I started the Thrive Yoga Lifestyle blog to share inspiration and motivation for a fabulous 2014. It's easy to get stuck in a rut when there is so much to be done. What with work and washing, dinners and dishes, there doesn't seem to be much time left over for spontaneous fun and mindful exploration of this wonderful life we have each been given. Often the very things that we yearn for - connection, peace, beauty, acceptance, love and compassion - are already here but we just forget to look. The things I write about on this blog are not things you should be doing (you've probably got enough of those on your To-Do List), but things you could be doing as a reminder to pause, breathe and look around you to get connected to the life you already have.
Over the last 3 months I have shared some of the things that I've been doing that feed my soul. But that's enough about me and what I've been doing for a while. There are so many different ways to be creative and fulfilled, while still attending to everyday living, so over the next few weeks I'll be sharing inspiration from other sources which I hope will ignite your curiousity, compassion, wonder and gratitude.
But first, the last in the series about Patanjali's 8 Limbs of Yoga...
Number 8: Samadhi - Enlightenment
Even the Sanskrit name for this final part of the eightfold path is wonderful - Samadhi. It sounds peaceful and fluid, exotic and mysterious. And it is!
Samadhi is the state of spiritual awakening where the practitioner is completely at one with the universe, experiencing union, freedom and bliss.
I'm leaving it to renowned US yoga teacher Judith Lasater to describe this elusive experience of expanding consciousness - she does it so much better than I ever could....
"When I first began to study yoga I thought that samadhi was a trancelike state which would take the practitioner away from everyday consciousness to a better state of being. Over the years, my understanding has changed. Now I think of samadhi as exactly the opposite of a trance. Samadhi is a state of being intensely present without a point of view. In other words, in samadhi you perceive all points of view of reality at once, without focusing on any particular one.
To understand this better, imagine that each of us has a "grid" or filter in front of us. The mesh of this filter is constructed of all of our experiences and ideas; it is created by our gender, our particular personal history, our family and cultural values, and our education, to name only a few factors. This grid filters all our experience. For example, while we all have the need for food, our grid tells us whether hamburgers, raw fish, or organic tofu is food. The grid is the sum total of our beliefs—conscious and unconscious—about reality.Samadhi is the state in which we no longer experience reality through a grid; instead, we experience reality directly. Virtually all of us have had a taste of this state. Some people have this experience during worship, others during lovemaking, still others while alone in the woods. Samadhi is the state in which you are aware on a cellular level of the underlying oneness of the universe.
How does samadhi relate to daily life, a life filled with paying taxes, cleaning up the kitchen, practicing yoga poses, washing the car? Samadhi may seem to have nothing to do with our everyday activities. But on another level samadhi is the most important thing in our lives. The concept of samadhi brings with it the possibility of a deep hope about our growth as human beings. Patanjali teaches us that we are always capable of experiencing samadhi—that at any moment we can become whole and fully present. If we understand this, that understanding becomes a fundamental acknowledgment of our true nature. Paradoxically, it seems that we need the journey—the journey of yoga—to discover what was present inside us all along."
8 Simple Ways To Be The Happiest Version Of Yourself
Over the last 3 months I have shared some of the things that I've been doing that feed my soul. But that's enough about me and what I've been doing for a while. There are so many different ways to be creative and fulfilled, while still attending to everyday living, so over the next few weeks I'll be sharing inspiration from other sources which I hope will ignite your curiousity, compassion, wonder and gratitude.
But first, the last in the series about Patanjali's 8 Limbs of Yoga...
Number 8: Samadhi - Enlightenment
Even the Sanskrit name for this final part of the eightfold path is wonderful - Samadhi. It sounds peaceful and fluid, exotic and mysterious. And it is!
Samadhi is the state of spiritual awakening where the practitioner is completely at one with the universe, experiencing union, freedom and bliss.
I'm leaving it to renowned US yoga teacher Judith Lasater to describe this elusive experience of expanding consciousness - she does it so much better than I ever could....
"When I first began to study yoga I thought that samadhi was a trancelike state which would take the practitioner away from everyday consciousness to a better state of being. Over the years, my understanding has changed. Now I think of samadhi as exactly the opposite of a trance. Samadhi is a state of being intensely present without a point of view. In other words, in samadhi you perceive all points of view of reality at once, without focusing on any particular one.
To understand this better, imagine that each of us has a "grid" or filter in front of us. The mesh of this filter is constructed of all of our experiences and ideas; it is created by our gender, our particular personal history, our family and cultural values, and our education, to name only a few factors. This grid filters all our experience. For example, while we all have the need for food, our grid tells us whether hamburgers, raw fish, or organic tofu is food. The grid is the sum total of our beliefs—conscious and unconscious—about reality.Samadhi is the state in which we no longer experience reality through a grid; instead, we experience reality directly. Virtually all of us have had a taste of this state. Some people have this experience during worship, others during lovemaking, still others while alone in the woods. Samadhi is the state in which you are aware on a cellular level of the underlying oneness of the universe.
How does samadhi relate to daily life, a life filled with paying taxes, cleaning up the kitchen, practicing yoga poses, washing the car? Samadhi may seem to have nothing to do with our everyday activities. But on another level samadhi is the most important thing in our lives. The concept of samadhi brings with it the possibility of a deep hope about our growth as human beings. Patanjali teaches us that we are always capable of experiencing samadhi—that at any moment we can become whole and fully present. If we understand this, that understanding becomes a fundamental acknowledgment of our true nature. Paradoxically, it seems that we need the journey—the journey of yoga—to discover what was present inside us all along."
8 Simple Ways To Be The Happiest Version Of Yourself
Sometimes wellness can feel like a chore. Don’t get me wrong — I love cooking with coconut oil, while sipping my ashwagandha tea and rolling out the yoga mat. But it can take a lot of discipline to get there every day.
Sometimes we just don’t have time to meditate for hours, or add another workout into our mix. And, on top of everything else, it can be hard to keep up with the latest fads in wellness.
Sometimes we need to get back to the basics and keep it simple. Here are eight simple things you can do every day to become the happiest version of yourself — without breaking the bank or cramming two more hours into your day:
1. Always be reading a book.
Even if you only have 20 minutes a day to dedicate to reading, do it. Find time on the bus or train, or at night before bed. Even an audio book for quick car rides works. It doesn’t have to be lofty literature or self-help. Any book will do. Just make sure to start a new book whenever you finish one. It will make you more interesting, expand your viewpoint, and teach you something new every day.
2. Do at least one thing that terrifies you.
Whether it’s applying for a job you “couldn’t possibly get” or asking someone out for dinner, always find a way to challenge yourself. It will keep you constantly growing. When you’re afraid, it teaches you how to be fearless. When you’re accomplished, it reminds you to be humble.
3. Be completely vulnerable with one person.
It doesn’t have to be the same person every day. You can choose your mother, then your significant other, then your best friend. Just completely let your guard down and let someone in. It will remind you that everything about you is beautiful, even the “ugly” parts, and that you deserve to be loved for your strengths and your weakness. It will also teach you how to let love in and to love yourself.
4. Drop one thing from your life that you don’t love.
Each day, let go of one person, task, or object that you don’t love in your life, even if it’s as simple as those curtains that were never your style. Everything you own and everyone you associate with should be a reflection of you. If you keep anything in your life that you don’t love, it’s stopping you from loving your life entirely. Plus, dumping the dirt is just good feng shui.
5. Take a step in the direction of your dreams.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a tiny step. It doesn’t even matter what the step is. Don’t measure magnitude; just measure direction. If you take one small step toward your dreams every single day, you’ll be 365 steps closer to achieving what you want by the end of the year.
6. Spend 30 minutes by yourself.
Find 30 minutes to spend on just yourself. Maybe it’s getting a massage or meditating. Maybe it’s as simple as a cup of tea. Or, better yet, you could double up and make it your time to read. Whatever you choose, just let yourself know that you are worth spending 30 minutes with every day. And fight for its spot on your calendar as ardently as you would for a work meeting.
7. Look in the mirror and tell yourself you love yourself.
You are so blessed to be who you are. And you don’t know how much time you have left with yourself. So don’t let a day go by that you don’t say “I love you” to yourself — even if it feels uncomfortable at first.
8. Be amazed by someone, and tell them.
There’s no shortage of amazing things people do. From voluntarily doing the dishes to writing beautiful poetry to just making you laugh, people are full of amazing qualities. So find a reason to be amazed by someone, and let them know they amazed you. At the very least, you’ll make someone’s day. And that’s not a bad thing to do every day of your life.
8 Great Tracks to Practice Yoga To
There are times when only a quiet yoga practice will do. When you're feeling overstimulated, silence can be soothing and calming. But music is powerful stuff and it can really help to change your energy levels and take your yoga to another level. Here is a list of fabulous tracks and their links to YouTube where you can listen for free. I'd love to know which ones rocked your yoga - let me know in the comments section at the end of this post!
Durga Shakti by Shaman's Dream Project - I love this for standing poses.
Jai Hanuman by Shaman's Dream Project - great for Sun Salutations.
Karuna by Stellamara - slow, hypnotic rhythm.
Salva Me by Thomas Barquee - another track with a steady beat, goes well with slow Sun Salutations, standing and seated poses.
Yoga Dream by Soulfood - music for slowing down - seated and restorative poses
Om Hraum Mitraya by Deva Premal - I can't really decide which is my favourite Deva Premal track. Some have a faster beat for the more energising part of your practice and some are slow and relaxing. They are all wonderful and perfect for yoga.
Purnamadah by Shantala - relaxing chant for Savasana.
Ain't You Tired by Thomas Newman - this is from the film The Help. It's a great track for relaxing at the end of your yoga practice. Thomas Newman writes a lot of music for the big screen and it's all lovely and definitely worth exploring.
And finally, click on the link below to see 8 photos of "painted" hillsides. Sooo beautiful!
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/photos/8-of-the-most-colorful-painted-hillsides-in-the-world-0
Sometimes we need to get back to the basics and keep it simple. Here are eight simple things you can do every day to become the happiest version of yourself — without breaking the bank or cramming two more hours into your day:
1. Always be reading a book.
Even if you only have 20 minutes a day to dedicate to reading, do it. Find time on the bus or train, or at night before bed. Even an audio book for quick car rides works. It doesn’t have to be lofty literature or self-help. Any book will do. Just make sure to start a new book whenever you finish one. It will make you more interesting, expand your viewpoint, and teach you something new every day.
2. Do at least one thing that terrifies you.
Whether it’s applying for a job you “couldn’t possibly get” or asking someone out for dinner, always find a way to challenge yourself. It will keep you constantly growing. When you’re afraid, it teaches you how to be fearless. When you’re accomplished, it reminds you to be humble.
3. Be completely vulnerable with one person.
It doesn’t have to be the same person every day. You can choose your mother, then your significant other, then your best friend. Just completely let your guard down and let someone in. It will remind you that everything about you is beautiful, even the “ugly” parts, and that you deserve to be loved for your strengths and your weakness. It will also teach you how to let love in and to love yourself.
4. Drop one thing from your life that you don’t love.
Each day, let go of one person, task, or object that you don’t love in your life, even if it’s as simple as those curtains that were never your style. Everything you own and everyone you associate with should be a reflection of you. If you keep anything in your life that you don’t love, it’s stopping you from loving your life entirely. Plus, dumping the dirt is just good feng shui.
5. Take a step in the direction of your dreams.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a tiny step. It doesn’t even matter what the step is. Don’t measure magnitude; just measure direction. If you take one small step toward your dreams every single day, you’ll be 365 steps closer to achieving what you want by the end of the year.
6. Spend 30 minutes by yourself.
Find 30 minutes to spend on just yourself. Maybe it’s getting a massage or meditating. Maybe it’s as simple as a cup of tea. Or, better yet, you could double up and make it your time to read. Whatever you choose, just let yourself know that you are worth spending 30 minutes with every day. And fight for its spot on your calendar as ardently as you would for a work meeting.
7. Look in the mirror and tell yourself you love yourself.
You are so blessed to be who you are. And you don’t know how much time you have left with yourself. So don’t let a day go by that you don’t say “I love you” to yourself — even if it feels uncomfortable at first.
8. Be amazed by someone, and tell them.
There’s no shortage of amazing things people do. From voluntarily doing the dishes to writing beautiful poetry to just making you laugh, people are full of amazing qualities. So find a reason to be amazed by someone, and let them know they amazed you. At the very least, you’ll make someone’s day. And that’s not a bad thing to do every day of your life.
8 Great Tracks to Practice Yoga To
There are times when only a quiet yoga practice will do. When you're feeling overstimulated, silence can be soothing and calming. But music is powerful stuff and it can really help to change your energy levels and take your yoga to another level. Here is a list of fabulous tracks and their links to YouTube where you can listen for free. I'd love to know which ones rocked your yoga - let me know in the comments section at the end of this post!
Durga Shakti by Shaman's Dream Project - I love this for standing poses.
Jai Hanuman by Shaman's Dream Project - great for Sun Salutations.
Karuna by Stellamara - slow, hypnotic rhythm.
Salva Me by Thomas Barquee - another track with a steady beat, goes well with slow Sun Salutations, standing and seated poses.
Yoga Dream by Soulfood - music for slowing down - seated and restorative poses
Om Hraum Mitraya by Deva Premal - I can't really decide which is my favourite Deva Premal track. Some have a faster beat for the more energising part of your practice and some are slow and relaxing. They are all wonderful and perfect for yoga.
Purnamadah by Shantala - relaxing chant for Savasana.
Ain't You Tired by Thomas Newman - this is from the film The Help. It's a great track for relaxing at the end of your yoga practice. Thomas Newman writes a lot of music for the big screen and it's all lovely and definitely worth exploring.
And finally, click on the link below to see 8 photos of "painted" hillsides. Sooo beautiful!
I love this week's blog, much more like your inspirational emails. I'd still like to see your recipes,it's so much nicer cooking something recommended by someone else.
ReplyDeleteOff to check out the tracks on YouTube x
Thanks for your comment Katrina. I'll be mixing it up a bit for the next few week so there'll be more articles from my favourite sites MindBodyGreen and Elephant Journal and some others that I'm currently exploring. I'll testing out a super-healthy dessert from deliciouslyella.com this weekend and if it's a success I'll post it in next week's blog :-)
DeleteI love reading your weekly blogs, I look forward to them each week. I think you have it spot on, for what they contain. I've visited a couple of places you've recommended, made a couple of receipes as well! I've been meaning to ask you to recommend some music tracks for yoga, there's a multitude of music out there and it's difficult knowing what is good to pick. So will be checking out the ones you've recommended. I really don't mind seeing information from other sources as you select some really good stuff! Great blog!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Sharon, it's good to hear that the information is useful. I agree that it's a bit overwhelming choosing good music. I'm always eager to get recommendations too - I'll keep sharing them on the blog :-)
DeleteHi Deborah. I enjoy reading your weekly blogs - they are very different from everything else I receive and I always find something in them that makes me smile. I like the mixture of yoga, inspirational thoughts, gardening , cooking and things to do. Like that it is a bit different this week. On the yoga agenda, perhaps do something on particular poses? Keep it going!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to get your feedback Kalli - I often wonder as I press "publish" if it's what people really want to read. I know that everyone's time is precious and I want the information to be as helpful as possible. Yes, that's a great idea about doing some articles on particular poses - I'll get on to it. Thanks for commenting.
Delete