A few years ago I unearthed an old school notebook I'd kept in the mid-1980s.  Within its dusty pink cover, buried in its pages, I uncovered a list of yoga poses I used to practice at home.  I remember setting aside about an hour, usually on a Sunday evening, and working my way through such dubiously noted poses as “trikaswami” (I think I must have meant “trikonasana”) and “swan” (probably a variation of cobra).   When I rediscovered this record of my early yoga practice I had by then qualified as a yoga teacher – which was one of my aspirations at the time of the notebook.  What struck me in retrospect was how randomly I had sequenced my asanas, with frequent transitions from sitting to standing and back again.  I mentioned this to Shiva Rea during a teaching intensive I took with her once, and she smiled and said, “But you know what?  You probably really loved your practice!”  And you know what?  I did.

 

One of the reasons I had a home yoga practice at all was that I had started to attend a free weekly yoga class at my college, and the teacher impressed upon us the importance of self sufficiency and practicing on our own in addition to the class.  She even suggested a designated amount of time we should aim to hold each asana – I think it was either one minute or two, this being before the rise of “vinyasa flow”!  Home yoga served me well as it cost nothing – always a bonus as a young college student – and there were barely a handful of yoga centres in London to be found.

 

Self practice with distance guidance from a teacher is nothing new.  In his book “Yoga Body”  Mark Singleton documents how the technologies of visual reproduction, printing and photography, helped to democratize hatha yoga in the first four decades of the 20th century.   Among the early yoga asana self-help manuals were Yogi Ghamande's 1905 publication, “Yogasopana Purvacatuska,” in which the author even provided his address so that students could write to him with any questions.  Sri Yogendra, a Bombay-based guru, was another major advocate of the demystification of yoga, offering do-it-yourself manuals such as “Hatha Yoga Simplified”  in 1928.   By the 1970s we had Richard Hittleman's “Yoga for Health” and Lilias Folan's “Yoga and You” on our televisions.  Yoga videos gave away to DVDs, then MP3s, now apps.   Of course, we can let go of the teacher all together and do our own thing, although as my early notebooks show, some initial guidance and experience can be useful!

 

Today there are hundreds of yoga venues and classes available in London and I now even teach at some of them.  But oddly things seem to have come full circle with regards to my personal practice, as I've grown less inclined to attend group classes and more drawn to rolling out my mat at home again.   For me the advantages of this approach are not to be ignored.

 

The first elephant in the room is money.  Along with the rising price of a class there can  be the additional cost of transportation or parking, and maybe you splash out on a fancy juice in the cafe afterwards.  But people need to make a living and it's good  for the economy to put in as well as take out, so let's move on.  

 

There's the time.  It takes time to get to and from the studio, check in and get changed, which when added on to a 90 minute yoga class can end up taking up about 3 hours of your day.  That may or may not be the most efficient use of your energy.  There are occasions when getting into class at a popular studio can be about as calming as checking in at the airport at the height of the summer holidays.  Plus at home you don't have to stand in line for the bathroom or continually apologize for stepping on somebody's towel.   You can practice the yoga you need at the time you have available.  And although setting your own yoga times can be a double edged sword, it's one that helps with self discipline.  When you haven't paid for the class in advance and don't have to meet up with anyone else, it can take a  good deal of mental strength to show up rather than procrastinate!

 

Similarly, home practice challenges and strengthens our ability to focus, our work ethic and often our patience.  Having trouble with that hip opening posture again?  The fridge, computer and phone are right there and there's nobody watching.  And when I get knocked out of a pose for the umpteenth time by my playful son, I have to remind myself that shouting at a loving, trusting five-year-old child is not very mindful.

 

You do need space to practice at home, but just enough for your mat.  Creating a space might also create the opportunity to de-clutter or tidy up.  (Oh, and a word of advice – if you do inversions at the wall, don't knock down any framed pictures.  As yoga injuries go, it's an odd one, but I am speaking from experience on that one).  If the weather's right, you might be able to take your mat outside into your garden or a local park and enjoy the best yoga venue in world, the open air.

 

I am glad my local studios are thriving.  I still love to learn from other teachers and I don't think I've ever been to a class where I didn't hear something new or draw inspiration.  Now when I do attend a group class I experience it as a treat and not a chore.  Like going on a great vacation, it can be rejuvenating, enlightening, transformative and can thoroughly refresh our perspective.  But it's always good to be home.
 

 

 

By Laura Denham-Jones

Laura Denham-Jones is a London-based yoga teacher. She originally trained in San Francisco with Larry Schultz and has taken numerous other trainings and yoga intensives with teachers such as Shiva Rea, Dharma Mittra, David Swenson, Tias Little, Pattabhi Jois, Baron Baptiste, Beryl Bender Birch, and Judith Lasater. Aside from teaching a dynamic style of yoga class, she is a keen runner and also teaches yoga for sports as well as Pilates.  Laura has contributed to several newspapers and magazines and created yoga sequences for three books about yoga, running and triathlon. When she's not teaching yoga she's at home being a regular city dweller, catching up with friends, (and laundry), and being a mum! www.lauradenhamjones.com

 

 

 

 

Celebrate your home practice with the following YogaDownload Classes: 

 

Get Up & Flow - Jackie Casal Mahrou 





Everyday Warrior - Nancy Nielsen 

 

And you wouldn't say no to more money. A career filled with meaning and purpose.

And a family that is wildly happy, healthy and fulfilled.

So do I. And so does every other woman we know. But what do you REALLY want?

When you dig deeper. Go further. And feel fully into your heart. (Hint: Think your 13 year old dreams and hidden desires)

Of course, we all know that each of us has a limited amount of time in this body. On this earth. With these unique passions, gifts and abilities.

And each one of us wants to feel fully alive, joyful and fulfilled.

Even if we say all we want is to lose weight, get more money and feel more confident.

But if someone asked you, what do you really want. How would you respond?

You probably reply that you are grateful and content. While under your breath, and deep in your bones you're exhausted of a life that has gone stale.

Now tell me, what part of yourself do you put on mute in order to not seem....ungrateful?

I ask my clients this question all the time and while each woman is on a different part of their journey.

The one thing that never seems to change....

Is that they seriously, fiercely and adamantly don't want to admit that they want more.

More love. More passion. More excitement. More abundance. More romance. More adventure. More everything.

And I know exactly how that feels. Because we've all been there.

We've all been convinced. Deeply and utterly convinced that our worth comes from our sacrifice, not our vibrance.

And as many times as we say that we want to love ourselves...

We just don't believe that it's possible. Or even allowed.

Someone said it was vain. Egotistical. Obnoxious. Selfish. To care about how we look, how we feel and what we want.

And we took that to believe that we wouldn't be safe if we were truly happy, fulfilled, beautiful, successful, exceptional, <insert bliss statement here>...

Dimming our dreams because someone said that we had our head in the clouds. 

 

Taking another bite of food to numb our craving to be seen and heard, when it feels like no one is listening.

Scrolling aimlessly through Facebook in pursuit of that one post that will make us feel truly connected, loved and valued.

Wearing clothes that feel frumpy and conservative, because we are afraid of what people would say if we wore something wildly us.

We even do it to each other.

Many time's we don't mean to. But often we will say things that might drag someone back down to earth. Dimming their light, in an attempt to feel less dim our selves.

 

A friend tells you her great news. You tell her that you read something awful in the news this week.

 

You see someone succeeding doing something you dream of doing. You search for their every fault. They can't be that good. They just can't.

Someone has more confidence, a fitter body, thriving business etc. and all you can think is, well it's WAY easier for her because........

And of course, these thoughts get us nowhere but tangled deep in a state of desperation and negativity.

Whether it's pulling ourselves down because we don't want look too ambitious or dragging down others to keep from recognizing where we let ourselves down.

It's time to ask yourself. For the one thing you've been avoiding.

Now close your eyes. Take the deepest, fullest, luscious breath in.

Exhale and let your mind get quiet. Leave your day behind. I beg of you. LET IT GO.

And then ask yourself, from the bottom of your precious heart....

What do I REALLY want?

Now tell me, what does the real, authentic and wildly feminine <<First Name>> want?

What would your life look like if she were open to it getting EVEN BETTER?

What would her body look like if it was safe to feel feminine, beautiful and exquisite no matter what?

What would she wear?

Where would she live?

Where would she go?

Who would she be?

Comment below with your answer right now. Proclaim it. Allow it. Invite it into your life.

Because you deserve to have that life and the only thing that is really stopping you is you.

 

By Amber Chalus

Amber Chalus is a Free-Spirited Explorer, Certified Health Coach and Professional
Yoga Teacher at AmberChalus.com. She currently lives in Nipawin, Saskatchewan with
her charming British husband and adorable rescue dog, Indi.

Her mission is to help and inspire women to nurture their physical and spiritual health
through yoga, holistic nutrition and radical self love. She believes that every woman
deserves to feel connected to her body, radiate with confidence and live the life of her
dreams - naturally! 

Download a free Beautiful Morning Meditation at AmberChalus.com

Connect with Amber:
Twitter: twitter.com/amberchalus
Facebook: facebook.com/amberchalus
Instagram: instagram.com/amberchalus

 

 

Make room for your DESIRES with the following YogaDownload Classes: 

The Power of Your Intention - Nancy Nielsen 





Alanna Kaivalya Live - Bundle 11 


 

"The problem is not desire. It's that your desires are too small."
- Sri Nisargadatta

 

Remember that morning about a month ago, when you woke up late, in full freak-out mode because your alarm didn’t go off? In the first few seconds of your eyes being open, you realized that your entire day was going to be totally screwed. You were going to miss that traffic window when it’s not a complete disaster and that 9am meeting. You spent the next 30 minutes racing around like a chicken with its head chopped off getting yourself and the kids dressed, bookbags packed, lunch money handed out (cause there was no time to make them, you were lucky they got breakfast). Your heart raced, half the things you needed to get done weren’t, you missed things at work, wound up with whatever you could forage at the ofice for breakfast, which  was a heck of a lot less healthy than your usual smoothie. The entire rest of the day felt out of sync. You were exhausted before the day had even begun.

Still disagree that what happens in the morning sets the tone of your day?

For me, if I’m not settled and my day starts off on the wrong foot, there is no hope of recovering. The whole day is going to be a mess. Now, I know there are things I can’t control, like traffic, the weather or other people missing appointments, but it’s critical that I do everything I can to make sure that I get my day started in a way that will set me up for success.

A few weeks ago, I asked you on Facebook how you start your day. I got back some great answers that I thought I would share, including how I start my own.

My day does not begin without essential oils and taking care of my skin. This is a necessity for me; if I don’t manage my well being, things go downhill fast. I never leave my bedroom without my morning skin care care routine of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. I’ve also dealt with IBS symptoms for years, so I don’t step foot out of my bedroom without using my protocol for my digestive system including a little frankincense under my tongue, among other things. I can’t even think about facing the day until those two things are taken care of.

Once my face and my digestive system are taken care of, I will go downstairs, let the dog out and do a quick sweep of the house to straighten it up. It’s really important to have a clean, neat environment so that I’m not distracted by it or lose time looking for things in it. I tend to go to bed before the rest of the family, and I have to say, it’s amazing how much damage they can do after I go to bed! A morning sweep ensures everything is where it needs to be so I can get done what I have to. It goes a long way to help reduce stress in my day. Then, I check email and get some work done on the computer before anybody else is up.

When the initial scan of email is done, I make a superfood mix smoothie with peppermint oil, raw cacao, maca powder, banana, almond butter, pour myself a huge bottle of water that I’ll carry around with me for the day and then I am out the door for a workout. Having the right balance of nutrition starting with the first thing you put in your mouth for the day is so important to being able to maintain your energy throughout the day and will support your body when the stress starts to hit. I cannot stress this enough – Good nutrition takes some planning and you want to make sure your day starts off right. Start your day with sugar cereal and you’re going to have a mess on your hands.

So, what are some of YOUR suggestions?

There were lots of votes for green smoothies, lemon water – both warm and cold and  lots of fresh fruit and veggies, some with a little protein added. Great suggestions.

There are several coffee drinkers among you, which isn’t bad as long as you keep it to one cup with as little milk or sugar as possible (I would prefer to see you kick the cream-and-sugar habit altogether but I know enough not to mess with people’s coffee!), and make sure to drink plenty of water after to rehydrate what the caffeine steals.

Another GREAT suggestion was oil pulling. Swilling around a teaspoon of coconut oil (or any other oil if you don’t like coconut) for about 20 minutes daily is an ancient Ayurvedic method that is said to pull toxins out of your body. It is also said to help with cavities and plaque. It whitens your teeth and they feel great when you’re done brushing in the morning – even one of the ladies from my marketing team said it curbs her appetite!

Taking a probiotic first thing in the morning is another good one. You want to take a probiotic on an empty stomach and wait about 45 minutes before eating so try to make it the very first thing you do. By the time you’ve had your shower, gotten dressed and the kids going, 45 minutes has flown by, and the probiotic has had a chance to do its thing, balance out your gut. Our modern lives wreak havoc on our digestive system and a good probiotic is a great preventative measure.

Finally, what a perfect way to create a calm mind and get your heart rate and metabolism up for the entire day, than with some yoga.

Setting yourself up to win the well-being game really does start the moment you wake up. If you get into a routine that will support the rest of your day, you’ll have more energy, be calmer and have the strength to make it to at least Happy Hour!

TIP:

Take baby steps. If you know you have to revamp your morning routine, pick ONE thing to change at a time! For example, start off by keeping a water bottle by your bed so that water and your probiotic are the first thing you grab. Once you’ve got that down and it’s automatic, add something else, like a sun salutation or two.

I’ve just shared some great ways to start your day – what’s your routine? Share here, on Facebook or Twitter!

 

Previously published on Hayley's Blog

HERE’s the original Facebook Post

By Hayley Hobson

Core Yoga 4 

 

 

Cravings. No one is immune – not even us. They can be challenging, annoying and all consuming.

What's your love-hate craving?

For many of us cravings feel like a never-ending spin cycle. Our innocent “I’ll just have one bite” turns into a daily indulgence. Before we know it, that sneaky food sinks its claws in us, holding us hostage. Eventually that one little bite turns into a full-blown addiction and starts to take its toll on our health.

Sound familiar?

Cravings are tricky because we want to learn how to listen to, trust and honor our body and its messages. But cravings can be very deceptive.

We may think, “I’m craving a glass of wine so therefore it must be what my body needs.”

Not so fast.

Sadly, it’s often the foods we loooooovvve, crave and feel that we wouldn’t want to live without that cause the most damage in our body.

So how do we know when are cravings are an insightful signal from our body trying to help us get back into balance versus a sabotaging little beast?

Therein lies the fun. We have to be willing to deconstruct our cravings.

When venturing into this endeavor we like to start with the physical body first, and then move into the deeper inquiry where we ask, “what am I really craving?” Ask the question and then be willing to hear the answer. You may be surprised to find that a sugar craving is actually masking a craving for deeper meaning in your life or more spiritual connection.

Cravings get a bad rap, but they’re not all bad. We just have to learn how to work with them. Below are some of my favorite strategies for deconstructing cravings – because the more tools we have in our toolboxes the more likely we are to become our most healthy, vibrant selves.

Check out the tips and then leave me a comment. Are these helpful? What are your cravings trying to tell you?

 

 

With sweet love for cravings,

 
    Julie Peláez and Jo Schaalman
 

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 consciouscleanse.com. 

 

Pump up your cravings for health with a class by Jo and Jules:

 

Conscious Cleanse Detox Flow - Jo Schaalman 

 

Traditional Hot Yoga - Julie Peláez

 

Though there are many reasons, part of it is because we treat the world the way we treat ourselves. And right now the world needs more love, more acceptance and more nourishment. 

The more we care for ourselves, the more capacity we have to be a positive change in our world. 

Why is this so important in your life? Because I believe that self care is self love in action. And it's the reason why I have made it my mission to inspire women to take beautiful care of themselves. 

Has your self-love has become conditional? 

Do you pretend to love your body, only to avoid looking at yourself in the mirror? 

Do you say that you will take time out for yourself, but find yourself putting others first? 

Maybe you even say that you accept yourself, but discover that when things go wrong, you blame yourself for it. 

What "conditions" have you put on your self love and acceptance?

 

What does your body need to look like to finally deserve your love? 

What do your thoughts need to be in order to finally gain your trust? 

What does your life need to look like to be worthy of your acceptance? 

What if you could love and accept yourself right now, without the rules? What would it look like if there were no conditions for your self acceptance? 

It may not happen over night. But every moment you have a choice. To be kind to yourself. Or to be mean to yourself. And today I want to remind you that you are worthy of your own love and acceptance. 

Want more help getting there? Here are 4 Simple & Beautiful Self-Love Rituals

♥ Self Love Affirmations - Choose a word or statement that resonates with you, "I love myself 
deeply and completely" and repeat it often throughout the day. Especially when it feels like 
your confidence and acceptance feels non-existant. Even when you don't feel like doing it, 
remember that you were born worthy and you do not have to do anything to deserve your 
love.

♥ Rose Quartz Stones + Rose scents - Rose essential oil boosts self esteem, confidence, and 
mental strength. Rose quartz crystals have properties that promote all types of love including 
self-love, nurturing love and romantic love and is connected to the heart chakra. Keep a stone 
beside your bed or spritz yourself with rose water on the days you need a little extra love.

♥ Loving Mirror Work - Begin a practice of speaking with yourself aloud in the mirror every 
day. Positive affirmations. Kind words. Compliments. Even a private party naked. And work up 
to saying I love you while looking into the reflection of your own eyes.

♥ Heart Openers - Get on your yoga mat. Or do it anywhere. Back-bends and heart openers 
are perfect for liberating the Heart Chakra. Imagine radiating the light of your heart out into 
the world and in having that same beautiful light return back to you 10 fold. Notice the colour 
you see when you close your eyes. Feel it's warm light glow around your body as you move 
out into your day. 

Today, be honest with yourself. Where are you depriving yourself of self acceptance? How have you limited your joy? How can you finally take the "conditional" restrictions off of your self love?

 

Let this be the day that you give yourself full permission to be who you are, with love. I'll be with you all the way.

 

By Amber Chalus

Amber Chalus is a Free-Spirited Explorer, Certified Health Coach and Professional
Yoga Teacher at AmberChalus.com. She currently lives in Nipawin, Saskatchewan with
her charming British husband and adorable rescue dog, Indi.

Her mission is to help and inspire women to nurture their physical and spiritual health
through yoga, holistic nutrition and radical self love. She believes that every woman
deserves to feel connected to her body, radiate with confidence and live the life of her
dreams - naturally! 

Download a free Beautiful Morning Meditation at AmberChalus.com

Connect with Amber:
Twitter: twitter.com/amberchalus
Facebook: facebook.com/amberchalus
Instagram: instagram.com/amberchalus

 

 

Take time for lovable you with the following YogaDownload Classes: 

Building the Warrior Heart - Ana Forrest 





Strength through Vulnerability - Lisa Richards 


 

 

 

I'm learning that the solution is simple. I could sit here and write that the answer is love (because it is)... but let's get real here. Most of us sweep the fears under the rug. Or we avoid it by spending time on the internet, working out excessively, and eating food we shouldn't. Let's take a step back here.

Be WILLING to address your fear. Yep, that's scary. We might as well build fear around the fact we should address our fear. But seriously... plain and simple. Write down how you are feeling. Give yourself SPACE to feel. Write down WHY you think you are feeling this way. THEN... write down what you WANT to focus on. Clearly, it's not our fear (so why do we live our lives STUCK in it!?). This will help you begin to decipher what is going on in those heads of ours. Baby steps create radical change.

Let it be chaotic. Because it is. It's not about finding the answers. Instead, it's all about creating a new relationship with our fears. Do we even know what our current relationship with fear is? I'm not just talking about those major (irrational) fears... like spiders or flying on airplanes (yep, those are mine). Start to tune in with your brain. Make the connection from brain to body to heart on a daily basis. Are you fearful of parking somewhere because someone might see your car? Are you fearful of going out in public in your workout clothes because someone might judge you? Fears go through our brains every damn day. But have you stopped to notice? The only way to change our relationship with them is to build awareness around them.

Let me tell you a secret. WE CREATE OUR OWN FEARS. Truth bomb. I guarantee you that NO ONE even saw your car. I guarantee you that NO ONE even looked twice at you in your workout clothes. Everyone is already so self consumed; they are too busy worrying about themselves. Breathe.

Fears are illusions. Where can we soften around our fear? Where can we surrender, knowing, that half the time our lives are being limited by these thoughts in our head? Begin to trust. Begin to re-direct your energy.

So, where is it that you want your energy to go? I promise, once you start to re-establish your relationship with your fears and your thoughts that go round and round in your head by the minute, you are going to fall backwards. Because you will have JUST realized how incredibly powerful and empowering YOU are.

Own it. Show up. Be willing. And as always, smile. Because, you can't get it wrong.

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.

Separate yourself from your fears with the following YogaDownload Classes: 

Gentle Hatha 5 - Jackie Casal Mahrou 


Hearts Wide Open - Dana Damara 

 

I thought it was about mastering the pose and getting your body into weird shapes. Just take a look at Insagram; you’ll find plenty of yogis putting their stuff out there. And I have to admit, there are a ton of postures that I will most likely never get into! It just will not happen.

What I have come to embrace is that yes, yoga is about getting your body into shapes. And yes, it is about being in those shapes for better health and longevity. And yes, sometimes it’s about trying Eka Pada Koundinyasana, mastering it for a nano-second, and looking around to see if anyone actually saw you get into it! It’s about falling on your face countless times and getting up to do it all over again with a smile.

But let me tell you, it’s much deeper than that because we are much deeper than that. It’s about focus, discipline, co-creation, depth and prosperity for yourself and your community.

It’s about being in a posture and observing your reaction while you’re in it. Are you looking around, comparing yourself to others? Are you pushing to hard? Not trying hard enough? How you react in these postures is exactly how you react off your mat so pay attention.

It’s about getting on your mat even when you don’t want to. It’s about continuing to try that pose until you get it AND it’s about resting when you know you need it.

It’s about breathing so deep that you stop listening to the voices in your head. The breath actually removes the neurosis of the mind so you can start living the life you really want. It’s about using your breath and your voice to release energy that’s stagnate and locked up inside the throat.

It’s about heart opening postures that get you to look up instead of down at an electronic device. It’s about deep squats that bring you closer to the Earth with your hips wide open.

It’s about clearing the mind through movement and hitting the reset button so everything you think, say and do comes from a place that is laced in clear and authentic.

It’s about building an inner capacity to engage and connect outside of yourself. It’s about seeing yourself from a new perspective … a unique noticing of yourself and what you have to offer this planet.

It’s about uniting with other like-minded individuals and really coming together to serve, support and love each other.

It’s deep because YOU are deep. You are layers of density and getting to the deep stuff is where the transformation really happens. So what to do? Get on your mat, every, single day … even if it’s for five minutes, one round of Surya Namaskar A or one inversion.

Just do it.

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.

Download Dana's class at YogaDownload:

 

Hearts Wide Open 

Not only that, but the way I personally have designed my life, I am working toward financial independence. Which means I do my very best to diversify myself, and how I make money. That means I don’t just show up to class, lead you through some poses, count how many classes I teach, or how many people are in my class. I would die a slow death if I did that. No, there is much more going on behind the scenes. I don’t go home and plan out my sequencing and make a detailed layout of my playlist. I wish! I used to do that but now there is MUCH more happening.

I mean, most yogis I know, myself included, have a bigger message than how to lengthen your hamstrings, although, to be fair and honest, we ALL have to start somewhere. When I first started out, I never left my mat. Literally! I would teach the entire class and never step off my mat! Not only that, but I completely focused on the physical practice. There was really nothing spiritual about my teaching. I was just trying to get through class and remember what I was going to teach next!

But as I grew into myself and continue to grow into my Self, my teaching has changed and it will continue to change I guess, because we all know that if we’re still here, we’re supposed to be evolving!

So I finally got “off” my mat: I walked around the room, traveled to other studios, wrote workshops and trainings, filmed online videos, wrote a book, and began speaking to hundreds of people at a time about whatever I thought was important at the time. That’s diversifying myself to make money while I sleep and reach all kinds of people. This takes courage and humility.

To bring your message out into the world, whatever it is, takes a ton of courage and humility. What you have to say is important and only you know what it is and how you’re going to do it. But you must know that each of has an important message and we must share it.

In order for me to step forth courageously (sometimes feeling like I might pee my pants), there is most likely someone, stepping in for me while I am away. In the yoga world, we call them “subs”. These subs are doing just what we are doing while we are away. Stepping out courageously and humbly to live their passion and hoping you will show up for class in our absence.

They are not going to try and teach like us, be like us, or model us. They are going to show up as themselves and we can’t really expect anything else.

I remember the very first time I subbed for my dear friend Fran Olinger in Vancouver, Washington at … what the heck was the name of that tennis club …. I think Green Mountain. Anyway, I walked in to sub for her, scared to death, unable to eat I was so nervous, and three people rolled up their mats and left before I even had a chance to start class.

Inside I was DEVASTATED. All the scripts of not being good enough played out in my mind and the voices inside my head screamed at me while I fumbled through class. I knew I was being judged and it sucked! For two weeks I really sat with this whole yoga thing and pondered if it was for me or not.

I realized it was for one reason: I needed to grow beyond the “I’m not good enough” tapes and do my best no matter what people thought.

But this is why I’m sharing this….

Go ahead and judge the sub if you want. I know it’s hard… you carve out this time for yourself and crap… it’s not “your teacher”. But guess what … this person who is there, is there because they love what they do and they want to share it with YOU! Not only that, but if you allow your mind to go on and on about what they are doing “wrong” or “different” you are going to miss the message you are supposed to hear. Trust me.

And know this … we have ALL been there. We have all been in the awkward position of stepping into our own, at one point or another in our lives. Everyone needs to elevate themselves to the next level of their being. Everyone.

Personally, I believe that if we ALL embraced each other where we were at, the world would be a very different place. And it would be nice if we all supported each other in becoming just that, our best … no matter what we think or what we expect.

When I first took yoga training, some 13 years ago, the rules were: let go of judgment, expectation and competition. I still use those words every, single day. We all have a place and that place shifts and grows with us. Nothing stays the same … we might as well love what shows up right?


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.

Download Dana's class at YogaDownload:

What's Up With My Hips and Hams? 

 

Hearts Wide Open 

This is the most vulnerable thing (and longest post) I have ever shared publicly. Ever.

Last week’s loss of one of the greatest actors and comedians hit me hard. I know his pain, R.I.P. Robin Williams. By now I’m sure your Facebook news feed has been filled with loving remembrances of not just Robin Williams, but other people’s loved ones who suffered like he did. You probably read a few stories from friends realizing that you never knew that they too were suffering in silence. You may have even felt a hurt in your heart because you personally struggle with this silent sadness as well.

I get it. I read it…and I felt it.

There’s this part of me that really struggles and I don’t mean struggles to eat the right food or exercise daily. I mean struggles to get out of bed and even function. The kind of struggle where I’ve laid in bed crying for 3 days straight to feel “normal” again. To be the happy person I know resides inside me.

I was a really sad kid. Like really, really sad. I would go to bed and pray to God that I wouldn’t wake up in the morning. I would pray that He would have mercy on me and keep me from the daily struggle of life. Just getting up and facing the day was so much to handle and there were no logical reasons I felt that way.

Everybody feels sad at times, and even depressed, but depression is real and it is debilitating for some.

I look back at 6 year old Jessica and I’m so sad for her that it was such a struggle and that suicide felt like the best possible option. Most people don’t even think of someone as young as 6 being depressed. I can still feel what it was like desperately wanting to ask for help but being afraid of what might happen if I told the truth. The truth of how much I wanted it all to stop. For some of us, living is so hard.

I set really high standards for myself, even at 6 years old. I’m not sure if that helped or made matters worse. But what I do know is that the thought of suicide wasn’t scary because being good enough just didn’t add up. It was easier to think of not living than it was to think of living a life not good enough.

Death has never been something I feared. I fear being injured which is why I am terrified of things like airplanes and bunging jumping, but death has never scared me.

The only thing that kept me going as a kid was knowing how much my family loved me. Despite my feelings of desperation I just could not do that to my mother. I knew she would never forgive herself for having not seen the signs. I couldn’t break her heart like that. I couldn’t let my dad suffer the loss of a child. (Thanks Mom & Dad for loving me so much!). I also couldn’t leave my siblings with a broken mom.

What I wished had been different was that it would have felt safe to say I need help. To say help me, I am dying on the inside. Something inside me never felt right and it never felt safe to tell anyone. I was terrified that if I asked for help they would take me away from my mom or that my parents would go bankrupt with medical debt trying to take care of me and that felt more selfish than suicide.

Instead I spent my days crying. I have always been teased by my siblings for being oversensitive. While it might be true, how would things have been different if they only knew how many times I sat down with a plan to meet death and it was sparing them the sadness that I didn’t. I know they didn’t know what I was struggling with deep down inside. I know that they loved me and were just being siblings and I am grateful that I was treated normal by them. Plus, to be honest, I wasn’t prepared to deal with them pitying me if I had come forward about my thoughts of suicide and how I was sick with depression. It was easier to have them watch me in confusion as I sat on the floor hyperventilating with anxiety attacks on an almost daily basis. It was easier to be a “freak” than it is to admit that I suffer from depression. How the heck did that feel safer?

Instead…I was shamed into silence. I suffered in silence. Depression is a silent killer.

Recently I told my mom about my thoughts of suicide as a kid and she had no idea. I know that her even knowing I felt that way must hurt for her. As a mother I know how much it would sting to know a child was hurting so much inside. But she didn’t know because it was my secret that was easier to keep than share.

I certainly don’t share my story for pity. By all means, I cried the entire time I wrote this. But for once it’s easier to share than hide because if just ONE PERSON FEELS LESS ALONE BY READING THIS, then it’s worth dealing with anything else that might come from it.

I wish that I could say that I don’t ever deal with depression anymore. But I do. I’ve had to talk with my kids about my depression. That was the least fun thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’ve had to talk to my kids about suicide and what to look for and how to help. I shared with them because I wanted them to understand that I am trying my hardest and that I love so much I am willing to be vulnerable and honest with them. I want them to know that when I’m sad it has nothing to do with them or any external events. I want them to feel safe asking for help if they ever feel this way.

I share my story as well in hopes that some of what has worked for me might also work for you or someone you love.

Disclaimer real quick: I am not YOUR medical professional. I am sharing my own personal experience and all your medical decisions need to be made with your medical doctor. What I am sharing are tools that have made depression less debilitating and have taken away my almost daily anxiety attacks.

 

 

• I exercise.
• I eat fresh healthy foods.
• I take my vitamins daily.
• I meditate.
• I practice yoga.
• I walk my dogs.
• I dance in my kitchen.
• I ASK FOR HELP FROM MY HUSBAND WHEN I NEED IT.
• I tell my husband and kids when I need a day in bed crying, but to not let me do it for more than a day.

I can tell you that any time as an adult that depression has crept up and kept me in bed crying has been because I wasn’t taking care of myself the way I need too.

11 months ago I quit my day job (best decision of my life). Yet, 3 months later I laid in bed crying for 2-3 days. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Why the relapse? I was truly happier than I had been in 15 years. I finally quit that soul sucking job. I was pissed off that depression was doing this to me at a so called happy time of my life.

I lost my identity. I had been the banker girl and didn’t know how to be me.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, and my husband’s keen observation, was that I also stopped taking care of myself. I stopped being diligent about my daily vitamins, eating every 2-3 hours and I went from walking 2-5 miles per day to walking the dogs for an obligatory ½ mile. I even quit my job teaching yoga.

I let go of my healthy routine when I let go of my job. How did I let that happen when living well was my JOB!

This takes me back to my depression as a child. I’m sure as a kid I wasn’t getting proper nutrition or adequate exercise for my needs. No fault of my mother. I was a picky eater and hated sports. I lived for the arts and reading as a way of self expression (or self preservation). A way to express myself without words.

Sometimes I think of my husband’s pancreatitis and realize that him being sick was one of the greatest gifts I could ever receive. It took me down the road of becoming a nutritionist and yoga teacher. I taught ne about how to heal myself and love myself.

I know in my heart that self care is a fundamental act of self love.

If you are suffering depression, please reach out to someone for help. Reach out to me if you need too. But start thinking of ways you can love yourself to your greatest potential. In what ways can you be your best self?

For the education and less emotional part of this post (because I am a nutritionist after all), please choose one thing and add another item each week until you feel a change. This is for everyone, not just those living with depression. Also, talk with your medical professional for support.

 

 

1. Connect with someone you love every day. Really connect. Make this about more than just small talk about the weather. Soul to soul connections make you feel valued and help you find your place.
2. Eat dark leafy greens. They are loaded with B vitamins which help depression. Deficiency has been linked to depression since it affects your neurotransmitters (those are your brain connections). B6 in particular is crucial in creating serotonin, a feel good hormone. Don’t like to eat your greens, I get it, I used to be that way as well. Drink your greens and try juicing or making spinach smoothies!
3. Omega 3’s baby! This is seriously important. They are linked to preventing depression. Omega 3’s mean brain health. Your brain controls your feelings. The easiest way to do this is a super clean and pure fish oil supplement. I use USANA Health Sciences since it is double distilled and pharmaceutical grade. The typical choices are fish like salmon and if you’re a bit more adventurous, herring or sardines. There are also some great plant based omega 3’s like walnuts and mustard greens. Here is an idea, pumpernickel bread topped with sautéed mustard greens and sardines. That’s a depression fighting snack. Or take a supplement paired with clean eating!
4. Exercise daily. Not 5 days a week. Do something active every day and make it fun. I like to dance while cooking. Combining my love of dance that I am unwilling to publicly share, with my love of eating which happens to be my passion for blogging. Walk your dogs. Ride your bike. Take a kick-boxing class. Climb a mountain. Just choose something and do it daily. It’s not exercise, it’s radical self love.
5. Take a high-quality daily multi-vitamin and mineral. I want you to know that I don’t encourage you to eat like crap and then take a vitamin and call that self care. I also recognize that changing your eating habits is a journey, and that is why I recommend a multi-vitamin and mineral. Support your body’s nutritional needs as you learn self care…and beyond. Even the best eaters cannot eat a “perfect” diet that has the optimal daily intake of nutrients. Deficiencies are the cause of most diseases, including depression. A bit about the recommended daily intake and optimal daily intake. The RDA, recommended daily allowance is to be free of deathly diseases like Ricketts and Scurvy. Both of which are finding a resurgence due to our highly processed food system. Optimal daily intake is to be of optimal health. It is the level at which your body needs to be at its personal best. Look for third party studies and review optimal amounts vs. RDA. Remember as well to look at your multi-vitamin and mineral as insurance to cover the deficiencies in your food. In today’s food supply it would take 8 oranges to meet your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C, not even the optimal. Make sure your supplement of choice is also tested for upper limit dosages, meaning the highest safe dosage. I know it’s not the most fun to read, but still important.
6. Start a gratitude journal. Writing down at least one thing you are grateful for each morning and evening reminds your subconscious of the joy of living. I know you want to be happy, so keep reminding yourself of the things that bring joy to your life. This is a simple an profound practice.
7. Consider meditating. It doesn’t have to be like you see in the movies. You can burn incense and chant if that is your style of meditating, or you might simply sit silently listening to your breath for 5 minutes. Keep it simple and it will uplift.

 

My wish for you is that you have compassion for yourself. non-judgment of your journey and the flexibility to keep moving forward. In the words of Dory in Finding Nemo, just keep swimming.

In health, happiness and joy – live your wildly vibrant life!

xoxo

By Jessica Wyman

Jessica Wyman is a Wildly Vibrant health coach and yoga teacher. She has a well rounded approach to loving yourself like no other + she specializes in 5-ingredient healthy recipes. She was born and raised in Idaho and has never left her hometown area because she has access to the city while surrounded by the mountains that she backpacks with her husband, teenage sons and giant dogs. As a health-coach-mama she has no time to waste and it's her mission to make foxy, fit and fashionable living a breeze. Get her free 5-Day Wellness Program that gives a realistic approach without a diet. 

Pin My Stuff |pinterest.com/jessicawyman
Follow me on Twitter |@WymanJessica

 

I often get asked how I am able to eat a clean diet when I’m constantly on the go, and it mostly boils down to one thing: optimal refrigerator organization.

While I can’t claim to be a pro at organization, I do know that I’ve learned some tricks throughout the years that have helped me maintain a healthy lifestyle. These are things that now are just second nature and it all starts with having a plan.

One of the most things we hear from people all the time is, “I don’t have enough time to make healthy food.” And boy do I ever get that. We have this idea that grabbing food from a restaurant or salad bar will be quicker than eating at home.

However, when we consider the time it takes to drive to the restaurant, place an order, pay for the food, and drive home again, we could have already made our own meal at home for a fraction of the cost. Besides, food we make ourselves is always healthier because that’s the only way to be 100% sure of what’s actually in our meals.

So what’s a busy working mom of two to do? One of my favorite ways of ensuring I always have a quick meal ready to go is by building a salad bar in my fridge.  After grocery shopping, I clean, chop, and store my produce in glass containers (mason jars work great too) so that throughout the week when I need something quick, I simply throw the ingredients together in a bowl and voilá – I have a healthy meal in a matter of minutes!

You might be thinking, this all sounds nice in theory, but I’m far too busy to do all of this.

Wrong! If I can do it, so can you. It’s all about working the plan. Below are five steps to help you transform your refrigerator into you favorite salad bar.

Now I want to hear from you! Are you ready to turn your fridge into a salad bar? Please share your ideas and comments with me below and have fun!

With love and salad bars,

 

 
    Julie Peláez and Jo Schaalman

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 consciouscleanse.com. 

Download a class from Jo and Jules today!

Connect to Core - Jo Schaalman 

Traditional Hot Yoga - Julie Peláez 

I love fresh food and clean eating, but there are still so many untapped sources in the eat clean produce section. I live for 5-ingredient-clean-food recipes and as you’ve probably noticed, I live for the “eat clean” motto. So I get really excited when I try a food that is new to me and love it.

This recipe has both things I love – new foods and only 5 ingredients. Maybe I lied a little, I am terrified of trying new foods even though 90% of the time it ends well.

So, how about that recipe?! You’re probably dying to know what I possibly made for my first try with basil and that it was so great I want to shout it from the rooftops. Instead I’ll write it on my blog (for you)! It was also so great that my husband ate the first batch in a flash and I had to make it 3 days in a row to keep him happy.

Ingredients (there’s only 5!)                                                        

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
5 basil leaves, minced
1 nectarine, pit removed and diced
1/2 large red bell pepper, ribs removed and diced

Directions

Mix the diced nectarines and bell pepper in a bowl. In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and minced basil. Then pour the dressing on the nectarines and bell peppers, toss until evenly coated.




Want more free recipes like this?  Click here to get a FREE digital copy of Jessica Wyman’s cookbook, Girlfriends Organic Kitchen.  She is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Yoga Teacher and put together a collection of crazy delicious vegetarian and gluten free recipes.

 

 

By Jessica Wyman

Jessica Wyman is a Wildly Vibrant health coach and yoga teacher. She has a well rounded approach to loving yourself like no other + she specializes in 5-ingredient healthy recipes. She was born and raised in Idaho and has never left her hometown area because she has access to the city while surrounded by the mountains that she backpacks with her husband, teenage sons and giant dogs. As a health-coach-mama she has no time to waste and it's her mission to make foxy, fit and fashionable living a breeze. Get her free 5-Day Wellness Program that gives a realistic approach without a diet. Get free healthy recipes and wellness tips you’ll actually use at www.jessica-wyman.com

 

 

 

 

Website & Blog |Jessica-Wyman.com
Join me on Facebook |Facebook.com/JessicaWymanWellness
Pin My Stuff |pinterest.com/jessicawyman
Follow me on Twitter |@WymanJessica

 

 

             

Click Here for Your Free Copy of Jessica's Cookbook!

 

 

And, I have to say, I am a believer in some detoxes and retreats. But here are 5 reasons why a detox retreat might not be the thing for you if you don’t do it properly.

#1 - Too much of a focus on fruit

Many detoxes that involve juicing focus too much on fruit in the juices. While it can make them taste better at first, it’s just going to be feeding most people’s natural sugar addition, not to mention the candida that is lurking around in a lot of us. It also makes it that much harder to acquire the taste for vegetables. The best way I’ve found for overcoming this dilemma, is start maybe with 60% vegetables and 40% fruit on the first day, and then gradually get to 100% veg by day 4 or 5. This makes it a lot easier and healthier. Of course, if you can, start 100% vegetables from day one. And make most of that green by adding some lemon and ginger too, for a bit of zing.

#2 - No real education

My first detox retreat that I went on was really well run from a logistics point of view. It had almost everything. Massage, sea, pool, yoga, sun and so on. Where it fell down though was in the education of the participants. There were no talks or workshops explaining what was going on and why we should or shouldn’t eat/drink in a certain way. Obviously there is not “one size fits all” when it comes to diet, but there are certain fundamentals that do hold true across the board. If you’re not educated while you’re there, the tendency will be to go back to your old ways when home.

#3 - It’s not a magic pill

I met so many people on detox retreats who believe that one week a year cleansing will make amends for 51 weeks of abuse to the body. Having a detox week is a great gift you can give to your body (a bit like a car M.O.T.), but really you need to look after the body all year round and not think to yourself, “Well, I’ll do a detox in January so I’ll do what I want to my body in December.” It’s a flawed paradigm. When you feel amazing after your detox, just imagine how good you could feel year round if you didn’t abuse your body as much.

#4 - It’s all in the mind

When you detox, you might feel amazing. And that might be enough to prompt continuous lifestyle changes. For most people though, although the intention is there, it’s rarely enough. The problem lies that your pattern of thinking hasn’t necessarily changed. The way we think is so very deeply ingrained into us that it can be difficult to break it. Most detox retreats don’t focus enough on the mind. And most people aren’t aware that there are techniques and teaching strategies to help people transform years of inbuilt behaviour in short amounts of time. Techniques from Neuro Lingustic Programming (NLP) can help initiate shifts (on both a conscious and unconscious level) that would be ordinarily unavailable to people.

#5 - No long term plan 

This ties in to point #2, about not providing enough education. Once participants leave a retreat, there’s nothing really supporting them going forward. They may not know what it is they need to do in order to stop having such a big buildup of toxins in the first place. The best retreats I know have some kind of ongoing support. For example, the option to sign up for coaching or leaving with a manual, to be used for continued guidance in implementing healthy everyday practices. The real work to keep your body energized and able to handle toxins really happens away from the retreat.

So I do on the surface agree with detoxes. In fact, I love them and believe everyone can benefit from them - that’s why I run them too (check out http://thethoughtgym.com/retreats for more on that). Just before committing to one, ask whether it covers the above points. Otherwise you could find yourself having a nice holiday, but little else.

By Hari Kalymnios                                                                                             

Edited by Jessica Raye

Hari Kalymnios is a high performance coach whose passion is helping people who need more energy in their lives, understand what it takes to achieve this and live optimally. One of the ways Hari does this is with giving people the gift of experiencing just what a detox cleanse can do for you. To find out more about the ‘Detox with a Difference’ that Hari is running, head to http://thethoughtgym.com/retreats for more information.

Start prepping for your next detox retreat with one of the following YogaDownload Classes: 

Yoga Nidra - Celest Pereira 





Tough Flow - Celest Pereira 

 

So, I showed Madeline, my daughter, how to make my Watermelon Strawberry Lemonade.

It’s a cross between a fruit smoothie and a lemonade, and has just the right amount of sweet and healthy to satisfy sweet cravings and keep us all cool and hydrated. Plus, it’s super simple, take a look!

 

What You Need:

8 cups watermelon

Juice from 4 lemons

1 cup strawberries

1 Tbsp agave (or raw honey)

3 drops Lemon Essential Oil (supports immune, respiratory and digestive health)

2 drops Lime Essential Oil (supports emotional, digestive and respiratory health)

Not only do essential oils add a hint of flavor to the drink, they are therapeutic for your body.

What You Do:

1). Blend all ingredients in a blender or vitamix.

2). Serve over ice, freeze for slushies, or pour into popsicle molds.

I have just given you a great recipe for your a sweet treat that’s perfect for the summer. What’s your go-to healthy, sweet treat in the summer? I would love to hear from you. Please leave your comments in the box below.

XO, Hayley

photo credit: www.rawmazing.com

Previously posted on Hayley's Blog

By Hayley Hobson

Core Yoga 4 

You may have also picked up that I’m someone who is powered by a plant-based diet, eating the occasional piece of fish here and there when I crave it.

That being said, I’m the least likely person to be writing a blog post on chicken but since I live with two growing boys and a hubbie who says, “salad is what dinner eats,” I’ve had to (and continue to) educate myself on all-things meat related.

We always encourage our participants to become label detectives and this skill is never more important than when it comes to shopping for meat. Unfortunately, these labels can be the most confusing–causing the best of us to become a vegetarian! (Wink, wink.) Although these labels can guide us into making healthier decisions, they can also be misleading because the regulations behind the stickers are often vague.

So let’s demystify some of these marketing claims!

Let’s start with the term “Organic.” Just as with produce, buying “organic” chicken is always solid choice. Organic poultry means that the birds were raised on feed containing no antibiotics, hormones, artificial ingredients or preservatives. Yet unless the labels reads “100% Organic,” the chicken feed likely contained GMO-components, like corn and soy.

Next option is “Vegetarian-Fed.” This too can be misleading because a normal chicken diet is omnivorous, since chickens naturally eat grubs, insects and worms, in addition to grasses and grains. In fact, the omission of bug protein usually means even more GMO corn and soy!

Stickers that read “Free-Range” or “Cage-Free” are widely used and sadly, generally useless. These terms do imply that the chickens are not tightly compartmentalized and that they have access to open air, yet there are zero requirements ensuring that the chickens actually spend time outside. “Pastured” or “Pasture-Raised” may be a more transparent term because it has been widely adopted by small farmers who insist that their grass-fed chickens actually see the light of day. Unfortunately, it has no legal definition and, therefore, can be applied without consequence.

So how do we stop playing chicken with our chicken?!

The best way to find out where your chicken comes from is to go right to the source. If buying from a local farmer, ask about their practices for feeding and raising their birds because even if they’re not “certified organic,” they might be doing everything right. If you’re unfamiliar with your local agriculture, use a farm finder such as LocalHarvest to find fresh produce and meat. Participating in a local farm’s CSA program is another way to hone in on clean poultry sources.

Using a grocery delivery service like Door to Door Organics, can also help you weed through the options and their customer service department is available to answer any question about the products they carry. Use the code “detoxdelivered” for $10 off your first order now though the end of August.

The bottom line when shopping in your everyday health food grocery store is to look for “100% Organic” poultry.

Now that you’ve done your research, we bet you’re expecting a pretty great chicken recipe.

Well, you’re in luck! This week, our natural chef extraordinaire and Conscious Cleanse certified health coach, Jessica Bartlett, helped us create a spin on a favorite finger-licking dish: pulled pork!

Instead of pork, we’re using our well-sourced chicken and a BBQ sauce that isn’t tomato-based. Just like the original dish, we’re slow cooking the meat (in a slow cooker so it’s easier) and the result is spicy, sweet and downright comforting!




Enjoy and please be sure to leave us a comment below. This recipe was a request by one of our readers so we’re ready and listening. What other favorite comfort food can we make cleanse-friendly for you? Be sure to tell me in the comment section below.

With 100% organic grass-fed love,

 
    Julie Peláez and Jo Schaalman

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 consciouscleanse.com. 

Download a class from Jo and Jules today!

Connect to Core - Jo Schaalman 

Hot Yoga Detox Class - Julie Peláez 

In 1933 James Hilton, in his novel Lost Horizon, wrote about the legend of Shangri-La (a variant of the original Shambala,) a valley hidden deep in the Himalayas, whose inhabitants lead extremely long lives. He placed Shambala in the south-eastern part of China in the Himalayas. The book was instrumental in introducing the mysticism of the East to Western readers; yet Hilton had knowledge of only a small part of the entire narrative.

In his book On the Way to Shambala, Dr. Edwin Bernbaum writes about visiting a Buddhist temple in Nepal and coming across a scripture which described a passage to that mythical valley. He placed it as being somewhere in the north of Nepal. Over the years, some of the more esoteric locations described for Shambala are the Arctic, the Western Himalayas and even the middle of the earth.

Yoga has its own mythic stories – a recounting of its origins, its progression, its diminution over time, its disappearance and finally, its rebirth.

Both Hindusim and Buddhism describe time as being circular, and each cycle of time as being composed of four distinct ages or epochs: Satya yuga, the beginning age, then Treta yuga, Dwapara yuga, and finally Kali yuga. Moral characteristics such as honesty, non-violence and mercy decline steadily over the passage of time, until finally, at the end of Kali yuga, they are practically non-existent.

In a Hindu text, the Bhagavat Purana (also known as the Srimad Bhagavatam), it is mentioned that yogis and rishis meditate in an invisible state in Shambala. Their goal: to preserve within themselves the teachings of the Vedas and the Yogas and to reintroduce them to the world at the beginning of the coming Satya Yuga. Buddhism has a similar story: Shambala is a place where Buddhist wisdom is protected from degradation over time.

The Yoga Zapper - A Novel is the story of two young American brothers, who, thrust into strange worlds, find within themselves the courage and faith to grow, change and discover their unimagined destinies.

While trekking in the Himalayas, Steve and Jack encounter a dying priest who thrusts into their hands a Sanskrit scripture which Jack names the Yoga Zapper.

“You do not understand,” cries the old man. “Your lives, no, the future of the entire world depends on it!”

Little do the brothers know that the text is a prescription for time-travel. In the midst of a deep conflict with each other, they discover its powers. Steve, who has an intellectual approach to life, is transported to a peaceful village at the beginning of time. He falls in love with the beautiful Shanti and finally connects with his heart. In search of his brother, they join a group of yogis in a pilgrimage to Shambala. There, they learn how to live in an ethereal state for thousands of years.

Jack, irresponsible and immature, finds himself in a society ruled by an evil despot. Sucked into the intrigue and treachery of a civilization unraveling at the end of time, he is at last forced to become accountable for his actions. He is imprisoned, but escapes to Shambala.

When the dictator attacks this valley, Kalki Avatar descends and a great world-consuming struggle between good and evil at the end of time ensues, featuring mystical weapons, ancient flying craft known as vimanas, as gods and demons battle each other. The dictator who orchestrates the destruction is killed and the earth, abused for so long, blooms anew, the wheel of time turns again, the yogis are saved, and the eternal teachings of yoga are reintroduced to world.

By Mohan Ashtakala

Mohan Ashtakala is a writer and a yoga practitioner. He was editor of a regional publication in Colorado for thirteen years. He has studied the original texts of the yoga traditions for many years, and has lived in ashrams across India. His goal is to introduce the fascinating, authentic narratives and wisdom stories of the yoga traditions to the Western audience, The Yoga Zapper – A Novel is his first novel.  Visit www.yogazapper.com 

Check out Mohan's video about the Introduction to The Yoga Zapper & FAQ video

Go deeper into your yoga practice with the following YogaDownload Classes: 

Increase Your Yoga IQ w/ Webinars from Alanna Kaivalya 


Yoga Teaching Inspirations: Chakras - Alanna Kaivalya 

 

Retreats have been valued for a long time, shown by this quote, “Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer; since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power or judgment…” written by Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th Century! Even way back then, the brilliant artist recognized the value of retreats!

I have been participating and facilitating retreats for the last 16 years. Retreats offer a rich and valuable experience to help you lead your most authentic and intentional life. Here are my top 10 reasons why:

1. We change our environment, we change our mind. When you are away from your email, piles on your desk, children, messy closets, and yardwork, it frees your mind to think about your life in a totally different way. It creates space in your mind to explore, contemplate, and ponder things on a larger scale.

2. We have to be quiet in order to listen. We are so busy with so much stimulation around us today, it is rare to have any quiet time. Our still, inside voice of wisdom, (the one we often don’t pay much attention to) comes through loud and clear when we take the time to be quiet.

3. We all need to be part of something bigger. Being with a group of like-minded people is powerful. Strong bonds are made, even in a weekend when you spend time eating, talking, and practicing together inside the community of a retreat.

4. We experience something new. Much of the power of going on retreat comes from a willingness to open to the adventure of the complete experience. I can’t tell you how many of my participants have done something for the first time on their retreat—from surfing to horseback riding.

5. We flow with nature. Most retreats are centered around nature. Whether it is the ocean, a river, or the mountains, when we experience the passionate flow of nature, we are reminded how we can choose to flow in our own lives.

6. We experience breakthroughs when we take the time to stop. A new perspective is powerful. You take a step outside your “normal” life and things become more clear, transparent, and obvious, all setting you up for a breakthrough in your relationships, your work, or your handstand.

7. We give ourselves the permission and space not to be “doing” something all the time. There is not a busyness, but a real business in retreating. You learn how much you really are doing for yourself, by doing nothing.

8. We find our way back to ourselves. We renew, rejuvenate, and recharge with the mental, emotional, and physical rest a retreat provides and remember our true nature.

9. We experience freedom. You get to choose when to eat, sleep, take a walk by yourself, or join the group hike. When you focus on what you need moment to moment, you experience a sense of peace and contentment with your freedom of choice.

10. Your Retreat is a gift you give yourself, but it is also a gift to others. After you experience the power of a retreat, you return home more present, attentive, and intentional with yourself and everyone else in your life.

Past Retreater Comments:

“This retreat was well worth the price of admission. I realize I can’t afford not to give myself something so important. Thank you for the opportunity to practice extreme self care for an entire weekend. I’ll be back!”

“I was able to be alone by the stream, and with the group at meals. I was able to unwind with the quiet and be energized with the drumming circle. Thank You! All of my needs were met.” 

“It was the perfect space to relax and regroup for my transitions ahead. I have learned how to lead a heart-centered life, and forgive. Forgive others, and more importantly forgive myself.”

“I came back from my retreat amazed by the strength we all hold within and a renewed sense of my own ability to create the kind of life I want and deserve. Can’t thank you enough for fostering the conditions that made the retreat so successful for us all!!!”

Now that you know the power a retreat has to offer, what are you waiting for? You could always take yourself on a retreat, but the problem is you have to figure out all of the logistics, and the perfect time, and if you really have the money, and, and, and,…you may not quite get around to doing it.

I encourage you to look online, talk to people, and book your retreat NOW. To get you started, here is the information for my next Your Mindful Year Mountain Retreat THIS August 15-17 - there are only a few spaces left! Also, check out Costa Rica Retreat January 26-February 2, 2013. I know you do want to get away and I can’t wait to hear all about it when you do!

By Diane Sieg
Previously published on Diane's Blog

                                                                      

With a career that has taken her from the chaos of the emergency room to the calm of her yoga mat, Diane Sieg first discovered yoga as a great source of physical and emotional healing during a personal crisis and has been practicing ever since. Today, as an Anusara-Inspired yoga teacher, professional speaker, published author, retreat facilitator and life-saving coach, Diane empowers people to live their most authentic life, both on and off the mat. Her teaching style is a calm intensity with strong alignment based principles. Diane is the creator of 30 Days to Grace: A Daily Practice to Achieve Your Ultimate Goals, both in CD and book format. Read more about Diane at dianesieg.com.

Your Mindful Year Mountain Retreat is coming up in August 15-17 in Peaceful Valley:

Immerse yourself in the practices of mindfulness with a weekend of yoga, meditation, deep breathing, journaling, body scan, and walking meditation. Spend the weekend in the beautiful Colorado Rockies with an intimate group of likeminded people to get the support, experience and community you need to create your mindful year.  Find out more and register here!

Get retreat-ready with a YogaDownload class!

30 Days to Grace - Diane Sieg 

 

Let Your Compass Guide the Way - Kylie Larson 

 

Yoga to Touch Your Soul - Christen Bakken 

 

Here is your schedule:

7:30 am: Morning Hike & Meditation Yes it's early, but this is when the magic happens. You and the sun will reveal your strength at the same time. No need to go all the way to a National Park for a mindful hiking experience, it's all in the intention. Go to a local trail or park, or just a walk through a beautiful neighborhood. Notice what's around you, what you hear, the way the ground feels under your feet. And when you get to your favorite place on the route, Arrive in the Present Moment with this guided meditation from Jackie Casal-Mahrou.

10 am: Homemade Smoothie Bar There are few things that make you feel better in your body than taking a vibrant basket of fresh fruits and vegetables and eviscerating them into a sweet, nutritious smoothie. We’ve collected a few favorite recipes at YogaDownload, but when you combine flavors you love, it's hard to go wrong. So make it an experience: have everyone bring their favorite ingredients and let the creativity flow.

11 am: Yoga with Ashley Turner Roll out your mats somewhere you don't often practice – out in the yard, on the roof of your building, maybe somewhere touristy. When the place feels special, your practice feels special – that's the festival experience (and thankfully YogaDownload classes can go anywhere, even places with no cell or WiFi service). You and your friends are in for a treat: a Twisting Detox Arm Balance Flow with one of the nation's top yoga teachers, Ashley Turner. You’ve seen her at the festivals and in the media, now she's coming to teach you to fearlessly play with balance.

12:30 pm: Spraytime Playtime It wouldn't be a yoga festival without water. Get to the nearest pool, pond or garden hose for some splashing, leaping and uninhibited silliness. Grab a healthy lunch while you're at it.

2:30 pm: Yoga with Shiva Rea Yes really. The queen of Shakti herself is teaching at YOUR festival. This is a true privilege, exclusive to YogaDownload and the DIY Yoga Festival. Reach open from your heart and get ready to get blissed out on a Solar/Lunar Flow.

4:00 pm: Wind Down You're doing something awesome for your mind, body and spirit today – enjoy it! This is your creative free time. Bust out the hula hoop, or freewrite in a journal. Pump up the Chill Rhythms and experiment with AcroYoga – since it's just you and your friends, this is a judgment-free zone!

6:00 pm: Wine Tasting This IS a celebration after all! Pick up some organic wines or wines produced near you and treat yourself to a tasting. Does the wine taste better after a day of yoga and mindful fun?

7:30 pm: Healthy Dinnertime Cooking together is fun. Pick up some fresh produce for a recipe that sounds interesting! If you need some inspiration, try a Millet Buddha Bowl - they're healthy, easy, and totally customizable!

9:00 pm: Dance Party Every good summer festival ends with dancing outdoors. Your turn to celebrate this awesome life by frolicking around to sweet beats. Dance like no one is watching because this dance is just for you.

Happy DIY festivaling! Take lots of pictures (and tag @YogaDownload in them)!

I was talking with a client the other day and she said “I can’t make a decision, I’m just so scared!”

It got me thinking about how fear can rule our lives. Our bodies have been programmed since the beginning, with a “fight or flight” response to keep us alive. There were REAL dangers: being eaten by wild animals, invading armies, disease and sickness. Here’s the crazy thing – our bodies don’t really know the difference between staring down a wild animal and being afraid of losing a job or a boyfriend when our brains view the threat in the same way.

We, as human beings, are hardwired to live. Unfortunately, however, far too often we become fearful of situations in our modern every day lives the way our ancestors did about being eaten, over situations that are far less life threatening, and, instead of it moving us to action the way it should, it paralyzes us. We get so caught up in the scenarios and outcomes and we let the fear of those possibilities prevent us from taking necessary next steps. We let the “what if’s” overwhelm us and get in our way.

It is absolutely appropriate to respond to the fear of surviving being hunted down by a mountain lion. It is not appropriate to apply the same fear response to surviving tax season or a big break-up. You’ve got to live in the here and now.

One morning a few weeks ago, I got a call that a neighbor’s daughter had been in a freak car accident that sent the truck she was in into a creek, where she was swept away and died. I was in shock. Horrified. My very first response was “Where’s my daughter”. She wasn’t in the house. I panicked – my heart started pounding out of my chest, all my muscles were tight and I couldn’t think straight. I was simultaneously grieving for my friend’s horrible loss and terrified that the same was happening to me. It was totally irrational to think that way but that’s exactly how your body is supposed to react in “fight or flight”. I found Madeline about 10 minutes later playing in the bushes in the backyard. It took me another hour to recover from the panic.

A week later I couldn’t find my wallet. I panicked – my heart started pounding out of my chest, all my muscles were tight and I couldn’t think straight. My body reacted the same exact way to the fear that my daughter was missing, as it did to the fear that my wallet was missing.

Get this – If I can’t find my wallet, sure, it’s going to be a pain in the butt to get my cards replaced, but no one is going to die. But my body doesn’t know the difference.

When your brain decides ‘this is scary’, your body is going to react.

Fear lives within each one of us but we have a choice whether to let it rule us. I’m not saying that dangers don’t exist. But getting lost in the ‘what ifs’ over situations that are a far cry from life threatening, in a future you can’t predict, is a waste of energy.

Here are a few ideas on how to combat fear if you find it residing inside of you:

1). STAY PRESENT

The future does not exist yet. Your thoughts and projections into a future aren’t real. Stay in the present, tuned in to your senses and use your mind. You are hard-wired to survive. There is an unconscious aspect of your being that inherently knows what to do.

2). TAKE A DEEP BREATH – MAYBE TWO!

Even self defense instructors teach their students to take a breath when they are faced with a physical threat. By reminding yourself to breathe (sounds silly, but you CAN forget to breathe when you’re completely freaking out), you are not only ensuring that your brain gets the oxygen it needs to function properly, but deep, deliberate, slow breaths, slow your heart rate which calms your body, making it easier to think more clearly. When you are in a calm state of mind, you are better prepared physically to choose how you are going to react to your situation.

3). BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

So much of our fear has to do with how we perceive ourselves and our strengths. If you believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything. If you doubt yourself, you will not succeed. You are what you believe, so even if it seems crazy to believe you can outrun a mountain lion, survive a flood, a devastating divorce or a run in with the IRS, believe it.

Belief is power.

I have just given you 3 outstanding tips to overcome fear. What are you afraid of? How have you overcome fear? I would love to hear from you. Please leave your comments in the box below.

If you found this post informative or useful please share it with friends. Post it on FB, Pinterest, or Tweet it.

XO, Hayley

Previously published on Positively Positive and Hayley's Blog

By Hayley Hobson

Core Yoga 4 

If you’ve done the Conscious Cleanse with us you know that one of our secrets for maintaining vibrancy is through practicing what we call “doing your ABCs.”

One of the best ways we know how to do this is with our beloved green smoothie ritual. This one simple habit has the power to transform anyone’s health. Keeping dark leafy greens at the center of your food universe is key to maintaining vibrancy!

As you may recall, the Conscious Cleanse has partnered with Door to Door Organics to make it even easier to maintain this daily healthy habit by delivering fresh organic produce and natural groceries to your doorstep at no extra cost!

Be sure to check out Door to Door Organics’ website for a collection of Conscious Cleanse recipes that make doing your ABCs a cinch.

If you’re in their delivery area, be sure to enter “detoxdelivered” to get $10 off your first order. But hurry because this offer won’t be around forever.

Below is one of our most popular green smoothie recipes called Hearty Smoothie Love. This is a delicious “starter smoothie” if you’re new to the green smoothie revolution. It’s full of antioxidants, minerals, protein and healthy fats, which will help you feel full longer.

Check it out below and be sure to leave me a comment.



How are you doing your ABCs?

With green smoothie love,

 
    Julie Peláez and Jo Schaalman

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 consciouscleanse.com. 

Download a class from Jo and Jules today!

Forrest Yoga 2 - Adv. Intermediate - Jo Schaalman 

Hot Yoga Detox Class - Julie Peláez 

Jon Kabat-Zinn says patience is a form of wisdom.

Patience is remembering you can’t push the river—which I sometimes try to do when in unfamiliar or uncomfortable territory. Like when I am forced to look at a limiting belief I have become so familiar with, and it takes way longer than I expect to let it go. Or when I make a significant shift in my business plan and it takes way longer to execute and see benefit than I can imagine. Or when I am stuck on the runway for hours due to weather and finally arrive at the gate, obsessed with every painful minute it takes to deplane, decreasing my chances of making my connection.

Any of these life situations go so much easier when we practice patience. These truths adapted from Rick Hanson’s Just One Thing help me remember why patience is a form of wisdom:

- Impatience is dissatisfaction and resistance—Patience is possibility
- Impatience is angry—Patience is peaceful
- Impatience focuses on what’s wrong—Patience is wide open to the big picture
- Impatience is controlling and clinging—Patience is letting go
- Impatience can’t stand unpleasantness—Patience is tolerance

Practicing patience allows us to let go of our often unrealistic expectations and consider the long-term effects of everything we are doing and be present all along the way. This is why patience is an important intention of mindfulness.

Where in your life today could you embrace the wisdom of patience and stop trying to push the river?

By Diane Sieg
Previously published on Diane's Blog

                                                                      

With a career that has taken her from the chaos of the emergency room to the calm of her yoga mat, Diane Sieg first discovered yoga as a great source of physical and emotional healing during a personal crisis and has been practicing ever since. Today, as an Anusara-Inspired yoga teacher, professional speaker, published author, retreat facilitator and life-saving coach, Diane empowers people to live their most authentic life, both on and off the mat. Her teaching style is a calm intensity with strong alignment based principles. Diane is the creator of 30 Days to Grace: A Daily Practice to Achieve Your Ultimate Goals, both in CD and book format. Read more about Diane at dianesieg.com.

Your Mindful Year Mountain Retreat is coming up in August 15-17 in Peaceful Valley:

Immerse yourself in the practices of mindfulness with a weekend of yoga, meditation, deep breathing, journaling, body scan, and walking meditation. Spend the weekend in the beautiful Colorado Rockies with an intimate group of likeminded people to get the support, experience and community you need to create your mindful year.  Find out more and register here!

Start practicing a patient life now with a YogaDownload class!

30 Days to Grace - Diane Sieg 

 

Gentle Hatha Yoga 5 - Deep Release - Jackie Casal Mahrou 

 

Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga 2 - Dave Farmar 

 

As a child we know that we are naturally connected all that is. We know that we are naturally joyful. We know that we are one with the Universe. But sometimes we are born to families who have become hard and have forgotten that magical piece.

It’s not their fault, it’s an old pattern… one that I am at the forefront, with many others, breaking through. I know different and thank God I know enough in time to share this important knowledge with my kids! That’s what’s most important … our lovely future generation! Still so pristine and awake. What a gift.

But pain is interesting to me. I believe that all physical pain is a manifestation of something deeper. Even accidents, I believe, can be caused by something deeper. Some unknown fear or imbalance in the emotional body. And what we do with that pain is indicative of how we are living our life.

My suggestion? Look at it the pain deeply. What part of the body are you experiencing it in? How did it happen? Remember that you are a dense piece of matter with a soul… look deeper into the pain. Don’t just put a band-aid on it or take some pill to relieve the immediate annoyance. It’s going to come back later and will keep coming back until you dig in and get to the root. The root is where the healing is. It’s not in the surface scrape, it’s deeper.

When I started studying the systems of the body and then the subtle body and then dove into the energy and ethereal, I began to re-member. I remembered who I was beneath the pain: a really bright light. A being connected to God and to everything else that existed.

When you wake up to that, your life expands and it’s amazing! You see everything differently! Life makes sense! You meet people just like you! And you all share and love and rejoice! Everything seems lighter!

However, if there is lingering pain, which there most likely is, you’re still going to have to deal with it. But now you have tools, and new friends, and you can practice looking at everything with compassion and grace. You can see your hurt from a new place that is blessed with forgiveness.

Pain is going to show up in your life over and over again. My invitation to you, and to us all, is to look at and examine it. See it for what it is and heal it, with every tool in your box.

I ask my girls, when I see them in pain, “Where are you feeling this? What does it feel like? Why do you think your feeling it?” When they cry, they cry until they are done. When they are mad they are mad until they are done. They have a safe place to share their feelings … no matter what. We are respectful, no outbursts in public places unless it HAS to happen. Let’s try and wait until we at least get in the car… then we drop everything and listen.

They also know the energy body … the masculine and feminine … the chakras. They know enough to ask questions. It’s the program that runs everything and has been forever. It’s essential in healing the body on the root level.

I’m not sure all of our systems and chakras and life will ever be in perfect balance. However, I strive for learning, for expanding and growing every time something comes up. And I intend to share what I know, all my imperfections and works in progress, with these two little beings that are staring at me and listening to my every word.

I intend to remind them of what perfect beings they are amidst any bit of pain or trauma they may experience. That’s what will expand ALL of our lives… that one bit of knowledge. Remember who you are … light and love.

Previously published on Dana's Blog

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.

Download Dana's class at YogaDownload:

 

Hearts Wide Open 

Ayurveda comes from two words: “Ayu” which means life and “veda” which means science so Ayurveda quite literally is the science of life. It is based on the premise that we each have a combination of elements that make us up, known as doshas.

The three doshas are: Earth and water, or kapha, fire and water, or pitta, and air and space, or vata.

From an ayurvedic perspective, we all have a certain combination of each of these elements. Too much of any of these elements takes us out of balance. It makes a certain amount of logic when you think about it: excess earth creates lethargy, depression, and additional mucous in the body. Too much air and space and we are easily distracted, flighty, and ungrounded. Too much fire, we are impatient, judgmental, and think that we are always right. Sound familiar? Luckily, there are many ways to keep these imbalances in check. Let’s take a look at some common pitta imbalances so you can check in yourself.



Fire manifests in the body as acid water, located in the stomach and in the digestive organs. Since pitta is responsible for metabolism, too much pitta can create acid indigestion, reflux, and diarrhea. It can also cause high blood pressure, acne and inflammation of joints. And just like a burning wire, excess pitta can shorten our fuse, leading to aggression in both our personal and professional relationships, as well as in the community at large. It’s no surprise that crime rate and violence increase during the summer, particularly as a result of heat waves.

Despite this, many yoga classes continue to offer a practice that is heat building, sweat-inducing and pitta-aggravating in the height of summer because that is what we are used to. As a culture, we tend to take the “no pain, no gain” approach onto our yoga mats. If savasana isn’t experienced in a pool of sweat it somehow means we didn’t do enough. Don’t get me wrong: I enjoy a good sweat like the rest of them but that does not mean I need to go to extremes when the temperature takes me there already. The experience of yoga is not calibrated by the amount of perspiration you emit but by the depth of connection you have to the moment. That is what we can take back with us to our friends, our spouses, our children, and our co-workers. If you leave class feeling more imbalanced than you were when you arrived, something’s not working. Here’s a few tips on how to shift your yoga practice to create more equanimity both on the mat and off. If you’re new to yoga, fear not! These are tips that are available to anyone at any time.

1. Avoid practicing surya namaskar in excess. Rather practice moon salutes.

2. Add a restorative pose to your practice or to your day. Legs up the wall is cooling, calming for the nervous system, lowers the heart rate, and slows down the breath. All of these things help counter a pitta imbalance.

3. Practice sitali breath: curl the end of your tongue up to the roof of your mouth. If you can’t do that (you’re not flawed: some people anatomically are unable to!) then simply open your mouth as if you are giving a fake smile. Breath in through the tongue or the teeth. Pause at the top of the inhalation and then exhale our through the nostrils. Try this about 6 times and notice the effects. It helps cure heartburn, acid indigestion, and creates an internal cooling system. Although it might look funny, this comes in very handy while you’re waiting on the subway platform in intense heat. Give it a try!

4. Avoid spicy or acidic foods like peppers and tomatoes and eat cooling ones such as coconut, cucumber, and melon.

5. Avoid alcoholic beverages if your pitta is up. It takes all of those imbalances into more imbalance! Although it might feel cooling at the time, it will only fan the fire in the end.


Stay cool and Namaste.

Previously published on ISHTA Blog

By Sarah Platt-Finger

Sarah co-founded ISHTA Yoga, LLC with her husband, Alan Finger in May 2008. She holds the title Yogiraj and developed her own signature class “Sweat and Samadhi,” which is taught by ISHTA teachers worldwide. ISHTA classes and trainings are offered in Stockholm, Munich, London, and Japan. Sarah aspires to share the joy, inspiration, and self-tranformation with her students that she has received through the practice of yoga. Her daughter, Satya, inspires her every day to live a life based on love and self-empowerment. Learn more about ISHTA Yoga at ishtayoga.com and @ISHTAyoga.  Follow Sarah on Facebook and Instagram.

Balance your pitta with the following YogaDownload Classes: 

Moon Salutations Flow - Lisa Richards 


Yin Yoga - Elise Fabricant 

I hate poison ivy. On my 40th birthday, I woke up with it and wound up in the hospital begging for cortisone shots.

I hate being uncomfortable. I hate being too hot, too cold, too sunburned, too itchy, and summer is the worst time for all of it, with all the bugs, going to the pool or beach, air conditioned buildings.

I will do ANYTHING to avoid being itchy. Here are some suggestions to help get you and your skin through the summer in one piece.

Sunscreen – I use sunscreen whenever I go outside, whether I’m going to be out running or just running to the grocery store, if my skin is exposed to the sun, I spray on some sunscreen before I go.

For Sunburns – Unfortunately, the best intentions with sunscreen don’t always pan out. I recommend aloe gel to soothe sunburns. You could even keep an aloe plant growing and break off leaves as you need them (great for kitchen burns too, by the way) Peppermint oil is also very soothing and cooling. Add a few drops to a spray bottle full of water to spray yourself.

For Dry Skin – Truly, hydration is the key here. Make sure you’re drinking enough fluids. Sleep is also really important for your skin, so make sure you’re getting enough sleep every day. And of course, keep feeding your skin a good, natural moisturizer. {Are there ingredients they should look for to consider it ‘good’?} Coconut oil is a great option. Apply it, or any body oil, as soon as you’ve finished a shower as soap and hot water can be very drying for your skin, and the water already on your skin will help the oil to soak into your skin.

For Bug Bites – A few drops of lavender in a spray bottle of water will soothe bug bites. Melaleuca or tea tree oil applied directly to the bite will also calm the itching. essential.me

For Poison Ivy – You obviously want to get the oils away from you as quickly as you can and scrub them off of your body to avoid rash, but if you’re too late for all that oatmeal, lavender peppermint, frankincense, myrrh, and jewelweed are all great for soothing itchy, inflamed skin.

Keep some peppermint leaves in the freezer to apply to sunburns or bug bites.

I’ve just shared some great tips to help keep your skin hydrated and soothed through the summer months. What are your natural remedies for itchy skin during the summer? Share them with me on Facebook.

XO Hayley

Previously published on Mind Body Green and Hayley's Blog.

By Hayley Hobson

Core Yoga 4 

What do you think about this? Do you find you can make healthier decisions later on when you fuel yourself with healthy choices earlier on?  

Let me know in the comment section below.



Enjoy your holiday weekend. Eat (or drink!) your greens and remember to drink lots of water.

With love and firecrackers,

 
    Julie Peláez and Jo Schaalman

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 consciouscleanse.com. 

Download a class from Jo and Jules today!

Connect to Core - Jo Schaalman 

Hot Yoga Detox Class - Julie Peláez 

But here’s the tricky part. Your body is after hydration and nourishment. You get a lot of your hydration needs from your food. Ever juice a cucumber? It’s mostly liquid! Sometimes, your body will kick out “I’m hungry!” signals when you’re actually thirsty and craving hydration!

This “You must drink 8 glasses of water a day” doctrine only became the fashionable when we stopped eating our veggies and started eating more processed food. Yes! Your body needs to be hydrated, you can’t live without water. There are studies out there nowadays that are showing that we’re already getting a lot of water in our daily diets, especially if we’re eating healthy with lots and lots of vegetables and fruit. And let’s face it – water can get pretty boring.

There are lots of great ways to get the amount of water your body needs to keep you hydrated. I drink a 20oz. smoothie every morning, go through a 20oz. water bottle that I carry around with me all day long and I drink at least one or two probiotic Kevita drinks a day. That alone is almost 64oz. of liquid! And that’s not even counting all the vegetables I eat daily.


Here are some tips to help you get the water your body needs to keep up with your busy life:

1. Eat your Fruits and Veggies

Cucumber, celery and radishes are more than 95% water! Throw some in your salad or keep some spears handy for snacking (add some hummus for also important protein). Tomatoes, green peppers, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, baby carrots, are also great vegetables for their water content. Watermelon, star fruit, strawberries, grapefruit, cantaloupe are sweet treats that are all more than 90% water.

2. Don’t Overdo it

You CAN drink too much water. You can actually flood your system with water, producing low sodium levels, flushing out minerals and vitamins that your body actually needs to perform at peak condition and do a number on your kidneys. If you’re eating lots of clean veggies, you’re getting LOTS of water. But when you do drink water, don’t chug it, you’ll just wind up peeing it out without doing much to hydrate you. Sip it throughout the day instead. And speaking of pee, THAT is the real sign of your state of hydration. It should be a pale yellow color. If it’s almost clear, you’re drinking too much. If it’s dark yellow, go drink something!

3. Make Your Water More Interesting

Filter your water whenever you can. Infuse it with calorie and sugar-free flavors, a slice of lemon or a chunk of cantaloupe. Figure out if you prefer glass, plastic or stainless steel containers and then get a bunch and keep them filled and handy. It sounds silly, but having a glass or bottle you enjoy drinking out of can make a difference in how you feel about drinking! Drinking champagne out of a juice glass isn’t nearly as fun as drinking it from a champagne glass, right?

Everything you drink contributes to your daily water consumption. Just remember that caffeinated drinks will dehydrate you, so you should replace them with something to hydrate.


Water is not the goal, hydration is. Keep your water consumption interesting, listen to your body, and you will always be hydrated.

I’ve just given you really important information about water and helpful hints on how to keep hydrated. What fun ways do you have to stay hydrated? Share them with me!


XO Hayley