Using Mala Beads for Meditation
January 4, 2016 By 1 Comment
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Bringing Beauty to the Mat with Yoga Design Lab
July 13, 2014 By Leave a Comment
As we unrolled our mats for another day of yoga teacher training in Montanita, Ecuador, the floor became covered in stripes of black, gray, some blues and a hot pink.
As I unrolled my multi-colored chevron mat my teacher took notice and commented on how different and beautiful it was. I told her I’d wanted a mat that was bright and uplifting. Although we were on a beautiful beach, it was rainy season and I needed a lift away from the gray clouds. She hadn’t given much thought to using our mats as a tool for stabilizing our mood or self-expression and it inspired a conversation about beautifying our space and specifically where we practice – our mat.
We use clothing, like our bright, patterned yoga pants, and accessories, like scarves and mala beads, to represent or to remind ourselves of our intentions, passions, attitudes, and beliefs. Some take it further and get beautiful intricate – and permanent – tattoos of mantras, yogic symbols, and deities. So I ask, why not bring that same expression to the mat?
Thankfully, companies like Yoga Design Lab are pushing the envelope with stunning designer mats and yoga accessories aimed at inspiring that beauty in us.
It’s refreshing to see a company applying the same logic to such an integral part of yoga. Color is at the very core of yoga…just look at our chakra rainbow. I love practicing color meditation working upwards through all seven or focusing where I feel unbalanced. Yoga clothing embraced the rainbow a few years back, stepping away from a white linen clad gurus and black yoga pant clad western yogis.
Like all of you, I spend a lot of time in Adho Mukha Svanasana and having something beautiful to set my gaze upon definitely lifts my spirits and tailbone a little higher.
Michelle Hurley is yogi and world traveller. She has been traveling South America consulting with emerging companies and non-profits the last two years. She is currently taking a month off to do her yoga teaching training in Ecuador.
Website: http://www.yogadesignlab.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/YogaDesignLab
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yogadesignlab
Intentions and Creating Your Wildest Dreams: My Top 7 Tips on Creating the Life of Your Hearts Desire.
June 10, 2014 By Leave a Comment
My best friend and I decided we were going to make a movie. Together, we wrote the script when we were supposed to be filling out worksheets in science class. I borrowed my dad’s old video camera – the one with the mini bungie cord wrapped around it to prevent the tape deck from popping open. We climbed up the hills behind my house and trekked through the riverbed taking snapshots of scene locations. She made dolls out of puff balls to represent each character. We were twelve years old.
As adults, we don’t need to go in search of our wildest dreams as much as we recover them. The seeds of our heart’s desire were always there with us. Yet, without cultivation, so many have stayed tiny seeds and we have forgotten about them or misplaced them. Or perhaps, they started to sprout and turned out to be something different than we expected – oak trees instead of tomato plants, thorny roses instead of delicate poppies. So how do we find those seeds buried deep within us and make sure they get the nutrients they need?
Dream like a kid:
Give yourself time to flop down on the grass and watch the clouds.Make a mess for the fun of it.
Do anything you would’ve loved to do as a kid: When we practice being limitless and free, our thoughts become limitless and free as well. When our thoughts become limitless and free, our lives become limitless and free.
Make it visual:
Get out your glitter and glue.Finally make that vision board or any kind of visual representation of what you want out of life. Perhaps, you make a single 3D object or only post one quote. Remember: no rules or limits. Just put together a visual reminder of what is possible in your life. Think of it as your north star. If you can’t imagine where you want to go, you won’t know what direction to start moving in.
Do something wild everyday: We can get so hung up on how our dreams are too big or too impossible. We start living from a place of lack and fear – a place of “I can’t do that.” Be a little naughty. Be a little nutty.
Do something you’ve always wanted to do but you were afraid that it wasn’t sensible:
Eat a dragon fruit.Read a teen novel. Buy a hammock. Paint a wall orange. You don’t have to go jumping into the deep end of your dreams.Dog paddle out. Little risk by little risk. You’ll still get there.
Let go of the outcome:
Decide right now to love the process of moving in the direction of your dreams. My best friend and I never finished that movie. But it is still one of my most cherished memories. And, this year, I optioned my first screenplay and she became an amazingly creative elementary school teacher. Who knows what will happen? You will never lose your experiences. You will not be lesser for trying even if things don’t end up looking like you expected. Even if your roses don’t grow this year, enjoy getting your hands dirty in the rich, moist earth. Kids know the mess is half the fun and who cares about the result. So, remember what you already know. Reconnect to passion, not expectation.
Forget what other people think:
Following someone else’s path will lead you to fulfilling someone else’s dreams. Remind yourself that you are unique. You have your dhrama and other people have theirs. This is not a post on fulfilling your most vanilla dreams, your safest dreams, the dreams your mother approves of. This is a post about wild dreams. Wild dreams should ruffle a few feathers and raise a few eyebrows. Wild dreams should go tearing through the house. These dreams are not hemmed in by the captivity of convention. They’re not worried about being polite. They were born to run free and all you need to do is enjoy the ride.
Danielle Orner is a Cancer survivor, yoga teacher, vegan, actor and writer. She has explored yoga, veganism and living authentically to heal from cancer and see beauty in a completely different way. See more of her powerful life below!
Web: www.danielleorner.com
Facebook: Danielle Orner
Twitter: @DanielleOrner
Confessions from A Boho Fashionista: Go to your Guru! 3 Soulful Steps to Get Closer to Your Inner Guru
May 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment
They’ve got all the answers. Some wear beautiful scarves and gemstones from far off islands. They sing magical songs that speak to the sweetest part of your soul. She’s your yoga teacher, who can endlessly chatarunga with a little grin; She’s your green queen coach who whips up a kale smoothie in a snap. She sits silently, channeling peace and love through her third eye into her heart chakra. She’s your guru. We each have a guru that we adore with all of our bohemian hearts, but here’s the catch—the guru is you! You have access to an inner guru that’s inside of your yogi soul, and it just takes a few special steps to unlock her.
Here are my 3 Soul Steps to Get Closer to Your Inner Guru
It just takes a couple of moments each day to slow down and take a look at all of the extraordinary things in your life that you have to be grateful for. This is a practice, so when you’re firing up your ‘slowing down’ process, it can be tough. Don’t give up! Take a little but of time in the morning or before bed for your gypsy goddess-self to slow down and tap into all of the goodness in you. You’ll start to notice what a wonderful world your living in, and all of the guru qualities that you possess.
A modern day gypsy lifestyle has got bohemian babes moving pretty fast, and sometimes we don’t have the chance to listen up. What does this mean? It’s a little extension of your ‘slowing down’ practice, but this time you’re really getting to know your inner guru. Listening to all of the whispers and signs that appear on your auspicious path is an offshoot of slowing down. Suddenly you’ll notice inner encouragement when you slow down, listen up and trust yourself. Have you ever felt a whisper in you that told you everything was happening just as it was meant to? Did you ever just know that things were going to be ok? That’s your inner guru speaking to you, and that whisper (or shout!) happens when you listen up.
When we getting moving in ways that we feel passionate about, like dance, yoga, running, or hula-hooping, we’re getting into the flow. You may have noticed the last time you were breathing and moving, that you felt connected and things that didn’t make sense before suddenly fell right into place. This is because moving actually slows down your busy, boho-brain, and gives you the chance to get to know your inner self. Next time you find yourself questioning a decision, get moving, and notice the answers flowing.
We all have a guru (or two) that we love, but the real guru is you, boho babe. Take these 3 simple steps with you to connect back to your inner guru and get into the flow!
Peace, Love and Magic,
From your Resident Boho Fashionista, Libby. xx.
Miracles Now with Miracle Worker, Gabrielle Bernstein.
April 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment
We caught up with one of our favourite mala wearing, boho fashionista who is the queen of intention setting and has a thing or two to share about miracles. New York times bestselling author, Gabrielle Bernstein is just about to release her new, inspiring, book Miracles Now, and we got to chat with her about everything miracles! In light of the beautiful new book she’s releasing this month, we thought we’d share what she had to say about this life changing guide to miracles.
Tell us about your new book, Miracles Now.
I love this book and I’m so psyched to share it with you. Miracles Now helps readers lessen stress and find peace—FAST! I handpicked 108 techniques to combat our most common problems—from addiction and anxiety to burnout and resentment. The exercises are inspired by some of my greatest spiritual teachings. Throughout the book, I offer up spirit-based principles, meditations and practical tools to help readers bust through blocks to live with more ease. I break down each technique Spirit Junkie style—with meditations, assessment questions and step-by-step guidance—while incorporating lessons from the metaphysical text A Course in Miracles and Kundalini yoga. This book is meant for the busy, stressed person who simply wants to feel better fast.
How is Miracles Now different from all of your other books?
Each of my books has a unique format but a shared intention, which is to offer readers tools for releasing all the blocks to their true happiness and peace. Miracles Now shares that core intention through 108 short exercises that can be done anywhere, any time. This book is less self-reflective and more action oriented. I want it to put people into practice immediately so they can experience Miracles Now!
What made you write this book.
I write my books based on what I feel my readers need. I realized that so many people have packed schedules and lots to do, but they want to carve out a little time each day to create positive change and find peace in ways that are easy to follow and put into practice. In addition, I continuously witnessed my audience members and social media followers ask me for more practical tools to release their stress and boost their moods. People want to get to work and they want to feel better fast. This book is my response to that call.
The higher purpose of this book is to contribute to a greater global change. I believe that when more and more people begin to feel better, the positive collective energy supports the energy of the world. I believe that it is our collective energy that can save the world. This is the higher purpose for Miracles Now. I reinforce the book’s mission in its introduction, excerpted below:
Right now we’re in a special and powerful position, because the world is having a spiritual awakening. When energy speeds up there is no space for playing small, and nothing can remain hidden. At some point all lies are brought to the surface and truth comes forth no matter how hard we try to hide it. Cynics are filling the yoga studios and the spiritual choir is growing larger. There is a massive call for more lightworkers, and now is our time to rise up and bring more positivity to the world. When the masses begin to vibrate with an energy of love, the world will no longer be a container for war, violence and lies.
There are great Kundalini meditations throughout the book. Can you tell us more about them?
For this book I chose twelve of the most powerful Kundalini meditations for shifting your mood, changing your energy and reducing stress. I was mindful to include meditations that are easy for newcomers as I expect many of my readers may be new to meditation. A great meditation for beginners is what I’ve nicknamed Peace Is in Your Pulse. It improves your concentration and brings calm to even the most scattered mind.
Sit in Easy Pose (comfortably cross-legged on the floor) with a slight neck lock, which means your chin slightly down and your neck is straight.
Lightly close your eyes and focus on the space between your eyebrows (the third-eye point).
The mantra is Sat Nam (which means “truth identified”).
The hand position (mudra) is simple. Place the four fingers of your right hand on your left wrist and feel your pulse. The fingers are in a straight line, lightly pressed on the wrist so you can feel your pulse in each fingertip.
On each beat of your pulse, mentally hear the sound of Sat Nam.
This meditation is suggested for 11 minutes, but you can experience great benefits in just one minute. Practice it daily to develop your intuition and calm your mind.
Who is this book for?
This book is for anyone who wants to create positive change in their life. If you’re stressed out, anxious, fearful, stuck or simply ready to play bigger in your life, this book is for you.
If you have the slightest willingness to feel better, this book is for you.
It doesn’t matter where you are on your spiritual path. You can be a dedicated yogi with a 20-year practice, a hardcore cynic who thinks this stuff is woo-woo, or anywhere in between: No matter what, you’ll benefit a lot from these teachings. What’s most exciting about the book is that you can simply use one of the exercises on a daily basis and it WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. I say that with conviction.
How should the reader use the book?
This book is fun and interactive. You can read it from start to finish and soak up the concepts, but there are other ways to approach it. I feel that book can also act like a tarot deck. You can set an intention for yourself and then open the book to any page. Mark my words: You will ALWAYS get the guidance you need most in that moment.
I think the best way to use this book is to surrender to the exercises. Let your intuition guide you through each page. When you land on exercise that excites you, DO IT. Practice it for 40 days and master it. Then share it! These tools are meant to be shared. The last lesson in the book is that you are the guru. Miracles Now empowers you with life-changing tools that you can share with the world. When these tools become yours, they are yours to share.
What are the spiritual teachings that influenced the lessons in the book?
As a student and teacher of A Course in Miracles and Kundalini yoga and meditation, it has become my mission to translate these life-changing spiritual truths for all seekers. A Course in Miracles is a metaphysical self-taught curriculum based on the principle that when we choose love over fear we experience miraculous change. The Course emphasizes the practice of turning our fears over to the care of our inner guide and places strong emphasis on forgiveness. The Course teaches us that through the experience of forgiveness we will know true peace.
Kundalini is the yoga of awareness, which focuses on enhancing one’s intuition and strengthening the energy field. Kundalini aims to draw forth the creative potential of an individual to have strong values, be truthful and focus on compassion and consciousness.
It is a great honor to share the principles of both A Course in Miracles and Kundalini throughout this book. These tools helps the reader release everything that blocks their connection to their inner power. When you practice these techniques, fear melts away, inspiration springs up, and a sense of peace sets in. Most importantly, you build a relationship to the power within you — and this power connection is essential. The power I speak of is your connection to love. The more we tune into our own frequency of love, the more love will spread. When love is the trend there is no room for violence and war. Trust me when I say: Your practice is crucial in the awakening of the world. Each person’s energy matters.
In the book you use social media in a really cool way. Can you share about this?
I love this part! I boiled down each lesson into a 140-character description — or Miracle Message — which can be tweeted, pinned on Pinterest, posted on Facebook, or shared on Instagram. Each Miracle Message ends with the hashtag #MiraclesNow so readers can connect, share miracles and spread inspiration. And e-book readers can share right from their devices.
If any readers want to share the instagram/Pinterest quotes from the book they can download them here:
http://gabbyb.tv/miracles-now-assets
How can we become a Miracle-Worker?
The moment you invite miracles into your own life you become a miracle worker. It’s as though you accept a spiritual invitation to live a life beyond the fear and doubt that you once knew. Stay committed to your desire to live in love and strengthen your faith in miracles. Then share your story with those who are in need. Your miraculous story has the power to save lives.
Share with us your journey and how it led to where you are now
In my early twenties I ran a nightlife PR firm in NYC. On the outside everything looked great, but on the inside I was a mess. I was seeking happiness, security and self-worth outside of myself. I regularly stayed up till 5 or 6 a.m. partying, and thanks to cocaine I weighed about 98 pounds. My friends had tried an intervention, but it didn’t work. Then, one night, I finally let it go. I wrote in my journal, “I need help. God, Universe, whoever is out there … I surrender.” The next morning, October 2, 2005, I woke up to a loud inner voice that said, “Get clean and you’ll have everything you want.” I knew I had no other choice than to listen.
I am happy it happened the way it did. I found God in my own way. I got clean. My conscious surrender was when I asked for help in my journal. I received an answer right away, and I have been sober since that day. I was desperately looking for happiness, and I was seeking everything good—peace and happiness—outside of myself.
For the past eight years I’ve been on a powerful journey inward, expanding my intuition and shifting my perceptions of the world. Through my own personal journey I have been guided to teach others to do the same.
Order Gabby’s new book, Miracles Now TODAY, and get these three gifts from gabby:
Her ½ day workshop on Manifesting Miracles
- Her lecture on Living a Miraculous Life
- The audiobook intro to the book!
Click here for the gifts: www.gabbyb.tv/miracles
Find our soul sister, Gabrielle Bernstein here:
Web: www.gabbybtv.com
Facebook: Gabrielle Bernstein
Twitter: @GabbyBernstein
Instagram:@GabbyBernstein
A Chat with Laura from Martini Yoga
February 22, 2014 By Leave a Comment
What brought you to your mat for the first time?
At the time I didn’t know it, but I think what initially brought me to my mat during my college years was the need for self-love. As a teenager I played sports and danced ballet. Both of these physical activities were highly competitive and certainly contributed to my lack of self-esteem (along with the acne and BAD haircut). Now when I arrive on my yoga mat, I remind myself that yoga is not a competition and if I’m having an off day, I won’t be judged for it. In a world where we are constantly being told we are not enough, yoga allows me to find compassion for my authentic self. I am whole and perfect just as I am.
What inspires you?
Elephants. I love them and the fact that they are endangered breaks my heart. A couple years ago I had a vivid dream about elephants being poorly treated at a circus so I started teaching community classes in order to sponsor 10 elephants at a nature park in Thailand. Every time I get upset or frustrated about something petty in my life, I think of the elephants and what I can do to help support them more. Putting my energy into bigger issues helps me gain a greater perspective on the world.
What advice do you have for all the yogis out there?
Practice compassion, let go of guilt, look at the world with child-like wonder, passionately invent your perfect career, pay attention to the way your mind works through the tools of meditation and yoga, eat
lots of dark chocolate, get into nature at least once a day, and remember, the greatest practice of yoga is self-observation without judgement.
What is your favourite mala and why?
My favourite mala is the Swarovski Illumination Mala because it represents healing and self-love. I think that only when we love ourselves fully and freely can we then begin to radiate love outwards. The mala reminds me how deeply we are all connected as we are all on the same path of healing and harmony. When I lead yoga retreats, I do everything in my power to ensure that everyone in the group feels as loved, accepted, and empowered as possible in the time that we are together (even if I’ve never met them before!). I believe that when people feel loved and appreciated, they shine.
Stay connected to Martiniyoga,
Our interview with Angela Leigh
February 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
I am pretty sure in my past life I was a journalist as I love asking questions of those that inspire me. In fact, I love asking others what inspires them, drives them, lights them up, pulls at their heart strings and essentially what sets their soul on fire.
So, today, I answer a couple questions to see how the other shoe fits.
What brought you to the mat for the first time?
Stress. I was a big ball of anxiety. I was a young, ambitious, career-driven and emotionally-devoid woman who was subcounsciously craving a connection within myself that was clearly lacking. I was always looking outside for the answers…little did I know the answers were already within me. My soul sister, Suzy Nece, dragged me into the studio and within a few breaths & tears I was hooked. I uncovered an outlet to connect to myself in a way I hadn’t experienced before. I was able to turn off everything and be still, honest, raw, vulnerable and open to change. My practice is deeply special & personal…it is a mirror to my soul, it will never lie to me, it keeps me pure and focused.
How do you set intentions in life?
Intention evokes action.
Action creates change.
Change inspires growth.
Growth develops confidence.
Confidence trumps fear.
Fear loses to bravery.
Bravery is necessary to dream beyond what is comfortable.
I set intentions daily. To create pure intentions I changed my lens of life from fear to love. When I changed how I saw myself life became more clear, more fun and much more FULL.
Intentions are only as good as you are willing to take the actions to feel the change. And yes, that takes a leap of faith and probably a lot of courage. But I personally would rather feel the free fall than the safety of staleness.
What inspires me?
Vulnerability. I connect to authenticity. I respond to realness. I love hard. When the walls are down this heart opens up and it runs deep. That kind of connection truly inspires me to take action and create change. Our world is not going to fix itself. We need to share our stories, support one another and encourage everyone along the way.
What is your favorite mala & why?
There is a purity of the mind, body and soul that needs to be aligned to create intentions and that purity comes from self-acceptance. Without that pure, unconditional love for ourselves it is challenging to overcome obstacles that stand in our way of our intentions. This mala awakens that purity. And I love all things PURE.
-Angela Leigh
