Find Your Way, Taking Your Own Advice In The New Year | Green Life | Yoga Blog | Yoga Journal

I love what this blog says about setting and creating intentions for the New Year: Find Your Way, Taking Your Own Advice In The New Year | Green Life | Yoga Blog | Yoga Journal.

I definitely have some, I just need to write them down, which always makes it more real and genuine for me. In other words, my idea is that if I write it down and say it out loud (to myself or others), it will happen. A friend of mine mentioned that 2010 was about obstacles and 2011 is about building a foundation. I guess you can interpret that any way you'd like. For me, 2010 had many obstacles, both big and small. I'm hoping 2011 will be about allowing things to happen that I've dreamed of, wanted and desired.

Being clear is very important to me. It has a lot to do with being honest and authentic with myself. In the past, I wasn't always true to myself with my emotions and needs. Now, I honor my emotions when they surface, instead of tensing and pushing them away. The more I do this, the more clear I am about choices and decisions.

So take a moment to yourself. Close your eyes. Take three effortless, belly breaths. Track and feel the sensations in your body. What comes up? What do your thoughts say? What do your emotions say to you? The answers are there within us if we take a moment and listen.

Namaste.

Coffee a GoGo & Fair Trade to Boot!

As I'm now an "occasional" coffee drinker, this article by the Eco-Herbalista inspired me in other ways. I do drink tea, so I know I can still benefit from this article. I always try to do something that will help the planet out. I compost, recycle, and have my "safe" stainless steel travel water bottle. But if you're a regular coffee, or let me just say it, hot caffeine drinker, cut out the paper cups and switch to a eco-friendly (and healthy) travel mug. I used to have (and still do from time to time) the chatter that it just takes up too much room in my bag, or it's too bulky, blah, blah, blah...thank you, thank you! But if you take a moment and really think about it, it's really not that big of a deal. Plus you can get these mugs in different sizes, like small! Check it out!

Coffee a GoGo & Fair Trade to Boot!

Remedies For A Night of Revelry

I received this from the wonderful EcoHerbalists. Love these women! Hope you had a wonderful holiday, and if you're planning to celebrate the New Year with, yes of course, champagne and other beverages, here are a few tips from the EcoHerbalists to help remedy those effects.



Remedies For A Night of Revelry

Heal Your Hangover and Start the New Year Bright

Whether you are one of the smart and well disciplined to ring in the New Year with a morning chakra balancing meditation or are one of the ones who will be suffering a worthwhile headache, we have the insights and cures to start 2011 healthy and bright. If indeed you plan on get whisked away in indulgent celebratory endeavors on New Years Eve, we’d like to share a few choice home remedies to make your night of revelry a bit more memorable. Look below (even through bleary eyes) for the best preventative measures, hangover cures, and emergency quick fixes for having a night of “too much fun.”

Worship Water: Avoid dehydration and over indulgence at parties by drinking a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you have throughout the night. Water will help keep you from experiencing those searing headaches that keep you horizontal the next day.

Take a multi B- vitamin: Your system quickly becomes depleted of this vital B-vitamin from too much imbibing. Take a multi B that includes B-1 (thiamine) and B-6 before the drinking begins or after the over-indulgence has occurred.

NAC- N-acetyl-cysteine is an amino acid that breaks down and eliminates on the main causes of hangovers, acetaldehyde. Take with multi B complex and vitamin C.

Bifidus: Take a ¼ teaspoon of the beneficial probiotic bifidus to help restore gut bacteria before you go to bed. Probiotics also help to aid in the manufacture of B vitamins as well as detoxify and restore the digestive system after alcohol consumption.

Replenish your electrolytes – Eat foods rich in minerals like potassium that get depleted by too much alcohol. Find your balance again and try 1tablespoon blackstrap molasses.

Eat bananas- they are rich in the minerals potassium and magnesium. These nutrients will help reduce the throbbing pounding headache by relaxing the blood vessels. This fruit is great in a smoothie with flax oil to relieve symptoms of nausea.

Vitamin C- this is another vitamin/antioxidant depleted during too much drinking. It helps protect the liver so replenish asap.

Liver support: Make a nutritive tea with dandelion root, milk thistle, burdock, and honey to aid in liver detoxification.

Ginger Tea: This tea can help quell unwelcomed nausea. Slice 10-12 pieces of fresh ginger root and simmer in 4 cups of water for 15 minutes. Strain out ginger and add honey to taste.

Sauerkraut- if the thought of eating kraut after a big night out turns your belly around even more than it is, trust me, I understand, but if you can get past the oddity and look at this food as medicine, this cabbage loving elixir might become your BFF. The vinegar and spices speed up the blood flow, quickening the detoxification process. The cabbage is a pal for liver detox too and while boosting beneficial gut bacteria. You can eat raw cabbage as an old school preventative to getting a hangover the next day after a big night on the town. Crunch on.

l-Glutamine- This amazing amino acid protects and heals the stomach lining thereby reducing injury and inflammation from alcohol intake while also reducing the effects of hangover and cravings for alcohol. Comes in powder form.

Ginseng Take ginseng before a night of partying or after the damage has been done. Ginseng is a liver detoxifier and will help clear the system of toxins.

Alkalinize– the day before, the day of, and the day after partying eat and drink restorative mineral rich foods to boost the alkalinity in the body. Try clear soup broths, miso, and lots of vegetables. Take a “green drink” the morning after drinking too much. Mix 2 tablespoons chlorella, blue green algae, spirulina, wheat grass or some super green powder in 8 oz. water and drink. This will help to replenish the mineral stores to buffer against the acidifying inflammatory effects of drinking too much alcohol.

May your year be filled with good health, and balance!

Learning to appreciate even when I want to explode

Being back on the east coast is always a "trip" for me. I love visiting my family and seeing friends when I can. Since living on the west coast in the San Francisco Bay Area for the last seven years, I've learned many things about myself and my family. It's amazing what 3000 miles of distance can do! I could go on about that experience, but I only have so much time in this coffee shop in Orleans, MA.

I've been staying with my mom, plus spending time with my brother, father, stepmother and stepfather. So far, I've noticed their reactions to their experiences such as traffic ( to name a few). However, it's the judgments they have toward people in general. I mean we all do it. I know in the past few years, I've learned a variety of tools, especially when I feel myself getting amped up about what someone just did or said. I guess what I really want to acknowledge is the negativity that my family feeds off of, or is the only focus they seem to put their attention on. I'm very careful how I say things so I don't set them off more because I could totally go that route and fire them up more; or say nothing so they can truly hear themselves. I really see what my coaching teacher was talking about. He would say to try and find those things you appreciate about those people who do fire you up. It's so freakin' hard! Especially with family.

So I, now, appreciate all the things my parents provided for me growing up, and still do. The unconditional love and support. I appreciate the fire and passion my brother has about current events and issues in the world, along with his music and art. I appreciate having a family that, although we have our differences, we can still enjoy each others' company.

Even when I would hear negative comments about something come out of their mouth, I would breathe and appreciate something about them. Even if it's that I got them in my life.

Running in the snow

I ran in the snow last night. it was utterly amazing. although the wind would blast it in my face from time to time, the xmas lights on all the houses glowed. I only ran a little over a mile (maybe less), but i wanted to see what it was like. cold. wet. exhilarating! it's snowing this morning on the cape, but it's lightening up. I can't wait to go venture out in it. I think I'm the only one out of my whole family who does :)

5 Biggest Misconceptions About Yoga | Top Five Tuesdays | Yoga Blog | Yoga Journal

5 Biggest Misconceptions About Yoga | Top Five Tuesdays | Yoga Blog | Yoga Journal

I had to share this blog I read on the Yoga Journal blog. I have students who believe the first one, and I think I was even in that category as well. The first misconception about yoga: Yoga is just for _____ people. In other words, it's that chatter you may have in your head such as, "I'm not flexible enough", "I'm not thin enough", "I'm not young enough"; well, thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU! There is a style and pace for everyone, especially these days. It's just a matter of researching and trying different classes and teachers. I know if you have an injury or other restriction in your body, you may be scared to even try because of the risk of hurting yourself. Yoga teaches us to be in our own bodies, not what "other" body's are doing. I know, from experience, it's hard NOT to compare yourself. I still catch myself doing it after 10 years! Notice when you do that, and redirect your attention to your body and breath. Do the pose to the best of your ability, and what feels safe, but challenging to your body.

Yoga is a mix of awareness, concentration and movement. So you're basically mediating as you move from pose to pose. This comes from #3: The purpose of yoga is physical fitness. Not necessarily. The poses are great for the physical body to strength and stretch muscles, but it's not like an aerobics class you may take at the gym. I teach yoga at a gym, and I know some of the students are there for just the physical, especially if they're new. I always incorporate a little mindfulness techniques and meditation, so they get a little of everything. As a yoga teacher, you really can't leave that out if you tried!

Those were the ones that really spoke to me, as I run into them a lot. If you're a student of any level or a teacher, or thinking about trying yoga, read the short blog, link is at the top.

Namaste

Moving forward

It was a hard thing to decide, but it's time to move on. I decided to drop my *Daly City yoga class, and pass the reigns onto another great, up and coming teacher. I'm still going to teach in San Francisco at 24 Hour Fitness and sub at the YMCA when needed. I'm also curious and open to see what other opportunities are out there in the yoga teaching world. I will miss my Daly City students, and do hope they continue their practice and going to class. This class was my first real teaching gig ever! So there's definitely a lot of history there, and growth within my teaching over the years.

So what next?

I feel 2011 will be about recharging, revamping and refreshing my practice as a yoga practitioner and teacher. I will take more workshops and trainings for myself, so I can continue to grow in my yoga practice. In a way, I feel I've neglected that most important part about being a yoga teacher: practice! It's time to focus my attention there and see where it takes me. I miss going to class, not just for the yoga part, but the community of other like-minded individuals and yoga enthusiasts. I miss that network. I feel the withdrawal and the craving. It's time to step back into myself and see where I'm at in all of it. I'm so excited, open, and grateful!

**Leeat Louvton will be taking over my class on Monday evenings at War Memorial Community Center in Daly City. For more information, go to www.doelgercenter.com and check out the class schedule.

Namaste!