by Caroline | Dec 5, 2016 | Lifestyle
It’s so easy to lose track of our sanity this time of year! Is anyone else losing their mind over crowded malls and parking lot wars, or is it just me? This year I’ve made a commitment to myself to put my health and happiness first and not lose myself in the chaos. That means no malls! NADA! I’ve done all of my holiday shopping at local shops to support my home town, and on Amazon!
I wanted to share with my wonderful readers the things that I use in my own home to make it easy for me to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It’s so much easier when your environment supports your healthy habits. My healthy home gift guide will give you ideas for the health nut in your life. Or maybe for the person who needs to live a healthier lifestyle, these gifts can be a gentle nudge in that direction.
In the spirit of transparency, the links I have provided are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission on stuff you buy through my links. However, I wouldn’t recommend anything I didn’t either use myself or completely love!
Cool Mist Humidifier Ultrasonic Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser
Full disclosure, this is not the exact essential oil diffuser I use (the one I use isn’t on amazon). But, I really wanted to include one here because I feel it greatly contributes to my health and wellbeing. I even got one for my office and my coworkers love it! This one is really similar, and actually a bit nicer too because it’s coated in wood, and looks so pretty! If i didn’t already have one I would definitely get this one.
Yoga Ladies Stretching Metal Bookend
OMG how cute are these book ends? Ok they don’t help make your home a healthier place but they are such a unique touch for the yogi that already has everything for her home!
Mexican Falsa Yoga Blanket
Yoga blankets are essential to a good yoga practice, as they can be used for so many things. I love this one because since it’s also really stylish it would also make a great throw blanket as well!
Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer
This is the exact juicer I use in my house, and I absolutely love it! I got it because of its easy clean up first and foremost. I used to have a juicer that required a lot of cleaning of many parts afterwards, and it eventually became a dust collector in the back of my kitchen cabinet. When my cousin had this one I fell in love with it and got one immediately. The juicing aspect is great, but the real beauty is in the easy clean up. I just rinse off a couple of parts and put them right back on. So simple! It now lives on my counter top.
Old Dutch Cast Iron Placidity Teapot
I absolutely love lose leaf tea! I use a cast iron tea pot, partly because it’s so pretty, but also because cast iron is so durable and it keeps the tea warm for a while. And I just feel so fancy pouring tea from a nice pot like this one!
Soma Sustainable Pitcher & Plant-Based Water Filter
I actually asked for this water filter for my birthday (I know…you know you’re getting old when you ask for a water filter for your birthday). The pitcher is just so pretty and modern, and I love the company (SOMA) for it’s integrity and care of the environment when creating their product. This thing is currently chilling in my fridge (ha get it!!!).
Meditation Cushion
Ok I’m going to sound like a terrible yoga teacher, but I always thought I didn’t need a meditation pillow because I had plenty of pillows on my couch so why bother getting another one. Omg, I was so wrong. These meditation cushions are filled with buckwheat hulls, which give it a really sturdy and supportive feel. You really stay put when you’re on this thing, which is so important when you are easily distracted in meditation like me.
Eat-Taste-Heal: An Ayurvedic Cookbook for Modern Living
I got this cookbook for Christmas last year, and It’s so much more than a compilation of recipes. If you are interested in Ayurveda then this is the jackpot of all Ayurvedic cookbooks. It contains all the basic (and not so basic) information on Ayurvedic living, while also giving you great recipes for all the dosha types. It has recipes from basic all the way to complex so you can make anything your heart desires.
Fresh Energy Cookbook: Detox Recipes To Supercharge Your Life
I honestly don’t know when I got this book but I’ve had it a while and it gets a lot of use in my house. It contains great recipes that are super fresh and clean (mostly vegetarian). It also has great juice and smoothie recipes too. If you’re looking to clean up your diet or do a detox that doesn’t require you giving up solid food I highly recommend this book.
Clean Food: A Seasonal Guide to Eating Close to the Source with More Than 200 Recipes for a Healthy and Sustainable You
This book is great when I want a seasonal recipe. The recipes are organized into spring, summer, fall and winter chapters and showcase the produce that are in season that time of year. While there’s some typical vegan fare, many recipes play with expected ingredients in interesting ways: marinated tofu with ginger cashew dipping sauce; quinoa and black bean salad with apricot lime dressing; and spicy coconut pumpkin soup. The desserts are especially appealing, with options such as fresh fruit tart with almond crust; chocolate pecan pie; and banana coconut chocolate chip cookies.
Miracle-Gro AeroGarden Sprout with Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit
I have been wanting something like this for years!!! Who loves me? Ok, but how amazing would it be to grow your own herbs indoors all winter long? This herb kit can sit on your counter or a window sill all winter long and you will always have fresh herbs for your amazing dinners.
Philips Wake-Up Light with Sunrise Simulation
Somebody please get me one of these for Christmas (and if not I’m prepared to just get it for myself). I have the worst time waking up in the morning. My room is like a cave and gets absolutely no morning sunlight. I often hit snooze on my phone for an hour or more, yikes! This alarm clock wakes you up gradually with simulated sunlight and bird sounds so you can wake up naturally. Another perk is that you won’t need your phone right next to your bed anymore (a growing bad habit in my life).
Nutrient Dense superfood protein shake
My final gift idea for your health loving friend or family member is shakeology. I drink my shake every day and it gives me a ton of superfood nutrients and protein. It keeps me full for hours which is great since I don’t have much time to eat at work. I’ve tried so many different protein powders over the years and this is honestly one of my favorites. The website also gives you a ton of recipes, and not just smoothie recipes, I’m talking chocolate cake and snickerdoodle cookies. Apparently you can use the shakeology mix in so many recipes.
The Healthy Home Gift Guide
by Caroline | Dec 5, 2016 | Yoga
This hip yogi holiday gift guide is perfect for anyone who loves to look super cute while showing the world her love for the yoga lifestyle. Or they can just be a gift to yourself cuz it’s just too freakin’ cute! In the spirit of transparency, the links I have provided are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission on stuff you buy through my links. However, I wouldn’t recommend anything I didn’t either use myself or completely love!
This Manduka Women’s Adorn Crop Top is so on trend because tie-dye is making a huuuuge comeback! Rather than the rainbow tie-dye of the 90’s, it’s back with a more refined attitude (like it went away to college, lived on it’s own for a while and got some life experience). PLUS everyone’s wearing crop tops at the moment. This one comes in some pretty cute colors too. I’ll take all of them!
Ok, so I’m a little bit crushing on Manuka right now but these Leggings are too stinking cute! You can’t really see it from the front in this picture but if you click in the link you can see it from the back and they look like ballet slippers how they wrap around and tie in the back with a cute bow. I personally love them in black because it has this whole black swan ballerina thing going on.
I get comments all the time on my namastay in bed shirt. It says “I’m a serious yogi, but I can laugh at myself too.”
Yoga Clothing For You Ladies Hamsa Tanktop. I’ve been seeing this type of flowy high neck tank everywhere lately. They are so comfy, and great for showing off your toned chatarunga shoulders!
YES! We have arrived at my favorite thing ever! Loud and crazy Printed Yoga Leggings!!! Seriously, the more ridiculous my leggings are the better. These ones are great because they come in a ton of different colors and patterns to suit everybody’s taste in off the wall yoga apparel.
And for those yogis who are not into tight leggings, there is an amazing and trendy alternative. Harem pants are getting really big, but honestly for some reason they just don’t suit me, so I found these which are a nice alternative because they aren’t as much of a tent that could sleep a family of four. These Tori Wear Elephant Pants look more like pajama pants but since they have the elastic at the ankles you can practice yoga in them and they won’t go anywhere.
What I love about this bracelet is that you can choose from dozens of affirmations and mantras to suit your style. I find that these really look great when you get a bunch stacked. Now your wrist can look like the motivational speaker it always dreamed of being!
I love anything by Dogeared which is a small company, handcrafting everything locally, and focusing on using business as a source for good in the world. This is just one of many beautiful necklaces, each with a distinct charm and message.
Every hip yogi needs a Mala Necklace. Even though they are mostly just worn for aesthetic purposes, mala beads are actually prayer beads. They contain 108 beads and each bead is used to mark the chanting of your mantra during prayer or meditation. I’ve come across many mala beads, and honestly Amazon really does have the most affordable ones with the widest selection. I love this one with the blue/green earth tones.
Because you can’t have enough teeshirts with inspirational sayings on them right yogis?!
Holiday Gift Guide for the Hip Yogi
by Caroline | Dec 4, 2016 | Yoga
Here is holiday gift guide with all the goodies that the yogi in your life will ever need! Whether you are a beginner or well into your practice, there are somethings that are just essential! This yoga gift guide contains what I think are the most essential tools to have in your yoga practice.
Anyway, if you’re anything like me, you do a lot of your holiday shopping online. I’ve actually made a point to not go into any stores this holiday season, with the exception of a few local business in my town I like to support. I’m doing my best to get everything online.
Funny story, I accidentally signed up for a years worth of Amazon prime- long story. I felt really stupid at the time, but it turned out to be the best thing ever because now when I need something I just order it and it’s at my house in 2 days. No more trips to the big box stores, and such a time saver. AMAZON FOR THE WIN. In the spirit of transparency, the links I have provided are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission on stuff you buy through my links. However, I wouldn’t recommend anything I didn’t either use myself or completely love!
Holiday self care for me includes not driving myself crazy with crowded malls, parking spot wars, and over spending. Hence my love for online shopping. I hope this yoga gift guide helps you simplify your holiday shopping!
Sivan 6-Piece Yoga Set
This is great because if you’re a total beginner and have no yoga gear whatsoever this have everything for super cheap. The mat is extra thick which I love for my bony knees (ouch). It includes blocks, towels and a strap. If you never buy another yoga related item after this you’ll still have everything you need.
Peace Yoga Yoga Mat Tote Bag – Tree Design
This yoga mat bag is so adorable and I love the different designs it comes with (the elephant one is my favorite). Since I’m constantly running around, I always keep a mat in my car ready to go if I decide to go take a class on a whim. It’s essential, in my opinion to have a portable yoga mat ready to go at any moment. Keep your mat in this bag by the door or in your car and you’re always ready for whatever yoga adventure you take that day!
Gaiam Premium Print Yoga Mat
I personally have this mat, mainly because I love the designs, but I find it great for standing and balancing poses because it’s on the thinner side so balancing feels a lot sturdier. Since it’s thin too it rolls up quite small and is my “stay in the car” yoga mat for when I feel like hitting a class after work.
The Combo Yoga Mat 1 mm. TRAVEL VERSION.
If you’re serious about yoga then get yourself a travel mat, girl! The design on this one is great (obvi) but I also like that it is machine washable and foldable. When you travel a lot and take your mat all over the place it’s crucial that you are able to wash the heck out of it (because hotels…ew).
Aurorae Non Slip Hot Microfiber Yoga Mat Towel, 72″ x 24″, AQUA TIE DYE
I’ll be honest, I absolutely hate hot yoga. I tried it once and thought I was going to die. I’ve never been good dealing with temperature extremes. I have a very sensitive internal thermostat, so it’s just not for me. But for those of you who are, you definitely need a towel because it can get like viagra falls in those classes, ya know what I mean? Just do yourself a favor and get a towel if you are ever considering a hot yoga class.
SukhaMat Yoga Knee Pad – NEW! 15mm Thick – The best yoga knee pad for a pain free practice. Cushions pressure points. Complements your full-size yoga mat. Practice in Comfort! (Black)
So this is new to me and I’m pretty glad I found it! I have extremely bony knees and have such a hard time on regular mats when it comes to poses that put weight on the knees like a low lunge. I constantly have to put a blanket under my knee or fold up the mat. I don’t know why it tool me this long to realize that these things existed, but I’m so glad they do!
Mandala The Yoga Massage Ball
These little guys are so great for releasing tight muscles and can eliminate muscle knots and tension through gentle massage using your own body weight. They are ideal for deepening your yoga practice, self-soothing massage,and recovery from injury. I know a lit of people who swear by these things!
Yoga Wheel
Every time I see one of these things I’m like “Oh I want to try that!” Not only does it look like a lot of fun but it can really add to your yoga practice by helping you deepen more into poses and improve flexibility, balance and core strength. For one small tool it has a lot of uses, like more than you can imagine. I think it’s definitely worth checking out.
Stick-e Knee and Wrist Saver (Blue)
For those of you who experience pain in the wrists or knees during weight bearing poses this simple little tool is a life saver! It takes the right off the knee caps and reduces the weight and pressure on wrists when in poses like plank or downward dog. Now, I have to say as a yoga instructor often the cause of wrist pain in these poses is the result of misalignment and incorrect weight distribution in the hands. SO I usually instruct my students into correct alignment if they have pain. But if you still experience pain or have an injury this is a great next option.
Perfectly Imperfect: The Art and Soul of Yoga Practice
It’s hard for beginners to understand the deep changes that happen as a result of a regular yoga practice. Often people are discouraged because they don’t feel any different after one class. This book takes readers beyond the foundations of the practice and talks about everything that happens in their bodies and minds after they get into a yoga pose. That is where the true transformation occurs, and where deep spiritual and emotional growth happens.
The Essential Yoga Gift Guide
by Caroline | Nov 27, 2016 | Lifestyle
We spend our whole lives striving for the next thing. Graduate with that degree, get the dream job, buy the house, the fancy car. Forward, forward, onward, upward. Don’t look back. Keep striving. Success is only found by looking ahead and pushing a little bit more. Society only loves you when you’re advancing in it.
But before you cam bloom, you need grounded roots. And we often neglect that essential component. I wouldnt want a construction company to cut the budget for the foundation, and used the extra resources to build a taller skyscraper. So why do I live my life like that?
When you dig deep into the core of you, (your roots) what do you find? Do you know what you see? Is the landscape murky, or clear?
Doing this type of deep inner work, you may kind that some old stuff is brought to the surface. You can call it fear, old wounds, triggers. Those things deep within us that are a whisper, but everpresent. You ignore these feelings, push them down as you reach for that afternoon latte to keep you going.
You aren’t always aware of them, but they guide your attitudes, decisions and lifestyle. You blame it on your past; that shitty boyfriend who said you were unloveable, the addict in your family that made your home unsafe. The regection, the judgement along the way. The beliefs we made up to explain how the world works when our child brains could’t comprehend the complexity and dynamics of life.
We all have some version of this.
We see our fears as making us weak, imperfect. A crack in the porcelean.
What holds you back from being fucking awesome?
What are you protecting yourself against?
The feeling that you are unworthy of happiness, and success? “Who am I to…”
The fear of failure, because there’s no gold metal for the losing team. “Why should I bother to…”
Lack mindset; “I don’t have the resources, time, education, money, intellect, creativity to…”
We all need time to reconcile the limiting beliefs that diminish our self worth. Healing the fears and wounds that hold you back from your greatness. I think there should be a mandatory stock taking period each year, where we are all expected do unplug and listen to the thoughts in your head, and the feelings in your gut. A time to ask ourselves what am I doing here? Is what I’m doing making any difference? What’s driving me? What am I running from? What am I runnung towards?
But being healed doesn’t mean your woulds go away. Being healed means you thank those wounds and see them as your greatest teacher.
How to do this:
- Remember that uou are magnificent. You are loved. You were made to do epic shit.
- Get clear on what holds you back. Ask yourself: what are my greatest fears? What has hurt me in the past? What are my woulds?
- Identify where they hold you back in your life/career/relationsips.
- Do the work daily to kindly thank those beliefs, and send them on their way. IF that doesn’t make any selse to you create a mantra/prayer/affirmation/saying of the new belief you want to create, that you can go back to over and over again. Play that shit on repeat.
Rather than trying to rid yourself of your darkness, transforming your the way you see your wounds will help you grow past them. They are there to teach you. To help you on your journey of evolution. When you see your fears as your teacher, rather than your enemy, you learn a great deal more about your place on this earth.
xo,
by Caroline | Nov 26, 2016 | Yoga
WHAT IS “OM”?
You’re sitting in yoga class and the teacher invites everyone to chant a round of “Om” together. Ever wonder what it means or why we do it? You’re not alone. For many it can seem uncomfortable or foreign. By knowing what it means and why you’re chanting it can make a big difference in your yogic experience.
Describing what “Om” is and why we do it is a bit difficult because it’s a vague concept that goes beyond definition. It’s something that requires experience to understand, otherwise it can feel a bit meaningless.
Let’s begin by dispelling some of the confusion and mysteries surrounding the practice of chanting “Om.”
Om is a Sanskrit term that translates as “source” or “supreme.” However it’s not the meaning that is most important to the chanting yogis.
The sound vibration of the word is most important. You experience “Om” more than just saying it.
Om is that mysterious aspect of all life that cannot be summed up by words. It is everything. All in existence. It’s the seed of all creation; like how a seed holds the power and energy of an entire plant within itself. This small sound contains the meaning of the universe. Some have said that recordings of the vibrations that Earth makes in space can sound a bit like “Om” but that’s really up for you to decide.
Even though Om sounds like one sound it really can be broken down into three (and even four) parts.
- “Ahhh”– represents the start of the universe, creation, and birth. The sound vibration itself is produced at the back of the throat. The vibration can be felt deep into the abdomen. This vibration brings you in connected awareness of your creation and your true essence.
- “Ooooh”– represents the energy of the universe, or life. It connects us to the sense that deep within us there is something more beyond what we can see or hear. Chanting this sound, the vibration moves from the back of the mouth to the middle, resonating on the palate.
- “Mmmm”-represents transformation or death. The transformative energy of the universe that brings you to a state of oneness with all creation. The vibration of this sound is made at the lips, vibrating the crown of the head
- Silence– Often considered the fourth sound in “Om” the silent but very real energy that resonates after the room finishes the chant. This represents the experience of pure consciousness.
WHY DO WE CHANT IT?
Chanting “Om” helps to bring the energy of the room together in harmony to open and close a practice by changing and breathing in unison.
Typically yoga classes begin with three rounds of chanting “Om” and one more at the end of the class. By tuning the attention in during this mantra, you can connect your mind and body on a deeper level. We are reminded of the eternal joy and peace that resides in all of us during this moment. It is from that place that we begin our practice.
By chanting “Om” at the end of the class in unison, it confirms total respect for the practice and each other. It seals the energy that was cultivated during the practice so you can call on it during your everyday life when times get stressful. I find that after a good yoga class my “Om” at the end resonates deeper into all corners of my mind, body, and spirit.
HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF CHANTING “OM”
KNOW: Understand the meaning and purpose of chanting “Om” during your practice (which you already do since you’ve just read this, so YAY you!)
FEEL: Slowly produce each individual sound “aaahhh, oooooh, mmmmm” spending time at each one, feeling the actual vibration in your body. Notice how the place of resonance changes from sound to sound.
VISUALIZE: Notice how the sound vibration moves upward from the abdomen to throat, then ending at the crown of the head. Visualize that vibration as energy moving upward through the chakras. This will help to engage in the subtle body energy field to heighten your connection to the universe.
TUNE IN: With each repetition of “Om” tune in deeper by bring your attention to the silence after each chant. Noticing the difference in how your body feels between the sound production and the silence. You can almost feel lingering vibrations in your body even after you’ve finished the last sound.
Taking these into consideration the next time you take a yoga class should enhance the state of peace and wellbeing, relaxing your nervous system and preparing you for your yoga practice.
Now I want to hear from you!! In the comments below share what chanting “Om” means to you.
xo,
