Main Photo Credit - Michael Neville

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Reflections On My Cleanse

Strangely I almost miss the days I was on the Master Cleanse. I loved the simplicity, the ease, the certainty of knowing that everything I was doing was for the benefit of my body and mind. There was a sense of lucidness that you can only get when you're in the pure state of fasting. Today I did mostly orange juice all day, but later in the day I made a light vegetable stew and ate that. I felt good and throughly energized. Instead of during yoga in the day, I did it in the evening as I have been these past few days. My method of choice was more Kundalini with Gurmukh. She's addicting, as you get a great pumping cardio and a heaping spoonful of enlightment via her soul-stirring gong meditation and
exercises in breath control. It was a lovely way to round of the end of my day. It's swiftly become my version of a nightcap. I'm just enough of a yoga-junky to feel that way. But chances are, if you're reading this, then so are you. Signing off to get into a semi-permenant Savasana. Goodnight.

Photo Credits: Meepoohfoto

Friday, August 26, 2011

Day 10 Of The Lemon Cleanse

This is the last day of my Master Cleanse, and I find that I am really proud of myself. I did it. I get this feeling everytime I finish 10 days or more on this fasting cleanse. Today it seemed that I had boundless energy and I think that my detoxing kicked up a notch and went to a whole other level. I was able to do 1 whole hour of Kundalini Yoga with no problems or fatigue. Infact not only did I finish my yoga session with flying colors, but parts that had posed a challenge to me before were easier for me to complete. I was also more flexible then ever, and after it was over I had the sensation that I could keep going. It was awesome. During the last final phase of my yoga-- meditation, I concentrated on my Chakras and when Gurmukh instructed me to come out of my meditation slowly by focusing on my Third Eye, I could actually see a bright indigo triangular orb right at the point in the center of my forehead. My eyes were closed and yet I could envision it. It was an amazing feeling. I really had a breakthrough today!

Photo Credits: Sakhorn38

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Day 8 Of My Master Cleanse

Today I alternated between restless energy and anxiousness. A part of me is ready for my cleanse to be over and another part of me wants to continue for longer. Technically, I could continue on for another 10 days and be perfectly fine, but I don't think I will. I'm considering experimently with a 50-70 percent raw diet. Or may something that is microbiotic in nature. I haven't decided yet. I've taken up my yoga practice with enthusiasm and I will have to say that the Master Cleanse goes hand-in-hand with yoga. I calms my mind and my cravings and I tend to perspire even more during the more intense parts of my practice. It's like my body is shedding more and more of the excess wastes and toxins. It's a curious sensation really. My body really needed this to get back into the swing of things. This Cleanse has been crucial to my healing and my system repairing itself.

Photo Credits: Suat Eman

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Lemon Cleanse

I've been doing the Master/Lemon Cleanse for 7 days now in a homerun stretch for 10. I can really say that while the rest of the days up until now have been really smooth sailing, today was tough. My body was really dumping a lot of wastes and toxins. For those of you unfamiliar with the Master Cleanse, it's a liquid fast invented by Stanley Burroughs that involves you ingest a mixture of water, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and real grade B maple syrup(not the sugary stuff that you normally pour over pancakes). During this time you do not eat any solid foods. Is it safe? Absolutely! Of course as with anything, if in doubt consult your physician. I've been using this cleanse about once or twice a year for nearly 8 years now and it has always given my system an internal "spring cleaning"-- a much needed break from all the stress our Western diet can put on it. I will have to say that I feel incredibly energetic and have a clarity of mind that is unbelievable. I've also started back with the yoga and I'm moving full steam ahead with my meditations. I'm making a major turnaround since my bout with anemia. I think my energy is back and it's here to stay!

Photo Credits: Ambro

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

A Much Needed Reprieve...

The hectic pace of life finally caught up with me and my body told me that I simply was due for a much needed break. I took the time to listen to my body and my soul and decided to put my blog on a hiatus to catch up with issues that I needed to address, both personal and physical. I am happy to say that I think my anemia situation has finally been addressed after months of struggling with it and I'm in a better place now. I just needed a space to deal and to take a deep breathe and let it out. I was able to center myself with EFT and now I'm ready to take up my yoga practice with renewed vigor. After my respite I am complete refreshed and more eager then ever to begin. So here's a mental toast to all the practice time ahead. I feel that my body, soul, and spirit are fully regenerated. It's time.

Photo Credits: Graur Codrin

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Looking To Yoga When I'm Down

Today more then ever I need to gather the strength from my yoga practice. Personal problems have me down, but this is the time I need to delve into my practice that much deeper in order to find the will to persevere. More then ever I need the courage of the Warrior poses to see me through and give me the fighting spirit I need, coupled with the calm to move ahead with reason. And more then ever I'm incorporated the ancient Hawaiian prayer of Ho'oponopono and saying to myself, " I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you. This has helped me more then I can say. They are best words in the human language. They help me to go through the process of healing myself and others. Namaste.

Friday, June 17, 2011

The Importance Of Breath

Proper breathing is probably the single most vital element to a regular yoga practice. I not only keeps you grounded and focused, but it moderates your heart rate, drives oxygen to the muscles and ligaments for greater extension, and to the brain to increase it's cellular activity, but it also calms the spirit and energizes all the chakras and meridians of your body. Oxygen is literally your life-force. Without it you cannot survive and increasing your ability to take it in and your control over it will help you in many other areas besides your yoga practice. It's essential that you don't forget to breath during transitions from asana to asana. Try if at all possible to abstain from inhaling through the mouth, and instead take in air through the nose. It's OK to let it out through the mouth however. This takes repetition to master and can be a challenge, especially if you are a shallow breather. Don't be discouraged, as with yoga and with everything else, practice makes imperfect. Happy breathing!

Photo Credits: Nuttakit

Thursday, June 16, 2011

A Refresh From Over-Work

Dealing with the hectic pace of running my own business is exhausting and overwhelming... well, most of the time. I am often forced to fit my yoga into 30 minutes during lunch or after the day as ended. This is all the more reason for me to make sure that I do dedicate time to my yoga practice. The end of the day can be a time when I just want to collapse on the couch and just chill. That would be the easy solution, but I know that after 30 minutes of yoga, my feet that are swollen from standing on them for 12 hours and my joints which are stiff from over-use could take the pampering of a Downward Facing Dog or a Cobra Pose. And my mind could calm to the sounds of my measured and even breathing. My soul and spirit could take time to unwind and heal just as much as the vessel I dwell within and my weary psyche. And somewhere in the middle of my practice, usually between Warrior 2 and Standing Forward Bend, I have found the reason why I keep dedicating myself day after day and re-affirm its purpose.

Photo Credits: Exsodus

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Back On The Wagon

It's the truth that for a while there I fell off the yogic wagon. But I dusted myself off again; a little worse for wear, and got back in the saddle again. And boy have I missed it. Now that I've know what it's like to relax into Child's Pose or stretch out luxuriantly in Reclined Cobbler's Pose, I can't give it up and feel completely whole. If this is what an addiction feels like, then I am hands down a yoga-head. The more I practice, the more I feel like yoga is a part of my existence. I was off my game without it, when I let the mundane get in the way of my personal and spiritual growth. Now I'm back online and ready for action.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Visualization

Meditation not only lowers your stress level and gives you perspective on our life, but it also enriches your imagination. It's sort of like constructive daydreaming in the sense that you envision how your life is going to be as if it's already a reality. This sort mental exercise heals you at the core and nourishes your soul. When times look particularly tough, you now have a picture in mind to see you through, and when things are going great, you push that much harder to achieve your goal. In my yoga practice I see myself as infinitely graceful, limber, agile as a cat and strong of mind and purpose. And that is what I am becoming, because I can feel it as if the hope has already been attained. I'm keeping this state of mind in my head because in doing so there's no limit to what I can accomplish!

Photo Credits: M. Bartosch

Monday, June 13, 2011

Singular Mind

Sometimes during my meditations I find it hard to get to that space where I am of one mind. That peace of mind that comes from existing only in the here and now with an ultimate focus. If I push too hard to realize this mindset it seems to vanish. The key I've found is to let go all of my expectations and just let my thinking flow until my concentration becomes effortless. If relax and let my mind wander it discovers its only point of reference without any mental pushing or shoving. At this place I learn the most about myself and my relationship the people in my life comes sharply into my vision, my imagination soars to where all things are possible and I start to experience bliss. Every time I meditate I come closer to this place where nothing external can touch my serenity. It's taken a while, but I'm learning that such a destination does exist and it's right inside of your own mind. It's called my Nirvana.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Working On Standing Forward Bend

Uttanasana or Standing Forward Bend is a pose that I'm currently trying to achieve Nirvana in. It stimulates the kidneys and other digestive organs and helps relieve stress and fatigue. I love the deep stretch that it gives me in my hamstrings calves and hips and the fact that it strengthens my root chakra. In this pose it's important for me not to force it. Progress comes extremely slowly for me in this pose. It helped at first to practice it with me knees bent, my feet pointing straight ahead so as not to bow at the knee joints, endeavoring to rest my chest on the fronts of my legs. Then I lengthen the stress from there to gently expand into it even more using the measured inhale and exhale of my breath. The more I practice this, the more I learn to have patience with my body and mind. It's a great lesson to learn, one that keeps me focused and grounded in times of self-doubt and fear. I trust that everything will work out.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Liberation

I will be the first to say in so many ways that yoga has freed me. It has taught my that I don't always need to try so hard, that perfection is like a white rabbit some people keep chasing and that boundaries are what we make them. We get trapped inside our perception of our minds and bodies; telling ourselves the "proper" ways to look, think, and feel. It can all get so overwhelmingly exhausting. In this self-made odyssey of mine, I've discovered the beauty of knowing that I am who I am unabashedly with no apologies. Layers of self-awareness are peeled back with each passing day and I realize that I am passionate about the things that make my life incredible, that I have a healthy appetite for life, and I'm not afraid of it in all it's angry, crazy, sad, sexual, moving, exciting, sensual, mentally stimulating and even horrible experiences. And I owe a lot of my personal acceptance to yoga. Every time I crease into an imperfect Standing Forward Bend, or turn into a flawed Warrior 1, I know that I'm creating unique parts of me that make me special and wonderful in my own way.

Friday, June 3, 2011

The Best Yoga Ever!

Today was one of my best yoga practices ever! I'm so excited about it truly. Taking a few days off has been great for me. I was able to more clearly assess the improvements I've made in my form, flexibility and endurance. I can envision certain poses that seemed unattainable as within my grasp and that gives me the heart to keep succeeding. It's amazing that as I relaxed into each of the asanas in a custom impromptu Vinyasa, I was moving with a certain seamlessness and grace that I don't remember possessing before. This is a real turning point for me. I can't explain it, but a pro instructor-worthy yoga practice seems so much more attainable. I can't wait to see where I'll be in a year!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

The Subject Of Improving

I'm getting better with each passing day at my yoga practice. I took some time off to reflect on the benefits my mind and body have gained. I would say they have both learned to soar beyond their boundaries equally well. When my spirits are down, and I feel alone, I turn inside myself to the place where my true strength resides. It's becoming easier and easier to do that even as the road seems to become harder and harder. I've found that one of the best ways to deal with trials in life is to just let them go. Deal with their experience, glean what you can from it and then move on.Today was particularly hard for me. It's the anniversary of my brother's death 4 years ago. I will say that I've found that even on the days where the road is the rockiest, looking back on his brief life gives me sadness as well as joy for the time that I was able to enjoy him in this world. So this day is dedicated to all the happiness that he brought into my existence. Rest in peace big brother.

Photo Credits: Dan

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

What I Learned

I've discovered in the past few days that it is important to stay focused. I'm striving to do that even though keeping my eye on the ball has proved to be more difficult then I previously thought. I've had to accept the curve balls that life has thrown my way and step out of the rubble stronger each time. I'm slowly but surely recovering from my anemia it seems and stepping back into the ring. While I got knocked out in the first round, the second has me ready to go with he best of them. Tripping and stumbling has failed to stop me.

Photo Credits: Xedos4

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Loving My Failures

Today was hectic and busy, but in the evening I found the time to practice my yoga and meditation. I noticed that my asanas have become more effortless and graceful, and that I'm easing further into new realms of flexibility. It has been completely amazing for me to continue on this road to enlightenment. I've learned a lot about myself and my commitment to repairing the parts of me that are "broken". I've begun to celebrate the areas where I am abnormal and rejoice in my mistakes because these spaces of me teach me how to be vulnerable and fragile in a way where I can learn and grow and become stronger. My body has taught me the virtue of patience and fortitude. I know it even more intimately now and I'm allowing myself to get up close and personal with my mind, soul, physical person, and spirit. Meditation has proven to me a powerful teacher for me today. I could visualize clearer then ever while meditating on my chakras today. In particular my Third Eye chakra seem to be blooming and open and my root chakra as been improving. I'm doing all I can to stimulate a healthy and steady flow through my energetic body as possible. I just know that I've made progress and more importantly that I'm changing for the better.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Short And Sweet

I'm writing this post actually on May 25th even though the Blogger date reads different. This is largely because I tried to post to this link via my cell phone and my cell wouldn't let me do that for some reason. The other reason is because for some days now I could not log into my Blogger account to post anything. So I'm going to make today's post short and sweet and say that I really missed posting to my yoga blog because it has kept me centered, but I'm also glad that I had a break because it gave me a fresh perspective on my practice and my meditation. I've also missed a few days of yoga because I've been under the weather and I simply needed the downtime. Now I'm back  and ready to start blogging away! So now it's time to warm up the mat and limber up my fingers for flying across the keyboard again. No more slacking for me because I'm back in the thick of it!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Real Progress

Yesterday evening I had what was probably one of my most fulfilling and inspiring meditation sessions ever. I had just completed about 30 minutes of a yoga practice where I could just see how far I've come in the last 3 months; even though I missed a day! I loved the way I felt an innate sense of calm wash over me. The room was a hush with sundry noises, the typing of my significant other's keyboard, the rush of the wind outside my window, the steady, measuring inhale and exhalations of my breath. I visualized easily the colors of my chakras, starting with a shocking red for my 1st chakra (the Root). Moving up all the way to a deep indigo for my Third Eye chakra. It was wonderful to experience my whole world stop for moment and my mind empty of thoughts. I came to a place in my psyche that was almost like sleep, but somewhere in between, and then I would pull back and focus on the color of my chakra. I could feel the healing at a soul-deep level that is hard to put into words. I know that each session is different, but I can only try to duplicate or one-up the results of last nights meditation, if only to feel again that sense of inexplicable bliss.

Photo Credits: Markuso

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Free To Be

Recently I've been practicing the art of letting go. To live life without a preset rulebook. Don't get me wrong, planning out your path is great, but micro-managing each part of it has to go by the wayside -- at least for me anyway. I prefer to set a general outline, sort of like sign posts that point the right way out to me and keep me on track. This allows me space to expand and breath, and gives me time to find my center. Yoga is about letting go, and so is EFT and meditation. Because it's only then that we can truly get a sense of who we really are inside. It can be scary to find out what we are made of. There's a lot of fear that we might not like what we see. But how else are we going to grow and change for the better. Our flaws up close are uncomfortable to look at and make us sweat for sure, but it's that perspiration and that labor that prime us to be capable of greater things. I for one am embracing every part of me; even the areas that I'm not at all thrilled with. Here's me looking straight in the mirror without flinching.

Photo Credits: Markuso

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Re-aligning My Focus

Every time I move into a yoga pose the flexibility of my body mirrors that of my spirit. I can feel the subtle change happening daily, and the minor adjustments are apparent during each practice. I accept all these changes in stride and love each and every moment of growth and development that they herald. From this place of inner fulfillment I know that I'm gaining more ground with each passing step. Even this current struggle hasn't gotten me down. The physical plane is just one aspect of my existence and I'm not letting it define me completely. On the days when I lack my usual vigor, I go deeper inside to discover another kind of peace. It's a quiet that's soul-deep and purely unique to myself. When I'm in this space I find the strength to transcend the mundane and I know that I'm not only bound to my body. There's a real heart-felt beauty in acknowledging that I can escape to this destination of mind whenever I need to. This is how I'm learning to tap into my calm and courage.

Photo Credits: Photostock

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Sticking It Out

Yesterday for the first time in nearly 3 months, I didn't do yoga. It's so crazy because I thought I did.  I completely slipped my mind! This could just be my cue that I need to slow down, but i think my anemia played a part in that. Sometimes I'm positively foggy. Today I have more clarity. It's always hard around that certain time of the month with this problem though. I'll chock it up to that and keep going. I'm not about to give up on everything that I've done so far just because I had an off day. I'm in it to win it full steam ahead, but I'm pacing myself. Even still, it can be quite the challenge to balance my yoga schedule with my working life. Despite this fact I always seem to manage to get at least 30 minutes in before bedtime if nothing else. EFT has been a total savior for me today. I'm so glad that I found an effective and stress-relieving way to get myself back on track when I veer slightly off-course. I know that with time and patience, I'll soon be back to my old self again. Until then I'll simply have to wait it out.

Monday, May 16, 2011

My Root Chakra And EFT

I've found EFT to have a very strengthening effect on my Root chakra. For those of you just now reading my blog, EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique, and it's a method where a person uses two fingers to tap various acupressure points while stating as emphatically as they can various affirmations. Not only does it cleanse the body's meridians and encourage a positive energy flow throughout a person's entire system, but it also rids the body of negative thought patterns and emotions that get in the way of our personal growth. The Root Chakra, represented by the color red, is what gives of the the ability to stand on our "own two feet" so to speak. It has to do with survival in all aspects of our life, but especially, emotionally, sexually and financially. A disruption in this chakra can show up as kidney problems, anemia, and sexual dysfunction to name a few. As I have anemia and a tendency towards kidney concerns I know I have to work to build up this chakra daily. Yoga and meditation has been helping greatly, but my secret weapon has definitely been EFT. In practicing EFT regularly, I have excised a lot of the thought processes that contribute to a weakened Root chakra and I've well on my way to having a stable 1st chakra. I feel really good about this.

Photo Credits: BJWOK

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Keeping Up

Today it was a little difficult to keep up my momentum. My anemia was starting to get a little noticeable. I still haven't missed a day of yoga through all of this. I take it as a huge accomplishment that I'm keeping this commitment to my body and my spirit. I know that this is the only the beginning of a long-term goal of better and more enriched health and a state of mind that is ready to tackle anything in life with calm and composure. I've added black strap molasses to my daily regimen in my fight against this anemia. I've read a lot of posts online and many people have said that this has helped them. So I hope everybody keeps their fingers crossed. I know I am. This is just one more hurtle to tackle in my journey through life. I'm charging ahead with full steam and plenty of gusto!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Gathering Inspiration

Today I'm going to talk a little bit about where I get my inspiration from. A lot of my fire and passion comes from this untouchable place inside of me that I feel grow stronger with each meditation and yoga session. It feels if the source of that strength is the vibration of my Root chakra growing and expanding with each day that passes. My whole soul is expanding even as my body is gaining purchase so that it can healing. As I strive to raise and manage my energy levels, I realize that it's not so much about winning the battle as it is about surviving it's aftermath. With that in mind, I know that each time I step onto my mat, I'm suiting myself up with just a little more ammunition to keep going on to round 2. It's time to come out swinging!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Making Breakthroughs

Gaining ground in my yoga practice is about steady work with a healthy dose of discipline mixed in for good measure. I haven't missed a day of yoga since the 1st of March, and I'm feeling oh so good about it. Meditation has grounded and centered me and EFT has given me wings to soar with. Today I used EFT "on everything" as it's creator David Craig would advise me to do, and I'm feeling calmer and more in control. Nothing is better to deal with stress and anxiety then a little tapping. I've found my groove now and have starting to cross the plateau where my limitations dwell. It's up to me now to make the best of the opportunities that lie ahead. I'm on my way!

P.S. I'm posting yesterday's post because Blogger.com was down. Yesterday was my inspiration for today!

Photo Credits: Federico Stevanin

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Stepping Out On Faith

Sometimes I have to let go of all the preconceived notions, hard-wired beliefs, and get my mind out the the present. Sometimes I just have a little faith. I will have to give myself an award as "The Comeback Kid". I've weathered childhood abuse, growing up in a religious cult, severe depression, chronic fatigue, 2 deaths in immediate family, a breakup of a 5 year relationship that has come back around, family illness, the sagging economy, and now I'm struggling with anemia. What all of this has taught me is to have faith in the unlimited power that you can draw from within yourself. At what's often felt like the end of the line, I've comeback strong so many times and I've been made a better person for it. It takes fire to forge steel after all. The things that help me along the way are the precious friends I have, the love I've come to rediscover, my lovely sister, music, and writing, which has helped me through so many times of despair. And now I have yoga, meditation and EFT to assist me during the rest of my journey. I am blessed in so many ways to have discovered the benefits I've reap from all three practices that I cannot say. What I can state with confidence is that my whole life has turned around because of it and I've coming out with my gloves on!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Perserverance And Peace

I've experienced both of these states of mind today. Though the two ways of being might seem incompatible, they actually blend like milk and honey. In yoga and life you have to have both to see you though the difficult times and to build the endurance you need to stay on track. Today I lost my focus and my balance and I had to remember how important is to combine serenity with your will-power. A strong sense of calm goes a long way towards tempering your drive and making the goals at the end of a particular journey that much sweeter once attained. Not only is your prize hard-won, but it is also there to stay.

Photo Credits: Graur Razvan Ionut

Monday, May 9, 2011

Live And Let Live

My reflections today have let me learn yet another lesson. I'm constantly learning from life itself and navigating the more difficult currents in it's ebb and flow. I understand what it fully means to really embrace the concept of 'live and let live.' I've found that it's not something you can force yourself to understand but will come to you in the aftermath of life's many altering occurrences. As I develop my Root chakra, I'm comprehending more and more that with the strength that undoubtedly comes from cultivating a strong one, temperance balances out any over-bearing habits I might have. In dealing with people this is a good trait to have especially when interacting with the ones we know the best. Using this attitude allows me to accept that everyone that crosses my path doesn't have to necessarily understand my vision. Their way is unique to them. Sometimes in life knowing that means respecting the life choices and decisions those close to you make, even if it is sad or uncomfortable for you. This isn't always easy, but knowing your own purpose and living it out in an unshakable manner will give you a way of allowing them their own personal journey. In that sense, whether you find a way to co-exist with them or your paths only cross for a time, you can be happy with the knowledge that you are both on the roads that you each have chosen.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Channelling My Inner Fire

Today I realized an important point about myself. Through yoga, meditation and energy work, I'm am finding more of my inner strength -- the resolve to move forward and triumph despite many odds that have been thrown in my path. I look at today as a bright and hopeful part of the realization that I have started a flame inside myself. With each new problem I face that fire seems to burn brighter and brighter. A voice inside of my says 'even though things are dark at the moment look to the torch that no one can ever extinguish.' My meditation and self-reflection allow me to see that this is the shoring up of the foundation of who I am; the nourishing of my Root chakra. In the journey ahead of my I know that whatever happens that fire will never go out. So I hope to spread a little of this spirit out to every mother today, so she can remember that if she just has a little faith in herself, she can handle anything life throws her way. And that even in her darkest hour, the most powerful light she possesses resides with herself. Happy Mother's Day!

Photo Credits: Salvatore Vuono

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Realizing My Limits

I mentioned in a previous post in April that I was dealing with chronic anemia. Dealing with this issue has been a humbling experience. I'm not the raging ball of energy that I used to be. Slowly, with energy work, chakra balancing and yoga poses that soothe my condition along with herbal therapy, I'm regaining much of my strength back.  I know that my anemia is directly related to my need to boost my Root chakra. My kidneys have also taken a beating and are slowing repairing themselves as well. Sometimes at the end of the day, my limbs will be swollen and heavy with edema. Evening yoga is very helpful in not only de-stressing from the rigors after work, but in relieving much of the swelling from my extremities. I'm using a combination of organic nettle tea, burdock root, and dandelion tea as loose herbs and steeping them into a tea 2-3 times each day. I'm also taking 2-3 times per day alfalfa tablets and once per day 3 tablespoons of liquid chlorophyll. Lately I've also added to the mix the recommendation that a lifelong friend and companion gave to me call Digestacure. It's the best gift I'd had in a long time because it's given me back more of my precious energy. Take a look at their website here. I've only been taking it for 1 week and already I'm noticing a slight change in my condition with small but steady improvements day by day. There are good days when I feel almost normal and bad days when I'm exhausted, but I feel so positive about healing and I know I'm on the right track. The key to beating this is patience and willpower. Through all of this I still feel myself moving in a powerful direction like the proverbial tortoise sure and unrushed. Nothing can shake my stride!

Photo Credits: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Friday, May 6, 2011

Winding Down The Week

I'm feeling a common thread between yesterday and today. Is it the end of the week that is starting something incredible, or is this mounting energy I feel just a surge that is momentary and will soon fade away. I'm confident that it is something permanent and lasting, that will permeate every facet of my existence. My meditation session today was even more powerful then the one before and I know that something special is happening here. It's really cool to be right where I am right now, somewhere on the verge of an ending and a beginning. In this space I'm wrapped in promise and nostalgia; feeling the harshness of my past right along with the warm fuzzy moments, and mirroring that in the dreams and adventure of my future. In the clarity of this half-light, I can truly see myself as an individual -- who I was, who I am and who I am becoming. This is the moment of tomorrows, the stuff that sets the road for greatness and shapes who you will become. I'm embracing that eventuality with courage and stamina. My daily practice keeps me strong and agile, my meditation calm in the face of the storm and focused, and EFT releases me from myself. I think I've found the perfect trio.

Photo Credits: Tom Clare

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Floating Away

Today I was feeling a little less than grounded. I managed to pull myself back into shape with a centering session of yoga and a long meditation at its completion. I let myself relax naturally into each pose reflecting on the progress I've made so far. I let the colors of my concentration  each of my chakras as I reflected in utter silence. I tuned out and tuned in. It was a wonderful thing and I'm just taking the time to absorb it all and let my subconscious sink in. I'm creating something here -- a beautiful life!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Embracing My Inner Strength

As time goes by I am realizing how powerful I can truly become in my resolution to rebuild myself from the ground up. Essentially that is what I'm doing energetically. In rejuvenating my Root chakra, I am creating a whole new me, different, but the same from the foundation where it counts and growing out of that base to blossom into something untouched and uncharted. I feel the burst of awareness bubbling up and spilling over to invade my consciousness and it's a wonderful thing. I'm embracing the unfurling of my Kundalini energy, my "serpent fire" and facing life with the passion that that invokes. It's only appropriate that the color red represents the 1st chakra. It's bold, confident and it charges ahead with beauty and life.

Photo Credits: Dynamite Imagery

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Grounding In My Root Chakra

I'm putting more attention on my root chakra to work on getting more of a sense of being anchored. Today when working with meditation on the color red I really felt empowered. I imagined the a large red circular mass spinning clockwise. It radiated from the base of my spine all the way to the tips of my toes and I kept at to see how long I could maintain that picture in my mind's eye. I was an exercise in concentration and focus and picturing vivid shade of crimson had wonderful effects on the energy of my root chakra. I'm also working with chakra clearing with EFT and utilizing yoga poses that encourage a strong base and a flexible spine like Uttanasana and Janu Sirsasana pose. At this point I'm not really looking for results I can quantify in any real sense, but I'm searching more for the feeling of improvement. I'm enjoying the space that I'm etching out for myself right now and where I am on my journey. I feel as if I have all the time in the world to keep growing.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Exercising Patience

The most important thing to remember when practicing yoga and meditation is a patience. In order to succeed and grown in my yoga practice I have to demonstrate a willingness to wait for the rewards that are inevitably coming my way. Flexibility of body and mind and the challenge that naturally accompanies my steady improvement are the benefits that I am gleaning from my endeavors towards enlightenment of body and soul. I am seeing changes in the way I look at things and in the shape and grace of my body, and they are welcome augmentations to my life. Opening my root chakra is something that I see as essential to my development as a whole and well-rounded person. In that opening I can expand and move with confidence and more of a new-found strength then ever before. I can feel that difference inside me with each meditation and it's effects are very telling indeed.

Photo Credits: Carlos Porto

Sunday, May 1, 2011

A Lazy Sunday

Even during a lazy Sunday, I still find the time to center in with yoga and meditation. It's already the 1st of May and I find myself reflecting on all that I have accomplished in the month of April. I've regularly practiced my EFT and plan to continue on in doing that. I haven't missed a day of yoga yet and my meditation is getting more powerful with each session. Today, as promised is the first day that I
focus in on strengthening my Root chakra. During meditations I am paying more attention to boosting the energy from the pelvic down to the feet, and I'm also going to purchase the appropriate stones and use aromatherapy and other Root chakra friendly methods to zero in on that zone. Stay tuned for improvements and another chakra test on June 1st. This year is going to be a year of breakthroughs and self-realization starting with the first day of the month!

Photo Credits: Graur Codrin

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Stretching Past My Limits

Most of us have a preset stop-gap, a level of performance when we say this is the zenith of what I can achieve. Today my EFT and meditation and yoga is all about going past that marker to truly create something wonderful inside of me. I want to challenge myself and see if I can go further then I ever have before. Yesterday when I was performing my asanas in the nearby park, I could feel that my boundaries were about to be exceeded in short order, and for the first time ever in Janu Sirsasana I could almost touch my head to my knee. It was such a liberating feeling. I wasn't forcing it and I wasn't rushed. I could just breathe into each pose and it didn't feel urgent. I was at the end of my day on a nice and sunny afternoon. Children were gazing at the fish and ducks in the little made made lake, young lovers were kissing on benches and I was experiencing my own little personal Zen of a stretch. It felt ahhhhh... mazing, and it happened when I least expected it. No personal competition was waged inside my head and I didn't push it during the day or in my yoga practice so my body just unfurled to even newer possibilities. Today I'm going to try and duplicate that near-perfect no-pressure practice and see how much more ground I can cover. I'm just going to take my time and exceed my current abilities each time I inhale and let go...

Photo Credits: Ambro

Friday, April 29, 2011

Yoga And A Royal Wedding?

It's such a beautiful sunny day and I'm feeling romantic. Probably because of The Royal Wedding. A prince and a princess joining in matrimony just feeds into every girl's fantasy. And I will have to say the current prince and princess make a lovely couple. Hopefully it's a love-match because I looks to be. The theme of the day seems to be the outdoors. With that in mind, I think I'm going to take a while to myself and indulge in yoga in the open air of the nearby park. Just me, the wind, a large patch of grass and a Weeping Willow tree overhead. Now that the weather's nice, it will be wonderful to take in the fresh breeze and gratitude in some challenging and uplifting asana poses. Maybe being out in such dreamy weather will have an equally imaginative affect on my psyche and I'll enjoy sweet repose this evening boosted by the metaphysical toils of the day. And while everyone's still buzzing about the Royal Wedding between William and Cathrine, I'll be knee-deep in the bliss of a freeing yoga pose. Katy and Will should know such happiness right!

Photo Credits: Tom Clare

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Opening Indigo

I've decided to leave all opening of my 7th chakra, the Crown chakra alone for now and solely for this year work on the first 6 chakras from Root Chakra to the Third Eye. This makes the Third Eye for all intents and purposes the temporary zenith of my meditation. I've noticed something about myself that a really good friend drew to my attention and that is that I rarely dream. Since vivid, clear dreams are a sign of an open Third Eye, I'm taking a wild guess here and making the assumption that my Third Eye needs working on. So to that end I'm going to work on opening my indigo (the color that represents the Third Eye chakra). And I'm going to keep at it until inspiration hits me smack between the eyes. Starting in the month of May I'm going to devote 1 month to each Chakra. May will be for the 1st of 6 chakras which is the Root Chakra. I will work on all 6 of my chakras with a focus on strengthening my Root. In October I will zero in on my Third Eye, and I just know that will be an amazing turning point in my journey. So here's to charging ahead into the future with no turning back!

Photo Credits:  Kenneth Cratty

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Digging Deeper

Today I felt as if I unearthed something basic and elemental inside of myself. I can really see that the yoga, meditation and EFT are starting to show up in my life in ways that are totally unexpected. In my massage therapy, I've found that I am able to connect with the client and further assist in their healing. Because my inner self is calmer and more at peace I am able to project the energy of that tranquility onto my client. As my chakras are opening up I'm able to resonate not only with my clients but people that I meet in a more confident and grounded manner. Right now my soul is running bare foot down through a soft grassy meadow over-flowing with flowers and I'm throwing caution to the wind because I know that each step is sure and firm beneath me. My root chakra is anchored fearlessly in the ground and from that place I blossom.

Photo Credits: Federico Stevanin

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Instant Serenity

When I meditate while visualizing the different points of energy that make up the chakras I imagine the colors associated with each point swirling clockwise on the body. I allow myself to surrender to the energy of each chakra and feel the waves of it strengthen all parts of my body mind and spirit connected to it. Now I find that when I focus in on my meditation it comes to me almost instantly and an overwhelming sense of calm descends over me right away. I focus in on a weak chakra and I'm able to zero in on it that much quicker. I guess like with anything practice makes perfect. I can say that more than anything, I am truly getting a grasp on exactly what it means to be joined together in body and mind. This must be what it feels like for a rock climber to glimpse the top of a cliff precipice and relish the obstacles ahead knowing that each hand-over-hand puts you closer to the destination; all the while missing the battle to the top before it's reached it's edge.

Photo Credits: Tom Curtis

Monday, April 25, 2011

Mental House Cleaning

Using EFT to help yourself and others can be a really incredible experience. In my journey to enlightenment, I hope to help many others along the way by spreading the stories of what I've done to help myself. This is more of the old adage that you can't help others unless you first help yourself. I'm discovering the more that I work on my own issues and concerns, the easier it is to help other people in work and in my daily life. Clearing away old programmed thought patterns has had an healing effect on me that is so profound I can't put it into words.I've found that the more I practice EFT and free up my body of clogged energy frequencies and structurally integrate my body via yoga and massage, the better I feel mentally and physically. It is nothing short of amazing how things are beginning to change for me. And what's impressive is that I sense that this is only the start of good things to come for me within the realms of my personal growth. I can see a bigger and brighter horizon looming just ahead in the distance and I'm getting closer and closer to it as each sun sets and rises.

Photo Credits: Prozac1 

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Learning A Little More Each Day

Every passing hour I find myself more and more fascinated by the twists and turns of my journey. Some days a certain yoga pose will present a greater challenge and teach me just how much I have yet to know about my body. Other times I'll reach a new plateau with EFT and an emotion will surface from deep inside and show itself to me in all it's rawness. Then I will have to tap on it until it releases away from me like a bird taking flight and leaving my body. Or maybe during an intense meditation, I will see the path stretched out before me and notice a mental roadblock to be moved that I hadn't seen before. This is all a part of the educational process that I'm going through. It's an initiation of sorts; during which I have to face the tribulations and joys of the way to enlightenment. It's an ever-changing process which soars to new heights as one day melts into the next and I realize my calling to heal and be healed.

Photo Credits: Ben Wilson

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Centered On The Heart Chakra

The heart chakra is personified by the colors green and pink. It signifies your personal center of healing, compassion, love, acceptance, and gratitude. All the gentlest and most caring of emotions emanate from within it. Your heart chakra is most appropriately located in the center of your chest just above your ribcage. I like to imagine a strong green outer shell resonating around my heart chakra's energy center which is a pink soft and vulnerable core. The pink represents caring and a softer approach, while the green wisely acts as a filter to strain out less pure elements, or people or things that it senses mean us harm, while also acknowledging their right to exist and be. When we activate our heart chakra fully, we are able to both love closely and at a distance without judgment or fear and we broaden our horizons away from bias. We truly and freely enjoy the love that comes our way and express our love for others with completeness and honesty. My goal today is to meditate on opening my heart chakra. Just think of all the good we could do if we all worked on opening up our hearts and letting out the gifts of our unconditional love to the world.

Photo Credits: Dynamite Imagery

Friday, April 22, 2011

One Minute Meditation

I've learned meditation doesn't have to be a long drawn out process. Of course having the time to sit in Seated Cross-Legged Pose contemplating your existence would be nice if you had the time, but sometimes that's just not practical. I like to occasionally take my meditation in strides. Maybe I'm riding in a car, or I have a moment before my next client and only a moment, or maybe I'm sitting in the a waiting room somewhere? I find these times are the perfect excuse to find a bit of Zen in a brief centering meditation. If you are weak in a certain chakra, use this opportunity to reflect on the color associated with that chakra and for 1-5 minutes, or however much time you have free, focus on that center of energy and that color. Remember to close your eyes and take it seriously even for the few minutes that you have. An example would be, if you were wanting to strengthen the root chakra, draw your attention to the base of your spine and imagine the color red emanating from that spot and expanding in a clockwise, circular motion all the way down to your feet like a crimson spiral. Then see if you can quickly envision the other chakra spots from orange to violet. Don't spend anymore then 5 minutes on this exercise. The idea here is to effect improvement slowly and a bit at a time. I love doing this simple meditation because it clears my mind of anything I'm stressing about and helps me to focus on having a brighter day; which brings me that much closer to owning a peaceful inner being.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Cyber Yoga

Technology is an amazing thing! I just completed an online yoga session with Swami Ji, as he told me to call him for short. His full name is Swami Mahavanam Saraswati. He has studied various disciplines including Yoga, Vedanta,Tantra, and acupressure. It was a privilege to have learned from him. Swami Ji is one of the yogi's on a very cool and informative website for yoga called Divine Wellness. Click here to check them out. They have online yoga classes that you can sign up for, of which the first 2 yoga classes are free of charge (no credit card needed and no catch). Thereafter, if you choose to continue, you can subscribe for more classes for a fee. The session was unbelievable and the Swami Ji was so educated and serene to work with. In a non-judgmental way he gently guiding me through a valuable hip-opening session that really increased my flexibility. I was impressed by his calm manner and friendly grasp of the complexities of yoga knowledge. I highly recommend that any yogi beginner to advanced try this service out. Browse the site and register for the free membership so that you can deepen your your yoga practice by working with yoga gurus straight from the birthplace of yoga which is India. You'll be so glad you did. And since I won't be going to India anytime soon, I have a feeling that this website will become invaluable to me.

Photo Credit: Lobster20

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Healing From The Inside Out

With everything that I am doing I have confidence that I will discover the path to enlightenment. I'm using the energy of my own body to rejuvenate itself daily. It's something that is a steady and sure evolution towards a better me. EFT is so instrumental in my journey that although I'm sure I would've found an alternative, it's benefits cannot be denied. I puts me in a clearer and more secure state of mind and arms me to face the stresses and any negative vibes that might come my way. That being said, I love Brad Yates. Today I'm going to focus on his EFT sequence for letting go, entitled Letting Go and Letting God.This is an amazing EFT session that will help you to release stuck energy and promote a general feeling of calm and well-being. You don't have to believe in god to do with EFT session. You can simply put your trust in the universe and the fact that what will be will be. So enjoy surrendering to a power higher then yourself even if that power be Mother Nature. Let go...

Photo Credits: Dan

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Learning Each Day With Yoga

Am I still doing EFT everyday? You betcha! However, I am of course delving daily into the subtleties and complexities of my yoga practice. I love referring to a really cool site called Yoga Journal for guidance in my yoga journey. It is the online accompaniment to a hard copy magazine of the same name. Yoga Journal's website lets you explore poses in depth and get a handle on proper alignment, as well as assess the personal benefits that you can glean from a pose so that you can tailor make a practice session that fits you perfectly. Yoga Journal online also has a slew of articles that will help you to integrate the yogic lifestyle into something that works for you, exploring breath-work, health concerns, general interest topics relating to yoga, and even videos to show you how-to's. I regard this website as a staple to my yoga education. I regard Yoga Journal as another step in my goal of becoming a yoga instructor in the summer of the coming year. My yoga practice is helping me achieve my goals one day at a time.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Red Is For Root Chakra

Today is all about connecting with the color red in every aspect. During my chakra meditation I focused in on the color red while imagining it swirling from the base of my spinal column all the way to the tips of my toes. I did this while taking a root chakra soak that I made with eucalyptus essential oil, fresh lemon, essential oil of lemon and of rose, a tincture of parsley and 1 cup of baking soda and 2 cups of epsom salt respectively. This bath stimulates detoxification of the endocrine system which is directly connected to the root and sacral chakras.Afterwards I drank a tea infusion of nettle and burdock root. It really cleared my system and helped to open up blocked meridians in my body.I also went to the store and purchased some red fruits and
veggies. Apples, red tea, and tomatoes for a tomato, balsamic vinegrette salad made with organic olive oil went well with dinner, as well as organic kidney beans and brown rice. The combination is chasing my prediliction for anemia away and reviving my energy center. Yoga with a slant torwards lower body work as a healing balancing agent is also working immensely. I'm walking, breathing proof of the body's ability to heal itself using energy work.

Photo Credit: Suat Eman