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[‘Self Study’] – Svadhyaya – the 4th Niyama
The meaning of Yoga is union. Union of the body, the mind, the soul and the spirit 🙂 On our class we practiced Svadhyaya, the 4th Niyama from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali which function as a guide towards that union. The Yoga Sutras is one of the yoga philosophy texts. It contains 196 Sutras, it discusses the aim and the practice of yoga. Each Sutra has a teaching, but we today will focus only on the 4th Niyama. Patanjali describes the essence of the first sutras: ‘Yoga is the progressive settling of the mind into silence. When the mind is settled, we are established in our own essential state,…
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Two practices to bring joy into your life
Gratitude When you notice that in your life there are big things and small things that you can be grateful for, you realize that you can always be thankful. Bringing gratitude into your life will expand the joy you get from within. Meeting up with friends, taking the dog for a walk, playing with your children. All these interactions are moments that can bring joy within, when you feel gratitude for the opportunity to be with the ones you love. Meditation Carving time to yourself to take a break and build a practice of inner grounding is a great way to bring joy into your life. Our everyday lives are…
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Welcome 2023!
I woke up with a headache today, and I have to clarify that I didn’t party last night. The headache was a good reminder that I should do some self caring today, specially being that it is the beginning of the year and it is a Sunday! The best action to take? Rest and relax. The suggestion was to take a bath with with epson salts and hot water and just sink into it while letting my muscles relax. I have to say that it wasn’t my idea my other half was the one that suggested it. As I tried to let the muscles in my neck relax I started…
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SEPTEMBER – Playing with the syllables in the month of September – here are creative ways to talk about the practice of meditation and relaxation
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Birdwatching -fulness
We all have our day jobs and we tend to get caught up with our daily routines. Most of these routines are fast paced and when we get time to wind down, most of the time the easiest thing to do is to grab our phone and scroll, or to catch up with any of the series that we have been streaming. Any season is great for taking a stroll around your neighborhood or going for a walk to a nearby park and do a walking meditation. This is a great way to practice mindfulness and experience every aspect of your surroundings. Birds are the best way to start drawing…
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Healthy Routines – Crocheting
I remember when I was a little kid and my grandmother tried to teach me how to knit. I don’t know if it was the fact that I was under 10 years old, or the fact that the thread kept on getting stuck and all I managed to create were a bunch of knots! I definitely enjoyed spending time with my grandma, but in the end she was the one that ended up finishing whatever I had started. My patience was short, but I liked to see the finished pieces. Everyone used to say how relaxing it was but I never was able to get that experience. It’s been years…
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Ahh the Art of Mindfulness
We spent the 4th of July weekend with family and enjoying the outdoors. One of those days we went out to have lunch and then decided to take a stroll at one of the most picturesque towns in Vermont. As we were strolling down the street going in and out of all the little stores, we went into the cutest little book store. As always, I go in with the intention to just browse and then walk back out but the truth is that it is quite an impossible task, and I am ok with that fact. I always come out with at least a little bag! This time around…
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Be the Voice
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Pink Umbrella and Red Shoes
Pink Umbrella and Red Shoes Rainy morning, all dressed in black. I prepared myself to go to a much needed massage session. As I look for my shoes, I pick my red Toms, since they are good in the water; grab my umbrella and step outside. As I start walking, I pass a shop, where I can see my own reflection. I am holding a pink umbrella and my wearing my red shoes! It made me crack up a little. I was reminded of how much a spark of color can lift you up. After winter goes by, we get excited to see more of the sun, but then we…
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Put a little Love in your Heart
Yesterday I took a yoga class from a teacher and friend, Yara. She likes to add poses that have a lot of twists and chest opening, such as fish pose. I have a home practice, but when you take somebody else’s class, you find that there are other areas in your body that you do not target on your own. This morning, I woke up feeling the effects of the class. I noticed that my attire for the day was all green, I didn’t think too much of it. As usual, as I sat down to write down in my journal the things I will be working on today. Without…
