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Thanksgiving is a time for getting together with family and friends and sharing a meal, giving thanks for the abundance in our lives. It is also a day that, in my opinion, gets a little too gluttonous with the food factor. More often than not we go a little overboard with the meals much to the point of food coma, and in some cases a few extra pounds. Here is where practicing Yoga comes in handy! Practicing Yoga not only works the physical body but the mind and internal organs as well, a 3 for 1 deal! Here are 8 great Yoga poses to do to help minimize the fat and wring out the organs Thanksgiving seems to alluringly invite! The following poses are helpful for stimulating the abdominal organs and the digestive process.  The first pose is Utthita Trikonasana or Extended Triangle pose. It is also good for the muscles of the legs- the thighs, knees, calves, ankles. Make sure both legs are straight in this pose. You can take your lowered arm to your ankle or a block.  The next pose is Utthita Parsvakonasana or Extended Lateral Side Angle pose. This is, in my opinion, a strenuous pose. Whenever I'm feeling like those 'love handles' are getting out of control I practice this pose. Take care to try to lay the side body onto the thigh of the bent leg. Turning the chest up towards the ceiling will make it easier to do so.  The third pose is Parivrtta Trikonasana or Revolved Triangle. This pose stretches the hips and spine. It also opens the chest. A difficult pose, if you are not able to cross your opposite arm over the front leg you can take the arm to your ankle instead or a block on the toe side of the foot. Work on an extension of the torso.  Ok, last standing pose! Parivrtta Parsvakonasana or Revolved Side Angle pose. This time the opposite side of the body should attempt to lay on the thighs of the bent leg. You can take a block to the opposite lowered hand if you are not able to take it to the floor. Here's a hint, twist first then work on taking the lowered arm to the floor. Standing poses are a good way to get the blood pumping and when done properly maybe even some perspiration going! One does not necessarily need to sweat in order to 'work the body'.  The next pose is Shalabhasana or Locust pose. Laying on the stomach lift the arms and legs up at the same time balancing on the pelvis. Another good pose for digestion it helps with gastric troubles and flatulence.  Ok, now for a couple of serious twists to wring out those internal organs! The first pose is Marichyasana I. The extended leg should press into the floor as the bent leg and bent arm should counter press against each other.  Next, all you need any type of chair, preferably a folding chair. Bharadvajasana, named after the Sage Bharadvaj, in a chair. Sitting with the legs to one side and both arms on the back of the chair inhale and as you exhale turn and twist. The more you expel out all the air the deeper you will be able to twist.  The last pose is Supta Virasana or Reclined Hero pose. A nice restorative version! Supta Virasana is a pose that can be practiced right after eating. So if you know you are going to indulge yourself deeply then be prepared to rest a little while in Supta Virasana. This pose will aid the digestion process. You can use a folded blanket instead of a bolster if you don't have one. Make sure to lay another folded blanket perpendicular over the bolster or blanket to support the head. Reclining in this pose allows the chest, abdomen and pelvic region to stretch out. It is also extremely intense on the thighs, knees, and ankles so if you know they are tight make sure to sit on a folded blanket before reclining back with the calves to the side of the thighs. And there you have it, 8 simple poses that can be done in about 30-45 minutes to help you control those Thanksgiving tendencies to gorge oneself! Make sure to include at least a 3 minutes Savasana or Corpse pose to end your sequence. Allow the body to 'digest' all that you have done for it. Ok, so 9 simple poses including Savasana but still very doable!
I hope you all take some time to reflect on the abundance in your life and enjoy the nourishment Mother Earth provides us with. NAMASTE
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 Luxury with a conscience is the slogan for Josie Maran Cosmetics started by former supermodel Josie Maran. Her line of eco friendly, non toxic, pure makeup is actually not bad for your skin! For those of you that enjoy using natural products you will LOVE her makeup. Her makeup has been featured in: Elle, Glamour, Harpers Bazaar, and Allure to name a few. Why are her products awesome? Because unlike some other makeup lines out there she uses ingredients like aloe vera, honeysuckle flower extract, jojoba, apricot, avocado, chamomile, flax seed oil, grape seed oil, papaya, pomegranate oil, rosemary oil, shea butter, mango seed butter, cucumber, coconut cream. How can you go wrong with such wholesome ingredients! And the best ingredient of all Argan oil. Argon oil is the "liquid gold" of Morocco. It has 2x more Vitamin E than olive oil, as well as, essential antioxidants. It softens skin, minimizes fine lines, heals acne blemishes and scarring, and treats split ends! Women in Morocco have been using it for centuries for their skin, hair, and cooking!  One of my favorite products is the Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation. Having a tan skin tone with yellow undertones it is so hard to find the right shade. The Matchmaker Foundation is made with chameleon pigments that instantly adjust to your natural skin tone. No more fussing over messy mineral powders or too dark/too light foundations that are noticeable. And of course it's made with Argan oil so it's actually nourishing the skin while on!  I will admit I love any and all cheek stains, cheek tints, blush. Anything for a rosy glow! After having spent years wearing Benetint (which stains not only your cheeks but your hands too!), mineral blush (which can make the skin a bit too shiny), and Smashbox's O glow (which is nice but not natural) the Argan Color Stick is my new craze! Formulated with Argan oil, this cheek tint looks good on everyone, no matter your skin tone. You can use it on your lips too! Josie Maran, thank you for coming up with a line of eco-friendly makeup that is easy, quick, sophisticated and nourishing! She summed it quite well when she said, "I believe in balance. I believe that doing the right thing can be glamorous. I believe in beauty without the baggage."
You can find her line at Sephora and on her website Josie Maran Cosmetics The 'Yoga Sutras of Patanajali' consist of 195 Sanskrit aphorisms written by the Sage Patanjali. Those who are serious students of Yoga are familiar with this work and use it as a tool in their practice and teaching.
Chapter 1 Verse 1 of the Sutras - "Atha yoganusasanam" This sutra is an introduction of what is to be extolled. In Sanskrit, any auspicious undertaking is first started with the word "atha", which can be translated to mean "now begins". It introduces to us that a subject will now be explained. By using this term Patanjali is noting the auspiciousness of the explanations to follow on what Yoga is. He is grabbing the attention of the reader by declaring "atha", NOW, not later, not tomorrow, not next week... but the importance of taking hold of being present. Now, also meaning that there need not be any qualifications needed to study Yoga, as it is available and needed for everyone. So, what will be explained? "Yoganusasanam", which can be translated to mean following the path of instruction by the ancient sages on Yoga. So the phrase becomes, "Now begins the instruction on Yoga, as laid down by the ancient sages, that is available to everyone". This first verse should not just be taken lightly to mean "now begins the study of Yoga". It means that anyone who wants to can approach the task by taking the responsibility to begin the path of Yoga... or more simply, in today's context, reconnecting the body with mind and soul to achieve a sense of freedom. When people think of Yoga they think of poses like Warrior I, Tree, Eagle, Triangle but Yoga does not mean postures or asanas. Rather, asanas are just a part of Yoga. The practice of Yoga encompasses other aspects of practice in conjuction with asanas such as meditation, breath control, and diet to name a few. Yoga is a way of conscious living. Yoga, in the context of the Yoga Sutras means samadhi or loosely translated as freedom. Yoga can also mean union. There are many different meanings of Yoga but they all refer back to as TKV Desikachar beautifully put it, "the means by which we can make the changes we desire in our lives." We have become so dead to our emotions and what happens in our own bodies that illness (both mental and physical) takes over a large percentage of the population and that large population. We have forgotten what it means to sit quietly and reflect. Use the present to begin your path to a new you, anyone who is willing can do it. Will that path be an easy one? No, probably not, but I can guarantee that you will look back on your old self with a bemusement and wisdom that will only lead to greater santosha or contentment with one's Self. Namaste and welcome! I am so excited to be able to share with you all my thoughts, opinions, pictures and other special items to note! I hope to be of service to those who are ready to make responsible changes to their lives and jump on the path of Sadhanaa Yoga or constant devotion towards knowing one's Self. It is an ever evolving practice and journey for us all and I am grateful to be sharing this path with you! Aum Shanti Shanti Shantih
In gratitude |
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