sure but if you know, then you know this feeling.

Love is so deep and never ending. Love can make the heart almost explode from pure joy and it can make the heart explode from pure pain. Interesting isn't it?

"What the heart has once felt, shall never be lost"

Every single feeling felt by the body ad heart will never leave the body, good and bad. This is why trauma is stored in the body and causes sickness. This is also why your love connects you t your loved one. The love will never ever leave your body. That is very hopeful to me and allows me to connection with my sweet Ollie on a very deep and real level!

Sending so much strength, you are seen and heard and you matter!

SAY OUT LOUD:

I AM HEALING DAILY AS I ALLOW MORE AND MORE LOVE TO ENTER MY BODY

Hello again, its been a while

2021-10-17T15:43:00.002-07:00

I transistioned over to other platforms to post about my grief, I feel like they were not what I was expecting and havent been what I needed or expected as far as writing and expressing myself.

So, I am back!!!

It actually feels so good. Writing is so therapeutic.

Its so healing for grief and to physically get the feelings off of your chest and release them. Its so good.

Every time the holidays come around I start to notice myself getting a bit anxious and short with my children. I don't like it. SO I am going to try writing again and see if I can release some built up tension inside my body.

The reason I started my blog all those years ago was to keep my family informed and as social media platforms changed and progressed I found myslfe changing with them. But I can say I prefer writing like this and expressong myself on here. I hope it may help others that read along with my journey through grief and we can all become better humans until our last days on earth.

I send my love to you all.

Positive Health Wellness

2016-12-12T21:30:00.002-08:00

I love learning about nutrition, health, and natural remedies and it seems to be catching on. I feel like in the past there was few resources to help you have a healthier life, well maybe social media wasn't as popular and you had to actual read it from a book. Now you can connect with so many people who share similar views and want to help as many people as the can feel better. I have found a site that is full of what I strive to promote, check them out, click here!

Yoga Nidra

2016-01-03T22:15:00.000-08:00

The art of conscious relaxation (psychic sleeping), a powerful practice where the body, mind, and spirit are liberated from their tensions and anxiety. You can put the body into sleep while the mind remains fully awake. The brain wave drops into the theta state where deep levels of healing takes place on the emotional, mental, and physical levels. Regular practice of yoga nidra can improve sleeping patterns, offer relief from chronic pain, help with depression, PTSD, as well as headaches. This state of consciousness (yoga nidra) is different from meditation in which you must focus on one single thing.

The Technique

Yoga Nidra usually takes from twenty to forty five minutes to complete. The person lies on his or her back in totally relaxed posture--shavasana. Eyes are lightly closed, arms are kept with palms facing upwards, breathing is natural and quiet.

All you do is lie down, listen, and receive!

You can practice yoga nidra meditation in any comfortable position, even in your bed!

Click here for a guided yoga nidra meditation

A better way?

2016-01-02T22:04:00.001-08:00

Why is it so hard to convince people that a better way might be better?

Is it our ego?
Is it that we just don't care?
Is it that we have blinders on?

I really don't know why, but possibly it could be the lack of knowledge or experience, which makes someone unaware of the benefits or results. I think we all get set in our ways and think our way is the only and right way. We do this with everything in our lives from the routine of getting up in the morning to the food we buy.

My husband is a chef--he knows his way around the kitchen and everything has an exact spot. It is strategically placed so he can quickly and easily grab it while preparing food. In my life personally, I have done things in the kitchen, the same way for years. One day my husband showed me a different way--which ended up being much better. I was very reluctant to try it and quite frankly, I liked my way. It worked for me. He had thought long and hard why he was putting something in a specific spot in the kitchen and he had good reason for his placement. I was just doing it my way with no thought at all other than how it just happened. Until he brought this better way to my attention, I was clueless that it could be done differently.

In life, I think we tend to get comfortable in our ways--good or bad and not want to change. We tend to be bull headed and think our way is best--this can also be due to lack of knowledge or understanding. Once we see things in a different way, so much can be opened to us and we receive new light

Since studying about yoga and making it a lifestyle, I have learned that there is not just one way to practice--some ways might be better and some might be best, but they are all hopefully an effort of self reflection and improvement. Of course, I have my preferred way to practice but I have noticed many don't like this way--or they don't take the time to see that I have put some great thought and personal practice into my personal approach. The approach I am choosing to take in life and with yoga has helped me be more loving and accepting. My heart has been opened. I feel more love--its a deep love.

I have to remind myself that others do not see the world as I do. They have not experienced what I have and I have not experienced what they have. So we need to be just a bit more open and accepting to everyone in their life journey.

Today I plan to be more open to another way of doing things, whatever that thing may be. I will see it from a different perspective with open eyes and open heart.

We are all in this together!

http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/

Flexibility

2016-01-01T21:53:00.003-08:00

My husband has been watching me practice yoga and has also looked at several yoga social media accounts. He has made the comment, that he thinks I don't really look like all those other woman posting pictures-that I am not as flexible as them. He wondered if I am doing it correctly and getting the same benefits and how I was going to teach others if I was so inflexible?

That being said, I had a lot of explaining to do and also a lot of research to do to make sure I knew what the traditional way of practicing yoga was. There is so much more to yoga that being flexible--that is just a by product of practicing yoga.

I am one of the most inflexible people out there. I have been a runner since in the 8th grade and my body has been tight--I've never stretched enough. My body is so tight--I think I am holding onto way too much. Yoga has helped me relax and release unneeded and unwanted tension held up in my body.

Since my first yoga class 15 years ago, I have always craved that flexibility and release others had. Every time I would attend a class, I always noticed the flexible ones and I looked at them as if they had something I didn't. It appeared that if they were more flexible that they had a better release and practice than I did. I know don't think this is the case--one can benefit just as much being flexible or not so flexible for their body at that time. But I do know that the more I practice the better I feel. My body loves being loose and tension free---something I hope to one day achieve.

Flexibility comes to some very easily while others suffer with inflexibility all there lives--such as me. I have to work very hard to release my body, it just holds onto things so well. Sometimes I feel as if I will not ever fully release all my tension filed body parts, but the more I practice the more results I see. Consistency is key. If I skip yoga for a week at a time, my body seems to go back quicker to its old ways and takes so much more time to get back to where I felt good.

The body operates more optimally when it is flexible. Stretching the body allows the blood to flow more efficiently to tissues, prevents injury, lengthens muscles and lessens overall pain by releasing tension.

Maintaining and enhancing one’s flexibility is a life-long process and you must be patient.

***

http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/

Types of Yoga

2015-12-31T13:56:00.001-08:00

1. Ashtanga

Ashtanga is based on ancient yoga teachings, but it was popularized and brought to the West by Pattabhi Jois (pronounced "pah-tah-bee joyce") in the 1970s. The word ashtanga literally means, 8 limb yoga. It's a rigorous style of yoga that follows a specific sequence of postures on a path to purification, as each style links every movement to a breath. Ashtanga always performs the exact same poses in the exact same order. By bringing heat through the breath, you make your body boil, which in turn makes your body cleanse out toxins through the sweat. This is a hot, sweaty, physically demanding practice.

2. Bikram

Bikram Choudhury developed this school of yoga where classes are held in artificially heated rooms. In a Bikram class you will sweat like you've never sweat before as you work your way through a series of 26 poses, following a sequence (a sequence different from an ashtanga sequence) in a heated room around 90-104 degrees Fahrenheit. Each pose is usually performed twice and held for certain amount of time. They use the "breath of fire" in all Bikram classes. Bikram is somewhat controversial, as Choudhury has trademarked his sequence and has prosecuted studios who call themselves Bikram but don't teach the poses exactly the way he says they should. It is also wildly popular, making it one of the easiest types of classes to find. (You may hear the term, hot yoga, it is basically the same thing as bikram, but they do deviate from poses, so they must call themselves something different)

3. Hatha

The word Hatha means, willful or forceful. Hatha yoga is a generic term that refers to any type of yoga that teaches physical postures. The postures are designed to open the many channels of the body--especially the main channel, the spine--so that energy can flow freely. Nearly every type of yoga class taught in the West is hatha yoga. When a class is marketed as hatha, it generally means that you will get a gentle introduction to the most basic yoga postures. Hatha yoga is a major tool for self-transformation and focuses on the breath. You will leave a class feeling longer, looser, and more relaxed.

4. Iyengar

Iyengar yoga was developed and popularized by B.K.S. Iyengar (pronounced "eye-yen-gar"). Iyengar was one of the best known yoga teachers and has a very meticulous style of yoga. Proper attention is brought to finding the comfortable and appropriate alignment in a pose. In order to help each student find the proper alignment, an Iyengar studio will stock a wide array of yoga poses--blocks, blankets, straps, chairs, bolsters, and a rope wall are all common. There isn't a lot of jumping around in Iyengar classes, so you won't get your heart rate up, but you'll be amazed to discover how physically and mentally challenging it is to stay put. Iyengar teachers must undergo a comprehensive training – if you have an injury or chronic condition, Iyengar is probably your best choice to insure you get the knowledgeable instruction you need.

5.Kundalini

Kundalini was introduced to the western world in 1969 by a guy powerful healer and teacher named Yogi Bhajan. His father was a well known healer and doctor and his mother was a care taker of the children in their village and she possessed great strength and righteousness. Kundalini is known as the yoga of awareness. Its focus is on self-awareness and delivering an experience of your highest consciousness. It incorporates traditional yoga such as mediation, physical exercise, breathing, and mantras, all to elevate the mind and body connection with the spirit--which has no boundaries.

6. Restorative

Restorative yoga is a wonderful way to relax and soothe uneasy nerves. Restorative classes use bolsters, blankets, and blocks to prop students in passive poses so that the body can experience the benefits of a pose without having to exert any effort. A good restorative class is more rejuvenating than a nap. Studios and gyms often offer them on Friday nights, when just about everyone could use a little profound rest.

7. Viniyoga

Viniyoga is all about adaptation for the student to bring about healing, flexibility and strengthen to all the joints. The breath is used to bring alignment and optimal movement for each individual. Understanding the body and the way it works is key in viniyoga, so a teacher must be well educated and understand general and specific bio-mechanics. Singing, chanting, reading religious verses, and mediating are all brought to a class to try and find harmony with the body.

8. Vinyasa

Vinyasa (pronounced "vin-yah-sah") is the Sanskrit word for "flow", and vinyasa classes are known for their fluid, movement-intensive practices. Vinyasa teachers choreograph their classes to smoothly transition from pose to pose, and often play music to keep things lively. The intensity of the practice is similar to Ashtanga, but no two vinyasa classes are the same. If you hate routine and love to test your physical limits, vinyasa may be just your ticket.

http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/

Prenatal Yoga

2015-12-30T14:58:00.000-08:00

Prenatal yoga is recommeneded 3x weekly during your pregnancy but should not be done between weeks 8-11, due to many miscarriages taking place during this time. You could use Yoga Nidra or Ujjayii breath which will help your body warm up and relax.

Here are some tips to be aware of while you practice:

If something doesn't feel right or is uncomfortable, you should be aware and stop what you are doing. Your body knows what it needs and it will let you know too.
Intense back bends should be avoided due to the possibility of air embolism and twisting should be avoided because it can compress the belly.
Avoid lying face down or flat on your back due to air and blood restrictions and possibly crushing the baby.
Don't hold poses for too many breaths, its important to keep the energy moving.

Healthy Sitting on the Floor

This pose is recommended to reduce lower back strain, discomfort, and pressure while seated on the floor. To help keep the spine straight in any seated position, sit with your entire spine elongated, stretching from shoulders to tailbone--if needed rest against a wall for support. You may also wish to sit on a firm cushion or folded blanket to help keep the spine straight.

Cat Pose

Kneel in "table position," with knees under hips and arms beneath shoulders. Back is straight, head faces forward. Exhale and drop head and tailbone. Arch your back, exhaling further. Tighten buttocks and abdominal muscles. Do this several times, inhaling and exhaling deeply.
Benefits:- Strengthens a relaxes the lower back, you are carrying so much extra weight, doing this pose morning and night will allow tension to release - Improves circulation - Stretches muscles along the back, neck, and arms - Opens the spaces between your spine - Good for relaxation during labor (if you haven’t had an epidural)

Warm Up: Knee Rocking

1. Sit in a cross-legged position with your left leg on top. If necessary, lean against a wall to support your back.
2. Cradle your left leg with both arms, lift it toward your chest and abdomen as far as it feels comfortable.

3. Keeping your back straight, raising the crown of your head to the sky, hold the leg as high and close to you as possible without feeling any strain, if you feel strain, release.
4. Moving from the hip joint, gently rock the leg back and forth as though rocking a baby.
5. After rocking one leg several times, switch leg position and repeat with other leg.
Benefits:- Helps alleviate tension in the hip joints caused by the pressure on the nerves and joints on the hips, thighs and buttocks from your growing baby. It also improves flexibility in the hip, pelvic, and groin areas.

Easy Pose Meditation (Sukhasana)
1. Sit in any comfortable seated position on the floor with your arms by your sides or relaxed in lap, shoulders down and away from ears. Close your eyes, begin breathing deeply while you relax.

2. Inhale and exhale deeply as you repeat in your mind or out loud this affirmation:
Meditation: I am aware of my body and muscles holding myself up while I sit and I am relaxed.

3. Exhale and and do a full body visual scan, acknowledging those muscles and the good work they do to carry your baby.

4. Inhale and repeat silently in your mind:
Meditation: I release any tension along my back and shoulders with each exhale .

5. Exhale, allowing those muscles to relax completely. Breathe deeply several times as you continue to relax and let go.

Benefits:- Relaxes the muscles - Brings you back to the present moment - Slows the mind - Reduces blood pressure and heart rate - Calms the entire being, promoting peace and serenity *An important part of birth preparation and labor is learning how to relax muscles not being used.

A great article about benefits of prenatal yoga from yoga journal.
Click here

References:
http://www.yogajournal.com/article/practice-section/yoga-for-moms-to-be/
http://www.babycenter.com/0_great-pregnancy-exercise-prenatal-yoga_7862.bc?page=2

Are we self absorped?

2015-12-29T21:38:00.001-08:00

I have been seeing so many conflicting expressions lately with the image people are portraying as they practice their style of yoga. I have seen the fancy selfies to the perfectly staged yoga pose, and what appears to be the ego seeking yoga teacher, all portraying perfection and mastery.

Today, yoga is the western world is suffering from the spiritual aspect. The deep essence of yoga has been watered down and misinterpreted by many, just so they can gain popularity and wealth. A great haze of confusion has been created around a clear and pure concept of yoga that clarification is needed to see the true meaning and purpose of yoga.

The word yoga, from the Sanskrit word you means to yoke or unite and is often interpreted as “union” or a method of discipline. It is meant to unite us with our highest nature-to me, meaning God. We unite this level of connection without any limitations through various yoga disciplines and obtain our true nature. Yoga helps humans become aware of their deepest and most personal self through self study. Yoga facilitates a place for clarity, peace and harmony. In today's busy world where there is so much stress, yoga just might be the key to our modern survival.

In a modern world where there is so much disconnection to life, to humans, to God, to others, to the earth, we tend to feel feelings of fear, hopelessness and sadness. In reconnecting with our higher power and our higher self, one is able to re-connect with everything around us. We all need to take a deep look inward instead of pointing fingers. The true peace comes from deep within and that is where we will see God in our image.

There are many different styles and ways to practice yoga, some may not be accurate with the traditional yoga, but hopefully however we all practice it will help us become more aware and loving towards ourselves as well as others. Regardless of what we are portraying on Instagram, we need not judge one another and accept all so we can be balanced in our lives in order to obtain true clarity.

If the very details of our daily lives are well balanced, then we can surely make progress in yoga in the modern world. Regardless of where we live or what we do, we can create a life conducive to yoga!!

"True spirituality requires experiencing a self-transcending connection with life and with others, but when we live trapped within this disease of self-absorption, the truly spiritual experience is impossible"--Bill Waltz

Listening

2015-12-28T14:02:00.000-08:00

I did a fast today and after I finally ate, I sat and noticed that the energy from the food was instantly being transported to where it needed to go. I bet if you looked in my body at a microscopic level, the nutrients would be traveling through the cells to their proper locations. I tend to get very weak when I fast, I think my blood sugar might drop a little too low, so when I do get food in my tummy, my body is extreme about distributing it quickly and I can feel what's going on. If I am still enough to recognize it.

I am in a loud busy restaurant at the moment and was sitting here thinking, if I were at home in a quiet place I could probably be more aware of what's really going on in my body. Eben in all this noise I can still hear and feel the changes taking place. Wow our bodies are so cool!

I was also thinking how our bodies tell us what they need, we just can't hear because we are so busy and never take the time to listen until it's too late and we have major ailments. If we would just slow down and breathe, we would probably hear so much coming form our spirit, mind and body. I hope to get to a point where I can hear the small whispering from my body and God on the direction to take my life.

We must first be quiet enough to hear, then ask, and then act!

***

Yoga has helped me in my personal life to take a step back and listen. Listen to my breath, listen to my body and listen to my spirit. They are all always communicating and in perfect harmony. Our bodies know exactly what to do, how to heal, how to grieve, how to overcome a sickness. They are amazing and need a few simple tools to heal. We need to offer them these tools such as yoga, proper nutrition, stillness, sleep, mediation, exercise, love, etc.

Yoga has been just another piece in my journey as I learn to heal my body and give it what it really wants and needs!

Slow yourself down.

Be in the moment that is right in front of you.

Just do it and see what you find.

Might be quite beautiful.

***

http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/

Breath

2015-12-22T22:37:00.002-08:00

Yoga, if you haven't already noticed in the media, is becoming main stream and people who have never even practiced it before are becoming intrigued and actually really liking it.

Yoga can heal your body in so many ways if you allow it. The breath alone can heal you in ways you never though possible. It can heal your heart, your aches and pains, your blocked energy causing the physical pain, your grief, depression, it can quiet the mind, it can lower blood pressure, it can hep you lose weight, and it can even make you a better parent, just to name a few.

In yoga the breath is the number one most important thing. In life, our breath is what gives us life, without it we cease to be alive. I never knew until after studying more about yoga, that there is more than one way to breathe and still be breathing in a healthy way.

"You breathe to live, and you live to breathe"

In yoga there is a term for the breath, it is called pranayama. Pranayama is control of the breath". "Prana" is breath or vital energy in the body. Prana represents the pranic energy responsible for life or life force, and "ayama" means control. So Pranayama is the "Control of Breath".

A link for some exercises to help with your breath.
Click Here

By focusing on your own breath, something so small but so significant, you are able to slow down, take a look inward and make changes in a big way. You are able to really feel your breath, feel your body and feel its powers.

Why are we taught from such a young age to bury our feelings? Why are we not allowed to express ourselves more by crying or being really mad?

I think the world has no room for feelings. We constantly are looked at as a weak individual if we show any signs of vulnerability. In my life personally, when I have been the weakest, that is where I have found my true self. Interesting how at the lowest of lows, you can find yourself as you look inward. And by turning inward you see Gods image and you see your divine purpose.

Often, I can't believe how so many people can be so rude and rushing through life. They forget to take time to breathe. They forget to truly live. They forget to take time to smell the flowers and watch the cute things their precious children are doing. I catch myself waiting in line at the post office, the grocery store, or the bank and no one usually ever says one word to me. I try to make small talk while we all impatiently wait our turn. I have consciously been trying to be in the moment and enjoy all the small details and the details being people that are in my life at that moment. Most of them are to busy looking at their phones to communicate with the humans standing all around them. My dad is the one who taught me to make small talk wherever I go and by the time you leave, everyone is your friend!

I feel like if we opened up our hearts more in society, on social media and to our own family members, then we could receive more help when we need an extra prayer or some TLC. How can you help someone if they never share real issues, they always just stay on the surface? I have seen in my own family how keeping their problems to themselves only hurts them and leaves them alone n their trial. Its too bad they didn't have the support system that could have helped carry them through their struggle. We are in our own bubble. We drive around in our protective bubble, we live in a bubble, we don't open up and ever really show our true self. I am a very open person, maybe too open sometimes, but what you see with me is what you get. I think this has been a critical healing method in my grief because I have been vulnerable and needed a TON of love and support from others to carry me through. If I would have not reached out when I was hurting, most people would have never known I needed help.

It is not a natural thing to be so far removed from what others are feeling. Our society has developed this way of life by competing with one another by our cars, fashion, houses, bodies, finances etc. Nothing is ever good enough on our own body and we are always focused on ourselves, so how could we ever see anyone else in need?

By opening up, you see yourself and you see others. You receive less judgment from yourself and more self love. This love you can then offer to others who are so closed off and cold.

And for me, I have gained all this from practicing yoga. It has healed me and it can heal you too.

Share your heart even if no one listens. One day someone will and in the meantime it will heal your heart.

NAMASTE

http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/

Mistakes made in poses

2015-12-19T22:37:00.001-08:00

There are quite a few mistakes people make when practicing a pose. I too, have been among these people. I really have tried to break apart the poses in order to do them correctly with the most benefit, all while breathing and relaxing.

Here are a few break downs of poses and the proper way to practice them.

Utkatasana-Chair Pose

Arms reaching towards heaven and engaged
Relaxed shoulders and back
Tuck the tail bone and keep the spine long
Make sure your knees are even and touching
If your feet are aligned then your knees will be too

Phalakasana-Plank Pose

Make sure your feet are hip distance apart and pushing through feet
Tuck tailbone
Shoulders relaxed and pulling away from ears
Push the back towards the heavens while lengthening the spine
Pull the navel towards the spine
Plant hands firmly and evenly on the ground and directly below the shoulders
Draw shoulder blades into the spine while relaxing the neck muscles
Hands and fingers spread wide and planted evenly

Chaturanga

Straight line from head to toes
Gaze straight down just above the mat
Elbows pointing in and close to body
Only lower until the arms are at a 90 degree angle
Shift forward onto toes as you lower down
Core and legs engaged

http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/

Quotes

2015-12-17T22:33:00.003-08:00

A few quotes that just make me happy.

I find myself needing to slow down, even my 3 year old has been telling me to chill out.

Here are some positive vibes heading your way.

Enjoy your journey!

***

http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/

new and improved

2015-12-17T22:07:00.003-08:00

Things happen in life that are traumatic, unfair, and unexplainable. At those very moments, it's as if you might crumble into a million pieces, due to the worst horror ever felt by your body--mine was watching my son die. There are almost no words that adequately describe this tormenting pain buried deep with in the center of your soul. You feel as if you are a few breaths away from death yourself. Like you are going to collapse from the shear devastation and whole body shock. The coldness and heart shredding torture is yours to carry.

you are numb.
numb to the pain you are experiencing through out your entire body.
weak to the point of spiritual and physical starvation.
fearful.
fearful of death, life and beyond.

You must learn to breathe again.
often you find yourself barely breathing.
you catch your breath late at night.
sometimes it never really fully enters the body.
you must fight to find the key to life.
breath.

Unable to take a step forward.
stuck.
stuck in the blur of passing onto death.
stuck in that exact moment of time, forever changing your world.
Not wanting to accept that time and space, hoping it will not be written in stone if you stay there long enough.

You are changed.
never again to be that same person.
different.
never ever the same.
never.
forever molding into something more courageous and beautiful than ever before.

and this is my hope.

***

Yoga teacher training has been a giant stepping stone in my grieving process. It has opened up doors I didn't know were closed, or had ever even seen before. I have looked deep inside myself in order to see my son who has passed on from this life. Yoga and the mediation part have really opened up my channel to heaven and helped me connect with my higher self, my more spiritual self. My sweet son is existing at this level and in order to even be in his presence or feel of him, I believe I too have to try and exist at this level. Of course I am not anywhere near this light, but I sure am heading in the right direction and open to this possibility. Our eyes are a bit closed in life due to inexperience and the unknown. Once we have stepped a foot in this direction, so many things become open to us. It is us who makes the first move and has the desire.

Side note: I have never considered reincarnation. ever. until recently reading in holy scriptures, in Moroni where he says his last words, 'I soon go to rest in paradise of my God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite'. This made me start thinking, why are some souls here on this earth so wise, so knowledgeable, so much further along in their journey than others? I sort of believe that we may have possibly been here before and that's why some are born far more advanced and seem to be so intellectual and at a different level spiritually. I don't think the word is reincarnation but, that's the most similar word to describe what I am talking about. I do possibly believe we may have had several or get several chances to get it right....who knows? Not me. But I do know I am seeking to find this light, this heavenly peace, this beauty. I seek God. I seek my son. and I seek healing.

***

http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/

The Basics of Meditation

2015-12-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

I have recently been meditating out side of my yoga practice and found it be healing in so many ways.

I have deep pain from grief that gets strapped inside my body--it is something I will fight daily and will never fully go away.

I have been trying to find daily gratitude deep inside for what I do have.

It has changed my outlook and perspective of life.

Here are some links I have found helpful.

Start today!

Namaste

http://www.yogajournal.com/slideshow/everything-beginners-need-know-meditation/

http://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/2015-yj-gratitude-challenge/

http://www.yogajournal.com/meditation/water-meditation-releasing-stress/

http://www.yogajournal.com/meditation/meditation-joy-motherhood/

http://www.yogajournal.com/meditation/meditation-grief/

http://www.yogajournal.com/meditation/meditation-neck-pain-relief/

http://www.yogajournal.com/meditation/meditation-pain-heartbreak/

http://www.yogajournal.com/video/video/great-heart-meditation/

http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/

Firm foundation

2015-12-14T22:00:00.004-08:00

I have been reading about the anatomy of the body and how it all works with yoga in today's life. We have evolved as a civilized society to walk on paved roads, in high heels, and we rarely connect with the uneven earth. Thankfully, yoga poses are done barefoot allowing us to re-connect with the earth, while strengthening the feet and muscles in our legs. One of the most important poses in practicing yoga should probably be, standing upright-which we have all been doing since about a year old. The basic fundamentals of standing firmly and evenly on your two feet can have great benefits on your other asanas. Many traditional yoga teachers start their practice with Tadasana because of its grounding effect on the entire practice.

Nothing lasting can be built on a shaky foundation

I know for myself personally, if I don't start my practice by becoming centered and grounded, then the rest of the practice feels a bit off. This also happens in my daily life, if I don't start my day with my spiritual routine, mediation, and some yoga My day will not flow as nicely as the mornings I started off right. Interesting how this all works. Our bodies constantly nee nourishment in so many ways and I feel like we can never really learn it all in our short lives.

You can ask your self these questions to see if how you naturally stand.

Do I stand more on one leg than the other?
Do I stand with more weight on the front of my foot than the back?
Do my arches drop?
Can I feel all 5 toe mounds? Why are some easier to feel than others?
Does my inner heel press the floor?
Is the nail bed centered on the toe?
Does the outer edge of my foot drape down and cut the floor?
What happens when I walk? Why do the outer heel side of my shoes always wear out first?
Are my toes gripping?

Tadasana--Mountain Pose

Stand erect with the feet together and the big toes and the heels touching. See that the weight of the body is neither on the heels nor on the toes but in the center of the arches.
Do not tighten the toes, but stretch them from the bottom and keep them relaxed. (This is the position of the toes in all standing postures.)
Keep the ankles in line with each other.
Tighten the knees, pull the kneecaps upwards and tighten the quadriceps. Keep the shin bones in line with the thigh bones. Breath normally.
Compress the hips and tighten the buttocks.
Keep the spine erect, raise the sternum, expand the chest. Do not protrude the abdomen but lift it upwards.
Keep the neck erect and the head straight; do not tilt forwards or backwards. Look straight ahead.
Keep the arms by the sides of the body, extending downwards and keep the palms facing the thighs, in line with them. Do not lift the shoulders. Keep the fingers together.
Stand still for 20-30 seconds and breathe normally.

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Do what you can

2015-12-07T22:14:00.004-08:00

Lately I have been so busy with my 2 young children that I don't even have time to do an official yoga practice, and if I do have a minute, I am too tired so I find myself resting and doing nothing---which I guess can be my time to chill and meditate.

My practice looks something like this these days

I have found out in my own life,

All you can do is all you can do, and all you can do is enough.

I have learned that my children love to follow my example, so when I feel up to it and I can see that they do too, I have them practice 4 poses with me.

I have been telling my daughter to chill out and calm down when she gets up set. So now she tells me to just calm down in a very calm voice. She also is very quick to calm down if I use a therapeutic voice and stoke her head.

It's these little things we teach our children that help them to act better in society. I feel like even if I don't get an official practice in, I am teaching the younger generations how to stay more clam and act in a healthy manner!

http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/

Meditation

2015-12-07T21:20:00.002-08:00

I have recently been attending a meditation class one night a week. It has opened my eye (third eye) to a different way of looking at things. I have never been so present in my own life and it has made me more conscious of my every decision. Living in the moment has also helped my focus be in the moment I am currently living. I don't look too far into the future and I don't focus too much on the past.

I am here and now.

I am feeling the earth.

Feeling my breath.

Becoming aware of my body.

Being in this time and space.

All these reminders help me better understand my grief and my sorrow. Being in the moment allows my body to heal and to try and live again.

Try to heal my broken heart, my wounded soul and my shattered world.

Meditation can be done all through out the day.

-When you are driving you can simply be in the moment and take in the beautiful surroundings, listen to nice music, or relax and enjoy the time alone to think.

-You can also do it while standing in a long line, you can focus on being alive and all your blessings, you can look at every person and try to see them with your spiritual eyes, also you could try to just focus on your breath and your body.

-You can meditate in the morning right before getting out of bed. You can set your intention for the day and just lie awake on your back for several minutes and feel every part of your body

Meditation for me has been making my mind aware of every single thing around me and looking for the beauty in all things. I have become more grateful and accepting of others shortcomings as I try to see the good in them.

What benefits have you seen from meditating?

Where do you meditate?

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Slow Yourself Down

2015-12-02T22:44:00.004-08:00

My goodness, life just seems to be getting so busy and there are so many things right at our finger tips. We have access to everything and can learn anything---which is truly amazing. But it doesn't come without a negative side effect, too much stimulation. Our bodies do need more rest than we are giving them and they do need time to just sit and be,

to listen,

to breathe,

and to feel.

In today's society we aren't able to hear what's really being said deep within ourselves and we can't seem to find the true meaning of life because we are blind sided with all this false talk.

It in those moments of anxiety and overload, we need to take a step back and just look around, slow down and breathe in the sunshine.

It will do wonders for your brain, heart, immune system and overall well-being.

Take in 5 deep breaths in and out. With each one think about what you truly want in life and for your future. Think about the moments that really matter--the people who matter.

We need to start thinking for ourselves more and we do this by feeling.

We need more connection and we connect through feeling.

Feeling whats inside of us.

Feeling what our beautiful and powerful heart says.

Feeling how we can change the world.

Feeling when someone needs our love.

Start today and meditate in the morning before you get out of bed. I promise this will allow for a better day filled with love and patience.

Give it a try!

***

A great site I have found for learning the muscles affected by yoga poses. http://www.yoganatomy.com/

***

I got my teacher training from here

http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/

Can Yoga Really Help Us?

2015-12-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

The practice of YOGA has become very popular and trendy in the last decade and more so the last few years. It seems as if it's a main stream topic and highly popular among anyone looking to improve their well being.

The word Yoga came into existence around 1500 B.C. from the Eastern world and was later introduced to the Western world around the 19th Century. In the Indian traditional yoga, it was highly meditative and spiritual, unlike today it seems the main stream yoga is all about physical exercise.

Whatever your approach to yoga is, there can be a benefit to you. My personal preference is the traditional yoga, which includes a highly spiritual and meditative practice, along with cleansing of the body and soul all while connected to the earth and your breath. I have found my greatest healing in connecting my breath, spirit, and body to the earth in deep meditation. In calming my breath it automatically calms my heart, and my thoughts, thus taking me to a deeper existence. My body works in perfect unison. And this is where healing begins.

Yoga brings about so much peace and harmony in the body, if you will allow it. When our bodies are out of balance things happen that affect us negatively and this will cause us to get sick or be anger filled. The body traps negative energy inside and we need to physically release it.

The more I practice yoga and just be, the stronger my mind and body become. I feel so strong mentally when I am doing some yoga. My body feels more balanced and I also feel more in tune with my feelings and this allows me to control them more easily and find that true peace.

I have found great healing and growth by taking a deep look inward, to really see myslef, my cells, my heart, my dreams---to find what makes me, me!

So, can yoga really help us as a society? Yes, it could only help us to hate less and love more.

You should give it a try! You might just like what you see.

This was an interesting article about yoga in our society.
https://yoga.com/article/can-yoga-root-out-terrorism-france-events

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Music Heals

2015-10-27T12:00:00.001-07:00

Listen to this song and think about your light within and that light you are trying to reach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbPWr0h7FQk

^^^^^^^^

My favorite song right now by two cute sisters

Lennon and Maisy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNrRaVBKfZI

What music heals your soul?

Child Yoga

2015-10-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

My little children always climb all over me as I try to practice yoga. I have since figured out that I need to incorporate them more, so we both can be apart if it. I have tried to just do the poses I wanted to do and they would end up climbing on my back, interrupting the pose and me getting upset.

I finally got with it and realized its not all about me....

There are a few main poses I do with my 3.5 year old and almost 2 year old.

Tree Pose-Vrikshasana

Strengthens core and ligaments in legs and feet

Improves balance and calms the mind

Builds self esteem and confidence

Stretches the spine

Cobra Pose-Bhujangasana

Decrease stress in the back
provides flexibility in shoulders and neck
Elevates mood
Relives stress
Improves circulation and improves digestion
Invigorates the heart

Frog Pose

Helps with digestion
Tones the legs and tummy
Allows the lower back to release
Promotes confidence and improves posture

Lotus Pose-Padmasana

Calms the brain
Restores energy levels
Keeps joints and ligaments flexible
Stimulates the bladder

Both of my children have responded very well and we all have a great time jumping around like frogs and then chilling out and trying to breathe and focus.

Give it a try! Remember, MAKE IT FUN FOR THEM!!!
-Sometimes it only lasts 2 minutes.

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Balance

2015-05-07T16:12:00.001-07:00

This is something I strive for daily in my life and unfortunately most days I never achieve it. But like yoga, it is a journey and takes time. It does not happen over night. Transformation of the body, mind and spirit takes a lot of work. I love learning about chakras---energy that is naturally flowing through our bodies. It might sound a bit weird but to me, it makes perfect sense. Our bodies get blocked by toxins, chemicals, stress, un-healthy foods, and just life in general. We are so far removed from nature and it is destroying us little by little.

Think of how you feel in nature.......

I FEEL CALM.

RELAXED.

HAPPY.

PEACE.

STILLNESS.

BLISS.

REJUVENATED.

LOVE.

ENERGY.

So when we do things that are in harmony with nature---our bodies THRIVE and HEAL.

The foods we eat to the the desks we sit in, are doing some harm to us, so its up to us to take control of our life and find the things that bring us back into balance.

Here are some foods that can bring balance back into your gut---thus, alkalizing your body so you don't have so much acid.

Almonds

Avocados

Arugula

Beets

Coconut

Carrots

Garlic

Herbal Teas

Kale

Lemon

Lentils

Olive Oil

Peppers

Quinoa

Sesame Seeds

Spinach

Sweet Potatoes

Wheat-grass

Yoga can help open the blockages, as well as mediation and proper eating.

Here are some beginner poses to build strength and bring about clarity and balance.

Upward extended feet pose with support

Lie on your back. Bend your legs and put your palms or fists under your buttocks. Straighten your legs and raise them vertically up. Tighten your knees, stretch your toes down. If it feels difficult, put your hands under your thighs. Try lowering your legs slowly.

Downward facing dog pose

Sit on your heels, lower your head on the mat, stretch your arms forward. Go to the table pose. Push with your hands and straighten your legs. Extend your pelvic bones up and heels down. Let your head hang freely, stretch your waist. Try lifting one leg at a time.

Cat pose

Stand on all fours. Put your hands and knees at your hips' width and hands directly below your shoulders. Round your back and hang your head down. Relax into this pose.

Camel pose, palms set against feet

Lift your thighs and pelvis up and forward while sitting on your heels or between feet. Press your palms against your feet and arch your back. Gently look backwards with your head. Keep your feet and knees at your hips’ width. This might be difficult for some, try only going half way while flexing your quads and butt.

Before I meditate or practice Yoga, I always apply Essential oils.

Here is what I use.

Whisper

Balancing for beauty, allure, and femininity

Vetiver

Relaxation and Grounding

Bergamot

Self Love and Acceptance--it helps us love who we are.

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SUPERFOODS FOR KIDS

2015-04-28T17:36:00.002-07:00

We could prevent cancer, strokes, heart disease, and diabetes if we start teaching our kids better nutrition from day one.

10 SUPERFOODS FOR KIDS

1. AVOCADO: A great source of fats, which aid in child's development and growth.
2. EGGS: Easy to prepare and versatile, and rich in protein and choline, which is vital for brain development.
3. SEAWEED: Chock full of iodine which is necessary for healthy thyroid function.
4. ACAI BERRIES: Full of fatty acids, proteins, and antioxidants, and also very tasty in a morning smoothie.
5. FIBER: Kids need between 19-38 grams per day, to slow down absorption of sugar and keep intestines clean, but most aren't getting enough---oatmeal, fruit, veggies, flax seeds, beans, peas, and legumes.
6. COTTAGE CHEESE: (FULL FAT) One cup contains 9 grams of fat-which doesn't make kids fat, concentrated protein and vitamins and minerals to help build strong bones.
7. NUT BUTTER: Delicious almond, cashew, walnut, or hazelnut butters provide proteins, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that help prevent cancer.
8. BANANAS: Yummy and rich in potassium, good for healthy blood pressure, arteries, bones and heart.
9. SPINACH: An excellent source of iron, calcium, folic acid and vitamins A and C--all great for growing bones and brain.
10. SWEET POTATO: Packed with vitamins B, C, and E, calcium, potassium, iron, and fiber, as well as complex carbohydrates to keep energy levels stable.