If you’ve ever attended one of my classes then you will know I always love to start the practice with some words that have touched or inspired me – a quote, a short mantra, a quirky reading – something that jumped out at me and made the old grey matter light up!
I’m rarely without my notebook that is now jammed packed with yogic scribbles. I’m often asked about these little quotes, so I thought it was about time that I listed some of my favourite, inspirational offerings…
Springtime in Middle America, where Lisa lives, would lead you to believe Mother Nature is a bit off-kilter. One day it’s cold and rainy, the next day it’s hot and humid. And lately, this imbalance has even caused tornadic activity. At least that’s what they’re calling it in the news. Amidst all of this stormy weather, Lisa shares her thoughts on balance…
Even if you live in predictably sunny Dubai, perhaps you can relate to Mother Nature. I know I can. Sometimes the balancing act that is my life looks and feels more like severe weather…electric outbursts and pouring tears, interspersed with moments of quiet and calm, reminiscent of the lull after a Midwestern thunderstorm.
It’s human nature to live life in the fast lane, always rushing full steam ahead! Cheryl asks, what can we do to take a break right here in the present?
Not so long ago I found myself wishing for a day when I could just lie in bed, read, sleep, drink tea and be downright lazy. Well, they say be careful what you wish for, for indeed my wish did come true – but in the form of a rather nasty throat infection followed by a bout of bronchitis! One night I went to bed feeling ok and the next morning I woke up with the sensation I’d swallowed a drawer of cutlery for breakfast. For days I was on antibiotics and bed rest, and then following a week of recovery and feeling good, I contracted my daughter’s bronchitis and was back to square one again!
With the onset of spring comes warmer weather, sunnier skies and a yearning to bring that open airy feeling inside. Not just inside our homes but in our bodies as well. We spring clean our homes, so why not spring clean our bodies? Lisa offers an easy plan…
Detoxing is so trendy right now. It seems that everyone’s doing some type of “detox” or fad diet. Yet, if we simply move our bodies and eat healthily and moderately, the rest will take care of itself. Easier said than done; I know. So sometimes a little jump-start in the form of a short cleanse can be very helpful to tune up your engine. Let go of the heaviness of winter and get your body and your mind feeling like spring, light and energetic!
Did you bounce out of bed today or hit the snooze button again? Cheryl asks why are we so tired these days, and where does that leave our yoga practice?
My husband was recently away on business and what did I do? I watched repeats of Come Dine With Me and went to bed with a good book at 8.30pm, praying that my toddler would sleep through the night. A little pathetic, some might say? It was brilliant! You see, lately I’ve been finding the hottest subject besides the weather is our level of tiredness. If I had a dollar for every time I told someone that I was T.I.R.E.D. then I’d be a pretty rich woman. (If you are nodding your head in agreement over your cappuccino, then please inbox me now.)
From from Cheryl’s Elephant Journal article: “A Post Baby Chat with my former Tight-Bodied Yogi-Self…”
I’ll step into the confessional box and say I’ve been judging my yoga in a big way lately, especially since the birth of my daughter.
Hey you, in your bikini pressing into handstand. Yes, you. Could you come back to earth for a moment?
I’d like a chat.
As I stand wiping weetabix out of my hair I can’t help but feel a pang of envy at your lack of muffin tops, dark circles or toddler-induced exhaustion. You are a small part of the reason why I’ve been feeling out of sorts in my yoga practice.
Deepak Chopra once said: “Making your doshas happy will make you happy. This is the secret to balancing the whole mind-body system.” It is a big statement by all accounts; but one that pretty much sums up what one of the world’s oldest medical systems, Ayurveda, is all about. Did we lose you at the word ‘dosha?’ Don’t worry, Cheryl Parsons sets out to decipher this ancient method of healing and find out what steps we can take to keep our doshas in check…
“According to Ayurveda, the whole universe and everything in it, including the human body, is made up of five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether,” Dr. Chandy George, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant at Dubai’s Balance Wellbeing 360, explains. “The human body is balanced with three elemental energies – Vata, Pitta and Kapha – which are called the Tridoshas. When the Tridoshas are in harmony, the body will function at its best and when it is imbalanced, the body will lose its ability to function normally. Diseases are a result of the imbalance of these life forces; kapha, pitta, and vata.”
As spring finally blooms in the American Mid-West, Lisa explores how trusting and believing in the present moment can help us find contentment on and off the mat.
Lately, I’m feeling a bit anxious about the future, and this anxiety is interfering with my ability to find balance between contentment and my feelings of indolence.
