It Only Takes A Minute

Take a deep breath. It only takes one moment. Be still. Turn off all the external gadgets. Allow your thoughts to settle.  Inhale and allow the abdomen to expand. Exhale and allow the abdomen to contract. Follow the breath. Be conscious of this moment & let go any attachments. It only takes a minute...........

The Art of Tea

During the winter a great way to stay warm, keep the digestive juices going, and calm the mind is to sip on a cup of herbal tea. Tea has been used for centuries in many countries by different ethnic groups. It is a cultural tradition that brings people together. Taking a quiet moment to be tranquil and still with a cup of tea can work wonders for stress and anxiety. Some good herbal teas for calming the body and mind are:
Chamomile
Peppermint
Hops
Passionflower
Catnip
Scullcap
These herbs can be used as single herbs or combined to be more effective.

Some teas for digestion include:
Peppermint
Chamomile
Ginger
Red Raspberry
Alfalfa
Anise
These herbal teas can be consumed 30 minutes after mealtime to soothe the stomach.

On of my favorite teas to drink anytime of the day is Ginger Latte.
This recipe involves:
1 Pack of Ginger Tea
Almond Milk to taste
Agave to taste.

*Usually I'll boil the water and add the almond milk afterward, however the almond milk can be heated and used as the main liquid base. Enjoy!

Before leaving the house for to join the hustle and bustle of the day, have a cup of tea. After a long day , enjoy a refreshing herbal tea. Make time to be still, set aside space for tranquility and you will make way for peace.

Remember to Breath

Often times it's so easy to get to our yoga mats or any type of physical exercise & just go. In that going we extend, contract, stretch, move, jump & flex, but are we breathing? Are we really using the fullness of our breath which gives us life. I challenge anyone in eye shot to take the "24 Hour Breathing Challenge". Oh what is this challenge you ask? This will allow us to take note of our breathing patterns all throughout the day. Once we are aware of these patterns then we can make the appropriate changes.

This challenge can be documented mentally, through journals, voice recordings on your cell phone etc. Upon rising notice your normal breathing patterns. Is it heavy, quick, shallow, labored, smooth, deep, full, or normal? Each time you change you actions from taking a phone call to driving to work, document it. Notice the breath when that black F150 cuts you off and you scream your obscenities. Take note when you are on the phone with a telemarketer or bill collector. What is your breating status when watching certain programs on the television. Everytime you change actions take note. By the end of the day review your documented breathing patterns.

If your breathing is quick & shallow during stressful or tense situations then during your next normal curse out moment, breathe slowly & deeply. This simple excercise can work wonders in numerous situations during our daily life.

So the next time your dripping sweat balls & grunting with shallow breathing in Warrior III or Chaturanga Dandasana remember to "Follow the Breath". The most important aspect of any yoga practice is pranayama (the breath). This can transfer to any form of physical activity and everything else under the sun. The breath is life!