Nirvana in a Nutshell (Scott Shaw)

Absent Reality.
How many times have you been driving to some location, only to realize that you do not remember traveling the last several miles?
How many times have you eaten a meal, never tasting a bite?
How many times have you become aware, in the middle of an experience, and realized you are living it but not truly experiencing it?
Due to the onslaught of the modern world, many people have unconsciously come to block out how their bodies and minds truly experience anything in any given moment. This leads to a life lived without an interaction with self.
Without the interaction of self, life passes by in a blur, and realizations are left to those who wish to touch their moment.

Nirvana in a Nutshell (Scott Shaw)

Many of life's ongoing experiences become accepted discomfort.
When you were a child and you did not like something, most likely you expressed your dicontent by crying.
As you grew up, you learn to temper your feelings and accept situations you do not particularly feel comfortable in: jobs, living conditions, dysfunctional relationships, and the like.
If you relate this understanding to the average person, they will simply tell you, "That's Life" or "You've grown up."
But, is that what life is about--acceptance of discomfort?
Many people personally direct their bodies into discomfort by working out in a gym or sitting for untold hours in meditation.
Is this truly a pathway to a healthier body and a more enlightened mind?
If you step outside of what is expected of you, if you move beyond what society has guided you to do, you will find a completely different world--defined by a completely new set of rules--a place where there are no rules.

With God everything is possible Part Four

Move in supernatural, miracle power. This is the best news of all--your miracle isn't limted by your strength, power or abilities. It all beelongs to God. And there's nothing that He can't do. Joel Osteen
Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway. ~Mary C. Crowley

Enjoying Monday Morning

I take nothing for granted. I now have only good days, or great days.
Lance Armstrong, famous cyclist
"With confidence, you have won before you have started"
-Marcus Garvey.
How many times have you heard people dread the beginning of the work week? I feel too many times. Hearing negative feelings gives birth to more negative feelings until finally, Monday is a bad day.
We create our own lives by our thoughts. We could praise Monday and be thankful we have the opportunity to live through another Monday and perhaps another week. Living positive creates a positive life. Go ahead. Give it a try. Be the person with Hope that everyone is looking for!

With God everything is possible Part Three

Decide in His wisdom the best possible moment to come through.
Many people want this job because no one wants to wait a second longer than they have to. But the truth is, God knows exactly when it's time - not just a good time, but the right time. He's ot usually early, but He's never late. Joel Osteen
Fortunately analysis is not the only way to resolve inner conflicts. Life itself still remains a very effective therapist.
Karen Horney

Importance of drinking water

During a massage today, a client told me that she heard on the radio, if you drink 2 glasses of water before getting out of bed in the morning, it may cure chronic headaches. After hearing this I thought I would do some research and listed below are a few other things water does.
•Regulating and maintaining body temperature through perspiration.
•Moistening tissues such as those of the eyes, ears, nose and throat.
•Lowering the burden on the kidneys and liver by flushing out toxins and other waste products.
•Protecting body organs and tissues.
•Serving as a medium for various biochemical reactions that occur in the body
•Lubricating joints.
•Helping to prevent constipation.

Stay in Faith: Part two

More from Joel Osteen, Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas
You're going to have plenty of opportunities to get discouraged and give up. Jesus performed all kinds of miracles in different places for different people with different circumstances. But the one thing they all had in common was a man or a woman who kept trusting in faith.

Be not afraid of greatness, some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
William Shakespeare

Joel Osteen: 4 Keys to Receiving a Miracle

Part One:
If you want to receive a miracle, it begins with believing not only that God's able to do them, but that He wants to. Negative thinking and a cynical mindset will keep you from experiencing God's best.
This message comes from Joel Osteen out of Lakewood Church, Houston, TX
There will be more to come.

Is Yoga a Full Body Workout?

Coming from a full line of history exercise, I have found that Yoga has got me in the best shape I have ever been in. I have exercised since the day I was born and I am pretty sure I have done it all. Then I found yoga and felt I needed nothing else. I still love to swim with my dogs and walk my dogs...
When I teach yoga, people always ask, "Are we working the abs today?" My answer is always, "Yes." If you are properly practicing yoga, you are working your abs. Many, if not all, poses require ab strength. There are some like Boat that work the abs but plank, triangle and many more help too. It takes strong abs to hold a balance pose whether on your feet or on your arms/hands. There are also poses that purposely work the abs for you. I feel there is no need to constantly worry about one body part when we have so many we need to focus on. When we focus on the body as a whole, that keeps our body in balance and harmony. That is what yoga does. It focuses on the body as a whole. So, dig in and have fun!!!!
'A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.' Mark Twain

Music to my ears

Believe it or not there is a definition out there about that statement.
If something someone says is music to your ears, it is exactly what you had wanted to hear. Music is an important substance in our lives. We pay poeple millions/year to make music for us. We use it for all purposes in our lives. Believe it or not, it has many healing properties to our mind and body. It affects blood pressure, heartbeat, boosts the immune system, reduces muscle tension improving body movement and coordination, generates a feeling of safety & well being, improves your attitude and the end of a stressful day and on and on and on.
It's no wonder we pay those people so much money. When I clean the house I prefer AC/DC and when I soak in the tub I like something soothing and calming. When I shop I really like Gwen Stefani, Cindy Lauper, Madonna, or someone spunky like them. What does this music do for me? It keeps me in the mood and gets the job done. So, next time you have something to do that isn't what you prefer to do, be particular about the music you choose. It could make or break the moment,

Meditation

I think people hear the word meditation and freeze up. This makes me feel that there is a lot of confusion about meditation. I practiced meditation at an Ananda Retreat a couple of years back. It wasn't too difficult for me to sit still and be quiet as I fell asleep every time. I got the idea I was way too tired and didn't take the time to sit still enough.
It's hard for many of us to purposely sit still for any length of time. And then when you add meditation to sitting still it becomes a little harder. Let me help you out with some of this.
The last time you sat in a chair and quietly watched the birds outside the window, you were meditating. The last time you sat on the porch quietly in the morning and listened to the song the birds were singing, you were meditating. The last time you got on your knees and prayed for any length of time, you were meditating. The last time you laid in the sun quietly, you were meditating.
So, the next time you take some time out for yourself and go sit quietly but not asleep, you are giving your mind and body some healing time. Don't think of it as meditation. Think of it as a time out!

Vegetable Super Juice (Detox Recipe)

Vegetable Super Juice
Serves 2

This juice is a popular one for breakfast as it gives your energy levels a boost, wakens your digestive system while giving your body a nutrition, yet gentle start to the day.

Ingredients:

1 whole cucumber
4 sticks of celery
2-4 handfuls of spinach
8 lettuce leaves
Any other greens!
Optional boosters: parsley and fresh alfalfa sprouts

Juice all ingredients and mix 50/50 with distilled water. Add optional lemon juice to taste and Prime pH to boost the alkalinity of the juice.

Yoga for Stress?

When I first started practicing yoga, I got very excited and started looking for all the DVD's that offered yoga lessons. As I was looking I found DVD's designed for all issues in life. I felt I didn't need to lose weight, make my back feel better, reduce stress or any of the other healing methods they could come up with. So, I bought the ones for beginner's and intermediates. It is difficult find a DVD for advanced students. That's because there are more beginner's than there are advanced.
After a couple years of practicing, I decided I wanted to teach yoga. I took a weekend certification and was starving for more information. A weekend was not near enough time to learn to teach yoga. Since I didn't have much opportunity for advanced teaching in my area, I started to buy those DVD's for certain troubles in our life that I mentioned earlier. I found that most of them (not all of them) were a basic yoga class. Unless there was a chair to sit on or something you wouldn't typically use in a general yoga class, they were a typical yoga class that you could practice at any yoga place near you. Let's face it. Practicing general yoga (that's a yoga anyone can do) will heal your body of many issues that you may be having. Be sure to check with your physician to be sure it is right for you and join the next yoga class and see what everyone is talking about.
Since the first weekend training I achieved my 200 hour registered Yoga Alliance certificate. I am now an ERYT (E = Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher).

Feeling Happy

Every Sunday morning I wake up, turn on the TV, and listen to Joel Osteen. I find that to be the best day of the week. I used to try to avoid looking forward to Sunday because it is the last day off before I have to return to work. Joel is very uplifting and is filled with hope. Something we all seem to need a lot of these days. After 30 minutes of Joel I feel fulfilled and able to face the last day off before the week begins. He teaches me to not dread the day but live in it and give thanks.
I opened my Yoga Journal magazine the other day and they had an article on feeling happy. It is titled, Im so happy for you. It teaches you that by giving praise to others will help to lift your feelings also. It also discusses how we envy our lucky friends instead of taking delight in their good fortune. I felt like I was listening to Joel again. I enjoyed the article. It is much more calming to be delightful than to have to hang on to negative emotions. Instead of, "It's Monday again...try to tell yourself how much you love Mondays. Find the good things in the day. Tell your friend who has let you down how great they look and what a good friend they are. Focus on the positive and you will feel positive the rest of the day, week, or month. Keep your mind positive and good fortune will come your way. Just ask Joel Osteen and Yoga Journal.
P.S. I have also found that receiving monthly massages and practicing yoga daily has a positive effect on life also....

Detox /soup

Broccoli Soup
For serving of 4

•14 ounce of vegetable broth
•2 cups of water
•1 pound of broccoli, chopped
•1 cup of sliced carrots
•1 onion, sliced into rings
•1 teaspoon salt
•½ teaspoon of ground black pepper
1.Add broth and water in saucepan and boil it with high heat
2.Add broccoli, carrots, and onion
3.Add salt and pepper
4.Simmer for 30 minutes until vegetables become tender
5.To make it creamy, you can blend it in a blender

Client quote of the day

During the week we work like we're in control and at the end of the week we pray like we are in control. Amen to that!
That is why I became such addicted to yoga and massage. It gives me time to slow down and find out what it is like to relax and let go. We need to understand that we cannot control our situation at all times but we can control our reactions, thoughts and the way we live. Our choices and our thoughts are our lives. I found through yoga first what it was like to focus on one thing only and to let all the little irritations from the day just slip away. And then I discovered that massage does it better by giving me that free mind for many days after the massage. When the body feels good, so does the mind.

Another Great Detox Recipe

Cilantro Lime Hummus

Ingredients
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
14 oz canned chickpeas, drained & rinsed
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup tahini
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
Juice of 2 limes


Directions
Combine all ingredients into blender, except olive oil. Start to blend and add olive oil slowly. Add a little lime zest. That's it! Enjoy! Serve with corn tortilla chips or pita wedges.

Per two tablespoons: 94 calories, 8 g. fat, 1 g. sat. fat, 6.7 g. carbs, 1.4 g. fiber, 1.7 g. sugar, 2 g. protein

Massage Quote of the Day

Yesterday while I was giving a client a therapeutic massage, he let his true feelings about massage release. He suddenly bursted out during the session, "I don't know how I lived my life before massage!"
I often feel the same way after receiving a therapeutic massage. After the massage, my body floats to my car and away I go. Suddenly, my mind and body are at ease. Nothing can stir my mind at that point. But it's not the same day that is so wonderful, it's also the days following the massage. For example, Monday morning when I began to work I realized my neck and shoulders didn't hurt anymore. Then it occurred to me that I had just received a massage a few days earlier. The massage lasts for many days afer receiving the massage. I always repeat receiving the massage one to two days per month. Who would want to miss out on the most relaxing day of your life?

Yoga & Weight Loss

I have been into fitness since the day I was born. My family promoted physical fitness and trained my mind well to stick with it all of my life. People tend to think that people who participate in fitness have no trouble dealing with weight or eating habits. This has been a proven misconception in my lifetime of fitness. It wasn't until I started practicing yoga in 1999 that I began to feel better about food and body image. After the first year, I started wearing clothes that fit my body and didn't hang off of me. After two years my husband said,"I know why you are staying so thin. It's the yoga." I told him of course, he was nuts but later proven wrong. My food choices have become lighter. Sweets aren't so tempting and I am more mindful about how much I eat and what I put in my mouth in one sitting. I tend to snack all day because feeling full makes me feel sick. Now I need to tell my husband he was right. I have read studies that even the simplest yoga class can help a person maintain weight and increase their mindful eating habits. It is important to practice yoga regularly to gain this type if sense about your body. Regularly means at least 3 times a week or more.

Warm Asparagus & Courgette Salad Detox recipe con't

6-10 hazelnuts
250g (8oz) bunch of asparagus
1 large handful of salad leaves
½ large courgette
salt & black pepper

For the Dressing:
½ tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp clear honey
juice of ½ small lemon
1 tsp olive oil

Chop the hazelnuts and then dry-roast them in a non-stick pan; when they start to smell toasted, remove the pan from the heat.
Fill a large pan with water and put it on to boil. Trim the woody ends from the asparagus and then discard them (they can go toward vegetable stock if you wish). Cut the remaining stems halfway along and put the thicker, lower halves into the boiling water for 3 minutes. Now add the rest of the asparagus to the pan of boiling water and cook for 2 minutes.
Make the dressing:
Whisk the mustard, honey, lemon juice and olive oil together until smooth. Arrange the salad leaves on a plate.
Meanwhile, make long strips of courgette with a potato peeler; discard any which are entirely peel and also get rid of the rather seedy core. Add the strips to the asparagus and cook for a further minute.
Drain and allow to cool briefly until the asparagus can be handled, and then arrange both the asparagus pieces and the courgette strips on top of the salad leaves. Whisk the dressing once more and drizzle it over everything, season with salt and black pepper and scatter the hazelnuts on top. Serve immediately.