Divine

Photos via Pinterest. 

You are  divine.

Filled with light.

Lovely outside, and in.

What’s that? You didn’t hear me? 

Oh, I see… it’s because you were dancing. Your skirt ruffling and the wind in the trees and the sound of your own laughter, they had your attention.

Well, now that you’re listening, let me tell you again: you’re beautiful. Absolutely divine. 

Seeking Sacramento Area Photographers

Photos via Pinterest. 

Are you a Sacramento-area lifestyle photographer? Are you interested in building your portfolio with lifestyle and/or fitness photos?

I’m looking to do a yoga photography shoot in the next few weeks, possibly in a studio space or outdoors. You can use the photos to promote your work, and I’ll also publish them on Alive in the Fire and social media outlets, with credit to you of course! Please contact me here or in an email (aliveinthefire at gmail dot com) for more details. Thanks!

PS I'm also looking for contacts for boudoir shoots (more info about that coming soon). If you are a boudoir photographer in Sacramento or know one who you recommend, please let me know! :)

Mindful Self-Compassion

Yoga is not about being good at something.

Yoga is about being good to yourself. 

Try a little bit of self-compassion when you step onto your mat today. :)

What Will I Choose Today?

Every action is a choice.

Am I acting from a place of fear, or a place of love?

Can I take a deep breath before reacting to what’s happening?

I can choose to encourage others, instead of becoming angry or frustrated. Even when someone hurts me, I can choose to love them and treat them with compassion.

I can choose to treat myself well, by doing daily self-care practices. By honoring myself, I increase my capacity to enjoy life, happiness, and good health. By loving myself first—unconditionally—I also increase my capacity to love others.

My day is filled with choices. What will I choose today?

Alive in the Fire

What does it mean to be alive in the fire?

I feel alive in the fire when I am willing to sit with what’s difficult – by facing my fears head on, and breathing through the discomfort.

Alive in the fire is being willing to burn off the old habits that no longer serve me.

To change, even when change is hard.

Humble, yet fierce.

Calm, and ready.

Willing.

Alive in the fire.

The Goddess Within

Photos by Jobi Otso.

When do I feel connected, inspired, and whole?

Sometimes it is in a quiet moment... when I try a posture that I've never done before, and find it suddenly accessible. When I am willing to move toward sensation, rather than hide from it.

When I am able to relax, and smile. Ah, here it is, I say to myself. This is the pose.

Or, when I can look into the mirror and soften, rather than resist anything that I'm seeing.

I'm comforted, too, by the familiar things I love... the ease in a yoga pose I've visited many times before. The way my body settles into the shape effortlessly, the way my mind becomes calm and clear.

Here I am, I think.

Yoga allows me to soften.

To go inward, and meet myself the way I am. Noticing the imperfections, the beauty, the strength.

Yoga allows me to experience feeling wholly vibrant, connected, divine. To embody my inner goddess.

Ayurvedic Oil Pulling

Have you ever tried the Ayurvedic healing practice of oil pulling?

It's a simple form of oral detoxification where you swish oil around in your mouth for 3 to 15 minutes. The results can be pretty profound: improved oral and systemic health, increased energy, weight loss, clearer skin, and pain relief.

So far, I've only pulled oil a few times and right away, my mouth felt clean and refreshed. I'm excited to start a more consistent practice of using it to see how it helps me detox.

Oil pulling works to rid the body of toxins that build up from poor diet, environmental factors, sedentary and stressful lifestyles, and lack of hydration. These oil soluble toxins get 'dumped' into the mouth through the salivary glances, and the pulling oil (which is swished and then discarded) takes them out. (Reminder - you'll want to discard the oil into the trash, not your sink!)

My favorite brand of oil is Gurunanda, an all-natural blend of organic sesame, sunflower, coconut, and peppermint oil. Having a mix of oils allows you to balance the three doshas while the peppermint oil acts as a catalyst ('agni').

It's a great product and an easy process, so it's worth a try!

You can purchase Gurunanda oil on Amazon, and read more about oil pulling on their website. Feel free to comment or email me with questions, and happy detoxing :)