April's Theme: Cultivating Self-Trust Through Intuition, Mindful Eating, and Self-Knowledge

“I can trust myself “ is the theme for April. Self-trust includes knowing, being, and spending time with yourself. To have reasonable goals, be decisive, build on strengths, be kind to yourself, and most importantly, treat yourself from time to time. Trust is following intuition unless you have parasites or take antibiotics. This is because the gut flora acts as a second brain*. What we eat becomes us which includes what we are focusing on when eating. If the focus is on “Wow, this is delicious! I’m so grateful for this beautiful dish”, that is what is digested. If this is in a positive environment, full of love and life, that is digested too. 

When the focus is “There is not enough, I’m fat, better get back to work”, that is what you are feeding yourself. If the environment includes an electronic screen, it’s like the food doesn’t even exist. What signal do you think that sends to your psyche?

Knowing yourself is the next step. Know vulnerabilities, body sensations, what brings a sense of peace, and what throws one off balance. The ability to know thyself relieves suffering because there is a clear perception of what is in front of you, in this moment. There is no past or future w/out this present moment. With a clear perception, the picture in front is a reflection of everything desired. When all is achieved, the realization reveals the most important thing all along: love and connection. Because how we connect to others is how we connect to self. Today I invite you to trust yourself by being yourself.

*If gut health is out of balance, so is the mind, meaning that if all of the natural bacteria in the gut are killed, our mind doesn’t function optimally because the primal gut instinct is being overthrown.

Digesting Life: How Our Perceptions, Food Choices, and Mindset Shape Our Well-Being

Lake Atitlan Guatemala at The Mystical Yoga Farm.
Photography by Nikki Bigger

Ahimsa

The practice of being careful not to arm others, which concludes every living creature, since all beings feel pain and wish to avoid it.

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Ahimsa is nonviolence to all things and translates to “compassion” in Sanskrit. Things include you, me, and the fly you just swatted at. Ahinsa reflects everything from your cell phone screen to the environment. The all-encompassing gentleness and sometimes rage that guides us to the justice of life. Why a cell phone screen then? Because everything outside is a reflection of the inside of you. When we are well, things work and flow. When we are distracted and defensive, there is congestion and blocking. 

Vegan breakfast in North India

We are what we eat and this isn’t just limited to food. We digest what we perceive also. Perception in sight, smell, taste, touch and sound. Certainty is one of the six basic human needs so our perception can be biased based on our past. Even if what is in front of us is epic beauty, sometimes our mind will choose to perceive only the dangers of what we have experienced before in an attempt to keep us safe. Change equals stress, no matter if it is good or bad. A defensive, unaccepting state brings himsa, meaning “to strike” in Sanskrit. If we are in the process of change, stress is experienced and even if pleasant, can be a lot to digest. It’s a conscious effort to choose peaceful thoughts at this time because peaceful thoughts create a peaceful environment. Reaction to the change out of fear will only bring disaster.

I choose to live a vegetarian, liberal vegan, lifestyle. Liberal vegan because cows in India are treated as Gods and I love chocolate. What the animal experiences during the slaughter is what is being digested along w the meat. When stressed we release hormones into the bloodstream that are basically poison. These hormones degenerate muscles and cause weakness in the body and breakouts on the skin. Animals release the same poisonous hormones. Imagine how stressful it would be to be killed. We are literally eating fear or himsa. 

Our deep, primal instinct is to survive and it is the first step in our perception. After primal instinct we move into the wise mind: thinking and emotions. The wise mind is where logic and compassion are born. As the human mind continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the ancient part of our brain still holds onto the survival instinct. Mind fog is a symptom of overstimulation in the rat race of modern society. Overstimulation breeds perceived danger because it is the evolved object of danger in the form of work, news, egoic pressure, and FOMO. This is an obstacle to being present in the moment, which is all we have. The future is unknown and the past is over. Presence is the foundation of self-observation and introspection.  By coming from a state of compassion, our vision is clear and the world is safe. 

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Forgiveness not reaction
Love not anger
Ease not struggle
One smile has the power to change someone's whole day

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Harmonizing Energy: Balancing the Left and Right Channels for a Flowing, Peaceful Life

Harmony is walking smoothly and looking up at the blue sky as a smile breaks across your face. When energy flows smoothly throughout our body, a harmonious day is created. Energy flows through three channels of the body: left, right, and central.

Harmonize the left and right side channels to balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Nadi translates to flow or note. These notes of music flow in order to create the song that is you. Think of yourself as a vessel made of channels of water. The quality of the water that flows through you is your perception. When we hold onto things, it causes blockages in the channels. Water cannot flow through, which shows up as tension and projected pain.

The left side brain controls the right side of our body.  This is the Pingala or logical, extroverted, active, solar nadi. The sun side passes down the right side, connecting to blood and the color red. This is the channel that holds onto the mind and objects. We are the subject, and everything outside of us is the object. The material objects that surround us are a direct reflection of what going on inside of us. We open the flow of the sun channel by moving the body intentionally with yoga postures (asana) and breath. Pingala is yang, “Ha”, sun, mountain, light, conspicuous, and active. The sun channel is spicy! The negative thoughts we experience when disliking something bring feelings of anger and jealousy. Ignorant dislike of the sun channel stems from seeing the objects around us as separate. The anger/jealousy is then projected onto the object and gives us a logical reason to feel this way. The reality is that anger/jealousy does not come from the object. It comes from you and how you have treated others in the past. Feel this to let it go. Forgive yourself! If you shine a flashlight in a dark hole, the hole becomes lit and less intimidating. We face ourselves to be the best version of ourselves. When we align with our truth, we radiate this truth and gain the capability to lift others. We lift others because one of our basic needs is a sense of contribution.

Ida is the introverted, lunar nadi that governs the left side of the body. “If I have this thing, I will be happy” and “By not having this, I am less than I am now” are common thought misperceptions when the left side is blocked. We already have everything we need inside of us - we just have to listen. The left side is our emotional side. Cool as a cucumber, the channel of the moon runs up our left side and is represented as a milky white color. The moon side holds up and onto. It withstands and supports. This is your creativity and voice. Own it to free yourself from the shackles that have limited your greatness. Listen to your intuition. It has more wisdom than your mind. The mind keeps us safe. The brain holds knowledge. The wisdom of your gut is infinite. Roll onto your left side after yoga class to ground if you had a particularly stimulating session. Ida is yin, “tha”, feminine, moon, valley, dark, mysterious, and calming.

When energy flows smoothly throughout our body, a harmonious day is created. When the left and right side channels of energy are fluid, the central channel, Sushumna, is opened. The central channel is pure essence and is opened when both side channels are running smoothly. The central channel is in alignment when we are thinking well of others w/out effort. When we are thinking well of others, it is a reflection of our internal world in a state of homeostasis. The Sushumna is open at birth, death, and when the sun rises and sets.

When we let go of fear we are left vulnerable, united with self and raw. This vulnerable state is where everything in the universe is sourced from. It is effortlessly beautiful and flows smoothly with grace. This is home, and damn, it feels good to be back.

Nadi Shodhana Pranayama is a yogic practice to balance instantly. Begin in a comfortable seated position and hold out your hand. Tuck your index and middle finger down. Plug the right nostril with your thumb, and breathe deep into your belly through the left nostril. Plug the left nostril with your ring finger, and breathe out through the right nostril. Inhale through the right nostril, and exhale through the left nostril. Repeat until you are tranquil; twenty times is a great start and is optimal at sunrise. Breathe deep, and let go of what isn’t serving you, then keep the rest.

*Homeostasis

[ hoh-mee-uh-stey-sis ]

noun the tendency of a system, especially the physiological system of higher animals, to maintain internal stability, owing to the coordinated response of its parts to any situation or stimulus that would tend to disturb its normal condition or function

psychology a state of psychological equilibrium obtained when tension or a drive has been reduced or eliminated

entomology is the ability of members of a colony of social insects to behave cooperatively to produce a desired result, as when bees coordinate the fanning of their wings to cool the hive

Finding Clarity Through Yoga: 5 Ways to Clear Your Mind and Embrace Your Best Self

Yoga is a tool on the path to clarity. With awareness in the body, we feel a sense of balance. It is then possible to sit in meditation for longer periods without bodily distractions. An overactive mind creates distractions to shift focus from the objective. When the mind is still, the body reverses in age and we can tackle obstacles that used to overcome us. Through yoga, I found my voice. Here are five ways yoga can clear your mind. 

1. Discipline and routine create confidence.

Patanjali is my man (or woman - this text is ancient), and in the Yoga Sutras (ancient texts) there are Yamas, which is the support structure to your best self. Ahimsa is the commitment to non-violence. This one was a tough one for me and still is to this day at times. Non-violence means being kind to SELF and others by doing what makes your heart sing unapologetically because what you love aligns with your purpose. If you want chocolate, eat the chocolate. Punishing yourself for eating, it creates negativity and gives power to the negative concept of eating chocolate. *Chocolate is delicious if that’s what you're into! The negative mindset attached to consuming chocolate is what makes one fat, not the actual chocolate itself. Feelings of shame and guilt release cortisol into the bloodstream which creates visceral fat, more commonly known as belly fat. Your body ends up protecting its organs from your mind’s negativity. Satya is being true to yourself and others. Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt. Open your eyes and honor your intuition. When we love what we do, it makes each moment and our pockets richer because it aligns with the purpose of our life. Be true to yourself by thinking back to childhood and asking what you loved to do then. Brahmacharya means to conserve your energy and practice moderate sexual intercourse. There is only so much butter to spread on your toast, and when it is spread too thin, so are you. Let go of what isn’t serving you with Aparigraha. Keep what serves your life, as it will make what you have more valuable.

1. Commitment to being a good person. 

Yamas are the commitments to your best version. Clean, minimalize, and purify your thoughts with Saucha. Positivity creates a positive life. When our mind, space, and body are cluttered with impurities, it creates distraction. Find contentment with where you are in life to get you where you want to be, and have gratitude for Santosha. When we are in a state of gratitude, it is impossible to be in a state of suffering. Next time the world is caving in, make a gratitude list to lift yourself back up. Burn that shit off w Tapas. The struggles in your life are there to teach you a lesson. Open your eyes, and shine light on pain in order to give it the attention it needs. Feel the burn, because nothing lasts forever and once this hurdle is overcome, you will be better because of it. Svadhyaya is taking a good, hard look in the mirror. Look into your eyes and say, “I love you.” It's the commitment to self-study. Ishvara Pranidhana is surrender. Surrender and realize there is a divine path in your life. When shit hits the fan, know it is for something more than what can be identified.

1. That flow, though.

Asana is a yoga posture. It is meant to allow comfortable breath. If you can’t breathe, the purpose is defeated. The morning routine of Asana sets my day for greatness. I had never felt comfortable in my body, so I would disassociate from it often. Asana brought me back into my body. The body is merely a vessel, but we give it way too much credit. With Asana, you will see that the body is just a shell that conducts what the mind thinks. Asana unclogs the energy that gets backed up. When energy is backed up, we feel stuck and anxious. Meditation is the reward of asana because asana is practiced to be able to sit in meditation without distractions of the mind. Asana burns through the distraction. When a negative thought or pain arises during practice, breathe into it in order to let it go. Mental dis-ease creates physical ailments, and you may experience vivid memories or feelings coming up (especially in hip openers!). When the pain is acknowledged, it stops trying to get our attention.

1. Breathe.

Everything is connected to your breath. Shallow breathing triggers the sympathetic nervous system, also known as fight or flight. This releases poisonous hormones as a warning sign to our body, and when they are released regularly, we deteriorate. Deep belly breathing nourishes and creates a feeling of abundance. When in a state of abundance, we can breathe more easily. How we breathe creates our life.

1. Giving is life.

Contribution is a human need - not want, but need. When we give unconditionally, it releases the feel-good hormone oxytocin, and we feel better than if we were to receive it. Our brain rewards us for giving. The feel-good wave lasts for a couple of hours after the fact, so it can be called a drug. When giving up a bad habit, it needs to be replaced with something else or the habit comes back with shame sprinkles. Replace the addiction with giving. It will last longer, and the act of kindness will inspire others to do the same. You are an example. Be the voice of change.

How will you be remembered? Do something kind for a stranger today.

I would love to hear your story. We are all students AND teachers. By connecting and sharing, we can change the world. 

*Cacao is a superfood that is also an antidepressant. Many chocolates in grocery stores are marketed as chocolate but are really just wax and sugar. Feed your soul the good stuff by making your own at home. If you are looking for a fresh brick from Guatemala, send me an email. My favorite cacao comes from Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, and I can get it for you fresh from an eco-friendly source!

Finding Harmony: Balancing Energy Channels for a Peaceful and Vibrant

Museum of Art in Dallas, Texas

Harmony is walking smoothly. It’s looking up at the blue sky as a smile breaks across your face. When energy flows smoothly throughout our body, a harmonious day is created. Energy flows through 3 channels of the body: left, right, and central.

We harmonize the left and right side channels to harmonize the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Nadi translates to flow or note. These notes of music flow in order to create the song that is you. Think of yourself as a vessel made of channels of water. The quality of the water that flows through you is your perception. When we hold onto things it causes blockages in the channels and water cannot flow through. In our physical body, this shows up as tension and projected pain in our everyday reality.

Our left side brain controls the right side of our body. This is the Pingala or logical, extroverted, active, solar nadi. The sun side passes down the right side and correlates to blood and the color red. It is the channel that holds onto the mind and objects. We are the subject and everything outside of us is the object. The material objects surrounding us are a direct reflection of what going on inside of us. We open the flow of the sun channel by moving the body intentionally with yoga postures and breathing. Pingala is yang, “Ha”, sun, mountain, light, conspicuous, and active.

The sun channel is spicy! The negative thoughts we experience when disliking something bring feelings of anger and jealousy. Ignorant dislike of the sun channel stems from seeing the objects around us as separate. The anger/ jealousy is then projected onto the object and gives us a logical reason to feel this way. The reality is that anger/ jealousy does not come from the object. It comes from you and how you have treated others in the past. Feel this to let it go. Forgive yourself! If you shine a flashlight in a dark hole it becomes lit and less intimidating. We face ourselves to be the best version of ourselves. When we align with our truth we radiate this truth and gain the capability to lift others. We lift others because one of our basic needs is a sense of contribution.

Ida is the introverted, lunar nadi that governs the left side of the body. “If I have this thing I will be happy” and “By not having this I am less than I am now” are common thought misperceptions when the left side is blocked. We already have everything we need inside of us, we just have to listen. The left side is our emotional side. Cool as a cucumber, the channel of the moon runs up our left side and is represented as a milky white color. The moon side holds up and onto. It withstands and supports. This is your creativity and voice. Own it to free yourself from the shackles that have limited your greatness. Listen to your intuition. It has more wisdom than your mind. The mind keeps us safe. The brain holds knowledge. The wisdom of your gut is infinite. Roll onto your left side after yoga class to ground if you had a particularly stimulating session. Ida is yin, “tha”, feminine, moon, valley, dark, mysterious, and calming.

When energy flows smoothly throughout our body, a harmonious day is created. When the left and right side channels of energy are fluid, the central channel is opened. The central channel is pure essence and is opened when both side channels are running smoothly. The central channel is in alignment when we are thinking well of others w/out effort. When we are thinking well of others it is a reflection of our internal world in a state of homeostasis.

*Homeostasis
[ hoh-mee-uh-stey-sis ]
noun
the tendency of a system, especially the physiological system of higher animals, to maintain internal stability, owing to the coordinated response of its parts to any situation or stimulus that would tend to disturb its normal condition or function.
Psychology. a state of psychological equilibrium obtained when tension or a drive has been reduced or eliminated.
Entomology. the ability of members of a colony of social insects to behave cooperatively to produce a desired result, as when bees coordinate the fanning of their wings to cool the hive.

When we let go of fear we are left vulnerable, united with self and raw. This vulnerable state is where everything in the universe is sourced from. It is effortlessly beautiful and flows smoothly with grace. This is home and damn, it feels good to be back.

Meditate at sunrise and sunset because it is when the channels are in Sushumna and optimal energy is absorbed to be assimilated.

*Dictionary.com

*Diamond Heart Yoga School Teacher Training Manual