When you donate to my yoga classes, buy essential oils from me or hire me to share yoga in your rehabilitation center or with a private client, you are supporting ME in my small business. YOU are helping me sustain my purpose and my livelihood.
I am content with what I have, however, securing a financial future for me and my daughter is why I work tirelessly most days of the week. When you look to buy gifts this year, think about the small businesses in your life and support them. You can buy essential oils anywhere, but if you choose to buy them from me you are supporting me and not the big box chains and you are getting top quality oils that are safe. Choose small this year because really you are choosing to make a difference in someone’s life.
I am a yoga teacher and mindfulness coach. I am a wellness coach. I am a doterra leader and essential oil advocate. I am a mom. I am a CNA to my disabled daughter. I am the voice for others. Thank you for supporting ME this year.
If you’re ready to change your life, perhaps I can help. Check out all my offerings.
I have been waiting weeks for this! I am now offering a limited amount of this amazing custom blends for sale! Not only does it smell amazing, but the emotional benefits are pretty spectacular.
Siberian fir; breaking negative emotional and spiritual patterns,
Frankincense; raise awareness, shine your bright light
Grapefruit; appreciate who you are;
Wild Orange; abundance and bright future, gladness to the heart
Geranium; heart opening, realize security in what you do have
Clove; instills power, sense of protection, integrity
Amber chips—A fossilized tree resin, amber radiates laughter, vitality, and courage. This stone holds the protective energy of our beloved trees, the guardians of Earth.
Before these sell out, you can grab yours here! If you want to learn more about the basics of using essential oils, enjoy this free ebook.
In recent weeks I have been coming up with strategies to ease my aching heart about the obviously very different Thanksgiving celebration that this year will hold. On one hand, I am incredibly grateful for the health and happiness within my family and close friends, but I am also allowing myself to feel the very real disappointment and sadness that is present when I face the grim reality that I won’t be spending this years annual holiday surrounded by food, festivities, and of course, family.
In the big picture I realize that it is just one day. One measly 24-hour period that can easily be made up when this all passes with a bounty of food and connection.
And yet, I also have a strong need to acknowledge the sadness and emptiness that the lack of tradition brings to my heart. There is in fact a hole that is empty of the connection that regardless of how busy our lives are, people come together for one day of family.
I will miss that.
I have given myself a few days to notice the missing parts of the tradition that I love so much. I love the hectic amount of cooking, the matching orange, brown and red table decorations, and even the ridiculous turkey shaped salt and pepper shakers. I love to see my sons interact and jive each other while their sister tries to sheepishly engage. I love to see the history of our lives be woven together again for a few short hours.
Now that I have had my time to feel what I feel, I am ready to rumble with making new traditions. I decided to switch up my classic food items a bit and prepare a few new dishes. After spending some time prepping yesterday I came to the realization that cooking for two is much easier than fourteen, so there is some beauty there. I also realized that my kids are making their own traditions and that is what I always wanted. I had always hoped that they would grow up to truly own their life and create experiences for themselves that nurture their unique spirit.
As the turkey gets put into the oven today, I am reminded of all the good. I have raised two fantastic men, I have a warm ad cozy house, my career fulfills me and I am truly loved. Those are the things that matter. The memories and traditions will be locked into my heart space with fondness, and today I choose to take abundant breaths and soak in the quietude of the day knowing that all is well.
Crystal energy is powerful but it’s not something the Western world yet truly knows how to define or describe. And yet they have been uses for centuries in many traditions and rituals. We’ve gotten so disconnected from nature and its healing abilities —from crystals to essential oils and herbs.
The beginning of my journey into crystals is a bit of a blur since at the time I was in the middle of what I call my great “wake up” and I was actively seeking a variety of holistic modalities. The first time I ventured into a crystal shop I was with a group of girlfriends following an amazing hike in the mountains. I was curious and unsure when I entered the store, but I remember very clearly feeling this draw to the rich dark orange of carnelian. I purchased a round carnelian stone ring and it remains one of my favorite pieces even after all these years. Carnelian is a beautiful stone perfect for creativity, boosts courage and self confidence, inspires actions and is an excellent stone for circulation, back problems, rheumatism, arthritis, neuralgia and depression. It accelerates healing in bones and ligaments and improves vitamin and mineral absorption and ensures good blood supply to organs and tissues.
Over the years I have collected many many crystals. I’ve also given away a lot of the crystals I’ve collected – to family members, friends and and students. I’ve also lost a few crystals along the way. They are funny like that – when their energy is no longer needed they will carry themselves back to the earth or find their way to someone who needs them. I’ve learned to not be disappointed but instead know that I got what I needed and now someone else will.
Today I keep crystals on my window sill, on the ledge of my bathtub, under my bed, in my pockets, in my wallet and the rest in a beautiful dishes around my home. It is not uncommon to see me grab one or two while I am chatting, journaling, or reading. I have my favorites and from time to time they change. My current favorite though is the large fluorite I hold in my hand while I am doing my early morning reading. It is so balancing.
When I look at my collection I am often able to link a certain crystal to a focus in my life – the pinks when I was needing to find unconditional love and acceptance, reds and browns when I was working on learning to stay grounded and steady, quartz, amethyst and selenite when I developed a deeper understanding of Oneness. I was drawn to green stones when I was learning joy and the connection to unconditional love. Yellows and oranges when I was working with ideas to manifest and remember all the abundance. Blues when I was strengthening my inner wisdom and learning to speak my truth.
For years I didn’t really talk about crystals or how I have come to use them. I just know they worked and I felt their power but I couldn’t describe their power or prove their abilities – and in the West, that unfortunately makes me naive and what I believe in and experience ‘not real’. Thankfully my heart persisted and crystals have become a prominent part of my life and now I love sharing with others.
I never want to have a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) again. Seven years ago I had foot surgery that required me to be in a boot for six weeks and sadly a few days after I was out of my boot I developed a horrible pain in my leg. Thankfully I went right to the emergency room because I knew something was wrong. There I was diagnosed with a blood clot in my leg.
Once I was over the shock and scare of it all, I learned I had to be on blood thinners, monitor my diet and go off all my hormones for nine months! It was really a horrible time of my life. Blood clots are no joke and once you have one you are at risk of developing another for the rest of your life.
Fast forward to yesterday and I had to have ankle surgery and once again, be stuck in a boot for weeks. Of course I am apprehensive and a little nervous, but I have tools to keep me safe and to rest my mind.
First off, I am taking the blood thinner my surgeon prescribed because blood clots are not something to mess around with, but I also made a blend of essential oils that help with preventing the formation of a blood clot. When I am not up and moving around, I am icing and elevating my little leg. Movement is so important, too.
Inside the blend that I am applying topically to my leg is:
Add to a 10ml roller and top off with fractionated coconut oil. Apply to affected leg 3-4 times a day. Oh, and always follow your physicians advise and take every precaution you can. Serious things call for serious precautions.
If you are curious about how to use essential oils for everyday remedies, cleaning and beyond check out this gorgeous ebook.
One of my favorite aspects to yoga and mindfulness is taking a deep look inside to find the parts of ourselves that aren’t serving our greatest good and decide to let it go. The volume of space we create is enormous and it allows something better to fall into that space.
In my personal life I have many decisions ahead of me. It’s honestly been a grueling time for me and some major changes for my daughter. I also have ankle surgery scheduled, but with so many unknowns I am debating whether now is the right time.
When life shows up like it has recently, I have to remember to go inside and let go of the fear, the anger and the worries. Much like a leaf that falls from a tree, I know when I let go of it, there is space. Space means clarity. In the space of clarity, I know I will find my way.
This months schedule for classes is also very unknown. Certainly that causes this very disciplined and schedule savvy girl to feel unsettled. It is likely that I am going to be watching the weather and offer warm sunny fall pop classes. I will still be adding videos to my online session collection AND I am super excited to offer a chakras series! This is a popular series and I can’t wait to share more about the details.
Let this month be a time where you truly let go of something that is weighing you down, or that you no longer need—just like that leaf that did it’s job, it also can now let go. Even fear and feelings of uncertainty can be useful, but eventually it’s time to let it go.
In the Yoga world, Pantanjali wrote ancient texts thousands and thousands of year ago and have become the “rules” in which a Yogi attempts to live by. Part of the texts include the Yamas and Niyamas. The Yamas focus on the ethical standards of how we should conduct ourselves in daily life and the behavior to develop during interactions with the self and others. The five Yamas include truthfulness, non violence, non stealing, non greed, right energy. The five Niyamas are constructive tools for cultivating happiness and self-confidence and they are purification, contentment, self-discipline, self study, and self surrender.
As I have been going back to studying the Sutras, reviewing these principles is always a rich self exploration, especially during this month as I have been teaching my classes around the concept of understanding the foundation of our spirit.
Over the years I have found that knowing (and living within) my values or principles is paramount for my success and overall well-being. When I step aside from them and life becomes challenging, as it often does, I am less likely to respond well.
In contemplative questions, it is useful to ask yourself what are some of the core principles in which you live by.
I like to think of the foundation of a home being what sustains the rest of the structure when storms come by, or the roots of tree that holds it upright during turmoil.
As I have been looking inward and reviewing the Yamas/Niyamas, I spent a few weeks discovering the ten principles in which I live by.
I have come to learn that when we know who we are, we can begin to show up in life through our thoughts, words, and actions in alignment with that inner truth. Knowing who we are is very different than what we are. To learn more about labels, check out this post.
I know when I am showing up outside of these parameters or guidelines because I get easily rattled, I am quick with sharp words, I am impatient and easily overwhelmed. When I am in my truth and aligned with these principles, I feel the wholeness of who I am and know that I am showing up in my most authentic self.
Have you ever thought about what guides you? What your foundation is?
After several weeks of pondering, here are my ten principles.
Conventional dryer sheets contain mysterious ingredients, and can sometimes be expensive. Play it safe and save some money with this reusable DIY containing Lavender oil. Benefit from Lavender’s soothing properties to skin and sweet aroma as you soften clothes and fight off static at the same time.
Ingredients
1 cup hot water ½ cup white vinegar ½ cup baking soda 5–10 drops Lavender oil 5–10 simple sponges
Instructions
Combine baking soda and hot water in a glass container with a lid and stir.
Add vinegar and mix, then add Lavender oil and stir again until all ingredients are combined.
Fill container with sponges, trimming sponges to fit if needed, and place lid on container.
To use, shake up container, remove one sponge, wring out slightly, and place in dryer with wet clothes.
After dryer cycle place sponge back in container and reseal with lid for future use.
For more information on essential oils, check out this gorgeous ebook!
I get asked a lot about my personal practice. The assumption might be that I am always on my mat in my gorgeous studio.I do practice Yoga everyday. But, the Truth is I unroll my mat mostly when I feel a disconnection.
I come to my mat to feel…to nurture my body…to connect with my sensations. I don’t practice asana (postures) everyday. Having a Yoga practice doesn’t have to be physical.
So yes…I practice everyday, but I come to my mat when I need to plug into my soul, and connect my physical body to that beautiful place inside.
You don’t “do yoga”. You are Yoga….Become Yoga…leave the “doing” for something else.
If you are wanted to learn the deeper aspects the practice of Yoga, I would love to chat with you. Send me a message and we will connect.
There are seven major energy centers in the body known as ‘Chakras’. Chakra is a Sanskrit word that means “wheel”. Our seven main chakras are connected to our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. Blocked energy in our seven chakras can often lead to illness, so it’s important to understand what each chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely.Chakras are invisible to the naked eye and yet interconnect our physical and spiritual selves. Each of the seven chakras is tied directly to a specific region and nerve center of the body.
It is believed that each of the chakras absorbs and filters the energy that we emit through our thoughts and actions as well as through the thoughts and actions of all those that we come into contact with. When one of the chakras is out of balance as a result of negative energy flowing through it, it begins to spin too slowly or too fast. When a chakra is not balanced, it can effect that physical region of the body and also effect very specific aspects of our spiritual and emotional selves.
There are many ways to go about balancing the chakras but two of the most accessible, effective and relaxing practices are aromatherapy and crystal therapy. When paired correctly, crystals and essential oils can create potent combinations that help to release blocked energy and restore the body to full charge.
Chakra Blends:
Root: black tourmaline; cypress, sandalwood, balance, vetiver and cedarwood. I AM. Apply to feet, legs.
Sacral: carnelian; clary sage, patchouli, bergamot, ylang and wild orange I FEEL. Apply to low belly.
Solar plexus: citrine; cinnamon, coriander, ginger, clove, and peppermint. I DO. Apply to center of belly.
Heart: rose quartz; lavender, cypress, lemon, orange, whisper and sandalwood I LOVE. Apply to heart.
Throat: sodalite; bergamot, peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus and lavender. I SPEAK. Apply to throat.
3rd eye: amethyst; cedarwood, lemongrass, frankincense, marjoram, blue tansy, sandalwood. I SEE. Apply to behind ears, forehead.
Crown: quartz crystal; frankincense, myrrh, Roman chamomile, lavender and rosemary. I UNDERSTAND. Apply to heart, spine.
If you would like to order essential oils to make your own blends, just pop over here. Also, for a deeper look at each blend, check out this free chakra ebook. You can also purchase a full chakra set here!
I believe we all have a story and being at peace with our story usually inspires others to do the same.
Becoming a storyteller has been part of my practice for years and I am coming into an amazing place that lends itself to revealing myself on a deeper level.
It is my hope that in the coming months as you learn more about my story it will awaken something in you that seeks to be found.
If you’re hoping to learn to touch your toes, I may not be the best yoga teacher for you. If you want to crawl into your spirit and bring out the best of yourself, then I am.
Let’s tell each other our stories. Let’s listen and shine the light on each other.
