Life

I went back to Uptown Yoga to visit friends and teachers I haven't seen in ages. It was here that I developed my teaching form over a decade ago - it was here that I first found my journey to yoga. Here are the Drop In Notes on my experience...and why I will always come back.

Massage is such an important part of self care – whether we provide the compassionate touch to ourselves, or work with a wellness partner to provide support, it can support your body’s immune response, improve sleep, and support digestion – all important things for people living a conscious lifestyle.

If you’ve practiced yoga for even just a little while, you’ve probably had the experience of being settled (rather uncomfortably) in Pigeon Pose during class when, out of the blue, you started crying and had no idea why. It’s ok--me too. Or maybe there’s been a time when you were completely minding your own business, and someone’s unexpected touch, a certain smell, or a particular sound sent your mind reeling, propelled shock waves through your body, or suddenly catapulted memories you never recalled having before to the front-and-center of your brain. Yep, me too.

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that not only are our meals important to our overall health and wellness, but they are also crucial to our mental state during and after the time that we are eating.  

“What you think impacts your Digestion,
As much as what you eat impacts your Consciousness!”

The Practice of Sacred Eating is performed over and above any prayers or blessings you may perform and is conducted in a completely silent manner with no outside distractions.  Please note that you can modify this practice to fit into your daily meal time habits.

What would our lives and our world look like if we valued sleep and restoration as an important activity of health? How would we feel if every time, or even just sometimes, we answered the the tired pleas of our body with a nap, instead of a coffee? These are the questions we pondered and practiced at Judith and Lizzie Lasater’s Rest and Silence Workshop at YogaYoga during a warm late-November in Austin.

Having 2 days off in a row is considered a weekend in my muggle mind, so last night as I prepared for bed, I readied myself for the ‘work week’ ahead…except tomorrow was Thanksgiving Saturday! The bonus weekend was about to begin so my yogi mind took over - the message was clear - selfcare time was mandatory.

You, too? Then let's try this:

  1. Additional meditation and pranayama time
  2. Candle-lit abhyangha (oil massage) with a playlist dedicated to self-appreciation

"Our country is in such a turbulent and terrifying limbo, and for a lot of people that means pleading and fighting for their inherent human rights. I could go to the [Texas] Capitol and sign petitions and vote all I wanted, but it wasn’t the same as being face to face with the populations going through these struggles. I wanted to walk alongside each family to serve as a catalyst for their own empowerment."

Ayurveda enriches our lives with its natural health benefits and numerous practices of self-care and self-LOVE. To care for yourself by cooking, meditating, keeping a clean home, and exercising is an act of self-love that takes time and effort. The time you take to care for yourself will keep you from prescription drugs, visits to the ER and many health challenges.

One of the most rewarding Sadhana practices Ayurveda has to offer is Abhyanga!

What is Self Abhyanga?
 

What are your rituals? How do you consistently invoke a feeling of sacredness and meaning into your life and yoga practice? How can you connect to your intentions and goals in a meaningfuland powerful way?
 

Creativity is a loaded topic. So many people are convinced they’re not creative. I should know because I was one of those people. I believed my parents and teachers who told me that I had no creative talent, that I couldn’t draw, paint, write creatively or dance. It wasn’t until I was 50 that I finally decided I didn’t care what they thought. I was going to try.

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