Four Ways to Let Go of Negative Emotions, Right Now

Photos via Pinterest.

If you are stressed, worried, grumpy, angry or sad today, this post is for you.

I’ve certainly had my share of days lately when I get attached to negative emotions and can’t seem to shake whatever I am feeling. I react when things don’t go my way, or get upset by the unexpected. I get frustrated with others or myself, and feel disappointed.

Today, instead of staying there with that feeling and dwelling on it, letting it control you… I invite you to try these simple practices.

1.       Notice the breath. The breath is an amazing tool for re-centering. Ask, How am I breathing right now? Can I slow down my breath? Invite a deeper breath in through the nose, noticing how the whole ribcage expands as the body fills up with fresh air. Notice at the bottom of the breath, how you can pull the belly button in toward the spine, emptying the lungs, squeezing out the breath. You are empty; you have released something. Now, fill up. Bring in peace, ease, and a glowing calm that reaches every part of your body. See if you can carry that sense of relaxed awareness – and the physical practice of deep breathing – with you for at least 10 minutes, and you’ll really calm down. 

2.       Actively practice gratitude. Bring to mind what you are grateful for, right now. Things are rough, maybe you are truly suffering, or maybe you are just overreacting – but despite that, there are blessings surrounding you. What can you notice right now, and feel grateful for?

3.       Separate yourself from what you are feeling. Imagine your emotion as a leaf passing in the wind, or an ocean wave that washes upon the shore. That leaf, or that wave, does not control you. Neither do your emotions.

4.       Talk to someone. Often things become clearer when we communicate them. When I talk to loved ones, it helps me get out of my own head, and out of my own way.

What helps you release negative emotions?

PS I’m sending you a big hug right now :)

This post was inspired by Zen Habits.

Reconnecting with the Self

 Photos via Old Brand New.

We all go through periods of time when we fall away from our practice.

The yoga mat collects dust. Perhaps the body becomes stiff or fatigued, the mind busy. Perhaps we are suffering, and we don’t know how to make time for ourselves, for healing.

Today I am sharing a post from my sponsored yogi Ty about the wonder of becoming present. Even if it’s been a while, yoga is always waiting for us. Today is a good day to practice, whether we are doing asana or simply noticing the breath.

Not that it needs to be said, but life is funny. Sometimes it plays out just the way you hope. Sometimes it throws you a curveball, but you adjust and make the best of it. And sometimes it just consumes you in a manner that—try as you may—takes you away from the things that bring you joy and provides you with a sense of purpose.

I recently found myself navigating one of these moments of consumption. While I felt like it just snuck up on me and stayed for the better part of the summer, hindsight suggests I should have seen it coming. My job had been straining me in many ways for quite some time. Mentally, emotionally, physically . . . it was slowly getting the best of me and turning me into a person that I did not like very much.

I was crabby and yoga-less.

Not knowing the best way to rid myself of the crabbiness, I knew how to address the absence of yoga in my life. So a few weeks ago I grabbed my mat, a towel, and a full bottle of water and headed to a hot yoga class. I was stiff and unable to move with the fluidity I had developed heading into the start of the summer, but something far more important happened on my mat that day. 

As the sweat poured out of me and I did my best to focus on nothing more than my breath, my mind became clear. I embraced the moments that followed and left the studio with a sense of joy.

While the state of euphoria faded later that afternoon, I found myself consumed with my hour of clarity on the mat. It was the first time in months that I felt like myself and I wanted more. A few days later I returned to have a similar experience, rekindling my love of yoga but in a slightly different way. After months off of the mat, the asanas weren’t exactly coming naturally to me. Since my initial foray into yoga was fueled by the physical practice this should have frustrated me, but it didn’t. 

Instead, I became more focused on rooting myself to my mat and getting lost in the cadence of my breath. 

It was a revelation of sorts, one that made me feel like I had the potential to control that funny thing we call life. While some yoga teachers talk and write about yoga’s ability to provide you with the skill set to maintain control of the self, it isn’t something you can wrap your head around until you experience it on your own.

As I have worked to immerse myself in a more regular practice during these last few weeks, I have continued to regain control and have allowed myself to delve into the moments of clarity. If I can offer one piece of advice to anyone reading this, allow yourself to do the same. I am going to continue to do so. Let’s hold each other accountable through communication and community engagement. We will all be better for it. Our community will be better for it. And in time our positive energy will reach far beyond ourselves and make the world a better place.

Thank you, Ty, for this inspiration! I know I can relate fully to your reflections here, and I’m grateful for your courage in sharing so honestly.

Photos by Michael Chichi, found via Jago Yoga.

When I am quiet, I begin to see everything with love.

Softening toward sensation, in the yoga postures and in my relationships.

How can I approach this with love?

Intentional movement and breath. A releasing of expectation.

Softness, without gripping.

How To Do A Fall Ayurvedic Cleanse

 Photos via Vidya Cleanse and Pinterest.

Note: this post is excerpted from a post on Organic India's blog by Ayurvedic Wellness Educator and Herbalist Hopi Darnell.

An essential part of Ayurveda is following cues of nature, and that means eating what nature provides for the season. 

Interestingly, fall and spring are the two times per year that the seasonal harvest foods have an especially cleansing effect on the body, helping us transition into the extreme weather cycles of winter and summer (both of which have great impact on our body’s inflammatory response, stress levels, and digestive health).

In the early fall months we have a great opportunity for deeper cleansing, signaled by the arrival of apples, beets and green beans. This harvest of lymph-cleansing foods expels heat we've accumulated in our bodies all summer, resetting the body’s inflammatory response before the colder, harsher months of winter (when the available foods are naturally heavier, richer, and more difficult to digest). Should we miss this opportunity for fall cleansing, we can likely expect to catch more seasonal illnesses in the winter, experience digestive imbalances, and have difficulty maintaining a healthy weight.

The Equinoxes – when day and night hang in equal balance – are considered in Ayurveda to be the best times to cleanse. The traditional Panchakarma is a simple, 4-day detox that can be easily performed at home using herbs, skincare and an important therapy called oleation. In Sanskrit, pancha means 5 and karma means action – these are the 5 actions that can be used for a fall cleanse.

Steps: 

1. Daily Oleation, where melted Ghee is consumed first thing in the morning in increasing amounts (flax, hemp, or coconut oil can be used as a vegan alternative). Note: Organic India has an awesome buy-one-get-one free deal for ghee going on right now!

2. Eating a mono-diet of a split mung bean and rice soup called 'Kitchari', 3 meals per day. Kitchari is a traditional mung bean and rice porridge with a nourishing yet detoxifying effect for the body.

3. Skin brushing with a cotton washcloth or raw silk gloves designed for this purpose, prior to evening bath or shower

4. 20-minute evening bath or shower

4. Self massage with organic food grade raw sesame oil or coconut oil during or after evening bath or shower

Photo via Organic India.

5. Herbal supplements are used to aid digestion, and on day 4 laxative therapy on Day 4 helps expel toxins from the body. Herbs include Turmeric (with meals), Amalaki (before meals, if you have agitated digestion), Trikatu (before meals, if you have sluggish digestion), and Liver Kidney formula (between meals).

If you're going to participate in this cleanse, I highly recommend using products by Organic India. They are a conscious brand who you can trust for high-quality, exceptional organic foods. In working with Organic India's PR team, I was incredibly impressed by their generosity, professionalism, and compassion. Seriously leaps and bounds above so many brands I've worked with!

Would you do an Ayurvedic cleanse? Have you done one? What was your experience?

Kombucha Love

 Do you guys like kombucha?

It’s a bubbly fermented tea drink that’s great for your digestion. You can find it in lots of flavors at the grocery store, and more and more I’m hearing about friends who brew at home, and local restaurants and food trucks that offer it on tap.

 

Recently I had the pleasure of trying Kombucha Wonder Drink, and I have to say I’m impressed with their sparkling varieties! My favorite is the Essence of Mango; it’s just the right amount of sweetness.

I also loved re-using the little bottles for drinking water throughout my work day. (You could even put a few Gerber daisies in one and set it on your desk as a way to brighten up the room!)

It’s great that Kombucha Wonder Drink doesn’t need to be refrigerated until after it’s opened – meaning you could place an order online and have it shipped to you, rather than needing to buy it in the grocery store. This is because the kombucha is pasteurized, so it is absent of live cultures, and therefore shelf stable. The drink still has active organic acids—the stuff in kombucha that helps improve digestion and detoxify. Kombucha Wonder Drink is the only brand to offer this shelf-stable variety, because of founder Stephen Lee's expertise in the tea industry (he also co-founded the Stash and Tazo Tea companies).

What’s your favorite kombucha flavor?

PS Learn more about how kombucha is made, and the nutritional benefits of kombucha.

Gratitude and Abundance

This week, my heart feels full. I feel at peace.

I have been experiencing a big shift…

Settling in. Meditating. Eating healthier. Expressing my emotions more.

There is so much abundance in my life! And it feels really good to take time to notice it, and to be grateful.

How are you, dear reader? What do you have going on in your Yoga practice?

I hope you have a fun weekend, and I encourage you to start it off by taking the five deepest breaths you’ve taken all day :)

XO

Trust Yourself

Push past your discomfort…

Stick to a habit, not listening to the negative self talk that normally holds you back.

 

Stick to it some more, and learn to trust yourself.

Learn through repeated experiments that you are stronger than you think, that you are more capable and more tolerant of discomfort than you think.

This post is excerpted from one of my favorite blogs, Zen Habits. Photos via My Morning Coffee on Tumblr.

What We Hold Onto

Photo by  Cait Loper Photography.

The last few weeks have been eventful, to say the least.

Several family members have been in the hospital. I am in the process of moving (just across town). I had my one-year anniversary at work (and got a raise!). I returned to my yoga mat and can feel my body building strength—it’s the strongest I’ve felt since my back issues this summer, and wow, I am grateful to feel great in my body again.

Soon, the dust will settle. And already, I’m reflecting on these experiences, noticing what wisdom they hold.

Photo by Justin Kral of Kral Studios.

Several questions keep resurfacing: what am I really holding onto? What are the things in my life worth clinging to?

When I really stop and think about it, I’m amazed by the amount of time I waste on some things that don’t really matter, but that feel good:

• surfing the Internet and reading posts on social media
• watching TV
• eating unhealthy foods

I also waste time by:

• making excuses
• ignoring my emotions
• hiding
• letting guilt, fear or shame run the show

These are habits I've been working on changing, and I still have a long ways to go.

And I’m also amazed by the things I do that really matter, how rich and fulfilling those are:

• spending time with the people I love
• saying, ‘I love you,’ and giving hugs
• practicing gratitude and awareness
• teaching yoga from my heart
• practicing yoga and leaving my ego aside
• cooking and eating healthy foods
• practicing reiki and taking an active role in my healing journey
• writing blog posts and connecting with yogis who have been impacted by my story

I read a post recently about living a minimalist life (it was by Leo Babuata at Zen Habits). He was saying how, when you really break it down, happiness is as simple as this:

1. Decide what’s important.
2. Eliminate the rest.

Now is a good time to show up to my life, fully. It’s not always easy to be conscious, present, and to move through life with clear intention… but now is a good time to start.

I was going about my day and suddenly, everything changed. I found myself rushing to the hospital, sitting in an emergency room, knowing someone I love with my whole heart was suffering. I showed up. All the little stuff fell away… and I was left with this:

Now is the time to love others. Love freely, without attachment to the outcome. To give what I can, frequently. To be incredibly kind to those around me, and to thank my teachers. I choose to embody the love in my heart fully, using my words and my devotional practices.

I have an incredible support network. I have a beautiful family, incredible friends, a yoga community that inspires and amazes me, and people who constantly show me that they care. I am held up by these people, and quite honestly I would be nowhere without them. The most important thing I can do is acknowledge this, and treat all of the wonderful people in my life with kindness.

I have my body. I am more than my body, but it is a vital part of my experience here, and worth loving. Putting my health first allows me to do the things I love, and to serve others more fully. Now is a good time to love my body without exception, and to make choices that allow me to experience radiant health.

Now is a good time to show up to my life, fully. To let go of the things that I’m holding on to that aren't important. To love others, and to love myself. When it comes down to it, that’s what really matters.

Yoga for Living a Full Life

Photos via the lovely Amelia on Flickr.

True yoga is not about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life.

Yoga is not to be performed; yoga is to be lived.

Yoga doesn’t care about what you have been; yoga cares about the person you are becoming.

Yoga is designed for a vast and profound purpose and for it to be truly called yoga, its essence must be embodied.

Quote by Aadil Palkhivala; found via Julia Lee Yoga.

Sacramento Free Day of Yoga

Calling all Sactown yogis!

If you are around for Labor Day, I invite you to check out the day of free yoga going on in Sacramento on Monday, September 1st.

A lot of studios are offering free classes -- you can find them here. There's a little bit of something for everyone: vinyasa, yin, kundalini, even a workshop on Ayurveda and yogic eating!

Wherever you practice, I hope you enjoy trying something new :)

PS If you are a local who attends and you feel inspired to share about your experience, please email me at aliveinthefire at gmail dot com. I'd love to feature you on the blog!

Keep Showing Up

Sometimes the best thing you can do is just show up.

If you are tired, show up. If you feel lonely or lost, show up. Even when your mind is telling you 'I can't' ...this is when you keep going, keep showing up.

You may surprise yourself.

When You are Quiet, You See Everything With Love

When I am quiet, I can hear the cries of my heart.

Sometimes it is when I am just driving in my car that it hits me—how precious the moment is, how sacred the song sounds, how beautiful the light is falling through the window.

I see in the mirror, the look in my own eye.

There is a knowing in my heart, the knowing that I am finally beginning to fall deeply in love with myself.

I love the moment when someone notices me, and maybe their eyes flash over to my hair or my colorful tattooed arm, and their eyes go a little wider and a smile comes across their face. And I am astonished, now, how I can look in the mirror and feel that same rush, that same reassured and calm energy that you get when someone familiar and peaceful is in your presence. 

How you are drawn to them quietly… an effortless, magnetic pull. Sometimes, just a nameless feeling, simply a sense of harmony.

Photo by Cait Loper.

Tears come to me in the quiet – in the in-between, the precious stillness.

There is so much beauty and peace there, blossoming.

Don't Worry

 Photo via Event Brite.

Sometimes we get overwhelmed seeing yogis bending like pretzels or hovering upside down, and we think, I’ll never do that!

Well, a little food for thought from one of my favorite teachers:

“Don’t worry. These poses have nothing to do with meditation or enlightenment.” 

~ Sri Dharma Mittra

Photo via Teachasana.

Yes. Thank you. Let’s remember what this practice is really about. There is so much more than the asana! :)

Wanderlust 2014 at Squaw Valley (Yoga and Music in Tahoe)

Last weekend I enjoyed some adventuring at

Wanderlust Squaw

. Were you guys at the festival?

I didn’t buy a ticket this year, which actually ended up being perfect. I was free to just enjoy the atmosphere, people watch, and catch up with friends… just take it all in

without being on a schedule

:)

Here are some of my favorite moments…

Seeing beautiful

Lake Tahoe

.

Yoga

 shenanigans… 

Acro yoga

, arm balances and inversions, hula hooping…

Live music, hugs with friends old and new, and 

good food

.

Wild mountain weather (it poured!).

Beautiful scenery at Squaw. Tahoe is truly a magical spot.

Rad vendors who sell handmade crafts like this lamp I bought:

Overall it was a lovely weekend, and I had a blast!

PS Last year’s 

Wanderlust

 was fantastic too – I met Dharma Mittra and took his asana class and meditation and pranayama workshop! Life changing.

Advice to New Yoga Teachers

Photo by Justin Kral of Kral Studios.

Lately I've been reflecting on what advice I'd give to new yoga teachers.

Again and again, I'm amazed at how much teaching yoga encourages me to be a more patient, loving, compassionate person. What a challenging and fulfilling practice it is to stand in front of others and share what you love!

Photo via Flickr.

Advice for New Yoga Teachers

1. When you get nervous before class (and you will), remember that being nervous is good – it means you care. :) Get grounded; start the class in child’s pose so you can take a moment for yourself. Breathe. Feel your feet on the floor. Say to yourself, “OK, I’m nervous. So what? I’m going to do this any way.”

2. See the students. Really, step back and SEE them. And then teach to who is in the room. Watch their bodies, not their faces. Their faces often look frustrated or annoyed or bored… but this is the look people have on their faces when they’re challenged by a pose. It has nothing to do with your teaching!

Photo via my lovely friend, Thais.

3. Teach out of adoration. Remember what this practice is really about. When you approach it with love for your students – for their happiness, peace, and well-being—it really shifts. It becomes less about you and more about sharing the gift of yoga with others.

4. Ask for feedback, but only when you are ready to receive it. Trust your intuition firs, knowing that your opinion of yourself matters most. I made the mistake at one point of asking for too much feedback, and found my head spinning, trying to take it all in. Now, I’m very conscious about who I ask for feedback, and when… I talk to the teachers whose opinion I value and who I know will support me in growing. I also keep coming back to this: I know myself best and I can trust in that.

Photo via my lovely friend, Thais.

5. If students leave the room, don’t take it personally. They've got something going on that they need to attend to; your job is to keep teaching the class.

6. Take a breath before taking on new teaching gigs. At first, I thought it would be awesome to get as many classes on my schedule as possible…whew, was I wrong! It’s easy to get burned out. Right now I teach one class a week and that is perfect. It gives me time to work my day job and have a social life, and still fit in my practice too.

  

7. Get to know a studio before you teach there. Do the owners support their teachers? Is there a community established? Will you feel comfortable and supported? How far from home/work is the studio? Being a new teacher is a vulnerable role to begin with, so choose teaching opportunities that are good for you… whatever that looks like.

8. Don’t sacrifice your practice in order to teach. Period.

9. Play around. Experiment. Teach a class with no music. See what feels good. Sometimes getting out of your comfort zone will spark something new and incredible.

10. Plan ahead. When you’re brand new, it helps to know what poses are in your sequence, what music you’re playing, how the heat in the room works, whether you’ll be wearing a mic, etc. Come prepared.

11. And then, once you have your feet under you, let it flow in the moment. Walk in without a rigid plan, and see what happens. You may enjoy the freedom and creativity that comes with being in the moment, and not being attached to a certain outcome. Notice who is in your class – beginners, advanced yogis, those with injury? Adjust accordingly, and enjoy the process!

12. Thank your students. Thank them while they’re resting in savasana (I like to do this silently, energetically). Feel what a blessing it is, sharing yoga, seeing how it brings peace.

13. Thank yourself. You are giving so much. Recognize that. I thank you, too!

14. Meditate. Get clear on your intention. Why do you teach yoga?

15. Show up. This is perhaps the best advice I can give. When you're excited to teach, show up. When you want to run in the other direction. show up anyway. Keep showing up.

15. As we used to say in my teacher training, it’s just a fucking yoga class! If you get overwhelmed, just remember this... it will at least help you smile :)

Love all you yogis and yoga teachers! I'd love to hear your advice for new teachers, if you have any. Please feel free to share below or, as always, email me at aliveinthefire at gmail dot com. <3

May You Be Well: A New Series on Alive in the Fire

I am working on setting new healthy habits in my life. I cultivate wellness by making conscious choices that are good for my body, mind, and spirit.

What I’m learning is that having a realistic approach – and being kind to myself – are key in this process.

I am not perfect, and that is OK!

As a way to document my progress, and in an effort to inspire others to be healthy, I am starting a new series on Alive in the Fire called May You Be Well. I’ll be posting ways you can happily approach radiant health by making small changes.

Each day, we have choices. My choice is to do a little bit each day. My choice is to experience as much well-being as I can, and to encourage others to do the same.

Cheers to the new series, and hope you’ll follow along!

PS I’ll be posting on Instagram at @aliveinthefire too… keep an eye out for the hashtags #mayyoubewell and #dailywellness, and hope you’ll join in the conversation. Much love, yogis!

Ajna Chakra

Photos via Pinterest and Mystic Mamma.

“Close down your eyes. Gaze in at the third eye.”

During every class I teach, I cue my students to go inward. To draw in. To let the mind settle, the body be still.

To see what wisdom is waiting.

The pose offers us a door, and in meditation, we walk through it.

May you see with great wisdom. May you trust your inner guide. May you be, truly, at peace.

Breathe Deeply

Photos via Pinterest.

Your breath is a powerful tool for healing.

You can calm your mind and your whole body. Pause for a moment right now.

Take five deep breaths. Imagine your body being flooded with light, and healing life force energy.

PS I discovered these great Ayurvedic tips for staying energized and for cooling the body in the summer heat. Namaste, friends!

You Have Such a Beautiful Practice

Photos via Pinterest.

It is such a powerful thing to thank the person on the mat next to you for sharing their practice.

“You have such a beautiful practice,” I’ll say. "You're so strong and focused in the poses."

“When you did Bird of Paradise, I was inspired to go a little farther in my pose.”

“Thank you.”

Coming together to practice the poses is a gift. 

Thank you, fellow yogis, for showing up on your mats.

Playing the Victim

Photos via Coffee and Yoga and My Morning Coffee on Tumblr.

Sometimes I fall into this cycle of playing the victim.

This happened recently when I was having intense low back pain. I’d be standing at work, or driving in my car, and be completely overwhelmed. What did I do to deserve this pain? When will it end? I just want to be back on my yoga mat! This isn’t fair!

I felt helpless to my own situation. There’s nothing I can do to make this better.

Then, last week, I started actively pursuing healing for myself and it was uncanny, how quickly I felt better.

Seeing my doctor and chiropractor is helping to rule out the possibilities. Seeing my reiki healer is helping to release fear and attachment to the physical pain. Choosing to eat better, to go for walks, and to get more sleep is helping my aching body to heal.

Talking it through with people I love is helping me to remember I am not alone.

The reality is that there are things that I am doing to make it better.

It’s getting better, and will continue to.

The reality is that I have a choice in how I react. I can choose to see myself as beautiful, perfect, and healed. In fact, I can step into that reality right here, right now and let things be OK as they are.

Instead of playing the victim and living in the fear, I choose to love myself. To heal.