An Incredible Book About Meditation

/
Illustrations via Pinterest.
Do you meditate?

If you do, you need to read this book.
Photo via The Mind Illuminated website.
The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science by Culadasa (John Yates, Ph.D.)

 If you don't meditate, you also need to read this book -- maybe even more so :)

 In his book, Culadasa shows how powerful meditation can be. I love, too, that he approaches it not only as a science, but as an art. As he says:

"While this book is a kind of technical manual, it's also an artist's handbook. Meditation is the art of fully conscious living. What we make of our life-- the sum total of thoughts, emotions, words, and actions that fill the brief interval between birth and death-- is our one great creative masterpiece. 

The beauty and significance of a life well lived consists not in the works we leave behind, or in what history has to say about us. It comes from the quality of conscious experience that infuses our every waking moment, and from the impact we have on others."

On his website, Culadasa asks this provocative question: What if one thing you did each day could bring you to deep joy, peace, insight, and personal transformation?

And in the book, he goes about answering that question, and offering the reader a 10-step guide to meditation. It is a fascinating, dense, practical guide to taming the mind and reaching a deep sense of peace through frequent meditation practice.

So far, I've only read the beginning of the book: the introduction, the summary chapter that gives a basic idea of the 10 stages of meditative training, and then the chapter about stage 1 (establishing a practice).

In only 60 pages, I've already gained an immense amount of knowledge about meditation and how to build a successful meditation practice... I have yet to put this knowledge into practice in my daily life, but hey! At least I'm learning :)
To give you a brief breakdown of the chapters, here are the ten stages of meditation:
1. Establishing a practice
2. Interrupted attention and overcoming mind-wandering
3. Extended attention and overcoming forgetting
4. Continuous attention and overcoming gross distraction and strong dullness
5. Overcoming subtle dullness and increasing mindfulness
6. Subduing subtle distractions
7. Exclusive attention and unifying the mind
8. Mental pliancy and pacifying the senses
9. Mental and physical pliancy and calming the intensity of meditative joy
10. Tranquility and equanimity

Pretty intense, right?! :)

Highly highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in meditation. Whether you're new to the practice or have been meditating for years, this book offers a new way to think about it and creative, helpful ways to deepen your meditation experience. Find the book here.

A big thanks to the team behind this book for sharing a copy, and I hope to continue meditating and sharing this knowledge with others.

Namaste.

Reiki Energy

/
Photos by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.

Every moment has energy. Every breath. Every movement.

The question is, what do you surround yourself with?

What toxic and draining energies do you come into contact with? And what are your practices for healing, release and renewal?


I'm so grateful for my Reiki practice in that it allows me to channel healing. To find that 'reset' button, energetically. To give myself that gift, and to share it with others.

Drained batteries. Exhaustion. Depletion.

Reiki remedies these, and it creates opportunities for us to reach our highest potential.


I'm currently working on manifesting more Reiki -- sharing it more with those that I know, whether through one-on-one treatments, distance healing, or retreats that incorporate yoga and Reiki. If you're curious to hear more, please reach out (aliveinthefire at gmail dot com).

Sending peaceful energy your way, dear reader!

Namaste.

Vulnerable

/
Photo by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.

What happens when you are vulnerable?

When you allow your heart to be open,

when you embrace the good with the bad,

when you speak what's on your mind, even if it means saying, I'm tired or I'm weak or I am ready for something different...

What happens when you are vulnerable is that you experience growth at an exponentially faster pace.

You allow more growth.

Pre and Post-Workout Snacks

/

What are your favorite snacks for before and after a yoga class? 

My current faves:

  • A handful of trail mix with almonds, raisins, craisins, sunflower seeds and dark chocolate chips

  • A green smoothie with any of the following: banana, mango, strawberry, spinach, kale juice, peaches, and avocado

Here's a site with some other ideas for healthy snacks, including vegan options, snacks for kids, and high-protein snacks. Cheers!

Rooting Down (Yogi Surprise September Review)

/

Can you believe Autumn is almost here?!

I'm sitting here drinking the first cup of hot coffee I've had in ages, feeling grateful that the weather is starting to cool down :)

Today I received my awesome Yogi Surprise September box and the theme fits perfectly for this time of year: rooting and grounding down.

My favorites from this box are:
I also love that the box now includes a yoga sequence card with ideas for poses to help you get rooted down through the feet. If you're needing to get grounded, try this series of poses (photos included below):
  • Chair 
  • Warrior 1
  • Warrior 2
  • Triangle
  • Wide-Legged Forward Bend
  • Crane
GROUNDING SEQUENCE:
Chair Pose (Utkatasana)
Photo by Jobi Otso.

Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I)
Photo by Brynna Bryant.

Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)
Photo by Mark Knight.


Triangle (Trikonasana)

Wide-Legged Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana)
Photo by Justin Kral.

Crane Pose (Bakasana)
Photo by Jobi Otso.

May your start to fall be beautiful and inspired by a peaceful, grounded feeling in your body, mind and spirit!

Namaste.

Lovely Nails

/
Yoginis, do you paint your nails? :)

 Today on the blog, a lovely review of some uniquely nail polish by Sponsored Yogi Valerie!


Today I indulged in some "me" time- a DIY mani and nature. Nail polish and nature? Yes! With FABY Nature nail polish I was able to be get great looking nails with nature's influences. 

The FABY Nature collection is inspired by nature and is made of 87% natural ingredients which are natural origin derived from the manufacture of wood, pulp, cotton, maize, cassava and other raw vegetable materials. 

It is not derived from petroleum and FABY products are cruelty free and never tested on animals. 

This chip resistant and long lasting polish is also free of formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate, toluene and camphor. 

I loved how this natural nail polish went on smoothly. After two coats and a top coat, my perfectly polished nails were good to go!

Yogis, what are your favorite nail polishes? 

My New Favorite Yoga and Poetry Book

/


If you want money in more than anything,
you'll be bought and sold.
If you have a greed for food,
you'll be a loaf of bread. 
This is a subtle truth:
whatever you love, you are.
-Rumi

 This poem is excerpted from my new favorite book, Mala from the Heart: 108 Sacred Poems. It is a beautiful collection of poems by great sages, saints and mystics. Most are less than a page in length, so you can easily drop in and experience the words and the peaceful space they create.

 Much in the same way that a yoga practice works, the breaths in between are what leave you feeling renewed and at peace.

Highly recommend this book! Great for before or after a yoga practice, or in the evening with a glass of wine. Namaste.

 PS You can purchase the book from New World Library Publishing...they have some other amazing yoga titles too! I also recommend Pick Your Practice by Meagan McCrary, especially for yoga beginners!

Gratitude

/
Photo by Brynna Bryant.
Today, be grateful for small pleasures.

A feeling in your body.

A simple action you take.

A gift that is granted to you. An opportunity seized.

Perhaps just for this breath. Find the thing you're grateful for -- you'll know it when you feel it. Sink in, and let yourself be filled with gratitude.

Lovely Instagram Accounts

/

Are you guys on Instagram?

Recently I've been thinking about my favorite accounts to follow. Here are some fun ones for yoga inspiration, art, lifestyle photography, and healthy eating.
Yogini goddesses with soulful, heartfelt, honest posts:
 

 

 For advanced posture tips and creative yoga ideas:
@cyogalab
 

@dharmayogawheel
 





A beautiful ballerina friend with uplifting quotes for every photo:

 @maxinehupy
 

 For delicious, healthy meal ideas:

 @selfiesalads and @saladforpresident
 

Who do you like to follow on Instagram?
PS I'm @aliveinthefire if you'd like to check out my posts :)

Yoga Homework

/
Photo by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.

Yogis, I have some homework for you. :)

The homework is simple: be kind to yourself.

When you are going about your day to day life, off the mat, be kind to yourself. 

When you regret making a mistake, be kind to yourself. When you eat something that initially makes you feel guilty, pause for a moment. If you've scolded your kids and wish you hadn't been so harsh, take a breath.

Treat yourself with kindness. Love yourself. You are human.

If you need a note on the refrigerator to remind yourself, write one! Send yourself an email reminder. Set a calendar appointment on your phone. "During this moment, I love myself and I will treat myself with respect and kindness."

Allow yourself to feel that kindness, letting it sink in.

Each day, this is the practice.

Namaste.

Letting Go (Ishvara Pranidhana)

/

Today Sponsored Yogini Keyla shares a beautiful reflection on what it means to let go and how it is essential to the practice of Yoga.

Ishvara Pranidhana is a niyama related to letting go and surrendering to the universe.

 This has been my theme lately. 

 It can translate and mean so many things but for me it helps me with faith. For the past month or so, I've been training under someone who was taught by his uncle and grandfather in traditional/classical yoga, to him it's the correct and authentic form of yoga, all 8 limbs, not just asana which is what is mainly taught in most yoga studios. Yoga was something he grew up with the way I grew up with Salsa music and my grandmother teaching me my first steps of salsa in the kitchen. It was just my culture. Yoga is a way of life and his culture.

 I’ve been looking for a teacher like him for some time now. I wanted to know what yoga was like for someone that grew up Indian. Something I would probably learn if I stepped into the country but let’s face it, I can’t make the trip right now. The timing fell right in place as it always does and I landed an awesome teacher that has helped my practice dramatically.
Every day I wake up at dawn and practice. I've never done this in my whole journey as a student and It's taught me so much! I remember in my 200 RYT thinking about being a “real yogini” and waking up at dawn like I was supposed to, to practice kriyas, pranayama and chant but I felt like it was so out of reach! I would never be able to do that. Well, I’m finally finding the consistent discipline in my self-practice and it’s been so effortless. It took me to shift a few things out of my life, but it happened gradually and almost magically.

 I’ve always practiced but it was very spastic. I would practice at noon, or the evening, and sometimes would practice for 3 hrs. at 3 am. It was perfect for me at first because it worked with me but It was just all over the place. My free-spirited nature became somewhat of an issue though. It caused me to burn out; it lacked order and balance. My practice reflected it. It wasn’t a bad thing, it was just a mirror that I can look back at now and say oooooh, I was all over the place.

 My schedule was extreme, and my classes burnt me out. Yoga wasn’t supposed to have that effect on me. 

 It wasn’t the yoga that was the issue. It was me. My yoga practice revealed something very important. I needed balance and change. I needed more than just asana. From teaching 7 days a week for a whole year, I stopped. I dropped my classes, and sadly one class just ended up dropping me. After my favorite studio cutting me out of the schedule, It was time for me to center and work on my own practice. I re-defined my intention.

I'm not interested in having 500 students, and making a living out of teaching yoga. I'm also not interested in selling classes, or selling memberships. The reason why I teach is because I enjoy sharing my practice. 

 I started teaching so that I could commit to my own practice, so that I could find more balance. The inspiration that comes from it is like nothing else. Watching people grow around me is what lights me up, and knowing that my light helped a seed sprout fills me up with joy. It is that very exchange that inspires me to move and teach.

 It’s been months since I taught at a studio. I’ve come to a place where I was happily practicing on my own but my students have reached out to me. I missed them just as much as they missed me. Honestly speaking, I kept teaching like a mad woman for a whole year because I fell in love with my students and felt guilty for leaving them. Although I felt uncomfortable, and the vibe at a studio was conflicting with me, I stuck around. Then enough was enough. I put in notice and I left without letting my students know. I had no idea how to explain why I was leaving. It wasn’t until I left that students reached out and told me things that explained why I felt as uncomfortable as I did. In that particular situation, Another teacher was talking behind my back. Pure ugliness. What’s funny is that I stayed and thought it was me the whole time. I didn’t listen to my feelings and intuition. I wasn’t centered enough to have confidence in my feelings. I know now that I made the right choice in leaving.

As a teacher, the environment that you choose to hold space in is just as important as the class itself. A studio should feel like home. Like a sanctuary. A place for healing and reflection. When a yogic space is clouded by energies other than healing and comfort then it’s time to make some changes. Letting go of responsibility is a hard thing to do. It may be the right move, and it may not serve you anymore but as a teacher you start to feel like your students are your responsibility. 

 Who will guide them if you don’t? What will they think about you if you gave up on your commitment to them and the studio? What if they follow you? Will the studio accuse you of stealing their “customers?"

 After re-evaluating a bit and taking a lot of time, I picked out the perfect little meditation space and am ready to teach now. This time only one day a week, and not worried about numbers at all. 

 Practicing Ishvara Pranidhana and letting go. 

 If someone wants to show up, great, and if not, it’s OK. It’s on my own expense and it’s my own class. I have full faith that if it’s for me, things will flow and grow. I found an environment and a system that works for me and it was only until I let go of the fear of failing a studio and students that it fell into place. I re-defined the way that I wanted to teach and I plan to keep my practice as the number one priority. 

 That’s the only way that I can continue to allow yoga to transform and balance out my life and mind. After all, that’s why I practice.

 Thank you, Keyla, for this lovely post! Very inspiring for all of us who are teachers and students of yoga.

 Note: In the photos above, Keyla is wearing a shirt from Twin Flame and a pair of leggings from Veda Sundara. Namaste.