Cleansing your Mala Beads

When is it time to cleanse my mala beads?

There is no right or wrong time to cleanse your mala, it’s all about following your intuition. If you feel your mala hasn’t been sending the right vibrations, or is misaligned with your intentions, it’s probably time to cleanse your beads. As you wear your mala beads they can pick up different vibrational frequencies given off by those you spend your time with, from how you personally have dealt with a situation + from the environment that you are in. If you feel that your mala isn’t giving you the positive energy that you need, it might be a sign that it is time to cleanse your mala beads and realign them with the proper intention in mind.

How-To-Cleanse-Your-Mala-Beads-Tiny-Devotions

How do I cleanse my mala beads?

Here are a few of our favorite ways to cleanse mala beads of their vibrational energy:

  • Place them under the sunlight or moonlight. This will help to recharge them and release any of the unwanted vibrations (don’t leave them too long – to avoid fading only place them in the light for a couple of hours). Leaving them in the sunlight/moonlight can also help to kick up their energetic qualities. Some say that to lay them out under the full moon can help to give a more natural, long lasting recharge.
  • Burning sage in the presence of your mala will also help to cleanse out any energies that don’t serve you.
  • Surround your mala with some of your favorite gemstones and allow them to give off their energy to your mala.
  • Chanting or other sound vibrations can also help to release negative energy.
  • Rinse your Mala in a bowl of warm water with a touch of sea salt.
  • Cleanse your Mala Beads in the ocean if you’re lucky enough to have the sea by your side! Our friend Natalie MacNeil shows us her favorite way of doing this here:

What’s next? Resetting your intentions:

After cleansing your mala, it’s time to reset its intention. It might be the same intention as before, or it may be a completely new one. Be sure to focus your energy into the mala of what it is you are trying to manifest. Do you need some more calm + relaxation in your life? Do you need guidance on your journey of motherhood? Are you looking to add more love + light into your relationships? Whatever it is you are trying to manifest, be clear with your intentions.

Happy cleansing + happy manifesting!

Manifest with the Full Moon

DIYCrystalGrid

Crystal grids are an arrangement of gemstones + crystals that are placed with intention to bring forth a desired energy. Start your Crystal Grid with cleansed crystals to ensure they’re fully energized and vibrating high.

The Full Moon brings upon a perfect time to charge your crystals with lunar energy. Place your crystals in a bowl and leave them under the moonlight. In the morning, your crystals will be fully cleansed and ready for intention setting.

Now it’s time to charge your crystals! We love infusing them with a specific, desired intention. Hold your gem between your palms, open your heart and raise your voice. Share your intentions with the world. When we feel supported, we feel empowered, confident and radiant.

Think about which Chakra the gemstones you are using will compliment. Each gem is believed to emit its own special vibration and healing energy. When worn near the Chakras, the energy centers of the body, this further inspires manifestation + intention setting. For example, Rose Quartz inspires unconditional love of all types. Amethyst vibrates peace + calm, while Clear Quartz is said to provide clarity and focus. Whatever you end up choosing, make sure they assist in your big picture goal.

The arrangement of your gemstones also counts! Placing gemstones pointed inward is said to attract inward energy, while the opposite is said to draw those energies out.

This mindful meditation practice is a fun, relaxing way to boost your mood and help you manifest your greatest desires.

Our Top Five Routines for a Healthy Inner Body with Health Guru, Marjorie Nass.

Herbs and SpicesThese practices are steeped in yoga’s health and wellness teachings, called Ayurveda, or knowledge of life. Our bodies are composed of the same five elements as the universe; space, air, fire, water and earth, and this wisdom connects us deeply to the world around us. By following simple rituals attuned to nature’s rhythms, the more connected to our body we become, and the more we learn how to trust its inherent wisdom.

1. Tongue Scraping

The tongue is the start of our digestive tract, through which it releases toxins overnight. First thing in the morning, gently scrape the surface of the tongue seven times, front to back, with a metal tongue scraper before brushing your teeth and before eating or drinking anything. Scraping also stimulates the channels of elimination, plus helps your breath stay fresh.

2. Hydrate  

Overnight, our body is hard at work to restore and repair, rest and digest, and we awaken dehydrated. It’s essential to begin the day with 16 ounces or more of warm filtered water, (before coffee or tea!) with an added squeeze of fresh lemon. Just like the earth, our bodies are about 70% water. Drinking warm/hot water on an empty stomach also promotes elimination so you start the day light and clear. Continue to sip water throughout the day to stay hydrated and promote healthy digestion.

3. Oil massage

Everything we put on our skin is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, so it’s vital to avoid any ingredients that we wouldn’t eat. Rub organic sesame or coconut oil all over your body before or during a shower or bath. The oil creates a barrier for the skin, literally shielding it from the outer environment. This ancient practice of self massage also reconnects us with the amazing body in which we live. Warm the oil first (place a small plastic bottle in hot water) and take more time to massage the oil into your body for an extra treat.

4. Eat your biggest meal at lunchtime.

Digestion is strongest in the middle of the day, so take that time to eat a larger meal. You’ll be more satisfied and fueled for the rest of the afternoon and less likely to crave snacks loaded with caffeine and sugar.

5. Make sleep a priority.

Following a good night’s sleep, everything in life feels more manageable. Get to sleep earlier so it’s dark during the majority of your time asleep. Sleep the same number of hours, but with more time before midnight, and you’ll feel more rested as the body is deeply aligned with the natural rhythms of day and night.

vatamalaMy Favourite Mala for a Healthy Inner Body

The Vata Mala. My daily routines are steeped in the wisdom of Ayurveda, yoga’s health and wellness guide. My dosha, or constitution, is primarily Vata, comprised of the elements of air and space. Vata governs movement, and living in the heart of New York City, I need all the extra grounding, centering energy I can get to balance my airy nature.

About Marjorie:

Marjorie Nass is a health and wellness guide who teaches how to live better in your body. She supports you in making simple lifestyle changes, from practicing therapeutic yoga techniques to aligning with nature’s daily and seasonal rhythms.

With extensive experience in yoga and Ayurveda practices, Marjorie offers customized wellness coaching; health workshops for yoga studios, health centers, and offices; yoga classes in NYC (public group classes as well as private and semi-private yoga); and yoga retreats in Costa Rica. Marjorie’s on a mission to help individuals increase energy and decrease stress by sleeping better and eating healthier. She created wellness and health programs so that you can feel amazing in body, mind, and spirit.  Her Reset and Renew 10 Day Program starts April 23rd.

Marjorie headshot-1Find more of Marjorie here:

Facebook: @marjorienass
Youtube: @marjorienass1
Twitter: @marjorienass

 

Finding your yoga pose personality with the Prairie Yoga Girls.

PrairieYogiYMCAThe Prairie Yoga Girls are taking the West by storm with their cheeky, hip, yoga inspired magazine Prairie Yoga Magazine.  These free spirited, imaginative gals know a thing or two about yoga, and they’re here to show us how to get creative through our yoga pose personalities! Check out what they had to share with us below.

To the naked eye, a yoga mat looks like an ordinary rubber workout accessory. But yogi girls know that our yoga mat is a sacred piece with endless potential. No matter where you roll it out, it can be your sanctuary from the daily grind, your journal with whom you share your secrets and fears, and the space you can achieve what you never thought possible.

Being creative gypsy spirits, we cannot help but appreciate how our yoga mats can act as a canvas, a place where personal expression is free, vulnerable, and authentic. The asanas you bring you to your mat, whether through personal practice or from the style of yoga class you choose to attend, are a reflection of who you are and where you are at in this very moment. So, what’s your yoga personality? We’d love to share ours with you!

Our yoga pose personalities are yin and yang, just like we are in business and in life!

Monique (Yin – Passive, Female energy, Moon)

I like to take my time to absorb. Experiences, feelings, people. My favourite kind of mornings are slow ones where I take my time to sip tea, stretch out on my mat and prepare for my day with meditation. My yoga practice definitely reflects my personality where I prefer deep, slow yin expressions. Restorative yoga is where I find I can recharge and connect to my creative, authentic self.

MountainMoniqueFavourite Asanas:
1. Water Fall orLegs Up the Wall Pose
2. Pigeon Pose

3. Savasana

Rachelle (Yang – Active, Male Energy, Sun)

I have a fiery, go-getter personality with a very active mind, full of ideas and opportunities that I actively spend my time chasing. Connecting each breath to movement on my mat acts as a moving meditation that focuses my monkey mind. I like to bring challenging arm balances and flowing mandala sequences to my classes and into my personal practice. By achieving silence through balance and strength on the mat, I am able to take that quiet, calm state off the mat and into my busy life.

Favourite Asanas:
1. Crow/Side Crow
2. Half Moon

3. Full Wheel

There you have it, in yoga (and in life) we are the yang to one another’s yin. Share in the comments below what your yoga pose personality is, we all have one!

Rachelle Taylor and Monique Pantel are the radiating beauties who run Prairie Yogi, an online community that believes in storytelling, creating experiences, and building community in the expansive prairie region and beyond.

 
shantiConnect with their community, including unique events and inspiring art and yoga wear:
Instagram: @PrairieYogi

Confessions from a Boho Fashionista: Get Moving and Get Meditating!

tddanceHey Boho Beauties,

It’s not all pretzel shaped seated positions, quiet yoga rooms and closed eyes. Meditation can happen anytime, anywhere. And get this, goddesses: it’s a serious game changer in so many ways.

My favourite way to meditate is when I’m moving. That’s right gypsy babes, I meditate when I’m cutting up collard greens, brushing my teeth in the a.m, and cruising to class mid-day.  You see, meditation is all about breathing, slowing down your thoughts and turning inward, so get ready to move and make meditation fun!

Here are my top 3 Fav ways to meditate while I move:

1.Dancing

Bohemian fact: most gals love to dance (hip-hop, freestyle, interpretive, you name it!).  Next time your breaking a sweat in your living room or at the studio, match your breath to those sweet movements and think about two things that you are seriously grateful for. Turn this into a gratitude meditation so that body, breath and mind are all connected in a big boho dance.

2.Cooking

Preparing food for yourself and the ones you adore is a spiritual practice on it’s own. You’re making food from your hands and offering it to yourself and the people you care for. Combine this with some loving thoughts and deep breaths and you’ve got yourself a recipe for relaxation. Next time your prepping in your kitchen, match your movements with slow inhales and longer exhales. Think of who you’re making this divine dish for and the nutrients you’ll be providing for them.

3. Big Walks in the Great Outdoors

Think of the last time you took a walk outside. Felt fab, right? That’s because we were meant to be in nature! Find a friend, go outside and get to your breath. Think about what makes you thankful for that friend and infuse those thoughts into your long breaths in and slow breaths out.  Walks outside are super rad because you get to drink in all that’s good for you in nature. So go, beauties, grab a pal and breathe big on your walk outside.

visionarymalaI’ve made moving and meditating a staple in my life. It’s such a great way to keep close to my intentions and stay grounded.  All of this breath talk makes me want to get moving, so I’m heading off to do just that. Next time you’re in the mood to get connected, put your Visionary Mala on and start moving!

 

Peace, Love and Magic from Bohemia xx

A Green Girl’s St.Patrick’s Day Guide

PistachioShamrockSpread3

A Green Bohemian Gal always has a few tricks up her sleeve when there’s a special event to attend. We’re so excited to serve this delicious Pistachio Shamrock Spread for our St.Patricks day festivities tomorrow! If you like this appetizer or you have a great one you love, share it in the comments below!

Bohemian Ingredients:
1/2C Pistachios
1 TBSP Lime Juice
1 Large Avocado
1/2 TBSP Apple Cider or White Vinegar
1TBSP Lime Juice
5 Basil Leaves
2 Cloves of Garlic

Sea Salt to taste

Easy Steps:

1. In a food processor or high speed blender, blend the pistachios into a course texture with the lime juice and sea salt. Then place in a bowl to the side.

2. Next in the food processor puree the following ingredients:

1 Large Avocado
1/2 TBSP Apple Cider or White Vinegar
1TBSP Lime Juice
5 Basil Leaves

2 Cloves of Garlic

3. In a bowl combine the mixtures from 1 & 2. Serve with Crackers, Corn Chips, Cucumber, or Green apple Slices!

Special Thanks to Amberlea for this amazing recipe 😉

Peppermint Mocha

Put on the fire, grab your favourite book and throw a warm blanket around yourself as you warm up with a delicious peppermint mocha.

PeppermintMochaThank You Amberlea for this amazing recipe. Follow her here: amberleak.com

Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice – Spa Sunday

Happy Sunday!
Take time for yourself today.
 
After a long week there is nothing better than a cup of David’s Tea and a Pumpkin Spice Latte Hand and Foot Scrub.
 

Beachy Hair Tutorial

Ever wonder how those celebrities and effortless beauties get those gorgeous perfectly waved locks? For those of us without a bajillion-dollars-an-hour-stylist on hand…we would love to know how to perfectly coif our hair into a beach bum inspired mane. Who doesn’t love that flowy look?

Our fave girls over at Tone it Up created a tutorial to teach you how to achieve that California look. I mean, it helps that they’re BABES…but we’ll keep tryin to get that sun kissed look!

Click here to watch and learn, boho beauties.

Humble Hippie Granola | The Bohemian Baker

Today’s post comes from our favourite health nut, Ange Peters…you can find her here over at Hol: Fit

This is a bit of Ange’s story, taken from her website:
“My Father died of cancer when I was 10 and then 6 years later my sister died of Leukemia. Going through these experiences at such a young age caused me to see how important it is to take the best care possible of my health. We’ve all heard the saying that “knowledge is power” and the way I take that is that it’s so important that we are our own HEALTH ADVOCATES. There is no doctor, government agency or politician that is really looking to give you the best life you can have. You have to educate yourself & ask the right questions because there is always ways to be better….to live your best life!”

Now for the FOOD!
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Before you can change the world…you should probably eat a decent breakfast.
As a health nut & foodie, there are 3 criteria a recipe must meet in order for me to take it ‘off the pan & into the world’

  • it must be nourishing to my senses & my cells
  • it must look pretty
  • and it must absolutley be worth sharing

Well my fellow adventrure seekers, I am about to introduce you to the last granola recipe you will ever need.

HUMBLE HIPPIE GRANOLA
the humbleness of this granola is due to all the superfood goodness that lies in such a simple looking mason jar of goodness. If this granola could talk it would say “eat me and expect miracles”…

1 cup flaked oats
1 cup uncooked buckwheat groats
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
1/2 cup chia seeds
1 cup raw almonds, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup hemp seeds
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/4 cup raw walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup goji berries
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup melted coconut oil

Method:
Set oven to 225
As oven is warming up, place coconut oil in a glass measuring cup inside the oven to liquify it

In large mixing bowl, combine everything except for the maple syrup & coco oil. Mix well

Mix maple syrup into melted coconut oil. Pour over dry ingredients.

Spread onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 60 minutes. During this time, reflect upon the people in your life that you’d like to gift with some Humble Hippie Granola. You know the ones….they inspire greatness into your life.

Get out about 4 mason jars {as boho babes – we love to re-use glass jars for just this purpose}. Take your awesome creation out of the oven & let cool down before breaking off into pieces into the jars.

Best served over a dollop of coconut mylk yogurt with chopped organic apple & a big mug of chai rooibos tea.

Nutritional Info:

Thanks Ange!
You can find Ange here Facebook, Twitter, and on Youtube!