April's Theme: Cultivating Self-Trust Through Intuition, Mindful Eating, and Self-Knowledge

“I can trust myself “ is the theme for April. Self-trust includes knowing, being, and spending time with yourself. To have reasonable goals, be decisive, build on strengths, be kind to yourself, and most importantly, treat yourself from time to time. Trust is following intuition unless you have parasites or take antibiotics. This is because the gut flora acts as a second brain*. What we eat becomes us which includes what we are focusing on when eating. If the focus is on “Wow, this is delicious! I’m so grateful for this beautiful dish”, that is what is digested. If this is in a positive environment, full of love and life, that is digested too. 

When the focus is “There is not enough, I’m fat, better get back to work”, that is what you are feeding yourself. If the environment includes an electronic screen, it’s like the food doesn’t even exist. What signal do you think that sends to your psyche?

Knowing yourself is the next step. Know vulnerabilities, body sensations, what brings a sense of peace, and what throws one off balance. The ability to know thyself relieves suffering because there is a clear perception of what is in front of you, in this moment. There is no past or future w/out this present moment. With a clear perception, the picture in front is a reflection of everything desired. When all is achieved, the realization reveals the most important thing all along: love and connection. Because how we connect to others is how we connect to self. Today I invite you to trust yourself by being yourself.

*If gut health is out of balance, so is the mind, meaning that if all of the natural bacteria in the gut are killed, our mind doesn’t function optimally because the primal gut instinct is being overthrown.

Discovering Ayurveda in South India: My Diwali Journey to Balance and Healing

Ayurveda originated 5,000 years ago in south India. My birthday was in sight and Ayurveda was on my radar. Our host recommended a local place down the street from Vizhinjam Junction, where we were staying. The day I was born fell on Diwali this year; Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights celebrating "victory of light over darkness,” “good over evil,” and “knowledge over ignorance". The Ayurvedic Spa was closed. Two men met us in the streets and did not speak English, as there is not a lot of English spoken in the villages. They connected us to the spa owner because we didn’t have local sims at the time. Their smiles will stay with me as well as the selfless acts of kindness that have followed us since our arrival a week prior. Let go of what doesn’t serve and keep the rest. We scheduled for the next morning.

The Spa consisted of a two-room abode in front of the family home of the Ayurvedic Doctor. I sat to his right as he took my vitals. He knew immediately that I was a student of yoga, as he was a teacher too. The diagnosis was low back pain, shoulder tension, and knots in my thighs from cat cows on hard floors (whoops). We are all students of life, and I was reminded to pad my knees during yoga. I would be undergoing four treatments over the next four days, one hour each.

Today was Abhyanga. I walked into the next room and Saundria, the Ayurvedic Healer, switched on the fan to muffle the traffic outside the paneless window and instructed me to strip down and lay on a wood massage table, no cushion, it was solid wood. Saundria was a mother Archetype for sure - warm and nurturing. Her daughter, Devia, was the translator via phone, for she was an English student.

I lay on the table and was tapped with black oil on pressure points, then rubbed with an oil made of Coconut, Kida, and Jeera. She rubbed my face vigorously, especially my cheeks and forehead. The aftermath was a calm hum and a sense of relief; I tend to be in my heart at times and this rubbing caused my mind to feel at ease. She proceeded down my neck and arms. The motion was familiar; she was flushing my lymphatic system. Her hands moved rhythmically, and I could feel the energy shift. This treatment is said to balance Vata constitution, which results in relaxation. Think blood flow and waste elimination: it moves stagnant energy and rids toxins that fog us. I live in America primarily, where an overactive mind is common. Her hands found blockages (oh, those knees!) and she vigorously rubbed them out.  Abhyanga is definitely not a Swedish Massage. The pain subsided, and my body felt tingles of peace. I flipped a couple of times and the ball and socket joint of my hips was lubricated by pushing and circling my leg. This treatment is not for the modest. The treatment was completed after an hour, and the excess oil was wiped with a cheesecloth. Saundria recommended I eat bananas and milk in the morning and evening for shoulder pain.

We stepped into the first room and there Andi was with a new mala and friend. The teachings of this doctor have been passed down for generations, and the text was written in Sanskrit on wooden spatulas held together with a piece of dry plant string. We were invited to meet the family and practice yoga after the session the next day. The doctor gave me an herbal blend to be taken three times a day over the next couple of days.

The experience left me with balance and peace and smelled of Jeera.

Keep following me to hear about future treatments and adventures. The light in me honors and sees the light in you. Namaskar.

Bliss Ball Bliss

I am a healthy traveler. Nutrient-dense food is vital when traveling because cognitive ability is crucial to a smooth flow. It is a moving meditation that requires an artist. A Bliss Ball is a nutrient-dense superfood convenient for traveling AND indulgent to the senses. The fresher the cacao is, the better. These are great for sustainable energy throughout the work day, camping trips and road trips, etc.

@marctran

So grab a cutting board, knife, two bowls and the following ingredients…

¼ c Peanut Butter
½-1 Banana
1 ½ TBS Coconut Oil
1 bag of Dates
¼ tsp Vanilla

1/4c Cacao
1 ½  TBS Maca Root Powder
¼ tsp Cinnamon, Nutmeg
¼ c Panela

Sesame Seeds
Coconut Flakes

Chop the dates until they form a mass. Smoosh together peanut butter, banana, coconut oil, dates and vanilla in one bowl. In another bowl mix cacao, maca root powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and panela. Combine the bowl to form a solid mass. Roll the mass to form balls. Roll the balls in sesame seeds or coconut flakes.

Rose Petals are fun too!

Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Enjoy your trip and stay well, friends!

Cacao from Lake Atitlan - To get your brick of fresh cacao from an ethical source contact us.

Natural Healing: The Anti-Aging Power of Green Apples and an Alternative to Gallbladder Surgery

Green apples are anti-aging, bone densifying, and can be an alternative to gallbladder surgery. I was at the post office picking up a package a couple of days ago, and a friend working behind the counter was having a rough time digesting food after her gallbladder had been removed a week prior. My cerebrum sparked as I remembered learning about an alternative to gallbladder surgery involving merely eating green apples. This Green Apple Flush has given people an alternative solution to surgery, and I learned about it in Guatemala during the Chinese Medicine portion of my yoga teacher training.

The gallbladder is located under the stomach and releases bile through ducts in the small intestines to digest consumed fat. When excess bile is produced, the ducts get clogged and don’t function as well. Some symptoms of buildup in the gallbladder include ingestion, flatulence, periodic pain below the right front side of the rib cage, tension in the back of the shoulders near the neck, bitter taste in the mouth, and chest pain. Western medicine says, “Cut it out!”

You have another choice through Chinese Medicine. Gallbladder Renewal is possible.

Eat unrefined grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes. Avoid foods that are high in saturated fat like dairy, egg, and cholesterol-heavy meats. Booster foods include pears, parsnips, seaweeds, lemons, limes, and turmeric.

Traditional 21-Day Cleanse: This is a twenty-one-day commitment. Eat 1-2 radishes a day between meals. Drink three cups of cleaver tea or five cups of chamomile tea a day. Pour 5 teaspoons of cold-pressed flax oil over one of your meals daily. Follow this for two months, 6 days a week.

These ingredients, in this fashion, dissolve the glue that has clogged your ducts.

Gallbladder Flush

One-day commitment. Eat organic green apples all day (at least 4-5). Drink water, herbal teas, and apple juice.

Before you get into bed drink,

2/3 cup warm virgin olive oil (body temperature)

+

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice.

Slowly sip, then go to bed and lie on your right side w the right leg drawn up.

Facing the Fallout: How Small Actions Today Can Impact Our Planet's Future

The volcanic ash began to fall through the cast of the street lights and we knew we were not going hiking the following morning. The Taal volcano had erupted. We first heard of the volcano smoking earlier that day during a visit to the local Palenke then we saw the smoke. Thick clouds began to fill the air and as the sun set, it transformed into a beautiful shade of purple. I was reminded of how real global warming is.

11 years is the amount of time we have if we keep using the planet like we are. 

It is up to the individual, to create an impact, because you are more powerful than you know. 

Here are four ways to create an immediate impact now. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is a mystery. This moment is called the present because it is a gift.

1. Eat a vegetarian diet with foods that are in season

2. Shop intentionally

3. Carpool or ride a bike

4. Recycle, compost or make ecobricks

   • How to Make Compost at Home

Leading with Light: The Power of Humility, Courage, and Connection in True Leadership

There is no value to light without darkness. The ability to see the light in difficult situations and pull out victorious is virtuous of a good leader. A good leader observes the surroundings to make sure the people are taken care of. The followers are reminded they are where they need to be to solve a problem and that all of their life experiences have brought them to this point. This creates significance, a basic human need.

Connection is a primal, basic human need. The role of a leader is to overcome the face of adversity with courage and confidence to achieve the desired goal. They inspire connection and empower those they lead while keeping a humble perception. Diverse perception opens channels of humility by touching many people. All walks of life are united, for the greater good.

Humility makes a good leader inspirational. A True leader learns from their mistakes and can gracefully move forward. Humility says, “I can navigate through decisions and will take responsibility for the decisions made.” The ability to see with compassion and forgiveness, and also to teach by showing and not simply telling, make one a great leader.

Abraham Lincoln was a great leader who came from humble beginnings, working odd jobs and reading as many books as he could get his hands on. He later went on to become the 16th president of the United States. This spectrum of influence is a virtue of a good leader as it opens perception in order to relate to a broader range of people. By relating to a broader range of people, the desired outcome has the propensity to impact more people on an intimate level, because people are human. This is the relatability that forms movements and inspires people to live. 79% of employees quit due to a lack of appreciation. Significance is one of the basic human needs, and when leading a team, it is vital that the team feels they have a purpose and that their purpose is valued.

Courage is an attribute of a good leader because courage is following your heart even when what you believe is against practicality. Courage is stepping outside the box to look at the whole picture, and then doing what one believes is right based on the experience of previous decisions made. The courage to be authentic in self is a virtue of a great leader because we are all here with a unique gift to offer the world. When we take the courage to follow our hearts and share our gifts, we can truly step into the best version of ourselves. The role of a leader is to empower others to follow their truth by example. When people see that something is possible, it becomes real, and they believe in themselves to do the same.

Humility, diverse perception, and courage make a good leader because these are attributes of a good person. Someone in the role of power and influence needs to be a good person, or the masses will fall. Corpses will surround and the most impactful people will lose sight of what is important: love and connection to self. We can’t love others if we don’t love ourselves. If people are constantly coming from a place of fear and insignificance, there will be no drive to live, let alone reach the end goal. The role of a good leader is to inspire and reach a goal. Humility, diverse perception, and courage make this possible and admirable.

Digesting Life: How Our Perceptions, Food Choices, and Mindset Shape Our Well-Being

Lake Atitlan Guatemala at The Mystical Yoga Farm.
Photography by Nikki Bigger

Ahimsa

The practice of being careful not to arm others, which concludes every living creature, since all beings feel pain and wish to avoid it.

---

Ahimsa is nonviolence to all things and translates to “compassion” in Sanskrit. Things include you, me, and the fly you just swatted at. Ahinsa reflects everything from your cell phone screen to the environment. The all-encompassing gentleness and sometimes rage that guides us to the justice of life. Why a cell phone screen then? Because everything outside is a reflection of the inside of you. When we are well, things work and flow. When we are distracted and defensive, there is congestion and blocking. 

Vegan breakfast in North India

We are what we eat and this isn’t just limited to food. We digest what we perceive also. Perception in sight, smell, taste, touch and sound. Certainty is one of the six basic human needs so our perception can be biased based on our past. Even if what is in front of us is epic beauty, sometimes our mind will choose to perceive only the dangers of what we have experienced before in an attempt to keep us safe. Change equals stress, no matter if it is good or bad. A defensive, unaccepting state brings himsa, meaning “to strike” in Sanskrit. If we are in the process of change, stress is experienced and even if pleasant, can be a lot to digest. It’s a conscious effort to choose peaceful thoughts at this time because peaceful thoughts create a peaceful environment. Reaction to the change out of fear will only bring disaster.

I choose to live a vegetarian, liberal vegan, lifestyle. Liberal vegan because cows in India are treated as Gods and I love chocolate. What the animal experiences during the slaughter is what is being digested along w the meat. When stressed we release hormones into the bloodstream that are basically poison. These hormones degenerate muscles and cause weakness in the body and breakouts on the skin. Animals release the same poisonous hormones. Imagine how stressful it would be to be killed. We are literally eating fear or himsa. 

Our deep, primal instinct is to survive and it is the first step in our perception. After primal instinct we move into the wise mind: thinking and emotions. The wise mind is where logic and compassion are born. As the human mind continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the ancient part of our brain still holds onto the survival instinct. Mind fog is a symptom of overstimulation in the rat race of modern society. Overstimulation breeds perceived danger because it is the evolved object of danger in the form of work, news, egoic pressure, and FOMO. This is an obstacle to being present in the moment, which is all we have. The future is unknown and the past is over. Presence is the foundation of self-observation and introspection.  By coming from a state of compassion, our vision is clear and the world is safe. 

---

Forgiveness not reaction
Love not anger
Ease not struggle
One smile has the power to change someone's whole day

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Harmonizing Energy: Balancing the Left and Right Channels for a Flowing, Peaceful Life

Harmony is walking smoothly and looking up at the blue sky as a smile breaks across your face. When energy flows smoothly throughout our body, a harmonious day is created. Energy flows through three channels of the body: left, right, and central.

Harmonize the left and right side channels to balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Nadi translates to flow or note. These notes of music flow in order to create the song that is you. Think of yourself as a vessel made of channels of water. The quality of the water that flows through you is your perception. When we hold onto things, it causes blockages in the channels. Water cannot flow through, which shows up as tension and projected pain.

The left side brain controls the right side of our body.  This is the Pingala or logical, extroverted, active, solar nadi. The sun side passes down the right side, connecting to blood and the color red. This is the channel that holds onto the mind and objects. We are the subject, and everything outside of us is the object. The material objects that surround us are a direct reflection of what going on inside of us. We open the flow of the sun channel by moving the body intentionally with yoga postures (asana) and breath. Pingala is yang, “Ha”, sun, mountain, light, conspicuous, and active. The sun channel is spicy! The negative thoughts we experience when disliking something bring feelings of anger and jealousy. Ignorant dislike of the sun channel stems from seeing the objects around us as separate. The anger/jealousy is then projected onto the object and gives us a logical reason to feel this way. The reality is that anger/jealousy does not come from the object. It comes from you and how you have treated others in the past. Feel this to let it go. Forgive yourself! If you shine a flashlight in a dark hole, the hole becomes lit and less intimidating. We face ourselves to be the best version of ourselves. When we align with our truth, we radiate this truth and gain the capability to lift others. We lift others because one of our basic needs is a sense of contribution.

Ida is the introverted, lunar nadi that governs the left side of the body. “If I have this thing, I will be happy” and “By not having this, I am less than I am now” are common thought misperceptions when the left side is blocked. We already have everything we need inside of us - we just have to listen. The left side is our emotional side. Cool as a cucumber, the channel of the moon runs up our left side and is represented as a milky white color. The moon side holds up and onto. It withstands and supports. This is your creativity and voice. Own it to free yourself from the shackles that have limited your greatness. Listen to your intuition. It has more wisdom than your mind. The mind keeps us safe. The brain holds knowledge. The wisdom of your gut is infinite. Roll onto your left side after yoga class to ground if you had a particularly stimulating session. Ida is yin, “tha”, feminine, moon, valley, dark, mysterious, and calming.

When energy flows smoothly throughout our body, a harmonious day is created. When the left and right side channels of energy are fluid, the central channel, Sushumna, is opened. The central channel is pure essence and is opened when both side channels are running smoothly. The central channel is in alignment when we are thinking well of others w/out effort. When we are thinking well of others, it is a reflection of our internal world in a state of homeostasis. The Sushumna is open at birth, death, and when the sun rises and sets.

When we let go of fear we are left vulnerable, united with self and raw. This vulnerable state is where everything in the universe is sourced from. It is effortlessly beautiful and flows smoothly with grace. This is home, and damn, it feels good to be back.

Nadi Shodhana Pranayama is a yogic practice to balance instantly. Begin in a comfortable seated position and hold out your hand. Tuck your index and middle finger down. Plug the right nostril with your thumb, and breathe deep into your belly through the left nostril. Plug the left nostril with your ring finger, and breathe out through the right nostril. Inhale through the right nostril, and exhale through the left nostril. Repeat until you are tranquil; twenty times is a great start and is optimal at sunrise. Breathe deep, and let go of what isn’t serving you, then keep the rest.

*Homeostasis

[ hoh-mee-uh-stey-sis ]

noun the tendency of a system, especially the physiological system of higher animals, to maintain internal stability, owing to the coordinated response of its parts to any situation or stimulus that would tend to disturb its normal condition or function

psychology a state of psychological equilibrium obtained when tension or a drive has been reduced or eliminated

entomology is the ability of members of a colony of social insects to behave cooperatively to produce a desired result, as when bees coordinate the fanning of their wings to cool the hive

Finding Clarity Through Yoga: 5 Ways to Clear Your Mind and Embrace Your Best Self

Yoga is a tool on the path to clarity. With awareness in the body, we feel a sense of balance. It is then possible to sit in meditation for longer periods without bodily distractions. An overactive mind creates distractions to shift focus from the objective. When the mind is still, the body reverses in age and we can tackle obstacles that used to overcome us. Through yoga, I found my voice. Here are five ways yoga can clear your mind. 

1. Discipline and routine create confidence.

Patanjali is my man (or woman - this text is ancient), and in the Yoga Sutras (ancient texts) there are Yamas, which is the support structure to your best self. Ahimsa is the commitment to non-violence. This one was a tough one for me and still is to this day at times. Non-violence means being kind to SELF and others by doing what makes your heart sing unapologetically because what you love aligns with your purpose. If you want chocolate, eat the chocolate. Punishing yourself for eating, it creates negativity and gives power to the negative concept of eating chocolate. *Chocolate is delicious if that’s what you're into! The negative mindset attached to consuming chocolate is what makes one fat, not the actual chocolate itself. Feelings of shame and guilt release cortisol into the bloodstream which creates visceral fat, more commonly known as belly fat. Your body ends up protecting its organs from your mind’s negativity. Satya is being true to yourself and others. Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt. Open your eyes and honor your intuition. When we love what we do, it makes each moment and our pockets richer because it aligns with the purpose of our life. Be true to yourself by thinking back to childhood and asking what you loved to do then. Brahmacharya means to conserve your energy and practice moderate sexual intercourse. There is only so much butter to spread on your toast, and when it is spread too thin, so are you. Let go of what isn’t serving you with Aparigraha. Keep what serves your life, as it will make what you have more valuable.

1. Commitment to being a good person. 

Yamas are the commitments to your best version. Clean, minimalize, and purify your thoughts with Saucha. Positivity creates a positive life. When our mind, space, and body are cluttered with impurities, it creates distraction. Find contentment with where you are in life to get you where you want to be, and have gratitude for Santosha. When we are in a state of gratitude, it is impossible to be in a state of suffering. Next time the world is caving in, make a gratitude list to lift yourself back up. Burn that shit off w Tapas. The struggles in your life are there to teach you a lesson. Open your eyes, and shine light on pain in order to give it the attention it needs. Feel the burn, because nothing lasts forever and once this hurdle is overcome, you will be better because of it. Svadhyaya is taking a good, hard look in the mirror. Look into your eyes and say, “I love you.” It's the commitment to self-study. Ishvara Pranidhana is surrender. Surrender and realize there is a divine path in your life. When shit hits the fan, know it is for something more than what can be identified.

1. That flow, though.

Asana is a yoga posture. It is meant to allow comfortable breath. If you can’t breathe, the purpose is defeated. The morning routine of Asana sets my day for greatness. I had never felt comfortable in my body, so I would disassociate from it often. Asana brought me back into my body. The body is merely a vessel, but we give it way too much credit. With Asana, you will see that the body is just a shell that conducts what the mind thinks. Asana unclogs the energy that gets backed up. When energy is backed up, we feel stuck and anxious. Meditation is the reward of asana because asana is practiced to be able to sit in meditation without distractions of the mind. Asana burns through the distraction. When a negative thought or pain arises during practice, breathe into it in order to let it go. Mental dis-ease creates physical ailments, and you may experience vivid memories or feelings coming up (especially in hip openers!). When the pain is acknowledged, it stops trying to get our attention.

1. Breathe.

Everything is connected to your breath. Shallow breathing triggers the sympathetic nervous system, also known as fight or flight. This releases poisonous hormones as a warning sign to our body, and when they are released regularly, we deteriorate. Deep belly breathing nourishes and creates a feeling of abundance. When in a state of abundance, we can breathe more easily. How we breathe creates our life.

1. Giving is life.

Contribution is a human need - not want, but need. When we give unconditionally, it releases the feel-good hormone oxytocin, and we feel better than if we were to receive it. Our brain rewards us for giving. The feel-good wave lasts for a couple of hours after the fact, so it can be called a drug. When giving up a bad habit, it needs to be replaced with something else or the habit comes back with shame sprinkles. Replace the addiction with giving. It will last longer, and the act of kindness will inspire others to do the same. You are an example. Be the voice of change.

How will you be remembered? Do something kind for a stranger today.

I would love to hear your story. We are all students AND teachers. By connecting and sharing, we can change the world. 

*Cacao is a superfood that is also an antidepressant. Many chocolates in grocery stores are marketed as chocolate but are really just wax and sugar. Feed your soul the good stuff by making your own at home. If you are looking for a fresh brick from Guatemala, send me an email. My favorite cacao comes from Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, and I can get it for you fresh from an eco-friendly source!

Lessons from the Road: How Travel Teaches Acceptance, Compassion, and the Art of Minimalism

Travel is the best teacher with lessons that will last for a lifetime. Travel Ed is not something you can learn in a classroom setting. It requires hands-on, in-the-moment rawness. Travel taught me acceptance, forgiveness, and compassion for others and myself as well as some dope vegan recipes! I’ve learned that the way the East views the world is different from the way the West views the world, however, at the end of the day, we all want the same basic things: *certainty, uncertainty, significance, growth, and a sense of contribution. These are the basic human needs and we value two above all the others. Travel teaches what ones are the top two which gives clarity on how to navigate through this life we are living. I get questions often on how to go about long-term travel… After all, it can be intimidating, to pick up everything and move across the globe for mind expansion and introspection for an extended time. Here are some tips to prepare for your trip.

 Take a look at what you are packing and MINIMIZE, less weight means happy shoulders and a happy back. Our *back represents the support of life and if it is in pain we will not feel supported which is vital when in an unfamiliar place. After minimizing, research the climate and what the country you are traveling to has to offer. Make a list of items that you need and cannot get in the country you are traveling to. For example quality shoes, a camera, or a piece of outerwear that makes you feel that sweet homey comfort.

Financial prep is the biggest question that is asked. I save up beforehand, do research, and volunteer. Workaway.info created momentum and inspiration w opportunities in many different categories so there is something for everyone. I find a lot of opportunity comes when connecting with people along the journey. You attract the life experience that you need to grow. Yogatrade.com was very fruitful in my journey and the creator is a great guy who lives in Costa Rica. Money is merely an exchange of energy and comfort comes when that channel is open and flowing. Give to receive.

Buy the ticket and put away a chunk every month. This will create a vision that will make the monthly contribution feel ecstatic. To get the amount of monthly contribution is the next step. Get on Google Maps and search for your destination. For example, “Hostel Amsterdam” to see the cost of hostels in the area or Airbnb to gauge price. Multiply this by the number of days that you will be in the area. Next research the cost of meals and if there are places to get food around the designated residence. If your selection has breakfast included deduct that from daily expenses. If the place doesn’t have clean water, invest in a SteriPen and add bottled water* to your expenses. An airplane ticket makes the trip official and when the trip is official you will talk about it. By talking about your trip you will come across people that have been where you are going or know someone who has. This means inspiration, encouragement, and excitement for the future and your departure.

Balance is preparation and also freedom without expectations. If you line up a place to stay the first night and go from there, it is easy to meet people at hostels and hotels to decide to move from there. I suggest booking a spot on the first night before landing because it makes entry into the country smooth and on the landing card, it will ask for the address where you will be staying. Research if you need a departing flight or visa to enter the country.

The time spent in a specific spot depends on personality. I notice when I move very frequently I lose grounding and become uncentered. For a short time this is doable. For long-term travel, I suggest staying in one place for at least one month. This opens the opportunity to both make an impact on the community and gain friends from all around the world. When I travel, it brings me to a vulnerable state where growth and connection percolate. The people we attract in this state can be life-long friends. By staying in the same place it creates a grounding, free, healing energy that you can tap back into when you return home. It is your happy place, bring it back when you feel lost.

Electronics depend on if you want a disconnect or if you plan on working. I’ve traveled with an IPad mini 4 armored with a waterproof screen protector and carry case. There is a Bluetooth keyboard magnetized to the case. The ergonomics of this have been travel-friendly because I can whip it out on a bumpy train or an airplane when the desire to write surfaces. The Macbook Air is lightweight and thin with storage capability which is great if you plan on working while abroad.

Travel will expand your mind if you are open to receiving the lessons. Self-introspection will magnify, so be ready to learn and accept. Remember we are all humans and we make mistakes. It’s not about the mistakes but the focus. Life is so perfectly flawed that if we can find beauty when ugly hits, it’s is one of the greatest lessons to take.

*Tony Robbins UPW

*Louise Hay “How to Heal Your Life”

*When you get bottled water, look for mineral or spring water. Ionized water is tap water that has been purified with sterilization.

Embracing Peace: A Morning of Reflection and Gratitude at Yog Sadhana Dham

It is another beautiful morning at Yog Sadhana Dham as the orange sun rises into the pastel sky. The fog brushes over the silhouette of the mountains and a bird flies by. The chilly air cools my fingers and toes and your toothbrush is kissed by the brown Patanjali Ayurvedic toothpasteacquired in the nearby village.

You splash cool mountain water across your face and grab a yoga mat. You walk down the stone steps, rustic and rawl. The mat rolls out on the ledge overlooking the valley and you find peace. All is quiet in my mind. You hear the leaves shiver in the wind and the birds sing with my heart because you found peace amongst the aloe plants and the sweet sound of Ama’s voice. You found peace because you allowed yourself to understand it. What was so familiar in youth and as time passed the mind grew louder with haste, always seeking something more, discontent with the space. Like time was running out, your ego said that you must be great and do great things, and you’ve wasted so much time.

What we are born with and die with is what is here, we need nothing more than that, everything is already inside of us. Peace resides in your heart as you give the biggest gift you can give to yourself, the gift of silence. So let the thoughts pass on this beautiful morning, attached to none. A simple observation of the mind that passes like clouds in this pastel sky and knows you have to power to either hold them or let them pass. Take what serves and leave the rest. You choose to focus on happiness today. What makes you happy?

Sadhana is becoming more fruitful with each passing day at Prakriti Yog This morning during meditation you see yourself. With a minimalist wardrobe in the backpack that holds all my possessions, you find expression where you once felt lacking. It is how you perceive the object that creates your reality. You choose the door, perceived creation and art in the surrounding construct that you have made for yourself. Today you are grateful to be alive and make a gratitude.

Empowering Voices: The True Art of Free Speech

Free speech is the opportunity to be a voice for those who have none. Free speech is bringing people together to discuss common interests. Free speech is the art of expressing freedom through words.

I worked in the salon and spa industry for many years and the topics of discussion were vast. I learned that we are what we focus on. Free speech to me is shining light on darkness to expose fear and see it for what it is. False Evidence Appearing Real.

Dangerous speech is to get a rise out of people for entertainment purposes and induce fear in the masses. Dangerous speech teaches us to live in a box. Hate speech is a direct attack.

Hate speech is covering light with a veil of darkness. Hate speech is cruel and unnecessary. When we use our gift of free speech to create hate speech we become hate and freedom becomes paralysis. We are all that we have in the end. Free speech can generate life, hate speech will cause destruction and suffering. 

Mindfulness in discussion allows the flow of speech to come freely. When clear from the distraction of unnecessary talk it helps to open the communication flow of connection. When you speak from a place of clutter, the words that come out do not align with who you are because the discussion becomes the mind ping-ponging in the bulk and worst-case scenario: fight or flight response (hello social anxiety). To take responsibility and deliver with dignity allows free speech to be heard and promotes respect for listeners.

Finding Harmony: Balancing Energy Channels for a Peaceful and Vibrant

Museum of Art in Dallas, Texas

Harmony is walking smoothly. It’s looking up at the blue sky as a smile breaks across your face. When energy flows smoothly throughout our body, a harmonious day is created. Energy flows through 3 channels of the body: left, right, and central.

We harmonize the left and right side channels to harmonize the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Nadi translates to flow or note. These notes of music flow in order to create the song that is you. Think of yourself as a vessel made of channels of water. The quality of the water that flows through you is your perception. When we hold onto things it causes blockages in the channels and water cannot flow through. In our physical body, this shows up as tension and projected pain in our everyday reality.

Our left side brain controls the right side of our body. This is the Pingala or logical, extroverted, active, solar nadi. The sun side passes down the right side and correlates to blood and the color red. It is the channel that holds onto the mind and objects. We are the subject and everything outside of us is the object. The material objects surrounding us are a direct reflection of what going on inside of us. We open the flow of the sun channel by moving the body intentionally with yoga postures and breathing. Pingala is yang, “Ha”, sun, mountain, light, conspicuous, and active.

The sun channel is spicy! The negative thoughts we experience when disliking something bring feelings of anger and jealousy. Ignorant dislike of the sun channel stems from seeing the objects around us as separate. The anger/ jealousy is then projected onto the object and gives us a logical reason to feel this way. The reality is that anger/ jealousy does not come from the object. It comes from you and how you have treated others in the past. Feel this to let it go. Forgive yourself! If you shine a flashlight in a dark hole it becomes lit and less intimidating. We face ourselves to be the best version of ourselves. When we align with our truth we radiate this truth and gain the capability to lift others. We lift others because one of our basic needs is a sense of contribution.

Ida is the introverted, lunar nadi that governs the left side of the body. “If I have this thing I will be happy” and “By not having this I am less than I am now” are common thought misperceptions when the left side is blocked. We already have everything we need inside of us, we just have to listen. The left side is our emotional side. Cool as a cucumber, the channel of the moon runs up our left side and is represented as a milky white color. The moon side holds up and onto. It withstands and supports. This is your creativity and voice. Own it to free yourself from the shackles that have limited your greatness. Listen to your intuition. It has more wisdom than your mind. The mind keeps us safe. The brain holds knowledge. The wisdom of your gut is infinite. Roll onto your left side after yoga class to ground if you had a particularly stimulating session. Ida is yin, “tha”, feminine, moon, valley, dark, mysterious, and calming.

When energy flows smoothly throughout our body, a harmonious day is created. When the left and right side channels of energy are fluid, the central channel is opened. The central channel is pure essence and is opened when both side channels are running smoothly. The central channel is in alignment when we are thinking well of others w/out effort. When we are thinking well of others it is a reflection of our internal world in a state of homeostasis.

*Homeostasis
[ hoh-mee-uh-stey-sis ]
noun
the tendency of a system, especially the physiological system of higher animals, to maintain internal stability, owing to the coordinated response of its parts to any situation or stimulus that would tend to disturb its normal condition or function.
Psychology. a state of psychological equilibrium obtained when tension or a drive has been reduced or eliminated.
Entomology. the ability of members of a colony of social insects to behave cooperatively to produce a desired result, as when bees coordinate the fanning of their wings to cool the hive.

When we let go of fear we are left vulnerable, united with self and raw. This vulnerable state is where everything in the universe is sourced from. It is effortlessly beautiful and flows smoothly with grace. This is home and damn, it feels good to be back.

Meditate at sunrise and sunset because it is when the channels are in Sushumna and optimal energy is absorbed to be assimilated.

*Dictionary.com

*Diamond Heart Yoga School Teacher Training Manual

What is

Looking down at my feet I see where I have been

Looking up at the sky brings me to see where I am going

Looking in front of me allows me to see what is