Coming This Summer: Garden Chats – A Mindful Living Series
There’s something quietly powerful about pausing with nature—about letting the warmth of the sun, the hum of bees, and the fragrance of blooming flowers remind us that life doesn’t have to be rushed.
This summer, I’m inviting you to join me in the garden for a new kind of gathering.
Garden Chats: A Summer Series of Mindful Living is a weekly YouTube Live experience where we slow down together. Starting June 22 and continuing through the end of summer, these free, heart-centered chats are open to anyone seeking gentle connection, reflection, and a breath of peace.
No script. No pressure. Just space.
What to Expect
Bring a cup of tea, your curiosity, or simply your quiet presence. Each week, I’ll go live from my garden to share thoughts on mindful living, healing, and being present with what is. Sometimes we’ll explore simple practices; other times, we’ll just talk about the real stuff—grief, growth, gratitude, and everything in between.
The days will vary, so make sure you’re subscribed to my YouTube channel and have notifications turned on so you don’t miss a session.
Why the Garden?
The garden teaches patience. It reminds us to root, to bloom in our own time, and to trust in cycles of rest and renewal. It’s the perfect backdrop for conversations that nourish the soul.
You’re Invited
This is for you if you’re craving calm. If you want to reconnect with yourself. If you’re ready to welcome a little more meaning and stillness into your days.
If you love my content and want more tools for mindfulness & movement, check out my digital products on Buy Me a Coffee! Your support helps me continue creating.
Looking for the tools and products I swear by? Visit my Amazon storefront for a handpicked collection of my favorite finds—from kitchen gadgets to wellness essentials. Click here to explore and shop my must-haves.
If you would love to be part of my essential oil community and are ready to start using pure essential oils, shop here or email me for a free 1:1 consultation.
“As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise, you will miss most of your life.” — Buddha
A Day in the Life: My Mindful Routine
Mindfulness is more than a practice—it’s a way of living that allows us to stay present, reduce stress, and embrace each moment with intention. Over the years, I’ve developed a daily routine that supports my healing, fosters inner peace, and helps me move through my day with more awareness and gratitude. In this post, I’ll walk you through my mindful routine, offering practical tips that you can incorporate into your own life. If you’d like a deeper dive, be sure to check out my podcast episode on this very topic!
Morning Mindfulness Rituals
The way we start our day sets the tone for everything that follows. Instead of rushing into the morning, I take time to ease in with intention.
Breath Awareness: Before getting out of bed, I take a few deep breaths, tuning in to my body and setting an intention for the day.
Gratitude Practice: I reflect on three things I’m grateful for, which shifts my mindset toward appreciation.
Gentle Movement: A short stretching or chair yoga practice helps awaken my body and ease any stiffness.
Mindful Sipping: I make my morning tea or coffee a ritual, savoring each sip instead of mindlessly drinking while multitasking.
Try This: Before reaching for your phone in the morning, take five deep breaths and set an intention for your day. Notice how it shifts your mindset!
Midday Practices for Presence and Grounding
The middle of the day can often feel hectic, so I incorporate small mindful moments to stay balanced and centered.
Mindful Eating: I slow down and focus on my meals, appreciating the flavors, textures, and nourishment they provide.
Stretch Breaks: Gentle stretching or a short movement break helps prevent stiffness and resets my energy.
Fresh Air & Stillness: Stepping outside, even for a few minutes, to breathe deeply and notice my surroundings keeps me grounded.
Pause & Reset: If I feel overwhelmed, I take a few conscious breaths to recenter.
Try This: Set a reminder on your phone to take a deep breath and stretch mid-afternoon. A few mindful moments can bring a fresh sense of clarity to your day.
Evening Wind-Down and Reflection
As the day comes to a close, I focus on slowing down and preparing my mind and body for rest.
Digital Detox: I set aside my phone at least an hour before bed to reduce stimulation.
Journaling: I write down a few reflections on my day, focusing on what brought me joy and what I learned.
Restorative Yoga or Breathwork: A few minutes of gentle stretching or deep breathing helps signal to my body that it’s time to relax.
Gratitude Reflection: Before closing my eyes, I think of three positive moments from my day.
Try This: Before bed, take a few moments to reflect on something that went well today. It can be a small win, a kind interaction, or a moment of peace.
Encouraging Your Own Mindful Routine
Mindfulness isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. Your routine doesn’t have to look exactly like mine; the key is to find small, meaningful ways to weave mindfulness into your day. Whether it’s taking deep breaths in the morning, savoring your meals, or ending the day with gratitude, every mindful moment adds up to a more intentional life.
If you’re curious to hear more about how mindfulness supports my journey, tune in to my podcast episode, A Day in the Life: My Mindful Routine. I’d love to hear about your own mindful practices—feel free to share in the comments!
If you love my content and want more tools for mindfulness & movement, check out my digital products on Buy Me a Coffee! Your support helps me continue creating.
Life is full of challenges—whether it’s navigating health struggles, career transitions, or personal setbacks. When faced with obstacles, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or stuck in a cycle of self-doubt. But what if we could approach these challenges with a mindset of resilience instead of resistance?
Mindfulness offers us a way to shift our perspective. It helps us stay present, accept what is, and move forward with clarity and strength. In this post, we’ll explore how to develop a resilient mindset, how mindfulness supports us in difficult times, and a guided practice to help you ground yourself in strength.
The Mindset Shift: From Resistance to Resilience
When we encounter hardship, our natural response is often resistance. We ask, Why is this happening to me? or How do I make this go away? But resistance only amplifies suffering. Instead of pushing against reality, mindfulness teaches us to acknowledge what’s happening and respond with awareness rather than reactivity.
A powerful mindset shift is moving from Why me? to What now? Instead of seeing challenges as barriers, we can reframe them as opportunities for growth. We may not control what happens to us, but we can control how we meet it.
Using the Body to Support the Mind
Our thoughts and emotions don’t just exist in the mind—they show up in the body. Stress and anxiety can manifest as tension, shallow breathing, or restlessness. When we engage the body through movement or breathwork, we send a message to the nervous system that we are safe, capable, and grounded.
Simple practices like deep breathing, gentle movement, or even placing a hand on the heart can help bring a sense of calm and stability during difficult moments.
Rewriting Your Inner Dialogue
What we tell ourselves matters. If our inner dialogue is filled with self-criticism or fear, it reinforces a sense of powerlessness. But when we consciously choose thoughts that support resilience, we shift our experience.
Try this simple journal prompt: Think of a current challenge you’re facing. Instead of focusing on what’s difficult, ask yourself: What is this challenge teaching me? How have I already shown strength in navigating it?
By changing the way we speak to ourselves, we cultivate self-compassion and confidence in our ability to handle life’s ups and downs.
A Guided Mindfulness Practice: Grounding in Strength
Mindfulness is a tool that can help us feel more resilient in the face of challenges. Below is a short guided practice to help you reconnect with your inner strength.
Step 1: Grounding the Body
Find a comfortable position—seated or lying down. Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Take a deep breath in… and a long, slow breath out. Feel the support of the ground beneath you.
Step 2: Breath Awareness
Bring awareness to your breath. No need to change it—just notice it. As you inhale, imagine drawing in strength. As you exhale, release tension. Try repeating silently to yourself: • Inhale: I am strong. • Exhale: I release what I cannot control.
Step 3: Reframing Challenge with Gratitude
Think of a challenge you’re facing. Instead of resisting it, acknowledge it with openness. Say to yourself, This is what I’m experiencing right now, and I am open to growth.
Now, shift your focus. Is there something this challenge has taught you? Even in difficult moments, there is always something to be grateful for—whether it’s support from a loved one, personal growth, or newfound wisdom.
Step 4: Affirmations for Resilience
Repeat the following affirmations silently or out loud: • I am stronger than I realize. • I trust in my ability to navigate challenges. • Every challenge brings an opportunity for growth. • I meet obstacles with grace and resilience.
Step 5: Closing the Practice
Take a final deep breath in… and let it go. Gently bring awareness back to your surroundings. Wiggle your fingers and toes. Open your eyes when you’re ready. Carry this sense of strength with you into the rest of your day.
Final Thoughts
Challenges are an inevitable part of life, but with mindfulness, we can meet them with greater ease and resilience. By shifting our mindset, engaging the body, and practicing self-compassion, we strengthen our ability to navigate difficult times.
What’s one challenge you’re facing right now? How can you approach it with more mindfulness and self-compassion? Take a moment to reflect, and remember—resilience is not about never struggling; it’s about knowing you have the tools to keep going.
If you love my content and want more tools for mindfulness & movement, check out my digital products on Buy Me a Coffee! Your support helps me continue creating.
The Spirit of Spring: Awakening to Possibility Through Yoga & Mindfulness
As the earth awakens from its winter slumber, spring invites us to embrace renewal, growth, and transformation. Just as nature begins to bloom, we too have an opportunity to step into a fresh season of possibility. Through yoga, mindfulness, and intentional living, we can align with the energy of spring and choose to create our best life—one breath, one movement, and one conscious choice at a time.
Renewal Through Yoga
Spring reminds us that change is both necessary and beautiful. In our yoga practice, we can mirror this renewal by shifting our focus toward heart-opening postures, energizing flows, and deep, cleansing breaths. Poses like Warrior II, Tree Pose, and Cobra encourage stability while inviting expansion—just like the budding trees reaching toward the sun.
Consider stepping onto your mat with the intention of shedding the old and welcoming the new. What no longer serves you? What beliefs, habits, or limitations can you release, making space for growth?
Mindfulness: Planting Seeds of Intention
Mindfulness in spring is about presence and possibility. Just as gardeners plant seeds with care, we can plant seeds of intention in our own lives. Through meditation and self-reflection, we cultivate awareness of what we truly desire.
Try this simple Spring Awakening Meditation:
Find a comfortable seat or lie down.
Close your eyes and take a deep inhale, imagining fresh spring air filling your lungs.
Exhale, releasing anything heavy from the past season.
Picture yourself standing in a vibrant garden. What are you planting for this new season? Joy? Strength? Inner peace?
With each breath, visualize these seeds growing, nourished by your intention and daily actions.
Choosing to Create Our Best Life
Spring is not just about external change—it’s about the choices we make to fully embrace life. We are constantly given the opportunity to rewrite our story, to step into joy, purpose, and authenticity.
What can you say YES to this season? Where can you let go of fear and step into trust? How can you nurture yourself like the sun nurtures new blooms?
By moving with the rhythms of spring, practicing yoga with intention, and embracing mindfulness in our daily lives, we create the space to grow into our fullest, most radiant selves. Let this season be a reminder: you have the power to bloom, to transform, and to create the life you desire—one mindful moment at a time.
The Benefits of Mindfulness and How to Apply It to Daily Life
In a fast-paced world filled with distractions, practicing mindfulness offers a powerful way to bring peace, clarity, and intention to our daily lives. Mindfulness is more than just meditation—it’s about being fully present in each moment, engaging our senses, and fostering awareness in everything we do. From baking to conversations, movement to creativity, mindfulness can transform the way we experience life. Let’s explore the benefits of mindfulness and simple ways to apply it to everyday activities.
The Benefits of Mindfulness
Reduces Stress and Anxiety – By focusing on the present moment, mindfulness helps reduce worries about the past or future, creating a sense of calm.
Enhances Emotional Well-Being – Mindfulness encourages self-awareness and emotional regulation, leading to greater resilience and happiness.
Improves Focus and Concentration – Being mindful strengthens our ability to concentrate, making us more efficient in our tasks.
Encourages Gratitude and Enjoyment – When we slow down and appreciate small moments, we cultivate gratitude and a deeper sense of fulfillment.
Supports Physical Health – Studies show that mindfulness can lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and even enhance immune function.
Applying Mindfulness to Everyday Life
Mindful Baking and Cooking
Instead of rushing through meal preparation, approach cooking and baking as a meditative practice. Focus on the textures, aromas, and colors of your ingredients. Feel the warmth of the oven, listen to the sound of chopping vegetables, and savor each bite with full awareness. Cooking becomes more than just a task—it turns into an act of nourishment and creativity.
Mindful Movement
Whether walking, stretching, or practicing yoga, movement can be an opportunity to connect with your body. Notice the way your muscles engage, how your breath flows, and the sensations in your joints. By moving with awareness, you cultivate a stronger mind-body connection and reduce physical tension.
Mindful Crocheting and Creative Activities
Engaging in creative activities like crocheting, painting, or knitting can be deeply meditative. Focus on the rhythm of each stitch, the feel of the yarn between your fingers, and the evolving pattern. Let creativity be a moment of presence rather than an outcome-driven task.
Mindful Thinking and Conversations
Mindfulness in our thoughts means becoming aware of how we talk to ourselves. Notice negative self-talk and gently shift toward self-compassion. In conversations, practice active listening—truly hearing what the other person is saying rather than planning your next response. This fosters deeper connections and more meaningful interactions.
Mindful Interaction with Others
Be fully present when engaging with loved ones, colleagues, or even strangers. Put away distractions, maintain eye contact, and offer your full attention. Simple acts, like genuinely asking how someone is doing and truly listening, can enhance relationships and create a more compassionate world.
Final Thoughts
Mindfulness isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. By incorporating small moments of awareness into daily activities, we create a more fulfilling, balanced, and peaceful life. Whether through baking, moving, creating, thinking, or connecting, mindfulness transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. Start today by choosing one daily activity to practice with full awareness—you might be surprised at the joy and peace it brings.
Consider joining my free Facebook group called 365 Days of Mindfulness for daily tips and community building of mindful people.
Feeling super lost, unfocused, cranky? Wonder what meditation is all about? Do you have to be perfectly still? Check this out!
Meditation offers a wide range of benefits for the mind, body, and spirit. Here are some key advantages:
Mental Benefits
1. Reduces Stress: Lowers cortisol levels and promotes relaxation.
2. Enhances Focus: Improves attention and concentration.
3. Boosts Emotional Health: Encourages positive thinking and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression.
4. Increases Self-Awareness: Helps you connect with your thoughts and emotions.
5. Improves Memory: Supports better retention and cognitive function.
Physical Benefits
1. Lowers Blood Pressure: Supports heart health by reducing stress-related hypertension.
2. Improves Sleep: Helps you fall asleep faster and enjoy deeper rest.
3. Boosts Immunity: Reduces inflammation and supports overall health.
4. Relieves Pain: Eases chronic pain by increasing body awareness.
Spiritual Benefits
1. Encourages Inner Peace: Creates a sense of calm and harmony.
2. Deepens Connection: Fosters a sense of oneness with yourself and the world.
3. Enhances Gratitude: Cultivates a mindful appreciation for life.
Practical Benefits
1. Improves Decision-Making: Helps with clear thinking under pressure.
2. Supports Productivity: Balances mental energy for better performance.
3. Encourages Patience: Builds resilience in stressful situations.
Even just a few minutes of daily meditation can yield noticeable benefits.
Try this simple meditation to get you started!
With over seventeen years of experience, Stacie Wyatt is a E-500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, Certified Brain Injury Specialist, Certified Trauma Informed Coach, Life Wellness Coach, Senior YogaFit Instructor, Mind/Body Personal trainer, Stress Reduction and Meditation Instructor, Pilates Instructor, and Barre Instructor. Stacie is featured on Insight Meditation and all major podcast platforms featuring her podcast Embracing Wisdom with Stacie.
Let’s face it, setting an intention is the easy part. Implementing your intention can be the true work. To implement your intention, you are basically saying to the universe you are willing to step into a relationship that requires work. All relationships take work and this spiritual marriage between you and the universe is no different.
My Intention for the Year
I have set out to bring a sense of renewal into my life. It is not that my life is bad, but I do have certain lifestyle choices that I know need to be adjusted. At one point in my life many of those choices worked for me. That is no longer the case.
To implement a sense of renewal, and align with the forces of the universe, I must be willing to have deliberate actions. Publicly proclaiming your intention is a powerful step to begin the process. Plus, it gives me a record for accountability.
Ditch my tracking of steps walked. Yep, that is correct. After twenty five years of logging my steps, I am going to release it. I am not going to look at the amount of steps, but rather look for quality of steps. Are they in nature? Were my daily steps meaningful? Did I enjoy my time walking?
Shift directions a bit. By fostering the things that bring me joy, I am going to make more space for them. That will give me less space for things that cause me stress. I still intend to teach adaptive yoga as my primary “job”, but implanting my own bakery business is next up for cultivating JOY.
Nurture my creative side. I intend to create some magic in my life through publishing affirmation cards, a teaching manual for yoga teachers, and an online course for mindful manifesting. Watch out! It is going to be another new direction I take my business. These options will allow me to renew my physical body by reducing my demanding workload.
Foster my friendships and relationships. Most people know I work a lot. I genuinely love what I do so it never feels like work to me. However, in my desire to do what I love, relationships and friendships have been less of a priority the last 10 years. I want to renew some old friendships and create new ones.
Tips for Implementing Your intention
To implement your action plan for your intention you must do a few things that will bring the intention into your daily life. I find these simple things bring great power to your world:
Write it down. Put the word of your intention everywhere you might see it. Your mirror, car, planner, desk, and screen saver on phone. Anywhere your eyes will be, the word needs to be there.
Tell people your intention. You have to talk about it to anyone in your life. I have been known to even tell my dentist and barista my intention! When you speak it, you become it.
Choose daily. Everyday you must be willing to think, speak and act in alignment with your intention. Not everyday will be a success, but at least you can know that you are on your way!
Affirm your intention. Every day spend 3-5 minutes speaking your intention into an I AM affirmation. For example, “I am renewing”.
Not sure what your intention is? This video will walk you through the process of finding your intention! This step by step tutorial will help you find the direction your spirit is wanting you to take this year!
Living more mindfully is about being fully present and engaged in your everyday experiences, with a sense of curiosity and openness. November is a great time to practice living more mindfully because we can learn to say No(vember) to things that do not serve us.
Here are some tips to help you live more mindfully:
1. Start Your Day with Intention
Take a few moments each morning to set an intention for the day. It could be something simple, like being patient or staying present. This gives your day a mindful direction.
2. Create a Morning Routine
Start your day with a mindful practice, like stretching, breathing exercises, or even savoring a quiet cup of tea or coffee. Engage fully in these moments rather than rushing through them.
3. Practice Mindful Breathing
Throughout the day, take pauses to focus on your breath. Breathe slowly and deeply, and notice the sensation of each inhale and exhale. This can help center you and relieve stress.
4. Slow Down Your Eating
Mindful eating involves truly savoring each bite, noticing the flavors, textures, and aromas. Avoid distractions while eating, like phones or TV, and enjoy the experience of nourishing yourself.
5. Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Notice the details in your environment: the colors, shapes, sounds, and scents. Even on a familiar walk, you might discover new things. This habit can bring a fresh sense of appreciation to daily life.
6. Listen Fully
When someone speaks, listen to understand rather than just waiting to respond. Set aside any distractions, look them in the eye, and be present in the conversation. This can deepen your connections with others.
7. Limit Multitasking
Focus on one task at a time to improve your focus and reduce stress. When you’re working, be fully engaged in the task at hand, and avoid jumping between multiple things.
8. Cultivate Gratitude
Notice the good things around you, no matter how small. Keep a gratitude journal or mentally note three things you’re thankful for each day. This practice encourages a mindful appreciation of life’s gifts.
9. Practice Self-Compassion
Notice when you’re being hard on yourself, and treat yourself with kindness. Allow yourself to make mistakes and be imperfect. This can reduce inner judgment and promote self-acceptance.
10. End Your Day Mindfully
Wind down each evening with a mindful activity, like stretching, journaling, or reading. Reflect on your day, savor the good moments, and let go of the less pleasant ones.
11. Bring Mindfulness into Daily Tasks
Whether washing dishes, folding laundry, or taking a shower, focus fully on the sensations and movements involved. This simple practice can turn routine tasks into moments of calm.
Would you like any specific exercises to help integrate these practices into your day-to-day life? Watch this introduction video and take on the assignment to choose one activity or chore to practice mindfully. In time you will find it easier and easier.
Join my FREE private group for daily tips the month of November for living a more mindful life.
Self-reflection is a humbling process. It’s essential to find out why you think, say, and do certain things…. then better yourself.
How much time do you spend self reflecting? Do you ever hit the pause button and reflect on your decisions for the year and if they are aligned with your goals or visions for your life?
We are headed into the final quarter of the year and it is a good time to reflect on your beginning of the year visions and see how they have evolved and what you can do in the final stretch to reach them.
Equanimity
I set out the year with a quest to live with equanimity.To be steady and unwavering no matter what shows up. I should have known to be careful what I wish for. What a year it has been. I had two major hip surgeries and an infection in the hip. Add in some horrific reactions to the medications to treat the infection AND blood clots in my arm that resulted in permanent damage to the veins.
Despite it all, with the exception of a few days where I struggled to see beyond the pain, I feel that I did a great job maintaining equanimity as it is defined: evenness of mind especially under stress… a calm mental state and without hurried movement…right disposition or balance.
Self Reflection
Reflecting on the year is a great way to see the actual tools and actions that were put into place to lean towards your goal. Where did you grow and what is left to do?
I dug into some new things and discovered quite a bit about myself.
How did I remain steady and unwavering given all that this year asked me to face?
Learning a new skill can be a great way to redirect your mind away from what ails you to a new place of curiosity and challenge. I took on learning how to bake sourdough bread, canning jams and jellies and more.
Getting creative is a great way to bring happiness to your life if you are struggling. I opted to use a fun digital planner to help me create a system of graphics and ideas for my YouTube channel. I also found joy in creating homemade body butters, lotions and serums.
Participating in education and classes uses a part of your brain that can ignite interests in other areas. I explored a variety of free online courses to keep my brain working and sharp while my body healed.
Being outside does wonders for our mental health. Whether it is caring for a simple garden, sitting under a tree or basking in some sunshine, it all helps.
Gratitude is proven to be a tool that can truly change your life. When you practice gratitude, you shift your thoughts away from negative emotions and uncomfortable sensations. A daily heartfelt gratitude practice is a must.
What will you do in these final few months of 2024 to come closer to your vision?
How can I support you? Look at my podcast for past and upcoming episodes that dive deep into this.
It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; it’s the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time. ~ David Allen Coe
This time of year is ideal for getting back into ourselves after a summer season of play, vacations, kids home, and way less structure. This is the time where we reclaim our sense of self and rediscover the aspects of ourselves that support us in our everyday life.
As you experience a more predictable schedule and life begins to resume some sort of normalcy, take a few minutes to consider the four walls, or four main roots of a tree, that represent your foundation. This is the scaffolding which supports all the other parts of our home, or tree, during times of turbulence.
Here are some ideas– faith, service, accountability, kindness, diligence, love, fulfillment, action, compassion, determination, optimism, etc.
Take a listen to this short podcast on how this powerful understanding can bring much stability to your life.
Foundation Essential Oil Blend
You may know if you stop here often that I believe in the power of aroma to shift our chemical response in our brain. We can influence our state of arousal and our emotional state simply by smelling something. How cool is that?
Not sure where to start? Grab one of these blends, take 4-5 deep breaths, apply it to your spine and under your nose and then listen. You already know…now, you just need to listen.
By the way, check out the emotional benefits of these oils:
Douglas Fir.This one invites you to invoke your high wisdom and learn from the past experiences and people who may have crossed your path. This essential oil is perfect for turning inward in the season of more introspection.
Frankincense.Frankincense asks you to welcome in feelings of protection, wisdom, discernment, and a spiritual awakening. This sacred essential oil invites individuals to shed the lower vibration feelings that are often negative and draining. This truly brings our your own magnificence.
Ho Wood. This peaceful oil brings out a sense of calm and helps to quiet the mind. By clearing the mind of anxious thoughts or simply clutter, we can fine tune into the deepest parts of who we are. This helps us to live in alignment with our principles and aspects of our foundation.
Blue Tansy. This one is a powerful aroma that helps to bring out inspiration and the committed response of tacking action. This helps to be more purposeful and responsible, which is such a beautiful aspect to a solid constitution. Blue tansy welcomes in a sense of freedom and sense of walking towards your deepest dreams and desires.
Blue Chamomile.This sweet and delicate flower is commonly known as German chamomile and offers a beautiful blue hue to the oil. Like its counter part Roman Chamomile, this flower oil is the perfect choice for bringing out a peaceful and serene mental state. This brings out emotional harmony and illuminates the wisdom with your soul.
Spruce.This stable, grounded aroma brings out an enduring balanced outlook to life while also giving strength through your wisdom. When we soak in this aroma we are reminded of the rhythms and ancient wisdom the earth offers.
Cassia.This bold oil which a friend of cinnamon is warm and earthy as it invites you to feel courageous, strong, self-assured and confident in your authentic self. This brings an embracing warmth to the confident and meaningful connections in our life.
Petrified Wood Chips. It helps to create balance and offers a foundation from which to launch new goals or undertake a different path. This grounding stone helps to calm scattered energies and look closely at the essence of what guides our decisions.
These beautiful oils and solid gemstones will be a constant as your dive into the fall season of a slower pace, a calmer mind, and as you seek out the principles in which your life is sustained by. To learn more about the principles I have chosen for myself, check out this blog post.
You can purchase this blend here and it will soon arrive in your mailbox with lots of grounding love.
Consider for yourself if you view Yoga as exercise? Is it? Is Yoga something you “do”? Or, is Yoga much more than exercise?
Big questions with a really simple answer. First of all, the majority of us do in fact come to a Yoga class looking for some sort of physical enhancement; to be more toned, to have greater flexibility, to be more coordinated, to support aches and pains naturally or a variety of other reasons. I get that. I did, too. When I first started practicing Yoga it was purely from the standpoint of exercise and my reasoning is that I wanted to be more flexible.
Then it happened. Not only did I gain flexibility physically but my mind and heart also became quite flexible in the process.
Is Yoga Exercise?
According to Medline, Yoga is a practice that connects the body, breath, and mind. It uses physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to improve overall health. Yoga was developed as a spiritual practice thousands of years ago. Today, most Westerners who do yoga do it for exercise or to reduce stress.
Was that the intent of Yoga when it was discovered?
The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’. As per Yogic scriptures the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body.
Through learning about the 8 Limbs of Yoga we begin to see this is much more than a physical practice that our Western minds have adopted.
What are the 8 Limbs of Yoga?
YAMA – Restraints, moral disciplines or moral vows.
NIYAMA – Positive duties or observances.
ASANA – Posture of the body.
PRANAYAMA – Breathing Techniques.
PRATYAHARA – Sense withdrawal.
DHARANA – Focused Concentration.
DHYANA – Meditative Absorption.
SAMADHI – Bliss or Enlightenment.
You see, if the 8 limbs of Yoga were the spokes of a bicycle wheel, only one spoke would have anything to do with the physical body.
Why does learning about the other 7 limbs matter?
For some people exercise is all they want, and that is fine. I just am hesitant to call it Yoga. To me, Yoga is a lifestyle and a series of attitudes and principles that we embody to create wholeness in the mind, body and spirit. When this happens, we actually begin to influence the people around us in a more positive way. Way more positive than being able to hold a plank for three minutes or lift super heavy weights if you ask me. I would rather know that the way I am showing up in the world is bettering the people around me. We practice showing up on the mat, and apply it to our life off the mat.
When I was raising children, my oldest and youngest boys got to experience two very different childhoods as it relates to the influence Yoga had on me. As a result it also influenced them. My oldest son had more years of being influenced by a highly reactive, stressed, angry and overly emotional mom. My youngest on the other hand, had a longer period of his formative years with a present, calm and peaceful mom. While each son is their own personality and preferences, they do have a dynamically different outlook on life and I do attribute some of that to their primary caregiver (me) having gone through the transformative change that Yoga can bring to one’s life.
Can we just see Yoga as an exercise and still be ok?
Absolutely. 100%. Yes. I would just ask that if you choose to practice Yoga, you consider also learning about the other equally important limbs of the practice. You just might see how amazing it can be, beyond the body.
Many have asked and wondered how the ol’ hip replacement is healing. The hip is eh…the arm is not.
I have gone back to work and mostly doing what I want to be doing….however the pain is still very prominent. I adjust things constantly and have adapted almost everything in my life so that I can carry on. It still takes great effort to do everyday things. I stopped using a cane awhile ago because it was aggravating my arm…more on that.
I will see the infectious disease doctor later this month to check status of the infection.
When the infection arose I had a picc line (IV) placed and that caused a blood clot in my arm. Then my body made more clots. The blood clots in my arm have taken up space and seem to like living there rent free. Sadly, after a recent ultrasound it shows the veins are chronically inflamed and damaged from the DVT and superficial clots. The solution is finding comfort and not aggravating it. She suggested not lifting anything heavy or doing heavy work and minimize stretching it.
She also said this is permanent damage that rarely resolves.
So there is that.
It seems my adult life has been one opportunity after another to show up, to be strong and forge through challenges.
I am so so so grateful that I have the strength I do.
