The Color Purple

Lovely Lavender
A student of mine just recently gifted me with a delightfully aromatic lavender bouquet. Its flower dawned the most vibrant purple and its stem beamed brilliant green. Holding it close to my nose, I took in deep cleansing yogic breaths.

I'm no stranger to the benefits of lavender. I commonly use lavender essential oils for a variety of medicinal purposes. On occasions where I've had difficultly falling asleep I've placed a few drops of lavender on a hand towel and place it on a pillow a few inches away from my nose. Lavender has been known to calm the mind, enhance relaxation and aid in sleep.

Getting a host of enjoyable benefits from my lavender, I decided to also do a color purple meditation. Placing the lavender in a small vase, I situated it in front of me in a meditative posture. Slowing and calming my breath, I fixed my gaze on the bunch and then narrowed my focus to a single flower. Noticing the balance of soothing, calming blue, infused with fiery vibrant red, I meditated on what the color purple symbolized to me.

The color purple can represent power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It conveys wealth and extravagance. Purple is also associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic.

Read more about how to use lavender and enjoy its healing properties.

Hot & Steamy

The Simple Joy of Drinking Tea

I don't know what it is about drinking tea. It transforms me. I sit...I sip... my senses awaken. I draw the cup close to my face and I am greeted with aromatic delightfulness and steamy warmth. Drinking tea makes me want to ease back into an oversized chair and write poetically. I become more contemplative and reflective...more open minded, perhaps. It's such a peaceful experience.

I like that there seems to be a tea for every condition. In less than a happy mood? There's a tea for that. Sore throat? There's a tea for that. Tired, stressed or unfocused? There's a tea for that.

Drinking tea can be a part of a daily ritual ...formal or informal. Years ago, a friend and I made part of our nightly routine a 75 minute "power walk and talk" where we would recap the happenings of our entire day. Afterwards, we would continue to unwind with her infamous fat free chocolate chip cookies and a cup of herbal tea. It was the perfect way to wrap up the day. I felt totally released.

Meditation and Tea

As with almost any activity, you can bring a meditative essence to drinking tea. Similiar to the walking meditation, you are balancing your inner world with the outer world. Since teas offer a variety of benefits, choose a tea that will give you the benefits you are looking to get. Perhaps in the morning you choose a tea that is stimulating and invigorating and at night you choose a tea with calming and relaxing benefits.

Instead of rushing the process and heating water in the microwave, get your tea pot out and boil the water the "old-fashioned" way. Choose a special cup that you enjoy drinking out of...one that perhaps has an artistic design or an inspirational message.

Once the tea is brewed and poured, hold the cup in your hands for a few moments and feel the warmth. Draw the cup closer to your face, inhaling the steam and it's aromatic scent. Slowly sip and pause in between. Tune into the myriad of sensations that you feel. What thoughts arise?

If you are so inspired, grab your journal and write down a few thoughts...or grab a book and read a few excerpts.

Enjoy the process...

Roar Like a Lion

I wasn't always a fan of Lion Pose. Actually, I was quite embarrassed to demonstrate it in front of a group of eager yogis. So for a while I simply avoided it, refusing to put myself in a situation where I might appear foolish. Luckily, I got over my inhibitions and self-consciousness and I now happily share the pose.

Kids perform Lion Pose with little or no inhibitions. They roar loudly and make the most "lion-like" gestures with their faces and bodies. Seniors, too, after they laugh at my demonstration, join right in. The "middle group", however, are a bit more plagued with self-consciousness. We don't want to look silly. We don't want to embarrass ourselves. We don't want to let go.

Lion Pose offers a host of benefits. It tones the muscles in the face and also helps to release tension. Stress can cause us to tense our facial muscles, especially around the jaw area. Lion Pose can help us to let go of inhibitions...paving the way to increased self-confidence. It is a great way to practice how to not take yourself too seriously.

So take this opportunity to break down self-imposed barriers and step out of your comfort zone. Let's do it together while no one else is watching. Here's what you do:

Sit comfortably in a chair or kneel on the floor with your hips resting on your heels. If you are in the kneeling version, use a blanket under your shins for comfort. Place your hands on your knees with your fingers spread far apart. Take a nice deep breath in through the nose. As you exhale, open your mouth wide and stick your tongue out with the tip stretching towards your chin. Simultaneously, stretch your eyes wide open and raise the eyebrows. Say "Haaaa" or give your best lion roar imitation.

To get extra toning, alternate with Prune Face. Tense and squeeze the muscles in your face, pursing the lips. Repeat each 3 times.

You can follow Lion Pose with affirmations and a meditation:

 I AM Strong

I AM Confident

I AM Courageous

I release any inhibitions and express myself freely

Eating Chocolate...Responsibly!

I just discovered that I can eat dark chocolate AND do my part in supporting species, habitat and humanity. As if the benefits of simply eating the dark chocolate were not enough. There are healthful doses of antioxidants, the releasing of euphoric-feeling endorphins, and the sheer joy of devouring decadence. Those benefits are wonderful and definitely sufficient motivation for me...but we can also help conserve the planet. Here's how. Purchase your favorite yummy all-natural chocolate bar from Endangered Species Chocolate. Open wrapper. Eat. 10% of net profits are donated to non-profit groups that support species and habitat conservation. See how easy that is! I just did it and I feel wonderful. Check out the Endangered Species Chocolate Blog.

Did you know that eating chocolate can also be a meditative experience? It sure can...and if you have yet to incorporate a meditative practice into your daily regimen, this might be just the incentive you need!
Chocolate Meditation:

Select one of your favorite pieces of chocolate. If the chocolate is in a wrapper, place it in the palm of your hand. If it is not, place it on a dish or plate in front of you. Soften your gaze or close your eyes. Take in a few deep and slow breaths. Feel the weight of the chocolate in your hands or notice the shape of the chocolate laying on the plate before you. Slowly and mindfully unwrap the chocolate as if you are unraveling an exquisite gift. Feel yourself full of anticipation. Again, return to the rhythm of your breath. As you place the chocolate in your mouth, allow a few moments of pause. Let the warmth of your mouth slowly melt the chocolate and notice how it feels as it changes shape and perhaps texture. Begin to savor its rich sweet flavor and allow it's delicious essence to continue to linger. Say an affirmation to yourself:

•I deserved to be pampered

•I welcome the pleasurable indulgences of life

•I take time to savor the sweet things

Thank yourself for taking the time out to do something fun and rewarding for yourself!

Nature Alter

I like to begin and end my day with meaningful ritual. I've slowed my pace over the past few years and have become more conscientious regarding how my day unfolds. The middle (of my day) has pretty much stayed the same and I've simply added a regimen in the morning when I first awake and in the evening just before I head off to sleep.

There was a time when I would just get up out of bed and run. The word run, however, is an overstatement...an exaggeration, since my body wants no part of moving fast in the am. Now, I gently rise, make up my bed and sit on its edge looking towards the two windows that frame my dresser...and my nature alter.

Over the last few years I have collected artifacts from the outside world. I hike. I see pretty things I like. I bring (a reasonable amount) them home with me and place them into my nature collage. There are pine cones, rocks, acorns, and tree bark. It's embellished with plants, candles and emblems that I find inspiring such as the Chinese symbol for Passion and necklace charm that reads Gratitude.

Here, in front of my nature alter, I sit. I do a few gentle yoga stretches, say gratitude prayers and affirmations, as well as set my intentions for the day. At night, to wrap up my day, I do the same before I head off to a peaceful night of sleep.

I love my nature alter. It evolves and changes...just like me. It gives me the essence of the outside world while I explore the inside world...myself. Being in nature is incredibly healing and I can continue to reap its healing benefits even as I sit and find stillness in my bedroom.

Be Like Buddha...Awake

I am fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to teach what I love, yoga, at senior living facilities. They enjoy the classes and I revel in the amazement of how much the practice of yoga helps so many, despite their age and physical abilities.

Most of the exercises are done in a chair, and since many of the poses and stretches are designed to relieve tension and promote a state of relaxation, it is not uncommon to have participants nodding off...especially during the ending meditation. Soothing sounds permeate the room, accompanied by my soft melodic instructions delivered with gentlest tone.

Edith didn't stand a chance. Feeling somewhat tired upon entering the room, she was fast asleep within seconds of sitting in her chair. I considered waking her but I soon determined that perhaps her brief nap in yoga class was exactly what her body needed. Her chair, incidentally, was positioned directly in front of me so it would have been difficult for me not to notice her sleeping. I would pan the room making eye contact with the other more alert participants, and then I would come back to Edith's closed eyes and soft snoring. I, considering this my mirror, asked myself "Am I Awake?"

A few nights ago, I met up with my book group and the topic of awareness came up. We were discussing how we are out of practice or uncomfortable...or even unfamiliar with accessing our inner wisdom and guidance. The example that we talked about was what happens at pedestrian crosswalks where the traffic signal alerts us when to cross, how much time we have to cross and when it is advisable to stay put. Is this a helpful tool? Sure it is! I've utilized this wonderful offering during the decision making process standing at the corner of a busy intersection.

What we were noting, however, is that we rely too exclusively on external mechanism and therefore disabling our own inner judgement. We decrease our potential for harnessing and developing our personal power and limiting our inner and outer awareness.

I have seen pedestrians ignoring their own good judgement and what was going on around them, namely the traffic, completely enthralled with what the "signal" was telling them to do. Could this be a metaphor for a bigger affliction...a perpetual cycle of giving over our power to something external as if it were safer and more reliable than our own inner wisdom? Are we loosing the ability to trust ourselves?

I am fortunate to have situations arise in my life that remind me to question, such as the sleeping yogi. I am also very grateful to be surrounded by positive, mindful and intuitive individuals...such as the wonderful women in my book group, who also help spark insightful dialog.

How can we become more aware of our surroundings...more awake in our daily lives? Allow it. Sit quietly. Open your inner eyes. Breathe. Meditate. Do yoga. Acknowledge things to be grateful for. Find joy in the simple things. Explore nature. Get to know yourself.

What we are seeking is balance...to acknowledge and appreciate the tools that are here to help us...while maintaining the understanding that our strongest and most reliable guide resides within.

This blog post is dedicated to Barb, Amy, Teresa, Mandy and Patti. Thank you for sharing your wonderful insights. I am very grateful.

The Amazing Results of Positive Thinking

Book Review: The Power of Positive Thinking
I'm an avid reader, especially in the genre of self-development. Recently, I've been saturating my mind and its thoughts with a barrage of positive influences in the form of people, books and cds. One in particular is a book titled The Power of Positive Thinking. Despite its astonishing 510 pages, I read through the book quite quickly. This International Bestseller by Norman Vincent Peale provides encouragement, helpful tools and practices, as well as delightful anecdotes depicting everyday individuals overcoming everyday hardships and challenges.

This inspiring reference which offers methods for self and life improvements, has a Christian influence. This is not surprising due to the fact that Dr. Peale was an influential clergyman of his time. Despite originally being published in the early 1950's, it continues to deliver instruction and guidance that remains applicable today.

Here is one of my favorite paragraphs from the chapter Inflow of New Thoughts Can Remake You:
To change your circumstances, first start thinking differently. Do not passively accept unsatisfactory circumstances, but form a picture in your mind of circumstances as they should be. Hold that picture, develop it firmly in all details, believe in it, pray about it, work at it, and you can actualize it according to that mental image emphasized in your positive thinking. This is one of the greatest laws of the universe.- page 167 from The Power of Positive Thinking

As we continue to bathe our minds with positive thoughts and images, we soon begin to see its reflection in the world around us and in our life experience.

Wake Up Peacefully

Considering that our days are often bombarded with unpleasant, disruptive sounds, it's a good idea to at least wake with something a bit more soothing to our ears and our spirit. For years I allowed my restful sleep to draw to conclusion by the sound of something quite alarming...namely, my alarm clock.

With my internal rhythms not sufficiently trained to automatically wake up at my desired time, I relied on the unpleasantries of my traditional alarm clock. A firm believer in setting a positive and pleasant tone for your day from the moment you open your eyes, I had to make a change. Maya Angelou said "When you know better you do better."  And so, with that new found wisdom, I purchased a new sound by which to wake from.

Using my new sound machine was very helpful, not only changing the way I woke up, but how I fell asleep. For a while, I wrestled with managing the outside noises where I live. Perhaps I was also dealing with the inside noises...as in the noises inside my mind. Having created a bit of white noise, helped tremendously in guiding me towards the land of restful sleep.

I began to experiment with the sounds. The thunderstorm was very soothing to listen to and perhaps great for relaxing me to sleep, but was not as effective waking me. I'd sleep right through it, wondering afterwards if it actually performed its function. The rainforest, however, with its periodic chirping of native birds, did the trick. There are lots of nature sound machines on the market and it's fun to investigate to determine the one best for you. Mine in particular, came from HoMedics .

There are also many other helpful tools, when used in conjunction with each other, not only create restful sleep, but help you to feel recharged, energetic and enthusiastic about starting your day. I typically program my subconscious mind as I lay in bed at night with a variety of positive affirmations. Here are a few:

I will have a peaceful and restful night of sleep

I will wake up feeling fully rested and recharged

I will start my day  full of energy and enthusiasm

I am excited and optimistic about my day

All good things will come my way

Expect the Good

A friend of mine was considering rewarding herself with a delicious holistic wellness treatment. She asked me about my experience, as I had recently done it myself and raved about its benefits. She appeared to have a mixed response, one of skepticism and one of openness. I've seen skepticism rear its head before...not just in her but in myself. Being a skeptic undermines the believer in us and can keep us from great experiences and powerful transformation.


Having a healthy amount of skepticism is natural and a helpful tool in making the best decision for ourselves. But if we stay there, gripped in the fist of doubt without further investigation,  it hinders our process and progress through life.

Whether you believe that your experience will be good or bad, positive or negative...you are right. What you focus on and believe to be your reality will be real to you. Even in situations that appear uncomfortable and undesirable, there is always a positive element that you can shift your attention and awareness to. To foster that power over your mind is a fundamental shift in changing your life experience. When we begin to look for and expect the good, we get it. Yes, it takes practice...especially when we've trained ourselves to complain about any situation that appears less than perfect.

A good practice for creating your day (and we do so by choosing how we see and react to our environment) is to say to yourself  "I expect all good to come to me today". This is not pollyannaism or delusional thinking. This is training your brain to process more optimally.

Once we realize that we are in charge of our outlook, it changes everything. We are no longer a victim of circumstance...but a creator of magnificent living!

Haulting Negative Thoughts

I've always considered myself a positive thinker. That is, before I started monitoring my thoughts. It was then that I got an insightful awakening. Since I was becoming more and more convinced that out external world is a reflection of our inner and that we create our experiences with our thoughts and beliefs, I decided to investigate this concept to see the correlation. It's interesting what one will discover once one becomes an observer of one's thoughts. I was shocked! I was, in fact, perpetuating negative thoughts.

Initially, I was overwhelmed. How could I even begin to curb these impulses? One after one would surface. Were these thoughts always there and I was simply unaware of there existence or had I grown more negative in my thinking? I suspect the former and with my new mode of mindfullness, I could see what was really going on in there.

With a clearer perspective of my inner world, I decided to take some steps to curb these impulses. One really helpful tool that worked well for me was simply saying to myself "STOP!". That nipped my negative thought in the bud before it escalated into a full fledged story. At first, my mind was in a bit stunned. "So what now?" it would respond to me. "How about if we replace that negative thought with something more positive? How does that sound?" "Well, I think that's awesome!" my mind concluded and I was thrilled that it was so in compliance with me. Granted, this took some time to get used to but eventually, I found myself  on the path to more positive thinking in no time.

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.~ Winston Churchill

The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.

A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.~ Mahatma Gandhi

If Not Now...When?

This has become my new mantra! Hanging on a wall in the yoga studio we have this message and I love it because it is such a great reminder about how to live life. There are several quotes that reinforce this concept of doing now versus later such as Nike's Just Do It!

I find that when I procrastinate my mind gets backed up with clutter, which significantly decreases my ability to be clear and focused. These things may not be in the forefront of my mind but I lug them around like unappreciated baggage. To restore, I purge like I would do pulling objects from the depths of my closet or expired food from the cupboards and refrigerator.

In yoga we speak often of getting in to the flow or stream of life. To put things off or procrastinate clogs that flow. Maybe we put things off because we dread doing it...or it makes us uncomfortable...or we are a perfectionist...or we are unorganized...or perhaps we simply don't want to do it. What ever the reason, we can acknowledge how we feel without letting that feeling overcome us. We can move past the feelings and...Just Do It!

The best way to get something done is to begin. ~Author Unknown

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. ~William James

Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week. ~Spanish Proverb

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow. ~Mark Twain

Procrastination is the bad habit of putting of until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday. Napoleon Hill

Telling Stories

A euphemism my mom used for telling a lie was "telling a story". I think this comparison works perfectly to demonstrate how our "telling stories" is a lie for our current present time reality. Often, we get mentally and emotionally stuck in our past experiences, replaying them in our current life circumstances.

I've been a classic story teller. I admit that I have succumbed to the lure and seduction of drama. I've wanted to make excuses for why things are where they are in my life...blame others for contributing to my current circumstances...and admittedly, I've wanted to simply entertain my friends with the folly of my experiences. It hasn't been an easy thing to let go of.  I've enjoyed telling stories. But I understand now that it has not served me. Telling stories perpetuates the past instead of living in the glorious now.

Living in anywhere but the present can entail reminiscing about the past or fantasizing about the future. This may appear to be a positive thing to do and seems healthier than thinking negatively. Even so, there are things happening in the here and now that deserve our attention. When I stopped telling my stories and living in the past, there was this huge uncomfortable void that I desperately wanted to fill. What I eventually learned to do is to simply be with that discomfort while recognizing that I was committing to positive change. It wasn't the easiest thing to do but I've felt lighter and calmer as a result. Stories can be heavy to carry around for all those years.