Enjoy unique designs applied to various products at Julie Baker Creates found on Etsy. All the patterns are created by me. I then use a print-on-demand vendor to fill your order. It’s wonderful! No need to rent space for a store or stock inventory in the nooks and crannies of my already crowded art room. It’s all done online. Hope you will take a moment to visit the online store. Orders are usually filled and received within 2 weeks. Enjoy!
Yesterday, I gave a presentation on Energy Medicine Yoga to a group of Health Services students and faculty at Georgia Southern Armstrong campus. There was a comment that “these days,” many people associate yoga with high intensity movement. So for the record, I would like to say that, not all yoga is “hot” or “power” yoga. These two styles have become very popular in the last few years. This wasn’t always the case.
The combination of cardio with mindfulness is a wonderful experience but it is not accessible for everyone. When yoga first came to the U.S. it was slower and focused on alignment. There was a progression that students learned before moving on within the practice. Like most things, it evolved.
If you are new to yoga, are building back strength or flexibility or want something to work deeply with the nervous system, then you may want to look for a teacher who provides: Yin, Restorative, Hatha, Therapeutic, or of course Energy Medicine Yoga.
You may find that once you build back that strength and flexibility and you learn the proper alignment for the postures that you move into or add a more flowing Vinyasa, Power or Hot class to your routine.
In my opinion, some yoga is better than no yoga. Try different styles. Learn their nuances, benefits and pitfalls. The more you experience the more equipped you will be to listen to your body and choose appropriately on any given day. The bottom line, find your style and way to practice yoga. Because when you do, your body will thank you, just like when you find the perfect pair of jeans. See you on the mat!
Whenever November rolls around I start thinking of my thankfulness list. This year is no different. Even with all the crazy that is 2020, I have been able to find my gratitude. Sunday is November 1st. I’m going to focus intentionally on a daily gratitude practice for the entire month. Who wants to join me?
I keep my practice pretty simple. Each day I write a minimum of three things for which I am grateful. These can be expressed as 3 short words; 3 sentences or 3 paragraphs. It depends upon my energy that day. Feel free to write more if the mood hits and you find yourself in the flow. Just don’t do less. Invest in yourself. Prepare for transformation.
It is helpful to do this at the same time everyday to establish the habit. At the moment, mornings work best for me. This hasn’t always been the case. I used to do this at night before bed so I’d go to sleep with happy thoughts. But then I kept falling asleep and forgetting, so I switched it up. Both ways have benefits. There is no wrong way to do it. Choose what feels best for you. If you miss a day, no big deal. Restart the following day.
How do I track my gratitude, you ask? I have two ways. One is by using a gratitude jar. I have a jar that I’ve painted to make it inviting. When I am using single words or short sentences, I write on a small pieces of paper and toss them in the jar. Then at the end of the week or the month, I go through and read what I’ve written. This is a great pick-me-up if you’re having a, “nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I’ll go eat worms,” moment.
The second way I track my gratitude is to use a journal. Right now, I’ve been using a small one that I found on Amazon. It’s all paper. I have intentions of decorating the cover but haven’t done it yet. Priorities. Gratitude first, then decorating. In the past, I’ve used fancy leather ones or hand-made journals constructed by me. The point is to keep it simple though. Make the commitment. See what unfolds as you shift your focus to gratitude. I foresee wonderful things in your future.
