1. Create Your Own Yoga Soundrack. Your own music sets the tone and mood of your practice and can give you the motivation to hold poses or let go, depending on what your goal is for the day. Try creating different yoga soundtracks for your different moods. For example, you can have a pop or hip hop mix for sun salutations and a mellow mix for gentle and restorative. Sort through your collection or check out iTunes or YogiTunes for inspiration.
2. Dress It Up. There’s a reason why yoga is a billion dollar industry: fashion! Inventive designers have created all sorts of fun clothing options for yogaistas, and some that are functional, too. Like ToeSox. I own a purple pair and not only love the little fashion flair they add to my practice, but the practical use of the non-slip sole that allows me to hold my balance on slippery floors.
3. Practice outdoors. While I appreciate the serene atmosphere that yoga studios offer, hands down my favorite place to practice is outdoors. The beach, by a lake, the park, in the woods, your backyard…heck, put me on a boat and I’ll rock out child’s pose. Practicing outdoors is invigorating and deeply relaxing. The sounds of nature, the fresh air and connection you feel to the Earth is an unparalled experience. If you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend it. Just take your mat to your favorite nature spot, someplace with a smooth surface so your mat can lay flat. Avoid hilly places that throw off balance. Dress appropriately and practice barefoot, allowing the bare soles of your feet to be bathed in sunlight’s vitamin D while inhaling the health benefits of negative ions. Bring a blanket in case you feel chilly in final relaxation.
4. Add your own style. The first time I saw a Shiva Rea DVD I was like, wow. This lady isn’t mirroring anyone or anything except her own soul. Her style was fresh and original and inspired my yoga practice to beat to my own drum. I love watching different yoga videos online that people post from around the world. Everyone shines a bit of their own personality in the poses. No pose will ever look the same since everyone’s body is different. When you add some soul and personality to your practice, it really makes it feel unique. Which yoga is, to you. If you like martial arts, you can add some Tai Chi flow to your practice. If you like dance, you can experiment with the flow of your arms, hands, legs and feet – any part of your body so long as you stay in healthy postural alignment. If you prefer traditional old school, you can hold each pose like a Master, breathing in ancient wisdom and spiritual awareness. Embracing your own style makes yoga fun and keeps your practice fresh and inspired.
5. Try props. I’m biased because I’m a Prop Lover. Props are co-teachers for my relax and restore yoga classes. Props are just….lovely. Absolutely lovely. Straps, bricks, blankets, eye pillows, I just can’t get enough of them. Props transform your gentle yoga practice into a blissful spa experience. And help your strengthening exercises go deeper. Props remind you that there’s nothing you can’t do with a little support. They make your practice easier, helping you focus on being present instead of struggling for balance or creating more pressure or tension in tight muscles and joints. There are so many creative uses for props. All you have to do is experiment.
Lauralyn is a certified yoga teacher, reiki master and angel therapist®. She is currently providing yoga therapy to the wounded warriors at Fort Bragg. Her albums, Chakra Healing with Archangels and Inspired are available on iTunes.To learn more, please visit www.simplyserenityyoga.com.
Creativity is an important ingredient to a balanced life. Creativity supports the health of the sacral chakra which governs digestion, emotional boundaries, reproductive organs and feelings of joy. If this chakra is weighed down by stress, you may find yourself prone to drinking or eating too much, feeling depressed or feeling like it’s hard to say no to people and practice loving self-care.
You don’t have to think of yourself as a creative person to express yourself creatively. Here are 10 relatively simple ways that you can discover the joys of creativity that resonate most with you. Try any one of these ideas and see if you find yourself enjoying more joy and balance in your regular routine.
1. Paint. Painting is a peaceful, quiet meditation in itself. Painting can include a traditional canvas and brush, touching up the paint around your home, or painting an old picture frame to change it’s look. There are so many things you can do with paint, and so many ways it can add color and a fresh new outlook to your day.
2. Scrapbook. Affordable and easy, this creative project can take up to 10 minutes or hours of your day as you find a personalized home for all those ticket stubs, loose photographs and other memorabilia that otherwise collects clutter. Scrapbooking is a wonderful way to organize meaningful memories so they’re easily accessible and easy to share with others.
3. Sew. If you’ve got creative hands, there are so many fun sewing projects you can make for yourself, your pets, your home and as gifts. A few years ago, I designed a Chakra tea cozy and it’s still one of my favorite tea accessories. If you need some inspiration, check out Etsy. You could even sell your creations if you want to earn some extra cash in a really fun way.
4. Take pictures. Photography is a great hobby for observers. If you’re someone who loves noticing the details in nature, admires the angles in architecture or the brightness of a baby’s smile, why not capture those special moments so you can cherish them anytime you’d like? You can create artwork out of your photos by blowing them up to canvas size, framing them, or publishing your own photography book. Apple and Sam’s Club are some of the stores that offer these services.
5. Re-Decorate. Do you have a piece of dull, drab furniture that you’ve had forever or that you bought for a discount but didn’t really love or that’s been passed down to you? Do you often dream of the kind of fabric you’d love or color that would match your decor? Home decorating will get your creative juices flowing and bring a breath of fresh air into a stagnant, dated home. Refurbishing an old piece of furniture with a fresh coat of paint or new fabric can really change the look of a room and costs fractions of what replacement furniture would. You can change the fabric on your kitchen chairs, add a stenciled design on a table, paint fireplace brick, try a new color scheme, new curtains or hanging new artwork on the walls. Change feels and looks good!
6. Write. You don’t have to be a “writer” to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of writing. Keeping a journal, writing positive affirmations on post it’s, creative storytelling and poetry are all beautiful ways to release pent up thoughts and emotions. Writing can also include emailing a friend to catch up, sending a card to someone you’re thinking about or writing a love letter to share how you really feel about someone. Writing can also include a vacation, home project or business plan. It can also include a blog. Lots of people take their laptops to Starbucks and make a creative date with themselves to write away from home distractions, and feel part of the community. Some people prefer writing in the serenity of nature. And for others, their couch, home office or bedroom suits them just fine. Choose a location where you feel most creative and let it flow.
7. Cook. Cooking is a creative art that teaches you how to trust yourself and take risks. Unless you’re a baker, then it’s a precise art. If your table has lost inspiration, try searching online or through cookbooks to motivate your culinary arts again. I find my best creations happen when I have only a few things left to choose from in the house. I pretend as if I’m on a TV show and have to make something delicious out of the few ingredients I have. I also like trying new restaurants and being mindful of what I’m eating to see if I can recognize the ingredients and try it at home.
8. Garden. Gardening is a favorite creative art for nature lovers. There are so many ways you can express yourself through gardening. You can plant your own organic mini herb and vegetable farm. You can plant your favorite flowers. You can plant specific flowers that will attract birds you’d like to invite to your garden. Gardens require TLC, but if you have that green thumb, you may find that pulling weeds, pruning and planting seeds will lead to your own beautiful and colorful private oasis.
9. Find new ways to better organize things. Organizing is a creative skill. If your home has become overrun by papers, boxes of unidentified things or those things you’re holding onto because you may just need them someday, it’s time to get organized. Clutter is a big Feng Shui no-no. It stops the energy flow in a home that can lead to feelings of anxiety, fatigue and stagnation for it’s residents. There are lots of creative ways to organize. You can use all sorts of organizers from wicker baskets to metal frames and plastic bins, depending on what your style is and how much room you have in your home. Organization tools shouldn’t create more clutter, they should help neaten everything up so you can label them, easily find them and no longer be wondering where something is. An organized home functions easier and feels more relaxed to live in. Use your imagination to find a place for the things you really need or want to hang on to, and trash the rest. Simple rule of thumb: if it has meaning or use, keep it. But find a place for it. For example, if you love a family heirloom instead of shoving it in an attic collecting dust, why not frame it or make it an artistic display? Family pieces provide historical and meaningful artwork with meaning. If you never use it and don’t love it, trash it. Don’t convince yourself you will wear it someday or will use it – having a clear, stress-free space is more valuable than hanging onto odds and ends you will probably never use and are easy to replace.
10. Play an instrument, dance or sing. You don’t have to be a musician to enjoy the creative freedom that music and dance stir in the soul. You can take a dance lesson with a loved one, try a dance-inspired exercise class or dance around your home. You can sing in the shower, in the car or with friends. You can try karaoke, take a guitar or singing lesson. You can make a video to a song you like and post it online to share. You can visit a drum circle or jam with friends. Try playing your favorite music while cooking, cleaning or hanging out with friends. Stay inspired by discovering new bands and downloading new songs – there’s a lot of cool music out there.
Lauralyn is a certified yoga teacher, angel therapist® and reiki master. She is currently providing yoga therapy to the wounded warriors at Fort Bragg.
I didn’t used to think nutrition had anything to do with my health. Back in the day, when I was sick, doctors told me nutrition had nothing to do with my diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. No one ever bothered to allergy test me or ask me what I was eating. But prescriptions…they were plentiful.
My wake-up call came when I had enough of feeling like a pharmaceutical guinea pig. I had enough of the invasive procedures and hospital stays. I had enough of doctors having no interest in exploring alternatives with me. I was ready for change. And my body didn’t leave me much choice. I already had more close calls than I cared to remember.
That’s when I decided to visit a holistic medical doctor. Diet was a critical part of my recovery. This doctor’s advice was controversial. He told me to consume massive amounts of red meat and vegetables. I was anemic and nutrient deficient. The red meat diet, along with detoxification, led to my cure. That was in 2001. I’m still enjoying a healthy digestive tract today, and I’m medication-free.
Since then, I’ve learned my body is finicky about red meat. When my immunity is low and I’m fatigued, red meat is like medicine for me. When my immunity is strong and I’m feeling great, my body rejects it.
I’ve been studying nutrition for a decade now. There are so many different philosophies out there, it’s challenging to know what’s right for you unless you experiment.
Born To Be Vegetarian?
When I was 12 years old, I watched a film about a slaughterhouse. Being an extremely sensitive animal lover, I stopped eating meat that day. For nine years, I was a vegetarian. Really, I was a starchatarian. My diet consisted mainly of starches, gluten, carbs and soy. I was tired all the time, felt bloated and moody and started to gain weight. I had no idea at the time that my body wasn’t made to be on that kind of diet. When I was diagnosed with Crohn’s at 21, the first thing the doctors in the hospital suggested was I start eating meat again because my body was very malnourished.
Like many other animal lovers and compassionate people, I felt conflicted about eating meat. If I thought too much about it, I wouldn’t be able to do it. So I began to thank the animals for helping me heal. I understood that they sacrificed their life, the healers they are, so I could live. I am so grateful for their gift to me. I can honestly state that animals helped save my life by giving me theirs.
I still dream of being a vegetarian one day. Luckily, I’ve discovered many raw foods sit well with me. But soy, a staple of a vegetarian diet, bloats me up and makes me feel awful. Even though I love the taste and the idea of soy being a meat-replacement for protein, my body hates how it reacts inside of me. If I have a nibble here and there when I’m feeling balanced and strong in my immunity, I can sometimes tolerate it. But generally, soy makes me feel unwell.
What Type Are You?
My nutritional studies have included the candida diet, macrobiotic, ayurvedic, vegan, raw. Curiosity and a hunger for knowledge eventually led me to the blood type diet. Eat Right for Your Blood Type was published by naturopathic physician, Dr. D’Adamo. Like most evolved ideas, some skeptics have brushed his ideas off as placebo or meaningless. But my experience with this diet has been eye-opening and empowering. I’ve found many of his observations lead to enlightening, ah-ha moments.
Dr. D’Adamo’s research is incredibly helpful. It includes a personality profile, holistic health recommendations and detailed guidance on which foods are medicinal and which foods can clash with your immune system, depending on your blood type.
For example, type A’s are born to be vegetarians. They thrive on a veggie diet. They can tolerate soy, in fact, it’s medicinal for them. But meat leads to symptoms like constipation, bloating, cramping, aches, fatigue and other kinds of toxicity. Blood type A’s are born to be the veggie yogi’s. They’re the vegans who look vibrant and energized, those who love animals and can be healthy choosing not to eat them. In fact, animal protein can lead to health problems for A’s.
Yes, I’m jealous of the Type A’s like my mom who can eat a gloriously Earth-rich, meat-free diet. But my blood was inherited from a different ancestry.
Type B’s like me can’t tolerate soy, and grains don’t always sit well with us, either. Many grains, for me, lead to rashy itchiness on my arms and legs, or frustrating water weight that can take days to flush out. The type B body, inherited from our ancestors, has adapted to meat protein for centuries. Unlike type A’s who were farmers living off the land with vegetables and grains, type B ancestors were nomads, dependent on eating what they could hunt wherever they were. Type B ancestors didn’t have stable land to feed on like type A’s, they had to hunt “on the road.” Meat protein for type B’s can also come from fish, so a diet rich in fish protein and veggies can help B’s thrive. It is possible for Type B’s to be pesce-vegetarians without becoming weak or feeling unwell. But if a type B is feeling run down, meat and dairy can do more good where soy and carb-loading diets can do more harm.
Listen To Your Body
I’ve learned that it’s really important to approach your diet like the science that it is. I’ve seen many unwell (probably type B and O) vegans and vegetarians who are passionate animal activists but are lacking compassion for their own body’s needs, and so they are suffering along with the animals they need energy to help. I’ve learned to accept whatever medicinal foods my body needs during the different phases of my life. Some days I crave grains and they work well for me. Other days, I feel it’s best I avoid them. Some days, I eat all raw. Some days, I only eat fruit and greens. Some days, I only eat fish and greens. Some days, I eat turkey and eggs. And when I feel the need for it, I’ll have a steak. The real test of what diet is best for you is how good you feel after you eat. If you feel sluggish, gain weight, bloat up, break out, get headaches, feel itchy, have health concerns or feel toxic, these may be signs that something you’re eating isn’t right for you right now.
I’ve found that a truly healthful diet will change as your body changes, but some truths may remain the same. The blood type diet can help you explore what those truths are for you so you can finely attune your diet to be balanced for your unique body.
Lauralyn is a certified yoga teacher, angel therapist® and reiki master. She is currently providing yoga therapy to the wounded warriors at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
Happy Valentine’s Day! What better day for self-care? What better way than yoga? This video guides you through a home restorative yoga practice for love, comfort, nurturing and rejuvenation. This video provides four deeply relaxing restorative poses shot upon waking early Valentine’s morning, from my heart and home to yours. Enjoy this video for deep morning relaxation or a restful sleep. Feel free to join me in your favorite comfy lounge wear. Props recommended: 2-3 bricks, 1 blanket, a traveler’s pillow, 2 small pillows. Try to practice on an empty stomach or at least 20 minutes after eating.
“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.” -- Oscar Wilde
A modification of down and up dog, this exercise provides a nice stretch for the entire body, focus for the mind, enhances strength and an opening of the heart. Be mindful to coordinate your breaths with the movement. This is another exercise we use with the wounded warriors at Fort Bragg.
I’d rather be a detachment diva than a drama queen. But how do you break the cycle of stressful thinking that leads to unhealthy bouts of drama in your life? Practicing non-attachment is a method that the ancient yogis and Buddha suggested to decrease suffering and remain centered in truth. Wikipedia provides this simple definition:
Detachment, also expressed as non-attachment, is a state in which a person overcomes his or her attachment to desire for things, people or concepts of the world and thus attains a heightened perspective.
Detachment doesn’t mean that you close your heart to a situation, instead you open your heart to yourself and all involved. Detachment doesn’t mean that you tune out, it means that you refuse to attach yourself to emotional drama that distorts your thinking and throws you off balance. Detachment doesn’t mean that you stop caring, it means that you care without expectation or the need to control. This is a higher state of being that could result in less suffering and more feelings of peaceful well-being. I’ll give you an example.
Last weekend, I was feeling particularly sensitive. Maybe it was the result of too much work and not enough rest. Maybe it was because I was feeling challenged by the military life I’m currently experiencing. Maybe my body was experiencing hormonal shifts. Whatever the reason, I was walking a path with my partner and I began to feel a prickliness in my body as he spoke. Then I became aware of my thoughts. I realized that I was taking everything he was saying personally, even though in truth he wasn’t taking any jabs at me. And yet every time he said something, my brain was translating it to mean something else aimed directly at me. I started my own dialogue in my head:
“You’re making it all about you. Give him space to talk and share what’s on his mind. Detach from analyzing or translating it. You’re not in his head. Just give him space to share how he feels without making it about you. It’s not about you.”
How often do we truly listen to what someone has to say without somehow making it about us? It’s a skill to “hold space” for someone to talk and share freely. When someone shares, it’s coming from their experience. The only way we could experience hurt or guilt is if we take on their experience as our own. It’s an act of love to allow someone to have the floor and share from the heart and for you to witness their feelings while avoiding attaching your own emotions to them. Is this a challenge? Absolutely. Is it possible? Absolutely.
But like any skill, it takes practice. It begins with noticing your physical and emotional reactions to things around you. If you feel a change in your body and find your mind offering a translation that is creating stress for you, stop. Wake yourself up for a moment and become the observer of yourself. You can change your thoughts, which will change your experience and the reality of the situation. Try to connect with how you’re really feeling in the defensive moment. Are you feeling tired? Overwhelmed? Stressed? Give yourself some compassion and find ways to meet your needs or share your needs with others so you can shift out of that state of being. Is there a history of stress with this person? If so remind your brain that you’re in the present moment, let go of the past. Taking a step back, holding space for others and depersonalizing things are healthy ways to detach from drama and maintain steady, grounded and even keel with your presence in the world. This soulful practice can enhance the quality of your relationships by allowing you to experience love in it’s highest form.
