Energy: How to Expand and Reduce

Energy is the ability to do work. Most of us talk about our energy level--we're jazzed, tired, fired up, lethargic. What we eat, what we do, how we sleep and think affect our energy level and our ability to do work.

In a yoga practice, we look at the result we want as we create a practice. Generally we are looking to connect to ourselves and have balance in our body, mind and life. 

Do we want to feel more invigorated and awake? If so, we create a brahmana (to expand) or energizing practice. If it's an evening practice or we're really stressed, we may need a more langhana (to reduce) or relaxing practice. 

We all come to yoga for different reasons-no reason better or worse than another. What I'm asking you to consider-is the yoga practice you're doing the right one for your body's needs?

If you are stressed, over-worked, and you are physically active, you might need a quiet, introspective and slow practice with fewer asana (postures) and more pranayama (breathing) or meditation. You might not find that appealing. If you have sedentary lifestyle and are on the depressive side, you might need a bit more movement and rigor in your practice. Many of us need a bit of both.


Yoga is not one-size fits all.

So how do we know which practice suits us? Have a session with a trained teacher. 

What if we go to yoga at our gym because it's affordable and convenient? That's great. Keep doing what works for you. I'm a firm believer in, "if it works, don't fix it." We need to find what makes each of us feel good and what reduces our stress level.

Remember too it's very HUMAN to not want what's good for us. Sound familiar?

When I was thinking what to call my business, the idea of Every Body being different kept going through my mind. We have different shapes, needs, likes and yet yoga is good for all of us. We just need to find the right teacher and type of class or personal practice that works for us.

Our needs change over time as well. What I did in my 20's, 30's and 40's, no longer works or appeals to me. I have different needs. 

There are so many teachers and classes available. Keep looking until you find one that fits. Also consider having a private consultation. Having your own personal practice that you can do in the privacy of your home when it's most convenient that is made for your specific needs is priceless.

If you'd like to chat about your needs and possibly work with me, schedule a complementary wellness call.

Have a great day and keep doing your yoga. Let me know if you have any questions.

Natural Beauty Basics Yogastyle: a How to

Discipline and routine haven't come easy to me, yet there is one area I don't stray from, my daily skin care. As a teen, I spent lots of time in the sun, with lemons, baby oil, iodine, and a salt water spray, attempting to tan. Before too long that I wanted to care for my skin more than I wanted to tan--vanity may have played a role here.

It's not just about having soft, healthy skin; it's also about feeling good inside and out. Granted genes play a part in the qualities of our skin, I thank my Sicilian mom for a bit of that. At 70-something, she has amazingly smooth supple skin.

What I do

• Eat healthy, organic, fresh, seasonal foods including my favorite Beauty-Enhancing Smoothie
• Whole Foods Cleanse 2 times per year
• Skin Cleansing: I use no or little soap on my face. I use oil (coconut or sesame, depending on the season) to remove makeup. My face cream and serum are handmade by people I know with organic ingredients and love. I use a rose or lavender water spray as a toner and to freshen up throughout the day.
• Facial Massage and Abhyanga
  
• Daily Yoga, Chanting and Meditation Practice. I use a slow, breath-based practice appropriate for my needs.
• Daily short, vigorous walk with my dogs
• Keep stress to a minimum (what I can control)
• Sleep at least 7 hours (I sometimes nap, which I never let myself do in the past.)
• Keep toxic chemicals off my skin and out of my diet
• Drink water and herbal tea (I do enjoy a nice cup of coffee, too.)

There are other routines I follow throughout the day. The ones listed above are the ones attributed to skin health. Thanks for reading everyone. If you're interested in working with me privately, please schedule a Complimentary Wellness Call.

I'd love to hear your take on keeping your skin care natural as well as any other wonderful products you know of.

PS-My practices and lifestyle have changed with age and need. Yogic practices are specific to physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs.Truly it's not one practice fits all.  

How Messages Confirm

As I sat down to write yesterday morning, a sweet, yellow finch began to peck at my window. I looked up the significance of finch in North American Folk lore and read that finches signify- joy, energy, simplicity and enjoying the journey. The message was clear for me, enjoy the simple things in life's journey, those things that energize and bring me joy.

Reading signs or messages can be a bit of a challenge especially if we're not use to interpreting our thoughts, feelings and those synchronistic events.

You may be wondering what this has to do with yoga.

The busy-ness of many people in our technological society, interferes with our innate knowingness, our connecting with ourselves, quietly each moment, each day.

Yoga and meditation give us the opportunity to slow down, to recognize thoughts and feelings and to decipher each experience in a given movement.

Let's take a look at our chakra of will, the manipura-gem chakra, for a moment. Place your hand on your solar plexus, just under your rib cage and 4 fingers above the navel.

To connect with your gut feelings, you can sit quietly for a few minutes each day with your hand here. The seed sound for this chakra is Ram, pronounced rum. Softly repeat this sound with your hand on the chakra. Then, listen. What do you feel? What do you hear? Taking a few minutes each day can help you reconnect to

I can recall numerous accounts of knowing throughout my life. The difference for me now is that I listen to them. If I am unsure, I wait until the message is clear. I look for a confirmation from my body. Some of you may receive your confirmation in another way. I am very kinesthetic and I use my body for a living. The most important part is to take a few moments to be quiet each day.

If you are interested in delving more deeply into your feelings, you might check out my Virtual and Local Desire Mapping Workshops. 

I'd love to hear about your experiences, your ways of knowing and other ways you connect to yourself.

No Need to Fear Mercury Retrograde

Some of my friends were freaking about about Mercury, the planet, going retrograde. I kept hearing, "Oh, it's Mercury's fault," when things didn't go right, especially with electronics. For me, it's a time to slow down, reflect, watch my dreams, and be patient.

Personally, I found myself unable to write for 2 weeks. Normally writing is a non-issue for me. Now that Mercury will turn direct on June 11th, we will all find ourselves gushing with new ideas and being able to talk about them.  

I woke up this morning determined to get a few posts and emails written, and sure enough, it's happened. 

Mercury goes retrograde three times a year. Historically according to the Farmer's Almanac, it is a time of delay, confusion and frustration as well as a time of heightened intuition. 

Larry Schwimmer at HuffPost, writes about the many positive things that happen during Mercury Retrograde. 

1. Finding Lost Items 

2. Hearing From People in Your Past 

3. Hearing From Old Clients or Employers 

4. Finishing Old Projects 

5. Polishing Up a

Great Idea

6. Running Stress-Free Meetings

7. Discovering Problems You Can Finally Fix

8. Learning the Truth 

9. Corruption is Exposed 

10. You'll Laugh More

You can find his full article here.
It would be great to hear any stories of how things worked for you throughout the last 3 weeks. Post below!
#MercuryRetrograde