What I found? Doctors are saying that, although agave nectar is low glycemic, it’s really no better for us than high fructose corn syrup.
Years ago, when I was sick, I purchased Agave Nectar for the first time at a local health food store. The clerk knew I was struggling with Metabolic Syndrome (Pre Diabetes) and blood sugar issues. She had a shocked look on her face and told me she is surprised I can tolerate agave nectar because a lot of diabetics can’t. That sparked my interest, so I went home an researched it.
What I found? Doctors are saying that, although agave nectar is low glycemic, it’s really no better for us than high fructose corn syrup. In fact, agave nectar is higher in fructose than High Fructose Corn Syrup!! But why does that matter? It matters because consuming too much fructose puts us at risk for obesity and weight gain. It affects how our body releases a hormone called leptin, which aids in appetite control, and also causes our body to store fat.
I stopped using Agave nectar immediately. Initially, I had to cut sugars out of my diet completely in order to exploit my body’s own natural healing capabilities. Now I’m able to tolerate sweeteners and my sweeteners of choice are honey, maple syrup, and jaggery 🙂
If you want more scientific information, Doctor Mercola shows lab results on agave nectar here, and explains why it’s not good for us. Doctor Oz explains it on his site here.
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One of my biggest ‘aha’ moments in saving my health, was when I went on this cleanse. My brain was having seizure activity and my Neurologist wanted me to go on an anti-seizure medication. This video explains about the research I did, why I chose an alternative route, and my experience with the Master Cleanse. This cleanse quite literally changed my life.
Prior to doing the cleanse I was tired all the time, fatigued, and felt like my head was in the clouds – or a veil of… smog was taking over my brain. I couldn’t think clearly, I couldn’t track conversations, I could barely comprehend what I was reading, and I was getting lost in the town I grew up in. It was awful. » Read more..
“I was emotionally messed up and, truth is, I hated myself….”
I was nominated by a few people on Facebook to share some pictures of me that make me feel beautiful. I’m posting them here, because I want to also share why they make me feel beautiful, in hopes of inspiring others: 1. I was very, very sick… and also very wounded inside. I was emotionally messed up and, truth is, I hated myself. I had so many » Read more..
It’s interesting… Because, up to this point, during my treatments at the Ayurvedic hospital, I’ve been chanting in my mind, “The Light & Love of God has cured me”. Then yesterday while I was chanting that I realized… If I’m still hanging on to the thought or vibration of needing to be cured, then that’s what I’m creating every single day… a version of me that still needs to be cured. I know I was saying “has cured me”.. but the truth is, if I were cured, I wouldn’t be thinking about being cured at all, I would just be living my life. So, I taught my doggy a new trick!
The next day, I changed my chant. At first, I started out with, “I am love”… and then I thought, “Why am I limiting myself by changing this to simply that I am love? What am I really?” Before, I was saying that the light of love of God has cured me, but then I realized that actually, I AM the light and love of God and when I vibrate THAT, then there is no such thing as anything that needs to be cured, because the light and love of God is pure and whole, just as it is.
So that became my new mantra during my sessions: “I am the Light and Love of God”. And that, my friends, is when I started to see some real change (okay, okay, there were some other energy techniques I employed that I feel played a role as well, but that’s for another day ha ha).
In what ways may your limiting beliefs be limiting your progress?
You may notice that I use a lot of tumeric in my recipes. It’s true. I use it so much because it is a potent medicine that has long been used in by the Chinese and Indian cultures. According to the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, extensive studies in last twenty years suggest that curcumin contains a broad range of anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, anti-amyloid (amyloid is a starch-like protein which is deposited in the liver, kidneys, spleen, or other tissues in certain diseases), antiarthritic and antioxidant properties.
The Journal of the American Chemical Society reports that tumeric contains a broad range of antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anticarginogenic (An anticarcinogen is any chemical which reduces the occurrence of cancers, reduces the severity of cancers that do occur, or acts against cancers that do occur, based on evidence from in vitro studies, animal models, epidemiological studies and/or clinical studies), antimutagenic (in genetics, a mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that changes the genetic material, usually DNA, of an organism and thus increases the frequency of mutations above the natural background level. As many mutations cause cancer, mutagens are therefore also likely to be carcinogens) and anti-inflammatory properties.
Studies have linked lower rates of prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer have been linked to tumeric or it’s compound, curcumin. Circumin has even been shown to prevent tumors from forming in laboratory experiments.
Rich in niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc; tumeric is also widely know as an immunity booster and has been studied in treating or preventing a wide variety of conditions, including Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Cystic Fibrosis, Cancer, and even High Cholesterol. Tumeric is also a well known liver tonic. In fact, an extract from tumeric, circumen, repaired and regenerated liver tissues of diabetic groups in this study.
As you can see, there are many, many reasons to make tumeric a regular part of your diet! The benefits of this medicinal food can be received by eating the fresh root or by adding the spice to your meals. To me, it is virtually flavorless but packs a huge nutritional and medicinal punch to my meals.
“What may be even more remarkable is the accumulating research on the anti-liver cancer properties of turmeric (and curcumin). The GreenMedInfo.com has 26 preclinical studies showing it kills liver cancer cells and tumors, including one case study involving a 6-month old infant with a life-threatening liver vascular tumor (hemangioendothelioma) who was reported treated successfully with a dietary supplement of curcumin, with 6-year follow-up.
One of the most remarkable facts about turmeric as a potential drug and chemotherapy alternative is its exceptionally high margin of safety. A 2001 study in cancer patients reported that quantities of curcumin up to 8 g, administered per day for three months, were not toxic and resulted in significant anti-cancer properties in a number of those treated. Considering that turmeric is only 3-4% curcumin by weight, this implies that a larger quantity of turmeric can be consumed safely, as well.”
Here are a few recipes showing you how simple it is to incorporate tumeric into a soup, or check out my recipe page. Happy Healing! <3
Hello beautiful people! Here is the latest creation that I made last night. A cinch to prepare, oh so delicious, and good for you, too! Notice all the colors in this soup. How healthy is that?! This was a hit with the roommates 🙂
INGREDIENTS:
INGREDIENTSB 2 Red Bell Peppers, diced 1 Anaheim Pepper, diced finely 1 Small Onion, diced 6 Cloves Garlic, sliced
6 Baby Corn, sliced
3 Small Carrots, chopped
1 yellow squash, chopped
1 c. Sprouts (I used Horse Gram Sprouts)
1/2 c. Fenugreek Sprouts (optional – not pictured)
1 Potato (Optional, I didn’t use the potato and the soup was perfect without it)
INGREDIENTS A
2 Tbsp Coconut or Olive Oil
3 Tbsp Ghee (for flavor and richness)
1/8 Tsp Red Chili Pepper (Optional)
2+ Tsp Tumeric
1/2-1 Tsp Mustard Seed
1 Tsp Garlic Ginger Paste
INGREDIENTS C
Water or vegetable broth – Enough to cover the veggies and make it into a soup, ha!
INGREDIENTS D
1/4 c. Tomato Puree (optional)
2 Vegetable Bouillon Cubes (omit if you used vegetable broth)
2 tsp Himalayan Sea Salt
1/2 Tsp White Pepper
2 tsp Lemon Pepper
1 tsp Rosemary
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Thyme
1 tsp All Purpose Seasoning (Ingredients: Salt, Onion, garlic, allspice, celery seed, chili,
black pepper, sugar, coriander, ginger,
thyme, basil, oregano)
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oil in pan, then add “Ingredients A”.
2. Mix well, then add “Ingredients B”. Cook until half way tender (I usually add the
italicized ingredients first and cook them until half way tender, then add the rest)
3. Pour enough water to cover the veggies and go about two inches above them (enough to make it a soup after it boils down a bit).
4. Bring to boil, then turn heat to low and simmer until carrots and corn are tender enough to eat.
5. Add “Ingredients D”, stir, simmer for another five minutes.
Allow me to introduce Sneaky Bitz. You might already know Sneaky Bitz. You see, Sneaky Bitz is that aspect of me (or you) that tries to sabotage things in life… and often, Sneaky Bitz does this in a sneaky way – sometimes to the point that we are not even aware of it. If I’m not paying attention, Sneaky Bitz might succeed but I’ve gotten pretty good at playing Sneaky Bitz’s game. Ha!
For example, I woke up this morning and it felt like every muscle in my body ached. My Sneaky Bitz tried to convince me that I could baby myself and stay home from Ashtanga yoga practice, reasoning that I’m tired, I hurt, I’ve worked hard and I deserve a break, right?! All valid arguments, right? Why not pamper myself a little for a change? Ha!
So you know what I did? I said, “nuh-uh. Not this time, Sneaky Bitz! I caught you! Haa ha ha! Nice try!” Then I got my butt up out of bed and I went to Ashtanga practice. On the way home, I treated myself with the nourishment of a fresh young coconut (one of nature’s best source of electrolytes). Then I cleaned my yoga mat and let it, and me, soak up the sun for thirty minutes. After that, I stepped up my game.
You see, part of the reason for the physical pain is because some areas of my body are weak. So, I treated myself farther by doing 280 various forms of crunches and 296 reps of various leg lifts. Then, thanks to my lovely roommates, I treated myself to some home-made Sambar with home-grown lentil and mung bean sprouts! Take that, Sneaky Bitz!
Actually, you have to be kind to Sneaky Bitz, because it is a part of you.. almost child-like, you have to teach it new ways to be 🙂 Sneaky Bitz is your friend. Ha ha ha ha.
Truth is, although it sounded good at the time, had I rolled over and went back to sleep, I would have felt really bad about myself later and my practice would have suffered. If you’re wondering how I do it or how I get the strength or motivation in moments like this, you’re not alone; a friend recently asked me the same thing. It can be defined with two words: Self Love. But how do you love yourself? What is Self Love? Ah… multi-million-dollar questions, each with a several-part, multidimensional answer.
Check out this quote I posted on my Facebook page:
So, I asked myself this morning, “If I really, truly love myself, then would I allow myself to go back to bed, knowing the negative consequences?” The answer was a re-sounding, “NO!”.
If that question doesn’t resonate with you, then try this technique that I used to use as my gauge. Change the context of the question and ask yourself, “If my best friend were in this situation, what would I advise him or her to do?” It’s a powerful question that lends us the ability to see the situation through a different lens. For most people, put in the context of someone other than ourselves (especially someone we admire, respect and love), the answer is easily accessible.
Once, I sat in a car with two young adults (in a relationship) arguing over who had hurt who the most. After the young woman poured her heart out to me, relaying all of the ‘wrongs’ her boyfriend had done over the past three years, I was astounded that they were still together. What’s more, I could clearly see that this girl lacked self love. So I gave her the magic question.
I said “You love and respect your best friend dearly, right?”
“Yes”, she replied.
“Okay. If your best friend were in this situation, what advice would you give to her?”
She said, “I’d tell her to end the relationship immediately and leave his sorry ass!”
“Then why do you not love and respect yourself enough to do the same?”, I questioned.
A still silence consumed the vehicle and the rest of the ride was very quiet. You see, in all truthfulness, this man had treated her very wrong, but I couldn’t tell her that. It’s something she had to see and figure out for herself. Her Sneaky Bitz was making excuses for this guy and, up to that point, she was convinced that they belonged together in a relationship. The next day, she left him.
Do you have a Sneaky Bitz? What questions or techniques do you use to over come it’s grasp?
Photo: Roasted Vegetables and Tofu at Rasa Dhatu in Gokulam, India
This recipe is inspired by my visit to Rasa Dhatu today. Such a simple, delicious treat!
SELECT YOUR VEGGIES:
My plate has the following but you can add what you like:
Carrot
Baby Corn
Yellow Squash
Zuchinni
Cherry Tomatoes
Red Bell Pepper
Green Bell Pepper
Onion
NOTE
For best results pre-heat oven to 375 and cut vegetables into evenly sliced and same-sized pieces.
PEANUT SAUCE
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
6 Tbsp Water
5 Tbsp Rice Vinegar* (May substitute with freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice)
3 Tbsp Braggs Liquid Amino’s (Organic Section at Dillons or the Health Food Store)
2 Tbsp Honey (or other sweetener, to taste)
* – Typically available in Ethnic section at Dillons or near Chinese ingredients.
ROAST THE VEGGIES
To help the vegetables to brown, you can toss and cover evenly with oil.
Add any type of flavoring you would like: Salt, Pepper, Chopped garlic, Rosemary, Chiles, Red pepper flakes
Spread veggies evenly in a roasting pan so as not to touch on the sides.
Once browned, turn with spatula to brown other side.
Once browned again, cover with foil until tender.
Remove to a dish and pour sauce over them.
For a little more flavor you could add some garlic and ginger to the Peanut Sauce, or garlic/ginger paste. Get creative and make it yours! Let me know how it turns out and what you did to make it your own 😀 Happy Eating!
Soda is full of sugar, and it’s bad for you. If you have fat around the middle of your body you can thank sugar for that. Seriously, research it. How do you kick a soda addiction? Replace it with something good, like nutrient infused water.
Here is a link to a recipe for Mint, Cucumber, Lemon water and here is what one of my readers has to say about it:
“i been trying [this] drink out for the last couple of days (and eating the contents in the evening!) well all i can say is it really has got things moving (and i didn’t know i had things which needed to be moved lol!) got to be good for me!!”
This recipe is supposed to be a “fat flush” drink:
This site lists 8 different “detox” water recipes:
http://bembu.com/detox-water-recipes
Truthfully, drinking some of these instead of soda may suck at first, until your taste buds change. Just proceed with the understanding that after you go a while without the soda (sugar) your taste buds will change over time. Once they do, the infused waters will actually taste good and the soda will eventually taste gross.
Also, for me, the more processed sugar I consume, the more I crave. As long as I stay away from it, I didn’t crave it.. but it generally takes about 2-4 weeks for the cravings to disappear after cutting processed sugar out completely.
Coconut water is also good for you but it may taste pretty disgusting at first, especially if it’s packaged. Again, as your taste buds change, the taste will improve. Coconut water from Young Thai Coconuts is sweeter and yummiliscious! Here is what they look like:
If you’re in the Wichita, Kansas area, you can find them at Green Acres, or you can save some money and go to an Asian store to buy them. Finally, you can even make one of my personal favorites, good old fashioned, home-made lemonade. Click here for the recipe. Cheers!
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PITCHER
35 oz water
7 Lemons
7 Oz Sweetener (Maple Syrup, Honey, etc)
Optional: Ice Cubes
SINGLE SERVE
2 Tbsp Maple Syrup or Honey
Juice of one fresh lemon
6-8 oz water
Optional: Ice Cubes
DIRECTIONS
Juice the lemon into a glass
Add Sweetener and Water, then stir
Optional: Add Ice
Lemons are incredibly healing. They are alkalizing, and have strong strong antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting powers. They also have anti-oxidant powers and contain large amounts of vitamin C (nearly half the daily recommended dosage). Lemons also assist in healing and cleansing the liver and, did you know that lemons lower blood sugar? It’s true!
Back when I had metabolic syndrome, when my blood sugars would go higher than I wanted, I would drink fresh squeezed lemon juice in water to bring it back under control. I know it works because I tested my blood sugar levels before and after. Neat stuff! Hippocrates said, “Let thy food be thy medicine and they medicine be thy food”… there is something to that statement. After all, Hippocrates was was a pretty smart dude.
“Vitamin C travels through the body neutralizing any free radicals with which it comes into contact in the aqueous environments in the body both inside and outside cells. Free radicals can interact with the healthy cells of the body, damaging them and their membranes, and also cause a lot of inflammation, or painful swelling, in the body. This is one of the reasons that vitamin C has been shown to be helpful for reducing some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Since free radicals can damage blood vessels and can change cholesterol to make it more likely to build up in artery walls, vitamin C can be helpful for preventing the development and progression of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease.
Vitamin C is also vital to the function of a strong immune system. The immune system’s main goal is to protect you from illness, so a little extra vitamin C may be useful in conditions like colds, flus, and recurrent ear infections.
Owing to the multitude of vitamin C’s health benefits, it is not surprising that research has shown that consumption of vegetables and fruits high in this nutrient is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes including heart disease, stroke and cancer.”
♥ – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – SOULYSTIC CHALLENGE – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ♥
KICK-START YOUR DIGESTIVE PROCESS FOR THE DAY
For the next three weeks, and on an empty stomach, try drinking freshly squeezed lemon juice in a warm (not hot) glass of water with a little bit of honey first thing in the morning to kickstart the digestion process for the day. and see what it does for your digestion. Let me know how it works for you! Read more here about the benefits of drinking warm water. Everyone is different, so test out quantities for yourself. For me personally, I drink about a quart of fluid in the morning, minimum. Most days I drink more than that. It seems the more fluid I take in the morning, the better my digestion.
♥ – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ♥
WHY AVOID PESTICIDES?
It’s no secret that pesticides are toxic. They’ve been linked to many health problems, including neurological and gastrointestinal problems, as well as problems in the endocrine and hormonal systems. After all, these chemicals are designed to kill, but guess what? The way they’re designed to work isn’t against any one species, so they often kill or harm organisms other than pests; including humans.
Aside from the fact that pesticides are harmful to the environment, long-term low-level exposure to pesticide residues in food as well as contact with pesticide residues in the air, water, soil, sediment, food materials, plants and animals, can lead to pesticide poisoning. Pesticide poisoning occurs when chemicals intended to control a pest affect non-target organisms such as humans, wildlife, or bees.
The World Health Organization reports that this long-term exposure to pesticides can “increase the risk of developmental and reproductive disorders, immune-system disruption, endocrine disruption, impaired nervous-system function, and development of certain cancers. Children are at higher risk from exposure than are adults.” In fact, any young and developing organism is particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticides, even with very low levels of exposure.
These symptoms are often very subtle and may not be recognized by the medical community as a clinical effect.
Toxipedia reports that “Pesticide exposure can cause a range of neurological health effects such as memory loss, loss of coordination, reduced speed of response to stimuli, reduced visual ability, altered or uncontrollable mood and general behavior, and reduced motor skills. These symptoms are often very subtle and may not be recognized by the medical community as a clinical effect. Other possible health effects include asthma, allergies, and hypersensitivity, and pesticide exposure is also linked with cancer, hormone disruption, and problems with reproduction and fetal development”.
How many neurologists, eye doctors, or psychologists ask their patients if they eat conventional or organic foods? How many doctors consider this as a root cause? How many doctors advise their patients to remove pesticide-ridden food from their diet tosee if there is any improvement?
WHAT CAN WE DO?
It is better to eat fruits and vegetables, even with pesticide residue, than to not eat vegetables and fruit at all. While we may not be able to fully eliminate the pesticides in our food, there are many steps we can take to reduce our exposure. Use the following tips and techniques to limit your exposure to pesticides:
Clean Fifteen/Dirty Dozen
Each year Environmental Working Group publishes two lists to aid in the selection of produce. The ‘Dirty Dozen’ list tells which foods are most contaminated with pesticides. The ‘Clean Fifteen’ list shares the opposite; which foods are least contaminated. Each year the lists change. Search for these titles followed by the current year for the most current list, or, follow this link.
Wash Your Produce Wash your produce thoroughly, even your organic produce, with any of these pesticide rinse recipes. Experts recommend rinsing in running water as opposed to dunking in a tub of water. Use a scrubber for produce with firmer skin, like carrots, potatoes and squash. If possible, dry your produce with a clean cloth or paper towel.
Rinse 1:
Soak your vegetables in a solution of 10% white vinegar* to 90% water (i.e.: one cup vinegar to nine cups water) and let it soak briefly, then swish it around and rinse well. This is not recommended for fragile fruits like raspberries; mine actually fell apart!
*Proper vinegars should have on the label that they are made from distilled grain alcohol or other similar language indicating natural products from distilling. Avoid 20% vinegar.
Rinse 2:
In India, studies show that a solution of Tamarind (at least 20mg) and Vinegar were effective in removing the pesticide residue, up to 95%. The study said the vegetables should be dipped in the tamarind-vinegar water for 15 minutes.
Rinse 3:
Mix one teaspoon of sea salt per one cup of water, let produce soak briefly, then swish it around and rinse well.
Liquid dish soap and bleach are not recommend for washing your fruits and vegetables. These chemicals can get trapped in the pores of produce, becoming difficult to rinse off, there-by adding residues to your produce.
NOTE: Don’t believe your food has pesticide residue? Take this test and see for yourself:
1. Buy one large bunch of organic grapes and one large bunch of conventional grapes.
2. Place each bunch in a large bowl or pan.
3. Squirt dishwashing detergent in each bowl/pan and swish it around, mixing thoroughly for one minute.
4. Carefully watch the water for evidence of pesticide residue.
Grow Your Own Food
The most sure-fire way to know for certain what’s in your food, is to grow your own.
Buy From Your Local Farmer’s Market
If growing your own food is not an option, consider buying from your local Farmer’s Market. Local growers often use less pesticides and are more likely to grow organically. Locally grown food is healthier. In fact, many believe that eating locally grown non-organic is healthier than eating organic that’s been shipped in from another location, as long as it’s been cleaned properly.
Buy Organic
Contrary to popular belief, organic does not mean ‘pesticide free’. However, pesticides used in organic produce are derived from natural sources, as opposed to being manufactured synthetically. Also, most organic farmers employ techniques such as insect traps, disease-resistant crop selection, predator insects and beneficial microorganisms.
Peel Your Food & Discard Outer Layers
Discard the outer layer of leafy greens and, if you can not grow your own or buy organic, you can always peel the food to strip the outer layer that is believed to holds a higher concentration of the pesticide.
Ferment Your Food
Studies now show that the act of fermentation degrades the pesticide in the food. In one study, the insecticide degraded at a rapid pace until day three, and by day nine, the chemical had degraded completely. Researchers identified four strains of lactic acid bacteria that were responsible for this effect.
Eat a Variety
Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables will minimize the potential of exposing yourself (and getting an over-exposure) to one specific pesticide.
Trim the Fat
Pesticide residue will accumulate in the fats of fish, poultry and other meats. Trimming the fat will reduce your exposure to these chemicals.
If this page has inspired or helped you in any way please subscribe, share, comment, and like my facebook page.
Love to you!
Jodi
Source(s)
ewg.org
toxipedia.org
World Health Organization
National Pesticide Information Center
Health.howstuffworks.com
Mercola.com
articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
npic.orst.edu
Today is the final day of the 21 day Panchakarma treatment, and I am so glad.
I get to broaden my horizons on the food front and have bananas, apples, and avocado again. I can even have eggs or yogurt if I want, woo hoo!! Oh! And I get to have Mysore dosa and Thali again! Yeess!!!
Week two was smooth sailing, after the initial experience with the nose drops. I did miss the deep-tissue massages, though. Ayurvedic massage just isn’t my preference. I was told that weeks one and two focused more on on stirring up and releasing toxins, while week three was more focused on replenishing nutrients.
In week three, I got to receive the deep tissue massage again, and the complimentary treatment this week was a technique called Basti. It is the most powerful of the five main procedures of Panchakarma. To all my friends with narcolepsy and neurological disorders, basti is supposed to be *the* treatment for those with neurological disorders.
Quite honestly, it’s been a long three weeks and, I can’t say I feel much different from when I started Panchakarma. Many people say they have a lot of weight loss from Panchakarma and I haven’t noticed this ‘side benefit’ personally. My roommate did say he thought I had lost weight. I don’t know. Maybe I can find a scale tomorrow.
Perhaps it is because I already had a pretty clean diet to begin with, that I haven’t seen major results from this cleansing procedure/technique. Perhaps it is because I had a few cheat days. I will never know. I do wish I had gone to a facility to have this treatment done, as opposed to an ‘outpatient’ type clinic. Next time I will go to a facility. In the facility they provide meals for you, do your laundry, give you a gentle yoga practice daily, practice pranayama, and keep you on schedule. It would have been good for me to have that structure and to not have to worry about cooking my own meals, sourcing ingredients, doing dishes, traveling, and figuring everything out.
During the Panchakarma I was not allowed to do morning yoga practice. The theory is that the body needs the energy to support the cleanse. I was allowed to do an evening practice, but I didn’t. Aside from taking care of daily duties, like cooking, cleaning and laundry, I just took this time to focus on allowing my body to detox and heal. Some days I was simply tired from the process itself.
Now, I must rebuild my body’s strength so that I can start practicing yoga again and get strong enough to take Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training. I’ve got my work cut out for me. I am nowhere near having the strength I need for Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training right now. It’s time to re-build my strength and my body. Can I do it?!??? Time will tell.
My ego is having a heyday with this one. It can be so intimidating walking into a yoga class with a bunch of hard-core, seasoned ashtangees, when you don’t even know the series and haven’t got the strength to complete it. It can be twice as intimidating, having the memory challenges that I have. I just have to keep telling myself that putting myself out there is better than being the gal sitting on the couch at home, and to hell with what anybody else thinks!
The only way to truly get over my fear is to bask in it until it dissolves, and that means to thrust myself, full-force, in the midst of my fear so that I can experience it fully. Deep breath, “I can do this”.
So, after I get myself to the point that I can do the Sun Salutations five times each, I will be seeking a studio to practice at again. And yes, I will be asking my divine to give me strength and the courage to once again step outside of my comfort zone and do this. Wish me luck!
What have you been putting of lately, out of fear? Are you letting fear of failure keep you from trying something new? You know, often times, when we allow ourselves to fully experience our fear, it will simply disappear. What fear have you been running from? What fear can you thrust yourself into and experience fully?
You were born with divine potential. How can you reach this divine potential if you do not gather the strength and courage to face your fears? Truth is, when you exhibit courage, you inspire others to do the same, and others will follow your lead.
Aristotle, he was a pretty smart dude, and he said, “Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others”.
♥ – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – SOULYSTIC SUGGESTION – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ♥
Do one thing today that scares you. If you don’t feel you have the courage, ask your divine to give you the strength and to carry you through it.
♥ – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -♥
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In India, an owner ropes his cow to an object (a tree, a post, a fence) while its young. As the calf grows older, he doesn’t realize his own strength to break free and his mind is conditioned to believe he can only go as far as the rope will reach.
When the cow is grown, the rope is removed, but the cow has been conditioned by his experiences. As such, he will not wander from his post. He does not realize his own freedom and he can not see past the illusion in which he lives.
Like the cow, you, too, have been conditioned by your own experiences. Perhaps you’ve been bound with ropes like, “how could you be so stupid?”, “You idiot!”, “you’ll never amount to anything”, or “sometimes I wish you were never born”.
Maybe you’re bound by your own self judgements of feeling like you’re ‘not good enough’. Perhaps the relentless teasing by the other children are bound so tightly around you that you don’t dare take a chance or try something new today, for fear of failure, rejection, or ridicule.
Now that you’re older, the situations are no longer there… the rope is no longer there… so what’s stopping you?
What would become available to you if you were able to see your own strength and act on it; if you were able to realize your own freedom?
If you want something you’ve never had then you’ve gotta do something you’ve never done.
Realize your own strength and break out of the illusion!
♥ – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – SOULYSTIC SUGGESTION – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ♥
Ask your divine to show you how the ropes that bind you are not even real, to show you your own strengths, and to open your eyes to the freedom that you have, to be you. If you’re inspired, come back and share your experience so others can benefit; I’d love to hear about it!
♥ – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ♥
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