"When you let go of who you are, you become who you might be."
~Rumi
~Rumi
The gut-brain connection is no joke; it can link anxiety to stomach problems and vice versa. Just think about the last time you had "butterflies in your stomach" -- it came from a feeling you were having. Emotions (eg anger, anxiety, sadness, elation) trigger symptoms in the gut. Now remember a time when you've felt sick to your stomach because of something physical (eg. pms, reaction to food, growling belly, dropped blood/sugar levels, etc)....how does that make you feel mentally? See the connection yet??!!
If you've been following along with my monthly themes/challenges, you should feel all the pieces fitting together perfectly towards a healthy mental, physical, emotional and spiritual path. For example, April was all about cleaning out guts so it makes sense that May is all about cleaning out minds---coincidentally just in time for Mental Health month!
This path is based on the 5,000 year old practice of Yoga & Ayurveda. Today I want to focus on the 7th limb of Yoga, Dhyana (#7) which means to think (aka meditate). Dhyana is a progression of yoga poses (#3), breathing (#4) & mindfulness (#5 & 6)---which is what most people think of meditation as, sitting cross-legged withdrawing from the senses & concentrating. Meditating/Dhyana/#7 is a state of being....being one with the breath, one with the universe, When we're truly there our emotions, feelings, reactions aren't controlling us. This state of awareness can not only help to calm your mental state, impulsive behavior and unwanted thoughts but it'll help treat your sleep problems, repair your relationships with yourself (and thus others), and you can even work towards relieving physical pain (eg. headaches & muscle/joint pain).
If you're ready to create change in your life, here is how to begin...
Schedule your weekly Yoga sessions with me so we can practice releasing tension and blocked energy through poses, breathing & mindfulness. May's Yoga classes come with my 21 day meditation challenge. So, you'll be practicing limbs 3-7, too!!! Learn more about the meditation challenge here.
If you haven't yet done my 21 day mindfulness challenge, this is the last week to join. Click here & it starts right away....just check your email today & for the next 21 days.
Beginning your yogic journey through the 8 limbs of Yoga is a challenging but worth-achieving goal!!
- If you're a new customer, you can use this link through Sunday, 5/8/22, for $25 off!
- Returning customer, get up to 25% off purchasing a style box here.
It's the best deal around!! $99 gives you $130 shopping credits & the opportunity to earn free products..
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True yoga is not about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed; yoga is to be lived. Yoga doesn't care about what you have been; yoga cares about the person you are becoming. ~Aadil Palkhivala
Yoga at the Lake season starts next week. Classes will be on land or paddleboard and here's how you can start benefitting from a weekly practice & experience nature therapy!!
Paddleboard classes (on water--Oakland)
- From May-September you can do private or small group classes for 1-3 people for as little as $30 per person!!
- From June-August you have the option of having a group of 10 -- thanks to Ramsey Outdoor & the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve for $35.
Yoga at the Lake classes (on land -- Oakland):
- From May-October you can do a private or small group classes for 1-10 people for as little as $6 per person!!
- Prefer to join a weekly community class? Register here. Thursdays @ 12:15pm.
- Small group rates can be split amongst 10 people.
- Private classes include free access to the challenge of the month starting with 28 to Elevate.
*2021 rates are valid through 2022 for anyone that signs up by 4/30/22. New rates begin 5/1/22.
**Have a great outdoor space that you want to host your class this summer? The same rates apply!!
- Paddleboard Yoga - Thursdays from 4:30-5:30pm and every other Saturday @ 9am - $35 per person.
- Yoga at the Lake (on land) - Thursdays from 6-7pm - $15 per person.
Watch one of my FREE classes below to learn how Yoga can start benefitting you right now.
3 MUST HAVES for Yoga at the Lake (land or water)....
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"Living with anxiety is like being followed by a voice. It knows all your insecurities and uses them against you. It gets to the point when it's the loudest voice in the room. The only one you can hear." ~Unknown
Are you living with anxiety?
Anxiety is the mind and body's reaction to stressful, dangerous, or unfamiliar situations. It's the sense of uneasiness, distress, or dread you feel before a significant event. Anxiety is not always a bad thing....a certain level of Anxiety helps us stay alert and aware. However if anxiety is your normal state of living, you'll start experiencing side effects like the below....
- Restlessness, fatigue, tiredness or insomnia
- Irrational fear, worry, agitation or lack of concentration
- Sickness--- any of the above can lead you to a more serious state from panic attacks to physical symptoms (such as headaches, stomach issues, weight gain, etc).
Anxiety is not always related to an underlying condition. It may be caused by:
- Stress that can result from work, school, personal relationship
- Emotional trauma
- Financial concerns
- Stress caused by a chronic or serious medical condition
- A major event or performance
- Side effect of certain medications
- Alcohol consumption, drugs such as cocaine
- Lack of oxygen
- Foods you eat
Anxiety is a massive indicator that something in either internal or external environment is out of balance.. Watch my FREE class Calm your Anxiety to learn more & take action to correct what's going on inside of you that perhaps is showing up on the outside as one of the side effects listed above.
Below are 2 steps you can be taking right now to naturally work towards returning to full balance and thus experience optimum health.
- AYURVEDA (the sister science of yoga and an "off the mat" practice):
We try to find balance through uncovering what our unique state of balance is and thus naturally returning it that way. Some things in your life that can be causing this imbalance are relationships with family, friends, generational pasts, nature (the environment), our bodies, our community, foods, exercise, etc. You can learn more about Ayurveda here ...including taking the free body type quiz to discover your unique state of balance. My monthly challenges are practices meant to bring back balance to our daily emotions, mental health, physical body and spiritual connections.
*This is also the last week to join my Mindfulness challenge. Click here...to start it right away....IT'S FREE and a great first step to meditation. MINDFULNESS CHALLENGE - YOGA (on the mat):
A great way to mindfully practice what we do daily is through a Yoga routine "on the mat" to prep us for how to handle life "off the mat". When you join me for Yoga this MAY, you'll have free access to my 21-day meditation "off the mat" challenge.
April 30th is the last chance to lock in 2021 Yoga pricing.
Refresh your Spring yoga clothes by shopping with me here for leggings, bras or layers. Check out our newly released spring jackets below...
lightweight windbreaker | RISE ACTIVE VEST |
To your health and wellness,
Keri
"What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create." ~Buddha
Many of us are not really here with us....some of us are living past experiences or future anticipation and are drowning in their own heads. Ruminating in the past causes feelings of depression, guilt and self-loathing. Whereas, there's endless amounts of uncertainty of what's to come in our life and that can fuel our stress and anxiety. Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one's attention to experiences occurring in the present moment, instead of thoughts of worries from the past or future.
In the 8-limbs of yoga mindfulness really takes up 2 of the 8 limbs so it must be pretty important.
Pratyahara - is the negative part of mindfulness where we try to withdraw from ordinary distractions from our primary senses (eg. what we see, smell, hear, taste and sensations).
Dharana - is the positive part of mindfulness where we try to focus on a particular object, affirmation, breathing, etc.
Many do yoga to ultimately get to limbs 7 (meditation) & 8 (bliss) but we couldn't possibly move to that from 3 (poses) & 4 (breathing). That would be like skipping cooking our meal and eating it anyway.
April is all about spring cleansing & getting our bodies healthy to be able to resist toxins naturally.
As we approach Meditation May, we want to get our minds healthy to resist the negative sensory influences around it. If you're easily disturbed by noise and the turmoil of the environment around you need to practice mindfulness....starting with pratyahara (above). Without it you will not be able to meditate.
Mindfulness can offer a host of benefits to anyone and EVERYONE who practices. If you're looking for....
- greater mental wellness
- improved physical health like lowering blood pressure & reducing chronic pain
- relieving stress & symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD and more.
The amount of toxins in our minds has reached dangerous levels. With a consistent practice of yoga, we can be more in-tune with our bodies, minds & emotions. When we're able to truly withdraw from our minds we can start focusing on the now. 1 in 4 Americans is living with anxiety, depression or some other mental health challenge and if left untreated will lead to toxic build-up and thus something bigger mentally, physically or both.
The sad truth is that most people accept this poor quality of mental wellness as their norm.
Ughhhh!
What once started out as a class focused on the stretching & strengthening of poses and calories burned turned into a mindful practice "off the mat" that has helped me make better choices throughout the days, months & years to eliminate everyday toxins that cause many mental, physical and emotional problems. The 5,000 year old ancient practice of Yoga helps us heal from the inside out. It changed my life and I LOVE sharing it with others!!
If you've settled for mediocrity when it comes to your mental health than I invite you to mindfully take the next 21-days to take control of your mind through the daily practice of mindfulness. To join my complimentary Mindfulness Challenge, go here. In just 21 days you'll be focused more on the now....that's not where anxiety & depression hang out!
Cheers to mental relief,
Keri Elkin
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"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over & over and expecting a different result". ~Einstein
We go to the gym, we watch what we eat, we live a life of stress and do it all over again every day and wonder why we can't lose weight, are always feeling tired or anxious or some other daily struggle. What daily activities are you repeating in the hopes of different results?!
If you're unhappy with the way you look or feel (or both) then something's gotta change cuz that's no way to live life! Some people rely on diets and fads but my secret is the 5,000 year old practice of yoga to make shifts in my daily life. I started yoga in my 20's and have gradually added each of the 8 limbs of yoga over the years. Most people (including me) started yoga with the 3rd limb (the poses) but today I'm going to explain how the 2nd limb of Yoga, the niyamas, can be a roadmap to a healthy lifestyle. There's 5 niyamas so here's 5 steps to reset for lifelong shifts in your health...
- Saucha(purity) - is the awareness that impurities both in our external environment & internal body adversely affect our state of mind & prevent the attainment of real wisdom and spiritual liberation. On the mat we practice poses, breathing exercises and meditation to cleanse & purify the body & mind. Off the mat we consciously work at surrounding ourselves with a pure environment (food/drink, friends, entertainment, home furnishings, etc) so not to add any external impurities back into our body.
- Try this: Add seasonal cleansing to your life. Watch my class -- "Detox for Immune Support" to learn how each Spring & Fall you can start fresh & is an opportunity to clean up whatever happened since your last cleanse.
- Try this: Add seasonal cleansing to your life. Watch my class -- "Detox for Immune Support" to learn how each Spring & Fall you can start fresh & is an opportunity to clean up whatever happened since your last cleanse.
- Santosha(contentment) - learning to be perfectly content with all that life gives us and not crave what we don't have. It is easy for our mind to become fooled into thinking that we can attain lasting happiness through the possession of objects, goods and people but happiness gained through materialism is only temporary. Practicing contentment frees us from the unnecessary suffering of always wanting things to be different, and instead fills us with gratitude and joy for all of life’s blessings.
- Try this: Show up to life like you show up to your mat. Breathe through the stresses that show up, back off when something becomes too intense to revisit it another day AND practice gratitude.
- Try this: Show up to life like you show up to your mat. Breathe through the stresses that show up, back off when something becomes too intense to revisit it another day AND practice gratitude.
- Tapas (self-discipline) - is doing something you do not want to do that will have a positive effect on your life. When our will conflicts with the desire of our mind an internal “fire” is created which illuminates and burns up our mental and physical impurities. Tapas transforms and purifies us as well as enables the conscious awareness and control over our unconscious impulses and poor behavior. Practicing this helps to build will power and personal strength to help us become more dedicated to our practice of yoga and other healthy routines.
- Try this: Add activities that you feel good doing (perhaps yoga class, play golf, hike, etc) to your weekly calendar...no excuses....it's gonna pop up on your calendar so you have to do it just like you have to go to your dentist, doctor, car-maintenance appointment. If you haven't yet added a weekly yoga class to your life make sure to book your classes this month to lock in 2021 rates for the rest of 2022.
- Try this: Add activities that you feel good doing (perhaps yoga class, play golf, hike, etc) to your weekly calendar...no excuses....it's gonna pop up on your calendar so you have to do it just like you have to go to your dentist, doctor, car-maintenance appointment. If you haven't yet added a weekly yoga class to your life make sure to book your classes this month to lock in 2021 rates for the rest of 2022.
- Svadhyaya (self-reflection) is the ability to see our true divine nature in the moment and beyond our current state. Life presents an endless opportunity to learn about ourselves; our flaws and weaknesses give us the opportunity to grow and our mistakes allow us to learn. Examining our actions becomes a mirror to see our conscious and unconscious motives, thoughts, and desires more clearly.
- Try this: do my 28 to Elevate challenge to uncover what in your life needs your attention now. Learn more here.
- Try this: do my 28 to Elevate challenge to uncover what in your life needs your attention now. Learn more here.
- Ishvara Pranidhana (devotion and self-surrender) is the dedication, devotion, and surrender of the fruits of one’s practice to a higher power. To reach the ultimate goal of yoga we must dissolve our egocentric nature and let go of our constant identification with ourselves. Be aware of how your daily actions are adding to the greater good or how you can make shifts to incorporate your connection to a higher power.
- Try this: Since this is a big one, I challenge you to just see yourself as a star in the sky --- adding light and awesomeness to those around you. The more stars the better the sky. There's no reason to compete with another star or judge our light but there is reason to assist a star that may have fallen or lost it's light or ask the neighboring star to assist you.
What's something you're gonna change this month? This April you can get FREE access to my 21 day elimination challenge by simply joining me for Yoga or cleansing with a ningxia or thieves bundle. This is a great way to add the routine of Seasonal Cleansing into your life. Learn more during the "Detox for Immune Support" class here.
To your health & wellness,
Keri Elkin
- If you're a new customer, you can use this link through Sunday, 4/10/22, for $25 off!
- Returning customer, get up to 25% off purchasing a style box here.
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