I used to be such a candle addict! Especially from fall through Christmas! I always had a candle burning and plug in things in the wall spewing out even more toxins. GAH!
I had NO idea that I was disrupting my own hormones and my family’s! (Yep! Hormones aren’t just a woman thing!) In fact, our homes are one of the most toxic environments we spend the most time in!
I have a friend whose son was suffering from chronic breathing issues. Lots it discomfort and costly doctor appointments. But wouldn’t ya know when she ditched the synthetic fragrances in candles, air fresheners, car fresheners, laundry soaps and personal care items… his breathing troubles pretty much disappeared!
Maya Angelou says, “ When you know better, you do better.”
Diffusing essential oils can’t not only make your house smell amazing but it will bring great benefits to everyone in the home!
DoTERRA just released a new bundle that will replace all your smelly things with natural, safe and health benefiting aromas AND a diffuser. Remember, if you’re diffusing essential oils that you cannot openly view the testing, you have no idea the potentially toxic stuff you’re breathing in. I choose only the purest.
Order this new bundle here. When you do, I plug you into education and mentoring and send you an awesome welcome package. Not sure just how versatile essential oils can be? Check out this free ebook!
Ten years ago this month I formally created my business Embracing Sprit Yoga & Wellness. Over those years I have learned so much about being a business woman and staying in my authentic self, which is not all that easy in the competitive world we live in.
I love the symbolism of spring in helping us remember to push through the hard stuff and awaken to the beautiful, blissful, flourishing, life we desire.
This blend was carefully designed to bring out your inner awakening and encourage you to bloom in all of your endeavors.
Frankincense—Promotes feelings of being mentally balanced, grounded, and receptive to new experiences and thoughts
Litsea—brings out feelings of being inspired and aligned
Star anise—empowered, expansive
Ylang ylang—Promotes the release of negative sentiments, such as stress, sadness, anger, frustration, and nervous tension
Fluorite Gemstone— absorbs and neutralizes negative energy and stress. Also increases concentration, self-confidence and helps us in decision-making. It encourages positivity, balances energy.
Earlier this week I was sitting in the drive up waiting for my coffee and I got to thinking about how much time I spend thinking about the future. Where we are going next, what task is next, what bite of food is next, what class to teach is next, what thing to do is next, what worry is next, what dreadful event is next, what is next?!
Wait.
What if instead I just sat with the sun blinding me, enjoying the song on my radio (Bruce of course), and allowed myself to BE.
I am all for planning and strategizing but sinking in to the moment was awesome.
The Immune System and the Lymphatic System work synergistically to protect the body from harmful pathogens and disease.
What are these systems?
These systems include many aspects to our body; white blood cells, bone marrow, the spleen, tonsils, adenoids, appendix, thymus, lymph, and lymph nodes. When our immune system is working properly, it is able to identify a threat and engage in a series of responses designed to eliminate the pathogen from entering targeted cells and tissues.
Lifestyle choices can either strengthen or weaken the immune response.
Nutrition is an important factor in having a healthy immune system because cells need vital nutrients to safeguard the body.
Did you know your essential oils have a chemical footprint similar to the human body, therefore, they have the unique ability to help the immune system bring itself to balance? Essential oils are fat-soluble (lipophilic) so they are able to penetrate the cell membrane and back up your immune system when you are feeling a bit run down.
There are so many uses for just these ten essential oils! And the great news is these come in two of my favorite starter bundles. Plus, when you get started with me, I hook you up with some awesome education and mentoring so that you know exactly how to use them, a free wellness coaching session, and a welcome package to get your started! You will also be part of a great community of people striving for wholeness.
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom – Marcel Proust
For years I have wanted to share a story about a man who has made a profound impact on my life during the month of March when it is the Brain Injury Awareness month, but have struggled to find the words that capture the essence of him and also be sensitive to never want to exploit his life, or his injury.
Every once in a while if you are lucky, you meet someone who touches your soul in a place that you may have not otherwise even known existed. I had been teaching yoga to people with brain injuries for many years when I met someone who reached something in me that is not easily described. Of course, each of my students who have arrived for yoga have brought something unique and often profound to my life, but one man in particular has really found a place in my heart.
It has been my method while I teach yoga to people with brain injuries to not ever ask how they sustained their injury. It is not that such a huge event in their life does not matter to me, but I do not need to know the details. I do not need to know even what their life was like before the injury. Instead, I prefer to just know them as they are now. I want to know what they like, what they dream of, what bothers them, what they long for, what brings them joy, what hurts and what they love. In time as we work together it is not uncommon for the details of the injury to be revealed, or the life they had prior to the event, but it is not something that I seek out. Just as I rarely seek to learn about someone’s past, because it is now that I want to know and be part of.
Each time I was leaving the long term care center that I frequented weekly to teach adaptive yoga I would often see a man with the most beautiful blue eyes sitting in his chair watching hockey reruns or slowly walking through the corridors, grasping the hand rail, sliding his left leg along the linoleum floor. I would greet him and I would usually get the same response, “hi….yep yep”. Always the same answer. One day I asked him if he wanted to come to yoga and this time, he gave me an adamant, “nope nope”. This exchanged continued for nearly a year. Always “nope, nope”.
Then one day, I got a “yep yep”.
That was the beginning of a friendship and a blending of two people bringing out the best in each other. In time through his amazing family and his own sharing, I learned about his life before his accident and it is my honor to share it here.
My friend Jim was just a young man with his whole life ahead of him. A recent college graduate, a great new career at a bank, and a nice home. This elite athlete who had his eyes on an Ironman, who was a former college hockey captain, and friend to anyone was welcoming in a life that many dream of. Surrounded by an incredible family, life long friends and a passion for being a competitive athlete, the younger Jim was a man full of dreams that he knew he could achieve.
But, in a split second, the life he created was shattered. A training ride on his beloved bicycle changed everything when he was struck by a car. After months and months in the hospital and in rehab, Jim was able to regain some of his skills and returned miraculously to his love of running. With the help of his family and friends, he was able to do some of the things he loved and had some amazing successes through his recovery.
His next hurdle would be the massive seizures that would prove to take away the progress that he had gained physically, and with his language and memory. More work, more struggles and more setbacks.
When I met Jim he had recently suffered a massive seizure that caused major damage to his brain. His language was stuck on a constant loop of repeating the same phrases over and over, or he would have outbursts that were either bouts of laughter that was uncontrollable, or fits of rage. Physically, he was struggling to walk and use his left arm. Cognitively it was hard to say what he was able to retain since his ability to communicate easily was greatly impacted.
When a portion of your brain is removed and the misfiring neurotransmitters from repetitive seizures, it is a miracle to witness all that he is able to do. He may not remember what he had for breakfast, or what year it is, but he can tell you the details of his favorite hockey team, the names of his beloved college buddies, or the exact model of hockey skates he prefers. He will laugh at your jokes and even crack a few himself.
It is hard to capture the resiliency of his spirit. The best way I can describe it is despite all of the struggles and all the loss he has endured, his spirit is as loving, as devoted, as connected, and as grateful as it ever was. His smile can light up a room and the second you remind him that he is a champion, he beams and tries even harder. His confidence in himself marvels me.
I have never once heard him complain about his life. Never once. Instead, he is a light. He bears goodness on anyone in his presence. He brings out the best in me, I know that. He has become my version of the charming gardener who brings out happiness and blossoms in me.
Jim’s life was on the path much like yours and mine. In an instant it was all gone. And yet, he is the kindest, most humble man, who always shakes my hand to thank me and say goodbye as he looks me in the eye. He could have given up. He could have become bitter and resentful. Instead, he is pure grace and pure light.
One day while I was on the floor at his feet working his very stiff ankle, he whispered something to me. I couldn’t hear him so I asked him to repeat it. He quietly said, “I forgive her”. When I asked him who he was talking about, he said, “the girl who hit me with her car”.
Can you find that kind of grace and forgiveness? Can you live your life without a complaint? Can you be resilient to the tragedy and loss of your own life? Take a lesson from my friend Jim. He knows the way.
When I took a course with Brene Brown in 2016 I learned the power of a personal manifesto and have fallen back on the beautiful creation that I wrote during the class many times since then.
Manifesto
I recently returned to the manifesto through the lens of my business and how I want to show up in the world, and who I want to surround myself with.
Being self employed is hard and it requires diligence that cannot be explained unless you know first hand the ups and downs. By linking arms with people who share an equal vision for humanity, for compassion, for striving to be the best human possible, I know that I am living in alignment with my deepest truths.
I would love to share visions with you—whether that is through yoga, wellness, business mentoring, or just giving goodness. If you’re looking for a passionate way to make a difference, let’s talk.
Let’s face it aging is something that must be embraced but I think it can be done with a little help along the way, too. I have noticed as my skin ages, it has lost some elasticity. I have even found some fine lines. I have experimented with a bunch of serums, creams, masks over the years.
I always return to this serum because it is natural, smells amazing and gives my face a glorious glow,
We know that florals are going to be the best essential oils for the skin and this combo does not disappoint. I find it to be just what my skin is looking for. The neat thing is if you do not have all these oils, no worries, just use the ones you do have until you get the others.
Oh my goodness winter weather is here and it is playing havoc on my otherwise soft lips! After some trial and error I think I have crafted the best version of a lip scrub with simple ingredients. Plus, when you use a DIY lip scrub, it removes the dead tissue from the skin and it will leave them feeling softer and smoother. It helps to neutralize lip discoloration, moisturize and help your lips look fuller.
This lip scrub also makes a fun activity for a spa birthday party or a great Valentine’s Day gift for friends. Because the ingredients are natural, you can feel good about whipping up a batch to gift to teachers, neighbors, and anyone that might enjoy some softer skin this winter.
It is super easy and you can customize it to your own aroma liking….although lemon, wild orange or eucalyptus are all pretty amazing! And for extra fun and plumping action, try peppermint or spearmint!
I am going to be honest. When I was first using essential oils I was so overwhelmed. I wasn’t sure what did what, if I was going to mess up or if I was going to make a horrible concoction, so I got a great resource book and starting learning. In no time I gained confidence and was able to learn how to use them safely and effectively.
Learning new things is exciting to me and this topic still excites me. When I am helping new people get started I often say, “remember when you had to learn how to cook?? You needed a recipe or cookbook, right?”…..Oils are so similar! We all need the equivalent to the Joy of Cooking when it comes to using essential oils. Here is my fave resource book to learn from.
Grab your resource book and commit to learning 1-2 oils a week! In no time you will be making up remedies, creating fabulous diffuser blends to switch up the mood in your space, tossing together a cool DIY and probably sharing your new knowledge with just about anyone!
If you are not quite sure how to even start using essential oils, check out this gorgeous ebook. It covers the basics and the cool thing is, when you get started I connect you to tons of free education and mentoring in my community and send you an amazing welcome package.
Keep this handy chart because it really can be asa simple as this, too.
Svadhyaya asks you to suspend looking outside for perceptions of yourself, and instead, look at your inner life–your beliefs, your priorities, and your actions.-Suzan Colon
The term svadhyaya literally means ‘one’s own reading’ or ‘self study’. It is is the fourth niyama of patnajali’s sutras and has the potential to deepen our yoga way beyond the mat. My favorite translation or definition of this beautiful inner work called Svadhyaya refers to any activity wherein we quietly study ourselves and reflect upon our actions, thoughts, emotions, motivations, aspirations, desires and needs in pursuit of a deeper experience of our lives and our own selves.
The physical aspects to the yoga practice offers the perfect opportunity to explore svadhyaya.
To create each posture you must move and place the various parts of your body into a shape on a rectangle. You could do this without any real engagement or awareness, carelessly going through the motions while your mind is a million miles away, or you could work towards staying present with each and every moment as it arises. You could notice how the body responds to being aligned a certain way, observe physical sensations, watch how your mind reacts to what you’re doing with your body, experience any emotions that show up, and listen to the ebb and flow of your breath.
Often when we’re practicing yoga on the mat discomfort—or sometimes pain—becomes evident.
If we slow down, apply this form of self awareness, or svadhyaya, and truly contemplate what’s happening in our bodies and minds, pain becomes an important teacher. We can examine the subtleties of pain and begin to understand the difference between “bad pain” that is harmful and injurious to our bodies; and “good pain,” mild or moderate discomfort that we can stay with, breathe into and observe as it shifts and changes.
Since my first hip surgery in 2016, I have greatly avoided the physical practice and therefore, avoided this kind of deeper self-inquiry. Sure, I did some chair yoga as I taught my classes and I would occasionally unroll my mat but honestly it was more as a way to simply say that I am practicing. Truth is I wasn’t practicing at all. Or at least very often.
I might find myself being a tad more consistent and then another injury and another surgery would put me back in the same resistance and emptiness of anything closely resembling a physical yoga practice.
With great honesty I can say that as time has gone on I have made up a million excuses as to why I was not practicing a physical yoga. Some of the excuses were legitimate and some of them were downright falsehoods.
I missed my time on the mat a lot, but I still resisting it until recently when I began to choose time on the yoga mat. Rather than spend too much time in the morning reading and journaling (and avoiding the mat), I have since shortened that sitting time to spend more of my so-called ‘spirit time’ with myself on the mat. This inner work has been transformative to me in just a few weeks.
I began to feel like I had come home after years of being away. I felt like the dear old friend has returned and without any judgment she has welcomed me into the sanctuary of pure love and acceptance.
This morning as I was paying attention to the sensations within my body (while also fighting the grumblings of any ego based thoughts entering my mind about what my body used to be able to do or feel…more self-study), I realized this magnificent practice of self study is a gift that opens the doors to so many other deep discoveries. I found the voice speaking softly to me while practicing the way any dear old friend would speak; encouraging, kind, compassionate, loving. This beautiful friend reminded my body of all that it has endured and welcomed her back to feel and soak in the sensations as perfect and whole.
I don’t know about you, but as much as I love all the good smells of some face washes some of the ingredients can cause a break out or irritation to my face. Instead of dealing with that, I make this super affordable and clean foaming face wash. It’s amazing.
I remember about 18 years ago I stumbled into a gemstone store and was drawn to have my first of many little goodies. I chose a carnelian—a gemstone that I still love and now have many of them.
People tell me when they come into my house, it feels so peaceful. I believe having crystals and gemstones around have so much to do with that. They have become powerful tools in my life. I have them lining my windows, on my body, in my car, used during meditation and I add them to essential oil blends. When I choose one to work with, I set the intention of what I am needing or wanting to achieve (a state or peace, cleansing, energy etc). And I let it do the work.
Buying Crystals
When choosing a crystal either go to a local metaphysical shop or browse a crystal website online. Scan the shop (or the page) and see what catches your eye. What crystal stands out to you? Which one are you drawn to? Then, read the meaning and properties of that crystal. Nine times out of 10 you will find that the meaning of that crystal correlates to your life in some way, shape, or form. And at this time, that is the crystal for you!
The reason that crystals are so effective in energy work, is the same reason that cleansing them is essential—crystals pick up energy. Cleansing your crystals resets their energy, so that every time you work with them, you are starting from an energetically clean slate. If you never clean your crystals, they will continue to store energy they’ve picked up from their environment or people they’ve come into contact with. Think of it like this: A towel can wipe a mess clean, but if you never wash the towel, it will begin to add to the mess. Crystals are similar.
There are a few different ways that you can set about purifying the energy of your crystals:
Moonlight: Let your crystals bathe outside in light of full moon (or sun) for at least 4 hours.
Pair Your Crystal With Selenite or Quartz: Act as a crystal matchmaker and pair your crystal with either a selenite or quartz crystal! Both of these crystals have the ability to charge and purify other crystals, without ever losing any of their own energy. Lay your crystal on a piece of quartz or selenite for six hours
Smoke: Not only will burning sage and palo santo clear the energy of your space, they’ll also have your crystals feeling great. Immerse your crystal with the sacred smoke until you feel its energy and vibrancy return.
Return to Nature: We could all use the energetic reset that comes with a return to nature. To give your crystal that revitalizing pleasure, place it on the Earth or in the branches/soil of a healthy houseplant for 24 hours.
