How I Found Myself Alone in India

I’ve had a sneaking suspicion this would happen all along. I didn’t know how or why – just that it would happen.

India is hard. Everyone has culture shock at one point or another when visiting – whether you’ve been here before or not.

For some – it’s all just too much.  My roommate has decided to cut her trip short by 5 days and return to Canada. I have left our AirBnB up a steep hill and moved to a beautiful retreat hotel just a 3 minute walk to my ashram.

After leaving India the last time I visited, 5 years ago, all that was etched in my brain was the sweetness of the light, the morning Himalayan winds and the warmth of my yoga family at the ashram. It was only after I arrived again that the sites, sounds and smells all flooded back. The streets are busy with traffic, beeping horns, wandering cows, packs of dogs, aggressive monkeys, cow poop, garbage and all the smells that go along with that. None of it is anything like what we are used to in Canada.

And while Rishikesh is more affluent than many areas of India such as Agra, there are still beggars. A woman followed me through the market place the other day holding a baby that was so frail I’m not sure it would survive the end of the week. We’re told not to give beggars money. Someone else often exploits the beggars themselves or they use babies to do it. There are programs here to help those in need, but much like in Canada some choose not to take the help offered as they’re begging to fill other needs – such a drug or alcohol addiction, or for someone else with such problems.

Often it is too much for me as well. But I came here for many reasons and I intend to see my commitment through to the end. Tomorrow I visit the Sansaar Gyaan Pathshala school in the rural countryside about a 90-minute drive from where I’m staying. This is the school that Helping Hands for India supports and I’m honored to act on the board of directors for. One of my fellow board team members and I will spend time with the students and teachers to determine how we can further support the education and social needs of the students and their families. It’s been nice to be able to discuss the school in person with a fellow colleague and our teacher Vishva.

On the top of our priority list are sustainability projects, marketing public awareness about the school and support to ensure the students can actually get to school. Some challenges they might face would be family pressure to help out at home – especially for the girls and navigating treacherous rivers during the rainy season.

I’m also here to spend time with my teacher and enjoy the superior classes he leads and traditional knowledge he shares. It’s wonderful to be back in the Yoga Hall before dawn for meditation and Yoga.

Even though I am now a solo traveler I don’t feel alone at all. I’ve befriended some other people at the ashram who are also solo travelers and I’ve been invited to join them for several activities, such as a shopping trip today to the local market in town. One of the things I love most about being a part of the Akhanda Yoga family is that I know I have friends and connections all over the world. It’s a very special thing to be a part of such a vast global family. And my teacher Vishva checks on us all regularly. There’s nothing we might need that he won’t try to help us out with. This is true of all the yoga family members. There’s support of any and all kinds at every turn. So – I’m not alone at all.

I also plan to get some much-needed rest during my last few days. The last3 ½ weeks of travel as well as the time leading up to my starting this adventure have not exactly been restful. I have just 3 short days to rest at home before returning to my regular life and full time job. So having some time to take it easy, lounge and read my books and sleep in a comfy bed is most welcome. The trip home will be long. There’s no easy way to get to and from Rishikesh. The drive back to Delhi typically takes between 6 and 8 hours, and is then followed by a 14 hour flight to Toronto, a 2 hour layover and finally the 1 hour flight to Ottawa. The best decision I made was to upgrade my ticket to Premium Economy. The bigger seat and extra legroom is a game-changer for long flights like this.

Life often doesn’t give us what we want but often what we need. I think that expression was born here in India.

Rishikesh

I know it’s been a while since my last post. I thought I’d have more time once I arrived in Rishikesh but we’ve been so busy. First, with sorting out some issues with our AirBnB and then with activities at the ashram.  I can’t believe it’s been a week since we arrived. We have 7 days left before heading home.

The drive from Delhi to Rishikesh is about 230 kms but takes about 6-8 hours. First we navigated the insane traffic in Delhi and then we meandered through the many bumpy roads and little villages until we finally saw the Himalayan foothills just outside of Rishikesh. The drive is long, arduous and at times, treacherous.

Our AirBnB is a roomie two-bedroom, two-bath unit with a mountain and sunrise view. It’s an 8-minute walk, down a steep hill to the ashram where we take our classes and have most of our meals. Meditation starts at 5:20 AM is followed by a 90 minute class lead by our teacher, Yogrishi Vishvketu – or Vishva as everyone calls him. Vishva  - who is a native to India and holds a PhD in Yoga studies – has developed his own style and philosophy of Yoga called Akhanda Yoga. Akhanda means whole and indivisible. The tenants of every Akhanda Yoga class are, Pranayama (breath work), Mantra (chanting of ancient scriptures), 6 movements of the spine, sitting and standing poses and meditation. Vishva’s ongoing message to all his students is that we are pure beings and our true nature is blissful, joyful, playful and fearless. His open-hearted approach to teaching is what draws people to his classes from all over the world.

There is a month long teacher training currently taking place at the ashram. As day guests we are invited to participate in the morning and afternoon classes, have three  vegetarian meals and enjoy any other activities that are taking place. A 3 day pass costs about $40 Canadian.

The last time I was here I was in my advanced teacher training so it feels strange to this time not be in the inner circle. But at the same time, I’m happy to not be bound by the rigorous schedule and long days I experienced last time. It was honestly one of the hardest experiences of my life. And also, one of the most rewarding.

When we’re not at the ashram taking classes or having our meals, we hang out in cafes, connecting with home, peruse the shops in town or engage in conversation with other travelers. Rishikesh is full of travelers from all over the world who are here to study yoga, or just absorb the spiritual energy.

Here are some other interesting facts about Rishikesh;

·      It lies at the foothills of the Himalayas

·      It is regarded by Hindus, as one of the holliest places in the world.

·      Hindu sages and saints have visited area since ancient times to meditate and practice yoga to achieve higher knowledge.

·      Due to it’s spiritual significance, non-vegetarian food and alcohol are strictly prohibited

·      The Beatles were here in 1968 to study Transcendental Meditation with their guru The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.  

While we’re not staying at the ashram we are mostly adhering to its schedule and culture. Morning meditation, followed by yoga, then fire puja before our breakfast. Silence is observed at the ashram from 9:00 PM to 9:00 AM the following day. For those of you who are not familiar with fire puja, it is a healing fire ceremony from the ancient science of Ayurveda and a ritual described in the Vedas.  It is a process of purifying the atmosphere through a specially prepared fire performed at sunrise and sunset, while those in attendance chant Vedic texts.

Our meals are vegetarian and Sattvic, which means, balanced, easy to digest and nutritious to support ones meditation and yoga practice. Breakfast everyday and dinner on Monday, Wednesday and Friday are enjoyed in silence, to encourage inward contemplation.

Other activities offered at the ashram are Kirtan (devotional chanting) on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Satsang (spiritual gathering) lead by Vishva one or two evenings a week.

Many find the ashram experience challenging, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit too as well on occasion. But mostly I enjoy the rhythm of the daily schedule and the support of the community.

My next blog will touch on life in Rishikesh and my observations of this part of India 

Until then, I’ll leave you with Akhanda Mantra that we chant at the end of every yoga class with Vishva;

Akhanda mandala karam

Vyatam jena chara charam

Tat padam darshitam Jena

Tasmae shri gurave namah

Translation –

I bow to the divine guru who reveals

to me that the Pure Consciousness is

an indivisible entity that permeates

the moving and non-moving

Om Shanti for now. Peace

Nepal - I Have Fallen for You

Good Bye Nepal….until we meet again.

I’m sitting in the departure lounge at the Kathmandu airport as I write this. We’re saying goodbye to Nepal with our hearts full of Nepalese Love. Our time here was short but oh so full. I’m only now just beginning to integrate everything we saw, learned and experienced. This tiny country is deep in history, culture and spirit.

Yesterday was a relatively quiet day. We leisurely enjoyed breakfast in the garden as we had nothing scheduled until 2:00 PM. Over breakfast an Australian man struck up conversation. Our hotel hosts guests from all over the world, many who are stopping briefly before or after trekking adventures in the  Himalayas. JK – our new Australian friend – was enjoying a few days of rest between two such treks. As it happens, he is a guide himself who has trekked many great mountains around the world, including Canada’s Denali in British Columbia. He delighted us with stories of treacherous climbs with close calls and disastrous endings. While we admired his love of pushing the limits, we were in no way inspired to do it ourselves. Hours of taking 3 or 4 breaths just to take the next step up the mountain is not our idea of fun. Even he had to admit that while doing these climbs he asks himself why. Only once it’s done can he fully appreciate the experienc

After wishing one another a great day – with promises to talk again – Emma and I headed out to do the last of our shopping. I’ve developed a deep interest in sound meditation over the years, so we stopped into one of the many singing bowl shops in our neighborhood. Serendipitously we chose the right shop. The owner was not only a serious meditation practitioner, but an excellent teacher with a passion to share his knowledge. He took us through a journey of the chakras, they’re energetic qualities and how each of us are born with a unique chakra strength, that is meant to be cultivated, nurtured and shared with the universe. He explained the differences between the quality of the different bowls and the sound they emit.

His son managed the shop with him and humbly responded to each of his father’s requests. It struck me that this man would not likely get the same respect and reverence in the west, as his passion for old knowledge would be considered unimportant in today’s world. Reminders to pay more respect to our ancestors who are alive or have passed, are everywhere here. My own teacher Yogrishi Vishvketu teaches the same thing.

The rest of our morning was spent visiting shops, chatting with their owners and having lunch at our favorite Green Organic café. We ended the afternoon with a massage for Emma, foot treatment for me, and henna tattoos.

The day before we were taken on an 8 hour tour by our guide Kishor, of areas in and around Kathmandu. Our first stop was a massive Buddhist Temple hidden beyond the busy streets and down a cobbled alley. I gasped when I saw the white imposing structure, of the Boudhanath. Once in the square, we were welcomed by quiet, gentle energy from generations of devotee’s practice. I could have stayed all day, but it was time to move on to the next stop on our agenda.

Kishor next took us to Pasgupatinath, the largest Hindu Temple in Kathmandu. This also where traditional Hindu cremations are done. This is considered the most auspicious way to say goodbye to departed loved ones. The Hindus believe that living an incarnated life is intended to burn off old Karmas, or negative energies. Freeing the soul of the burden of the physical body offers a better chance of eternal freedom. The body is draped in saffron robes, washed with water from the river, showered with marigold flowers as the family says their goodbyes. It is then brought to the funeral pyre, lit on fire and the cremation begins while the loved ones hold vigil.  Once all has become ash, they are placed in the river to make their journey to the mighty Ganges in India.

The rest of the day we visited several other village Durbar (court of an Indian ruler) squares with ancient temples. Many still in shambles after the 2015 earthquake, others in varying stages of reconstruction and some that are somehow still standing in spite of severe structural damage. Kishor tells us that earthquakes typically happen about every 80 years which gave us some comfort that we were safe. Some comfort. 

Reparations and rebuilding from the 2015 earthquake are slow to happen. We’ve been told by several Nepalese residence that the government is corrupt and sadly little of the money donated for rebuilds has been directed to efforts.

Life is hard in Nepal. The level of poverty exceeds India. And yet, there’s a gentleness and sense of pride that has left an indelible mark on my heart. I feel lucky have been able to visit and hope to again someday.  

As a final gift from dear Nepal, I had a clear view of the Himalayas on my flight back to India – including Everest’s majestic peaks soaring through the clouds.

Nepal – I have fallen hard for you.

Kathmandu Nepal

We’re just finishing up Day 2 in Kathmandu Nepal.

 While making our descent to land, we could see some Himalaya Mountains peaking above the clouds. I’m not going to lie – it brought a tear to my eye. I have always been moved and impressed my great mountains. And tomorrow, we’re taking a tour to hopefully – weather permitting - see some of the mountain ranges and do a short trek.

But, more about our arrival here and first impressions.  The customs and immigration process at the airport went much better than expected. It was the baggage collection that was disorganized chaos. But before you can do that you once again have to go through security, metal detectors and have any carry on luggage X-rayed.  To be fair I think it can simply be attributed to the airport being too small for the number of people traveling to Nepal. There are only three baggage carrousels in very close proximity of one another, serving a multitude of flights. Hundreds of people are jockeying for position to collect their bags. It’s mayhem!  But my trusty friend and travel companion volunteered to elbow her way in to grab our two bags and that she did.  On we went to find the car we had arranged to transport us to our accommodations – The Kathmandu Guest House.

We quickly found our driver, and off we went through the city center and navigated our way to the guesthouse. Upon arrival we were greeted with many smiles and a cool drink. Check in was done quickly and were soon escorted to our cozy little room. It has wall-to-wall windows over looking the charming courtyard and serene gardens. It’s bright, clean, simple and everything we need.

We had a bite to eat in the garden and headed out to explore. We soon learned that at every turn there is someone looking to swindle you in one way or another. We agreed to a ½ hour cycle rickshaw ride to orient ourselves around the city, which ended up being over two hours and 4 times the originally agreed upon price. And all the while, we were approached by vendors selling everything imaginable at jacked up prices.

But please don’t take this to mean all the Nepalese are ill-intended. Quite the opposite in fact. Life is hard here, with a corrupt government and extreme poverty. Everyone is simply trying to get by. The shop owners are kind, humble and gracious, as are everyone working at our guest house.

I met the Guest Relations Manager here this morning. A woman named Candy originally from Ohio who moved here after losing here job in the U.S. She was here during the 2015 earthquake and had lots of stories to share. As do many of the other locals.

This morning we had a walking tour of the city with a wonderful guide. There’s so much history here that he shared. Nepal actually has a living goddess named Kumari who is chosen and lives in a palace. On occasion she shows herself from the 3rd floor window of her palace and we were lucky enough to be there when this happened. I’ll let you read more about her here and reserve judgment for yourself;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumari_(goddess)

Emmanuela – my travel companion and I – have devised a brilliant system for deterring the peddlers on the street. We both find it hard to say no to them and have learned that even doing that loops us into an endless pursuit to buy something. So when we sense them approaching we pretend to be in a heated discussion and they always back away. It works every single time! And no ones feelings get hurt.

So – our afternoon shopping was mostly uninterrupted.

Tomorrow we’re off to see the mountains and do a small trek. We’re hoping for good weather as fog and clouds can impede to view.

#sarvaandchandrasindiaadventure continues.  

Namaste for now. More to come.

Day 1 and First Impressions for the 2nd Time.

So many people have asked both Emmanuela – my dear friend and travel companion – and I, why we would travel to India. I typically smile and say, “it’s not for everyone but if you like it, it gets into your soul.

Today was our first full day in here and we spent it touring around the city. One never gets anywhere very quickly is Delhi. The streets are packed with buses, cars, trucks and tuk-yuks – or auto rickshaws as they’re sometimes called. All collectively jockeying for position along with endless scooters, motorbikes and the occasional cow. Everyone beeps to announce their presence and intention to squeeze through any opening they can find. The lines on the road indicating lanes constantly ignored. Why the roads department even bothers to apply them is a mystery.

For me, this is among the multitude of things about coming here that I love. Our driver Bunti – ever the gentleman – never appeared to be even the slightest bit ruffled by any of it. Grinning widely when we praised his driving skills.

I’ll talk more about why I love this country in further entries as I become further reacquainted.  For now, some short updates about the trip here. 

All went exactly as planned. Flights departed and arrived as scheduled. To our surprise the 14 hour flight was far more pleasant than either of us had expected.  No luggage was lost, and our trusty driver was waiting for us outside the Delhi airport to transfer us to our hotel, as arranged. Greeting us with a smile, handshake and cool bottle of water.

As is apparently customary here and much like going through security at any airport, upon arrival at the hotel we were required to have our luggage scanned and clear a metal detector. All repeated every time we return to our hotel after an outing. The trunk and under the hood of the car also checked while a mirror scans underneath. While a little jarring, I hope this leaves everyone back home reassured of our safety. The area our hotel is in is only accessible by those permitted. So a stroll around the neighborhood is perfectly safe.

This morning we took a little walk to explore and found the most wonderful little place called the Fab Café serving fresh juices, almond milk sweetened with dates and other delicacies. We returned for fantastic Indian dinner tonight. We highly recommend it.

This afternoon we hired a taxi to take us to Qutab Minar, minaret dating back to 1192. It, the gardens surrounding and the remains of the mosque are all a World Heritage site. All interesting to see in spite of the 35 degree heat and blazing sun. Nothing that can’t be remedied with a cold glass of beer or two back at the hotel. And to think this isn’t even the hot season.

Off to bed now, in an effort to beat this jet lag. More updates to come.

Helping Hands For India Karma Yoga

Almost five years ago, I traveled to India for the first time and was forever changed. India is a feast, and sometimes shock to the sense. The sights, sounds and smells that abound are nothing like what I‘ve experienced in Canada. All that and the people I encountered have left an everlasting imprint.

As many of you know, I am a certified Akhanda Yoga teacher. Akhanda means, whole, complete and indivisible. Being a member of the Akhanda family means I am part of a global community of teachers, students and leaders.  As my students, you too can include yourselves in this sacred community.

The Akhanda Yoga Family is the force behind Helping Hands For India, a charitable organization founded in 2013 by my teacher Yogrishi Vishvketu and that Anand Prakash Ashram. The charitable organization is dedicated to offering educational opportunities and well-being initiatives to underserved children in rural northern India. For the last 5 years I have supported Helping Hands for India through financial donations and most recently humbly accepted a role on the board of directors as Director of Donor Recognition.

Below is a photo taken of me and some of the children of the Sansar Gyaan Pathshala school in 2013. When visiting the school, these children ran up to me with flowers they picked saying, “Thank You…Thank You!"

This July, the Akhanda Yoga teaching community has launched a Karma Yoga initiative to raise much-needed funds for the school funded by HHFI.

On Tuesday, July 24th, all proceeds from my All Levels Hatha Yoga class at the Carlsbad Community Centre will be donated to Helping Hands for India. Karma means that what we put out in the world affects our personal experiences and those we meet directly and indirectly. When we do something good with right intention – we all benefit from it.

Let your Karmic expression be to support this initiative and the children that depend on us. All you have to do is to show up! As always, newcomers are invited to attend at no charge. Donations however will be most welcome for this special class of course.  Suggested donation amount for drop-ins is $15. If you can’t make it to class that night, but would still like to participate, you can donate the equivalent value of one of your classes. Just let me know and I will stamp your class with deepest gratitude.

It really doesn’t get any easier than that!

In developing countries like India, a little money goes a really long way. Just $10/month sponsors a child to attend school. A little more money funds the uniforms they are all given and/or the books and other school supplies they use.

It is said one of the best ways to uplift an underserved community is to educate the girls. When a girl receives an education she changes the lives of 4 generations in her family.  To help change the cultural barriers that often prohibits girls from receiving an education, Helping Hands for India requests that for every boy who is sent to school, a girl is also sent from the family or village. Enrollment is currently almost evenly split with a ratio of boys to girls. Children that live too far to walk to school are often given a bike to make the journey easier.

Since exclusively volunteers run Helping Hands for India all funds earned go right to managing the programs that are changing lives for these children.

To learn more about Helping Hands for India and the school it supports, check out their website;

http://www.helpinghandsforindia.org/school/

As part of the Carlsbad Community and extended Akhanda yoga community, I know you all have huge open and generous hearts. I look forward to leading you through this Karma Yoga experience, which will deepen our collective connection.  India, this school and these children are very dear to my heart. So, join me on the mat on July 24th at 7:00 PM. Bring a friend. And Thank You…Thank You!

In deepest gratitude and with much Love,

Kathy (Sarva Mangala) Noel

Certified Akhanda Yoga Teacher. 

Some of the beautiful children of Sansar Gyaan Pathshala School

Pressure Builds Diamonds

Let this Spring season bring you more joy, optimal health, unconditional love and deeper spiritual connection. 

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled.

For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”

M. Scott Peck

The quote above resonates with me in so many ways. Turning 50 almost 3 years ago was a profound experience for me. Half century. WOW. How did that happen? How did I get here? This doesn’t feel anything like what I thought it would when I was younger.

I try not to get caught up in the less desirable aspects of aging, but to remain curious about what each year and decade brings. The insights that come with life experience, reflecting on how others seem to perceive us based on our age, and even the changes to the physical body. I’m a grandmother, and yet still feel so youthful. I’ve faced and overcome hardships I never imagined I’d have the strength to. My life has moved in directions I never expected.

One thing that is consistent is that with every challenge I’ve faced - no matter how painful, frightening or unsettling - some kind of growth has always followed.

“Pressure Build Diamonds”

This is something I often say to myself when I’m in a situation that I’d much prefer not to be. It might be when I’m under pressure at work, facing relationship conflict, or even in a challenging yoga posture. The sentiment is a quick reminder that these periods of suffering or discomfort, serve our spiritual awakening.  It’s so easy to look for ways to avoid the unpleasantries of life, but leaning in offers us endless opportunities for growth. We are offered a glimpse into what we’re really made of, what we’re capable of handling and the vastness of the human spirit.

It’s not our experiences, but how we respond to them that defines us.

Let this be your practice this spring and as the remainder of the year unfolds. Or at least consider what shifts in your experience might be possible with this is mind. We cannot control what experiences come to us in life, but we can control how we respond to them. 

I started off the year with the following reflection that I came across in a newsletter from Buddhist Meditation teacher - Jonathan Foust. He begins every year with a review of the previous and uses these questions to guide him. 

What went well last year?

What didn’t go well last year?

What am I working towards?

I found this to be a fun and profound way to honour my victories and accomplishments, reflect on my challenges , acknowledge that I, like all of us, am a work in progress and set intentions for the year ahead. 

“We’re all just walking each other home. “

Ram Das

We’re never too old to learn, grow and move deeper into our true self. As teacher Vishvaji reminds us, our natural state of being is joyful, playful, blissful and fearless. 

I encourage you to take some time looking back on 2017 with these questions, and let them set some groundwork for some Spring intention setting. Perhaps you’d like to take some time to meditate and journal about what comes up for you. Creating a record is a great way to see your evolution from year to year.

Om Shanti

Kathy

Yoga As A Self Care Practice

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”

Jim Rohm

How is it that we live in the most affluent times in history and we’re still deprived of optimal health? With every new invention that’s supposed to make our lives easier, it seems rather than find more balance, we end up taking on more responsibility. In North America, we’re seeing ever-increasing rates of chronic illness, mental health disorders, insomnia and general unhappiness and dissatisfaction with life.

It seems to me, there’s a void of adequate self-care practices that can help restore a sense of balance, health and joyfulness to our lives. Yoga offers an endless choice of practices that can be used as a remedy for what ails us.

After completing my first yoga teacher training in 2010, I knew I had found the spiritual connection and faith I had been seeking my whole life. From the wisdom found in Yoga philosophy, to the breathing techniques, meditation and the physical practice, there is always something to draw from, to restore inner balance so we can return back to our highest self.

Yoga Philosophy – The Yamas & Niyamas

~ “Balance is like this. Spreading ourselves thin looks impressive, but in the end, we are the first to lose.”  ~

Deborah Adele

Yamas - Self regulating behaviors involving our interactions with others and the world at large.

Ahimsa – Non-violence – Be kind. To yourself and others. Always

Satya – Truthfulness - Being mindful of your inner critic. Our thoughts are real but are they true?

Asteya – Non-stealing – Don’t rob yourself of inner peace and joy. Focus on what sparks your inner flame.                                 

Bramacharya – Non-excess – Think “need” vs “want”. Do my “things” get in the way of me being my best self, or experiencing life to it’s fullest?

Aparigraha – Non-possessiveness – Don’t confuse Love with attachment. One will uplift while the other weighs us down.

Niyamas - Personal practices that relate to our inner world.

Saucha – Purity – How about a day at the spa to help you find balance again. There’s nothing like massage, hot tubs or infrared sauna to detox the body and soothe the mind.

Santosha – Contentment – Gratitude journaling is a great way to remind ourselves of all your blessings and good fortune.

Tapas – Self-discipline – Being dedicated to a meditation practice is an act of self love and care? Just 5 minutes of silent contemplation can be life changing.

Svadhyaya – Self-Study – Take some time to reconnect with what sparks joy in you. Perhaps explore a new hobby that allows you to express your creativity.

Ishvara Pranidhana – Surrender – let go…let go…let go! Life isn’t meant to be perfect and neither are you. Let go of what you can’t change, and see what fills the space left behind. I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Pranayama - The Breath

~ ”The quality of our breath expresses our inner feelings.”

TKV Desikachar ~

One of the most important parts of any Yoga practice is breathwork – or Pranayama. There are dozens and dozens of different kinds, but the one I recommend most, and practice myself is, just simply taking 5 or 10 deep mindful rounds of inhales and exhales. You can even set your watch every hour, to remind you to take a few conscious breaths. It brings us back to the present moment and there’s also a multitude of physical benefits. When we get stressed and anxious, we often start to breath very shallow and short, which triggers a stress response in the body that releases hormones that trigger the sympathetic nervous system – or fight or flight response. By taking a few long deep breaths, the opposite happens – which is we trigger the parasympathetic nervous system – or rest and relaxation response. I mean – how cool is that!? We can change our entire physical and emotional experience with just a few breaths!

Meditation & Mindfulness

“Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own thoughts, unguarded.” 

Buddha

I’m sure you’ve heard so much about Meditation and Mindfulness recently. That’s because there’s an increasing awareness of the endless benefits of both Meditation and Mindfulness practices. Our lives are so full, leaving our brains stimulated to excess on a regular basis. We look at TV, computer and cell phone screens at a staggeringly increasing rate. Our intelligence, education level and access to information is at an all-time high and yet, our attention span is dropping dramatically. If something doesn’t give us the response we crave instantly, we lose interest.

The thing is, some of the sweetest moments in life are to be savored and are observed at a very subtle level. So what are we missing if we can’t pay attention long enough to see it?

There are some great apps available for guiding your meditation practice. One I’ve used in the past and really liked is Headspace. A regular meditation and/or mindfulness practice can decrease stress, eliminate insomnia, regulate your heart rate and improve overall mental and physical health, making it a truly powerful self-care practice.

Yoga or Asana Practice

“The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships.”

TKV Desikachar

The benefits of taking a regular yoga class reach far beyond the stretching and toning achieved through the movement and holding of postures.

When we attend classes at a community center or yoga studio, we’re in the company of like-minded people and part of a collective consciousness. We’re also taking a much-needed break from the demands of our life.  Yoga is easy on the body, making it accessible to everyone, and great for our overall health and is the ultimate in self-care.

“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.”

Sean Patrick Flanery

We really cannot control what life throws at us, but we can control how we respond to it. And how we respond to it really defines who we are and what kind of life we’ll live.

Find a self-care practice that helps you restore balance and reconnect with your true self. Your essence is joyful, blissful, playful and fearless. And you deserve the very best of what life has to offer.

Much Love to you always.  

Namaste

Kathy