Yoga in the morning...what a delicious way to start the day. I am an admitted sleepy head in the morning, so sometimes I sleep too late and I do not have enough time to squeeze in a morning practice. On the days I do get up and leave at least 45 minutes for a well rounded practice - I feel like singing all day! Good Day Sunshine! I have more energy sans the caffeine, and I am more peaceful throughout the day.
Your morning yoga practice should be different than our evening yoga practice. In the morning I typically to do more standing poses, some sun salutations, and more back bends than I do for an evening practice. This is because back bends, standing postures and dynamic series like sun salutations tend to be more stimulating.
I follow up my asana practice with some pranayama (breathing exercises) and a short meditation...short only because I know I need to let the dogs out, get in the shower and get on with my daily routine. Evening tends to lend itself more to a longer meditation time.
Morning yoga makes the grind of a typical work day a bit more peaceful and centered, tempers do not flare as quickly, the day seems to move at a reasonable pace, and the mind is sharp.
If you practice yoga at home regularly, I recommend you try getting up a bit early and do some morning yoga. See how this practice influences the rest of your day.
Who am I?
- Heather
- Jefferson, Georgia, United States
- Hello everybody, I am Heather. I love yoga, food and loud rock shows. I am here to lead you on a lifestyle that will have your soul shining! P.S. Cancer Sucks!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tiny Closet
In my old monster house I had a master closet that would make most women and some men drool. I could do a cartwheel in it. I had visions of turning it into a diva-esque space complete with a chandelier and a jewelry cabinet. The diva closet never came to be, but the point is I had room for it.
The hubby and I went to check out our new casa again over the weekend and we took a hard look at closet space...or lack of it. I am going to need to purge even more in order to make this work. This time I am going to take clothes to Plato's Closet and see if I can get some $$$ out of it. So far, I have donated so much to the clothing closet at our church, he said that he will not get to all of it for a month or two.
Do any of you live in houses with smaller closet space? If so, do you have any suggestions on how to keep it organized? Also, we do not have a linen closet, and the full bath is tiny, so no room there for a towel rack or storage shelf. Any ideas on what to do there?
All suggestions are appreciated!
Love and Light
H
The hubby and I went to check out our new casa again over the weekend and we took a hard look at closet space...or lack of it. I am going to need to purge even more in order to make this work. This time I am going to take clothes to Plato's Closet and see if I can get some $$$ out of it. So far, I have donated so much to the clothing closet at our church, he said that he will not get to all of it for a month or two.
Do any of you live in houses with smaller closet space? If so, do you have any suggestions on how to keep it organized? Also, we do not have a linen closet, and the full bath is tiny, so no room there for a towel rack or storage shelf. Any ideas on what to do there?
All suggestions are appreciated!
Love and Light
H
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Down Dog
Lets talk about yoga.
Specifically, lets talk about the posture called down dog. If you have ever taken a yoga class or watched a yoga DVD, you have seen down dog because it seems like every yoga teacher on the planet thinks that this is the "base" pose for yoga. I tend to disagree with this theory because it is a difficult pose to do, much less master and it's very challenging for beginners. This leads to frustration and can make someone just check out of yoga for good when a student hears "now your heels should be touching the floor." Wait, what? Are you kidding? I can't do this yoga stuff! Argh! Then the mat and video they purchased is sitting around with dust bunnies gathering because they have been told by someone that they are not doing it right.
Let me set the record straight if I may...
Your heels do not have to touch the floor in down dog. Actually, your legs do not even need to be straight. As a beginner, you can practice down dog at the wall, with a chair and then move to the mat. The trick to this pose is to get a light feeling in your hands and take the pressure off of your wrists. How do you do this you ask? By lengthening your spine and lifting your hips!
If you can not picture what I am talking about, just watch your dog stretch in the morning. They do down dog and up dog several times a day - and there is hardly any weight on their paws. All the energy is going into their hips and spine.
Also, for those of you who know me and my pooches, that picture (believe it or not) is NOT Blue Girl! It was the first picture that came up on flicker when I typed in down dog...how funny! :) I love the universe!
Specifically, lets talk about the posture called down dog. If you have ever taken a yoga class or watched a yoga DVD, you have seen down dog because it seems like every yoga teacher on the planet thinks that this is the "base" pose for yoga. I tend to disagree with this theory because it is a difficult pose to do, much less master and it's very challenging for beginners. This leads to frustration and can make someone just check out of yoga for good when a student hears "now your heels should be touching the floor." Wait, what? Are you kidding? I can't do this yoga stuff! Argh! Then the mat and video they purchased is sitting around with dust bunnies gathering because they have been told by someone that they are not doing it right.
Let me set the record straight if I may...
Your heels do not have to touch the floor in down dog. Actually, your legs do not even need to be straight. As a beginner, you can practice down dog at the wall, with a chair and then move to the mat. The trick to this pose is to get a light feeling in your hands and take the pressure off of your wrists. How do you do this you ask? By lengthening your spine and lifting your hips!
If you can not picture what I am talking about, just watch your dog stretch in the morning. They do down dog and up dog several times a day - and there is hardly any weight on their paws. All the energy is going into their hips and spine.
Also, for those of you who know me and my pooches, that picture (believe it or not) is NOT Blue Girl! It was the first picture that came up on flicker when I typed in down dog...how funny! :) I love the universe!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Can mass produced food be healthy?
I have a confession to make, I eat lots of mass produced food, mass produced, frozen "healthy" food. I also cook a lot, but most of the time that includes something from the freezer and maybe some fresh veggies. The question that has been rumbling around in my head lately is: can mass produced food be healthy? I am a vegetarian, so I eat a lot of frozen veggie burgers, "chicken" patties, protein bars and the like...and I love them. However, even if its vegetarian and marketed as "good for you" is it really?
I could easily spend an afternoon and make delicious homemade veggie burgers in a big batch and freeze them, I could also make my own protein bars for when I am on the go. This is another one of my goals, to start making the mass produced stuff I normally eat myself.
What are your thoughts?
I could easily spend an afternoon and make delicious homemade veggie burgers in a big batch and freeze them, I could also make my own protein bars for when I am on the go. This is another one of my goals, to start making the mass produced stuff I normally eat myself.
What are your thoughts?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
And you thought oregano was just for spaghetti...
Since I have been cleanising my outside world, I thought it was time to do the same for my insides. I am starting a month long cleanse today. I could shorten it to two weeks if I wanted to double up on the doseage, but I think I will wait to see how it goes for a week on the 1/2 dose. This cleanse targets candida in your gut. Symptoms of having too much candida in your gut can range from craving sweets, headaches, cold hands and feet, bloating, sinus problems, panic attacks, depression, chemical (smells) sensitivity, hives and much more. I know that this covers a lot, and sounds like we could all have this issue, and I bet most of us do. The treatment is either a diet where you don't eat anything that causes yeast to grow and that includes: sweets, simple carbs, vinegar, dairy and any fermented products including alcohol and soy sauce...I have actually done this one before and I do NOT want to do it again, so this time I found a cleanse that includes herbs that get rid of candida such as oregano oil, pau d'arco bark and lots of other good stuff.
Hopefully I will not be too cranky or tired, but the pay off will be worth it! I gurantee I will feel MUCH better and have lots more energy. My tummy will be happy and my mind will be clear. Speaking of the tummy and mind...did you know that over 90% of seratonin lives in your gut? Its true! So if your tummy is not happy, you will not be happy.
Wish me luck.
Hopefully I will not be too cranky or tired, but the pay off will be worth it! I gurantee I will feel MUCH better and have lots more energy. My tummy will be happy and my mind will be clear. Speaking of the tummy and mind...did you know that over 90% of seratonin lives in your gut? Its true! So if your tummy is not happy, you will not be happy.
Wish me luck.
Monday, July 20, 2009
To microwave or not to microwave...
In our new casa, we do not have a built in microwave, or a dishwasher...
So, Mike was at Target yesterday (he has not taken the no-shopping pact with me) and called me to say we needed to get a new microwave for the house. Well..he hates the microwave, so it struck me as kind of funny that he would be the one to bring this up. He is convinced that it causes cancer and will burn out your eyes if you stare at it too long...and he may be right...
So, I said lets try life with out one for a bit...what are your thoughts on the microwave? Is it a good thing, or a bad...or neutral???
So, Mike was at Target yesterday (he has not taken the no-shopping pact with me) and called me to say we needed to get a new microwave for the house. Well..he hates the microwave, so it struck me as kind of funny that he would be the one to bring this up. He is convinced that it causes cancer and will burn out your eyes if you stare at it too long...and he may be right...
So, I said lets try life with out one for a bit...what are your thoughts on the microwave? Is it a good thing, or a bad...or neutral???
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Invisible Children
www.invisiblechildren.com
Wow, just wow. And I am worried about not having a dishwasher in my new house...
I highly recommend that you watch the rough cut of this movie on google videos, it is well worth it.
Wow, just wow. And I am worried about not having a dishwasher in my new house...
I highly recommend that you watch the rough cut of this movie on google videos, it is well worth it.
Finding Peace in the Storm
Yesterday someone told me that you are either in a storm, coming out of a storm or going into a storm.
The last 18 months of my life have been a storm. The storm started slowly...then built up to hurricane like winds and left me batted, bruised and broken. However, this storm made me realize that I have always been broken, and despite my brokenness, I am beautiful. My heavenly Dad loves me and that is all that matters. When the world makes you feel like a tree in a hurricane, remember the Spirit's love is what keeps us rooted to the ground. Even as I was thrashing around like a rag doll in the winds of cancer, money woes and less than marital bliss; through all of it my faith grew stronger.
Physically, some days I did not feel like getting out of bed, much less doing any exercise, although I knew I needed to move. With my bones popping and my muscles aching, I would practice restorative yoga. This was part of my healing and my therapy on the mat. Some days I would just lay there and cry, some days I would feel a great weight lifted off my chest.
Restorative yoga uses props like bolsters, blankets and blocks to fully support your body in gentle postures. This type of yoga is great for stress reduction, to restore your body back to balance and to maybe get you to calm down in the storm. My heavenly Dad was my shelter in the storm, restorative yoga was the vehicle I needed to take me there. It is important for me to note, that I know that God did not go anywhere, I was just too caught up in the hysteria of my life to feel his grace, love and peace. I needed to lay down on a bolster for an hour to disengage my head and body from the outside world and let my heart hear the sweet song of the angels and feel the peace radiating around me.
Tonight, I will be teaching restorative yoga at New Community Church. I hope one day you will try it. Maybe it will be the vehicle to take you out of the storm and into peace - even if it is just for an hour or two.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The Compact
In the spirit of purging and simplifying my life, I am going to join a Yahoo group called the Compact.
The official description of The Compact:
Welcome to The Compact.We are a group of individuals committed to a 12-month flight from the consumer grid (calendar year 2009).
The Compact has several aims (more or less prioritized below):
To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc. -- a step that, we hope, inherits the revolutionary impulse of the Mayflower Compact.
To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er).
To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)
We've agreed to follow two principles (see exceptions etc. on our blog).
#1 Don't buy new products of any kind (from stores, web sites, etc.)
#2 Borrow, barter, or buy used.
Well, I am not going to kill myself and commit to 12 months, I am going to start with 6 months and see how it goes. And I don't think that this is going to have the impact of the Mayflower Compact...but I say, let people dream big, that is great...but I live in the real world here!
Speaking of the real world here are my exceptions to the rules:
Food, obviously
Shoes - I do not have an obsession with shoes, but if I neeeeeed a new pair of shoes because an old pair has worn out, then I will go get them. I will try to find a pair on ebay or something like that, but I don't think that will always be feasible.
Yoga Pants
Sports Bras
Any undies that may be needed in the next 6 months
Any Yoga Accessories I need for my Company, but I will try to find a used option first
Basically anything I can buy at the grocery store I will allow myself to purchase with the exception of books, magazines, seasonal items, decor, and holiday stuff
Let's see how this goes - especially since I am moving into a new place soon! ha!
This means no trips to Target, no Wal Mart, no Real Deals...but the payoff will be huge!
Lets decide on a reward together - your thoughts???
The official description of The Compact:
Welcome to The Compact.We are a group of individuals committed to a 12-month flight from the consumer grid (calendar year 2009).
The Compact has several aims (more or less prioritized below):
To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc. -- a step that, we hope, inherits the revolutionary impulse of the Mayflower Compact.
To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er).
To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)
We've agreed to follow two principles (see exceptions etc. on our blog).
#1 Don't buy new products of any kind (from stores, web sites, etc.)
#2 Borrow, barter, or buy used.
Well, I am not going to kill myself and commit to 12 months, I am going to start with 6 months and see how it goes. And I don't think that this is going to have the impact of the Mayflower Compact...but I say, let people dream big, that is great...but I live in the real world here!
Speaking of the real world here are my exceptions to the rules:
Food, obviously
Shoes - I do not have an obsession with shoes, but if I neeeeeed a new pair of shoes because an old pair has worn out, then I will go get them. I will try to find a pair on ebay or something like that, but I don't think that will always be feasible.
Yoga Pants
Sports Bras
Any undies that may be needed in the next 6 months
Any Yoga Accessories I need for my Company, but I will try to find a used option first
Basically anything I can buy at the grocery store I will allow myself to purchase with the exception of books, magazines, seasonal items, decor, and holiday stuff
Let's see how this goes - especially since I am moving into a new place soon! ha!
This means no trips to Target, no Wal Mart, no Real Deals...but the payoff will be huge!
Lets decide on a reward together - your thoughts???
Friday, July 10, 2009
Purge baby purge!!!!
Purging...
it feels so good
It is liberating! All that "stuff" can be suffocating and we do not even realize it.
My hubby and I, when we moved into our monster house, we had that company - 2 Men and a Truck move us in - but we had 4 Men and 2 HUGE Trucks full of stuff that was eventually neatly placed into my beautiful new monster house.
When we moved out, we could fit 95% of our stuff into one Pod.
We got rid of furniture, old magazines (sorry Mike), 15+ bags of clothing, books, kitchen stuff, Christmas decorations...you name it, you could have purchased it at my yard sale.
We made good money getting rid of our stuff, but the feeling of lightness is priceless.
I plan on giving the hangers I will not need anymore to the church's clothing closet and when we move into the new place, we will probably get rid of even more stuff. Its almost addicting!
My challenge to you is to go through your closet and take an inventory - if its to short, too tight, too big, out of style or just plain ugly - get rid of it!!!! How may winter coats do you really need? Donate a few! Trust me, you will feel better for it.
To keep this feeling going, I am looking into a group called Compact - they do not purchase anything new...more on this later...
Love and Light,
H
it feels so good
It is liberating! All that "stuff" can be suffocating and we do not even realize it.
My hubby and I, when we moved into our monster house, we had that company - 2 Men and a Truck move us in - but we had 4 Men and 2 HUGE Trucks full of stuff that was eventually neatly placed into my beautiful new monster house.
When we moved out, we could fit 95% of our stuff into one Pod.
We got rid of furniture, old magazines (sorry Mike), 15+ bags of clothing, books, kitchen stuff, Christmas decorations...you name it, you could have purchased it at my yard sale.
We made good money getting rid of our stuff, but the feeling of lightness is priceless.
I plan on giving the hangers I will not need anymore to the church's clothing closet and when we move into the new place, we will probably get rid of even more stuff. Its almost addicting!
My challenge to you is to go through your closet and take an inventory - if its to short, too tight, too big, out of style or just plain ugly - get rid of it!!!! How may winter coats do you really need? Donate a few! Trust me, you will feel better for it.
To keep this feeling going, I am looking into a group called Compact - they do not purchase anything new...more on this later...
Love and Light,
H
Friday, July 3, 2009
New Beginnings
hello...welcome to my new world
today is the beginning of the end - and a start to a new chapter in our lives
tonight will be the last night in the place we have called home for the past 3.5 years. we moved here with high hopes and lofty expectations and this blog will be a diary of the fall from those expectations, simplifying our life, getting back to what really matters and the drama of it all.
we moved into a 3200 sq foot house - when I say we...I mean me, my hubby, 2 dogs and a cat. RIP Rodman - that is another story for another day...but anyway...my point is 3200 sq feet and 2 people - 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, dining room, office, huge awesome (waaah!) kitchen, breakfast area, living room, and a foyer that is more like a lobby - 2 story living room that sucks all the life out of our AC unit...metal balusters, silestone counter tops etc...we have (for one more day) a beautiful, non functional beast of a house...and along with it a payment that was outrageous. When we moved in here we were both selling real estate at a pretty good clip, then the market started to slow down, our payment went up by $400 a month due to a miscalculation in our taxes and then the market started is eternal nose dive.
Poor me, right? No...this is NOT a sob story. This is a story of how pride becomes before the fall, how we managed to keep from drowning in self pity and through it all we are rebuilding our lives and truly happy about it. Am I scared? Not really - I do have some concerns, like where are we going to move for starters...for now my sister (who is recovering from a bout of the worst cancer on the planet, also another story, www.haileyandheather.blogspot.com for last years drama) is letting us live in her basement for a bit - there will be 4 adults, one 6.5 year old girl, 4 dogs and 1 cat...in a 4 bedroom 3 bath house - but its only about 2000 sq feet - so this should be fun! LOL
I am also concerned about....well...nothing really! That may change, but that is one of my philosophies, the only constant in life if change; change, fear and love...
So tomorrow is the 4th of July and I will be celebrating the Independence of our beautiful country and my own personal independence from the bonds of society's norm...its time to do my own thing, my way.
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