Kristi Bowman's Blog: Living Well: Simple Tips for Health & Happiness, page 2

2020: A Year for Change

Time can feel like it's passing so quickly. Here we are already in 2020! I hope it has been a happy one for you so far. One of the great things about stepping into a new year (and decade!) is the potential that awaits us. In other words, if you're not feeling as happy and fulfilled as you would like, the opportunity lies just ahead for making that more of a reality. For us, 2020 has already been a year of change. My husband's father, Joe, passed away in early January. He was such a kind man and loving father. Tony and his 4 siblings and mom spent the last few months taking turns providing care and being a loving presence for Joe as he made his transition. The family's incredible strength and love was inspiring to witness. I feel Tony's words say it best, "My father has a new journey ahead of him - a new destination and a new purpose. His spirit is strong and he will find his way."Another big change is I recently accepted a full-time position at Osmosis Day Spa & Sanctuary. Not only is my commute only 8 minutes, I get to spend my days surrounded by nature and Zen gardens and in the company of an amazing group of people. I enjoy being part of a leadership team, and the energy of Osmosis is one of healing, wellness and growth. Also new is I'm in the process of recording an audiobook for A Butterfly Life! It has been a dream to share this story and the transformative tools in my own voice. Plus, audiobooks are so convenient for listening to while driving, doing things around the house or while taking a walk through the park. A Butterfly Life will be available on audible and iTunes this spring!As you look ahead to this year that is ripe with potential, what do you dream? Is your intention for 2020 to increase your health? Would you like to lose weight or learn ways to more effectively handle stress? Do you wish to have more time for creative projects or travel? It doesn't have to be just another passing year, where things look the same as they did a year ago. It can be different.How will 2020 be a year for change?Tony and I have set the intention to buy a house. Yep, this is the year! We've been enjoying going to open houses and keeping an eye on the market. Everything is in order. We're just waiting for the right place to come along, the one that whispers to us,"This is home."Planting seeds of intention can be a powerful process. Once planted, it's up to each of us to give energy and nurture those seeds so they sprout and grow fruit. So plant away, and may you find joy in what grows!To a healthy and happy 2020!The butterfly reminds us change can be beautiful, even necessary, in order to realize our full potential and live our best life.In A Butterfly Life, Kristi Bowman brings together artful storytelling and practical tools to help readers achieve whole-body wellness and enjoy more happiness in love, work and daily life.Click here for more details. Available in paperback and eBook. Audiobook coming soon!Download the first 2 chapters for FREE.

The Gift of Happiness

The holidays are here! This time of year, we may feel drawn to go inward. As we enter the longest nights, it can feel natural to want to slow down. Our bodies and minds benefit from more sleep. I have found myself quite content going to bed earlier and surrendering to the season's energy.This time of year is also one of activity. There are often Winter Solstice events and the festivities of Hanukkah and Christmas. There might be holiday travels or plans being made for spending time with family. And, of course, there is the sharing of gifts.When I think about some of the best gifts I've received, I think of my husband, Tony, and my niece who has been like a daughter. I think about being able to live where I live and enjoy the local parks. I also think about people and books that have inspired me to live my best life. Each one of these things brings me joy, a sense of happiness.When it comes down to it, isn't that what life is about? The 14th Dalai Lama said, “The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” Many of us have probably done a significant amount of work in our personal and spiritual growth. Even so, how often do we seek happiness from outside of ourselves? Are we putting the responsibility of our own happiness on our partner? Or do we think we'll be happy only if we have a better job or win the lotto?A Butterfly Life is a book for enjoying more happiness. There are probably a number of books with tips for being happy. However, I believe you already know how to be happy; it's already within you. It's within each of us. A Butterfly Life is a story, a transformative journey, of simply remembering. It's about connecting with your inner wisdom and unfolding to your greatest potential.You may click here to find more details and purchase a copy. It's available in paperback and eBook. You can also download the first 2 chapters for FREE!Share the gift of happiness.A Butterfly Life makes a great gift for a friend, a family member or yourself!Wishing you joy through the holidays!Kristi Bowman

Love Makes Us Smarter & Feeling Grateful

A few years ago I heard a teacher say, "Love makes us smarter." It struck me as odd at first, but I have found myself pondering that saying ever since, and finding truth in it.Perhaps I'm thinking about love more at the moment, because Thanksgiving day is our anniversary. It was 10 years ago that Tony and I first started dating. Yes, it all started with that kiss under the tree. It feels our love keeps growing stronger with each passing year.I sometimes hear people talk about their relationships and remark how "no relationship is perfect." I get the sense they are frustrated and feel their relationship somehow falls short. It is true, no relationship is perfect. However, I cannot help but think how communication plays such a crucial role. The use of active listening techniques, like those found in Listen First, can make a huge difference in experiencing less frustration and conflict, and more understanding and joy with the people in our lives. Listen First is a set of 4 practical and heartfelt communication techniques that I share in A Butterfly Life for enjoying more lasting, loving relationships. For those interested in learning more, I will also be offering the Listen First class at SRJC this spring semester on April 18th.But love doesn't just apply to our significant other. We can communicate in more compassionate ways with everyone, whether it's family, coworkers, friends, clients or strangers. When we make a choice to listen and seek to understand and empathize, we are opening ourselves up to hearing alternate perspectives and seeing the situation in a new light. It becomes less about who's "right" or who's "wrong," and it simply becomes two perspectives. As we allow ourselves to be open and learn, we grow. More possibilities are revealed. We grow smarter. This openness can lead to new ideas and innovative solutions. Plus, it feels good to keep an open heart.This holiday I am grateful for many things, and especially my husband, whom I simply refer to as "my love." He is such a special person (those of you who know him know), and I look forward to celebrating many more happy years with him!Tony and I will be following our annual tradition of enjoying a walk in the park Thanksgiving morning. Perhaps we'll even stop under the tree.We wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings!Kristi & Tony

Stay Well this Fall - Immunity Boost Basics

How can we give ourselves the best chance at staying well?This is often the time of year when the colds and flu start making the rounds. Perhaps you've noticed people out sick at your work, or you have already experienced the sniffles yourself this season. I had a touch of a cold a few weeks ago, and thankfully it was just some nasal congestion, and it didn't greatly impact my usual routine. But a cold can be a good (albeit uncomfortable) reminder about needing to care for our bodies.There are various herbs and supplements which have been shown to strengthen one's immune system, including Echinacea, Ginseng, Astragalus, Vitamin C and Zinc. However, as a wellness specialist, I like to highlight things we can do which can have an even bigger impact on boosting immunity. I'm talking about the basics:Get enough sleepEat wellExerciseWash hands oftenThe best defense against illness is a healthy lifestyle. As adults, we need those 8 hours of rest each night. Also, our bodies are best served by eating lots of vegetables and fruits, nuts and lean protein, and minimizing the intake of sugar, dairy and wheat-based carbs. Getting regular physical activity, such as hiking, swimming and yoga, keeps the lymphatic fluid circulating and helps ward off disease. Washing our hands often (particularly before we eat or touch our eyes or mouths), especially when we spend considerable time in public places, is a strong safeguard against illness.When I had the touch of a cold, I knew I needed to do everything I could to ensure I got enough sleep. I knew my body would do the rest, and it did. It didn't turn into a full-blown cold, and I recovered quickly. Our bodies naturally want to heal, which I think is pretty amazing. Of course, we cannot always avoid getting sick. But when we take steps to maintain a healthy lifestyle, we're supporting healthy immune function and giving ourselves the best opportunity to keep feeling good!In wellness,Kristi BowmanHave you seen Kristi's latest videos?Enjoying increased health and well-being and living a long, happy, meaningful life means caring for ourselves in body, mind and spirit. Kristi takes a whole person approach to wellness. Please click below if you haven't yet had a chance to watch her latest videos.Kristi Bowman, author of A Butterfly Life, talks about the difficult "goo" stage of one's personal metamorphosis and offers 3 simple practices for greater ease in getting through the goo.Kristi reveals how all-or-nothing thinking can keep us stuck, and how we can shift it to increase our wellness and joy. She shares everyday examples and quick tips.

Chakras: What the heck do they have to do with wellness?

Okay, so I've become that woman who talks about chakras, but it's not as strange as you might think. First, let me say I grew up in a small-town environment. Everybody was friendly enough, however there were unspoken rules. As a child or teenager, you knew it was okay to talk about God, or your horse or even your hangover, but any mention of yoga or chakras, and you'd most certainly get some strange looks. I didn't talk about yoga or chakras, because I had never heard of them. But if someone had, I likely would have been one to give the look. I imagine views have changed in my hometown, as it's 25-30 years later, and yoga has become a household word. Many of us now know professional athletes do yoga, moms do yoga, executives, artists, nurses, teachers, kids and seniors all do yoga. Now I do yoga. I know I've changed and grown, including (thankfully) letting go of my judgmental attitudes.As a writer and someone who has been teaching yoga for 9 years now, it can be easy for me to get swept up in the energy and feeling-experience of the practice and come up with all sorts of flowery language as I gently guide my students through movement and breath. However, I strive to keep in mind those early years, my roots, and how there continue to be a number of individuals (in small towns and big cities) with little to no experience of yoga. I also understand that we're all living our day-to-day lives. We're going to work, taking the kids to soccer practice, cleaning the house, connecting with friends. In order for yoga to fit into our busy schedules, it needs to make sense. So I work to balance the flowery element with pure practicality.I strive to provide an atmosphere in which beginners can feel comfortable. Yoga is a science, an art, and a path to greater wellness. It helps our bodies be strong and flexible, prevent injury and disease, helps us better manage our stress and feel more balanced. I teach the practical health benefits and also hope to convey the pure joy of being in motion.In addition to the practical, I feel the flowery language has a place. It can provide a gratifying depth to the practice.  Some of that flowery language happens to be chakras. The very word, "chakra" may cause us to shift uncomfortably (or not). In this blog post, I want to talk about chakras briefly and hopefully help remove any fear around these awesome energy centers.I like to think of the chakra system as another layer of being us. We have our physical body, our emotions and thoughts. Our body, emotions and mind might be thought of as different aspects or layers. The 7 chakras (translated from the Sanskrit word meaning "wheels") are part of our energy layer. Main hubs, if you will. We notice the energy part of ourselves when we say things like, "I feel like I have no energy today." The chakras are just one way to look at our energy.The chakra system was first written about in ancient Indian texts dating back 2,500 to 3,500 years. Several ancient cultures had practitioners who worked to heal and balance the energy system. In India, the energy was referred to as prana. In China, it was ch'i. Energy work continues today.Chakras are often illustrated as different color lights or as lotus flowers, each a different color and different number of petals, located in 7 places along the path of the spine. Each chakra is associated, not only with a color, but with a sound and various qualities, such as strength, integrity or vision. There is a lot a person can learn about the chakras. Here is a quick and simple overview.7 Chakras1. Root (red) - Located at base of spine, tailbone. Stability, security, feeling grounded2. Creative center (orange) - Sacral/pelvic area. Creativity, sensuality, adaptability3. Power center (yellow) - Solar plexus. Strength, integrity, self-esteem4. Heart (green) - Love, compassion5. Throat (blue) - Communication, expression6. 3rd Eye (violet or indigo) Located at the brow - Vision, intuition7. Crown (white, rainbow, [sometimes shown as violet]). Oneness, spirituality, higher thoughtThe chakra system can be a helpful tool for greater wellness. As we work to balance these qualities in ourselves, we may find we have more energy, improved physical and mental health and a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in life.I don't always talk about chakras when I teach yoga. But I feel we're always working with them. This is one of the gifts of yoga and also what distinguishes yoga from other forms of physical exercise. It reaches through all of our layers, helping us enjoy happier, healthier lives.In my new yoga video (just released!), I offer a special, 45-minute home practice. It is designed with beginners in mind with options for intermediate yoga students. This video can not only increase your physical fitness, but help you de-stress, feel more balanced and have more energy! Please don't let the word "power" scare you in this Chakra Power Flow. It's not strenuous, it's about energy. It includes a focus on each of the 7 energy centers, so you can feel good inside and out!Feel free to let me know what you think. Hope you enjoy it.Wishing you well in all ways!

Heart Whispers, A Word on Wellness

It  took me a while to figure out what it is I’m supposed to “do.” In my early 20s I thought I wanted a career as a Clinical Psychologist and so entered grad school, but it didn’t feel right. Then I got waylaid into non-profit leadership work with the Y for more than a decade, until life created a difficult but necessary detour. Then I floated. I had already started teaching yoga, leading outdoor activities and offering coaching, as a “hobby.” That’s what I told myself. I was unsure. I lacked clear direction around work. I felt confusion. So I continued to float. I also wrote, another “hobby.” I had one book published and another one on the way.Until one day, staring at the to-do list on my white board, which included emailing my yoga students, completing chapter 12 and finalizing the group hike schedule, I realized this IS my work! As I surrendered to what was already unfolding, I gained more clarity. It took time. But as I dropped deeper and deeper, tuning in to the whisperings of my heart, it always seemed to lead me to helping individuals achieve greater wellness.The approach to wellness that I take is a holistic view. I feel it is essential to address our many layers – body, mind, heart and spirit. Each of these layers interact with each other and influence how we feel, how much energy we have, and our ability to be successful in our goals. Yoga itself touches all of these, but also nature, I feel, as well as communication, the way we relate to others.A few years ago my husband, Tony, and I co-founded the Center for Sacred Movement located in the San Francisco North Bay, creating a framework for this new way of working. The focus is on providing services which support health, well-being and personal growth.Now I’m clear. With this clarity comes the desire to grow. No doubt, through the process, I will continue to experience personal growth, but more so I’m referring to growing connections with others, expanding the circle of wellness to support individuals both near and far.I just completed a 4-part video series called A Word on Wellness, which I'm excited to share with you. This series offers quick and simple tips for enjoying increased health and well-being. I’ve included the videos below, and I invite you to check them out. They help create a foundation (more resources to come!), and hopefully provide clarity regarding what I do, because some of you may be wondering after all that floating!Enjoy and be well.Do What Scares You Healing Power of NatureMovement is MedicineHolistic Approach

The Balancing Act

We’re often pulled in many directions, as we juggle work and family responsibilities. We may feel stressed. Sometimes things get neglected. Like taking care of ourselves. Perhaps we feel anything but balanced. Maybe we’d like to lose a few pounds, have time for hobbies or creative pursuits, be able to spend more quality time with our children or partner, or just not feel exhausted all of the time.Balance is depicted in various ancient cultures and spiritual traditions. One of the most recognized symbols of this is the yin-yang of Taoism. Balance is pictured in the mandalas of Hinduism and Buddhism, and in the Medicine Wheels of Native Americans. These sacred symbols illustrate balance as an essential aspect of wholeness, and many ancient traditions point to balance as a key to a full and happy life.Balance is going to look a little different for each of us. There’s no formula that works for everyone. However, we can look at 3 areas in life where we can support greater balance. By raising awareness in these areas, we can increase our health and well-being. Some of this may be familiar, but reminders can be helpful!Balance in bodyBalance in mindBalance in energyBalance in Body – Activity and Rest. For most of us, our regular daily activities do not provide our bodies enough physical exercise to stay in good health long-term. Much of it is due to the nature of our work. We’re often sitting for long periods of time. Or the movements we do engage in are limited or repetitive. Our bodies need a variety of movements to stay well, movements that strengthen as well as stretch, and movements that increase our cardiovascular health. These movements bring other benefits as well, such as releasing feel-good neurotransmitters, like serotonin and dopamine, which elevate mood, building strong bones (preventing osteoporosis as we get older), boosting our immune system and reducing aches and pains.(Our bodies, of course, also need nutritious food to be well. Finding balance in what we eat deserves its own blog post [another time!]. )Our work and usual activities often do not meet our needs for physical activity, so we have to be intentional about adding movement, whether it’s walking or yoga, riding bikes, dancing, hiking, swimming or gardening.  It’s helpful to: Start small – You might make a plan to walk for 30 minutes twice per week, or take an hour yoga class once per week. Or even smaller, such as a 15 minute stroll around the block. Remember, you can always build on your intention or plan. The benefit of starting small is we’re more likely to accomplish what we set out to do and stick with it. The key is being consistent.Be specific and choose a time – Maybe it’s taking the group exercise class at your gym that meets at 6:00pm on Thursdays. Or walking for 30 minutes during your lunch break on Mondays and Wednesdays.Add it to your calendar – Just like a doctor’s appointment, work meeting or any other important event, schedule in your movement activity. It is time you are setting aside for your health and well-being. If it’s not on the calendar, it’s much more likely to get crowded out, pushed aside and neglected for other activities.Find a friend -- Having a friend or family member to share in the movement can help keep us motivated. They can provide support, encouragement and accountability. It can also simply be more fun!We also need rest. Just like there is balance of day and night, in addition to being active, our bodies need sufficient time to replenish and recharge. This includes getting enough sleep. As adults, are we getting the minimum 7-8 hours of sleep that is recommended? Questions can be helpful as we explore balance. Do we feel stiff and achy from sitting too long? Are we gaining weight? Do we need that triple shot mocha to wake up in the morning? Remember, there’s no need to judge ourselves. It’s simply about raising awareness, taking notice how we feel in our bodies, and having a place to start to bring in more balance.Balance in Mind – Focus and Space. To find greater balance in mind involves having directed focus, as well as openness and space for new growth. It’s beneficial to have goals to work towards, whether work-related goals, creative endeavors, or goals for personal development. Goals provide focus and direction, helping us feel grounded and giving us a sense of purpose. They can be comforting guideposts along life’s winding path.Balance includes giving ourselves space to learn and grow. Perhaps it’s learning a new skill or being willing to step into the shoes of another person to see things from his or her perspective. A balanced mind remains open to alternative viewpoints.We can also bring in balance by giving ourselves some space from technology. Technology might occupy 5, 9, 12+ hours per day. Yikes! It’s recommended that we spend no more than about 5 hours per day in front of a screen to stay well. Do we give ourselves necessary time to unplug? Do we make time to enjoy the outdoors? Nature is a powerful antidote for overwork and stress. When we breathe in fresh air and view the natural scenery, it has an immediate calming effect on our central nervous system. It’s in nature that we remember, life is not all about emails, spreadsheets, presentations, phone calls, the latest episode of The Big Bang Theory, Facebook posts, or reading blogs (but I’m glad you’re reading this one!). As we observe the leaves falling from the trees, watch the squirrels scurrying to gather their nuts, and hear the birds calling to their mates, we remember life is bigger than us, and it’s everywhere. Life is going on around us all the time, and we’re a part of it.Balance in Energy – Strong and Gentle. More than any other form of balance, the ancient sacred symbols illustrate balance of energy. When we look again at the yin yang symbol, the white and black represent life’s seeming opposites – day/night, assertive/yielding, masculine/feminine, logical/intuitive, strong/gentle. The two energies are encompassed within a circle, held in oneness. Likewise, each of us has the capacity to hold both energies. Regardless of gender, each of us has qualities associated with the “masculine” and with the “feminine.” For instance, each of us can be both logical and intuitive, assertive and yielding, strong and gentle.As we think about energy, we might imagine it as fire or light. Sometimes fire rages strong and fierce, tearing through a forest, burning everything in its path. The intensity of it can light up the whole night sky. Other times fire is more contained, gentle, even comforting, like the relaxing glow of candlelight.To work towards greater balance in energy includes recognizing the oneness and honoring our capacity to hold both strength and gentleness. It is also about taking an honest look at ourselves and making adjustments as we become aware of areas in our energy that are out of balance.   For example, do we frequently come off strong and say things we later regret? If so, can we soften a bit and be more gentle in our communication approach? Do we often have a hard time saying no to others? Then, can we muster our strength and set healthy boundaries?Do we feel like we’re always on the go, caught up in a flaming whirlwind? For more balance, can we give ourselves time to go inward and do some quiet reflection? Do we frequently feel lethargic? Can we stoke the flames and put our hopes and dreams in action?I discussed 3 areas of life where we can strive to have more balance – body, mind and energy. There are other areas open for exploration, as well, such as in our emotions, our relationships, or parenting.The balancing act can sometimes be challenging, but the benefits are many. As we continue to put effort towards balance, we will be able to enjoy a well-rounded, healthy, happy life.Do you take nature walks, play music, read a good book, ride horses? What do YOU do to help you feel balanced?

Living Well

It has happened slowly and naturally over the last couple of months. A gentle merging toward a single direction.As I have been preparing for the publication of my second book, part of the work has involved “branding” myself as an author. That is, creating an identity so as to distinguish my tiny drop self from the ocean of other authors. This is the business part of being a writer, and like branding any business, it involves being clear and consistent.In this process, I soon realized the need to really clarify and define my goals as a writer and teacher. I sat down with a pen, actually many pens of many different colors, and a piece of paper to start mapping it out. Who am I? Why do I write? What is this work that I do? I’d scribbled words here and there. Such as “yoga teacher” or “health” or “raise awareness.” Some things I would group together, feeling a sense of cohesion, and I’d encircle them in a colorful purple bubble. But then something like “communication” would come in and I’d wonder how that fit. I decided it deserved its own bubble, green this time. Over a few weeks, I’d revisit my map. Each sitting led to change. It morphed into new shapes and new configurations – bubbles, boxes and lines extending in multiple directions connecting this and that. It was starting to feel like I’d never gain the simplicity and clarity I desired. Then I began to see all the words, shapes and areas of focus as part of something larger. So I drew a huge bubble – blue and yellow, earthy yet vibrant colors – around the whole of it, gathering everything together. It all had to do with living well.The simplicity became apparent. In my work I support individuals in living well. And the joy of it is I get to do this through different pathways – through writing, yoga, outdoor activities and coaching, through speaking and workshops. The specifics of these pathways may even change and shift over time, and that’s okay. It allows for the natural process of evolution. What is constant is that each of the pathways is rooted in wellness.This task of branding myself has proven to be a gift. It has helped me clarify direction. Rather than feeling scattered, I see the single path before me, and I can proceed full speed ahead. It has helped define my work in a way that encapsulates all I do and still allows for fresh, new teachings.My approach to wellness is about supporting others in enjoying greater health, happiness and peace of mind. I support wellness locally through the Center for Sacred Movement, and to the greater community through my blog, videos and upcoming book.I’ve moved my blog from its former Living Yoga platform to my new website here, where the focus is on Living Well. Wellness includes many things, and from this home base I’ll be able to share tips and tools with you which support wellness in body, mind and spirit. This may include everything from yogic breathing techniques to help lower stress, to tips on using the power of our thoughts to influence how we feel, to communication strategies for creating less conflict and more satisfaction in relationships. I hope you enjoy the sharing.Let the wellness adventure begin!

Trust the Process

We are sometimes a teacher, but always a student. These last few years, especially, have made me appreciate how life is so apt to teach us lessons, including lessons on trust. I’ve experienced how trust may not come easily at first (for we seem to crave a sense of control), but the more I have surrendered to it, the more my life has flourished.

In 2010, I had a major shift in my employment, and significant decrease in income, as one form of work ended and I ventured into new territory. I knew it was the right decision for me, I could feel it in my gut, but I couldn’t necessarily see each step that lay before me.

At this time, my loving partner, Tony, and I were still fairly new in our relationship, having been together only a few months. After a little over a year and spending the majority of our nights together, we both felt ready to live together. I moved into his place. I was not only thankful to be in such a loving and satisfying relationship, but I was also relieved to know I’d still have a roof over my head, since my rent money was running out.

However, some months after the move, Tony, too, had a change in employment, with no plan to go back to work until he felt ready, which seemed like it might be a while. I could have freaked out. I could have said, “What do you mean you’re not working? You have to! How are we going to survive? Don’t you know you have me to think about now, too?” I could have gone into panic and scarcity mode, but I didn’t. Even though neither of us now worked full time, the yoga teacher in me supported his decision. He was experiencing neck and back issues, which were directly related to his work, and I was confident with continued yoga he would recover and also increase awareness about his body to prevent injuries in the future. I wanted what was best for him in both the short term and long term. This is not to say there weren’t moments of doubt, fear and frustration. Of course there were! But I embraced the yoga principles, recognized these worries as coming from the chatter-prone mind and not my authentic self, and let the fleeting frustrations roll on by. Though I didn’t exactly know how, I trusted everything would work out.

Sometimes it has been a challenge to simply trust, but over time I have learned that it’s easier to just go with the flow. Not only is it easier, as we align with this natural flow of life, we actually open ourselves up to receiving what is for our highest good.

It’s the kind of trust that involves a surrendering. I often envision it like we’re a swimmer trying to swim up a fast-moving river. We’re working very hard, circling our arms around and kicking our legs with all our might, trying to get where we think we need to go. Water is flowing over the rocks so quickly it’s splashing into our mouth, it’s hard to breathe, and we’re beginning to feel exhausted. Even though there is all this effort, we find we are making very little progress.

Trust becomes that moment when we decide to stop trying so hard, cease the struggle, turn over onto our back, and allow ourselves to be carried with the flow. As we float along with little effort, we wonder why we didn’t surrender sooner.

This river is energy, the same energy that powers you, me, the unfolding of flowers, the growth of massive redwoods, and the radiance of the stars. When we align with that, we are bigger than ourselves and our potential is unlimited. I’m not saying it will turn you into a superhero, but it might…

During this time period of his healing and establishing new healthy habits, which lasted a couple years, we lived on a shoestring budget, but we never went without. We always had money to pay the rent and money to go to dinner when we wanted, or out to the movies. We still shopped at the local markets and picked up our organic fruits and veggies. We did yoga, walked on the beach, and did a lot of hiking on the beautiful local trails. We supported one another, and our love and appreciation for each other deepened. It felt like we were a couple high-school sweethearts thoroughly enjoying summer break. Life was abundant.

Now, stronger, healthier and maintaining a greater level of awareness, Tony is back to work full-time at a job he enjoys. And I am still writing and teaching and doing what I love to do. I’m proud of him for taking the time he needed. Each of us has our own personal process, and we both trusted in the abundant nature of the universe.



As we align with the natural flow of life, the abundance of the universe is accessible to us.


View original blog post at http://www.livingyogablog.com

Welcome to Living Yoga

Welcome to my new Living Yoga blog! (You may view it at http://livingyogablog.com)

Yoga offers so many wonderful tools. As we extend the principles of this ancient and powerful practice into our relationships, work and other areas of life, we begin to receive the benefits of Living Yoga. I’m excited to share some of the tools I’ve gained along the way to support you in staying centered, healthy and happy, even when there are rocks in the road.

Those who know me or who have read my first book, Journey to One, know I’ve had my share of challenging moments. I am also confident that life will continue to present each of us challenges. Are we able to be like water and flow around those rocks, confident in our ability to navigate the twists and turns, or do we feel overwhelmed, weighed down and blocked by them? Yoga offers ways to reconnect with the dynamic energy of life, and our own fluid nature, so that we may flow smoothly around whatever obstacles come our way.

Yoga is a path to a deeper understanding of the Self, and it provides tools that benefit us on all levels – body, mind, emotions, energy and spirit. There are many paths, but yoga is the one with which I feel the deepest resonance and connection, and I feel giddy to now be able to share the teachings in simple and practical ways through this blog.

I’m happy to say I am exactly where I want to be at this stage of the journey: living in a beautiful location in northern California, where the sweet deer visit daily; settled in a long-term relationship with my superhero of a partner, a truly beautiful and amazing soul; writing my second book; and enjoying life, love and community. I take a deep breath and feel so grateful.

Thank you for checking out Living Yoga. I hope you enjoy the stories and find the tips and tools to be helpful on your path. ~ Namaste