tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84726502696933253612024-02-19T08:28:08.081-08:00Spoiled YogiYoga blog featuring yoga poses, yoga humor, yoga tips, yoga product reviews, and more!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.comBlogger361125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-56225942826682218222016-01-26T06:24:00.002-08:002016-01-26T07:05:17.337-08:00Why Yoga is My Secret Sauce for ProductivityLife with a small child is a lot of things: It is messy. It is exhausting. It is frustrating. It can be very loud. And in some moments, life with a little one is so sweet and fulfilling that it feels like your heart could burst right open (because, truly, you're not sure if it can contain the overwhelming love you feel.).<br />
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Oh, yes, and it is also definitely very busy, too.<br />
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There is one thing, however, that life is definitely <i>not </i>when you are the parent of a baby, toddler, or small child: <b><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2012/06/rules-for-happier-and-more-productive.html">Productive</a>.</b> At least not in a check-stuff-off-your-to-do-list-like-a-boss kind of way. It is definitely not that most of the time. There are times that that really bothers me. I feel sorry for myself because it's like my ability to be the tiniest bit competent, organized, productive, member of society left my body sometime while I was giving birth to my daughter. Like, maybe it came out with the placenta or something? I don't know what happened to it. But I certainly don't have it any more.<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-yoga-practice-for-mommy-brain.html">A Yoga Practice for Mommy Brain</a></div>
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It regularly takes me several hours to do simple tasks that once took me 30 minutes. When had a baby, I couldn't get things done very well because I had the kind of baby who wanted to be held every second of every day. (And, let's be honest, I'm the kind of mom who kind of wants to hold her baby every second of every day and let everything slide.)<br />
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When my girl was learning to stand on her own and walk, I'd pile laundry up on the couch to fold and put away. When I turned my back for a second to pick up something, I'd see that the entire pile (both folded and unfolded piles, mind you) had been pulled into a big heap on the floor.<br />
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Now that my daughter is in preschool, she says, "I just want you to PLAY with me," literally no less than 28 times a day. (I counted once.)<br />
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I'm not going to lie. I've given up on getting shit done more than a few times in the 3 1/2 years I've been a mama. What's the point?<br />
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Sometimes I need to remind myself of this: I feel better about myself (more confident, more energetic, and less stressed out) when my life isn't in a constant state of havoc. Feel better when I'm getting things done that are important to me and I feel like I'm making some progress, both as a mom, a yoga teacher, a writer, a business owner, and all the 15,003 other things I want to be in life.<br />
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How do I manage to make time for it all?</div>
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I've found a secret sauce that helps me get my head on straight and get. shit. done. It doesn't require me to keep a calendar or any complicated list system (though I do love a good to-do list). It isn't about dropping everything that's important to my family and home life in order to<br />
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<h3>
5 Ways Yoga Can Help Boost Your Productivity</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bozdoz/6199775048/in/photolist-arRt8f-f4W2tE-wxRKV-nWsewd-as7xQ1-nHe51m-aw8kL4-7xGTuN-aDqjSu-nNQzsf-tvftJ4-55Ym6X-adVaxj-fokbE8-foztnq-fqVCNR-jERDni-9L93wQ-fQ8zrN-fuTFc4-fNBYLF-fJ9pbm-pBhb9g-fHRQtp-72t18C-nVsomS-fEVu4Y-fNBYKe-dCwiQa-ah7vXK-yVLAG8-yDaJcs-yDaK2d-yUL8Yw-xYJiHS-pv27VU-ahK29q-rgWreN-nReADJ-nN2yUX-nvxv5r-aPVqsk-8tus85-fHdFHY-onnCFr-563vVN-9L93xY-fxW5FA-9L93Ed-au8CnW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Benjamin J. DeLon</a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bozdoz/6199775048/in/photolist-arRt8f-f4W2tE-wxRKV-nWsewd-as7xQ1-nHe51m-aw8kL4-7xGTuN-aDqjSu-nNQzsf-tvftJ4-55Ym6X-adVaxj-fokbE8-foztnq-fqVCNR-jERDni-9L93wQ-fQ8zrN-fuTFc4-fNBYLF-fJ9pbm-pBhb9g-fHRQtp-72t18C-nVsomS-fEVu4Y-fNBYKe-dCwiQa-ah7vXK-yVLAG8-yDaJcs-yDaK2d-yUL8Yw-xYJiHS-pv27VU-ahK29q-rgWreN-nReADJ-nN2yUX-nvxv5r-aPVqsk-8tus85-fHdFHY-onnCFr-563vVN-9L93xY-fxW5FA-9L93Ed-au8CnW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">g</a></td></tr>
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<b>1. Yoga teaches you to focus on one thing at a time.</b> You can't think about other things when you're in the middle of a challenging yoga pose. You just can't. The better I get at focusing on one thing at a time, the more often I manage to find that sweet spot of intense concentration when I am able to get things done quickly and efficiently. I've noticed the more frequently I practice yoga, the more frequently that happens.<br />
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<b>2. Yoga gives you more energy.</b> Sometimes it seems to give me more energy simply because it's a way for me to spend some time alone and focus on my own needs for once (something that mamas don't do nearly enough!). But when I'm feeling particularly sluggish, I practice a sequence I know will give me energy—sun salutations with some hopping, backbends, and an inversion or two, and I'm usually rearing to go on whatever project I need to work on.<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/10-ways-to-make-more-time-for-yoga.html">10 Ways to Make More Time for Yoga</a><br />
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<b>3. Yoga is a natural mood enhancer. </b>When was the last time you were feeling down-in-the-dumps depressed, but you still managed to fly through the tasks on your to-do list? Never? Yeah, me too. When I'm in a good mood, I naturally just have more energy for the things that inspire me, which gives me more energy to do even more (it's the best kind of slippery slope!)<br />
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<b>4. Yoga teaches you to stop wasting your energy on things that don't matter.</b> How often does your yoga teacher tell you to "soften your eyes" or "relax your jaw"? Pretty often, probably. That's because most of us are pros at using our energy in all the wrong ways. If you're tensing your shoulders during a standing pose, you're creating unnecessary tension and wasting energy. It took some time for me to bring this lesson into my daily life, but I'm slowly becoming more aware of all the ways I create unnecessary tension and waste my energy in my life. When I'm not wasting my energy on things that don't matter (worrying about what other people think, for instance) I have more to use on the things I want or need to accomplish. And I have yoga to thank for that.<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2016/01/how-competition-is-zapping-your-energy.html">How Competition is Zapping Your Energy and Ruining Your Life</a><br />
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<b>5. Yoga will help you get better sleep.</b> I know, I know. If you're a mama, sleep as you once knew it is a thing of the past. Maybe your little one is up every hour to nurse or maybe you're just still on high alert on night, listening for any noise that might need your attention. But think about it. Yoga helps you exert some excess energy physically, tire your muscles, and help your brain chill the heck out. If that doesn't give you the best chance at some decent shut eye (at least between feedings) I don't know what will. A good night's sleep is essential to a productive day in the morning.<br />
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Now, I want to hear from you. Does yoga help you get more checked off your to-do list? Tell me how by commenting below.<br />
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Read more …<br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2011/04/5-ways-to-make-your-lunch-break-more.html">5 Ways to Make Your Lunch Break "More Yogic"</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2012/06/rules-for-happier-and-more-productive.html">Rules for a Happier (More Productive) Life</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2010/09/5-habits-to-break-right-now.html">5 Habits to Break, Right Now!</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-1844972743618859732016-01-21T06:49:00.000-08:002016-01-21T06:49:01.623-08:00To the Mother Who Recently Had a Miscarriage There are SO many things to love about teaching prenatal yoga. Pregnancy is such an exciting time filled with unexpected joys and incredible growth (and I'm not just talking about that adorable belly). I love seeing the birth announcements. I love celebrating the healthy, beautiful babies that my students bring into the world. I hope I've made the transition to motherhood a little bit softer for those moms and babies who have practiced <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2010/06/5-things-every-yoga-student-should-know.html">yoga and mindfulness</a> with me.<br />
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But there's a dark side of pregnancy that people choose not to think about much. You know what I'm referring to. One in five of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. As a prenatal yoga teacher, I see many joyful photos of moms with healthy babies (and each one warms my heart in a BIG way). But it's the messages from moms who have lost their babies that truly haunt me.<br />
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I keep in close contact with my students. I check in often. Sometimes, I get sad news in response.<br />
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<i>There was no heartbeat. The baby came too soon. Everything was quiet.</i><br />
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There are no words.<br />
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I offer my condolences. I usually never hear from them again.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2a5mo7xyfDbenvw-lJNoHuDB3NlV1iqWwA5lsR2j2gCntwejoRkXFoU-evFaqbua9i2BzqATRFT3rFvpJTpcO8QtQywYlofyeSFXfGQTdBzwLjF4DtOUWGRvvg3yw_iomM4pELKH2e2yo/s1600/to+the+mama+who+recently+experienced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Words of encouragement for women who have recently had a miscarriage—from a mom who's been there | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2a5mo7xyfDbenvw-lJNoHuDB3NlV1iqWwA5lsR2j2gCntwejoRkXFoU-evFaqbua9i2BzqATRFT3rFvpJTpcO8QtQywYlofyeSFXfGQTdBzwLjF4DtOUWGRvvg3yw_iomM4pELKH2e2yo/s640/to+the+mama+who+recently+experienced.jpg" title="Words of encouragement for women who have recently had a miscarriage—from a mom who's been there | SpoiledYogi.com" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/leehaywood/6563902327/in/photolist-b12HtM-CcC3ip-CUBoWB-AMkeX-8xJ8Ev-8qtaVM-7xRiKw-8yCDgQ-8gYKug-2m12C5-9xji7E-mDEcgp-9kmkHk-dwtDYK-47PbVj-mDEf36-efCMHU-ntskqF-cAVVnY-dbCfJc-aDThu9-9VsQp8-8qvQQZ-a693Wg-89FDDd-o88GS-bzeCUC-r1vpXx-pvhiwR-rT4Sv7-b36aZz-5i1B8c-pqzQq4-pAtKtE-7VckEv-kHEXtL-eCjay-6bY29h-oW8pag-a32ug-ApZC2H-pk5SMn-8owpfc-oW8sDk-pArbED-hQECeL-9noFt8-opDEPm-AMkc9-u4uqWX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lee Haywood</a></td></tr>
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These sweet mamas will not be back to my yoga class. I take their names off my email list so they won't get any unwanted reminders of their loss. But I remember each and every one.<br />
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It's been just about a year since I had a miscarriage of my own. I remember how I felt. Sad. Confused. Angry. Lonely. Hopeless. I felt like I wanted to forget. But I wanted to remember, too.<br />
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Most of all, I was shocked. I never thought a miscarriage would happen to me. I wasn't of "advanced maternal age." I had no health problems. I wasn't overweight. I was healthy, so I expected a healthy pregnancy. And when things didn't happen the way I had planned, I was absolutely crushed.<br />
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<i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/03/coping-after-miscarriage.html">Healing After a Miscarriage</a><br />
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In many ways, I'm still grieving that loss. While I hate getting messages from those mamas who have lost their babies before they were able to hold them, these messages also give me a small amount of comfort because they remind me that I'm not alone. Because I've met these women and seen their faces, miscarriage is no longer just a statistic to me. I've see first-hand that not only is this something that is incredibly common, but it happens to woman of all ages, all colors, all shapes and sizes, all levels of health and wellbeing.<br />
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Here's what I wish I could say to those mamas who have <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/03/coping-after-miscarriage.html">recently had a miscarriage:</a><br />
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Dear mama,<br />
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There are some things I want you to know.<br />
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First of all, I am so sorry that you are going through this. It is hard. Really REALLY hard. I know because I've been there. (And there are SO many other women who have been there, too. I know sometimes it doesn't seem that way because so many women grieve silently, but it's true.)<br />
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No matter how many articles you read, or how many doctors you see, or how many times you google the word "what causes miscarriage," you will never find any logical explanation for why this happened. Often there is no rhyme or reason. No pattern. Nothing will provide you with an adequate answer. Keep searching if it helps you with the grieving process, but know that YOU DID NOTHING WRONG. Do I need to say that again? <i>You. did. NOTHING. wrong. </i><br />
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Actually, I'm going to assume that you did everything right. You loved your baby. You daydreamed about what your life would be like after your little one is born. You were ready to make room, both in your body and in your life, for this person you already loved (and always will love!) so much. Even if this was your first pregnancy, you are a wonderful mama. You will always be a wonderful mama.<br />
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I hope you'll let yourself grieve as long and as much as you need to. Let yourself feel all the feelings that are coming up for you right now, in the coming months, and even years. There are no wrong feelings. You may be angry at the universe, angry with your body, and angry at the circumstances, but please be kind to yourself. Take care of yourself. If yoga and meditation is an interest for you, dive all in! These practices can help you cope and help you process what has happened.<br />
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I hope you'll share the news of your loss, and I hope you'll talk about it frequently. Not only is it good therapy to talk about what you're going through, but it opens the door so that others can share their experiences with you, too. Let their stories give you hope. Know that some day your story will give other mamas hope, too.<br />
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You are strong. You will get through this. You will still very likely have the life you've been daydreaming about one day.<br />
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But for now. Just take one day, one hour, one minute, one breath at a time.<br />
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Namaste,<br />
Erica<br />
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<b>Read more ...</b><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/03/coping-after-miscarriage.html">Healing After a Miscarriage</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/how-to-help-others-during-disasters.html">How to Help Others during Disasters: Loving Kindness Meditation</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/03/10-ways-youre-stressing-yourself-out.html">10 Ways You're Stressing Yourself Out</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/12/so-you-wanna-be-yoga-mama.html">So You Wanna Be a Yoga Mama?</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-13142451827798846462016-01-15T18:56:00.001-08:002016-01-15T18:56:31.516-08:00A Mama's Guide to Rocking a Yoga Home PracticeAaaaahhhh... You know that calm feeling you get at the end of a really good, long yoga practice?...<br />
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I'm feeling that right now because I just finished my home practice. I just gave myself a WHOLE hour to move, stretch, breathe, and just be in my body. It was glorious. And you know what? It almost didn't happen. About five minutes into my practice I hit the pause button (I'm a yoga video kind of girl). I looked at my phone and I thought to myself: <em>I could just knock out ONE more phone call, and then come back to this. </em><br />
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In yoga we call that distracted, unable-to-focus-on-one-thing-for-longer-than-a-few-seconds mind Monkey Mind. The idea is that your mind swings from one idea to the next like a crazed money swings from tree limb to tree limb. My mom friends and I know that it's also a symptom of being around small children with even smaller attention spans all day long, having a million things to do at any given time, and not getting enough rest... All of that comes together to leave us feeling groggy, distracted, and unlikely to take care of ourselves. (I even put together a little yoga practice to combat the phenomenon known as <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-yoga-practice-for-mommy-brain.html">Mommy Brain</a>. Trust me, it's a thing.)<br />
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Anyhoo. What was I talking about?<br />
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Oh yeah, how I ALMOST let myself get distracted instead of doing my yoga practice. (Because we both know damn well that if I had left that video paused and walked away from my yoga mat, I would NOT have gotten my yoga practice today.)<br />
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Luckily, this time I caught myself. I pushed Play. I did my practice. And I am still basking in the glow right now.<br />
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I don't know about you, but this is how my yoga practice goes most days. There are SO many times I have cheated myself out of a full practice in a scenario much like the one I just described to you. Sometimes I overcome my Monkey Mind, Mommy Brain. Other times? Well, you know how they say the road to hell (or in this case, stress, burnout, fatigue, and utter exhaustion) is paved with good intentions.<br />
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So, how can be sure that we are following through on our intentions to make time for ourselves and our yoga practice no matter what? I think it will always be a struggle for me (It was even a struggle for me before I became a mom!) but there are a few things I do to help me make yoga a part of my super-busy-crazy mom life. And, you can do it, too!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC4NOJ0UlGSdZPQPWbn28J8Aj4cKHd7XTEP5XHpbD_c-TM6OGhU0TGEFvNru8gQBY7I5sd4o_DF-VQ0FqGkjngxmnjs1q4fMW72ccGFWcC7HthED6cJinSs0eCjdVelMGZFfZcnFDZTig/s1600/A+Busy+Mom%2527s+Guide+to+Yoga+at+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Maintain a Yoga Home Practice for Busy Moms | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC4NOJ0UlGSdZPQPWbn28J8Aj4cKHd7XTEP5XHpbD_c-TM6OGhU0TGEFvNru8gQBY7I5sd4o_DF-VQ0FqGkjngxmnjs1q4fMW72ccGFWcC7HthED6cJinSs0eCjdVelMGZFfZcnFDZTig/s400/A+Busy+Mom%2527s+Guide+to+Yoga+at+Home.jpg" title="How to Maintain a Yoga Home Practice for Busy Moms | SpoiledYogi.com" width="266" /></a></div>
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Yoga Home Practice Tips for Moms</h2>
<strong>Make it stupid easy by planning ahead. </strong>Leave your yoga mat unrolled and your props out in the middle of the floor. (You might trip every now and then, but it will be worth it.) Leave your browser open to the video or <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-yoga-practice-for-confidence-self.html">yoga blog</a> you intend to practice along with if that's your thing. Have your playlist ready to go if you practice with music. Put your yoga clothes out the day before. The easier you can make it on yourself the more likely you will be to follow through with it and establish a lasting habit.<br />
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<strong>Block out your time on the calendar and make it non-negotiable.</strong> My daughter is in preschool three mornings a week right now (woohoo!). When I get home from dropping her off in the morning, I change into my yoga clothes and I do my yoga practice BEFORE I do anything else—no quick phone calls or emails allowed. Before my daughter went to preschool I treated her nap times the same way—yoga first, then whatever else I can squeeze in afterward.<br />
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<strong>Be sneaky.</strong> Maybe you aren't as lucky as I am with blocks of time built into your schedule where you can do things without your little one attached to your hip. When the only time I had to myself was my daughters 30-minute nap time, I'd often wait until my husband got home from work and beg, plead, and <em>bargain</em> for just a few minutes for whatever yoga practice I had energy for. Of course, when that didn't work (because my husband also wanted time to himself after a day at the office), I'd simply wait for my daughter to demand his attention and quietly slip away for just a few minutes of yoga. It's not exactly as good as a full hourlong practice, but it was definitely better than nothing.<br />
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See also <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/09/secret-savana.html">Why Every Yoga Mama Needs a Secret Savasnana</a><br />
<b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />When all else fails, invite your kid to join you. </b>Maybe your child thinks your Cat/Cow is an invitation to ride you like a horse. Join the club. Repeat after me: Anything is better than nothing. Just a few minutes of stretching your legs while you play with Leggos will be all you can swing some days, and that's OK! Make it as fun as possible and know that your kids will remember watching you make the effort.<br />
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<strong>Savasana counts.</strong> Don't feel like you have to do 100 Sun Salutations every time you get on your mat. Know that there are definitely times when you'll get a lot more benefit from a calm, soothing, grounding <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2010/03/corpse-pose-you-make-me-feel-alive.html">Savasana</a> or other <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/10-thingsi-love-restorative-yoga.html">restorative yoga</a> posture. You've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off all day (in case you're not from the South, that's kind of like a more physical version of Monkey Mind). A super active yoga practice would likely just add the the overwhelm anyway. Don't have the energy to vinyasa? Fine. That's no excuse to skip your practice. Just skip the vinyasas, and treat yourself to something gentler instead. And don't you dare feel a bit guilty for doing it—you deserve it!<br />
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<strong>Remind yourself that your practice is just for you—but it also benefits your family just as much.</strong> When you skip your practice, you aren't going to show up as the best mom, wife, partner, worker, etc. It's not fair to you or those who need you.<br />
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<strong>Forgive yourself when it doesn't happen.</strong> This is probably the hardest thing, but also the most important. It's so easy to get down on ourselves for missing a few sessions, and before long we just stop trying. Don't go down that path. It's a challenge to commit to a home practice. And when you're a busy mama with mouths to feed and boo boos to kiss in addition to all the normal work and life responsibilities it's at least 100 times harder. Remember that you are strong. You are capable. You are SO worthy. The next time you miss a day (or week or month) of yoga, please simply think to yourself: <em>Silly, mama. You missed your yoga practice again.</em> Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Try again tomorrow. You got this!<br />
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<b>Read more ...</b><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/4-surprising-things-that-help-me-manage.html">4 Surprising Things that Help Me Manage Anxiety</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2010/03/corpse-pose-you-make-me-feel-alive.html">Corpse Pose, You Make Me Feel Alive! </a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-toddler-is-yogic-sage.html">My Toddler is a Yogic Sage</a><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-19678939549395877592016-01-11T20:47:00.001-08:002016-01-12T05:28:45.966-08:004 Yoga Poses Moms Do Without Realizing It<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkU2eCpwi-m4pPzST2TI7wcphLxYVoTnuIAy7CK5SYIaTva9x9eY9E6-Kg41nBYl0pS8zoslc9JFqHqU678I-n2fPXUl1SXUGSXr_8LRMxZTeS44h19wUZKkfB-qp_oZ50BdvCeh_CQffm/s1600/Yoga+Poses+Moms+Do+Without+Realizing+It.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Yoga Poses Moms Do on Accident | Warrior Pose, Lunge, Savasana | Yoga Poses for Moms | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkU2eCpwi-m4pPzST2TI7wcphLxYVoTnuIAy7CK5SYIaTva9x9eY9E6-Kg41nBYl0pS8zoslc9JFqHqU678I-n2fPXUl1SXUGSXr_8LRMxZTeS44h19wUZKkfB-qp_oZ50BdvCeh_CQffm/s640/Yoga+Poses+Moms+Do+Without+Realizing+It.jpg" title="Yoga Poses Moms Do on Accident | Warrior Pose, Lunge, Savasana | Yoga Poses for Moms | SpoiledYogi.com" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sunchild123/10247975856/in/photolist-gBzybU-egwpCD-6ePPXn-4uUbrc-6ePQip-dC1knb-quHtJQ-awpbTv-6ePPBp-awrR6N-nuDR96-55achU-52xNCD-v91PBB-b5C46z-6eTZth-4ZSmk3-4ZN6ov-6eTZNm-52wiwm-8fARNs-sMzV2D-7QMPE6-5DJ95k-8fxBwD-8fxASi-8fxB1v-8fASdh-8fxBjt-8fxAZz-8fxBfD-8fxB2B-8fASkh-8fARWQ-8fxATM-8fxBbp-8fAS87-8fxBei-8fxBxK-8fxBoX-8fxB3M-8fxAY8-8fAS4q-8fxB74-8fxAWB-8fxBhT-8fxBqk-8fASbN-8fAShE-4wB4UK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sunchild123</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m not going to lie. If I read one more blog post about how motherhood is just a really great opportunity to self-reflect, get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and learn to go with the flow, I might gag. Seriously. I’m gagging a little bit as I type this and I’m just remembering all the poses I’ve read comparing motherhood to yoga.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but motherhood is not yoga. Especially when you have a young child under, say, 5. (I’m just guesstimating here because my daughter is just 3 1/2. I’m hoping that when she’s 5 things might get easier—or at least it will not be my problem to the same extent because I’ll be shipping that precocious, sweet, incredibly exhausting girl of mine off to school for a big chunk of time every day then.) Yes, you can draw lots of parallels between the practices of yoga and motherhood: After all both can be really challenging, and many people still underestimate how demanding both practices are. And both can give you glimpses of who you really are by testing your physical and mental strength, stamina, and fortitude. But that’s really where the similarities end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a yoga class, most people feel less stressed, less overwhelmed, and more relaxed, right? That's why we do it. When my child finally goes to sleep at night, on the other hand, I definitely feel relief, but some nights it’s more like the relief you’d feel if you fought in a war all day and survived by the skin of your teeth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me put it another way: No one thinks, <i>Oh, I need to work out some of this tension... I think I’d like to spend 16 hours potty training, cutting the crust off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and playing with loud toys that light up and play music. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sure, you can take a mindful approach to motherhood—which will help you enjoy your kids and your life so much more. But let’s not kid ourselves: Yoga and motherhood are two very different things. Both bring immeasurable joy and richness to my life, but they are not one and the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are still some times I’m going about my normal mom business when I realize I totally just busted a yoga move without even meaning to. It doesn’t count as a home practice or anything, but it does make me smile (and that’s worth something). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
4 Yoga Poses Moms Do Without Realizing It</span></h3>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lunge and Grab Pose</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Practice this posture every time you see your child running toward something dangerous—especially oncoming traffic, high cliffs (or, you know, stairs), and the germ-infested toys in the waiting room at the doctor’s office.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Multi-Purpose Squat Pose</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take this position when playing with toys, waiting on a potty training toddler to finish her business, or whenever you have something very important to tell your child so you need to look her in the eye. You might think you’ll only be taking this position for a short period of time, but your child has other plans, so settle in and get comfortable.</span><br />
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<b>Warrior Pose</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This one is less of a pose, per say, and more of an attitude. You aren’t going to eat the organic couscous I slaved over, dear child? Then, you will not get another snack again.. EVER! Now, go brush your teeth and get ready for bed! When you have a small child sometimes it seems like everything is a battle. Warrior Pose when you’re actually in yoga class is all about standing in your power while you practice your laser-like focus. Warrior Pose when you’re fighting a battle with your kid is all about exerting your power without losing your cool. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mommy-Needs-a-Break Pose</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's like Savasana... only there’s a small child hovering right above your head using his whiniest voice to say, “Mommy, get up!! Play with me!” about 6 million times. If you find the noise disruptive, simply cover your eyes with your arms (this also serves to hide your tears of exhaustion from your offspring). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you ever done yoga on accident while you were parenting? What pose did you find yourself in?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Read more ...</span><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/12/so-you-wanna-be-yoga-mama.html" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.48px;">So You Wanna Be a Yoga Mama?</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-yoga-practice-for-mommy-brain.html"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A Yoga Practice for Mommy Brain</span></a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-yoga-practice-for-mommy-brain.html"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5 Things I Learned Practicing Yoga for Two</span></a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-71518909418114216282016-01-04T19:00:00.003-08:002016-01-04T19:00:21.093-08:00How Competition is Zapping Your Energy and Ruining Your Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsoBvmvU9u5yJ8Np_c6nfBonyL89BQxfoROkklcB05O0T_WgZF3oSBWH0AHZFwwjSkWIUTOYc1dmLNQC2UmfK39-Yb9EyfY3pmFDN3Hj4zHKOeRHVJ85WqFLcmcV_KoyxQCB9-9lxnMg-/s1600/sailorsclub+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How Competition is Robbing Your Energy and Ruining Your Life | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsoBvmvU9u5yJ8Np_c6nfBonyL89BQxfoROkklcB05O0T_WgZF3oSBWH0AHZFwwjSkWIUTOYc1dmLNQC2UmfK39-Yb9EyfY3pmFDN3Hj4zHKOeRHVJ85WqFLcmcV_KoyxQCB9-9lxnMg-/s640/sailorsclub+%25281%2529.jpg" title="How Competition is Robbing Your Energy and Ruining Your Life | SpoiledYogi.com" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i><br /></i>
<i>Comparison is the thief of joy. </i><br />
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I hear this idea constantly in the yoga classes I attend:<br />
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<i>Don't worry about Betty up in the front row. She might have an amazing Handstand, but for all you know, she trained to be an Olympic gymnast from the age of 3. </i><br />
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<i>Sure, she might seem to take the shapes effortlessly on the outside, but you can't tell from looking at her if her mind is at lease, can you?</i><br />
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As much as the idea of non-competitiveness has been pounded into my head during my yoga studies, I will admit that when I was new at the parenting gig.... it was a BIG challenge for me not to constantly compare myself to see how I stacked up to all the other moms around me.<br />
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I was spending so much time watching the mom who managed to spend hours upon hours doting on her kids, grow a thriving business, have a great relationship, keep a neat and tidy home, be an active in her community, and, of course, look fabulous while she was at it. What's more, when I went to meet them for play dates at the park they were ON TIME and always remembered to bring all the necessities I forgot most of the time.<br />
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I felt like a frumpy underachiever in comparison. I mean, I didn't have it all together at all (I still don't!). I was always late to play dates. I regularly forgot things my little one needed—especially the snacks. I was exhausted, and I wasn't even working regularly. How people with multiple children or real jobs managed to do things like shower daily and cook healthy meals was completely beyond me! I didn't have the energy to do ANY of that.<br />
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It could be argued that a big reason for my lack of energy was that I was wasting all of the energy I had on things that didn't matter—like worrying that I was totally failing at this whole motherhood thing and being upset that others could make it look so damn easy!<br />
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As the lovely and wise Elizabeth Gilbert <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GilbertLiz/posts/918260454922737:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">recently wrote</a>: Mike Tyson didn't go bankrupt because he wasn't given enough money. He went bankrupt because he bought "10 mansions, 100 luxury cars, a golden bathtub, and THREE ALBINO TIGERS!"<br />
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All of this is to say, it's important to be cautious about what things you're exerting your energy on, mamas.<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/mindful-mama-jennifer-williams-fields.html">Mindful Mama: Jennifer Williams-Fields Shares How to Create a Joyful Life</a><br />
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Is that Pinterest-worthy birthday party for your child really worth the energy you're going to use hand making place cards so your toddler guests will know where to sit at the kiddie table (because you know they're TOTALLY going to sit still!) If you're doing it because it brings you great joy to create something beautiful, go for it! But that's the only reason I can think of spend your time this way. If you're doing it to impress your neighbors... I beg of you, please don't!<br />
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I'm forever grateful that something magical happened for me in the course of the last 3 1/2 years. Somewhere along the way, I stopped giving a flying flip about how anyone else manages their own household and their own children. I realized that spending my time thinking about the "right" or "best" way to do things was completely useless—so many opinions! <i>Ain't nobody got time for that!</i> Plus, this horrible practice was stealing from those sweet and fleeting moments where I get to just pay attention to the joys of being a mother.<br />
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You can't fully enjoy the way your muscles feel as they're stretching in a yoga pose when you're busy gawking at Betty in the front row. And you can't fully enjoy watching your child play when you're busy beating yourself up because you forgot to bring the damn Goldfish crackers again.<br />
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Comparison not only robbed me of my ability to be present and enjoy life as a mother, but it also created an unnecessary divide between me and other moms—the very women I desperately need to surround myself with for support, connection, and laughter. (Besides, you're the type to forget snacks, you're going to need a friend who remembers. Trust me on this one! I write from experience.)<br />
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As moms, we all have different strengths, different circumstances, and wildly varying amounts of time to devote to our motherly duties. Some of us work full-time and do what they have to JUST GET IT DONE, while others just really REALLY like making cutesy place cards by hand. <i>Who cares!?</i><br />
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As yoga students, we all come to our yoga mats with different backgrounds, activities, and with skeletons—there is no better or worse, right or wrong, just <i>different</i>.<br />
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We all just start where we are with the lives and bodies we've been given and go from there, because at the end of the day all that really matters is that your children and YOU are happy, healthy, and able to enjoy the moments that really count. Am I right?<br />
<br />
Read more ...<br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/09/secret-savana.html">Why Every Yoga Mama Needs a Secret Savasana</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/12/so-you-wanna-be-yoga-mama.html">So You Wanna Be a Yoga Mama?</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2014/02/3-surprising-reasons-every-baby-mama.html">3 Surprising Reasons Why Every Mama Needs a Yoga Mat</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-9702873347502823772015-12-20T19:07:00.001-08:002015-12-20T19:16:53.767-08:00Mindful Mama: An Interview with Liz VartanianFor this next installment of the Mindful Mama series, I asked my good friend (and maybe one of the most balanced mamas I can think of) to share how she manages to make time and space for your practice in her busy world as the mother of two active boys (one toddler and one baby).<br />
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Liz is a yoga teacher and mama who lives in Austin, Texas. (Texas friends, LOOK HER UP!) I have had a crush on Liz's writing—which you can find on her amazing blog <a href="http://blissfulbetty.com/blog-2/" target="_blank">Blissful Betty</a>—for a long time, and I also love following the little bits and pieces of her life she shares on social media. I knew she wouldn't gloss over how difficult it can be committed to both your family and to mindfulness practices like yoga and meditation—even for someone who makes a living as a yoga teacher! Thanks for keeping it real, Liz!<br />
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Keep reading, Mamas, because my friend is about to share some really practical advice for staying sane and staying true to yourself.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-2vBkhjcObvWK0xrLA6O6So_8OtVE21sRh3OkkbYvsQoRizu8XORLCOCmOzVLnvJCtqtNnzLIS08lW1BapbeQkw1qtRvxFRI1ly-rm1CO6CGLJAS-eXb52OZnX1DuZ0EM1ky26zyEXm8/s1600/sailorsclub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Austin, Texas Restorative Yoga teacher Liz Vartanian spills all her best tips for being a mindful mama | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-2vBkhjcObvWK0xrLA6O6So_8OtVE21sRh3OkkbYvsQoRizu8XORLCOCmOzVLnvJCtqtNnzLIS08lW1BapbeQkw1qtRvxFRI1ly-rm1CO6CGLJAS-eXb52OZnX1DuZ0EM1ky26zyEXm8/s640/sailorsclub.jpg" title="Austin, Texas Restorative Yoga teacher Liz Vartanian spills all her best tips for being a mindful mama | SpoiledYogi.com" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.4px; line-height: 14.56px;">Photo by </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rtdphotography/2973220600/in/photolist-5wJwU9-dYDztz-bV8NjT-jPzEb-8ZKpQC-82ic5G-yhFmaP-yGRTjW-h2qrm3-91EVdy-qnAtkg-m4Jdsh-pRUxzF-ow9Td1-oZCGMw-o8rSH3-9bdwmq-9mCMqg-nrphNc-yN584d-adHKrC-cDiziS-5vWQHY-q5MQxj-dULDDP-rJsDQ4-vRXuL9-5Mw7Lg-e5NnWy-rH913D-4CVRFt-rrjxCT-37eeC7-rFtmnG-s3WaLA-j5ELms-eGTUxV-h1Wedv-qasZuM-d4YRxL-jKGXFS-dv6trZ-u535ey-5t2CfJ-jqrxnC-7WioFw-8i7M4t-bfxVQX-9pSnEP-FteD2" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10.4px; line-height: 14.56px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ray Dumas</a></td></tr>
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<b>How has your yoga practice changed since you became a mom?</b><br />
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I practice way less asana and a lot more meditation, pranayama, and focus inwards. There is a lot more <i>samadhi</i> (or bliss) in the little moments and in the moments I can unroll my mat and move my body. There also are A LOT of heart/shoulder openers and slow mindful core work. Really, my practice has become about being as present as I can with my boys, with my family and friends, and most importantly, myself.<br />
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<b>I recently wrote what it means to me to be a <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/12/so-you-wanna-be-yoga-mama.html">yoga mama</a>, and I know you'll have some great insights to share on that topic. What does being a "yoga mama" mean to you?</b><br />
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Well, this yoga mama defines “yoga mama” as a lady who:<br />
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Shows her kiddos what a yoga practice looks like by doing her physical practice whether it is nap time or not. Even if that means down dog becomes an instant jungle-gym.<br />
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Uses the values from the yamas and the niyamas as morals for the young ones. It’s kinda perfect after all: non-violence, truth, not-stealing, restraint, and not wanting couldn’t be better guidelines for children or adults. Plus keeping cleaning, being happy with what you have, learning self-discipline, starting self-study, and learning about surrendering. <br />
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Meditates over her morning cup of coffee because getting up before the rest of the family does is too exhausting.<br />
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And, lastly, but most importantly, she knows that yoga is all about being present with your children, with your partner, and with yourself when you need to be.<br />
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<b>Tell me how you incorporate the eight limbs of yoga into your life as a mom. Is there one limb that's harder than others for you? How do you overcome that?</b><br />
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Funny, you should ask! I make it my job to live the eight limbs, so YES my off the mat yoga is more common than on the mat. <br />
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As I mentioned before, the yama and niyamas become guides for raising my boys. Asana and pranayama are daily or every other day practices, mostly so I stay able in my body to chase and play. Pranayama is often a means to calm down and even my toddler uses a four part breath when he gets frustrated.<br />
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Turning inwards is tougher, as most parents know, getting some quality alone time to connect with myself is low on the totem pole. And focusing my mind takes a lot longer when I’m trying my best to not be in mom brain and thinking of 20 things at once. Mediation is often over my cup of morning coffee and sometimes on the cushion, eyes closed, and chanting. BLISS is everywhere, it is just a matter of noticing it: the little “I love you, mom"s, noticing a beautiful sunrise or sunset, catching a friend at the coffee shop. It is seeing these things instead of focusing on the things I am lacking—like sleep!<br />
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<b>Amen to that! So, you recently added a new adorable boy to your family. How are things going as a mom as two? What's been your biggest challenge?</b><br />
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I knew that this first year would be tough—a baby and a toddler. The needs are different for them and to spilt attention between whose needs are greater in the moment can be tough, but the love is also so much more! I’m lucky enough that the toddler is in a great little pre-school that he loves, so I get to spend time with Kai and bond. The biggest challenge has been taking the time I need for myself. My mantra lately has been <i><b>presence not perfection</b>.</i> I don’t need to be anyone’s idea of perfect. That is what really challenges me—trying to do it all and taking care of my own needs, which often come last. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcLHJSkJwrBEWmIbrdaQ4ivkFv_IdHakJHKTGz4Z9FbsHwstt_CFHWU4UtC-P-gV5lv-7aTnQ44MQegREGLpWKw0EaFhJ8taAXKEAIbKv7fWEqNIKuxjMFcX6HZc9UC2F-TiNy2RC2R41/s1600/Liz_baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Liz Vartanian spills all her best tips for being a mindful mama | Mom and baby yoga, prenatal yoga, restorative yoga, self care | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcLHJSkJwrBEWmIbrdaQ4ivkFv_IdHakJHKTGz4Z9FbsHwstt_CFHWU4UtC-P-gV5lv-7aTnQ44MQegREGLpWKw0EaFhJ8taAXKEAIbKv7fWEqNIKuxjMFcX6HZc9UC2F-TiNy2RC2R41/s320/Liz_baby.jpg" title="Liz Vartanian spills all her best tips for being a mindful mama | Mom and baby yoga, prenatal yoga, restorative yoga, self care | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Let's talk about mom guilt. Do you ever feel guilty about taking time for yourself? Has anything helped you with that?</b><br />
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Mom guilt is SO real. With my first, I had a lot of mom guilt any time I went to teach or took time for myself. With the second one, though, I make an effort to get monthly massages, and I don’t feel as bad about getting out of the house. It makes me a better mom when I get to leave. It makes me more focused on the boys. It most definitely makes it easier to play trains for hours or dance to the same song over and over again. I don’t leave for excessive amounts of time, but taking time to just be me is crucial for me to be a great parent!<br />
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<i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/09/secret-savana.html">Why Every Yoga Mama Needs a Secret Savasana</a><br />
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<b>Do you have any time-saving tips for other busy moms out there trying to juggle everything? What's one simple thing they can do to make more time for themselves?</b><br />
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Best advice I can give is figure out your priorities. You can’t do it all so you decide is most important. My opinion is that the house can be a mess as long as the kids are happy. For me, happy healthy boys and a happy healthy mama are most important.<br />
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The best way to make time for yourself is TAKING IT. Take time for yourself, every day. Even if it is just 10 minutes when the kids go to bed, when it is nap time, whenever. The dishes will get done, so will the laundry, the vacuuming, the chores will get done. Take time for yourself every day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4IepgZkS8NHrTwvz97dHA28tx0LZ7P2IlKCEA_HGbgdy7xsO_4QfsluNiNAu06PVUL5-gLokZJTKfDk6-G9rj_V0Q7jnm8Hvv3bhhzPLr_YifnwGiitzIhoJd1pEfhxvi1E21Ucshyphenhyphen6x/s1600/liz_kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Liz Vartanian shares all her best tips for being a mindful mama | Mom and baby yoga, prenatal yoga, restorative yoga, self care | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4IepgZkS8NHrTwvz97dHA28tx0LZ7P2IlKCEA_HGbgdy7xsO_4QfsluNiNAu06PVUL5-gLokZJTKfDk6-G9rj_V0Q7jnm8Hvv3bhhzPLr_YifnwGiitzIhoJd1pEfhxvi1E21Ucshyphenhyphen6x/s320/liz_kids.jpg" title="Liz Vartanian shares all her best tips for being a mindful mama | Mom and baby yoga, prenatal yoga, restorative yoga, self care | SpoiledYogi.com" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>What yoga pose are you loving right now? Are there any poses you do with your boys?</b><br />
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Puppy Pose! Oh my guru, I love this pose. It helps heal my aching shoulders from rocking baby all day, it helps all the love in my heart move into every part of my body.<br />
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My toddler LOVES to climb all over my body when he gets a chance to do yoga with me. He also has a pretty fabulous Three-Legged Down Dog, and he is working on flipping his dog right now. Right now the boys are really too young to be super involved in my practice, but I love doing Goddess Pose with Kai in the sling and of course Aiden will join me for some bed time yoga (we like the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yawning-Yoga-Goodnight-Nights-Sleep/dp/0984440666" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Yawning Yoga</i> by Laurie Jordan</a>).<br />
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<b>You teach <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/pregnancy-yoga-how-to-use-yoga-props-to.html">prenatal yoga</a> and <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/10-thingsi-love-restorative-yoga.html">restorative yoga</a> (two of my favorite things!). Tell me what are some of the biggest mistakes you see moms make when trying to do relax and unwind?</b><br />
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Mostly I see mamas who cannot be still. They fidget. They can’t keep their eyes closed, they just struggle with being still and appreciating self care. Mom guilt is real, but restorative practices are not just a luxury of lounging around on bolsters and blankets. Oh no, the challenge of being still and being alone with yourself is actually a gift. That’s right, mamas, alone time. Quietly being with yourself and feeling the aches in our tired and new bodies can be harder than a 100 Sun Salutations, but ultimately it is the best thing a new mama can do for herself. <br />
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The other thing would be to only go to yoga once a month or sporadically, even I am guilty of this. While my home practice is daily, the joy of attending a class is irreplaceable. And consistency in your practice will do wonders for reconnecting to this new post baby body. I assure you, it is worth taking a restorative class once a week once activity is approved by a midwife or doctor. The peacefulness alone is worth taking the class. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pCSvkRf5M3D3wkT_yzec9Irr4jK87MkKGEV3x9Lnk0oo8zuimKGIJOKMYFknINwNiZlQZT6uuuzbsi8etM5_l7hJ0iyQYmMw7hyphenhyphent33LiBkDm0IhyJgvRA0L0eKVA5_STtIJM5UnpzR3X/s1600/Liz_train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Liz Vartanian shares all her best tips for being a mindful mama | Mom and baby yoga, prenatal yoga, restorative yoga, self care | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pCSvkRf5M3D3wkT_yzec9Irr4jK87MkKGEV3x9Lnk0oo8zuimKGIJOKMYFknINwNiZlQZT6uuuzbsi8etM5_l7hJ0iyQYmMw7hyphenhyphent33LiBkDm0IhyJgvRA0L0eKVA5_STtIJM5UnpzR3X/s400/Liz_train.jpg" title="Liz Vartanian shares all her best tips for being a mindful mama | Mom and baby yoga, prenatal yoga, restorative yoga, self care | SpoiledYogi.com" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Do you have a morning ritual? What is it?</b><br />
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I do! While it varies a little bit (especially when someone is sick or my guy is traveling), I sip coffee while scribbling words down quickly while Aiden plays trains or trucks (Kai sleeps in these days) or if I can wake up before everyone else, I meditate over that cup of coffee. There is feeding of the dogs, making of breakfast and eating it, and prepping Aiden for school. Sometime in there, I get dressed and brush my teeth if my coffee is finished. Come 9am, kiddo is in school and I can practice some yoga, write, and just enjoy some time with Kai. Mornings are busy but beautiful times.<br />
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<b>You have a whole morning to yourself. How do you spend it?</b><br />
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Oh, my fantasy! Well, I would like to say something fancy like enjoying a spa morning or taking over the yoga world, but honestly a whole morning for myself would probably just be enjoying coffee while it is still hot, taking a yoga class, and getting to read or write for a hour or two. My needs are definitely more simple these days.<br />
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<b>What's one thing you wish you had known before you had your first baby?</b><br />
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I wish I had known how much of myself you really give. It is a beautiful offering of self, but it is exhausting at times and it can lead mamas to <i>martyrdom instead of motherhood</i>. Giving isn’t the problem though—it is giving without having a full cup to begin with. The first baby you want to be there for every little thing. I didn’t want to go get a massage even though my body was aching for worry that my baby would need me. The truth is sure he might have missed me a little bit, but an hour to take care of myself is nothing. As a new mama you give a lot, you receive a lot, too, but it takes more to keep you full. Self care, taking time for yourself is one of the things I wish I had done more of when Aiden was born.<br />
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<b>Read more...</b><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/mindful-mama-jennifer-williams-fields.html">Mindful Mama: Jennifer Williams-Fields Shares How to Create a Joyful Life</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-yoga-practice-for-mommy-brain.html">A Yoga Practice for Mommy Brain</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/find-your-mama-mantra.html">Find Your Mama Mantra</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-6425266012250107482015-12-18T11:39:00.001-08:002015-12-20T07:39:12.712-08:00Review: Yogi Surprise Subscription Box<h3>
Craving a Simple Life</h3>
There are some days that I feel completely overwhelmed with stuff—I have too many clothes, too much plastic, disposable doodads, too many old things just sitting around collecting dust and getting in my way.<br />
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Recently, I've been much more interested in getting rid of things I don't need to make space in my life for more ease, more room to stretch out, a more simple way to of life.<br />
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So, when I first heard about Yogi Surprise, a care package subscription that sends yoga lifestyle products every month, I was skeptical that a box full of "yoga stuff" every month would be something I'd enjoy much: <i>I don't want more STUFF to clutter my house! </i><br />
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<h3>
Why I Love It + The Art of Self Care</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUTkdVkIRq8ErC8TccN08DwIY5Fh8Tcy654o-nKxSHYIMW8nW8t8xFoyT_Mxk9oad_gkRtMhtOng6QK_GH2sZJgb3VUlNbYz4aJ0akONWQEejhgcdGV9S_TwcNrCqGUvandvrDM7aBPZv/s1600/Why+I+Love+My.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why I Love My Yogi Surprise Subscription Box: Product Review | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUTkdVkIRq8ErC8TccN08DwIY5Fh8Tcy654o-nKxSHYIMW8nW8t8xFoyT_Mxk9oad_gkRtMhtOng6QK_GH2sZJgb3VUlNbYz4aJ0akONWQEejhgcdGV9S_TwcNrCqGUvandvrDM7aBPZv/s640/Why+I+Love+My.jpg" title="Why I Love My Yogi Surprise Subscription Box: Product Review | SpoiledYogi.com" width="426" /></a></div>
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But as much as I'm into simplifying my life by getting rid of the excess, I'm also pretty obsessed with all things self care (maybe you've noticed all the posts about <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/sneaky-self-care.html">yoga and self care </a>on the blog lately). That means I'm spending a lot less time and energy on things that aren't important, and instead I'm trying to spend more of my time on self care (so I'll be less stressed and more present for my family and my work).<br />
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It's the simple, little things that have made the biggest impact on my overall happiness and well-being: <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/10-thingsi-love-restorative-yoga.html">Restorative yoga poses</a>, <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/5-common-meditation-mistakes.html">meditation</a>, <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/soak-it-in-4-amazing-herbal-bath.html">baths</a>, herbal tea. And—Surprise!—the things I've gotten in my Yogi Surprise boxes the last two months have been simple, little things that have supported that mission.<br />
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Whoever puts together Yogi Surprise boxes really really "gets" me. Every time I've gotten a box, I've felt like I've gotten the most thoughtful care package from a best friend who is into all the same things I'm into. Each time, the box has been filled with things that I want to learn more about, but would probably never have purchased on my own.<br />
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<h3>
A Few of My Favorite Things From Yogi Surprise Box</h3>
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<b>Ayurvedic <a href="http://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/living-ayurveda/lifestyle/how-to-do-nasya/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nasya Oil</a> made by Banyan Botanicals</b> to clear and lubricate the nasal passageways (Since learning about and adding more Ayurveda rituals into my routine is one of my self-care goals, I got <i>really </i>excited about this one!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPavgdotcCyGRhnS4L3hH0eFrtTRgMmP7hOCsvGMmLRacpR_UBmFdj8APJHwvm8SwDC0p6fH_oaAg8pFaunnA7PgAB38vgUJIO0HKGM2X0Bxtol0yN0K3KuupyPaR9k1od_EeJI9qiihHJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-12-18+at+1.59.20+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Banyan Ayurvedic Oils Nasya Oil Review | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPavgdotcCyGRhnS4L3hH0eFrtTRgMmP7hOCsvGMmLRacpR_UBmFdj8APJHwvm8SwDC0p6fH_oaAg8pFaunnA7PgAB38vgUJIO0HKGM2X0Bxtol0yN0K3KuupyPaR9k1od_EeJI9qiihHJ/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-12-18+at+1.59.20+PM.png" title="Banyan Ayurvedic Oils Nasya Oil Review | SpoiledYogi.com" width="214" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032CF3F0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0032CF3F0&linkCode=as2&tag=spoiyogi-20&linkId=LV7ZWWLTHOGLWW4L" rel="nofollow">Sea Buckthorn Eye Cream</a> by Sibu Beauty. </b>How did they know I'm a mom who never gets enough sleep and that I'm trying to cut way back on my coffee intake? This stuff has helped me look a little less like a zombie in my pre holiday selfies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8xbjajGZR9HZnWf_2agecAqD8MMfEj5C8Lqc7Esqm3WBEZhFUSxXhT2a-j60EU4RkxM7vtBxaz9UUIZE5H2sq8nwsExN_2AhKcs2raMKu6lvOmL9rWa8wdBxI9ESVPwkNXQcQLc_E1DK/s1600/sibu+beauty+eye+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sibu Beauty Age Defying Eye Cream | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8xbjajGZR9HZnWf_2agecAqD8MMfEj5C8Lqc7Esqm3WBEZhFUSxXhT2a-j60EU4RkxM7vtBxaz9UUIZE5H2sq8nwsExN_2AhKcs2raMKu6lvOmL9rWa8wdBxI9ESVPwkNXQcQLc_E1DK/s320/sibu+beauty+eye+cream.jpg" title="Sibu Beauty Age Defying Eye Cream | SpoiledYogi.com" width="81" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MSYUXSA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00MSYUXSA&linkCode=as2&tag=spoiyogi-20&linkId=HVRIPMQYYMLJCKI4" rel="nofollow">Breath Perception: A Daily Guide to Stress Relief, Mindfulness, and Inner Peace</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=spoiyogi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00MSYUXSA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Barbara Ann Kipfer. </b>Umm, yes please! I really love this little book full of pranayama and mindfulness exercises and peaceful landscape photography. It's a great one to keep on your nightstand for a little practice before you go to sleep at night or first thing in the morning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAysYNMK6QEwkbZ3Zvl2LNtpcchz2LO-ui6LNqfeVf0XEukPU3aN7xGF80wKVBAlcS7irGrqKZjfn78MGnBDbleKN4Kr9KZPBHZLoNPGXfL44zZEte0xUgGeqlWDL302t6ARBKLmkeCni/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-12-18+at+1.57.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Breath Perception: A Daily Guide to Stress Relief, Mindfulness, and Inner Peace | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAysYNMK6QEwkbZ3Zvl2LNtpcchz2LO-ui6LNqfeVf0XEukPU3aN7xGF80wKVBAlcS7irGrqKZjfn78MGnBDbleKN4Kr9KZPBHZLoNPGXfL44zZEte0xUgGeqlWDL302t6ARBKLmkeCni/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-12-18+at+1.57.07+PM.png" title="Breath Perception: A Daily Guide to Stress Relief, Mindfulness, and Inner Peace | SpoiledYogi.com" width="275" /></a></div>
<b>Chocolate. </b>OK, I definitely DO treat myself with chocolate... a lot. I love chocolate of all kinds, really, but I am so obsessed with Nicobella Organics chocolate now. I've been dreaming about <a href="http://nicobellaorganics.com/collections/munch/products/coconut-munch-2-oz-bag" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this stuff</a> when I sleep at night. It's THAT good.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRX5uBwuaUO7ydOVOTo0XS-yqzESFo6gT9Yfkej7nrZvhl8aw_suNDIjGd-1P4ewR1Qx_ne9OwvcqYGvSWV5kdble0Gt6XnSaWhIi4AwZoAh2tjWXwlGCNOhK_lb4CGEpMe0pAoJCztH3T/s1600/NicobellaLogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nicobella Organics Review | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRX5uBwuaUO7ydOVOTo0XS-yqzESFo6gT9Yfkej7nrZvhl8aw_suNDIjGd-1P4ewR1Qx_ne9OwvcqYGvSWV5kdble0Gt6XnSaWhIi4AwZoAh2tjWXwlGCNOhK_lb4CGEpMe0pAoJCztH3T/s320/NicobellaLogo.png" title="Nicobella Organics Review | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've also loved a necklace with green tree agate, rose quartz, and an Om sign, a sweet lavender scented sachet with an Om sign embroidered on the front (I do love an Om sign... put one on anything, and I'll swoon... ), a clove bud essential oil, and some amazing herbal tea!<br />
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<h3>
Share the Love</h3>
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So, while I've love practically everything in the boxes, do I NEED it all? Of course not! But that's part of the beauty (and one of the reasons I love this idea so much). If there's anything that I don't particular love or something that I know I won't use in there, I can pass it on to one of my friends or even gift it to a student who I think would enjoy it.<br />
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The practice of giving a thoughtful gift is one that has made me very happy, and the YogiSurprise makes that SO easy. I get a couple little things that remind me to take care of myself and love myself, and I get to share that sentiment with someone I love, too. I'm getting warm and fuzzy just thinking about it!<br />
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Yogi Surprise offers two different kinds of subscription boxes. The lifestyle box, which has a hodgepodge of full sized "yoga lifestyle" surprises—think health, wellness, natural beauty, Ayurveda, meditation, aromatherapy, and stuff with Om signs on it (!)—for $44.95 a month. The jewelry box, which is $24.95/month, includes two jewelry items—malas, necklaces, bracelets, crystals, etc.—and one really delicious treat. <br />
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I can't decide which box I like better, though I suspect that since you get a box every month, I'd soon have more malas and bracelets than I could ever wear with the jewelry box. (But that's kind of awesome if you have a lot of yoga friends you love and want to share with!)<br />
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I'll be keeping the chocolate treats all for myself. (#SorryNotSorry)<br />
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Want to learn more or snag a subscription of your own, visit <a href="http://yogisurprise.com./">YogiSurprise.com.</a><br />
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<b>Read more ...</b><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/why-i-love-yoga-props-review-of-three.html">Why I LOVE Yoga Props + A Review of 3 Minute Egg</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/review-meet-asana-worlds-first-yoga-doll.html">Review: Meet Asana, The World's First Yoga Doll</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/science-backed-proof-that-self-care.html">Science-Backed Proof that Self Care Isn't Selfish</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-40040377158447800612015-12-07T14:03:00.001-08:002015-12-11T19:31:07.855-08:005 Things Yoga Taught Me About MoneyIt's the most wonderful time of the year, ya'll!<br />
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The time of year we drive around, braving traffic and tons of people, rushing from Point A to Point B to buy gifts, put up decorations, get our fanciest frocks (or ugly sweaters) out of the darkest corners of our closets and prepare food for parties all to celebrate the holiday season. Yes, there are religious reasons we celebrate the holidays.<br />
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But I honestly don't think that's why we subject ourselves to all the hustle and bustle this time of year. <i>That</i>, I believe, has more to do with letting the people we love know just how much we love them. (And, OK, just a little bit might be about impressing our friends and family, too, because after all, we want them to <i>love us back!</i>) It's a beautiful thing if you think of it that way. And it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy like the Coca Cola polar bear on the inside.<br />
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Well, it does until I open my up my bank account and suddenly feel a little less warmth and a little more PANIC as I think, <i>What the heck happened to all of my money!? </i><br />
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This is especially true for me this year when, aside from the craziness of the holidays, I also had to have a very simple (and very expensive!) outpatient procedure and found out my upstairs toilet has been leaking into the walls underneath (and rotting floors, ceilings, and who knows what else in the process)... You know what they say, when it rains it pours (<i>apparently into my house!</i>).<br />
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<h3>
Remembering to Be Grateful</h3>
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Even so, I'm also super grateful these days that my yoga practice has helped shape my ideas on money in profound ways. My yoga practice has helped me to find a good balance between spending and saving, brought an attitude of mindfulness toward where my hard-earned dollars are going (and what affect that has on my personal energy as well as its larger impact on the world), and I've learned to devote less of my time and energy stressing out about every little cent. Some of this is admittedly due to privilege and I think it's important to acknowledge that (I'm not rich by any stretch, but I'm comfortable). That said, I still think yoga can help most anyone find a greater ease around money.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/11872189@N00/5078816275/in/photolist-8JNg8R-bZwg4J-5CFp8k-bgfJs6-2TPtsp-4bySBe-728A7K-brd1ja-8nXSkK-9kNTbs-CrMvv-p9WoZ-64gotj-dGo5nf-qKfjm-5tzhjp-chEejy-8ip74r-hj58Lo-a31VGs-CrMsN-bZwHv5-bmvBPg-fBsQs-jYGnx-4jA7gv-qEAynb-aiphLC-du8MtP-4Hrq53-8JkcMH-8m7tjX-6bwpmk-4ZAk72-snxa8V-9qUFub-9VAVRg-bgfuxT-6h5FSq-9hznDB-9VDjH3-cn8N8J-6K9Xb-548Abb-7CiUV9-aFDgrH-bgfshg-bfsW2z-6jZGMH-9VAAZU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alex Garcia</a></td></tr>
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<h3>
5 Things Yoga Taught Me About Money</h3>
<b>1. Abundance is a state of mind.</b> I have plenty of food, shelter, warmth, and love in my life. Yoga has taught me I have the choice to savor them all and feel blessed or spend my days pining away for the lifestyle the Joneses put on their credit cards. I think I’d rather be <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2010/05/chase.html">happy and content.</a><br />
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<b>2. Things are less fulfilling than experiences. </b>I love when a yoga teacher asks me to be still for a few minutes after a pose and just observe how my body and mind feels. For me, contentment is that moment of rest after a great chest opening yoga pose like Camel Pose (Ustrasana). I’ve noticed that when I step back to observe how I feel after any heartfelt activity in my life—a yoga class, hike, or visit with a friend—I feel better than I’ve ever felt after a shopping trip, no matter how big or grandiose the purchase. The happiness I feel after a fulfilling experience is also longer lasting and less harmful to myself (and usually the planet) than the high I get from spending money on things I didn't need in the first place.
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<i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/5-easy-ways-to-improve-almost-any-yoga.html">5 Ways to Improve (Almost) Any Yoga Pose</a><br />
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<b>3. But some things are worth every cent. </b>I think of living a healthy, yoga lifestyle as an investment in myself and my future. It’s true that I might spend more money on healthy foods, yoga classes, preventive health care, and things that motivate me to be healthy than is always necessary for my daily life. But I truly believe that these choices will save me a lot of money and heartache later on.
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<b>4. Seeking stability and flexibility is the key to balance.</b> My body is naturally very flexible, so to avoid injury I have to work harder at building my muscle strength to create stability in my poses. I’ve learned a similar lesson in my financial life. It takes a willingness to use money on things that matter (like my health and experiences with the people I love) and a structure (I'm talking about a budget!) to keep everything in check.
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<b>5. Reuse. Recycle. Repeat. </b><i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2010/07/5-most-controversial-topics-in-yoga.html">Ahimsa</a></i> (or non-harming) to me means not using more than I need, finding creative ways to give new life to things I’ve already got, and buying things secondhand when it makes sense. This saves tons of money, has made me realize just how many things I already own, and makes me feel good about the way I’ve chosen to live my life.
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<b>What lessons has your yoga practice taught you about your financial life (is that even a thing?)? Post a comment below and share your insights!</b><br />
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<b>Read more...</b><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/how-to-help-others-during-disasters.html">Loving-Kindness Meditation</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2010/07/5-most-controversial-topics-in-yoga.html">5 Most Controversial Topics in Yoga</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/5-common-meditation-mistakes.html">5 Common Meditation Mistakes</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-91309094231053166592015-12-03T17:59:00.000-08:002015-12-04T16:44:17.850-08:00So You Wanna Be a Yoga Mama?What do you think of when you hear the term "yoga mom?" Do you imagine a spandex-clad woman with clear, glowing skin balancing a cherub-like baby on her hip while she effortlessly balances in Tree Pose? And we all know this isn't the only thing she balances so easily—her own health, her family's health, the running of her home, her fulfilling work, her charitable selfless service or seva? Maybe you think of a mom who feeds her children eat all-organic, healthy, homemade food and use all-natural non-toxic (probably also homemade) bath products. She's a woman who adores her children, but she somehow still makes time to meditate and (obviously) do her yoga practice daily (most likely before the sun comes up).<br />
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<i>Well, that's a nice little fantasy isn't it?</i><br />
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When I first had my daughter (and even before, when I was pregnant with her) I tried really hard to make my life look like that picture I had in my head. I was rigid. I tried waking up earlier to make time for my yoga practice only to either fall asleep on my yoga mat or I'd wake up the baby by accident. I'd eat healthy all day long, go for walks, and practice yoga during nap times. But, by the end of the day I would be SO exhausted and ravenous I'd send my husband out for ice cream (you've got to get those extra 500 breastfeeding calories in there somehow, right?). I also taught yoga, did lots of freelance writing work, made time for play dates so I could socialize myself and my little one, and you know what? I was completely exhausted, stressed out, and I felt like FAILURE, too. One day I realized, not only was I failing at being the prefect yoga mom, but I wasn't enjoying any of it either.<br />
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I was doing the whole yoga mama thing all wrong—and it really had little to do with how much yoga I was doing or what foods I was putting into my body. I got it wrong because I wasn't being kind to myself. I was pushing myself too hard, resting too little, and hating myself because I wasn't doing it all as successfully as I wanted to. It's OK. I was a new mom and I was learning.<br />
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<i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/remembering-newborn-days.html">Remembering the Newborn Days</a><br />
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Now that I've got a little more experience under my belt, I have a very different idea of what a yoga mama is. And it has a lot more to do with how you treat yourself than how many times you get your ass up out of bed before the sun to do Sun Salutations.<br />
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<li>A yoga mama gets tired, stressed out, and upset just like anybody else—but she remembers that it's all temporary, takes a deep breath, and keeps going, one moment at a time.</li>
<li>A yoga mama knows that being a mother is one of the most challenging jobs there is, so she loves herself, treats herself with kindness, and forgives herself for those times when she doesn't meet her own expectations.</li>
<li>A yoga mama practices yoga whenever she can, but she doesn't beat herself up if she misses a few sessions because she was busy taking care of herself and her family. It's all yoga if you're present.</li>
<li>A yoga mama knows parenting is like an all-levels yoga class. It's cool if everyone is doing their own best version of a pose. It's not competitive—if someone next to you is in a more or less "advanced" pose, it's none of your business, and it doesn't affect how beautiful and healing your own practice is. </li>
<li>A yoga mama knows how to react to the challenging moments in life as she would a challenging yoga pose—she backs off a bit, breathes a little deeper, and brings her attention and focus inward. (But just because she knows how doesn't mean she always does it. She's human, too.)</li>
<li>A yoga mama meditates—sometimes while holding her sleeping child, sometimes while walking through her neighborhood, sometimes while she does the dishes, sometimes just before she drifts off to sleep at night... whenever and however she can find a pocket of peace.</li>
<li>A yoga mama rests when she's tired, even if that means she lets her little one watch a few YouTube videos so she can put her feet up.</li>
<li>A yoga mama wants her family to be healthy, but she doesn't sweat it too much when her kid refuses the green stuff because she knows life is all about balance (and she wants her children to learn that, too).</li>
<li>A yoga mama makes time for self-care whenever and however she can.</li>
<li> A yoga mama isn't afraid to ask for help because she knows we're all in this together.</li>
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Do you agree? What other characteristics do you think yoga mamas share? <b>Comment below!</b><br />
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Read more ...</div>
<div>
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/you-might-be-yoga-mom-if.html">You Might Be a Yoga Mom If...</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-yoga-practice-for-mommy-brain.html">A Yoga Practice for Mommy Brain</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/09/secret-savana.html">Why Every Yoga Mama Needs a Secret Savasana</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/07/5-yoga-tips-to-help-get-your-toddler-to.html">5 Yoga Tips to Help Get Your Toddler to Sleep</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-3231955817061575752015-11-29T12:05:00.003-08:002015-11-29T12:05:55.536-08:0010 Ways to Make More Time for YogaI get it. You're busy. Between work, family, the kids, social obligations, the dishes piled up in the sink... after you do whatever it is you spend your time doing, there's not much left over for your yoga practice. And even when there's time left over there may not much energy. I've been there. Heck, I'm there with you <i>right now</i>.<br />
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I <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2013/06/10-most-annoying-home-practice.html">struggle daily</a> to make time for even just a few poses each day—and, to be sure, there are stretches (pun intended!) of time when I don't unroll my mat much at all—but I've gotten into a rhythm over the past few years where I practice more days than I don't. It's not easy, but it's always worth it. I never regret making my yoga practice a priority. I never wish I'd spent a few more minutes scrolling through my Facebook feed instead. I almost always feel better, not just for the few minutes after I took time to practice, but for practically a whole day after. So, how do I make it happen?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7uSW7j9ewSAG7DZO5sPymW90WhkoWEzB5gYgvVCijYvdou5KCx5XVmkS4Jh4wYbkj7kiypzpJUvVkXIYapNLzlK1etm26pDj8wXJ-zC-dw7aoG5Ru_wJdRUVW1gb3ulM8WhqzzMTDqPt/s1600/10+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="10 Ways to Make More Time for Yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7uSW7j9ewSAG7DZO5sPymW90WhkoWEzB5gYgvVCijYvdou5KCx5XVmkS4Jh4wYbkj7kiypzpJUvVkXIYapNLzlK1etm26pDj8wXJ-zC-dw7aoG5Ru_wJdRUVW1gb3ulM8WhqzzMTDqPt/s640/10+%25281%2529.jpg" title="10 Ways to Make More Time for Yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Clock photo by </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/fabiolarebello/206950948/in/photolist-jhFiN-eivjzq-6KktMs-7ktnvv-6PEeVj-4FcDag-54buYe-xe9cn5-df5g2r-A2m8Zt-5WudA5-7acemE-67XDFJ-baTXfX-4P266s-9Jw4ZA-9fj4Wd-7ndGEZ-8ys6Hs-uoGiwg-88G64K-8nad23-7JySjU-q9yT2J-5tMZp4-zEag2S-A9xpa-6UUGgu-rkSzJZ-7uvgrr-5DQKyC-9vJDWb-w4wnKt-jR1PuL-AxXGU9-5nX5sP-a3hrYe-cMgbim-7XvgBb-5FaoF-7UTmVK-NNUB4-oHeGgu-8pWyxR-swunYw-zYNgwL-bu2VQ-7NuirS-5NdMnS-6Qcp9N" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">Fabiola Medeiros</a></td></tr>
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<h3>
10 Ways to Make More Time for Your Yoga Practice</h3>
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Here are a few easy things that help me make the most of the time I have so I can get on my mat more often:<br />
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<b>1. Identify your WHY. </b>Write down why you want to make time for your yoga practice and put it on a post it note where you'll see it every day. Take a few minutes to really reflect on why you've decided to make your yoga practice a priority in your life. Stumped? I like the idea of writing it as an <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/find-your-mama-mantra.html">affirmation</a>. Try one of these: <i>I practice yoga daily because it makes me feel _________ . I practice yoga daily because it gives me __________. I practice yoga daily because it makes me a better ________. </i><br />
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<b>2. Take an inventory of what you spend most of your time on.</b> BE HONEST, when you finally get the kids down for bed at night do you sit and stare at you computer for 2 hours before you hit the hay yourself? (I am totally guilty of this!) Would it really make a huge difference if you limited your nightly screen time to 30 minutes instead?<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2010/08/5-reasons-to-practice-in-your-living.html">5 Reasons to Practice Yoga in Your Living Room</a><br />
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<b>3. Make a promise to yourself. </b>Once you've identified a chunk of time that you can turn into Me Time consistently, it's time to <b><i>commit</i></b>! Get out your calendar, and decide on a time frame that's doable for you (A week? Two weeks? A month? The amount of time doesn't really matter as long as you follow through!). You might want to make a mental note of your finish date (I recently wrapped up a personal meditation challenge that wrapped up on Thanksgiving, for example), if it's a date you might forget write it down on your calendar (or maybe on that Post It note where you wrote your why in #1?).<br />
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<b>4. Set an alarm. </b>Most people have the best luck with establishing a home practice if they practice the same time every day, so set an alarm on your phone or computer to remind yourself to get up and move at the same time every day.<br />
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<b>5. Stick to the same sequence. </b>Don't give yourself the extra job of coming up what to practice after you actually get to your mat—it can waste precious time and could be the reason you decide to surf the web or veg out in front of the TV instead of doing your practice. Decide now what you'll focus on, write down a few poses you'll practice daily, or find a video online that you'll practice along with, and stick with it! If you get bored with the sequence, you can always change it up as you go or plan ahead and choose a different focus or video BEFORE it's time to unroll your mat.<br />
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Try this <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/08/short-and-sweet-side-bend-practice.html">Short and Sweet Side Bend Practice</a> or <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-yoga-practice-for-confidence-self.html">A Yoga Practice for Confidence + Acceptance</a>.<br />
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<b>7. Leave your <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-vernice-vita-yoga-mat.html">yoga mat</a> and <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2011/02/5-props-every-beginning-yoga-student.html">yoga props</a> out. </b>Make it really, stupid easy to just jump in and get going. That way if you only have a few minutes to practice, you can use every second breathing and moving because you won't have to set up your space.<br />
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<b>8. Organize the rest of your life so you aren't using excess time or energy making tasks harder than they have to be. </b>Remember when you did an inventory of what you spend the most time doing? Was there anything on that list that could be streamlined with a little more careful planning and organization? Do you spend hours folding laundry when you could cut that down to a few minutes by putting everything on a hanger? Are you wading through hundreds of garments you never wear to get dressed in the morning? Organization can be a struggle for me, but when I really took time to organize my closet, organize Annabelle's toys, plan my meals every week, etc., I found I had so much more time and energy at the end of the day that I could use for my own self-care and my yoga practice!<br />
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If this seems daunting to you, tackle one small space at a time and go from there. Organizing can take a lot of time in the beginning, but I promise you, it's worth the effort in the long run!<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-its-hard-to-make-difference.html">Book Review: It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys</a><br />
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<b>9. Just say NO to anything that doesn't serve you.</b> For me, sometimes that means opting out of a girls night out to catch a yoga class instead or turning away work assignments that won't lead me to my end goals. Learning to say no to things that get in the way of my yoga practice (or other self-care practices) has saved me.<br />
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<b>10. Forgive yourself.</b> No matter how disciplined you are, there will be times that it doesn't happen. During those times, it won't help you to beat yourself up (after all, isn't the whole goal of this to help yourself feel GOOD!?). When you miss a day, just make a mental note of where things went off track, and pick up where you left off tomorrow.<br />
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<b>Now it's your turn! In the comments section below, tell me what tips or tricks you've discovered that help you make time for your yoga practice.</b><br />
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Read more ...</b><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2014/08/15-things-youre-doing-right-in-yoga.html">15 Things You're Doing RIGHT in Yoga</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/09/secret-savana.html">Why Every Yoga Mama Needs to Take A Secret Savasana</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/mindful-mama-jennifer-williams-fields.html">Mindful Mama: Jennifer Williams-Fields Shares How to Create a Joyful Life</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-63987792308734779412015-11-27T18:51:00.000-08:002015-11-27T18:51:05.914-08:00Review: Meet Asana, the World's First Yoga DollIf there's one thing I've learned in my 3 years as a parent, it's that there are many MANY things are not in my control. At best, I'm my daughter's guide and role model, but there are plenty of times when my girl just does her own thing, even if it makes me cringe.<br />
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Here are just a few examples:<br />
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Despite following all the rules about introducing food to her as a baby, now the only green thing she'll touch to her lips are freaking dill pickles. (Thank God for <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/07/q-with-jessi-andricks-author-of-detox.html">green smoothies</a>.)<br />
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She would watch YouTube videos all day long if I'd let her—and I'm not talking about educational ones either. She begs to watch grown-ass adults open plastic Easter eggs covered in Play Doh, then pretending to be surprised about the contents. (<i>Oh my goodness! It's the toy I put in there 5 minutes go! I'm SO surprised!</i>) <br />
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Sometimes her taste in toys is a little questionable, too. You'll never guess what tops her list for Santa this year: Pop the Pig, a game that she discovered on YouTube (where else!?) where you feed a pig hamburgers to make him fatter and fatter. If you're the one who makes the pig's belly grow so big he "pops" out of his clothing, you win! What. The. Hell? Who came up with that?<br />
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<i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-reality-of-morning-exercise-with.html">The Reality of Morning Exercise with a Toddler</a><br />
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I'm limiting her access to YouTube, and keep hoping she'll forget about it by Christmas because I don't want it in my house. While I know I can't control EVERYTHING my daughter is exposed to, I will do everything I can to guide her to be a healthy, well-rounded, confident girl. I'm sorry, but Pop the Pig just doesn't fit the bill.<br />
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For me, it was yoga that taught me so much about physical, mental, and emotional health, and I'd love to share that with my daughter. But (because she's a total <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-hewitt/10-signs-you-are-living-with-a-threenager_b_6463280.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">threenager</a>) I also know I'll have to introduce it in a way that's fun, age-appropriate, and maybe seems like it was her own idea.<br />
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Enter: <b>Asana Yoga Girl</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDG4H6LtfpR6t56r7VrtLX59tadVQHXz4mwA1bGDSIEaKiMPjPHDIJqieJvRXqKhqnSyJfRZSuV_5-9Pekqqgj6AU3ykfsUrYiVpCpzb9d5U2zKRoz7FZtvMeHNVVELkK-pX-g9An-l6oN/s1600/asana_lotus_2_1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Meet Asana the Yoga Girl | AZIAM Girlz Yoga Doll Review | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDG4H6LtfpR6t56r7VrtLX59tadVQHXz4mwA1bGDSIEaKiMPjPHDIJqieJvRXqKhqnSyJfRZSuV_5-9Pekqqgj6AU3ykfsUrYiVpCpzb9d5U2zKRoz7FZtvMeHNVVELkK-pX-g9An-l6oN/s400/asana_lotus_2_1024x1024.jpg" title="Meet Asana the Yoga Girl | AZIAM Girlz Yoga Doll Review | SpoiledYogi.com" width="347" /></a></div>
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I couldn't have been more thrilled when I learned that the Alanna Zabel, the woman behind AZIAM yoga clothing and a yoga teacher to celebrities like Adam Levine, is now making dolls that can move and stretch right along with your child. Zabel, who also founded weeklong summer camps for girls called AZIAM Girlz Yoga Camps, first created characters corresponding with the 8 limbs of yoga (named Yama, Niyama, Asana, etc.) to illustrate the 8 Limbed Path (Ashtanga) of yoga to the girls in a way that they could understand. "My intent has always been to instill a positive and healthy lifestyle in children at an early age," says Zabel, who also holds a degree in child development.<br />
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The first doll, which is available now, is fittingly named Asana because that girl is a very talented yogi—I had so much fun trying to contort her into various poses, and she could do almost all of them! (I think she's still learning <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-yoga-practice-for-mommy-brain.html">Eagle Pose</a>... but maybe she'll get it one day if she keeps practicing.) She comes with a <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-to-choose-yoga-mat-manduka-giveaway.html">yoga mat</a>, which doubles as a slap bracelet, making it my daughter's favorite thing EVER! The doll also has an adorable yoga ball, hand weights, and flip flops (because what else would she wear to and from the yoga studio?). She's also outfitted in cute, stretchy AZIAM yoga clothes (obviously). She's totally adorable, and both my daughter and I have had so much fun playing with her. I would feel really good about buying every one of these dolls for my daughter because it's such a fun way to get her more interested in yoga. As she grows older, I can't wait to share with her the 8-Limbed Path, and these dolls would be an awesome way to start that conversation!<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/find-your-mama-mantra.html">Find Your Mama Mantra</a><br />
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My only concern about the doll is that she's SO flexible, I could see some girls feeling a bit bad if they can't do all of the moves that the doll can. (Though, I do think most girls today understand that dolls don't always look or move like real people—I'm looking at you, Barbie!). The AZIAM doll is still light years better than most toys available today, and I feel good about letting my little one play with her.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yvGxKCVjn8o53TQDYBseq-mpv1ey5U0zoCRvPhVg7_-4sYHDk5inxRMhB7ccbwcIciEBpiB6XPlJS12KosAx2d2Lnh0lzybAC7w1jJkMUyF2sJCMQYFWXMd6jVY58ajKMG7jd4Y9HUQY/s1600/image009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Meet Asana the Yoga Girl | AZIAM Girlz Yoga Doll Review | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yvGxKCVjn8o53TQDYBseq-mpv1ey5U0zoCRvPhVg7_-4sYHDk5inxRMhB7ccbwcIciEBpiB6XPlJS12KosAx2d2Lnh0lzybAC7w1jJkMUyF2sJCMQYFWXMd6jVY58ajKMG7jd4Y9HUQY/s320/image009.jpg" title="Meet Asana the Yoga Girl | AZIAM Girlz Yoga Doll Review | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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Asana Yoga Girl is available for pre-order now through the <a href="http://www.aziamgirlz.com/products/asana-yoga-doll" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AZIAM Girlz website</a>, and there are 7 more dolls, which will be released in the coming months. (If you're still on the fence, know that 10 percent of the sales goes toward <a href="https://www.healthiergeneration.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Alliance for a Healthier Generation</a>, an organization dedicated to reduce childhood obesity and help kids create healthy habits.)<br />
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How do you pass on yoga to the little ones in your life?<br />
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Read more ...<br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/why-i-love-yoga-props-review-of-three.html">Why I LOVE Yoga Props + A Review of Three Minute Egg</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-vernice-vita-yoga-mat.html">Review: Vernice Vita Yoga Mat</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/07/5-yoga-tips-to-help-get-your-toddler-to.html">5 Yoga Tips to Help Get Your Toddler to Sleep</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-56765545219316610922015-11-24T18:58:00.000-08:002015-11-25T05:07:21.668-08:00A Yoga Practice for Mommy BrainDo you ever feel like you’re forgetting more things than you remember? Are you so bleary eyed and exhausted that you feel more like a zombie moving through the motions instead of the bright, vibrant mother you want to be to your kids? Have you ever accidentally put diaper rash cream on your toothbrush? (What? Just me? Well, it was time for a new toothbrush anyway!)<br />
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If this sounds at all familiar, you might be suffering from a common ailment I lovingly call Mommy Brain. It usually starts when you’re pregnant as <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/pregnancy-yoga-how-to-use-yoga-props-to.html">Pregnancy Brain</a>, but then you have your baby and a few months (or in my case years) passes and you start wondering how many of your brain cells died during your delivery…. There’s no quick fix for Mommy Brain—except maybe a few really good nights of sleep (I know what you're thinking: <i>Bahahahahahaha!</i>)<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/09/secret-savana.html">Why Every Yoga Mama Needs a Secret Savasana</a><br />
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Seriously, though, first things first. Have you been neglecting your own <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/sneaky-self-care.html">self-care</a>? Are you dehydrated? Have you eaten today (and I mean something healthy that makes you feel alive—not peanut butter and jelly!)? Did you take a shower and put on clean clothes? First, take care of all of those necessities we mamas sometimes put aside while we're caring for our littles, then fit in a yoga practice the first chance you get (naptime is a great choice or even after you get the kiddos to sleep at night).<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/07/5-yoga-tips-to-help-get-your-toddler-to.html">5 Yoga Tips to Help Get Your Toddler to Sleep</a><br />
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This short yoga practice is great for increasing focus and clarity in all areas of your life. It can help to make us sharper, more present, and increase our ability to focus on one thing at a time. These poses will help you feel grounded, centered, and connected, then we’ll focus on doing some poses that require complete concentration. When you’re done, you can take that focus over into other areas in our lives. Give it a try!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPWmRSPvh57kZlnCJ0IvVNH6nNBuZZ3gk_-DTEWWx7_P8V22MBD1YGEanJEImqPOEaBeLvvp44Cg6L9CM8e43p0kA5plI3jNvuumJ_rzv-W_8c-EhC7g4pq9SKuIkLZVQDM7RlnUo7fBR/s1600/Yoga+for+Mommy+Brain.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A Yoga Practice for Mommy Brain | Increase Mental Focus and Clarity with Yoga | Yoga balance poses sequence | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPWmRSPvh57kZlnCJ0IvVNH6nNBuZZ3gk_-DTEWWx7_P8V22MBD1YGEanJEImqPOEaBeLvvp44Cg6L9CM8e43p0kA5plI3jNvuumJ_rzv-W_8c-EhC7g4pq9SKuIkLZVQDM7RlnUo7fBR/s640/Yoga+for+Mommy+Brain.png" title="A Yoga Practice for Mommy Brain | Increase Mental Focus and Clarity with Yoga | Yoga balance poses sequence | SpoiledYogi.com" width="256" /></a></div>
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<b>Downward Facing Dog</b> with a block under the forehead. Inversions like Downward Facing Dog send blood (and oxygen) to your brain. That’s why if I only have a few minutes to practice, my go-to is almost always Down Dog. Putting a block under my forehead makes the pose more soothing and grounding—two things I definitely need when I’m feeling frazzled and unfocused.<br />
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<i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/find-your-mama-mantra.html">Find Your Mama Mantra</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWNv20KVosN_zSbr3aGae9iwfpS4yDkU2Avm48EZOwBcievgniq8QGy8bEn5sAlQ7Rlh8xzzNnnbjs0sYscG4KN7T2lE70v4WMrW-QCBuwOnSh5IGxhCQrP7J_noNaSSZ2ZM0cEKCTvU9/s1600/DownDog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Downward Facing Dog - Adho Mukha Svanasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWNv20KVosN_zSbr3aGae9iwfpS4yDkU2Avm48EZOwBcievgniq8QGy8bEn5sAlQ7Rlh8xzzNnnbjs0sYscG4KN7T2lE70v4WMrW-QCBuwOnSh5IGxhCQrP7J_noNaSSZ2ZM0cEKCTvU9/s320/DownDog.JPG" title="Downward Facing Dog - Adho Mukha Svanasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Mountain Pose (AKA Strong Mama Pose)</b>. Stand tall with your feet planted firmly on the ground. Bring your big toes to touch, press your feet down, and lift the crown of your head up toward the sky so you’re as tall as possible. Really pay attention to your foundation. Can you root your feet any more? Can you feel gravity pulling you down, connecting you to the earth? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLA7mS5dore4btdABbhD3ibuWvtGEOHW3rdnABcBvH7DOzvfXoEAE0oESZCEmlJXNfT9Q4VC_jqxoq79pruJUFUJHAB7DDmvNWFk4N2_0UEeuvMq1r4VAd2wWZn4qPCLIn8wlfYgUqYs1/s1600/Mountain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mountain Pose, Tadasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLA7mS5dore4btdABbhD3ibuWvtGEOHW3rdnABcBvH7DOzvfXoEAE0oESZCEmlJXNfT9Q4VC_jqxoq79pruJUFUJHAB7DDmvNWFk4N2_0UEeuvMq1r4VAd2wWZn4qPCLIn8wlfYgUqYs1/s320/Mountain.JPG" title="Mountain Pose, Tadasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Tree Pose.</b> Keep standing tall, spread your toes, and feel your strong foundation underneath you. Bend your right knee and turn it out to the right. You can keep your toes to the floor for balance and bring your right foot to the inside of your left ankle. Or, bring your right foot up to the side of the left shin, or to the left inner thigh. (Just don’t bring that foot to the inside of the knee—be above or below the knee!) Once you have your balance, bring your hands together in front of your chest and take 5 full, deep breaths through the nostrils.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu53SpXUj1o-d9jQ8OG80i-fCd0r6qW0GuryTzigKH3uQTa3zKOBiR10YIaZ2y-DT6rXlxfy0YfjJZR9TjxFepRC5XeZ8oBUsmdw7jvnc9a1JVmFp9_Pa647jJLy8mfPZMVbJqp2FDWwE/s1600/Tree.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Tree Pose, Vrksasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu53SpXUj1o-d9jQ8OG80i-fCd0r6qW0GuryTzigKH3uQTa3zKOBiR10YIaZ2y-DT6rXlxfy0YfjJZR9TjxFepRC5XeZ8oBUsmdw7jvnc9a1JVmFp9_Pa647jJLy8mfPZMVbJqp2FDWwE/s320/Tree.JPG" title="Tree Pose, Vrksasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose. </b>Keep the right lifted and bring your hands to your hips. Then, either grab onto your right big toe with your right index and middle finger and straighten the right leg all the way out to the right. Or, keep the right knee bent and hold onto the front of the knee as you open the leg out to the right. Stay for 3-5 full, deep breaths. When you’re done, come back to Tree Pose for just one breath. Then, come back to Mountain Pose before you switch sides.<br />
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<i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-almost-two-year-old-taught-me.html">My Almost 2-year-old Taught Me Pranayama</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmalw0LIRRlFluKAbmKWLwyZS9kLsNF-U2A9u8l7q2wK8EK2KZfB4M2kHtz8bH9Zpf9N7fzfb339OrfT2rliuIStLLqCUdq7yFvN0IYJYlkPLrGYnVX6QRzxBPzV03zi72Y4GE7wVchki/s1600/HandtoToe.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose, Utthita Hasta Padangustasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmalw0LIRRlFluKAbmKWLwyZS9kLsNF-U2A9u8l7q2wK8EK2KZfB4M2kHtz8bH9Zpf9N7fzfb339OrfT2rliuIStLLqCUdq7yFvN0IYJYlkPLrGYnVX6QRzxBPzV03zi72Y4GE7wVchki/s320/HandtoToe.JPG" title="Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose, Utthita Hasta Padangustasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Chair Pose.</b> From Mountain Pose, bend your knees, and drop your bottom down toward the floor—pretend you’re sitting in a tall chair. Bring your weight into your heels. Reach your arms up by your ears. Spread your fingers. Breathe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-OvDTSXdSHC57HZUfMfvphvfPEzep6-TU77hGACQDJItYvW71jbIGUnlxI5WqDQsktPkycy3NbgAUFhm_MDIDr2-1nYt0VCZqdeyX-fZlgd1iTS8Iz29rBbBWgIeW5G0nDHBmsrlR0cr/s1600/Chair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chair Pose, Utkatasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-OvDTSXdSHC57HZUfMfvphvfPEzep6-TU77hGACQDJItYvW71jbIGUnlxI5WqDQsktPkycy3NbgAUFhm_MDIDr2-1nYt0VCZqdeyX-fZlgd1iTS8Iz29rBbBWgIeW5G0nDHBmsrlR0cr/s320/Chair.JPG" title="Chair Pose, Utkatasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Eagle Pose. </b>From Chair Pose, lift your right leg and stack your right knee on top of your left. Bring your left toes to touch the floor for balance or wrap it around your other leg. Sit down until your thighs are almost parallel to the floor. Then, give yourself a hug with the left elbow on top of the right. Lift your elbows so they’re the same height as your shoulders. Stay here or lift your forearms up and cross your wrists.<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/4-surprising-things-that-help-me-manage.html">4 Surprising Things That Help Me Manage Anxiety</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSu0o_Uk8j6rO-WTB-sevqIC47rLN2cf0E5xyASiq9OcSrFFGzAsl0KfHvgjPe1K-zwj96bWQkGrKo79D9PuxMtpYaP15WNlXaiYllrthkJef6cnyAon1mifwpymA6THBygB5JhPvzfq99/s1600/Eagle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eagle Pose, Garudasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSu0o_Uk8j6rO-WTB-sevqIC47rLN2cf0E5xyASiq9OcSrFFGzAsl0KfHvgjPe1K-zwj96bWQkGrKo79D9PuxMtpYaP15WNlXaiYllrthkJef6cnyAon1mifwpymA6THBygB5JhPvzfq99/s320/Eagle.JPG" title="Eagle Pose, Garudasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Warrior III Pose. </b>Unwind your arms and legs, but don’t let your right foot touch the floor. Instead extend it out behind you, so the leg is parallel to the floor. Bring your hands to your hips or reach them next to your sides, fingertips reaching toward the wall behind you. Spread your fingers. Keep both hip points pointing down toward the floor. Stay for 3 breaths.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sr1bKjj1J4_2R8LsbV5q-inf0TEVKfCnKaVFzjYLG4QprY8aC_DMAO6pHT3DErY28UQxYZljFKXiVy9RPhap3Kh8LcjD2n40tYbeKPhWov3Ne_2CpQPYy_OKOh7qany7PI_k8IMcDK_r/s1600/Warrior3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Warrior 3 Pose, Virabhadrasana III | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sr1bKjj1J4_2R8LsbV5q-inf0TEVKfCnKaVFzjYLG4QprY8aC_DMAO6pHT3DErY28UQxYZljFKXiVy9RPhap3Kh8LcjD2n40tYbeKPhWov3Ne_2CpQPYy_OKOh7qany7PI_k8IMcDK_r/s320/Warrior3.JPG" title="Warrior 3 Pose, Virabhadrasana III | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Eagle Pose (Yes, again!).</b> Don’t let your right foot touch the floor as you shift back into Eagle Pose with the right knee on top of the left. Breathe. Make your way back to Mountain Pose, shake out your legs (do a happy dance!) then switch sides.<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/03/10-ways-youre-stressing-yourself-out.html">10 Ways You're Stressing Yourself Out</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSu0o_Uk8j6rO-WTB-sevqIC47rLN2cf0E5xyASiq9OcSrFFGzAsl0KfHvgjPe1K-zwj96bWQkGrKo79D9PuxMtpYaP15WNlXaiYllrthkJef6cnyAon1mifwpymA6THBygB5JhPvzfq99/s1600/Eagle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eagle Pose, Garudasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSu0o_Uk8j6rO-WTB-sevqIC47rLN2cf0E5xyASiq9OcSrFFGzAsl0KfHvgjPe1K-zwj96bWQkGrKo79D9PuxMtpYaP15WNlXaiYllrthkJef6cnyAon1mifwpymA6THBygB5JhPvzfq99/s320/Eagle.JPG" title="Eagle Pose, Garudasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Pigeon Pose</b> with head resting on something (more grounding). When you're done standing, come down to hands and knees. Bring your right knee to the inside of your right wrist. Take a big breath in and lengthen your spine. Exhale as you fold forward. Stay for 10 breaths or more, then switch sides.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYcccAcvNHDsVbFYrg9pC28NdwxmWFmX4fJnqxAbOTaZQQikP4C_3yffHDOJeSuuVwo8eu-_2_f3fK7T-uE4AyCEigzjIpSHRurgx-Zl5srikFSSbQ1c6U-BGXNXK7pmhthSiT5TRVa64/s1600/Pigeon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pigeon Pose, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYcccAcvNHDsVbFYrg9pC28NdwxmWFmX4fJnqxAbOTaZQQikP4C_3yffHDOJeSuuVwo8eu-_2_f3fK7T-uE4AyCEigzjIpSHRurgx-Zl5srikFSSbQ1c6U-BGXNXK7pmhthSiT5TRVa64/s320/Pigeon.JPG" title="Pigeon Pose, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana | Yoga for Mommy Brain | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/5-common-meditation-mistakes.html">Seated meditation</a>. </b>Come back to a seated position on the floor. Close your eyes. Bring your attention to your breath, in and out through the nostrils, slow, steady, even, and full. Stay here for at least 10 breaths (longer if you can).<br />
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<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-yoga-practice-for-confidence-self.html">A Yoga Practice for Confidence + Self Acceptance</a></div>
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/09/5-things-i-learned-practicing-yoga-for.html">5 Things I Learned Practicing Yoga for Two</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/10-thingsi-love-restorative-yoga.html">10 Things I Love about Restorative Yoga</a><br />
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<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/5-easy-ways-to-improve-almost-any-yoga.html">5 Ways to Improve (Almost) Any Pose</a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-61773738574407023612015-11-23T18:58:00.001-08:002015-11-24T10:01:27.536-08:005 Easy Ways to Improve (Almost) Any Yoga Pose<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWb4eyfj0X-GkHk7NqBhi-VAXCaFsfSa_uJp2R-4mTGUQmoOSC99NywT8JvtOzV1M2wyFnQ55fn1xBYIft6FilO5Jr6Q9DEccNylXpJgh739pVGnvCCF4ZCDUoeA2sbaxl0_yMm4pnqtNF/s1600/5+Ways+to+Improve+%2528almost%2529Any+Yoga+Pose+Instantly.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="3 Easy Ways to Improve Almost Any Yoga Pose Instantly | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWb4eyfj0X-GkHk7NqBhi-VAXCaFsfSa_uJp2R-4mTGUQmoOSC99NywT8JvtOzV1M2wyFnQ55fn1xBYIft6FilO5Jr6Q9DEccNylXpJgh739pVGnvCCF4ZCDUoeA2sbaxl0_yMm4pnqtNF/s640/5+Ways+to+Improve+%2528almost%2529Any+Yoga+Pose+Instantly.png" title="3 Easy Ways to Improve Almost Any Yoga Pose Instantly | SpoiledYogi.com" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">Photo by </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/yogendra174/20508867318/in/photolist-xfiiJE-6ePEVT-5hpPzi-9BecDW-6ePPXn-yvMb1c-yvM99g-yu7cMJ-ydsaYW-5YSmFJ-bjWuPq-foztmQ-coxzyC-bs9MuT-6or8rK-kSA6fp-bjWvgh-9fCFdH-9WSJWA-8hqadN-oEraSe-bnFuGa-6ePQip-8YWink-rsxJon-arP3ST-bQMJ16-uS1GUG-oJUiXn-9Bbjzi-7kn88X-6WFyQq-9BHhZ7-9BHi1A-9BEmvT-6vwbct-7kqZWu-dzWTZH-sn76PL-vKmsth-dA3Kdd-seWbSC-fokbE8-5esvCG-6QNW69-8RuAsC-8Rrtrv-8RuAc9-8RuAwm-34PmNm" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">Yogendra Joshi</a></span></td></tr>
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We all have different body types and different challenges when it comes to asanas, or the physical yoga poses. In my own practice, I’ve found there are five little adjustments I can make that improves my form and alignment in almost any yoga pose.<br />
<br />
Here are my top five tips for improving almost any pose. I hope they’ll help you, too!<br />
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<b>1. Find your roots. </b>In standing poses that means pressing your feet into the floor for stability. In seated poses, it’s your sitting bones that will ground. In <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2011/06/5-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-yoga.html">Downward Dog</a>, your hands and your feet become your roots. A strong foundation almost always makes for a stronger and safer pose.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Elongate your spine. </b>This is the one instruction I hear more than any other in my yoga classes—and with good reason! When I learned to find as much length as possible in my spine my poses felt light, more buoyant, and a lot safer, too.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Pull the ribcage back in line and lengthen (but don't tuck!) the tailbone. </b>My tendency in most poses is to stick my butt out and my ribcage forward, creating a super-arch in my low back. It also creates a pesky dull ache. This is not the kind of backbend that will help you gain strength OR stability. So, I’m always checking in to make sure my tailbone is lengthening (i.e. my butt is not sticking out) and my rib cage is in line.<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/03/10-ways-youre-stressing-yourself-out.html">10 Ways Your Stressing Yourself Out</a><br />
<br />
<b>4. Firm your thigh muscles. </b>I’m a hyper-extender. This means my joints are a little TOO flexible–particularly my knees. When I baring weight on my legs, as in standing poses like Trikonasana (Triangle Pose), I have to be careful not to put my knees in a compromising position. So, I have to be sure that my thigh muscles are firm and working to protect my knees.<br />
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<b>5. Relax. </b>No matter what pose I’m practicing, I try to find my edge. Then I take a deep breath and back off just a little. This way I’m working … but I'm not struggling. I can hold poses for longer this way, and I’m less prone to injury.<br />
<br />
What little tricks do you use to improve your poses?<br />
<br />
Read more ...<br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2014/07/6-sup-yoga-tips-for-beginners.html">5 SUP Yoga Tips for Beginners</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/02/5-ways-to-find-more-freedom-on-your.html">5 Ways to Find More Freedom on Your Mat</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2010/04/5-ways-to-have-more-fun-doing-yoga.html">5 Ways to Have More Fun Doing Yoga</a><br />
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<!--End mc_embed_signup--><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-10365259486981045422015-11-18T08:57:00.000-08:002015-11-22T18:32:13.371-08:00Pregnancy Yoga: How to Use Yoga Props to Get Comfy for Restorative Yoga Poses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SMxN2aNhJLwPj3yU2cSFtlUqYbM4QPrJLwCDMLAhCnhLUf9hun9vV0TMD8qph2Uz066TO3SxDHpEXzfqA4Owj2uFrzUw8Ho0TDqvIlwt-TD6VlhY5YHFyCP7gErZb7IchgBxVI18PMQx/s1600/How+to+Get+Comfyin+Restorative+Poses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to use yoga props for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SMxN2aNhJLwPj3yU2cSFtlUqYbM4QPrJLwCDMLAhCnhLUf9hun9vV0TMD8qph2Uz066TO3SxDHpEXzfqA4Owj2uFrzUw8Ho0TDqvIlwt-TD6VlhY5YHFyCP7gErZb7IchgBxVI18PMQx/s640/How+to+Get+Comfyin+Restorative+Poses.jpg" title="How to use yoga props for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" width="426" /></a></div>
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There are a few things to take into consideration if you're going to practice yoga while you're pregnant. Most of the modifications you need to make are quite obvious. I always tell my prenatal yoga students that Rule Number 1 is simply, <i>Don't squish the baby. </i>That means things you'll need to find an alternative to poses where you'd put all of your weight on your belly (duh!) And for poses where you'd normally twist so that your belly presses into a bent knee aren't a great ides (twist <i>away </i>from the knee instead!) Common sense!<br />
<i><br /></i>
The other modification that you'll see often in pregnancy yoga classes is that you'll notice the teacher will never ask you lay flat on your back for an extended period of time. That's because around half way through your pregnancy, there's a possibility that the weight of your growing uterus could compress the vena cava vein, which returns blood from your lower body to your heart. Since it's possible that this could cutting off blood to that sweet baby of yours, we always err on the side of caution here. If you're a back sleeper like I am, that's a big bummer (it's hard enough to get comfortable when you're pregnant as it is!). What if you love love LOVE Savasana (Final Resting Pose) or other supine <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/10-thingsi-love-restorative-yoga.html">restorative yoga poses</a>? Well, you've got to modify that a bit, too. And it's SO worth doing it—if there's one thing that's super important for pregnant mamas (and ALL mamas, to be honest) it's giving your body time to rest fully.<br />
<br />
So, what's a tired mama-to-be to do?<br />
<br />
<h3>
Pregnancy Yoga: How to Use Yoga Props for Restorative Yoga Poses</h3>
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For Savasana, you could lay on your left side and surround yourself with bolsters and blankets, which is a great option! But if you love the feeling and support of the floor under your back, you might like the option of propping your torso up at an angle a bit better. It works for Savasana, Supta Baddha Konasana (Goddess Pose, <i>pictured</i>), and Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose. As an added bonus, when your heart is lifted a bit and your arms are out to the side it's also a sweet chest opener, undoing all the hunching many of us do all day long as we sit in front of a computer or driving our cars.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFatBswZoVxGydSQSJl_CL6cFtTt7_1shvUsKWAtncO_wZYEaktdfeEsmyfZldgEYjsoTunYd2kL3_94m1Ol8oJdllgKinobHN_WGElW0c1opqNsxix_NZ7JCsZoto9zq4rAx3mFrp5GBG/s1600/Untitled+design+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="How to use yoga props for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFatBswZoVxGydSQSJl_CL6cFtTt7_1shvUsKWAtncO_wZYEaktdfeEsmyfZldgEYjsoTunYd2kL3_94m1Ol8oJdllgKinobHN_WGElW0c1opqNsxix_NZ7JCsZoto9zq4rAx3mFrp5GBG/s400/Untitled+design+%25281%2529.jpg" title="How to use yoga props for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My gorgeous, glowing student Jen all propped up for Goddess Pose.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Best of all, you don't have to be in a <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/pregnancy-yoga-5-yoga-poses-new-mamas.html">prenatal yoga class</a> to do it (but if you're in the Charleston, SC area, please come see me!)! You can get tons of benefits from just taking 10-15 minutes at the end of your day to rest. You'll relieve stress. You'll sleep better. You'll have more energy throughout the following day. I could go on... but you're here to get comfy, aren't you?<br />
<br />
So, let's do this!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Scenario 1: </b>You're in a yoga studio and you have access to ample yoga props: several bolsters, blankets, blocks, and straps. That's right! This is the holy grail for the prenatal yoga student—you have arrived!<br />
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2011/02/5-props-every-beginning-yoga-student.html">5 Yoga Props Every Beginning Yoga Student Should Have</a><br />
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<b>What to do:</b> When there's no shortage of props, setting yourself up to get comfy for restorative yoga poses is super easy. Here's my preference for most restorative postures. Make a T-shape out of two rectangle bolsters. Sit your sacrum at the bottom of the T and lie back. Stretch your legs out long for a Supported Savasana, scoot the set up close to a wall for Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani), or bring the soles of your feet together in Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Cobbler's Pose—AKA Goddess Pose, for obvious reasons). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfkR0BHeuISwShQFd_z4CXk30IPU8T1wKZfeq26mOoQKA8SnrmZmqp8baJPLXukic1o24jJQeSUSPO-37_CJBItJu_HII31EVI6ilnxpr40q7F4wPqTZ1BiqHpilChL2JFZdqjpvwoA8Q/s1600/IMG_1088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to use yoga bolsters for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfkR0BHeuISwShQFd_z4CXk30IPU8T1wKZfeq26mOoQKA8SnrmZmqp8baJPLXukic1o24jJQeSUSPO-37_CJBItJu_HII31EVI6ilnxpr40q7F4wPqTZ1BiqHpilChL2JFZdqjpvwoA8Q/s320/IMG_1088.JPG" title="How to use yoga bolsters for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPAn82YsxLxQ1lnqx9mC4k5x0IQCSHKgx6w2xRQg0ydeJXC52mlsiZZaMlrO2Gs7VZ4onl7fW4DXsf6nHXFvyfim_qxu67zzuN_uSPzPMpt3eZdllOEvlqm6X_BrXroGZ2k6EjsGbqVej/s1600/IMG_1089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to use yoga bolsters for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPAn82YsxLxQ1lnqx9mC4k5x0IQCSHKgx6w2xRQg0ydeJXC52mlsiZZaMlrO2Gs7VZ4onl7fW4DXsf6nHXFvyfim_qxu67zzuN_uSPzPMpt3eZdllOEvlqm6X_BrXroGZ2k6EjsGbqVej/s320/IMG_1089.JPG" title="How to use yoga bolsters for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Scenario 2: </b>You're in a yoga studio with access to a few bolsters, but there just aren't enough for everybody to have two. </div>
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<b>What to do: </b>Use two blocks to support your bolster. Put the blocks into a stair step configuration (see picture), place the bolster on top, and set yourself up just like you would in Scenario 1.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxuQKB7jGhefgvoeHbgNlCEwZaWVmzbvwU-QFPSStSU2lnWtqFbduNrKH6ok23DIHXk4fgm_pAzU1IWxGY69zRBrl6mPM672mhz0DIcsFr2Q9QR2Ssg2xVdk12fQMHZzpW6U8TQyiV2xF/s1600/IMG_1087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="How to use yoga props for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxuQKB7jGhefgvoeHbgNlCEwZaWVmzbvwU-QFPSStSU2lnWtqFbduNrKH6ok23DIHXk4fgm_pAzU1IWxGY69zRBrl6mPM672mhz0DIcsFr2Q9QR2Ssg2xVdk12fQMHZzpW6U8TQyiV2xF/s320/IMG_1087.JPG" title="How to use yoga props for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6zoOY7RtIi61_0fO2LRMc3_q3-GRUBQTUNAc6noUHCZmoAa5UbwuI3YlXyjkx7KX_1SWxMjCUVHWRdAlGqurlU6oTij4foJHZeBm8XPUPjy9YohZ9kM24nGVbpJy9f9U38LfCXf8Sh5T/s1600/IMG_1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to use yoga props for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6zoOY7RtIi61_0fO2LRMc3_q3-GRUBQTUNAc6noUHCZmoAa5UbwuI3YlXyjkx7KX_1SWxMjCUVHWRdAlGqurlU6oTij4foJHZeBm8XPUPjy9YohZ9kM24nGVbpJy9f9U38LfCXf8Sh5T/s320/IMG_1084.JPG" title="How to use yoga props for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Scenario 3: </b>You're at home. You don't have lots of props laying around your house. You're going to have to make due with a few household items.</div>
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<b>What to do: </b>Get creative! You could use two firm couch cushions one on top of the other to get your torso at a good, comfy, safe angle. In lieu of blocks, you could use a stack of books (maybe phone books actually DO have a use in the age of smartphones, after all!). You've probably got lots of blankets and throw pillows of different sizes in your house that you can use to prop up legs in Supta Baddha Konasana, give you extra support under your bottom, or give you a little extra lift to your head. In the photos below, I used a stack of books and a large, firm, memory foam pillow (you'll want something that's firm enough that it won't collapse under the weight of your head, especially).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfU7j-ADAxMW644F6l5PnoCIaF27DcqceOCDMlSR22h0mIxi1lm1-w98_gBXCUHv5MNfJebb9uLt7dRDULnB75slQhbzvABXGUGXJn7mOoyoHvNDd_iDbWa0x_uJSG1S_SNQwo7CK0AQPB/s1600/IMG_1081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to use yoga props for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfU7j-ADAxMW644F6l5PnoCIaF27DcqceOCDMlSR22h0mIxi1lm1-w98_gBXCUHv5MNfJebb9uLt7dRDULnB75slQhbzvABXGUGXJn7mOoyoHvNDd_iDbWa0x_uJSG1S_SNQwo7CK0AQPB/s320/IMG_1081.JPG" title="How to use yoga props for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0VDRq4x0oNBflABTC001UspWm8HDbkly1qEWhsRqMUydIIwIKJ5COyJclS2hngSN9m9h6R7ELjvfCi7AtAfiy78iBjpMveZWJFA3FsYgfWiDQvRnXJTaTBUWvn629phGdfgsg_7ad9d4/s1600/IMG_1082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="How to use yoga props for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0VDRq4x0oNBflABTC001UspWm8HDbkly1qEWhsRqMUydIIwIKJ5COyJclS2hngSN9m9h6R7ELjvfCi7AtAfiy78iBjpMveZWJFA3FsYgfWiDQvRnXJTaTBUWvn629phGdfgsg_7ad9d4/s320/IMG_1082.JPG" title="How to use yoga props for restorative yoga poses in prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga | SpoiledYogi.com" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because I knew you'd be curious, I used: The Chicago Manual of Style and The Baby Book (and a few more, too!)</td></tr>
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Talk to me, mamas! What's your favorite restorative yoga posture and how often do you practice it? Do you prop yourself up at home? If so, what creative props do you use?<br />
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Read more...<br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/09/5-things-i-learned-practicing-yoga-for.html">5 Things I Learned Practicing Yoga for Two</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/10-thingsi-love-restorative-yoga.html">10 Things I Love about Restorative Yoga</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2012/04/what-not-to-wear-yoga-mamas.html">What Not To Wear: Yoga Mamas</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-84016924268222933982015-11-16T08:59:00.002-08:002015-11-22T18:33:15.363-08:00Why I LOVE Yoga Props + A Review of Three Minute EggIt's kind of funny that I'm so obsessed with yoga blocks now because when I first started practicing yoga teachers had to practically force me to use them. Like many beginners, I didn't want to use blocks (or really any props) because I thought they were for people who weren't flexible enough/weren't strong enough ie. not good at yoga. (I know it's hard for you to understand, my dear readers. But I wasn't always so wise and knowledgeable as I am today. I was once a naive, sheltered, and, well, ego-tastic. I'm still working on it. Ha!)<br />
<h3>
A Story about Yoga Props</h3>
Once upon a time, a teacher brought a block over to me during a standing pose like Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) and put it down next to me. I pretended not to see her. She inched it closer. I thought if I avoided eye contact, maybe she'd just go away and help someone who actually <i>needed</i> her help. Finally, my teacher let out an exasperated sigh, put the block right in my face and said, <b>"Here! You need this block! Put it under your hand!"</b> It was awkward and I remember being completely mortified (and maybe a little angry, too)... But I'm glad she persisted because props have definitely transformed my asana practice in many ways.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmXIJG7spG2JYiivx9Vpy-9ujIEI244zwIVwyuic6MhMOJnqN2JS2YU-uJl1ovGVssVpbIS-f8DMkLbb6wg8MWRVku7y4Lui_6tMRICWHhoRUkMaMeYlXlW2c_lmXO73Wt2YLJ6SraPJn/s1600/I+Yoga+Props.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="I Love Yoga Props! | Yoga Mats, Yoga Blankets, Yoga Bolsters, Yoga Blocks | Spoiledyogi.com " border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmXIJG7spG2JYiivx9Vpy-9ujIEI244zwIVwyuic6MhMOJnqN2JS2YU-uJl1ovGVssVpbIS-f8DMkLbb6wg8MWRVku7y4Lui_6tMRICWHhoRUkMaMeYlXlW2c_lmXO73Wt2YLJ6SraPJn/s640/I+Yoga+Props.jpg" title="I Love Yoga Props! | Yoga Mats, Yoga Blankets, Yoga Bolsters, Yoga Blocks | Spoiledyogi.com" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/averagejane/485991683/in/photolist-JWQoX-6ePPBp-oBAge6-6ePF6D-BYo3x-4FMuHu-9GtR8E-9GtR83-9GtR7E-9GtR7u-9GtR7U-9GtEMN-bp4tLE-j87zo-9GapEC-9G7nPM-9GapEL-pcfnf-t6VSBS-bp4Dbb-bDiUpr-2mGHVE-nLPDjg-m5Lja9-AGWU4-4MEMk-4ZN1uu-AGWU3-5f7ie6-m5JKNi-bp4tKY-bDiW3r-7WQtem-bp4DaY-bp4tLy-bp4tLf-bDiVck-o99GgN-92AyjD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Celeste Lindell</a></td></tr>
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<h3>
Yoga Props: A Love Story</h3>
Now that I've been around the <i>block</i> (pun intended) a time or two, I've seen so many ways that props can actually <i>increase</i> the challenge, too. I've learned that props (I'm talking about blocks, straps, blankets, bolsters, wedges, and sandbags, too!) aren't just for building flexibility and strength, but can help you to build awareness, which is a much more important thing to build, really.<br />
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<i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2011/02/5-props-every-beginning-yoga-student.html">5 Yoga Props Every Beginning Yoga Student Should Have</a><br />
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Sometimes props help me relax. Sometimes they pad my fall when I lose my balance and ball right on my face. Sometimes they challenge me to work new muscles or work the ones I'm already working in new ways. Sometimes my support me when I'm tired. They help me to individualize my practice to suit my energy level or abilities on that particular day. Whatever I need for my practice in that day, my props help me accomplish.<br />
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Look, what I'm trying to say is this: I <3 a="" i="" like="" lot.="" nbsp="" props="" yoga="">Props are my boo!<!--3--></3><br />
I don't know how I ever lived without them! But, what can I say? You live and you learn.<br />
<h3>
Review: Three Minute Egg</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP55ZLkrqrprqyi3kCQD4p6wuxoDC519z1XJ_gaFimlrq3qEpHZwlW_isqTEpEVtxzn80egE3dNciIC5V3PxsgDrvo7qiJ2NUjRQA33sa5G4YmQjXOOYngZMB56YRmii-E-WCa0oGVCNw/s1600/Spoiled+Yogi+Reviews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Three Minute Egg Yoga Block | Spoiledyogi.com" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP55ZLkrqrprqyi3kCQD4p6wuxoDC519z1XJ_gaFimlrq3qEpHZwlW_isqTEpEVtxzn80egE3dNciIC5V3PxsgDrvo7qiJ2NUjRQA33sa5G4YmQjXOOYngZMB56YRmii-E-WCa0oGVCNw/s400/Spoiled+Yogi+Reviews.jpg" title="Review of Three Minute Egg Yoga Block | Spoiledyogi.com" width="400" /></a></div>
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Recently, I've been learning with a new kind of prop (new to me, anyway): Foam yoga blocks that are shaped like eggs. Here's what I really love about the Three Minute Eggs: I's impossible to put all of your weight on them. This is particularly useful if you use a traditional block under your right hand in, say, Trikonasana, and you notice that that right shoulder often seems to make its way into your right ear.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9wkhe8f2xnxS5tTZjcW8ndZDqclYxtKSKq8GPsW-ucb5PRpx_1aY4opZ-VlaWeClXfUY-h1freAFwxAFslGJZmx3fkxCa5jZBLDod1qJHc0_gs6R63C-ndihaYU2VTVgPLfWlSy0e-rk/s1600/Trikonasana_Egg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Trikonasana Triangle Pose with Three Minute Egg Yoga Block | Spoiledyogi.com" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9wkhe8f2xnxS5tTZjcW8ndZDqclYxtKSKq8GPsW-ucb5PRpx_1aY4opZ-VlaWeClXfUY-h1freAFwxAFslGJZmx3fkxCa5jZBLDod1qJHc0_gs6R63C-ndihaYU2VTVgPLfWlSy0e-rk/s400/Trikonasana_Egg.jpg" title="Trikonasana Triangle Pose with Three Minute Egg Yoga Block | Spoiledyogi.com" width="330" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)</td></tr>
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Pros:<br />
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<ul>
<li>It's lightweight, so it's easy to carry from one side of your mat to the other or from home to studio... Bonus: If you accidentally drop it on your toe, it probably won't turn your toenail black (Yes, this does happen with heavy wooden blocks—I write from experience!). </li>
<li>Its design makes it impossible to collapse your weight on it when you use one for support in standing poses, which means you have to engage your core a bit more.</li>
<li>That also means that when you use it during standing poses, your shoulder won't rise up to your ear creating unnecessary tension into the shoulder and neck. </li>
<li>The egg-shaped design makes it more comfortable than rectangle blocks to lay over for gentle heart openers. And, for my body, it is just the right amount of openness, too.</li>
<li>Because there are no sharp corners, they provide more comfortable support for your knees in Baddha Konasana (Cobbler's Pose) or Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Cobbler's Pose). </li>
</ul>
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Cons:<br />
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<ul>
<li>As much as I've enjoyed practicing with the 3 Minute Eggs, I wouldn't give up my traditional blocks completely. (I need still need the stability of rectangle cork blocks for practicing my Ashtanga jump throughs, etc.) So, having two sets of blocks takes up a bit more space.</li>
</ul>
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Want to get learn more or your own? Visit the <a href="http://www.threeminuteegg.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Three Minute Egg website</a>.</div>
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<b>Then tell me: What's your favorite yoga prop?</b></div>
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Read more ...</div>
<div>
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-vernice-vita-yoga-mat.html">Review: Vernice Vita Yoga Mat</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2014/03/5-things-i-love-about-iyengar-yoga.html">4 Things I Love about Iyengar Yoga</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/10-thingsi-love-restorative-yoga.html">10 Things I love about Restorative Yoga</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-63178782240568114852015-11-12T18:49:00.001-08:002015-11-16T11:04:39.078-08:00Find Your Mama Mantra<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFPbUTt43xJ6SjuVu93k0uowDpoyzk6yY8w2dAHgCed7VeXsM4qzU4K7r_ETX1nZaAj76aNBgZ-BHVht5YNvUMcNwRrUNgcmsf_68DqF2uSIkjcfD7gunqyEGwwMDPAGG6h7GFBFbXkBZ/s1600/Mama+Mantras+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mama Mantras | Meditation Tips for Moms | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFPbUTt43xJ6SjuVu93k0uowDpoyzk6yY8w2dAHgCed7VeXsM4qzU4K7r_ETX1nZaAj76aNBgZ-BHVht5YNvUMcNwRrUNgcmsf_68DqF2uSIkjcfD7gunqyEGwwMDPAGG6h7GFBFbXkBZ/s640/Mama+Mantras+Image.jpg" title="Mama Mantras | Meditation Tips for Moms | SpoiledYogi.com" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you've ever done much research about meditation, you've probably come across the word <i>mantra</i> a time or two. So, what is a mantra exactly? It comes from Hinduism, and in that tradition, a mantra is a word or a sound repeated as a prayer. You could chant a mantra out loud with music in a <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-to-get-your-om-on-guide-to-kirtan.html">kirtan</a> setting. You could also repeat a mantra quietly to yourself during meditation to give your mind something to do besides wandering off to think about your to-do list or what you're having for dinner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But you don't have to meditate to benefit from a mantra. I've found this to be particularly true during the most challenging times in my life. I know when I was pregnant with my daughter, suffering from nausea, </span><span style="font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif;">hormones, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">sleepless nights (I snored like a freight train), and all the other pleasantries that come along with growing a baby, my fuse was short. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Little things set me off in big ways. A friendly email from my boss suggesting we have a phone call sent me into hysterics because I was sure I would be fired, for example. To keep myself from flipping out about every little thing </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I had to come up with a way to calm myself down so I could approach situations with a more even keel. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Having a mantra, a saying that I could repeat in my head to calm myself in trying times, really saved me from a lot of unnecessary stress. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/09/5-things-i-learned-practicing-yoga-for.html">5 Things I Learned Practicing Yoga for Two</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I use mantras even more now that my daughter is a bit older. As much as I adore being a mom, there are times my sweet, angelic girl makes me want to pull my hair out. This morning, for example, it took me a full 45 minutes to get her dressed and her hair untangled so we could go to the beach. Only then she decided she'd rather stay home and play with her toys.. <i>WTH? Peace. Begins. With. Me... </i>See how that works?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here are a few mantras that work for me—just little reminders that help me get through. I've been known to write them on sticky notes and put them up in places I'll see them often (and, yes, sometimes I do meditate on them as well). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Peace begins with me. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Be here now. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Just breathe and be.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I am calm. I am <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-yoga-practice-for-confidence-self.html">confident</a>. I am connected.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I am enough, just as I am.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I don't have to be everything to everybody. I just have to be me right now and trust that everything is as is should be.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Om namah shivaya. I bow to the inner Self.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/5-common-meditation-mistakes.html">5 Common Meditation Mistakes</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of course, the mantras that work for me might not work for you at all. Take a few minutes to jot down a mantra or two that you find moving or inspiring. I love affirmations, (as you can see from above), but short quotes work wonderfully, too. It doesn't even have to be serious. It can be fun—which reminds me of another one I think of often, which I learned from one of my teachers, Richard Rosen: </span><span style="font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif;">What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What mantras, sayings, or quotes give you strength during challenging times? Comment below—I know I'd like to add a few more to my repertoire. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Read more ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/03/10-ways-youre-stressing-yourself-out.html">10 Ways Your Stressing Yourself Out</a></span><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/pregnancy-yoga-5-yoga-poses-new-mamas.html">Pregnancy Yoga: 5 Poses New Moms Can Practice at a Wall</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/5-common-meditation-mistakes.html" style="font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif;">5 Common Meditation Mistakes</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-32331518291805246662015-11-12T06:25:00.003-08:002015-11-16T11:04:21.055-08:00Mindful Mama: Jennifer Williams-Fields Shares How to Create a Joyful Life<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<i>Hello, Mindful Mamas! </i><br />
<i>This post will be the first in a new series I'll be doing here on Spoiled Yogi where I talk to inspiring moms in the yoga and mindfulness community about how they manage home and work life, take care of themselves and their families, and share their tricks and tips for a happier, more fulfilled life! Be sure to check back soon because there are so many inspiring women out there, and so much we can learn from them!</i><br />
<i>Lots of love,</i><br />
<i>Erica</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcrf1_BGzTF1IYBP8JSSTLJ1xzd6lpW1ASjG13s8KQrQEWHg2Ev0vCRIptthccJO5Oq8d8WLADdpcRCW-AbWdtk8KZlGhiVoCwc364YVxqMjMMmgusFVpdgm0Ozmfnj9u4WXAOJuvUJT8/s1600/sailorsclub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mindful Mama: Author Jennifer Williams-Fields Shares How to Create a Joyful Life | Spoiledyogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcrf1_BGzTF1IYBP8JSSTLJ1xzd6lpW1ASjG13s8KQrQEWHg2Ev0vCRIptthccJO5Oq8d8WLADdpcRCW-AbWdtk8KZlGhiVoCwc364YVxqMjMMmgusFVpdgm0Ozmfnj9u4WXAOJuvUJT8/s640/sailorsclub.jpg" title="Mindful Mama: Author Jennifer Williams-Fields Shares How to Create a Joyful Life | Spoiledyogi.com" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rtdphotography/2973220600/in/photolist-5wJwU9-dYDztz-bV8NjT-jPzEb-8ZKpQC-82ic5G-yhFmaP-yGRTjW-h2qrm3-91EVdy-qnAtkg-m4Jdsh-pRUxzF-ow9Td1-oZCGMw-o8rSH3-9bdwmq-9mCMqg-nrphNc-yN584d-adHKrC-cDiziS-5vWQHY-q5MQxj-dULDDP-rJsDQ4-vRXuL9-5Mw7Lg-e5NnWy-rH913D-4CVRFt-rrjxCT-37eeC7-rFtmnG-s3WaLA-j5ELms-eGTUxV-h1Wedv-qasZuM-d4YRxL-jKGXFS-dv6trZ-u535ey-5t2CfJ-jqrxnC-7WioFw-8i7M4t-bfxVQX-9pSnEP-FteD2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ray Dumas</a></td></tr>
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<b>On Creating a Joyful Life</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjarc2DwQPcDRTcJvVWSFhqonLqlXc2XSoz9B6lbLPr0Aw1YIZL6aCl5z9qjRRq0VTrzGWESz5JqoWp9U_4mN_CzVKVnu3ERsSYQqve8J6AIfpGWAgQAT8_WF2T5BqRAVBC_5_jpGhXvd/s1600/book+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Creating a More Joyful Life by Jennifer Williams-Fields " border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjarc2DwQPcDRTcJvVWSFhqonLqlXc2XSoz9B6lbLPr0Aw1YIZL6aCl5z9qjRRq0VTrzGWESz5JqoWp9U_4mN_CzVKVnu3ERsSYQqve8J6AIfpGWAgQAT8_WF2T5BqRAVBC_5_jpGhXvd/s320/book+cover.jpg" title="Creating a More Joyful Life by Jennifer Williams-Fields " width="208" /></a></div>
When I first heard that my pal, Jennifer Fields-Williams had written a book, my first thought was, "Hell, yeah! I'm going to do everything I can to support this amazing mama because I know she's awesome and has some really valuable things to share." I didn't expect her book to be such a big support to ME! The book hit me at just the right time, and it's like Jennifer has psychic powers because she even wrote: "It's no coincidence you picked up this book today.Your soul wants to be set free. Deep inside not only do you desire to fly, but you know you are capable of spreading your wings and soaring." Umm... Yes! How did you know?<br />
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If you've been following my blog recently, you know I'm a little (or maybe a lot?) obsessed with <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/sneaky-self-care.html">self-care</a> right now. It's like after 3.5 years of being a mom, I'm finally realizing that my health is SOOOOO important. I know that I need to get it together so that my whole family can happier and healthier, too. In other words, I've just recently started taking my advice and realizing that, well, I was RIGHT all those times I told the sweet mindful mamas in my yoga classes to make time for themselves everyday. The struggle is real, people.<br />
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This is something that Jennifer knows all too well. As a mom of 6 kids, she's a pro. So, if you're struggling with self-care like I am, please do yourself a favor and buy a copy of her book NOW. You'll be so glad you did. (Here's the link: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1512114030/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1512114030&linkCode=as2&tag=spoiyogi-20&linkId=EATGVWUPT553DKME" rel="nofollow">Creating A Joyful Life: The Lessons I Learned From Yoga and My Mom</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=spoiyogi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1512114030" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.)<br />
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In the meantime, I picked Jennifer's brain about writing her book, yoga, parenting, and all the amazing info she has to share.<br />
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Read on, mamas, there's some major inspiration ahead...<br />
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<b>Tell me why you decided to write <i>Creating a Joyful Life: The Lessons I learned From Yoga and My Mom.</i> </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v85puBX1FzbhVRZMTteu2ACktHMWkq6ENulXgAVdbzP4NOsYUcNZs4O5qYk5d_EjsowFUiLPhuhf8mEsfQbJ-Sq5dfjdfaK6hWAetL2qw_dTjc6JVLTOb-7XBFmdm7f7Em3MHmEvWh86/s1600/0489+Jennifer+Fields-101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Author Jennifer Williams-Fields " border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v85puBX1FzbhVRZMTteu2ACktHMWkq6ENulXgAVdbzP4NOsYUcNZs4O5qYk5d_EjsowFUiLPhuhf8mEsfQbJ-Sq5dfjdfaK6hWAetL2qw_dTjc6JVLTOb-7XBFmdm7f7Em3MHmEvWh86/s320/0489+Jennifer+Fields-101.jpg" title="Author Jennifer Williams-Fields " width="228" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I didn’t set out to write a book. I was blogging and writing for magazines. Then life hit me pretty hard; the death of my mom, an unexpected divorce and drug addiction with one of my six children. Everyone kept asking how I did it? How I managed to keep it all together. Well the truth was although I didn’t feel like I was keeping it all together, I had no choice but to keep on moving forward. My kids' future and my sanity were at stake. But I want people to know I’m not super woman. There were days I didn’t get out of bed and nights I considered ending it all. The small little baby steps I took are no different than the baby steps anyone can take to create a life they not only want to live, but can joyfully live.</span></div>
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<b>Who did you write if for?</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Any woman who has ever looked around and said, “How the hell did I get here?” or “ How did this become my life?” Any woman who has ever doubted herself or questioned her choices will benefit from this book.</span><br />
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<b>What do you think makes your book stand out from other yoga books out there? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
My book is real. I’m a single mom of 6 kids. I don’t have the luxury of taking off to travel for a year and find myself. I don’t have a nanny, a chef, or even family in the same state to help me out. I had to live through all the bad stuff and put into practice everything that I had learned and been teaching. I had to walk the walk and talk the talk. This book is written by just an average woman and mom and I think that’s what it makes so relatable to other women.<br />
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<b>Do you think someone who doesn't do yoga can still benefit from your book?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Absolutely! In fact, people tried to get me to take the word yoga out of the title before it was published, but I refused because yoga played such a big part in my life and getting me to the place I am now. But, it really isn't a traditional yoga book. I discuss very few poses in the book and instead focus on what I have learned as a teacher and a student and how I applied that to my life off the mat.<br />
<br />
<b>If people take away just one thing from your book, what do you hope it will be?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
You are not alone. No matter what you are struggling with, there is someone else who is right there with you. And it is never hopeless or too late for you.<br />
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<b>Tell me about how you manage to make time for yourself with SIX kids!? How do you make time for your yoga practice? </b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6scyCajBOE88tdc7klRsUlMHbof2GDbQbJbrqITBr8hMvkKppJaj76jtcNDRpdYOs2f8HGWnBDSfofJhAFeL4SI0z-wTl45ykpJScus7Oah_ie36_VYsbSo-VfbqSWSwHPtnH0LDKVBY/s1600/FullSizeRender-162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jennifer Williams-Fields with her family" border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6scyCajBOE88tdc7klRsUlMHbof2GDbQbJbrqITBr8hMvkKppJaj76jtcNDRpdYOs2f8HGWnBDSfofJhAFeL4SI0z-wTl45ykpJScus7Oah_ie36_VYsbSo-VfbqSWSwHPtnH0LDKVBY/s400/FullSizeRender-162.jpg" title="Jennifer Williams-Fields with her family" width="400" /></a></div>
Fortunately my children are older now—the youngest is 10, so time for myself is a little easier. But just a little! In the book I talk about pulling over into a park to just sit quietly in my car alone for a little bit. And I will admit that some days I would drive the long way home from work just to have some quiet time before I got home. These days my bedroom is the gathering place for everyone in the evenings, which I love dearly, but I have a strict rule that at a certain time everyone out because it's my quiet time. I think it's important the kids understand that even moms need our alone time as well. Often while one kid is at an activity I will go to Starbucks with my laptop. The other kids know that is my time, just like dance is their time or baseball is their time to do the things they enjoy.<br />
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<b>Tell me more about your yoga practice. What kind of yoga do you practice? How long have you been practicing? </b></div>
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I really wish I could tell you I get up at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2035564813" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4am</span></span> every day to practice and meditate. I wish I could tell you I practice every day! But I don't. I've been practicing yoga for 11 years and teaching yoga for almost 10 years. My asana practice has become much gentler over time. I no longer feel the need to reach or even attempt the advanced poses. I've hurt myself too many times working for a pose my body wasn't capable of. I'm much more focused now on keeping my body healthy for the long haul. I'm a vinyasa girl but do enjoy a <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/10-thingsi-love-restorative-yoga.html">restorative yoga</a> practice with lots of bolsters and blankets now and then. I've been known to pop into a down dog no matter where I am!<br />
<br />
<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2012/09/perseverance-poses.html">Perseverance Poses</a><br />
<br />
<b>What's your best advice for a new, first-time mom? </b><br />
Everyone says sleep when the baby sleeps, but for us Type A people that's not really possible. So, I would say don't get so worried about doing it "right" that you don't trust your own instincts. Everyone is going to give you advice, and not all of it is good. Do the best you can with what feels right to you. </div>
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<b>Looking back at your life, what's the biggest mistake you've made so far as a mother? If you could change it, would you?</b></div>
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I have to pick just one? LOL. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, the biggest mistake I made was not taking care of me. That might sound selfish, but let me explain. For too many years I was in a bad marriage but too afraid to leave. Take the anger, fear and resentment from the marriage, add it to an over-tired mom of six kids, throw in depression, and that's a bad mix. I was so used to doing everything by myself I didn't dare ask for help. And, also, I was embarrassed and ashamed to admit the truth of my marriage. I know that affected my parenting. I was so angry at the world I'm sure there were times that anger came out at the kids. If I could go back, the one thing I would do differently would absolutely be to speak up sooner and get myself professional help. A depressed mom isn't capable of enjoying the good moments nor is she able to adequately handle the tougher times. </div>
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<b>What do you do when you get stuck--creatively or in your yoga practice. How do you pull yourself out of a slump?</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yWsimMcagWZNHAEDeTiScs_oM96LzyzJ8VFFVR26bRrRJgX7OCbAyiGwQo1xrZrNSozHHg5Oy3fn76xB0rI2yb_lQcnxVixGshfdV-V7jOF2u94sABL-7QwtaEXdjMMiYA-s3G9L_r5I/s1600/IMG_5957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jennifer Williams-Fields in Ustrasana Camel Pose" border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yWsimMcagWZNHAEDeTiScs_oM96LzyzJ8VFFVR26bRrRJgX7OCbAyiGwQo1xrZrNSozHHg5Oy3fn76xB0rI2yb_lQcnxVixGshfdV-V7jOF2u94sABL-7QwtaEXdjMMiYA-s3G9L_r5I/s320/IMG_5957.jpg" title="Jennifer Williams-Fields in Ustrasana Camel Pose" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Exercise and <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/11/science-backed-proof-that-self-care.html">self-care</a> are vital to my creativity. I'm no longer the hard core gym rat I used to be, but even something as simple as a short walk can help me clear my head and move forward. When I'm entering a depressed period I become very dormant. I know the thing I need to do to help myself is write it out, but I don't have the energy to do it. It's a tough cycle to break. I've learned to force myself to do the self care things I need to do to stay healthy—wash my face, get outside, don't isolate myself. And if medication is necessary, then get over it and take it. Your health is more important than any stigma attached to a chemical imbalance in your body.</div>
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Interestingly, I didn't do much writing this summer. At first I thought I was just stuck or to tired to write more after the flurry of activity from the release of the book and a couple big pieces I wrote that went viral the beginning of the summer. Instead, I spent my time repainting my downstairs and redoing my kitchen cabinets. I realized about halfway through that my creativity was being redirected in other areas right now. And when the time was right, I sat down and started writing again.<br />
<br />
<i>See also <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/sneaky-self-care.html">Sneaky Self-Care</a></i></div>
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<b>So, our readers might not know this, but you and I </b><b>(with our sweet pal, Meredith) </b><b>started a <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2011/02/yoga-book-club-poser.html">yoga book club</a> on Twitter a few years back. So, I trust your judgement on books! What's the best book you've read recently (besides your own, of course!)?</b></div>
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<br />
We did start the Twitter Yoga Book Club! That was so much fun! I jump back and forth between non fiction and fiction reading. The best nonfiction book I've read recently is Elizabeth Gilbert's new release, <i>Big Magic</i>. If you are a writer or any kind of creative person, you'll love it. Gilbert said she worked a day job while writing her first few books, it wasn't until the release of<i> Eat, Pray, Love</i> that she was able to quit her job and focus just on writing. That was a big relief to me because I think so many of us feel that if our art isn't paying the bills, than we aren't real artists. And that simply isn't true.</div>
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As for fiction, I just discovered <i>The Giver</i> series. It's almost 10 years old so your readers might already know about it, but I just read it this year. It's a wonderful story about the perils of creating an ideal world.</div>
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<b>What's next for you? Will you be writing any more books? </b><br />
<br /></div>
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For now I'm continuing with my freelance writing and blogging. I do have an idea rattling around in my head for another book, but I don't have it quite figured it out. I'll be sure to let you know when I do!<br />
<br />
<b>We can't wait! </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><i>Now, I want to hear from you! Comment below and tell us what's the biggest struggle you've faced as a mindful mama and what questions would you ask someone who's walked the path before you (I'll be sure to ask our next Mindful Mama for you!) </i></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>Pick up Jennifer's book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1512114030/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1512114030&linkCode=as2&tag=spoiyogi-20&linkId=EATGVWUPT553DKME" rel="nofollow">Creating A Joyful Life: The Lessons I Learned From Yoga and My Mom</a>, check out Jennifer's amazing blog, <a href="http://jenniferyogalifeway.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Diapers, Detentions, and Downdogs</a>, and be sure to check back soon for the next Mindful Mama post for more yoga, parenting, and life inspiration.</i><br />
<b><br /></b>
Read more ...<br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/07/5-yoga-tips-to-help-get-your-toddler-to.html">5 Yoga Tips to Get Your Toddler to Sleep</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2014/02/6-reasons-every-mama-to-be-needs-yoga.html">6 Reasons Every Mama To Be Needs a Yoga Ball</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2014/02/3-surprising-reasons-every-baby-mama.html">3 Surprising Reasons Every Mama Needs a Yoga Mat (Or 3!)</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-6909942735264215822015-11-04T10:52:00.003-08:002015-11-16T11:04:54.401-08:00Science-Backed Proof That Self-Care Isn't Selfish Can we all agree that there's nothing selfish about paying attention to your health? I mean, no one would accuse you of being selfish for going to the doctor to get a check up or going to the dentist for a cleaning. Yet so many of us feel selfish for taking some time away from our families to go to a yoga class, get in a run, take a lovely bath, or get a massage—all things that are also proven to improve overall health and well-being.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's just me. After all, <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/p/about-this-blog.html">the reason this blog is called Spoiled Yogi</a> to begin with is because at one point in my life I felt completely spoiled because I had a job that afforded me such easy access to yoga classes, organic salads, and weekly chair massages.<br />
<br />
Of course, it's not so easy for me these days. I often fall back into thinking I should be doing more for other people (my daughter, my husband, my editors, etc.) and I let my own needs slide—only to realize later that I'm a complete basket case who can barely think straight, let alone string a coherent sentence together to do my job! It was reading more and more research about just HOW amazing my chosen self care methods are that helps me turn that around during those times that I convenient forget to make it a priority.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOft9yoCCOX6kxh6JlIgEEnR643m2E2P8KM0HGku0O55J_-l2ppU3UzzU-yNLK4DWzO_iz8MOIMf8irgYJEPBRyQSzKjrOBVZrnUTxvsv_8h4JIH9tQhZFK7sc-I5l3B7p26cRtbEzkmD/s1600/Scientific+Proof+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Science Backed Proof That Self-Care Isn't Selfish | Spoiledyogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOft9yoCCOX6kxh6JlIgEEnR643m2E2P8KM0HGku0O55J_-l2ppU3UzzU-yNLK4DWzO_iz8MOIMf8irgYJEPBRyQSzKjrOBVZrnUTxvsv_8h4JIH9tQhZFK7sc-I5l3B7p26cRtbEzkmD/s640/Scientific+Proof+%25284%2529.jpg" title="Science Backed Proof That Self-Care Isn't Selfish | Spoiledyogi.com" width="426" /></a></div>
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<br />
Below, I'm sharing some of those studies in case you're in the same boat. Let this be your mantra from now on:<br />
<br />
There's nothing selfish about self-care.<br />
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<h3>
Yoga + Mindfulness Reduces Chronic Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and More</h3>
<br />
According to a new study in the journal <i>PLOS one</i>, practicing relaxation response techniques like yoga and meditation could reduce the need for health care services by as much as 43 percent (r<a href="http://yogaforhealthyaging.blogspot.com/2015/10/proof-of-effectiveness-of-reducing.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ead more on the Yoga for Healthy Aging blog</a>). Stress related illnesses like anxiety and depression are not only a real bummer if you're one of the bajillions who are chronically stressed out, but in 2012 it was an $80 billion expenditure in the United States. Imagine if everyone made self-care a priority: Not only could we be happier, more productive, and more pleasant to be around (good moods are also contagious), but we'd also be able to use our money to make the world a better place, too.<br />
<br />
If you think of it that way, it's really your duty to take some time away from your crazy busy life to tune in yourself and your own needs through yoga and meditation.<br />
<br />
<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/10-thingsi-love-restorative-yoga.html">10 Things I Love about Restorative Yoga</a><br />
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<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPT2hR-NtEPGQfp4ktqwA1_ROJGgVuirMiBS_eyePGz24gHXfeMfesJcUEh9MsvXW09Si8TPw7A5rnyECrQO663CXH9psrECYZz3nesPphFrG-3OmH18MkdcoIvjj86_X0i1R9yq_BwKMb/s1600/16086503254_924854973e_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Meditation is good for your health, especially when you do it outside | Spoiledyogi.com" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPT2hR-NtEPGQfp4ktqwA1_ROJGgVuirMiBS_eyePGz24gHXfeMfesJcUEh9MsvXW09Si8TPw7A5rnyECrQO663CXH9psrECYZz3nesPphFrG-3OmH18MkdcoIvjj86_X0i1R9yq_BwKMb/s400/16086503254_924854973e_z.jpg" title="Meditation is good for your health, especially when you do it outside | Spoiledyogi.com" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/130855607@N05/16086503254/in/photolist-qvvwYo-4acteQ-cPGKBs-dQLGRa-ei3QrF-9ffQB4-giHNLg-61P5T2-aPQxkt-71yVyE-cPGLwC-cPGKMY-bQYjp-cPGLjA-cPGL5o-cPGKXh-78ZFMk-6UCX3A-bAyiC4-eGNC5W-pmzppF-3CKKEE-dyCgnD-dyCgfV-diibXD-aw9G4R-q7p9qX-eGHwuV-pGtiZK-oVetcx-k51GEV-t6heSp-j6dMDa-owPLB1-kteGXA-8wkeZM-p8BjNV-pow3GP-ouH4Uo-p84pT7-jqVW77-6tB8nK-XNTo-rAYBCY-noxrQq-5tqkPU-nbKTGo-oXpqQR-kygmoK-nQaz8R" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Take Back Your Health</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
Bathing is Good for Your Brain and Your Nervous System</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
Every seasoned mama knows, when you've tried everything and you STILL can't soothe a crying baby, put that baby in a bathtub! And, yet, how often do we mamas treat ourselves to a bath when we're having a hard time soothing ourselves? Not nearly enough! Many studies have shown that simply immersing yourself in hot waters increases activity in the parasympathetic nervous system (that's the calm, soothing one) and decreases activity in the sympathetic nervous system (that's the fight-or-flight one). In fact, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10812753" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this study</a>, which was conducted in Japan in 2000, showed no more than a foot bath was necessary to induce a relaxation response.<br />
<br />
<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/soak-it-in-4-amazing-herbal-bath.html">Soak It In: 4 Amazing Herbal Bath Recipes for Optimal Health</a><br />
<br />
<h3>
But Not Drinking Enough Water Can Be Detrimental</h3>
<br />
On the contrary, not drinking enough water also showed a negative impact on mental health. "Even mild dehydration can affect the brain structures responsible for attention, psychomotor and regulatory functions, as well as thought, memory, and perception, and has been shown to decrease reaction times in working memory, lower alertness and concentration, and increase fatigue and anxiety in adults," writes Wallace J. Nichols in <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FPQA6TE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FPQA6TE&linkCode=as2&tag=spoiyogi-20&linkId=RO7CE7ZOYXQNKRXU" rel="nofollow">Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=spoiyogi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FPQA6TE" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Exercise is Makes You Smarter (and Can Actually Make Your Brain GROW!)</h3>
<div>
We all know that exercise, especially aerobic exercise, causes our bodies to produce feel-good hormones called endorphins (and for some people it only takes about 10 minutes of exercise to get the endorphins going!). Research shows that exercise improves blood flow to the brain and improves cognitive abilities. This is likely because of changes to the brain—not only does exercise strengthen connections in the brain, research has shown it can actually stimulate some parts of the brain to GROW. Amazing, huh?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
From the <i><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/sc-hlth-0506-exercise-for-the-brain-20150430-story.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chicago Tribune</a></i>: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Research suggests aerobic exercise can increase the size of the hippocampus and increase levels of a protein that aids the growth of new brain cells, potentially holding off changes in the brain and improving memory function.</blockquote>
And this, too!:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health found that people who said they exercised for 30 minutes five times a week in late-middle age did better on cognitive tests and showed less accumulation of the beta amyloid plaque, the protein that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. </blockquote>
But, yeah.. it's TOTALLY selfish to leave your kids to go for a 30-minute jog a few times a week.<br />
<br />
<i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/4-surprising-things-that-help-me-manage.html">4 Surprising Things That Help Me Manage Anxiety</a><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslc80eUnxEtPA3TR_9QVWJdJy3-eUWjTaUX-oetpgmKmZGH0xzeiNvAQR2BeKWlu4_f9PWAc2OpTn1zS3IjauJCZb-0PeoNUZZL9TW6WkfnyyKfVgO9WnPKPXcGJkWmGpz5admUdB4HzY/s1600/230460221_b02657ee8d_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="How Exercise Makes You Smarter | Spoiledyogi.com" border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslc80eUnxEtPA3TR_9QVWJdJy3-eUWjTaUX-oetpgmKmZGH0xzeiNvAQR2BeKWlu4_f9PWAc2OpTn1zS3IjauJCZb-0PeoNUZZL9TW6WkfnyyKfVgO9WnPKPXcGJkWmGpz5admUdB4HzY/s400/230460221_b02657ee8d_z.jpg" title="How Exercise Makes You Smarter | Spoiledyogi.com" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/oneworldgallery/230460221/in/photolist-mnaN6-48ncij-5W5Tyc-ezNNYm-nnVRvx-4eA2fi-7dSBxv-yStrKQ-x1oqiE-AMyA9-5TJ3i3-dqzWNg-vLcuex-eAStQu-dazQG9-8Yzntf-AjaEN9-5DqHD8-6aTvSV-nEeFGr-eh6MEm-9wJLS3-6AUk3-oGsM3M-srpE4g-pHCMNt-5y9Bwr-uHXZCP-mnaN4-jtVoJZ-8WxcDF-9cjFzM-5kBoRS-nkXNhq-nCaBBR-8TWiSh-mutRdx-52uqpL-cmeSPw-7krLCG-4hyD7A-tddjNJ-o7Auzf-iEVzum-gLLRJn-cx7YG3-s22nN-cBPiQf-78K4Wn-9uYcEA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David Robert Bliwas</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Go Outside! Being in Nature Improves Mood, Reduces Stress</h3>
<div>
<br />
Of course, you don't have to run to get health benefits. In just a few minutes research, I found tons of studies that showed that just being outside and seeing greenery can reduce a person's stress levels. In <a href="http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.474.671" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this study</a>, researchers found that even watching nature scenes on TV was beneficial! So, load up the kids in the strollers (I'm not ashamed to admit I sometimes bribe my 3-year-old with treats to get her to sit still for long enough for me to run 10 minutes!) and go for a run, walk, or just a trip to the playground. If you can do it next to a body of water, even better!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A 1997 study showed that ten cancer patients experiencing chronic pain showed a 20-30 percent reduction in stress hormones after watching a nature video including 15 minutes with sounds of the ocean, waves, waterfalls, and splashing creeks.<br />
<br />
<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/07/4-great-reasons-to-practice-yoga-outside.html">4 Great Reasons to Practice Yoga Outside</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
(By the way, I totally use this knowledge about how healing nature is to justify buying myself flowers. I think you should, too!)<br />
<br />
What's your favorite way to spend your Me Time? Tell us in the comments below!<br />
<br />
<b>Read more ...</b><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-yoga-practice-for-confidence-self.html">A Yoga Practice for Confidence + Self Acceptance</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/10-thingsi-love-restorative-yoga.html">10 Things I Love about Restorative Yoga</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/4-surprising-things-that-help-me-manage.html">4 Surprising Things That Help Me Manage Anxiety</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/soak-it-in-4-amazing-herbal-bath.html">Soak It In: 4 Amazing Herbal Bath Recipes for Optimal Health</a><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "dejavu" serif , serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-54380531151905440372015-10-31T04:22:00.001-07:002015-11-02T09:34:26.774-08:00How to Scare Your Yoga TeacherHappy Halloween, Yogis!<br />
<br />
Are you going to get in a yoga class today before all the ghosts and goblins emerge tonight for the Halloween? (You should, of course!) Feeling festive? You could wear your costume to class, but what if your Elsa wig falls off in the middle of a challenging sequence or your mummy strips aren't quite as flexible as the packaging promised? That would be awkward! You could bring candy for the whole class, but yoga people are all healthy, anti-corn syrup, anti-chemicals, and <i>anti-fun</i> ... It would cost a fortune to buy that much organic, fair-trade, fancy candy...<br />
<br />
Here's what I recommend instead—scare the living daylights out of your teacher. It's so easy! And it will fun for the whole class. Besides, she deserves it. How often does she make YOU uncomfortable by putting too many Chaturangas into her sequence and asking you to hold poses for longer than anyone should? (I mean, does she <i>enjoy</i> watching you you suffer?) Halloween is the perfect opportunity for revenge.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGSyUoI4IhtF00snGqIbNHWQVuur7RyRyyEiHJWToIqNxCGF41Wr8EYCrN9_kntrJJfUQpRucYCAtFb1CujtSpSI9DuEpdy-JlY1xsWeT5t4NZmaMHNwoiuxAgy63SsCD9tzY5Ux-lMZq/s1600/how+to+scare+youryoga+teacher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Scare Your Yoga Teacher on Halloween | Spoiledyogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGSyUoI4IhtF00snGqIbNHWQVuur7RyRyyEiHJWToIqNxCGF41Wr8EYCrN9_kntrJJfUQpRucYCAtFb1CujtSpSI9DuEpdy-JlY1xsWeT5t4NZmaMHNwoiuxAgy63SsCD9tzY5Ux-lMZq/s640/how+to+scare+youryoga+teacher.jpg" title="How to Scare Your Yoga Teacher on Halloween | Spoiledyogi.com" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
5 Ways to Scare Your Yoga Teacher</h3>
<br />
1. Make <i>that</i> face. You know the one—where your brow is all furrowed and you clench your teeth so it looks like you are in a whole lot of pain. When your teacher asks is everything is OK say, "Oh, I'm fine! Just a little tight today!" Repeat intermittently throughout the rest of class.<br />
<br />
2. Make <i>that</i> face (again). Fall out of Tree Pose (Vrksasana), or really any pose will do. Scream out, "Oh!" Then, take a really long time to get back up. Stay hunched over and hobble a little bit for a bit of dramatic flair. When you finally make eye contact with your teacher, flash her a smile.<br />
<br />
3. Wait until class is over. Then, nonchalantly walk up your teacher and say, "Is it <i>supposed</i> to hurt so much 2 days after back/knee/hip surgery?"<br />
<br />
4. Get up and leave in the middle of class. Don't give any explanations. Don't make eye contact. Just <i>go</i>.<br />
<br />
5. Ask your teacher if she has some kind of special yoga teacher insurance because you were "just wondering."<br />
<br />
P.S. Don't really do these things to your poor teacher—just bring HER some fancy, fair-trade, organic chocolate instead, OK? Or better yet, just come, be present, and enjoy your practice. For a yoga teacher, there's no better treat. <br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-56531042477792145902015-10-30T19:01:00.000-07:002015-11-20T14:43:42.213-08:0010 Things I LOVE about Restorative Yoga<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlK4W4PH_8W_GUwQAnQzipNJgQ4dfgG9VCGs5ffpWqGPu2-HGXoQCxP3MqC5YzX0a29qvUHUIexGZ6hX-4RrovrqOBihWisg74ueKgOzySUXBP5JkSf_nxNDAlA4cHnOZT2Q6bzPg6k_Ia/s1600/59+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="10 Reasons to Love Restorative Yoga: SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlK4W4PH_8W_GUwQAnQzipNJgQ4dfgG9VCGs5ffpWqGPu2-HGXoQCxP3MqC5YzX0a29qvUHUIexGZ6hX-4RrovrqOBihWisg74ueKgOzySUXBP5JkSf_nxNDAlA4cHnOZT2Q6bzPg6k_Ia/s640/59+%25281%2529.jpg" title="10 Reasons to Love Restorative Yoga: SpoiledYogi.com" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I didn't always love restorative yoga. In fact, there was a time I really really didn't like it much. I mean, it's weird, right? In this country, we grow up learning that the people ahead in life by working their asses off, never giving up, and never slowing down—much less stop to rest. I used to believe that. I wanted my yoga practice to make my muscles sore so I felt like I was accomplishing something. Savasana made my foot twitch. I would lay there dreaming up ALL the things I'd do as soon as my yoga teacher would ring that damn singing bowl.<br />
<br />
Things are a little different these days. I still think it's a good quality to work hard and put your everything into what you're doing, It's just when you put e<i>verything</i> in, you have to also put effort into replenishing yourself. If you get in your car and go, go, go all day long, ignore your gas levels, and refuse to stop to fill up your tank you're not going to get as far as you would if you had just taken that 15 minute break to fill up the tank, you know what I mean?<br />
<br />
I know what you're thinking. That's what food and sleep are for, Erica. Food and sleep fuel your body. But there's a lot more to you than a body, right? You also have a mind, emotions, intuition, the need to create, the ability to give and receive love — these are all needs that can't be met by simply eating and sleeping. Restorative yoga poses, passive poses like Savasana (Final Resting Pose), Supta Baddha Konasna (Reclining Bound Angle Pose), and Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose), are one of my all time favorite self-care methods that help me to recharge so I can keep giving my best to the world.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Restorative Yoga, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways....</h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSRgX4Mp-hK7iqYg8zNUIVgKjBCnsw470H0tb13ozhjpAADC8tO2DRsV8YJIcq4y_W0wxrKPZsBD-HGyDbiGyPw8tfl1y1Wa__L7kwK0S2cuxjaUNPKqB287DtBR5LJ9xoGRmLORHbjOH/s1600/6449941549_23f87d5c87_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Savasana Final Resting Pose: 5 Reasons to Love Restorative Yoga" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSRgX4Mp-hK7iqYg8zNUIVgKjBCnsw470H0tb13ozhjpAADC8tO2DRsV8YJIcq4y_W0wxrKPZsBD-HGyDbiGyPw8tfl1y1Wa__L7kwK0S2cuxjaUNPKqB287DtBR5LJ9xoGRmLORHbjOH/s400/6449941549_23f87d5c87_z.jpg" title="Savasana Final Resting Pose: 5 Reasons to Love Restorative Yoga" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/robnas/6449941549/in/photolist-aPXCUM-9fN1k2-pUwJtQ-egGMyB-aPXE9D-ibCFZV-i2rYsd-9HbS8m-5vAih9-5LUteF-9xSMLa-dkiYLK-8jXuZo-dmEuj1-dmEuvu-afdCgw-aPXPht-afdtJb-afaFqP-afaK9H-aiDCru-rsf4TY-9xVRWG-afazbB-afdcos-afaqxZ-afaTY8-dmEt1V-7LiAai-7Lnz4q-7LiB4V-7LnzVC-7LnyNy-7LiAFK-5vrpbQ-aiDG49-aJV7XB-aPXDhZ-c4UeRw-aPXDDX-i2rHHT-aiAWtk-7Mu4Qa-aPXEva-aiAW8r-aPXCLk-aPXEp4-aiAQ2k-aPXPqB-aPXFaa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Robert Bejil</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
10 Reasons to Love Restorative Yoga</h3>
1. Rest your physical body. Tired limbs get to sink into the support of the floor, a bolster, blocks, or a blanket.<br />
<br />
2. Soothe your nervous system. <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/03/10-ways-youre-stressing-yourself-out.html" target="_blank">Stressed out </a>nervous systems get to stop fleeing from non-existent tigers, if even just for a moment.<br />
<br />
3. Rest your brain. Tired brains get a break from their constant activity.... eventually. It might take a while to still the mind when you're in a restorative posture (that's why it can be so challenging), but even if the thoughts don't stop completely eventually they will slow down and you'll find more space in between the thoughts.<br />
<br />
4. If you go to a restorative class, you<b> let someone else take care of YOU</b>. Are you comfy? Let me go get you another blankey. Is the candlelight disturbing you, my darling? I'll go get an eye pillow. It's a full-service experience, and it's awesome.<br />
<br />
5. The less you do, the more benefits you receive.<br />
<br />
6. It's easy to incorporate other kinds of <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/4-surprising-things-that-help-me-manage.html" target="_blank">self-care</a>—soft music, aromatherapy, snuggly blankets—into a restorative yoga session, especially if you're practicing at home.<br />
<br />
7. Practice letting go. We hold on to so much—muscle tension, thought patterns, attachments, expectations.. When your physical body is completely supported, you start to feel supported in other areas, too, so maybe you can let go of both tension, and other unhealthy things you're holding on to.<br />
<br />
<i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/10/5-common-meditation-mistakes.html" target="_blank">5 Common Meditation Mistakes</a><br />
<br />
8. Get more done. It's counter-productive, but, as I noted in the intro the more you give yourself room to relax, the more balanced you'll be—and that means that when you need to get stuff done, you'll be able to think more clearly, focus on the task at hand, and rock it out.<br />
<br />
9. Get to know yourself better. All types of yoga should help you get to know yourself better (that's kind of the whole point, isn't it?) but the contemplative nature of restorative poses can help you to deepen that relationships with yourself even more.<br />
<br />
<i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2013/07/im-gazing-at-my-inner-selfie-like-it-or.html" target="_blank">I'm Gazing at My Inner Selfie, "Like" It or Not</a><br />
<br />
10. Learn to make yourself a priority, be kinder to yourself, and pass it on. I'll be frank, sometimes I really suck at taking care of myself. When my life gets busy, it's just so easy to let self-care fall off my to-do list. But when we practice being kind to ourselves and give ourselves permission to just be whoever we are in any given moment, it changes everything—the way we see ourselves, the way others treat us, and how we interact in the world. That's really powerful stuff. And it's totally worth spending a few minutes in a lovely Supported Child Pose (Balasana) as a daily reminder of that.<br />
<br />
Do you love restorative yoga, too? Tell me WHY below!<br />
<br />
Read more ...<br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2014/03/5-things-i-love-about-iyengar-yoga.html" target="_blank">5 Things I LOVE about Iyengar Yoga</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2014/02/5-things-i-love-about-ashtanga.html" target="_blank">5 Things I LOVE about Ashtanga Yoga</a><br />
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2013/02/are-you-ready-for-teacher-training.html" target="_blank">Are You Ready for Teacher Training?</a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-36029130682168808402015-10-26T07:10:00.002-07:002015-10-26T11:56:27.174-07:00Soak It In: 4 Amazing Herbal Bath Recipes for Optimal Health<span id="docs-internal-guid-6f14d580-9c8b-9b5f-0b0a-7d2568e6ef49"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What if I told you you could reduce stress, boost your immune system, ward off anxiety and depression, and even help your cardiovascular health without putting forth really any effort at all? I'm serious. No strenuous exercise. No expensive massage therapists. No doctors or drugs. All you have to do is sit in a tub for 20 minutes a day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last week, I wrote a piece for <a href="http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/wellbeing/tea-bath-recipe-stressful-days?cid=soc_Rodale%27s%20Organic%20Life%20-%20RodalesOrganicLife_FBPAGE_Rodale%27s%20Organic%20Life__" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rodale's Organic Life</a> about the healing benefits of soaking in a bathtub. I was amazed at the research I found. It only takes about 15-20 minutes out of your day, doing something that most people find enjoyable, to really boost your overall health and wellbeing. Seriously. Why are we not soaking in a bathtub this very second? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"We think that we’re being lazy when we sit still because we’ve been taught that," says Pat Halpern, an herbalist and the founder of the <a href="http://www.scherbalsociety.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">South Carolina Herbal Society</a>. "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are human doings not human beings." </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, I, for one, am all about slowing down these days, and this just gives me a really good excuse—I mean,</span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> reason</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">—to commit to a daily bath before bed. For about 2 weeks now, I've been sacrificing the time I usually spend staring at my computer screen in the evenings to do something good for myself instead. And you know what? Even though I'm spending less time trying to work, I've been a lot more productive because I'm calmer, more focused, and even more creative when I do sit down to write. Plus, my tub time is a great opportunity to daydream and come up with great new ideas to blog about. It's a win-win-win!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">As an added bonus, throwing in some herbs can help you address various health issues. There are two ways to up the ante by adding herbs to your bath, Halpern says. When she's trying to knock out a cold or has a torn muscle, for example, she makes a gallon of strong herbal tea and lets the herbs steep for an hour or so, strains it, and pours it into her tub. But if it's more to relieve stress and get some aromatherapy benefits, you can just toss some herbs into a hot bath (or in a muslin bag or tied off panty hose), wait until the water is cool enough, then hop in. I recommend lighting a few candles, playing some soothing music, and just soak it all in (pun intended).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, my lovelies, what ails you? There's a bath for that! Below are some expert herbal bath recipes that Halpern was kind enough to share with me. But if you're not up to making your own mix, you can even head out to your nearest health food store and buy packaged herbal tea for all kinds of different ailments. Bottom line: Make it easy and fun for yourself so you'll be more likely to do it often. I promise it makes a huge difference.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Herbal Bath Recipe for Stress Relief</b></span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1-2 Cups Epsom salt</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Dried Calendula Flower</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dried Lavender</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dried Rose Petals</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dried Camomile </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2011/01/science-of-stress.html" target="_blank">The Science of Stress</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herbal Bath Recipe for Sore Muscles</span></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2-2.5 Cups Epsom Salt</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/2 Cup Baking Soda</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup Dried Calendula Flower</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Dried Rosemary</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Optional: Comfrey (for bruises)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herbal Bath Recipe to Fight a Cold</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1-2 Cups Epsom Salt</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Dried Yarrow</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Elder Flowers</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Boneset</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Small Handful Mint</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herbal Bath Recipe for Baby</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Calendula Flowers</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Dried Roses</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Dried Camomile</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Oat Tops</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 Cup</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Lavender</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you take regular baths? If not, what's stopping you?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more ...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/4-surprising-things-that-help-me-manage.html" target="_blank">4 Surprising Things that Help Me Manage Anxiety</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2012/02/stress-poem-3rd-grade-style.html" target="_blank">S.T.R.E.S.S.: A Poem</a></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.6667px; line-height: 17.48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/03/10-ways-youre-stressing-yourself-out.html" target="_blank">10 Ways Your Stressing Yourself Out</a></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-86814849265399510552015-10-21T15:58:00.001-07:002015-11-04T17:19:22.210-08:00Pregnancy Yoga: 5 Yoga Poses New Mamas Can Practice By a Wall (or a Crib)<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">This mini pose sequence at the wall makes space in your body, lets you practice balancing (without the risk of falling), opens the chest and shoulders a bit, and helps you unwind and relax. (Say it with me, put this on "repeat" in your brain: </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Self-care is NOT selfish. </i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>All mamas need to take time to relax and unwind—especially expecting and new mamas.</i> #EndRant) </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">It's a perfect quick prenatal yoga class for pregnant moms and/or </span><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2013/02/baby-yoga-this-is-how-we-do-it.html" style="font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">moms of infants</a><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> or toddlers who need a mini-break while their littles are napping. </span></div>
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In the images below, I'm using a wall (more specifically a closet door) as a prop, but you can also use the side of a crib to brace yourself—something I did a lot more when I was pregnant with my daughter than I did after she was born. (What can I say? I felt like I needed to use that thing for <i>something </i>if it was taking up an entire room in my house!)</div>
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<i>See also</i> <a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2012/04/letting-go-of-expecting.html" target="_blank">Letting Go of Expecting</a><br />
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<b>5 Yoga Poses for Pregnant and New Moms</b></h3>
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<b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Down Dog at the Wall (Adho Mukha Svanasana)</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: normal;">Stand facing the wall. Place your hands on the wall at your shoulder level, straighten your elbows, hinge at your hips, and begin to slide our hands down toward the floor as you walk your feet away from the wall until you take the shape of an upside down L. Once you've got the shape really focus on lengthening your spine by reaching your sitting bones toward the middle of the room. Get looooooong. Stay here for at least 5 breaths.</span></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tEL9I2_Nr7533HPvGdKYB3_pn41D3KLp2-uaAhQVWoMCpdSdmxFaG8vH8WHdO0j75bXDyVlQoWlGX88YMRlRP6Ssylf9inJ8RQ6gvN3KBKicEgikgnnIXIVHaPyhBA9rVksBXLnNGc1p/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Prenatal Yoga Poses: Downward Facing Dog at the Wall" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tEL9I2_Nr7533HPvGdKYB3_pn41D3KLp2-uaAhQVWoMCpdSdmxFaG8vH8WHdO0j75bXDyVlQoWlGX88YMRlRP6Ssylf9inJ8RQ6gvN3KBKicEgikgnnIXIVHaPyhBA9rVksBXLnNGc1p/s320/1.jpg" title="Prenatal Yoga Poses: Downward Facing Dog at the Wall" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Dolphin Pose at the Wall</b></h4>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Stand up, still facing the wall. Bring your forearms to the wall. Your forearms should shoulder distance apart, parallel to each other, and your fingers will point straight up to the ceiling. Then, just as you did before, hinge at the hips and slowly lower your forearms down toward the floor as you step your feet away from the wall until your elbows are close to the same height as your shoulders. Stay for 5 breaths.</span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Tree Pose at the Wall (Vrksasana)</b></h4>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Stand up again and turn to so your right side is facing the wall, a few inches away. Bring your right hand to the wall for support. Left your left heel away from the floor, bend your left knee, and bring the bottom of your left foot to the inside of your right ankle. You may stay here, using your left toes on the floor for support, or lift the foot up either below the right knee or to the inner thigh (just don't place the foot ON the side of the knee). You may keep your right hand on the wall, as pictured, or, if you feel stable, lift your hands overhead and extend them like tree branches. Stay here for about 5 breaths, then switch sides. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>See also </i><a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/4-surprising-things-that-help-me-manage.html" target="_blank">4 Surprising Ways I Manage Anxiety</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xYDnsb6ZhDOw1weFhee0MRHhwbb6BtGtqVKWA908eKPC9v_KKxNS9xgtLlK3yAPUqy3MNVCXLKYkElOhafGw0q8T5kA2RGjC0N1w22l1LeKC_nTwveWMJcAvk3AN7KaVPkaYjxrj5dIk/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Prenatal Yoga Poses: Tree Pose at the Wall, Vrksasana" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xYDnsb6ZhDOw1weFhee0MRHhwbb6BtGtqVKWA908eKPC9v_KKxNS9xgtLlK3yAPUqy3MNVCXLKYkElOhafGw0q8T5kA2RGjC0N1w22l1LeKC_nTwveWMJcAvk3AN7KaVPkaYjxrj5dIk/s320/3.jpg" title="Prenatal Yoga Poses: Tree Pose at the Wall, Vrksasana" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12.8px;">King Dancer Pose at the Wall (Natarajasana)</b></h4>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Turn to face the wall. Bend your right knee so that your right heel comes toward the right side of your butt. Bring your left hand to the wall for support. Then reach behind you with your right hand and you grab your right ankle (or the pinky toe side of the foot). Flex your right foot and begin to kick the foot into the hand. Stay here, or to deepen the pose, walk the left hand up toward the ceiling. As you find more opening through the chest and right shoulder, you might even bring your chest to the rest on the wall. Stay here for 5 breaths, then switch sides.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQ73gueGtzXtRGyOQu3gl5eJtYkgrOQC-01GPVZzdOjB9BR2pnBvdKPCbJbn_vvt0ve1sFE-PxPF49xfXx63gkwVIGS8g1GBow3am9rfrz1eOJbcAbA5OBV_25tQwjIghFNDuuNiRAEqZ/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Prenatal Yoga Poses: King Dancer Pose at the Wall, Natarajasana" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQ73gueGtzXtRGyOQu3gl5eJtYkgrOQC-01GPVZzdOjB9BR2pnBvdKPCbJbn_vvt0ve1sFE-PxPF49xfXx63gkwVIGS8g1GBow3am9rfrz1eOJbcAbA5OBV_25tQwjIghFNDuuNiRAEqZ/s320/4.jpg" title="Prenatal Yoga Poses: King Dancer Pose at the Wall, Natarajasana" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani)</b> </span></h4>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">If you're in the later part of your pregnancy (20 weeks +), you'll want to prop your torso up a little bit on a bolster or couch pillow so you aren't laying flat on the floor (I'll post a quick post showing a few different ways to do this soon, so please stay tuned.) Then, facing the wall, sit yourself a few inches </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">away from the wall, put your feet up, and scootchy scootch (that's the official term) your bottom closer to the wall so your legs can be completely supported. Close your eyes. Then, rest one hand on your belly and one hand on your heart as you take in full, deep breaths for at least 5 minutes. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHqgWjPZLuhPI_jIRybcuXBkV09O2jN7N1hBbuGcdkg1N52foXlC4jIsYUXTLcFVxdwsi-kwHxR_FpaB8IpiCU7-vlFYIk4b9TI8zC9CPEMhHz8MPs4aIxeL0FAef_uTbYAKlpbmKxzPO/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pregnancy Yoga: Legs Up the Wall Pose Viparita Karani" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHqgWjPZLuhPI_jIRybcuXBkV09O2jN7N1hBbuGcdkg1N52foXlC4jIsYUXTLcFVxdwsi-kwHxR_FpaB8IpiCU7-vlFYIk4b9TI8zC9CPEMhHz8MPs4aIxeL0FAef_uTbYAKlpbmKxzPO/s320/2.jpg" title="Pregnancy Yoga: Legs Up the Wall Pose Viparita Karani" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Now, you tell me. What are your favorite poses to do when your little one naps? Or what are or were your favorites to practice with a little one on the way)?</span></span></div>
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Read more...</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-yoga-practice-for-confidence-self.html" target="_blank">A Yoga Practice for Confidence + Self-Acceptance</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2012/04/5-poses-that-should-induce-labor-but.html" target="_blank">5 Poses That Should Induce Labor (But Don't)</a></div>
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<a href="http://spoiledyogi.blogspot.com/2012/04/5-poses-that-should-induce-labor-but.html" target="_blank">6 Reasons Every Mama to Be Needs a Yoga Ball</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-84653772301390058132015-10-16T11:58:00.001-07:002015-11-12T12:28:06.044-08:00Sneaky Self-Care As a general rule, I'm against multi-tasking. It's really impossible to think about more than one thing so you just end up quickly switching from one task to another, which is both ineffective and exhausting. The exception to the rule, however, is when it comes to self-care. I'd LOVE to be able to just lock myself into a room for an hour or two every day to JUST focus on my own sanity, but that's a fantasy that's going to have to wait for another day. I'm a work-from-home mom juggling career and family 24 hours a day, and I've just had to come to terms with the fact that there will <i>always</i> be an important deadline, another pile of laundry and dishes to be put away, and someone who needs my attention. Like a lot of women, I'm not great at putting my needs before those of others (especially my 3-year-old, who can never get enough of my attention). So here's what I've learned to do: I work really hard to incorporate things that help me stay calm, present, and focused on whatever it is I'm doing. I make an effort to sneak in self-care wherever I can to remind myself that I'm actually an important person who deserves to be taken care of, too. It's pretty empowering that I don't have to depend on anyone else to give me the care I need—I can take care of everything I need to do and take care of myself, too, thank you!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ89Mh9s2C3kKkeVtbFOc88jWfezVDPBIw8UKoO11xhfVnQbAvO0jtI9xCEwBHC8Ug3WJKw-pmbfR93xYchqGklhKPNZLIr-4Z5VwB0ptu9CWKx9DsligFr_ee9Stp0pkia67HpncUE7_M/s1600/a+busy+mom%2527s+guide+to+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A Busy Mom's Guide to Self Care | Yoga and Stress Relief Tips for Moms | SpoiledYogi.com" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ89Mh9s2C3kKkeVtbFOc88jWfezVDPBIw8UKoO11xhfVnQbAvO0jtI9xCEwBHC8Ug3WJKw-pmbfR93xYchqGklhKPNZLIr-4Z5VwB0ptu9CWKx9DsligFr_ee9Stp0pkia67HpncUE7_M/s640/a+busy+mom%2527s+guide+to+%25282%2529.jpg" title="A Busy Mom's Guide to Self Care | Yoga and Stress Relief Tips for Moms | SpoiledYogi.com" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo by </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/laurenfigueroa/4884714009/in/photolist-52tDMR-bVQWL9-CdU6q-dRizfg-9PK98s-9A8BME-cMNa9u-7e5wC-7e5wN-7e5xg-7e5EY-jiQTG-6aeVK9-eEAU2G-eEuNux-eEuMip-8rDri4-mAZWA-8t2G5c-tJaDWp-e8p2Kp-7fShHu-7fNmq6-e3eaFB-4VVQzR-dpszYu-5r21Qq-9PGmNK-48n669-81nHSx-fmW1LW-4VWxY3-8Zwt35-pghycT-fmGaYZ-sbwWmj-oGTjzj-9PKivS-9PKbH9-9PKp11-9PGfE6-9PGiwH-9PK74d-9PGpnH-9PKfCQ-5dhwUL-8rLbjW-oPN82F-baGno-6FwRKy" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">lauren.taylor</a></td></tr>
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<br />
<b>Without further ado, here are my favorite ways to sneak in as much self-care as I can during a busy day.</b><br />
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Take slow, full, deep breaths as often as possible.<br />
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Drink lots of water—infuse it with cucumber, lemon, or orange for a special treat.<br />
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Sip on a soothing, herbal tea the whole day. I love peppermint because it's energizing. (Some days I sip water, other days I sip tea—both keep me hydrated and help me stay focused on my overall health)<br />
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Diffuse an essential oil that you love. I love lavender to keep me calm and frankincense for focus.<br />
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Listen to music that makes you happy, calms your nerves, or inspires you to get up and dance.<br />
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Prepare a delicious, healthy lunch just for you (Repeat after me: I won't eat peanut butter and jelly every day just because that's all my preschooler wants to eat.)<br />
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Put fresh flowers in bud vases at your desk, the kitchen sink, bathroom counters, and anywhere else you spend a lot of your time.<br />
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Every time you see a quote or image that inspires you, post it up on a bulletin board near your desk to remind you of what you're working toward.<br />
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Schedule short breaks throughout your day to get outside and take a walk in the sunshine, do a quick Down Dog or Handstand, or just check in with yourself. Just a little bit goes a long way.<br />
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Last but not least I do my best to be a mindful mama. Sometimes I'm really bad at this one.. But I try. When I'm playing with my daughter, reading to her, rocking her to sleep, making her meals, etc., I try to be completely mindful and present in the moment. The more present I can be, the more connected we both feel. It also makes me realize just how grateful I am to be able to share these moments with her, even in the most trying times.<br />
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How do you sneak a little self-care into your day?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-66365016373701338952015-10-08T17:09:00.002-07:002015-10-22T18:07:48.729-07:00You Might be a Yoga Mom If ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRHZlzFWMEeMTtLfsVhNfL8ydtjUhPoJhP6qEWIcwpwksyARTaxnaL98qGCRwY0HWuNXfKixB2o_vGtXUm3XvUH3wxnob5mHsdjO_OYiIw1OYNUJSR2UEnrRc8qavYj9zeA9TxB5wz05O/s1600/Untitled+design.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yoga Mom Yoga with Toddler" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRHZlzFWMEeMTtLfsVhNfL8ydtjUhPoJhP6qEWIcwpwksyARTaxnaL98qGCRwY0HWuNXfKixB2o_vGtXUm3XvUH3wxnob5mHsdjO_OYiIw1OYNUJSR2UEnrRc8qavYj9zeA9TxB5wz05O/s400/Untitled+design.jpg" title="Yoga Mom Yoga with Toddler " width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
… you’re both thrilled and bummed when your toddler drinks half of your $10 organic, cold pressed green juice<br />
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… you calculate the cost of class fee and a babysitter, you pay $50+ to attend a single yoga class, but you need an hour to yourself so much it’s worth every penny<br />
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… all your yoga selfies get photo bombed by your kids (and those are the photos you love the best)
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… sometimes you sing your child to sleep in Sanskrit
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... you often wonder if the stink-proof fabrics they make yoga clothing out of will keep your yoga pants smelling fresh even they’ve been spit up on (or worse)
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… when your baby started to crawl you lined your floor with your cushiest yoga mats
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… your Savasana time resembles human trampolining—you acting as the human the trampoline, of course
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… your idea of multi-tasking now looks like having “quality time” with your kids during your “home practice”
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… when your child sees you get upset, she often tells you to, “take a big, deep breath to calm down” (Where on earth did she learn that?)
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… while you want your little ones will grow up to be independent, do their own thing, and find their own passions, you also secretly hope they follow in your footsteps and take up yoga so they can reap all the benefits you have (you never were very good at keeping secrets…)
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<i>This post was adapted from the original, published at <a href="https://www.gatheryoga.com/grow/you-might-be-a-yoga-mom-if/">GatherYoga.com/grow</a>
</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472650269693325361.post-30461786055418902652015-10-06T06:14:00.000-07:002015-10-06T06:14:38.374-07:003 Lies Your Yoga Teacher Tells You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Are you ready for a truth bomb?<br />
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In yoga, we have these things called the <a href="http://kripalu.org/blog/thrive/2013/07/01/yogas-ethical-guide-to-living-the-yamas-and-niyamas/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>yamas</i> and <i>niyamas</i></a> that are meant to guide our lives. It's good stuff, things you'd do (or not do) if you want to be a good person anyway, you know? Don't harm others, don't steal, have discipline, take time for self-reflection, tell the truth...<br />
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As basic as they may seem, we all struggle with one or another. And yoga teachers? Well, we don't always tell the truth, especially when we're trying to get you to pay attention to something, to buy something, or click on something.<br />
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The following list is really just a bunch of white lies we tell you because it's our job to motivate you to keep practicing. We don't want you to get discouraged. We want you to COME BACK to your classes. However good intentions, a lie is a lie (besides, you're smart people and you probably know the truth anyway) so let's set the record straight.<br />
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<b>Lie #1.</b> "There's no prize when you can _<u> press up to Handstand/backbend so deeply the back of your head touches the bottoms of your feet/ put your leg behind your head</u>__." There are many prizes or we wouldn't spend so much time trying to accomplish these feats, now would we? The most meaningful prize is the satisfaction of knowing you're growing and progressing. Then there's the confidence you might feel when you've made that progress (sometimes you'll also get an inflated ego—there's a fine line). And now that people are all social-media crazed, there's also the many followers who you can attract to your accounts and, if you're really savvy, free products, endorsement deals, and book and DVD deals, and more. Will it help you reach enlightenment? No. Will it make you healthier, more Zen, a better person? Nope. But is there a prize? Yes. There is a prize.<br />
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<b>Lie #2. </b>"These 10 poses will magically make you __<u>sleep like a baby/melt your stresses/fix your back pain/lower your blood pressure/change your life_</u>_." This is a headline I see on yoga blogs ALLLL the time (and I know I'm guilty of it, too!) because people click on them like crazy. Of course! We all want to be able to fix all sorts of problems we've accumulated in our bodies and our lives through years of bad habits, bad alignment, inattention, etc. And a cocktail of 10 poses might make a difference if you practice them religiously every day for, say, at least 3 months or so. But one time (which is the implication of the headline, isn't it?)? Sorry, Loves. Yoga is not a magic pill. And it sure as hell isn't a short cut. It takes time, and usually lots of it, to see results.<br />
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<b>Lie #3.</b> Everything is yoga. It's a sweet idea, isn't it? That you don't have to get on your mat each day to be practicing yoga because yoga isn't just poses, after all, it's a way of life. So, you can be mindful throughout your day and it's just as good as a two-hour asana practice. This is a lie I've told my students, and it's a lie I've told myself to justify NOT PRACTICING. And you know what? While it's absolutely beneficial to "practice yoga off the mat" it is NOT THE SAME. It just isn't. Because I run around like a crazy person trying to check things off my to-do list all day every day, I need to work off my crazy energy in order to calm my mind. I need to prepare my body to take a quiet seat—whether that's on my meditation cushion or just on my couch at the end of the day. You have to DO THE WORK. There's no way around it. Get. On. Your. Mat.<br />
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You know I'm right.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009348454148093818noreply@blogger.com0