I was always one of those type-A, go-go-go people. I enjoyed only the most powerful and challenging yoga flows. Otherwise, you´d find me weightlifting, running or swimming laps until my muscles couldn´t take it any longer. This meant that I sustained many injuries throughout my life. It also meant that I missed out on the benefits of slowing down.
Can you be joyful, no matter what is going on in your life? I believe you can. And no, I certainly don’t feel joyous all of the time. Yes, I’ve had my share of challenges, as most people do. However, during one of the toughest times in my life, when I woke up to being the single, broke and unemployed mami to two girls, then 4 and 7, I managed to find ways to lift my spirits—even if it was barely enough to get me through the day. Over time, these practices have helped me overcome depression and defeatist thoughts and have kept me going, despite the inevitable hurdles we all face at certain times.
We all have stressors in our life. Only in the last year, I´ve experienced a whole lot of grief and loss. Then there are other stressors I face at times like a client´s late payment causing cash flow issues, or the challenge of raising teens, close family members having health problems …
Although I practice yoga and mindfulness daily, there are some days where I just need an extra dose of it all. Today I could actually feel my stomach contracting and starting to hurt in response to a whole lot of stress, brought on by all of the above.
Recientemente completé mi formación para ser profesora de yoga (YTT-200). El curso en Heartwood Retreat Center incluía una introducción al Ayurveda. Hace algún tiempo que sufría de colon irritable, esofagitis y algo de reflujo, pero la medicina alopática que tomaba no lo solucionaba. Por eso pensé darle una oportunidad al Ayurveda, la antigua ciencia asociada al yoga que tiene como fin equilibrar el cuerpo, la mente y el espíritu, poniendo énfasis en cambiar el estilo de vida. Me apetecía desintoxicarme y tener una actitud más consciente con respecto a mi salud.
I’ve had quite a bit of grief and loss in my life in the past year, and yoga has helped me endlessly navigate these tumultuous waters.
Many of us spend a lot of time sitting and, sometimes, standing up to exercise and stretch is simply not an option. Here are five yoga poses you can do without getting up from your chair. Some of them can also be done in a tight airplane seat, like side twists and eagle pose. You may take each pose as far as you are comfortable, or hold back a bit and make it relaxed. Do them all in a sequence, or choose a couple for a when you´re feeling tired and tense.
The title of this post is exactly what I entered in Google search a few years ago after my first Yin Yoga class. I felt fine physically, but I was emotionally wiped out, dragged down by a heavy feeling that I couldn´t shake off. I was certain I would never go back to that kind of class again. Who wants to feel like crap after yoga?
Desde fuera, una secuencia de yoga y una sesión de pilates sobre una esterilla pueden parecerse mucho. Entonces ¿cuál es la diferencia? Estoy segura de que obtendrás respuestas muy diferentes dependiendo de a quién le preguntes.
I’m usually pretty resilient when it comes to sidestepping colds. As soon as one of the teens or my husband catches a cold, I start taking Kick-Ass Immune, an organic, herbal immune booster by WishGarden herbs. I’ve managed to prevent myself from catching a cold numerous times, just by taking this supplement. However, last week, every single person in the house had a cold, and were coughing and sneezing all over the place, so despite my best efforts, my body succumbed too.
This is my version of 56. I turned this age on August 25. In the past year, I have lost dear friends to cancer, like beautiful Belinda. She was younger than me and all she wanted was to grow old and see her kids grow up. I miss her dearly. This was my first birthday without her yearly greeting. I also have way too many friends battling disease.