An Interview with Nisha Moodley

Nisha Moodley is one of my biggest girl crushes. 

She is one of the most beautiful examples of a truly free woman I know, fiercely dedicated to sisterhood, to living life instead of writing or talking about it, and, simultaneously, she always seems to be traveling or doing something just generally epic.

I was introduced to Nisha through Gabrielle Bernstein's herfuture, and have been following her for about a year now. Although I suscribe to many powerful women, her emails + blog posts are without a doubt my favourite reminders on how to live a truly free life. 

For those of you who don't know her, Nisha started off as a holistic health coach, eventually helping women to break the pattern of emotional eating. After years of inward journeying and building extremely successful businesses, she's now a business and lifestyle coach, and is making some serious waves in the world. Watch out for her upcoming bestsellers and speaking tours. This woman is a force.

Please check out www.fiercefabulousfree.com for more on Nisha - and make sure to sign up for her mind blowingly spot on weekly newsletter.

How do you start your mornings?

It depends on the season and it always changes, but lately: I've been having a good long stretch, followed by a short meditation in the teepee (I bought it for my man for Christmas), then a short walk in the neighborhood. Then, kettlebell swings, breakfast and a shower!

What would your advice be to a young woman who is still in her "old life", yet wants to transition to a lifestyle that feels more authentic to her?

Your freedom is in the journey, not the destination. Instead of being frustrated at where you are, notice where you want to go and really, really savor all the little steps. There can be deep pleasure in the moment, if you're open to it.

Also, have amazing girlfriends that you give your full trust to. Share the things you think and feel about yourself that you're ashamed or embarrassed about; you'll find that you're more connected than you think, and these women will serve as your cheerleaders, tear-driers and mirrors throughout your journey. Women thrive in sisterhood.

What was one of your biggest life changing experiences over the last few years?

Divorce. It was the worst thing I've endured in my adult life so far, and it definitely showed me that I'm stronger and more resilient than I gave myself credit for. It also showed me things about myself that I didn't want to acknowledge were there. Shadow and light. I was faced with it all, and thank goodness I had amazing friends to help see me through.

I know you've been to tons of workshops, seminars and trainings. What was the best biz advice you've ever received? The best life advice?

The best business advice AND the best life advice came from my boyfriend. The first time we hung out, he asked me, "If you could do anything and get paid for it, what would you do?". That question sparked my creativity and dedication to living an extraordinary life more than any other question, and I continue to consider what my ultimate desire is in every situation. Choosing to go for what I really want has been game-changing in every area of my life.

What is the secret to a sustainable business?

Having sustainable human beings running it, and a focus on being of service. When we're not sustainable as individuals (healthy body, mind, bank account and relationships), we can easily fall into a what-can-I-get mindset. When we're tending to ourselves as individuals - making sure that we're healthy and sustainable - we can really show up in service of others.

Your current favourite:

-Book? Jitterbug Perfume, by Tom Robbins
-Travel Destination? (Visited or dreaming about) Peru (heading there in April 2013!) ...Can't wait to see the Maldives and Iceland one day.
-Track? This is too hard! Let's say Feather, by Little Dragon
-Food? Again, too hard! I'd say my family's crab curry, made with dungeness crab and coconut flakes. Amaze.

What are your favourite ways to care for yourself?

Eating delicious, healthy food. Dancing. Taking off work for days or weeks at a time (currently on a 1 month trip in Central America). Long talks with girlfriends. Buying myself flowers every week. Pedicures.

Who are your sheroes? (Women role models, girl crushes)

Moms (including mine) who know how to take care of themselves and their families. My clients -- I am totally awe-struck by the stand they're taking in the world, and their dedication to giving and growing. Every single one of my amazing girlfriends.

I have a 'toolbox' that helps me to feel grounded when I get off center - Meditation, Green Juice/Smoothies, Singing, Nature, etc. What's in your toolbox?

Sex. A glass of wine with a girlfriend. A shower. A long walk with some great music in my ears.

What is your future vision for your career? Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

In 5 years, I'll still be sharing my message of the importance of women's freedom, helping women thought leaders unblock the things in their life that keep them from living in full alignment with their vision and mission. The primary mediums for my work will be books, retreats and my mastermind.

I'll also have some mini humans to care for, and we'll trek around the world with them.

7 More Ways to Get Your Self-Love On

Allright my lady loves - the last week of the Self-Love Challenge is here! But really.. this is actually only the beginning. I tricked you. Now that you're on this self-love path you'll never be able to stop. Tehehehe. OK, if you forgive me for being so sneaky, please read on and discover the final 7 ways to love yourself this week.

Part 3 - The Self-Love Challenge

Day 20 -  Meditate with Mama Gaia

While in human bodies, our spirits need to connect with both the Cosmos and Mother Earth, in order to feel a true sense of satisfaction. Often times, however, we are stuck in the city, with lots of errands to run, and people to meet, and don't get much of a chance to connect with nature. And that's OK, because, while nature walks are great (see last week's self-love post), getting out into the wild isn't the only way to connect. Through meditation, we can invite some of the frequency of the Goddess Gaia, into our lives, calming our days, grounding us, and helping us to live more in tune with our natural cycles.

To do this, simply take 10-15 minutes of uninterrupted time, put on some rain or ocean sounds if you please, and imagine yourself in your perfect paradise - whether that be a tropical rainforest, or on the edge of an white topped mountain. Let your mind create details about this vision, finishing off the meditation by saying aloud "Thank you, Mother Earth, for infusing your essence into this day. I invite you to be a larger part of my life, from this day forward."

Day 21 - Do Something That Scares You

Today's activity is do something that scares you. Not in the way of 'Oh my god, never ever would I want to do that' kinda scary, but the 'Ohhh divine essence of love power holy moly I wish I had the guts'   kinda scary. Maybe it's sky diving, saying hello to a stranger, or rocking some red pants. Whatever it is, I'm challenging you to listen to that still small voice inside, and just DO IT!

To give you a boost, and to take my own advice, I created a video of something that scares me.. but it's what I really love to do - SING!

Day 22 - Create a Sacred Space for Your Jewelry

I don't know about you, but my jewelry is pretty precious to me. Not in the sense that if I lose it I would freak out, but more so in the way that I just love how I feel when I look and wear my pieces.

So today, take a moment to gather your favourite jewelry - the stuff that makes you feel truly amazing, and create a sacred space for it. I choose to keep my crystal necklaces in a black box filled with rice in my bathroom. The rice, and colour black, allows the crystals to have more of a rest, and to ground their energies after I wear them for the day. But really, there are so many fun ways to store and display your jewelry (check out this fun pinterest DIY for example)

Day 23 - Invite Ritual into your Night

Rituals are any activities that vibrate with a sacred essence, something we do for the love of it, while holding the awareness that our actions create powerful ripples that permeate the cosmos. (Yes, they're that deep!) However rituals don't have to be scary or big, in order to be effective. Take this small, yet loving ritual - I burned sweetgrass the other night to invite positive vibrations into my space, while taking the time to observe how truly beautiful the moment was, as the grass mixed with fire and my new clear quartz pendant.

What will your ritual be? A soothing bath followed by pampering yourself with rose body lotion? Perhaps a meditation holding a piece of citrine, a walk in the park while connecting with the trees, or even saying grace before eating a meal with your beloveds. It's up to you!

Day 24 - Create a Heart Opening Elixer

All substances are made of energy, and food is no different. By acknowledging this, we can work with our foods + drinks to create profound healing opportunities at any time. For example, over the last few days I've been soaking organic rose petals and schizandra berries in my water. The result is a water that is loaded with the vibration of these heart opening and purifying substances, creating a heart opening elixer that is truly a treat to drink.

Day 25 - Light a Candle

Man made lighting can sometimes be draining. In fact, Doreen Virtue says that a whole host of new diseases started to appear shortly after the incandescent light bulb was invented. This isn't to say you should live in the darkness every night, but just for today, try lighting a beeswax (the key being non-paraffin) candle, turning everything else off, and soaking up a candle lit evening.

Day 26 - Follow the Self-Love Tour

2 of my fellow entrepreneurs and wellness activists, Alison Leipzig and Natalie Berthold, have created a series that is dedicated to investigating the latest in self-love. Their first episode aired on Valentine's Day, and in it, they interview an expert in skin care, exploring just how you can care for your largest organ. To keep updated with the series, which is super cute and so refreshing, please visit http://selflovetour.tv/

How Will You Love Yourself This Week? Part 2 of the Self-Love Challenge

I have to apologize for this post being so late. It was an act of self-love that caused this to be so, so it is all working out very nicely, even if my ego is telling me I should feel guilty for not posting it on the weekend. (When this happens I just acknowledge it and move on to the feelings of goodness inside)

I was selling at Market Collective this past weekend, a really amazing collaboration of artists and food vendors who come together to support each other  and local. It was a wonderful weekend, (which ended with booking a last minute trip to Hawaii!) but it definitely took it out of me. That coupled with my period (Im very open with these things...), my boyfriend's birthday, and parties and dinners, - I chose to spend my free time having baths and reading, instead of hurrying to the computer and my to-do list.

Now that I'm finally feeling my energy creep back, I am back in action for the month of self-love. So here are some more ideas to help you realize that you do love yourself, that you are wonderful, and that you do deserve an abundance of self-care time. Remember, self-love is all about service - to yourself, and to the world.

Part 2 - The Self-Love Challenge Continues

Day 13 - Switch Out The Old For the New - Body Products Style

Your pores, your hair - all the spaces on your body - are sponges. They drink in whatever you put on them. Therefore, if you wouldn't eat it, you shouldn't be putting it on your body. So many of us do the internal work - we buy the books, we spend time meditating, we might even do yoga, juice or pray - HOWEVER -  there is a major deficiency in terms of translating this type of self-care into body products. 

I can't tell you how many times I've gone into a yoga studio, or a conscious friend's house, and seen name brand, chemical filled body products on their shelves. It's something many of us just don't think about. But switching from Herbal Essences or Aveda to an organic product will not only help you to be happier and clearer, but it will also help the planet in a major way (because animals and the ocean don't like chemicals either). Today, go out to your natural health food store and choose an organic product that speaks to you.

Day 14 - Write the Miracles Down

Miracles happen to us so often. Every single day, miraculous things are happening, yet it's up to us to perceive them. The other day, I followed an intuitive hit to go for a walk before getting into my car, and not 2 minutes later did I discover a mass of feathers on the ground (which are very hard to find in winter since birds need them to keep warm!) - I'd been wanting some to create more dreamcatchers with! It was such a miracle that I decided to take a picture. But SO many miraculous things happened to me that day (like sparrows coming close to me, and discounts at stores being had) - it's just a matter of slowing down enough to honour the little things, that honestly, really aren't so little.

Today, write down everything wonderful that happens to you. As you honour the miracles, watch how many more come into your life, simply because you took the time to say thank you. 

Day 15 - Spend Time in Nature

Most of us realize that nature has an undeniable calming effect on us. The fresh air and open skies help us to feel reinvigorated and renewed, while helping us to feel grounded and alive. The thing is, a lot of us aren't actually getting out there. We might take walks around the neighbourhood, or go for quick runs, but when was the last time you took a solid chunk of time just to explore? To go to a space that felt sacred, and to do nothing other than feel, listen, and breathe?

Today, plan a day that you can take off and head to the mountains, a lake, a beach, a desert - whatever nature paradise is around you that you need to take more advantage of. And just be :) Enjoy, and let Nature do her thang.

Day 16 - Experience a Green Juice

I am obsessed with green juice. It is literally a very potent drug that gives you instant energy, and a fresher perspective on life. Juicing gets rid of the fibrous pulp, so your body doesn't have to anything but absorb the easily digestible minerals + vitamins that it otherwise would have to work much harder for. The green colour also corresponds to the heart chakra, waking it up to the potential of love everywhere it looks. 

If you don't have a juicer, head to the closest juice bars - if you don't know where to find them - ask! Green Juice is becoming very popular these days :)

Day 17 - Write Down Your Core Desired Feelings

Manifesting your dreams starts with manifesting the feelings you'd like to cultivate in your life. And taking some time to get clear on what you really desire in your life is a complete action of self-love. 

Danielle LaPorte calls this process of getting clear: identifying your "Core Desired Feelings" - ask yourself "How do I want to feel?" - Grab your journal, a cup of steaming tea, and get brainstorming!

Day 18 - Get a House Plant

House plants are wonderful - not just because they are pretty to look at, but because they cycle air the way nature intended for us to breathe it. Being inside often, especially if you're in the city, means we're not breathing air that's truly alive. This can be remedied by getting a house plant (or a few!), and keeping them in your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, etc. Our house is very fond of houseplants - we have more than a dozen!

Day 19 - Buy Yourself Something You Feel Delicious In

There's mindless shopping that you do because you're trying to distract yourself. And then there's self-love shopping that you do because you want to treat yourself to something fun. This day's task is all about the latter. 

I've been wanting a comfy, warm sweater in a great colour for a while now, and I found this chunky red knit at a vintage store down the street from my home recently! Going into the shop and trying on all the different options, touching fabrics, and having fun with options was fun - as was scoring the perfect find. Today, treat yourself to a certain something that you've been putting off, but you really want from a place of truth. 

Happy Self-Loving Friends! Make sure to comment below or on the facebook page with any more ideas you may have on how to love yourself more :)

The Self-Love Challenge - Celebrate February in a New Way!

Ahhh February... the month of lurve. I've always had a fun and light-hearted approach to this month, because for most of my life I've been single, and had single girlfriends by my side to celebrate with. I think that's so beautiful, but I'm ready to take this whole love business to the next level - I'm ready to celebrate myself all month long. Yes, you heard me. I'm going to be celebrating the love I have for myself all February long, and I want you to join me!

If you're reading this, you're probably already aware that self-love is one of the most powerful goals you could ever have. Rather than being some egocentric ploy to spend more time thinking about yourself, making self-love a priority is one of the biggest ways you can serve the world. A person who loves themselves is kind to others, always thinking about how they can best serve the world, and is in a near constant state of joy, which energetically permeates whatever space they're in.

Self-love is a journey. We don't get there overnight. But by inviting subtle processes to mark our intention to love ourselves, we make the big shifts. (I'm pulling wisdom from Gabrielle Bernstein in here)

Therefore, for the month of February, I will be posting small but profound ways that we can create lasting self-love. I'll be posting 7 ideas, once a week. You don't have to do all of the activities I post, they're simply meant to be inspiration for ways you can bring your own self-love practice into being. You can choose to do one self-loving activity a week, or like I'm suggesting, one self-loving activity a day. Feel free to switch it up and add your own ideas into the mix. After all, it's about you!

W E E K   1   -   T H E   M O N T H    O F   S E L F - L  O V E


Day 1 - Practice Yoga at Home

Most of us only do yoga when we go out to a class, but I've recently discovered how incredible it is to practice in your own home. You can do it for as little as or as long as you want (Today I did about 25 minutes), you can do all of your favourite poses, and you have the awareness that you're not doing it because of anyone else. There is no instructor to keep you going, it's just the love you have for yourself and your body that keeps you on the mat. I like to go through some vinyasas and cat curls, and then see what else my body is feeling. If you're not familiar with yoga poses yet, check out Yoga Journal's free online sets or sign up for a free 15 day trial of YogaGlo for full online classes!

Day 2 - Clear Your Home With Incense

Natural Incense has potent medicinal + spiritual qualities if directed with intention. Go out and get yourself some good quality incense that you love the smell of. Then light it in your office, bedroom or bathroom and say aloud "Thank you Incense for clearing my home, and charging it with loving vibrations. May the spirit of this tradition permeate my home, and cause love to fill every corner of my space". 

Day 3 - Treat Yourself to a Sunset

Everyone knows sunsets are beautiful, but few of us realize the true implications that a sunset can have. The colours, which tend to be orange, red, pink, and purple-ish, relax and give power to our lower chakras. This helps to ground you, allows you to feel more sensual and open, and prepares you for a relaxing night's sleep. Make sure to get outside (no windows!) for sunset, to reap the maximum benefit. If you want to go even further with this, meditate with Doreen Virtue and her 'Sunset Inner Peace Meditation'.

Day 4 - Buy Yourself the Perfect Crystal

Crystals are magical. Anytime I even look at mine I feel a sense of love and mystical connection that helps me to feel grounded and joyful. Today, go to your local crystal / new age store and say this prayer  "Inner guide, please clear my field and help to find the perfect crystal for me. Specifically I am looking for a crystal that helps me to feel more love for myself. Thank you!" - Choose the first one you touch. If you need some more guidance, please read my post on 'How to Choose the Perfect Crystal.'

Day 5 - Start Your Day Off With a Smoothie

Many of us tend to start our days with coffee, which although not bad in and of itself, can have negative effects over time. (Coffee is acidic, stresses the adrenals, dehydrates us, and can cause anxiety) Instead, substitue your usual morning elixer with a superfood smoothie! Depending on what you put in yours, smoothies can be packed with anti-oxidants, fibre, protein, and easy to digest energy that will help to fuel you all day long. To get some ideas for yours, check out Young and Raw's smoothie recipes. (Also, how fun is it to say smoothie? Smoooooothie smewwwwwwwtheeeee)

Day 6 - Have a Colour Therapy Bath

Colour Therapy means to use the vibration of colour to affect your mood or overall disposition. When used frequently (for example, eating green foods because your body tells you to, or wearing purple because it feels right) colour therapy can have a significant effect on your life.

Today, try having a pink colour therapy bath. Simply add a Tbsp or so of beet powder and about a cup of sea salt, and get soaking! Pink corresponds to the heart chakra, and a feeling of overall radiance. Notice how it makes you feel to soak in it :)

Day 7 - Go To Your Favourite Store

It's such a treat for me to go to my favourite crystal + book stores. I go not just to buy, but to soak up the environment of the healing products around me. I can spend hours, literally, going through books, pulling tarot cards, and playing with crystals. I've also met some pretty amazing people this way.

What's your favourite shop? Perhaps a vintage boutique or a cupcake store? Maybe an outdoor adventure spot or a cozy cafe with books for sale? Today, visit it just because! Enjoy your time there and make an experience of it.

Are you ready for your self-loving month? Please comment below if you have any other ideas or questions on how to luuuuuurv yourself completely!

Let's Get Real - Introducing Lindsay Henwood of Leap of Life Inspirations

I love reading interviews with women I find inspiring - that's why Waves of Fire will now be posting the occasionally interview with change-making women, who have wisdom + love to share. 

The first of these interviews is with my good friend Lindsay Henwood, founder of Leap of Life Inspirations. I met Lindsay through mutual friends on a trip I took to the West Coast a couple of years ago - I was immediately attracted to her. She was interested in learning about other people, a total cutie, and had an authentic attitude about her.

Lindsay has taught me a lot about being a sisterly cheerleader instead of a competitor, shown me why laughing is pretty much the best thing ever, and seriously impressed me with her commitment. (When I met her, we were both beginner surfers, fast forward only a year later, and she's TEACHING surfing at one of the most in-demand surf spots in Tofino, pretty epic hey?)

Leap of Life's website was just released this week (designed by me!) - and I highly recommend checking it out. 

Here are some thoughts from Lindsay's heart:

What is Leap of Life's vibe? What are you all about?

Leap of Life is a heart-driven company that inspires Generation Y’s to step into their true selves, live life at their full potential, and live in the moment. Through photography, writing, and life and visionary coaching, Leap of Life will propel youth to live their vision and passion.


What would your advice be to a young woman who is working a day job she's not stoked on, but doesn't know what she really wants to do?

Spend some time alone. Write down some things you love to do and see if any of them have been included in your life. Understand that the change in your life comes from within yourself and it won’t just “happen” unless you take a step in the passionate direction. Pay attention to what gets you crazy enthusiastic and what gives you the “yes” feeling, and simply put out there what you are seeking. I like to go to the beach, surf, or play guitar. Something a little bit creative will put you in this meditative sort of state where answers will rise in front of you. Understand these answers don’t come from external sources, they come from within you.


How has surfing shaped your journey?

Surfing has exposed my fears and weaknesses in the most graceful of ways (although not physically graceful, sometimes I have felt like a flailing mess in the water) and has helped me break through obstacles that had been around for years. It has taught me to slow down, live in THIS moment, and simply observe how epic life is. I only committed to surfing a year and a half ago and it was the greatest decision I have ever made. It opened my life to incredible people, a beautiful place to live, and passions I didn’t know existed. All because I listened and followed my heart.


Why did you start Leap of Life?

I started Leap of Life because my heart wasn’t satisfied with the conventional life I had created for myself. Working full time in a place where I felt like my soul was getting sucked out of me, I didn’t have time to work on my passions because I was so busy all the time or way too exhausted, I didn’t really know what my passions were. The only thing I knew was I wanted to be in control of my own life and I desired to live the vision I’d had since I was a teenager. A vision that helped propel others to live at their fullest potential. Leap of Life naturally revealed itself as I learned more about myself and spent time really paying attention to what my heart desired. Leap of Life is a place where people can read inspirational thoughts, look at inspiration through a photographic lens, and if needed, can receive guidance and coaching on achieving their ultimate life. Why not have a positive and heart-driven company out there in the mix?


I have a "toolbox" that makes me feel better when I'm drained. (Nature, green juice, angels, etc) What's in your toolbox?

Two things: surfing and music.

Surfing takes everything away: phone, computer and internet, un-productive thoughts, and forces me to be right there in the moment. Otherwise I won’t be doing much surfing, more going over the falls and figuring out where up is while underwater.

Music is consistent education and creativity. I love learning a new song and the challenge that comes with that, jamming and improvising on my own or with friends, and creating my own tunes. It’s something else that takes me away from all of the thoughts and if I ever observe myself being unproductive, I just pick up the guitar or guitalele and play until I feel more energized and boom goes the productivity.


Current Fave:


Food: Avocado and Valentina Hot Sauce (together and separately)

Track: Taro – Alt J

Travel Destination: El Salvador and New Zealand (dreaming) and Rwanda (visited and was life-changing)

Book: Fire-Starter Sessions by Danielle Laporte (motivational) and East of Eden by John Steinbeck (for epic writing and reading)


What challenges are you currently facing, either personally or with Leap of Life? How are you managing?

My biggest challenge is creating an income for myself. We all need to survive. I would prefer to work with Leap of Life full time and create an income through life coaching and inspirational speaking, however, I am not very good at charging for that time because I want to help as many people as possible. At the moment, I am working on educating myself so when I start charging for my work I will feel more confident in my work. I am now offering free coaching sessions through email and Skype.


Please click to visit Leap of Life's facebook page + website.

Raw Bagel Recipe - Rich in Probiotics

If you follow me on instagram you know that I was experimenting with raw bagel recipes this past week (raw meaning none of the ingredients are cooked) and OH MY GOODNESS do I have a treat for you. I created pretty much the greatest thing known to mankind. Ok, perhaps that sounds extreme, but seriously, I'm pretty sure I can say it because it's true.

I started with fermented oatmeal in sauerkraut juice. Although this may turn you off right away, HALT YEE and stay on the page! I'll explain. Sauerkraut juice is FULL of probiotics, and fermenting the oatmeal in it creates a ton of living organisms that are imperative for a healthy + beautiful body.

Probiotics are key for healthy digestion, glowing skin, and the ability to actually absorb the nutrients that are in our food. Most of us are deficient in probiotics because of antibiotic use - either directly - or those that are found in industrial dairy and meat products. 

Raw Bagel with Peanut Butter

I also added a ton of fun superfoods because I had them handy, like Maca, Camu Camu, and Holy Basil, but these can be left out, or swapped with anything you have on hand. The point of trying out a recipe like this is to have fun with it, and do your own thang. And to shake it.

Without further ado, here is the most delicious recipe in the history of mankind:

Raw Bagels

3 cups of Oatmeal ( I used gluten free oats)
6 cups filtered water
1/3 cup Ground Flax
1/3 cup Sesame Seeds
1 tsp Sunflower Oil
1/2 cup Unpasteurized, Local Honey
1/3 cup Chia Seeds
2 tbsp Maca
1 tsp Camu Camu
1 tsp Holy Basil
Cinnamon, Nutmeg + Allspice to Taste

Please note - The quantities are approximate.

Directions

1. In a large bowl, pour in the oats + water. (I used a mixture of water and sauerkraut juice for extra probiotics, but it's not necessary) Allow the mixture to sit, room temperature, for 1 -3 days.

2. Pour out any excess water, and use it in smoothies or on cooked oatmeal. (It's full of friendly probiotics at this point)

3. Add in the rest of the ingredients, until a runny batter like consistency is reached.

4. Mould the batter into bagel shapes in your dehydrator. Turn on a med-high setting, and leave for 6-12 hours. Flip. Wait 3-4 hours.


The bagels take on a slightly gooey, fully delicious consistency, and go well with pretty much anything.  I toasted the bagels for a minute or two and topped them with peanut butter. My roommate + bestie had his with coconut butter and alfalfa sprouts. I also tried mine with avocado, salt, and barbecue sauce. The possibilities are endless.

Happy experimenting!

xo Beth

Why I Cried in Yoga Class

Recently I've been on a yoga kick. I've been going to classes almost every day, and for the first time in my life, am completely STOKED on exercising daily.

I'm not surprised that yoga was the activity to do it for me. Yoga is a practice that is much more spiritual + energetic in nature than it first lets on - anybody who's been to a few classes knows this well.

In yoga, we are asked to focus all our attention + breath in the present moment, intending our inhales and exhales to be deep, and permeate our whole being, not just our lungs. We're routinely instructed to "breathe into it" and "follow our breath" while in class.

But what's really happening is we are breathing in life force, and focusing it throughout our physical and energetic bodies; bringing much needed prana to move stagnant, old, energy up and out of our bodies.

This gently, yet firmly, encourages our energetic pathways (nadis) and chakras to open. At first, we may feel resistance, as before we get to the space of openness, we must go through the walls we've built up around that openness. Limiting thoughts, beliefs, even our hopes and dreams, are stored within the place just before our freedom. And, like I said, in order to reach that space of freedom, we must traverse the so called darkness that we've stored around it.

And that's why I cried in yoga. 

The other night, about 15 minutes before the end of practice, emotion overwhelmed me, and all of a sudden, tears were pouring down my face. It felt amazing. Highly emotional, yes, but a complete release. I was in that wall of limitations, releasing it, breath by breath, tear by tear. On the outside, it had to do with my boyfriend, and letting go of attachment - but that was just the trigger. It went so much deeper. I was on my way to a place of freedom and creative expression, and I had yoga to thank.

So next time you go to a class, remember, that whenever you experience a moment of resistance or pain, be it physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual, you are really tapping onto something so much greater and deeper. The resistance means you are touching a wall, a wall of suppression that if you can get through, will lead you to freedom.

Ask yourself -

Can I breathe through it, and allow it to be healed? 
Can I just relax my heart, and let it go?

Freedom is on the other side.

And believe me, you want freedom more than you want attention, cute clothes, or that guy. 

You want it with every cell of your being. So get breathing!


Namaste lovers!
xo Beth