My Favorite Fall Books

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Photo via Pinterest. Book photos via Amazon and author websites.

As the weather cools down, fall is a great time for curling up with a good book.

 Lately I've been lucky enough to try out some new books about healthy living and yoga. These are my top 4 favorites right now:

I love Jennifer's down-to-earth voice. Every recipe and story she shares is grounded in a genuine love for food and for eating and an extensive background in plant-based cooking. The hummus recipe and coconut bliss ball recipe are incredible! 


by Amber Rose, Sadie Frost and Holly Davidson

This book is gorgeous! The amount of wisdom shared by Amber, Sadie, and Holly seems like it would be overwhelming, but the way they have organized this book makes it very accessible and appealing. I especially love the workout ideas and week-long plan for wellbeing. This book truly captures mind, body and spirit in one extensive guidebook written by real women.


by Yogrishi Vishvketu 

Wow! That's what I can't stop thinking whenever I pick up this text and look through it. The book is filled with hundreds of photographs of different yoga poses, sequencing for beginner, intermediate and advanced students, as well as chakra-based practices that you can do. In this book we see Vishvketu's legacy, his devotion, and his truly incredible contribution to the yoga community. Highly recommend checking it out, and purchasing a copy for your local studio.



by Sean Vigue

With the colder temperatures settling in, now is a great time to turn up the heat in your practice and invite fiery tapas energy to burn off anything that is old or stagnant. I love that this book offers a practical, easy-to-read guide to doing that. Athletes of any sport can gain a lot of flexibility, body awareness and breath stamina by practicing yoga, and I'm grateful that books like this one encourage that! This book would make a great gift for someone who is new to yoga, but it's also great for seasoned practitioners. This book covers a lot of ground: whether you're looking to improve balance, focus, control, breathing, posture, or flexibility; strengthen your back, joints, or core; or reduce or heal from injury. A great read.

Photo via Pinterest.

What books are you reading these days, yogis? XO

Celebrating Life: Yogi Surprise October

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Do you ever take time to celebrate simply being alive?

 Sometimes when I slow down, I start to see all the miracles around me. :)

I'm so glad that the theme for Yogi Surprise this month is celebrating life. It matches perfectly with what I've been trying to do lately-- slow down and take time to appreciate all the blessings in my life.

When I clear my schedule and move mindfully through the day (doing my best not to rush), it has an incredible impact on my state of mind. Doing one thing at a time builds a certain rhythm that allows me to feel more gratitude. 

 Even the 'in-between' moments like waiting in traffic or showing up early somewhere become a welcome opportunity to meditate or send distance Reiki to someone I love. 

 When I stay present to the moment, I have endless opportunities to celebrate my life...and endless reasons to!
My three favorite products from the October Yogi Surprise box all helped me feel grounded in the present moment, and grateful for small miracles.


  • Meraki Botanicals healing lavender geranium body balm. I've been rubbing this on my feet at night before bed and it is soo luxurious! Very calming and relaxing.
 
  • Urban Oreganics matcha anti-aging mask. This mask really helped perk up my skin after some long travel days! The ingredients in it include kaolin clay, bentonite clay, french green clay, organic kelp powder and organic matcha green tea! Amazing.
  • Paleo Simplified pecan pie superfood energy bar. I packed this as a snack on my long road trip and was so grateful for something healthy, delicious and full of lasting energy. Yum.

Alive in the Fire

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Photo by Respiro Photography.

What does it mean to be 'alive in the fire?'

I titled this blog in reference to the way that I would feel during a sweaty, intense yoga practice -- completely energized, awake, and aware. Fully alive.

I keep coming back to this phrase and sharing it because it represents what I teach: a willingness to try your best, to give what you can, and to surrender to the moment.

When I think 'Alive in the Fire,' I think of being resilient and resolute. Staying true to yourself despite the challenges that arise. Carrying on even when things are tough.

Being 'Alive in the Fire' means being fully present to what's real in this moment, no matter how intense, and being willing to soften. To be receptive.

'Alive in the Fire' also refers to the yogic principle of discipline. You may have heard the word tapas, and in the context of yoga that is the fiery determination that burns off of what is no longer needed, the purification that comes from the breath.

Alive in the Fire means being awake to your true purpose, and pursuing it wholeheartedly. 


What makes you feel fully present? When are you 'alive in the fire?'

An Incredible Book About Meditation

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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.