mindfulness

Becoming Mindful of Social Media Mania

I started to notice a phenomenon a couple years ago. I’ve dubbed it the “often occupied” human. This human is waiting at the doctor’s office, in line at the post office, waiting for food to be served at a restaurant, walking down the street, sitting in the park…one thing that clearly characterizes the “often occupied” human is the technological device. Perhaps you’ve seen this phenomenon as well.

What is Acupressure Self-Care?

I am often asked, “What is self-care acupressure?” because I teach workshops about yoga and acupressure. I have found many people have heard of acupressure, but are not sure of the meaning of this healing modality. I am often asked, “Is acupressure and acupuncture the same thing?” The answer is that they are similar modalities. Both acupressure and acupuncture are based on the meridian system of Chinese Medicine.

Don't Be Fooled By Misleading Food Labels

In your quest to eat healthily and maintain a healthy weight, you have to navigate grocery store aisles full of foods that appear healthy but may not be as good for you as they seem. This may be due to confusing labels, marketing campaigns, or just misinformed public perception. You’ll often see words like "low fat" or "no sugar" and "energizing" on packaging, but these labels don't necessarily mean those items are good for you.

Living Yoga: The Yamas & Niyamas

Let’s face it: being human isn’t easy. Everyday we are called by curiosity, challenged by confusion and contradiction, confronted with choice, provoked by wonder and awe. We travel a vast emotional landscape, often times getting swept away in a storm of thoughts that pull us far from our bodies, uproot us from our homes and lead us into sentiments of separation. As spirit, living in a human body, we are tasked with the endeavor of exploring our limitless potential within the constraints of our physical reality.

Prenatal Yoga: An Act of Preparing for Birth

A practice specially designed for pregnant women, Prenatal Yoga can help support moms-to-be emotionally, physically, and spiritually in the 9 months leading up to the labor and birth of their baby. With an importance place on focused breathing techniques, stretching, building stamina, pelvic floor work, restorative poses, core strengthening, mental centering, and balance, Prenatal Yoga can help students become more adaptive during the delivery and postnatal recovery.

How to Use Amazon’s Alexa to Live a Happier, Healthier Life

I have a complicated relationship with my Amazon Echo and Dot, the hands-free, voice-controlled devices Amazon developed as a user-interface for Alexa, their answer to Siri and other intelligent personal assistants.  The Echo and Dot devices can be used as Bluetooth speakers, but their most well-known function is to allow users to interact with Alexa – you can search the web, buy stuff directly from Amazon (because, of course!), listen to music, get news briefings, and more – all by simply talking to the device.

Top 5 Destinations For Yoga Lovers

While practicing yoga and meditation in a class or in the privacy of your own home brings about amazing health and spiritual benefits, it is every yogi’s dream to embark on the transcendental journey that only yoga retreats can provide.

Eco-Kitchen: Make Your Kitchen More Sustainable

The kitchen has become more than just a space in which to prepare the next meal. Today (unlike in the past, when the kitchen was more functional than for entertaining), the kitchen is central to the home; a gathering place. And likewise, the kitchen is an expression of one’s style and values. Some folks love a sleek design, others a more country kitchen style.

Trail Running for Mental Health, Better Balance, and Overall Happiness

Trail running is often a reprieve from more than just the hard-impact roads and tracks that I occasionally run–it’s also a respite from noise, traffic and congestion, and a welcome back into nature, soft trails, technical terrain, and peace. Even if you don’t run, walking along trails can often be a far more serene experience than walking on sidewalks or along the road. Don’t believe me? Here are 7 reasons why you need to get off the concrete and back onto trails.

Ikebana: A Mindful Ancient Art

It’s hard to deny, as lilacs bust out, that stuffing a handful of fragrant flowers in a vase is super-springtime-satisfying. I’m a sucker for a fistful of lily of the valley, myself. But, as spring blossoms into summer and flowers flash unique colors and shapes, why not consider a more simplistic and intentional arrangement? Why not try your hand at ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of flower arrangement?