One morning last week I found myself in the in the East Bay without my reusable coffee cup. Reluctantly ordered anyway, you have to know I rarely do that. Maybe it was no accident at all because now I have this story to share with you! The girl behind the counter took a moment and wrote something on my cup with a black Sharpie marker. She explained that she tries to write or draw something inspirational on everyone’s cup to help start off their day with a smile! It wasn’t until I left the cafe that I read the words on the cup… It read, “Light the world up with your nice smile.” As you might imagine it did make me smile. And I reminded me that you don’t have to do something monumental to be a force of light in the world. It’s the small gestures everyday make that a difference. Go ahead, go out and […]
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Get Upside Down
You do yoga to improve your health and to live a more vibrant life. Inverted postures, or poses where your head is below your heart, have tremendous effects on your health and well being. The benefits are almost too numerous to mention but here is a great list to start! 1. Improves Circulation: Inversions give your heart a break while increasing the circulation of blood back to your heart. Freshly oxygenated blood makes its way to the brain, lungs, and the sensory organs as well as the extremities removing waste along the way, boosting the immune system, and regulating blood pressure. 2. Calms your mind and relieves stress: After just a few moments in an inverted posture, muscle tension decreases and the body, mind, and the nervous system begins to calm down. You move out of the “fight or flight” response and activate the parasympathetic system into a calmer more coherent […]
Continue ReadingKitchen Sink Yoga
Here’s a great stretch to start out your day. Most of us wake up a bit stiff from sleep. My yoga starts as soon as I get out of bed, I have found creative ways to stretch as I go about my morning routine . Tomorrow while you are making your coffee or tea, use the kitchen sink for a juicy stretch and traction of your spine! 1. Hold on to your kitchen sink, lean your hips back, and straighten your legs. Squeeze your shins (lower legs) toward one another to stabilize Lift your arms, rib cage, and belly Breathe as you lengthen your spine 2. Walk your feet toward the sink and bend your knees. Sit back as if you were sitting into a chair. Lean back and traction your spine 3. Walk your feet in even closer and drop your pelvis down to a squat. Hang your hips […]
Continue ReadingThree Tips to Open Your Shoulders
Poor posture while sitting at a desk or driving can create tightness in the front chest, back pain, and other physical side effects. Here are three stretches to open your upper arms and front chest, engaging and strengthening your back, and improve your breathing. Try them out and start improving your posture and your health today! 1. Shoulder Stretch at a Wall: Stand with one side facing the wall. Take your arm behind you palm up, little finger side of the hand on the wall. Make sure your arm is as high as your shoulder. Press your hand into the wall and pull as if you were to drag your hand forward to engage the muscles. Then lean forward and slightly turn away from the wall until you feel a stretch. Variations and Modifications: a.) Step the foot closest to the wall forward and lunge. b.) Work with your elbow […]
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