Welcome to my blog!
Here you will find yoga practice information, health tips and my favorite things that help me along my journey towards healthy energy, inner peace and personal evolution.
Yin Yoga
August 10, 2019
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Have you ever been to a yin yoga class? You might have wondered what you were supposed to be doing while holding those super long relaxing poses. It is the opposite of Yang or Hatha yoga sequences where we work dynamically with the muscles. Yin yoga targets the deep connective tissues between the muscles, and the fascia. It can increase circulation in the joints and improve flexibility. You hold each pose for 3-15 minutes and I've been taught different techniques for my mind to make it through that amount of time and continue to relax into the tissues, surrender and eventually release.
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It also helps us regulate our body's flow of energy. This is where it gets interesting! Fascia is connective tissue that attaches, stabilizes and encloses muscles, organs and cavities in our body. Look at the pictures below of fascia lines in the body. We also have meridians, qi or energy pathways running along the same lines.
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In Eastern medicine every physical ailment has an underlying emotional or energetic cause that can be diagnosed and treated using energy centers or meridians. So back to Yin Yoga! The practice of holding the poses is not just about moving towards the pain physically but also emotionally and mentally. Allowing yourself to FEEL it and become aware of what has been repressed or stabilized to protect us but is no longer needed. This is where we can use breath, visualization and acceptance while we hold the physical pose and begin to release layers of trauma! Its not an easy practice and some nights I'll pick just one pose to work on. I linked to an article below I really loved about the science and Chinese medicinal techniques and history of Yin yoga below if you want to read more. (Uplift article)
When Should I practice Yoga?​
March 13, 2019
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In the Morning! There are many benefits to practicing yoga anytime, but especially in the mornings. You already know how you start your day can set the tone for all your interactions and everything else that you will attract in the next 24 hours.
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1. It quiets and focuses your mind
2. It reduces anxiety
3. Gets your digestive, muscular & lymphatic system moving
4. Improves heart health
5. Decreases Stress
7. Regulates your sleep rhythms and balances your hormones
8. Energy!
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When coupled with a powerful meditation you can change your habits, your body and your future!
I've been doing the meditation below (previous blog post - psychic development) every day for a few months. I've now added in Joe Dispenza's morning and evening meditations. It helps ground me first thing in the morning and get out of unhealthy habitual mindsets like stress and inadequacy and focus my energy on a healthy body and mind. I focus on creating abundance and love. The days I miss this type of practice I notice a shift in the way I react to the world.
"He specializes in neuroscience, epigenetics, and quantum physics to explore the science behind spontaneous remissions. He uses that knowledge to help people heal themselves of illnesses, chronic conditions, and even terminal diseases so they can enjoy a more fulfilled and happy life, as well as evolve their consciousness."
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I've linked a few articles with added benefits and studies about morning yoga
in the links below for more light reading!
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To Sit In Meditation: Steadiness & Ease
Jan 5, 2019
Have you wondered​ what the physical postures in yoga are actually supposed to accomplish? It's true we feel better from stretching, breathing and moving. Is there more? I bet you've probably noticed that sitting or standing at the beginning of class feels a lot different in your body and mind than than sitting at the end after you've finished all your postures and savasana.
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Sutra 2.46: Sthira-sukham asanam. This can be translated as, “posture (asana) [should be] stable (sthira) and comfortable (sukha),” and is literally translated to “resolutely abide in a good space.” There's another translation below I really like!
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So if the point of doing physical asana (the yoga exercises) is to prepare your body to be able to sit comfortably and meditate for longer periods of time...how would that change how you approach your practice? This sutra lead me to take a deeper look into meditation and it's many purposes and benefits some years ago.
I found that making meditation a daily practice can be life changing. I have experienced things ranging from strength during difficult times, to manifestations of my hopes and desires as well as more focus and control over my body, mind and emotions. I always suggest starting with something simple like breathe control (I have a blog on this below) or a guided relaxing meditation. I linked some of my favorite material below!
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Breathing For Focus & Stress Relief December 15, 2018
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When I'm stressed, worried or cold I tend to hold my breath. This is super common even though these are the times we need to breath the most! After a class I taught today my long time friend and Crossfit instructor Cheryl was sharing her experience with using her breath to relax her body to get a good nights sleep so her muscles would recover.
It reminded me how powerful a tool our breath can be. It is our life force and our most effective tool for becoming keenly aware of the fluctuations of our mind. We can begin to change as we push and pull the breath with awareness.
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Every time we take a deep breath it sends a signal to our brain to relax. Deep breathing also helps regulate blood pressure, emotions and memory. More on these studies here:
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Are All Yogis Vegetarian? December 20, 2018
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Most people who practice yoga are soon introduced to the practice of meditation as well as the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. You can find information (like the interview with Dharma Mittra below) where yoga gurus explain how every living thing has an energy or frequency associated with it. To reach deeper levels of meditation you need to have all your energy channels flowing freely. Some of these teachers believe that eating meat will block energy channels and prevent us from achieving specific benefits of meditation.
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One of the principles taught in the Yoga Sutras is Ahimsa or non-violence toward all living things. Another reason why yogi's would not eat meat is because it would be against this practice to harm an animal for the purpose of eating it. Check out my video below to hear me talk about the dosha test and my favorite cookbooks!
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Healthy Hips December 1, 2018
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Personal physical and emotional trauma manifests in your body. You will not meet anyone who is not currently in a state of healing or processing some level of stress or trauma in their life. The hips are a common place to store this tension and stress.
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Driving in a car all day or sitting at a desk for prolonged periods of time cuts off blood flood at multiple joints including your hips. What happens in our feet affects our knees, what happens in our knees affects our hips and what happens in our hips affects our entire spine! I suggest these ten yoga poses to relieve stress held in the hips, tightness in the glutes, back pain and increase energy.
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The first energy chakra sits at the pelvic floor (your connection with the earth, your grounding energy, I AM) and the second chakra sits above the pubic bone and below the naval (hip region, your center for creativity, I FEEL). Releasing tension and healing your hips will also balance these two chakras energies and help you feel improvement in those areas.
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Look at this map of the colors and locations of your 7 chakras below. I also use special blends from Purify Essential Oils to balance the chakras.
