Years ago my husband and I spent a month in Thailand. One of our fondest memories is of the time we spent in Chang Mai on a farm in northern Thailand. We took a cooking class there learning some of the best Thai dishes that we still make at home today.
Otherwise known as Tom Kha Gai, this soup is a spin on a Thai classic, Thai Coconut Chicken Soup. Using fresh herbs like lemongrass, ginger and cilantro, this vegan version is filled with flavor and packs a serious kick. I was peeling off the layers of clothing during dinner as my insides heated up.
We like spicy food although I’m way more of a wimp when it comes to “Thai hot.” If you’re like me or are making this for a family with young children, start slowly with the crushed red pepper. A little goes a long way and the longer this soup sits on the stovetop, the more the spices and flavors will develop.
I hope this spicy soup warms you from the inside out giving you the energy you need for this final push of winter weather.
Stay warm,
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
Directions: In a medium saucepan, combine coconut milk and veggie broth, and bring to a low boil. Add onion, garlic, ginger, and lemongrass and cook until fragrant (about 3 minutes). Reduce heat and add mushrooms and bok choy, simmering for another 5 minutes.
Finally add lime juice, coconut aminos, salt, and crushed red pepper stirring to combine. Garnish with green onion and cilantro.
Discard lemongrass and serve as is or with brown rice.
Meat Lovers Variation: Add 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch strips before mushrooms and bok choy, cooking until chicken is white on the outside, about 10 minutes.
Another option is to bake the chicken breast in the oven, cutting into strips and adding to the soup bowls of the meat eaters.
Jo Schaalman and Julie Peláez are co-authors of the book The Conscious Cleanse: Lose Weight, Heal Your Body, and Transform Your Life in 14 Days, a best-selling, step-by-step guide to help you live your most vibrant life. Together they've lead thousands of people through their online supported cleanse through their accessible and light-hearted approach. They've been dubbed “the real deal” by founder and chief creative director Bobbi Brown, of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, beauty editor of the TODAY show.
To learn more about “Jo and Jules” and to download a free e-cookbook for a sampling of the delicious food served up on the Conscious Cleanse, please visit their website.
After you make this yummy recipe try a healing yoga class with Jo or Jules:
Conscious Cleanse Detox Flow - Jo Schaalman
Heart Opening Forrest Yoga Flow - Jo Schaalman
Traditional Hot Yoga - Julie Peláez
Below is a list of suggestions to get you back on track to living with a clean, cleared slate:
1. Make a To-Do List
A to-do-list is a list of tasks that need to be carried out. Making a list and following through with it will keep you organized and allow you to feel less anxious. Each time you begin to scratch away one more thing off your list, you will feel more organized, less stressed and you will bring more calmness into your state of being. That feeling of being overwhelmed begins to dissipate and dissolve away.
2. De-clutter
An accumulation of clutter or chaos in the home can increase stress levels and may create a feeling of overwhelm in our daily routine and life. Tackling your to-do-list in small baby steps can lead to calmness and peace once again. We become stressed with an environment that is cluttered and in disarray. House clutter is a visible manifestation of procrastination. Being disorganized in the home is a daily reminder of disorganization and it can continue to eat away at us. So unleash all the accumulated clutter in your home. Open your windows. Let the fresh air come in. Raid the closets of unwanted items and donate them to a local charity. Putting your home space in order will put your life back in order.
3. Eat Clean, Be Clean
Now that you began to rid the home of unwanted clutter, start to focus your attention on the philosophy, you are what you eat. Set and begin your day with the mantra "eat clean, be clean." Fuel your body with great food options. You are what you eat so why not fuel your body with natural goodness? Drink plenty of water with a twist of lemon. Eat fresh fruits and tons of veggies more often. Enjoy a smoothie filled with homegrown goodness. Juice it up daily with a glass filled with exploding vitamins. Enjoy the natural ways of eating, and make it a lifestyle change to a better way of feeling and a better way of being.
4. Get Yogafied!
Use springtime to detox your body and your life through yoga. Yup, that four letter word "yoga" is one of the best ways to rid the body of toxins. Yoga helps to calm your mind to clarity, it builds a fit vehicle for your soul and it melts away every hint of tension, which lies deep within your core. So get to a yoga class, breathe in the life force, get blissed out and twist and bend yourself back into a place of feeling good once again. Being physically active not only makes you look and feel good, it helps reduce stress levels so you can take on the rest of your day in a calm manner. Feeling good on the inside will make you glow on the outside.
De-cluttering your life from the inside out will create more room to breathe, to enjoy and to live a life filled with happiness: physically, mentally and spiritually. Clearing away the past of unwanted clutter in and out will present a future filled with clarity of mind, body and soul.
By Linda Summer
Yogini Linda Summers is a Canadian girl, a mamma to two beautiful children, Namaste Yoga Studio owner and a yogini in every aspect of her being. Linda loves living the life of a yogini on and off the mat and she teaches with the intention that each individual leaves class feeling strong and vibrant so they too can live each day to the fullest. www.lindasummersyoga.com
I love this quote. So much so that I have been reading in class all week long, in the morning when I wake up and before I go to bed. The world needs more compassion. I know how prophetic that sounds, but it’s true. And despite what you might think, compassion has to be an inside job.
Compassion is not “needing to understand” anything about or even why anyone does anything that they do. We can judge all we want. We can make assumptions. We can project our own ideas about why … but guess what? We know nothing. We have not walked a minute in anyone else’s shoes so we know nothing. Best to just hold space.
The other thing is … you are perfect. Which means, so is everyone else. You are not here to fix anyone. You are only here to love them. In all their imperfections, you are here to love them unconditionally. And oh, by the way, no one needs to fix you either, so stop looking for that outside help. Remember, compassion is an inside job.
I love that she says, “Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others.” This is so important. Know thyself. Know what you love, what you live for, what you’d die for, and what triggers the shit out of you. Because your trigger is your greatest gift. It’s the key to compassion. If it’s still triggering you, it’s something to look at with the eyes of compassion. FYI, if it’s triggering you, it’s not outside of you, it’s inside.
You know, to be completely transparent, I spent this whole week not sitting in loving compassion for the amazing life I get to participate in. No, I spent it being triggered for a moment, and yes only a moment by my mother, my ex-husband, and my former lover. I spent it looking into the mirror asking the questions:
“Where am I exhibiting this behavior? How can I shift my reality? What is real for me? How can I still love this person? And what is beautiful about this relationship that has evolved me?”
Here’s what I found:
You can experience deep love and compassion while still being able to carry on a relationship; even if it looks differently than what you want. It is possible to see the bigger picture and make decisions from that place as opposed to reacting in a moment. And sometimes, you just have to let go in deep love for yourself, because their energy field just didn’t resonate with you any longer.
Personally, self-compassion and self-love won, and propelled me into creating boundaries for myself that had to be established in response to this shift in my own reality. They didn’t need to change, my response had to change is all.
One of my favorite teachers says, “There is nothing you can do to make me love you any more than I already do. And there is nothing you can do that can make me love you less. I simply love you.” You know where you start reciting that? Yup, in the mirror … today. Start there.
By Dana Damara
“My passion on the mat is proper alignment, powerful breath and effortless flow so you feel that off your mat. Your practice becomes sacred space where you arrive to find more meaning, depth, authenticity and integrity in your life."
- Dana Damara: mother, author, yoga instructor, speaker and yogini. Visit DanaDamara.com for more inspiration from Dana.
Click here to download or stream one of Dana's YogaDownload classes!
Discernment is defined as the ability to judge well. What does that mean anyway? To judge well? I’m not sure I agree with that definition. In my humble opinion, discernment can be best described as:
a moment in time where we are offered an opportunity to know what is right for us. A moment in time when we choose what resonates deep within our heart. A moment in time when we make a choice that best suits the evolution of our soul.
I like to think of it as the space between breath and reaction. The quiet stillness between the conflict of the ego and the soul. An internal knowing of what is elevating us and what is contracting us. It’s the emotional time out we take before reacting from a patterned, triggered place.
The issues with discernment, as I see it are instant gratification and old triggers.
We have this appendage we call our phone, and it can get us the information we need right when we need it. The question is, do we really need it? And do we really need it in that moment? If we can find what we think we need, in a moment when we think we need it, are we offering up space to evaluate if we really even need it or not?
Maybe not. Then we’re left with information taking up brain space that we really didn’t need.
Old triggers … yeah, you know what I’m talking about. Something happens that’s not really in alignment with your “chi” and you fly off the handle. You say something that feels “old”, react in a way that is less than love and then you’re left standing there wondering “who the hell was that person?”
Don’t tell me you’ve never experienced these things either. I know you have.
How to remedy this? You take a breath. FYI, it’s free. And it feels good.
In that one breath, space is infinite, presence is palpable, love is emanating, and the soul is ignited. In that moment, that one moment in breath, we are offered a second to discern what is really happening. And we are better able to act from a place more in alignment with our soul.
Discerning what is real, not judging what is right. This one simple act can change the world.
Filled with robust flavors of fresh herbs, lemon and garlic, these meatballs are the perfect anecdote to the mild flavors of turkey and zucchini. If you’re new to the idea of making noodles from zucchini welcome to a whole new world! Be sure to check out my post on how to make them here.
Chimichurri is traditionally a green sauce from Argentina primarily used as a marinade for grilling steak. It’s another name for pesto, made with herbs, garlic, oil and vinegar that also pairs well with veggies, chicken and fish. It’s quite tangy so drizzle slowly at first to make sure you get the right amount to your liking.
Read on for the recipe and be sure to leave me a comment below.
With love and tangy turkey meatballs,
PS – If you’re the vegetarian among a bunch of meat eaters, serve yourself zucchini noodles with steamed veggies and kalamata olives drizzled with chimichurri. Yum!
Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles and Chimichurri Sauce
Yields 4 servings
Ingredients for chimichurri:
Ingredients for meatballs and noodles:
Instructions for chimichurri: In high-speed blender, combine vinegar, olive oil, honey, shallot, garlic, herbs, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Let stand at room temperature for about an hour or refrigerate overnight to let the flavors develop. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Instructions for meatballs: In a medium bowl, combine the turkey, garlic, lemon zest, herbs and shallot. Use your hands to combine then add a big pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Mix just until everything is combined, then wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high heat. Remove the meat from the fridge. Pinching off about 2 tablespoonfuls at a time, roll into meatballs.
Cook the meatballs until browned, flipping once (about 2 minutes per side.)
Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, then bake in the oven for 5 minutes to cook through.
Remove from the oven, and serve with the zucchini noodles and chimichurri sauce.
Instructions for zucchini noodles: In a large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium heat. Add zucchini noodles and stir for 3 to 5 minutes until warm and tender. Drizzle with chimichurri sauce.
Low back pain, three words everyone can appreciate. It is the common thread which binds all people from world-class athletes to 75-year-old grandmas. This pain can have a variety of causes, sitting too long, picking up stuff, wearing high heels, and commonly, the repetitive pounding of running.
Depending on the actual problem causing the pain, medical intervention may be necessary and if you suffer unrelenting back pain, seek medical advice. But, as with the hamstrings, low back issues are easier to prevent than they are to heal so read on.
Much low back pain can be avoided or alleviated by keeping the hips loose. The hip joint is the most stable in the body because it is surrounded by muscles on all sides, if any of them tighten up it can affect the function of the joint. The joint itself is a deep-set ball and socket, and may take a little more work to open than a shallow joint like the shoulder.
If I could only use one yoga pose it would be Pigeon. This pose is like medicine for all issues related to the low back and hip area. I use it in almost every class, for every athlete regardless of their sport, it is truly the universal solvent. The following poses are all great for establishing and maintaining flexibility in the low back, glutes and hips.
FIRST POSE- Pigeon three ways.
Pigeon, prone version. The prone version of pigeon is the most effective, but I find a lot of athletes describe it as an enhanced interrogation technique, therefore, I am going to offer three versions, choose the one that suits you.
For prone pigeon, start in downward facing dog, extend and lift your left leg behind you to level out the hips and bring the joints of the ankle, knee and hip into a line. From this cleverly named, “three-legged dog” position, bend the knee towards the center of chest and place it on the mat behind your left wrist.
Reach back with the right foot and drop the right knee cap onto the ground. Untuck the right foot and press the top of the foot into the ground.
The closer your front knee is to a right angle, the more intense this will be, so bring the foot more under your front leg the first time. Lift onto your fingertips and look at the ceiling, envision a long, straight spine.
If you are tipped to either side, correct this before you proceed. Lower down onto your forearms, and maybe stack your fists or forearms and lower your forehead down so you can rest. You are going to be here a while so get comfortable (comfort being a relative term, of course).
Hold this pose for 1-5 minutes, then repeat on the other side. Yes you read that right, 5 minutes. Close the eyes, focus on your exhales and allow your self to sink in, it will get easier after about 30-45 seconds, so stay with it.
I cannot overstate the value of this pose for any athlete. If this version seems impossible because your hips are welded shut, then try the reclined version of this pose.
Reclined Pigeon pose. Lie on your back with bent knees, feet on the ground. Place one ankle on the top of the other knee, similar to how you sit in a chair with loosely crossed legs. Raise the foot on the floor, maintaining a right angle in the leg. Reach through the triangle that is created by the legs and grasp the back of the thigh and draw the leg towards the chest. Hold this pose for 1 to 5 minutes on each side.
Another nice option is to plant the bottom of the liftted foot against a wall. Reclined pigeon fantastic pose to gently release the low back, hip, glutes and, to a lesser degree, the hip flexors and hamstrings.
SECOND POSE- Dead Bug.
Ahh Dead Bug, how I love you, your weird name guarantees laugh every time. It is great pose to release the low back and stretch the hips. Lie on your back, draw your knees toward the chest. Reach the hands inside the knees and either grab the outside edge of the foot or the big toe with your peace fingers. Draw the knees down as you aim the soles of your feet at the sky.
To get maximum benefits from this pose remember to keep your low back firmly pressed on the ground. You can rock gently from side to side if that feels good. Hold for 1 to 2 minutes.
If you are stiff and sore and only have 10 minutes to stretch, please do these poses, they will give you the most bang for your buck. I know I am not supposed to have favorites, but let’s just say I am very fond of these poses and leave it at that.
Make Time for a meal
Trying to be at the top of your game is really tough to do when you haven’t eaten, especially if you’re headed straight from the airport to a meeting or conference. I know my hosts mean well when they have cheese and cracker or fruit trays, but I can’t eat the cheese and crackers and I can’t live on fruit alone. Instead, I’ll make time to eat at one of my favorite restaurants that’s located at the Denver airport, especially if I know when I land, it will be a while before I’m able to eat again. It makes all the difference when I get there.
Plan and pack ahead
If I can, I pack food for my trips. Sometimes, it will be raw veggies for the flight so I’m not stuck with pretzels or peanuts. Sometimes, I’ll pack my Nutribullet blender (small enough to fit in a suitcase) or my shaker cup, portion out some protein powder and hit a grocery store when I arrive before getting to the hotel, to pick up almond milk, fruits and veggies to make up smoothies in the morning. I just know that the hotel breakfasts of eggs, waffles, and sugary carbs, aren’t going to have anything I can eat. I want my energy to last to lunch, not till they bring out the danish trays and coffee!
Healthy options at the airport
If I don’t have time to pack food, or stop at the restaurant in the Denver airport, or if I have Madeline with me, airport concession stands nowadays are a really good alternative. They have some really good, healthy options. The key is high protein, hydration, low salt, low sugar. I’ll pick up some protein bars, nuts, raw, fresh fruit or cut up veggies and bottled water because I know that if I go anywhere near the high calorie, processed and fast food stuff, it is going to slow me down and in no time I’m going to feel like crap. All that sugar, fat and salt are going to bloat you and dehydrate you simultaneously, and then you’re going to do is crash. If you’re an omnivore, go for the lean, low-salt meats like chicken or turkey. Your digestive tract and energy will thank you.
Knowing my destination
Boulder is such a healthy city, filled with vegan, organic, healthy restaurants and grocery stores. But when I leave, especially when I go overseas, it’s all about meat. Almost the entire center of the United States is meat and potato country. When I know I’m going to places like that, I research the grocery stores, the restaurants, and spend time preparing for where and how I’m going to eat. If I come up with really limited options, it is a guarantee that I will be packing my protein powder and shaker cup. If I’m going to be gone for just a day or two, I’ll use the time as an opportunity for a juice cleanse, then it’s super easy!
Fit in a little exercise
I used to be super neurotic about exercise, obsessed with getting a full workout even when I was traveling. But that’s even harder to do than eating right, so I work out hard before I leave and when I get back and just try to take the travel as a break, to focus on getting done what I can. If it’s a long trip, I’ll bring my running shoes and try to get on a treadmill or go for a walk on the beach. If I’m visiting someone I’ll ask to go to a yoga class. Even 30 minutes on an elliptical machine is something, and it usually helps me to relax a little from all the craziness of a trip.
You’re not always going to be able to eat healthy when you’re traveling, so when you get home, be kind to your body. Lay off the sugar, salt and caffeine and detox your body with a few days of smoothies, rehydrate with a bunch of water and a few drops of peppermint oil to fight inflammation. Most of all, be gentle to yourself.
Got any tricks for surviving travel diet? Share them on the YogaDownload comment section or on my Facebook page.
By Hayley Hobson
With her unique specialization in the combination and complement of pilates, nutrition and yoga, Hayley offers a cocktail of lifestyle changes that produce real and lasting results. Hayley is a columnist for Elephant Journal and has been featured in Pilates Style Magazine, Natural Health Magazine and Triathlete Magazine. She currently lives in Boulder, CO with her husband, former world-ranked triathlete, Wes Hobson and their two beautiful daughters, Makenna and Madeline. Read more about Hayley and check out her new book at HayleyHobson.com
Core Yoga 4
Suffice it to say, I am a lamb chop neophyte. I’ve never cooked lamb chops. I’ve never shopped for them either. Thank goodness for the Whole Foods butcher who gave me a thorough education on the many different cuts of lamb available (I gave him my six heads look again), and to lamb in general, which is notoriously simple to cook (right up my alley!).
Lamb is a great source of protein, iron and zinc. It also delivers a healthy dose of vitamin B12, selenium, and niacin. To get the most nutrients out of your lamb, go beyond organic by asking for 100% grass-fed. That will help ensure that you’re getting all the healthy omegas. If you purchase a rack of lamb and cut it in between the bones, you get lamb chops (who knew?), which are apparently the most tender and least fatty of all the cuts. They’re also best medium to medium-rare, so be careful not to overcook them.
Thank you to my hubbie and 5-year-old, the meat lovers in my household, for the help with this week’s recipe. It was a new one for us and turned out to be the easiest meat dish I’ve ever been so glad to make. I hope you enjoy it too!
Be sure to leave me a comment below. Do you love lamb? How else do you prepare it? Lamb stew may be next up on my list of challenges.
With love and mad chops, Jules
Yields: 4 lamb chops
Directions:
Preheat the broiler on high and move rack 3 to 4 inches from heat source. Place a cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet on the rack about 10 minutes before your ready to cook the meat.
Cut the clove of garlic in half and rub it over both sides of the lamb chops. Sprinkle both sides with rosemary, sea salt and black pepper.
Broil the lamb chops for 2 minutes per side or until nicely browned on both sides. Serve with roasted carrots, steamed asparagus and a large garden fresh salad.
KenK (technically my stepdad) and I have had a checkered past, one that (for various reasons I go into a deeper degree in my book Outlaw Protocol) - had locked us into an ongoing story of conflict.
From verbal to physical altercations, we had fought our way to a place where we were on the brink of never caring to see one another again.
The story that had its hooks in us went something like this:
- My stepdad/son is an @sshole who doesn't respect me.
- When I see him next he will act like an @sshole.
- I will then respond by acting in kind…
The story proved true time and time again. Until we realized that a story was writing itself in our minds. One who's truthfulness we had both become identified with to the point where being right had become more important than having a relationship with each other.
Had KenK been an @sshole in the past? Yes.
Had I been an @sshole in the past? Oh yeah.
But that it could be different in the present popped into my head one night (I had popped a few substances into my head – unknowingly breaking this constant, conflict creating stream of self-perpetuating story).
In that space grace was allowed to emerge in the form of a maybe. Just a maybe – and not anything close to a probably – “maybe the next time we met, things would be different” went the new line of story.
Written on a fresh page free of the stale prose of the past this new line, carefully and consciously crafted, was all it took to get the old hook out of my mind.
In the space of maybe a new narrative of possibility emerged. One in which KenK proved more patient, forgiving, and far more cool than he ever had before. He did this by being willing to step out of the suffocating story of our past and onto a new page in our present.
"Want to play music in yoga class with me Friday night?" I asked him in our new story.
He arched his eyebrows at me, shrugged, and finally nodded. "Sure, what the hell."
In that instant we reclaimed the unique responsibility for the authorship of our lives…
We spent three hours on a set list and then went in and brought the house down. The next week a hundred students showed up...the week after that another hundred.
Since that day over three years ago we have continued to put the power of our presence into writing a new story.
There’s still conflict – he won’t play Sweet Home Alabama no matter how often I ask – but we never fail to remind one another that the basis of our new story is our love and respect for one another, that we are committed to this new story, a story that evolves every day and does not fall prey to the tales of the past.
In that space we have forged a friendship that will last and a class experience that is unsurpassed (thanks largely to the fact that my ol' man is a helluva rock n' rolla' as evidenced in his new studio CD Everything So Beautiful). His new record features 10 original songs, some inspired directly by the yoga community that helped to community fund it and flows and grows to it across the country and, increasingly thanks to Yogadownload, around the world. It features several amazing yogi/musicians, boasts a grammy winning producer, and is available at outlawyoga.com.
Click here to check out the free 25 minute preview of The Power of Our Stories or take the full practice if you have the time, but either way feel free take a page out of our book and consider where a little maybe – just a maybe, not a probably – could help you craft a new story around someone in your life today.
At the end of the day, you might be wrong…you might actually be right about how awful your mom is, or how right you are about your boss being an @sshole.
But consideration costs us nothing...and its lack can cost us everything.
By Justin Kaliszewski
Justin Kaliszewski is a reformed meat-head and former amateur cage fighter. He brings a lifetime of travel and world's worth of experience in battling the ego to the mat. An avid student, artist, and treasure hunter, he infuses a creativity and perseverance into his teachings, along with a distinct blend of humor and wisdom that redefines what it means to be an Outlaw and a yogi...He teaches Outlaw Yoga across the country and is happy to call Denver home for now. Author of Outlaw Protocol: how to live as an outlaw without becoming a criminal, you can find him at www.outlawyoga.com.
People tend to think about Valentine’s Day only in terms of their romantic relationship. It you’re in a hot and steamy romantic love relationship, you’re a Valentine’s Day winner. If you’re single or otherwise living a less than Fifty Shades of Grey existence, well, you know.
To us, practicing Radical Self Love is taking time to slow down and honor what you really need. Whether it’s taking yourself out on a date to get a pedicure or a massage or going for a walk with a best friend – find a way to love and nourish YOU today.
Below is a recipe for a Carob Hazelnut Cheesecake, compliments of our partner restaurant Zeal. It’s hands-down, better than a hot date but just as good shared with the ones you love.
Enjoy this scrumptiously decadent dessert this week and celebrate all that you love.
Ingredients for the crust: ½ cup hazelnuts ½ cup pecans 1/2 cup dried dates (pitted and soaked for 20 min) 1/4 cup shredded coconut shredded Pinch of sea salt
Ingredients for the filling: 3 cups raw cashews (soaked for at least 4 hours) 2/3 cup sweetener of choice (maple syrup or honey) 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon Juice 3/4 cup coconut oil (melted) 3/4 cup carob powder 2 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 cup water
Directions for the crust: In a food processor fitted with an S-blade, blend nuts until fine. Add in dates, coconut and salt until well combined. Transfer to a 9-inch cake pan and using your hands press down the mixture so it’s evenly spread. Put in the freezer for later use.
Directions for the filling: In a food processor fitted with an S-blade (or a high-speed blender) blend cashews, sweetener, lemon juice, coconut oil, carob and vanilla until well combined. Add the water slowly (you may not need to use all of it) until you reach your desired consistency. It should be nice creamy. Pour into the crust and place in the freezer over night. Serve cold.
By Julie Pelaez
“To create” … “to bring forth”.
But manifesting can be so challenging can’t it? You want to know why it’s so challenging? Because we try too hard. We don’t allow for the seed to take root and then show up at it’s own pace. We hurry it along and wait impatiently sometimes for it to show up when we feel it is time.
You see, most often when we “want” to manifest something, we say things like, “I want this, or I want that.” But what happens when we use the words I want or I need …. It just creates more lack.
The Universe likes to mirror itself. It can’t wait to deliver to you what you desire. But you have to use the proper language. You must state it as if it is already present. You must feel it as if it is already yours. And then it will show up when it is time… and not a moment before.
Think of it as planting a seed within your deepest creative self. The idea comes from the soul and it must be planted and then tended to. But with just the right amount of love, attention, intention and ambition… and not an ounce more. Because the other part to manifesting is allowing. Allowing the seed to sprout when it wants, and grow at it’s own pace.
So we sit back and allow … and we trust … and we do our thing while manifestation happens behind the scenes.
You see, here’s the deal… we are creating in every moment. Every thought we have starts the manifestation process. If that thought makes it out of your mouth and is verbalized, it’s even more potent. And Goddess look out if you write it down … it’s here. In some dimension it’s here. You just have to believe that and wait for it to show up.
And from what I have experienced … when we truly let go, when we completely allow, we are gifted with a miracle. One that our little brains could have never imagined. Not in a million years. So what do we do then to manifest?
State it … believe it … feel it and then allow it. Easy. You got this.
In January 2010, I truly felt that I was living my dream. I had exited corporate America the year prior and was happily balancing teaching yoga full-time with a blossoming writing career. I was in a relationship with the man of my dreams, living close to the ocean. To put it simply, I was happy. Out of the blue, I found a lump in my breast. I was shocked and devastated, especially because I had a clear mammogram three months earlier. I was healthy, fit and felt invincible.
Over the course of that year, I endured three surgeries, six rounds of aggressive chemotherapy and almost two months of daily radiation. I balanced out this assault on my body with a primarily plant-based diet filled with anti-oxidants, daily exercise, acupuncture and most importantly, yoga. My doctors often commented that I was their “superwoman patient” because I never got really nauseous through chemo and seemed to maintain a comparatively high level of energy during treatment. Don’t get me wrong: many days I was exhausted and despondent. Despite the fluctuations in my energy levels, I continued to teach most of my yoga classes and got certified to teach Yoga for Cancer Therapy while undergoing chemotherapy myself.
Cancer attacks your body, but it also attacks your mental well-being. Conventional medicine is aimed at destroying the physical symptoms of the cancer, but can fail to address the significant effects cancer has on the mind and spirit. Yoga addresses the entire person.
The specialized yoga for cancer recovery classes I offer are designed to both create strength and flexibility and encourage relaxation. Additionally, my intention is to empower my students to help themselves.
Practicing yoga during treatment and recovery will provide the following benefits:
• Learning to handle side-effects of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation • Experiencing healing techniques for the mind, body and spirit • Boosting energy, improving mood, learning relaxation and breathing techniques to combat fatigue, stress and pain • Restoring flexibility, strength, and range of motion, and enhancing lymphatic flow, digestion and circulation
I am passionate about sharing this gift with others going through any type of cancer. In addition to teaching Yoga for Cancer Recovery classes, I created two Yoga for Cancer Recovery videos to reach a broader audience and facilitate safe yoga practice at home, as well as recently publishing my memoir Come Ride with Me Along the Big C to help others on this journey by sharing my story.
It worked for me and can work for you.
By Claire Petretti Marti
Claire began teaching Yoga for Cancer Recovery in 2010, while she was undergoing treatment for Stage 2 breast cancer. Practicing and teaching yoga were vital components in her journey back to radiant health. Yoga provided Claire a sanctuary in which to heal and she is excited to be able to share this with others undergoing treatment or in recovery. Claire teaches Yoga for Cancer Recovery classes in Denver at Kindness Yoga, works with clients privately in their homes or in the hospital, and offers her DVD, Yoga for Cancer Recovery for those she cannot reach personally. Visit www.oceansoulyoga.com
Click here to download or stream one of Claire's YogaDownload classes!
You notice a tightness in your shoulder that evolves to a full on crick in your neck by the time you get the pants on. You just want to go back to bed now, but you have to get to your appointment. So off you go, rushing to make it on time.
At your destination, you are greeted and ushered into a large lecture hall with a waiting audience where you see the title of the lecture on the board, “The role of ketosis in metabolic syndrome for male recreational endurance athletes aged 40-45.” You freeze, not knowing what to do, feeling hundreds of pairs of eyes on you, expectantly waiting for your wise words to begin.
Could you feel the limitation between struggling to get into the pants and the crick in the neck? The limitation of being late? The lack of desire to fulfill your commitment by wanting to go back to bed? The limitation of lack of knowledge when standing in the lecture hall? The fear of what to do?
Congratulations! You managed to engage the core 5 limitations or kanchukas within the first two hours of your imaginary morning. Kanchukas are limitations that are experienced within the illusion or maya of your life.
Let me back up and explain the illusion. We lose our memory of our truest essence, the Divine infinite being we are, when we chose to dim or hide our light. This is often the moment as a child when we’re just being our bright, beautiful self and we run into the illusion of another person, causing us to perceive that if we don’t contract, we risk safety, acceptance, and love. For example when a child is being their innocent, pure, curious self and engages their parent to play only to be met with a terse, “Not now, can’t you see I’m busy?” There is a momentary confusion. The child internalizes this reaction and personalizes it. In order to get the love and acceptance he is used to, he makes a mental note to be careful and not interrupt.
This mental note becomes a marker on a map the mind uses to guide you. Consider it an internal GPS. Thoughts and beliefs begin to form from this marker. It will affect how that child shows up in the future.
In Shivate Tantra, Lord Shiva, choses to partake in the illusion as a form of Godly Play. How deeply can Shiva contract and can he find his way back out of the contract, back into his infinite being?
I suspect we do this play, too. We already know we are infinite, so what’s it like to be limited or finite? And further, what would it be like to contract so fully, that we allow ourself to forget our true being so much that it feels REAL?
The illusion is built upon 5 core limitations: limited ability or capacity limited knowledge limited time limited body or space scarcity They feel like this: Every time you get trapped in the , “Yeah, but how? Using an excuse for not being able to do what aligns with your true nature- from practicing unconditional love to a self-yoga practice to eating pure. All the ways you think you don’t know enough- I need to get another certification or learn more before I start teaching or working in my field. I have a client that is convinced she has to have a degree in order to be taken seriously. But does she take herself seriously without the degree? She certainly doesn’t trust her knowledge and gifts! The sense of scarcity. While this is actually translated desire, it’s probably more accurately around that sense of wanting/needing more to be happy, safe, accepted, and loved. Using time as an excuse- so either not having enough time or putting stuff off till later. Also, living in the past or the future is a time limitation. Bodily limitations- weight, pain, disease, judgement. Looking outside of yourself for safety, acceptance, and love. Comparison-itis. As you read those, you may have recognized how you have dances in the shadows under of your illusion or maya. As we become aware of all the ways we create limitations, we may be tempted to take on shame and guilt, perhaps shirk responsibility all together and blame others for our life challenges.
Knowing this is your own creation and there are divine qualities within it, are you willing to be okay with what shows up in the maya? I think this transcends forgiveness because it allows us to simply accept where we are in each and every moment, sans judgment. It allows us to simply be with what we have chosen to think, do, believe, and look honestly at our perceptions. This space provides and opportunity to springboard beyond the illusion into a sense of profound peace.
I think that we have so many layers built into the illusion we create that they come up for clearing in waves. It would be overwhelming to heal everything at once. Honestly, where’s the Godly play in that anyway? We will always have opportunities to achelmize our limitations back into light and love. It’s a matter of if we are ready to release from that layer of the illusion or not. It’s always a choice.
For me, recognizing the limitations I have created and exploring those shadows with light and love has afforded me a great deal of freedom from the burden of suffering. This perception also allows me to not take things quite as seriously because I recognize we all delight in this Godly form of play to some degree or another. My life has been enriched with more compassion and love than I could ever have imagined even five years ago. Perhaps this is Grace.
The next time that you catch yourself engaging in your own illusions, pause and ask yourself if what you are feeling is real. If you think it is, challenge it further. If it is not, then pivot. This is your power of expanding outward from your contracted illusion. You do have the power and you are worthy of transcending your illusion.You simply have to choose.
By Wendy Reese
Wendy Reese is a lifestyle strategist who specializes in whole being, author, and RYT-200 (currently pursuing her advanced training) with 13 years of teaching experience. You can find more and do the free 7 day lifestyle detox at www.wholebeinginc.com/detox Visit www.wholebeinginc.com/detox
I think it is important to have a base understanding of how the leg is put together. Like how you should know your car’s basic components, not so you can fix it, but so you have a better chance of maintaining it and realizing when something is wrong before it completely breaks down.
With that in mind, the quad consists of four muscles stationed at the front of the thigh. Their partners in crime are the hamstrings which are three muscles at the back of the upper leg. When the leg is bent, the hamstring contracts, conversely when the leg is straight the quad contracts.
Runners have highly developed quads and hamstrings, and are usually tight as piano wire. They also often have over-developed quads which wear out the hamstrings, causing exhaustion related issues like strains. “Pulling a hammie” is every athlete’s worst nightmare and to be clear, hamstring injuries are far easier to prevent than they are to heal.
The IT band (IT short for iliotibial) is a thick tendon which connects the muscle at the outer side of the hip to the outer side of the shinbone, just below the knee. When the IT band is tight, it increases the tension on the sides of the hip and knee, causing a weird pain on the outside of the knee.
The following three poses help establish and maintain flexibility in these important components of the leg.
FIRST POSE- Fixed Firm Pose
Anyone who has dealt with a child who does not want to be picked up (generally around naptime) is familiar with the phenomena of children going boneless. One minute your child is standing like a normal little human, then next thing you know, they are a puddle on the floor. This pose reminds me of that.
Fixed firm allows you to multi-task, it has all the elements of Hero’s pose for ankle extension, but adds a nice quad stretch, as well as a controlled bind for the knees and ankles. I explain the theory of binding to my clients like this. Think of a water hose, when you crimp the hose you close down the flow of water. When you release the crimp, the water rushes back flushing anything clogging up the hose.
Now think of your knee and ankle joints. If we close down the blood flow to the area for a brief period of time, when you release the bind, fresh blood will flow into the joints and hopefully, flush any congestion in the area, leaving you with freshly restored joints. That being said, this is not a pose you would use on surgically repaired knees.
To get into fixed firm, kneel down, sitting on your heels, on a block or other support. If you can, separate your heels and let your backside settle in, on, or close to the floor. Make sure your toes are aimed directly backward.
Start to lean back, you will feel the stretch intensify. If you are pain-free, go ahead and come back on your hands, and then your elbows. I don’t recommend going beyond the elbows because you hit a point of diminishing returns and it is really embarrassing to get stuck and to have to call for help.
Hold for about 30 seconds and then slowly reverse course coming out of the pose. Then, come up on hands and knees and start to extend and bend the knees, roll out the ankles and feel the blood rush back into those areas.
SECOND POSE- Runner’s Lunge Set
I know “Runner’s Lunge” is a little on the nose as a recommendation for runners, but this series of poses stretch the quads, hamstrings and IT band, so it really is aptly named. I never said I would be breaking news here.
For the first pose come into a forward fold, plant both hands on the ground and step back with your left foot. Drop the back knee down and pad the knee with a folded up towel or shirt, trust me, you will thank me later.
Make sure the knee is above or slightly behind the ankle. Bring both hands to the inside of the front foot, you can stay here, drop your forearms down on a block, or maybe, bring forearms to the floor. Drop your chin towards the chest to get a stretch in the upper back, and close your eyes and breath. Hold for 30-45 seconds before moving to the second pose.
Runner's lunge, second pose. This second pose will get further into the IT band. From Runner’s lunge first pose, plant your left hand firmly on the ground and rotate the torso towards the inside of the bent knee. Rest your hand on top your knee and settle in.
If that feels OK, extend your right hand towards to sky. If you want to move further into this pose, drop your hand behind your back with the back side of the hand pressed into the middle of the low back and look towards your back foot. Don’t hold your breath, hold the pose for 30 seconds.
Runner’s lunge set, third position. Now lets bring the quads into the equation. From the starting pose, plant the left hand firmly, rotate the torso into the knee and reach back to grasp the back foot and draw it towards the backside. If this seems impossible, try using a strap (necktie, belt, leash, etc.) wrap it around the back ankle and bring it as close as you can.
At this point, feel free to thank me for insisting you pad your knee. Hold until you feel yourself start to accept the pose without struggle, hopefully 30 seconds but possibly less. Release the foot, tuck the back toe and step up to forward fold and repeat the series on the other side.
THIRD POSE- Half Split set.
This pose is all about the hamstring. As you straighten the leg, the hamstring is forced to extend. Whenever I say “half split” in class, everybody panics, trust me, it’s not that bad. The second variation of this pose, prompts the IT band to extend.
From a lunge position start to straighten the front leg, pulling the hips into line, as if you have a roller coaster lap bar pushing them back. Allow the toes to aim at the sky and settle in. If you feel OK, start to hinge forward at the hips, reaching for the floor to steady yourself. Hold for about 30 seconds.
Return to an upright position, then allow the toes to fall to the outside, this will rotate the inner part of your knee upward and you should feel it in the outside of hip. That is your IT band talking to you.
Again, if you feel good, start to hinge forward to intensify the stretch. Keep a micro-bend in that front leg if you feel like you are hyper-extending those tendons at the back of the knee. Hold for about 30 seconds.
With these three sets of poses, you will establish and maintain flexibility in the quads, hamstrings and IT band. Adding flexibility to the strength of this area will give you more power and help you take your running the next level.
By Tara Kestner
Previously published on Next Level Yoga's Blog
Tara Kestner is a registered yoga instructor who specializes in working with athletes of all levels. She designs programs based on specific sport requirements and challenges. Utilizing the principle that strength plus flexibility equals power, her classes give athletes the tools they need to enhance their performance. Tara is the owner of Next Level Yoga, Ltd., in Toledo, Ohio.
Practice some of our YogaDownload running themed yoga classes:
Yoga for Runners 2 - Jennifer Lux
Runners - Keep Running! - Celest Pereira
I am learning that the more we think about chasing our dreams and what that actually entails, the more likely we will never listen to our hearts. There’s too many messages, or expectations, that we have been told over the years. It’s as if we are to get a good education and that will land us a great job and then we can put our feet up. Get married. Have children. Be happy. Sound familiar? It’s almost like a hamster wheel to me. We tell ourselves that when we get that job, or when we settle down, or when we are successful, or when we are making X amount of dollars, that’s when life begins.
Life is now. NOW. You are breathing it all in and breathing it all out. As humans, we create. We are never finished creating. So there will be no putting our feet up. Here’s the catch: we create from our present moment. So if you are de-valuing your now, by saying “when I get…. when I have…” then life will begin or then I will be happy. Guess what? You are creating your future from a place of devaluing your now. Good luck with that one.
I’m literally lost. Chasing my own dreams. Making the leap from a full time job, with benefits and a consistent paycheck, to the unknown. Now I am nose deep and now I know why more people don’t do this sort of thing. Yet have you ever stopped to think that we all have our own unique gift? And if we don’t stop to tune in to what we are passionate about and what are we offering to this world?
For those of us who have our hearts tugging at our lives, I want you to know this: You are limitless. We oftentimes put so many boundaries on ourselves. If we don’t fit into the square box of a well paying job and white picket fence, then something must be wrong.
If you decide to go after your dreams, you will get lost. And it will be hard. But your heart will be happier. You will be giving it the attention that it yearns for. After all, this world drowns out our inner voice. We are being whisked around on a daily basis from point A to point B, try to cross off items on our to-do list, to arrive home overwhelmed or exhausted, to lather, rinse and then repeat the next day.
So how do we find out true north? We know what we want to do. Yet we are so distracted by all of the choices, the expectations and our current predicaments.
1. Action. First thing is first. If you have something you are passionate about doing, you must take action. I recently had a student on one of my yoga retreats that was a life coach. She so kindly gave me a free session and I told her I wanted to leave my job within 5 years. She laughed and said I would never leave if I had such a lengthy timeline. We narrowed it down to 2 years. That was 8 months ago. I am scheduled to leave my current full time job within the next few months. My point? When you put things into action, shit gets done. You fuel the fire. You feed your heart. And you start to slowly realize that, you are capable.
2. Get lost. Feel lost. We need to experience the full spectrum of sentiments in order to appreciate their opposite. Not only that, but sometimes we need to figure out what we don’t want in order to get really clear with what we do want. Therefore, we need to get lost so that we have a clear understanding of where our true north lies.
3. Accept. Accept that this journey is not easy and in so many ways. People close to you will question you. People might not welcome your path. You are jumping and you are unsure of where you will fall. And when you fall, will you land on your feet, in a golden net, or with broken legs? You will get lost. You will feel lost. Yet it’s part of the process. We must accept the process because the more we push, the more resistance we create and resistance equates to stress. Accept that things will not be easy. Accept that you will grieve. The more you can accept that this will be a roller coaster, the more and more trust you put into your capabilities. Do you see the pattern here? More and more you will see how amazingly strong and capable you are, which is a necessity when chasing your dreams.
4. Stick to your guns. Your ego, your family and your current predicament will challenge you. You will wonder what he hell you are doing sometimes. Actually, you will wonder what the hell you are doing a lot of the time. But bring yourself back to the why. The passion. The reason for doing what you truly want to do. That is your foundation and it will always be there to lead you in the direction you are meant to be going. If you can back yourself up with a rhyme and a reason, most people will leave you alone.
5. Trust. Will you have enough? Always. Does the universe provide? Always. I know what you are thinking: “But what if I can’t pay my bills?”. It’s all about re-establishing your relationship with your life. Maybe it’s time to sell some things. Maybe it’s time to make a strict budget. Maybe it’s time to appreciate the simple things in life and know that you have everything you need. The more you trust, the more you will be accepting and willing to take action. All of these steps are intertwined.
6. Re-establish your relationship with the F word. It’s so easy to get caught up in the fear that will present itself on a daily basis. Fear wants you to get caught up because the more you get caught up, the more you won’t chase your dreams. Fear wants you to believe that you are not capable. Being fearless does not mean you experience no fear. It means you are shit scared but you move forward anyway. Trust that you are exactly where you need to be in life. Things are presented to you to challenge and shape who you are. If we could really put our feet up, life would be boring. If we could really put our feet up, on what caliber could you appreciate things?
What are you passionate about? Your heart is calling. Are you listening?
By Meredith Cameron
Learning that she and we are more capable than we give ourselves credit for, Meredith Cameron creates space for students to reach out, dig deeper, and not take themselves too seriously. An advocate for creating the life we live, Meredith is influenced by her teachers, Shannon Paige and Nancy Kate Rau, what the world throws on her lap, her travels, and her daily interactions with others. All of this, infuses freedom into her teachings, allowing students to feel their own sense of empowerment. Visit www.mcameronyoga.com/blog.
With the front foot firmly planted slightly in front, it’s as if the foot is planted into the vision of the future, like you’re taking a step forward. The back foot presses down, rooted in the wisdom and experiences of your past. Both feet root firmly down, connecting to the wisdom of the earth. The front knee is bent, providing a softness to the asana, it also builds strength in the leg. The back leg is extended, providing support and a gentle reminder to remain flexible with the food placement when the gastrocnemeus (or calf) is too tight to allow the heel to place down on the floor.
The hips face forward and all seven chakras align on top of one another to allow the flow of energy. They face forward, too, as if presenting the magnificence and brilliance that is you. As the spine lengthens and grows, the breath becomes fuller.
The arms reach up, a power pose according to associate Harvard professor and TED speaker, Amy Cuddy. Reaching up, energetically they are connecting to the energy of the cosmos, the vastness and infinite possibilities that exist.
This powerful asana can be partnered with what Swami Shankarananda calls “G- statements” in his book, Consciousness Is Everything: the yoga of Kasmir Shaivism:
I am Consciousness I have Divine power in me I am a Divine infinite being.
Notice the energy that flows through your body as you practice this powerful partnership. If there is any part of you who feels a sense of doubt while practicing, allow yourself to be with that doubt. Where is it rooted? If you were to search your deepest, wisest knowing, would you find the doubt to be true? Ask your highest Self to give you proof of your G-statement, rather than blindly following the doubt. This is where miracles can happen.
Try one of following YogaDownload Classes:
Foundations of Yoga - Jackie Casal Mahrou
Quicky Stretch & De-stress - Celest Pereira
If you are one of these diehards, you are probably no stranger to tendonitis, plantar fascitis, shin splints and sore calf muscles. A basic yoga program can help prevent injury, and should that fail, promote recovery from a variety of running related maladies so read on…. In this series, The Fast & the Flexible, I am going to address the specific needs of runners, one section of the body at a time. I will suggest a few poses which will help any runner improve their performance, prevent injury and promote recovery, and hopefully take their running to the next level. First up, feet, ankles and calves. The feet are probably the most under-rated appendage we have. Here are some fun facts: the feet contain 25% percent of all the bones in our body; each foot has 26 bones, 33 muscles, 31 joints and over 100 ligaments; and, finally, the feet have over 250,000 sweat glands (Gads! that explains a lot). These are very complex pieces of machinery, and need a little attention to keep them running smoothly (pun intended). HERO’S POSE In my previous post, What Every Soccer Coach Should Know about Yoga, I detail Hero’s Pose with toes tucked and un-tucked. This is a runner’s first line of defense against shin splints and plantar fascitis. Any serious runner should practice this pose several times a week, it is easy to do while watching TV, reading or if you are like my husband, while playing Call of Duty. Virtually anyone who runs knows the pain of a shin splint, it is an inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue around your tibia. Shin splints can put you out of training for weeks until they heal, and if you simply go back to your program without adding some flexibility conditioning, the likelihood of re-injury is very high. Plantar Fascitis is inflammation of the tissue in the sole of the foot that causes pain when you put weight or pressure on the foot. Both fascitis and shin splints are generally caused by repetitive motion activities. The Hero’s pose series will help gain flexibility and increased blood flow to the ankles and feet which can help you avoid these issues. The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body. It connects your calf muscles to your heel bone and is used when you walk, run, and jump. Although the Achilles tendon can withstand great stresses from running, it is also prone to tendonitis, a condition associated with overuse and degeneration. Upright Frog, (which also goes by the name garland pose, or the less dignified, “squat”) is a great pose to condition the Achilles tendon, while stretching the calf and opening the feet, it is the trifecta for the lower leg. UPRIGHT FROG Stand at the top of your mat with your toes angled out so that the balls of your feet on the floor while your heels remain on the mat. With me so far? Bend your knees slightly and bring the palms of your hands together. Place your elbows on the insides of the knees and flatten out your back. This may be where you stop, but for those intrepid “soles” (ahh puns, the comic currency of the immature, I love them) ready to venture on, you will start to allow your hips to sink down. The key here is to keep your heels firmly on the mat, if they start to lift, back out a bit, take a few breaths and test it again. It may take several tries before you obtain the flexibility in your ankles to get all the way down. Under no circumstances should you force your way into this pose, you will hurt yourself and frankly that is simply counter-productive. And here you are, in the elegant and ever so dignified Upright Frog pose. Try to stay here for 30-45 seconds, taking deep breaths to ease the discomfort. CROSS LEG FORWARD FOLD The “calf muscle” is made up of three separate muscles which unite to form the Achilles tendon. The calf seems to be the one area most runners know to stretch, unfortunately they do it half-heartedly. We have all seen that guy pressing against a wall or tree with one foot back, he stands there for about 10 seconds and BAM he’s off. Good luck fella, I won’t be surprised when I run pass you later as you are standing next to the trail grabbing your lower leg. Calves need a good long, gentle stretch. Never leverage your heel down while standing on a step, the force on your Achilles is too much and you will probably strain something. Instead, give Cross Leg Forward Fold a try. Stand with your feet hip distance apart, then cross over one foot, lining up the knees. Hinge forward at the hips and bring your hands to your front knee and flatten your back. Stay here for a few breaths and then, on your exhales, start working your hands down the shin and maybe to the floor or to a block. When you get to your furthest extension, pause and check in with your hips. We tend to let the hips fall back in the pose, so make sure your keeping the hips up over the ankles to avoid putting too much pressure on the back of the knee. Hang out here and breathe for 60-90 seconds. If you can commit to 10 minutes a couple of times a week to do the Hero’s set, Upright Frog and Cross Leg Forward fold, I can almost guarantee you will decrease or completely eliminate lower leg injuries from your running experience. Now what I can’t do is teach you to wear a coat when you decide you must run in 30 degree weather, that one is on you.
We veer off course because we allow our mind to go onto auto-pilot or over-drive listening to everything that’s “out there”. We co-mingle the beating of our own heart with the beating of another. We bump into other souls on their journey and ride-along their path for awhile. Only to re-member our own journey is what feeds our soul, not the path of another.
We are subject to more information in one day that people just over 100 years ago, assimilated throughout their entire life. We can’t possibly keep up with the whisper of our heart.
Or can we?
Yes … yes we can.
We stop and listen and we listen often. We drop what we are doing and listen with our hearts, not our minds. We ask for a cue, a guide, a drop of nectar that fuels our movement forward and our ascension upward so we can be more of who we are in as many moments as possible.
So I ask you … with all that you have happening in your life in this moment, can you take a breath and drop into stillness. Can you sit for a moment and breathe and hear the whisper of your heart. What is it telling you? When you ask your heart, where can I expand, where can I grow, where can I open; what does it say?
Is there a situation in your life right now that requires your attention and care? Something that will offer you an opportunity to expand into a version of yourself that is more connected to Source and not just on auto-pilot-patterns. What is one word that you can cultivate to do that? To be more aware, more present, more alive, more aligned with who you are.
When I look at my life I see my heart … it’s right there on my sleeve all the time. I look at my day-to-day and I am astounded by how quickly I manifest and how lovely this life is. I am always awestruck… always. And when I manifest situations that from the outside, seem like a struggle, I re-member the call of my heart. My heart called that in because it’s just as beautiful as what I label as beautiful.
It too has the power to open up and expand in ways I can’t imagine for myself. Those three words guide us and we have the opportunity to see them, experience them and embody them in every single situation.
What are you words? I’ve decided that while I have words for the year, I also am observing mine on a “moon-cycle” time line now. So much happens in that time. I know one that is resonating so deep into my heart I feel like it will be here forever …beyond all time.
That’s trust. Trust that all is working out in divine time. Trust that relationships will flourish into what they are meant to and that they may not be around forever. Trust in that too. Trust that there is enough; trust that you are enough. Trust that Thy will is much more beautiful that your own will. Trust in the Universe.
That’s my big word.
Others … divine guidance, empowered grace, deep intimacy. I know, it’s more than three and there’s adjectives before them. So I’m a bit dramatic sometimes …so what.
Find your words, write them down, experience them, embody them and then observe them showing up almost every single day.
Because I’ve decided that’s what really matters. The fire in your belly; the thing you would die for; the insane amount of love that overflows from you when you allow yourself to be vulnerable and trust. It’s crazy really once you decide to live like this. A bit chaotic at first but grounding does wonders. You know this but I’ll remind you: Who you are is not the “likes” you get on your FB page, or how many Insty followers you have, or even what people say about you in your testimonials on your site or to your face. I want to know who you are in the face of transformation. Who are you when you think your life is heading down one road and all of a sudden it takes a sharp left turn? Who are you in the face of adversity? Do you fall into fear? Stand alone and become the victim? Who are you while you stand in prosperity and abundance? Do you honor your strengths and how you got there? Do you remember those individuals who lifted you up and held your hand? When you have more than enough, do you share? I stepped into this New Year as strong as hell … ready to take on the world. Excited … elated … refreshed and clear about my path. Radiant to be honest. Truth be told, my life is fantastic and I bow in gratitude every single morning before I ever leave my room. Because it wasn’t always like this and I know what a gift love is. After four years of reorganizing, crying, doubting and struggling to remain in my space of light and love, I can finally say that I am “there”. And it feels amazing! I have my faith, my friends, my daughters and the light of the Goddess to thank. Five days into the New Year I was knocked to my knees unexpectedly. Why? Because it was time for me to truly stand in my truth and really BE the pillar of strength that I am when I stand on my mat. You see, it’s easy to stand in strength when we are “doing what we do”. It’s easy to BE that when it’s an image to uphold or an idea to fulfill or even an example to set. But at the end of the day, when the lights go out, or someone pulls the “wool over our eyes” and we are attacked to our core, that is when we truly see who we are, what we stand for and what we are made of. Do we forget the amazing magic and fall into the darkness? No, we keep moving … and moving into the light nonetheless. We re-member our infinite light and love and we keep moving in THAT direction. EVERY SINGLE THING that happens TO us happens for us. And we are ALWAYS being called to stand in a deeper integrity and truth of who we are with MORE grace and compassion than we can imagine we hold. What do I stand for? Truth. Integrity. Follow through. Freedom. Justice. Love. Yes, all of that. And you know what? That hasn’t changed about me since as far back as I can remember. And you know what else? It’s flippin’ challenging to stand in that sometimes, especially when someone you have loved for so long takes that and challenges you to your core. How do I handle it? With love, grace and understanding? Sure. I’ll bow to it all with gratitude. And oh, by the way, I won’t forget my sword that cuts through the bullshit with fierce compassion and authentic new boundaries either. We are always changing... always evolving and hopefully elevating our Selves to a level that represents a higher vibration of who we are in the light. And remember, the dark MUST ALWAYS be illuminated in order for the light to reflect it’s deepest essence… always. Don’t be afraid … go right into it. It’s who you are … beyond it all, IN it all. It’s who you are.
It doesn’t mean you will make the “right” decision … it just means you will make one based on your heart perhaps and not the inner workings of your mind.
I believe courage happens in every moment. It happens when you leap forward into something that is unfamiliar. It happens when you relax in the familiar. It happens when you speak your mind and when you listen. It happens when you move forward and when you let go. It happens when you stand strong and when you open up to vulnerability.
Courage happens every moment of every day. Are you present to how courageous you are?
I was home with my oldest daughter this week, so I had a lot of time to think. I couldn’t focus on creating a whole lot while she had a fever so high that it made my own heart hurt. So I had a ton of time to think about courage.
And of course I was offered a multitude of opportunities to stand in courage. The thoughts started out as a pity party to be honest. “Oh my God it takes courage to be a mom!” You know, pretending that you’re not scared when you really are. “Keeping it all together” when really you’re scared shitless… literally. Then it went to, “I’m falling into fear here, I have to call in for back up”, meaning I called upon my lovely women friends who have the power to heal, help and love.
Reaching out takes courage you know. It’s actually one of the highest forms of courage because it’s about vulnerability.
The moment I reached out, I re-membered that it takes courage to be a parent, not just a mom. And then immediately, almost before that thought ended, I re-membered that it takes courage just to love. To love.
Courage to love.
What a concept. Yes … that is the courage of all courage.
To love what?
Another person. To trust them with your heart.
Your child. They will leave you, you know. They will go off and do their thing despite your dreams for them, they will do their own thing.
Yourself. Yes, it takes a huge amount of courage to stand in the mirror and love what you see. All of it, not just the good parts.
Your ex-partner. (or someone else who may trigger you) Gotta love them too. They taught you something AND you loved them… a lot at one point.
Courage to love … to love it all and move with a grace and ease that is palpable. To step out on a limb without knowing what is going to happen. To put your heart out there not knowing how or if it will be received.
Courage to be present …Yes .. to be present to it all. To SEE it all from the view of your heart. To WITNESS it all with breath and a knowledge that nothing is yours except your heart and your reaction to life and love.
Now, got get ‘em!
Yogi T.K.V. Desikachar translated Patañjali’s definition of yoga as “the ability to direct the mind exclusively toward an object and sustain that direction without any distractions.” Yoga can take many different forms such as jñāna yoga (yoga of knowledge), karma yoga (the yoga of action) or hatha yoga (physical yoga). Stretching, toning and strengthening the body is vital for all systems of yoga. To do an asana practice rather than simply calisthenics one must consciously work to unify breath, body and mind. In yoga class, no matter the style of asana the student takes, ultimately the practice is to remain focused and comfortable so when off the mat, we are alert and comfortable in whatever circumstance comes our way. When we come onto our mat, we move into our asana practice, we practice how to be in our bodies in any given moment. On the mat, we practice focus, we practice discipline, we hear our thoughts, we learn our behaviors of escapism, comparison, competition and ego. On our mats, we contort our bodies into shapes and practice breathing and steadying our gaze. We practice how to look at movement as meditation and accept ourselves at our current place and not hold judgment that we are not where we think we “should” be. On our mat we practice how to breathe, how to react, to notice where we shut down and where we open up. We learn how we talk to ourselves and how we relate to others. We learn how to be conscious of our thoughts, reactions and behaviors so off the mat we can consciously and mindfully act and react to the situations that are life. On the mat we practice because off the mat is where we apply all the action, devotion, mantra and knowledge that are other systems of yoga. When we step off our mats and into our lives we apply all the wisdom, knowledge and self-awareness that arose on our mats. In our Western world, where many of us we eat too much, or deliberately eat too little, and have addictions to various forms of over-consumption, to engage in hatha yoga is a gift and a doorway into consciously unifying our mind, body and spirit. Instead of criticizing the physical practice and creating a larger chasm between our body, mind and spirit, let us embrace this form of yoga that resonates with the Western world. Our culture has created a disconnect between mind and body and the very thing we need to do is connect with our body in a way that treats it with respect, listen to it, and from there, in our body, in our asana, in our yoga, learn to breathe again.
By Kimi Marin
Kimi has a master’s degree in literature and loves to combine the power of stories with yoga. Her Yogic Lore workshops are a fun combination of stories, asana, meditation, and mantra. Kimi was featured in Origin Magazine’s Inspire Series and was the featured ambassador for Ahnu Footwear June 2013. Visit www.kimimarinyoga.com
Begin your inward journey with the following YogaDownload Classes:
Gentle Hatha 6: Relax and Renew - Jackie Casal Mahrou Yoga to Unwind - Kylie Larson
It’s warming, earthy, and packs a gamut of immune defense – exactly what we need this time of year.
Between the lemon, ginger and the turmeric, this smoothie is good for digestion and is very cleansing for the liver. It’s also chock full of antioxidants. To boot, it delivers a high dose of kale, which is a great way to fill up on vitamins, minerals and other immune boosting, anti-inflammatory phytonutrients.
Read more about the healing benefits of turmeric here and in the mean time, let’s get blending.
Yield: 1 quart Ingredients:
2 cups coconut milk 1 banana ½ cup mango ¼ avocado 1 small lemon, peeled 1 in. fresh ginger 2 cups kale 1 tsp. turmeric
In a high-speed blender, blend coconut milk, banana, mango, avocado, lemon, ginger, kale and turmeric until creamy.
Now here's five pretty damn good reasons to go ahead and do it.
5. You can tell the teacher to “f*ck off” at any time.
Online, you're running the show here, not some teacher. There's no one in your living room but you. That's real discipline – what happens when no one's watching.
Plus, 45 seconds or so into a high plank hold, you don't have to hold back from telling the teacher to “f*ck off”.
4. You can fart with impunity.
You don't want to overdo it for your own sake – and you might refrain from bringing this particular practice into your local studio with you – but there's no one there who cares if you stink up the place a bit with your warrior II or with your own special brand of funk.
3. Take child's pose without reservation.
I take child's pose whenever possible...“Meet us in down dog”...I fix my ponytail...“join us standing”...nah...I like to take child's pose early and often.
Few of us are immune to the subtleties of yogic peer pressure... Positively employed it can push you to a new threshold or past a prescribed limit, but sometimes the force of the mob is not a desired part of the practice.
At home, no one judges you for child's pose...at least no one but you.
2. It's Better, Cheaper, and MORE Convenient.
Let's be practical here – with worldwide competition, any yoga site worth a salt has to strive to stay competitive in terms of content, pricing, and variety of offerings. Big-box yoga chains are immune (or ignorant) to outside pressures, and local studios just don't have the same sort of reach to able to compete.
In my hometown of Denver drop-ins regularly go for $20...you can get a whole year from Yogadownload.com for $90 bucks. And it's available to me 24/7...
And my favorite reason I can think of to practice yoga online –
1. You're in charge!
When you practice online your practice and personal growth – along with your consumer dollar – are in the hands of one person, and one person alone...you.
Svadhyaya a sanskrit word sometimes translated as self-study, can be one of the most challenging of the niyamas and is a critical step towards reclaiming of the unique responsibility for the creation of your life, the sole authorship of your story.
Bold choice if you ask me.
Either way, no one gives a shit what you wear, or gives you shit for being late, leaving early, or even walking out of class altogether – a few pretty great reasons to practice your yoga online right there...
Outlaw Yoga is coming to YogaDownload in January 2015!
The yoga mats were rolled by the chimney with care, In hopes there would be 20 minutes to spare.
The children were bustling – not going to bed, While visions of Wanderlust danced in my head.
With mama in her yoga pants and I in mine too, We were deeply in need of our inner guru.
When up on the roof there arose such a blast, You’d think Ana Forrest was giving a free class.
Away to the window I flew and proceeded To realize more stress was the last thing I needed.
And what to my wondering third eye should I see, But Santa himself, breathing in ujjayi.
Dressed all in lycra from his heels to his belly, His bandhas were locked and I felt kinda jelly.
Breaking from cookies and milky libations, Santa was in my living room for sun salutations.
"Come join me," he said, "dear, you've been so busy. Your practice will help you get out of this tizzy."
We rolled out our Mandukas and fanned our soul flame, And he whistled and shouted each yoga pose name.
“Now up dog, now down dog, chaturanga! On cobra, on cat/cow, on parsva bakasana.”
The prana was flowing, my worries had fled, I practiced acceptance, had nothing to dread.
And I said to Santa, that jolly old elfie, "Do you mind if we take a quick yoga selfie?"
He chuckled and shook his head in abstention, "No thank you, my dear, that's not my intention."
Santa, it seemed, was a wonderful mentor, The yoga was helping me come back to center.
“Your practice need never be out of your sight, YogaDownload is with you, all day or all night.”
And I heard him exclaim as he drove off in his sleigh, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all Namaste!”
As far as vacations go, I couldn't think of a better way to spend mine than at a yoga festival.
Ok, that or maybe Amsterdam...
But I've done yoga at Burning Man (with my 73 year old grandpa, but that's another story), and I've done burned it down at Wanderlust with my cousins, brother and father (yet another series of stories), and when it comes to how I choose to spend my time – and my presence – I pick out two or three consciousness expanding parties in different locals to attend per year.
Why do I do this?
They're kind of weird, but then again...so am I. And when I'm at a festival I get to do so many wonderfully weird things, but one of them is to just let go and know that I am among people who think – at least to some extent – like me.
They eat like me and party like me (with some significant variation depending on the venue and the name on the marquis).
To me this sense of community is priceless.
When large numbers of yogis gather in one place the whole world wins...but especially “we” does.
When we take a moment to step outside the familiar and sometimes stifling story of “me”, we have a rare and unique chance to step into the ongoing story of “we”. Yoga festivals are excellent social events for connecting to other members of the conscious community.
And let me tell you, parties filled with “we” are far more fun than those filled with “me”!
(There's also significantly less cigarette smoke.)
Connection is priceless, but as a bang for your buck experiences go, yoga festivals offer a great and cost effective way to experience a variety of different ways in one place.
I don't know about you, but as a yoga-consumer my growth matters to me and where I spend my money and on whom is an important decision when it comes to my ongoing education.
Shiva Rea in LA or Baron Baptiste in The Middle East? Both have their merits...so many in fact that I can't ever really lose when I spend my money on attending a yoga festival. No matter who's there or where, when awesome teachers from all over the country come together, you kind of can't help but grow as a student. And on top of it, you can actually save money by joining them when they all happen to be in one place and see some new scenery while you're at it.
I've taken a lot of trips around the world and will never get back those three weeks in Puerto Rico, but I've never thought or said the words, “Man, wish'd I hadn't've gone to that yoga festival.”
I am so grateful to present OUTLAW Yoga at a few festivals each year.
My ol' man and little brother come along and play music and sing songs...my assistant Megan will be there smiling and adjusting and handing out temporary tattoos...and Jackie 'O will have two huge pots of green chili going (one veg, one meat) – and enough of each to feed the whole freakin' festival.
We try to go somewhere close...somewhere on the coast...and somewhere in the middle.
This coming February we will kick off our 2015 festival tour schedule by presenting at The Sedona Yoga Festival for a few pretty cool reasons -
One, they host a pre-conference training on Trauma-Sensitive and Resiliency Training to Benefit First Responders led by a wonderful team of teachers including Rob Schware and Olivia Kvitne.
Two, its priced at $397 for an all-access pass ($333 group). If you make it to 6 classes that's like fifty or sixty bucks each – about the same as a series of weekend workshops at your local studio, except that you'd also be in Sedona, Arizona for godssakes!
And three, the SYF gives 10% of ticket sales back to Outlaw Yoga's partner in service – The Giveback Yoga Foundation, which means your serving just by going, celebrating, growing, and connecting...
Pretty f*ckin cool way to serve if you ask me.
Hope we see you there, OUTLAWS!