We need not show up to our yoga mat out of Ego-identity, pretending we're someone we're not. We need not pretend life is okay, even if it's not. To whom are we pretending?
.....We need not pretend at all!
If we show up to our mats to practice acknowledging the real moments of the here & now, we feel our own humanity, the compassion for our neighbor, our loved ones & especially ourselves. I often listen in on the conversations of some yoga teachers around, sometimes speaking in a language of vague happiness, sometimes elite righteousness...."just breathe in light & love." I get it, but....
What? Most folks don't breathe in light & love, they breathe in AIR.
Even in our purest states of peace & even good intention, we must acknowledge the world in which we live & the humans who inhabit Her. We find freedom not by escaping the world, but embracing Her & all of Her potential.
I can sense the NEED for yoga in the people I kno, love & meet along my journey, not out of a desire to change their lives, but because I feel their ache, their pain, their yearning. I feel it as powerful as my own. Yoga is a path to discovering the Self, not just for those who have already mastered the pop up into handstand, then into an arm balance & then later meditate for 4 hours. That's dandy but it isn't the majority. Yoga, to me, is creating a space for the realness to occur, for teaching the language of love & light through human experience.
Love & light are within ALL, yet many who show up to the mat do not yet know this language or see it within themselves. Many are turned away by this language, by this supposed righteousness.
So how do we create union, or yoga, within the scope of this darkness & suffering? What happens when we stop pretending?
We show up to the mat regardless of our hopelessness, defeated & powerless spirit; despite every attempt to make excuses & dismiss the practice or our need for growth. We show up as ourselves, in our imperfections, our pains, our aches, our frustrations, our sadness, our weakness. We show up to shed the pretending-skin of the Ego-identity. We show up to discover that we ARE hope, victory & power! We need not pretend we know the poses perfectly or that we are in the best shape of our lives.
We show up to PRACTICE (key word here) opening ourselves to the light & love within, allowing grace & ease to flow through us....especially, ESPECIALLY during difficult times.
Beautiful wisdom can be drawn from the experiences of strife, struggle, doubt & pain. We need not pretend we don't feel.
Our mats provide the "chase lounge" for therapeutic exploration of our deepest fears. Join me on the mat just as you are.....for a ::::
unique blend of sound, mudra, movement & pranayama /
Vinyasa-Flow @8:30am at Spirit of Yoga at Swiha / Tuesday.
with truest love,
the wise owl
XOXO
Monday, January 27, 2014
Sunday, January 26, 2014
the polluted waters of sexual force
http://yoganonymous.com/tits-and-ass-in-a-mala-yoga-in-the-media/
Read this article. What are YOUR thoughts? (comment please!)
---->>>>>------------------------------]>
yoga is often exploited by the potency of sexuality. I agree, there is a sense of desperation to many of the ads & images in mass stream culture which appear to sell a vague connection to yoga.
We are living in a world where yoga is not so much a sacred practice, as it is a gym membership.
Yoga is a business.
But I thought Yoga was a path of creating connection to with the Divinity of the Self?
Sexuality & nudity are creative natural elements. Yet this theme of sexual exploitation is rooted deeper into the collective scope of our modern society, in all aspects. Unresolved emotional tensions, suppression of the feminine spirit & nature, sexual inhibitions leading to sexual promiscuity.
Aren't these images an expression of misdirected energy?
Let us open our mind's eye & see through this illusion.
Our confused sexuality is infiltrating the business of yoga because it's an all-around important realm of needed healing for the Earth & ourselves. Here we find the inevitable rise of Kundalini, Shakti, Creative Life Force Energy.....
Consider the Earth as primarily composed of water, which is mostly polluted at this point. Water is also our connection to fluidity, sex, emotions, the womb of creation. Also, the Akashic Records, an archived consciousness of human experience - past, present, future. Are our sexual emotions thus also polluted? I hear people say, "I hate the taste of water." I say, "What?" I'm confused...
:::::Interesting macro-microcosm-moment!
We are burning the bloody handbook & complaining about why we haven't figured out our shit out yet!
It's time to bridge the gap between the ego with the heart!
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Mr. Walker vs Mr. Wheeler
Watch this hilarious, yet eerily real, classic cartoon video and then continue to read...
So Goofy's portrayal of a Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde type act is a bit of an exaggeration of the average Phoenician driver, yet it's not far off. Louis C.K. also has an awesome rant (actually shared live on stage in Phoenix ironically or more likely purposefully) regarding the absurdity of how we behave behind the wheel. In a vehicle we don't hesitate to flip someone off, make obscene gestures or yell, "FUCK YOU ASSHOLE!" or some other heated profanity. But if you were faced person-to-person on a street without the automobile between you and them, would you really have that big of balls or that much rage? I'm gonna guess not. Because when we're driving in cars, we don't relate to the human operating it. We instead say, "That Hummer cut me off! What a waste of gasoline. I hope it burns in hell!" Whoa. Okay so the Hummer is a huge waste of precious resources & seems like a most terrible idea for casual city driving, or any kind of driving really. But there's still a human being inside operating it. It's not the Hummer's problem, it's the driver's! So what happens to the human when they get behind the wheel? POWER, AGRESSION & CONTROL!
I do believe people are inherently good, or at least have the capacity to do good. I believe all humans possess the desire to live well, love & be happy. The documentary, I AM (same director who did Ace Venture: Pet Detective...So it's worth a watch, obviously), touched upon the concept that humans//animals are hard-wired to cooperate with one another, more-so than to be so self-centered & argumentative. So why do we act so egotistical once behind the wheel? Blame it on my ADD they say...& the pills or distractions which numb it. I understand consciousness moves in cycles and yes we are currently, slowly but surely, turning a very strange reality channel to a more uplifting version. People are sick of being sick & want more from a life of attachment to what isn't actually bettering them or the whole. We've been living in some dark times. But remember, in comparison to the magnificent size of the Universe, we're on a tiny little planet...existing in a split second, of a moment in time, which gives way to the birth of another moment of time, & in another realm star is born....it's all about perspective. So why not choose to enjoy the moment, appreciate the journey & keep the positivity a flowin'?
My Ole man & I just returned back from a trip to Iowa to revisit our roots. & since I've felt a surge of hope and inspiration for a newfound sense of community & creativity, of real humans coming together to be genuinely helpful & sincere. One of many profound components of my visit back home was participating in & witnessing the high-quality of driving, & the common courtesy, decency & kindness of strangers.
I do believe people are inherently good, or at least have the capacity to do good. I believe all humans possess the desire to live well, love & be happy. The documentary, I AM (same director who did Ace Venture: Pet Detective...So it's worth a watch, obviously), touched upon the concept that humans//animals are hard-wired to cooperate with one another, more-so than to be so self-centered & argumentative. So why do we act so egotistical once behind the wheel? Blame it on my ADD they say...& the pills or distractions which numb it. I understand consciousness moves in cycles and yes we are currently, slowly but surely, turning a very strange reality channel to a more uplifting version. People are sick of being sick & want more from a life of attachment to what isn't actually bettering them or the whole. We've been living in some dark times. But remember, in comparison to the magnificent size of the Universe, we're on a tiny little planet...existing in a split second, of a moment in time, which gives way to the birth of another moment of time, & in another realm star is born....it's all about perspective. So why not choose to enjoy the moment, appreciate the journey & keep the positivity a flowin'?
My Ole man & I just returned back from a trip to Iowa to revisit our roots. & since I've felt a surge of hope and inspiration for a newfound sense of community & creativity, of real humans coming together to be genuinely helpful & sincere. One of many profound components of my visit back home was participating in & witnessing the high-quality of driving, & the common courtesy, decency & kindness of strangers.
I'm talking specifically about the FOCUS of our DRIVING // a Meditation in Motion. Everyone was conscientious & calm. Obviously Iowa is much less populated than Arizona, so the streets are less crowded, but folks also don't hit the gas to hopefully make it through a yellow light to only end up running a red. Drivers wave & smile & generally work together. It made my heart sing!
In contrast, let's take a look at the lack of such focus. Speeding, swerving because of texting, not signaling, cutting people off, running red lights, updating Facebook....seems like all the stuff driving is NOT about.
To extend beyond just driving, we're real convinced we've got it all figured out. It's the "ME ME ME SHOW!" Yes we know how to google the answer to a question, but what value does knowing that answer always bring to your life? Quite frankly I feel it's time we got back to a focus around being more mindful of what we're filling our time with. Are we making, building, cooking, creating, playing, listening & breathing for ourselves? Let's cultivate a focus of being more quiet, patient & still. At the airport yesterday, almost every person, even the children, were on a phone or computer. Do we know how to be with ourselves & pay attention to the present moment? We don't always NEED a computer to tell us what to do, think, how to behave or our social media to serve as a personal diary or public platform to announce every damn thought, idea or event of our lives.
Sadly, we humans have let ourselves grow to be pretty dumb. Dependent on constant distraction, we may own things & do stuff & care about how we look to the rest of the world, but what do we really truly know about ourselves? Have we tapped our inherent capacity to create mindfully? We know about things but have little knowledge as to why or how. We've turned our internal compass into a pacifier of pop culture, legal poisons & social media.
These are real elements of modern life & I realize right now I'm using a computer to share my thoughts with you. It's not so much an all-or-nothing game here, because despite these potential distractions, we've collectively created this reality & we've all got work to do. We all could learn more forgiveness, compassion & acceptance. We all have a dharma code to fulfill & a purposely driven path to follow. We're all sorting through our individual crises & navigating the balance of life. Yet when life gets tough & we get confused, hurt or angry, sometimes the most wonderful practice is silence. Silence is golden & leads us to our peacefulness. When faced with the opportunity to incarnate as Mr. Wheeler, you may instead choose to stop, breathe & remember the bigger picture. Is your driving helping out Mr. Walker?
To extend beyond just driving, we're real convinced we've got it all figured out. It's the "ME ME ME SHOW!" Yes we know how to google the answer to a question, but what value does knowing that answer always bring to your life? Quite frankly I feel it's time we got back to a focus around being more mindful of what we're filling our time with. Are we making, building, cooking, creating, playing, listening & breathing for ourselves? Let's cultivate a focus of being more quiet, patient & still. At the airport yesterday, almost every person, even the children, were on a phone or computer. Do we know how to be with ourselves & pay attention to the present moment? We don't always NEED a computer to tell us what to do, think, how to behave or our social media to serve as a personal diary or public platform to announce every damn thought, idea or event of our lives.
Sadly, we humans have let ourselves grow to be pretty dumb. Dependent on constant distraction, we may own things & do stuff & care about how we look to the rest of the world, but what do we really truly know about ourselves? Have we tapped our inherent capacity to create mindfully? We know about things but have little knowledge as to why or how. We've turned our internal compass into a pacifier of pop culture, legal poisons & social media.
These are real elements of modern life & I realize right now I'm using a computer to share my thoughts with you. It's not so much an all-or-nothing game here, because despite these potential distractions, we've collectively created this reality & we've all got work to do. We all could learn more forgiveness, compassion & acceptance. We all have a dharma code to fulfill & a purposely driven path to follow. We're all sorting through our individual crises & navigating the balance of life. Yet when life gets tough & we get confused, hurt or angry, sometimes the most wonderful practice is silence. Silence is golden & leads us to our peacefulness. When faced with the opportunity to incarnate as Mr. Wheeler, you may instead choose to stop, breathe & remember the bigger picture. Is your driving helping out Mr. Walker?
I've written on driving in the past because it's such a powerful privilege in our lives, one that we often taken for granted. As much as driving can be super fun (I love going fast!) it's one of my biggest lessons & pet peeves. If you've known me long enough you know I was once a pretty crazy, reckless driver. What can I say? I'm really quite talented at driving with my knees!
Yet I've calmed my wild ways & fiery rage over the years & feel much better behind the wheel. Instead of flipping people off I now smile & wave at them! I try to breathe. Instead of rushing when I'm late or worrying when being followed by a cop late at night, I chant. It's really helped a lot. But every now & again...I am bewildered by the insanity of what happens on the road!
Yet I've calmed my wild ways & fiery rage over the years & feel much better behind the wheel. Instead of flipping people off I now smile & wave at them! I try to breathe. Instead of rushing when I'm late or worrying when being followed by a cop late at night, I chant. It's really helped a lot. But every now & again...I am bewildered by the insanity of what happens on the road!
The confusion & overall idiocracy witnessed on the 101 during rush hour is beyond me. I feel for those who do it daily. There's almost always an accident...or 3.
I'm confused as to why people do what they do. As I pass the single gentleman, with a spaced out expression, going 50mph in the carpool lane, I cannot help but ask....why? Additionally, we do not need to come to a sudden panicked halt at the exit ramp because cars are merging. By gosh, might we figure out how to use the right hand lane & turn signal to effectively weave on & off more smoothly? Lord have mercy the blinker is there for one reason only.
We're SO blessed to avoid sub-zero temperatures & icy roads, yet I see lots of really scared people gripping the wheel squinting at something, scared out of their minds! Is it a UFO? Maybe I should squint too! There could just very well be something out there....
I'm not remotely upset as I write this, nor am I going around nit-picking every single movement on the road, because clearly we ALL could be more present with ourselves when behind the wheel. But dang folks, driving is important! Think about it: we spend a lot of money, energy & resources on our vehicles, gas, roadways, environmental stress, maintenance & upkeep, etc. We pretty much require this style of transportation living in Phoenix & many use it daily. Our lives & our peace is at stake. Our actions affect us & those around us.
Take time to pause & reflect. Allow yourself to stay calm when behind the wheel. Give someone a friendly wave or nod. Share the love, even if it's between two panes of glass & a white-dotted line....
Godspeed,
THE WISE OWL
XOXOXO
Take time to pause & reflect. Allow yourself to stay calm when behind the wheel. Give someone a friendly wave or nod. Share the love, even if it's between two panes of glass & a white-dotted line....
Godspeed,
THE WISE OWL
XOXOXO
Friday, December 6, 2013
big news...big raffle....please read!
I'm excited to share some BIG NEWS!
(I'm talking BIG people....keep reading...all the way down...don't skimp!)
#1. My amazing friend, herbalist, artist and agricultural wizard, Narcissa Segura, and I have teamed up to create Battle Axe Botanicals, a grassroots CSH (Community Supported Herbalism) project. You're probably wondering about the name.....battle, what?!
Yes, a battle axe is some bad ass medieval weaponry, which gives us all the more reason to use it in our name! It flows off the tongue, conjures up some intense images, but it's also a symbol of protection and power. Battle Axe Botanicals is here to honor and defend the art and craft of community-based herbalism!
We offer freshly made herbal products created with as much locally sourced, grown & harvested ingredients as we can. Our mission is to provide YOU with the education and tools for optimal health, happiness and vitality through connection to the local land and environment. We're all about stuff that tastes, smells and feels good. We're also committed to offering community education, classes and support to our fellow herbalists, agriculturalists and local businesses.
Here's how it works:
Sign up for a seasonal subscription and receive a variety of 4 herbal products per month (salves, creams, syrups, extracts, spices, household cleaners and more!), always accompanied with education and information. We'll share with you where the local ingredients have been grown and sourced, as well as the qualities and attributes which support your health. You'll know what's in season and foster a connection with the radiance of Arizona...there's a wealth of goodness just waiting to be recognized!
We're also committed to serving the community as a hub for herbal research, storytelling, native archives and exclusive interviews with local herbalists.
We seek to unite our community to Arizona herbalism and advocate for the health of the Phoenix valley with respect to our local environment. Our intention is to bridge the gap between people, knowledge and application.
We are now accepting orders for our Spring subscription, distributed in March 2014.
Sign-up NOW directly through our online shop to reserve your space today! This is also a great Holiday surprise for your friends and family, so consider giving the gift of good health to those you love, in a unique local package!
As we gear up for our official launching in the spring, here's some incentive to help us make it happen!
#2. BIG NEWS PART DOS: Battle Axe Botanicals is raffling off an ALL-ACCESS PASS TO THE SEDONA YOGA FESTIVAL! Holy sweetness, did you read that right? Yes you did folks, yes you did.
We are super stoked to give one lucky winner the chance to attend this fabulous local festival for free! (keep in mind...it's a $450 value!). Check out the festival link for the incredible line-up of teachers and presenters (I am also honored to be a presenter this year....but more on that coming soon).
To enter to win, visit our online shop and purchase a raffle ticket. The raffle is open until January 5, 2014. We'll randomly draw and announce the winner's name on January 6. ALL proceeds from the raffle go directly back into Battle Axe, as we are building this community project from the ground-up.
Please support your local grassroots herbalists and in turn get the chance to win something BIG!
Thank you ALL so very much for reading and following my blog, for attending my weekly yoga classes and special events, and for supporting change on a small but very important level.
May you be happy, healthy and full of love!
Peace and blessings,
The Wise Owl
xoxox
any questions or inquiries regarding the CSH, email us at battleaxebotanicals@gmail.com
WORD!
(I'm talking BIG people....keep reading...all the way down...don't skimp!)
#1. My amazing friend, herbalist, artist and agricultural wizard, Narcissa Segura, and I have teamed up to create Battle Axe Botanicals, a grassroots CSH (Community Supported Herbalism) project. You're probably wondering about the name.....battle, what?!
Yes, a battle axe is some bad ass medieval weaponry, which gives us all the more reason to use it in our name! It flows off the tongue, conjures up some intense images, but it's also a symbol of protection and power. Battle Axe Botanicals is here to honor and defend the art and craft of community-based herbalism!
We offer freshly made herbal products created with as much locally sourced, grown & harvested ingredients as we can. Our mission is to provide YOU with the education and tools for optimal health, happiness and vitality through connection to the local land and environment. We're all about stuff that tastes, smells and feels good. We're also committed to offering community education, classes and support to our fellow herbalists, agriculturalists and local businesses.
 |
| Battle Axe Botanicals // art courtesy of Chipp Byrd |
Here's how it works:
Sign up for a seasonal subscription and receive a variety of 4 herbal products per month (salves, creams, syrups, extracts, spices, household cleaners and more!), always accompanied with education and information. We'll share with you where the local ingredients have been grown and sourced, as well as the qualities and attributes which support your health. You'll know what's in season and foster a connection with the radiance of Arizona...there's a wealth of goodness just waiting to be recognized!
We're also committed to serving the community as a hub for herbal research, storytelling, native archives and exclusive interviews with local herbalists.
We seek to unite our community to Arizona herbalism and advocate for the health of the Phoenix valley with respect to our local environment. Our intention is to bridge the gap between people, knowledge and application.
We are now accepting orders for our Spring subscription, distributed in March 2014.
Sign-up NOW directly through our online shop to reserve your space today! This is also a great Holiday surprise for your friends and family, so consider giving the gift of good health to those you love, in a unique local package!
As we gear up for our official launching in the spring, here's some incentive to help us make it happen!
#2. BIG NEWS PART DOS: Battle Axe Botanicals is raffling off an ALL-ACCESS PASS TO THE SEDONA YOGA FESTIVAL! Holy sweetness, did you read that right? Yes you did folks, yes you did.
We are super stoked to give one lucky winner the chance to attend this fabulous local festival for free! (keep in mind...it's a $450 value!). Check out the festival link for the incredible line-up of teachers and presenters (I am also honored to be a presenter this year....but more on that coming soon).
Please support your local grassroots herbalists and in turn get the chance to win something BIG!
Thank you ALL so very much for reading and following my blog, for attending my weekly yoga classes and special events, and for supporting change on a small but very important level.
May you be happy, healthy and full of love!
Peace and blessings,
The Wise Owl
xoxox
any questions or inquiries regarding the CSH, email us at battleaxebotanicals@gmail.com
WORD!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
release the grief & appreciate the small stuff
it's almost Thanksgiving y'all.
& it's a perfect time to consider what's bubbling up in the space of the heart.
yes, sometimes holidays can be aggravating.
we easily get caught up....
in traveling & traffic, cooking & planning, money, family, weather, hustle, bustle....
there could be anything to piss you off or stress you out or jab a thorn in your side.
OR there could be something which lightens your load, brightens your heart, & brings a smile to your face to remind you to SLOW DOWN. APPRECIATE. OFFER GRATITUDE. BREATHE.
most of all....
release the grief & enjoy the little things.
the energetic space of the heart chakra, Anahata, is all about balancing opposing energies to create peace, love & understanding. the heart has no boundaries, no limits, no expectations & definitely no judgement. here we find an infinite well of giving, loving & receiving.
& although holidays seem to be centered around these heart-centered ideas & actions, holidays also conjure up mixed emotions for most.
the elemental connection to the heart is AIR. thus, we breathe when we become tense or stressed. we breathe to move energy. we use the winds of change, the breath of the spirit, to shift our consciousness....releasing grief & inviting in compassion. releasing stress & inviting in gratitude.
letting go of our grudges & opening to empathy. take a moment, right now, to breathe long & deep.
take a moment to feel the power & potency of the breath.
so looking beyond the story of the natives & pilgrims (because quite frankly I can't speak on that right now without getting a little heated & passionate....did thanksgiving REALLY happen the way we think it did??? hmmm I'm skeptical) ...
& exploring beyond the hype of making turkey & stuffing & pumpkin pie....
look into the space of the heart. count your blessings whether few or many.
& truly, honestly, genuinely take a moment to breathe & offer thanks.
I speak with conviction today. Because last night I received some very upsetting & soul-crushing news that a very good friend has suddenly passed on. I'm mostly speechless & overwhelmed with emotion, but I can't help but ponder the irony of this thanksgiving. Yet despite this sadness & grief, I can only revel in the gratitude for having been gifted the friendship & connection with this very special person. He brought to my life an openness & joy which I rarely encounter from another human. He was like a father or uncle or guardian who gave selflessly & completely from his heart. He's also the skilled craftsman who recently gifted me the gong stand he built me for my birthday....out of the kindness of his heart. He attended to the details, from the shape & style of the wood, to the sparkling owl at the very top. I feel so honored to now carry his spirit with me each time I play the gong.
Our time here is limited & even though we don't dare speak of it too much, death is around every corner. So don't waste your time stressed out about the little things or the nit-picky shit that grinds your gears. Just enjoy & appreciate the small stuff. Offer your heart to those who love & support you, & even the person on the street whom you may never see again. Thank the animals & plants who sacrifice their spirits for your plate. Thank the people who work hard to provide these elements to you.
& above all, thank yourself for being perfect as you are, imperfections & all.
happy thanksgiving my friends! may the light & love of the ever-giving heart be with you.
& it's a perfect time to consider what's bubbling up in the space of the heart.
yes, sometimes holidays can be aggravating.
we easily get caught up....
in traveling & traffic, cooking & planning, money, family, weather, hustle, bustle....
there could be anything to piss you off or stress you out or jab a thorn in your side.
OR there could be something which lightens your load, brightens your heart, & brings a smile to your face to remind you to SLOW DOWN. APPRECIATE. OFFER GRATITUDE. BREATHE.
most of all....
release the grief & enjoy the little things.
the energetic space of the heart chakra, Anahata, is all about balancing opposing energies to create peace, love & understanding. the heart has no boundaries, no limits, no expectations & definitely no judgement. here we find an infinite well of giving, loving & receiving.
& although holidays seem to be centered around these heart-centered ideas & actions, holidays also conjure up mixed emotions for most.
the elemental connection to the heart is AIR. thus, we breathe when we become tense or stressed. we breathe to move energy. we use the winds of change, the breath of the spirit, to shift our consciousness....releasing grief & inviting in compassion. releasing stress & inviting in gratitude.
letting go of our grudges & opening to empathy. take a moment, right now, to breathe long & deep.
take a moment to feel the power & potency of the breath.
so looking beyond the story of the natives & pilgrims (because quite frankly I can't speak on that right now without getting a little heated & passionate....did thanksgiving REALLY happen the way we think it did??? hmmm I'm skeptical) ...
& exploring beyond the hype of making turkey & stuffing & pumpkin pie....
look into the space of the heart. count your blessings whether few or many.
& truly, honestly, genuinely take a moment to breathe & offer thanks.
I speak with conviction today. Because last night I received some very upsetting & soul-crushing news that a very good friend has suddenly passed on. I'm mostly speechless & overwhelmed with emotion, but I can't help but ponder the irony of this thanksgiving. Yet despite this sadness & grief, I can only revel in the gratitude for having been gifted the friendship & connection with this very special person. He brought to my life an openness & joy which I rarely encounter from another human. He was like a father or uncle or guardian who gave selflessly & completely from his heart. He's also the skilled craftsman who recently gifted me the gong stand he built me for my birthday....out of the kindness of his heart. He attended to the details, from the shape & style of the wood, to the sparkling owl at the very top. I feel so honored to now carry his spirit with me each time I play the gong.
& above all, thank yourself for being perfect as you are, imperfections & all.
happy thanksgiving my friends! may the light & love of the ever-giving heart be with you.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
:::I'm in heaven!::: (get on this smoothie, yo!)
I've been making a smoothie the last few days that's been blowin' my mind, hittin da spot & pleasin' my sweet tooth! I'm not so much a "recipe" kinda gal (unless it's baking....that's chemistry & usually a good idea to plan well). So I'll do my best to share general ratios with you in hopes you too can appreciate this delicious masterpiece. And not only will your taste buds oooo & ahhhh, you're also nourishing your body. Take a look at the special, not-so-secret ingredient.....
Maca Root (Lepedium meyenii) ::: A South American tuber traditionally eaten by Andeans, Maca has provided nutritional amazingness for thousands of years. Also, Maca Root has been shown to increase libido & sex drive, improve mood & energy, & help one maintain centered & strong during times of anxiety & stress. Who couldn't use a dose of that sweet medicine? Plus Maca has a uniquely nutty & rich flavor that melds quite well into many smoothie combinations.
The foundation of ingredients are below. It might seem like a lot for a smoothie but trust me...it's worth it. Plus, for me this is a fabulous breakfast that provides energy, fills me up & keeps me from hitting the baked goods & expensive fancy coffee drinks I sometimes crave. That's why today I added a little bit of leftover brewed coffee from home & increased the amount of ice a little. You can also throw in some frozen blueberries, add your favorite green food powder or even toss in a handful of raw organic baby spinach. Forget the rules and rigidity of having to do something "right" & just play :) Taste along the way & adjust as needed.
Blend together the following ingredients:
-- 1 c. coconut water
-- 1 c. almond milk (can substitute w/ coconut, hemp, rice etc)*personally I avoid soy milk*
-- 1 ripe banana
-- 1-2 tsp. chia seeds
-- 1-2 Tbsp. raw local organic honey
-- a handful of pecans
-- 1 heaping tsp. cacao or cocoa powder (or nibs)
-- a dash or two or three of cinnamon
-- a real lil bit of vanilla extract
-- 1/2 tray or so ice cubes
YUM. I enjoyed this smoothie whilst typing & now I feel inspired to paint my bedroom! Maca rules!
Let me know what ya think!
Cheers....
the wise owl
XOXOX
Monday, November 4, 2013
scientific proof!
I recently had the pleasure & honor to revisit & refresh my knowledge & training with the power & potency of the gong with my Master Teacher & some really great fellow yoga teachers. He showed us these awesome videos below of Gongmaster Richard Rudis of Sacred Sound Gong Bath. Red & white blood cells were measured before & after a 1-hr Gong Bath. The results are PROFOUND! Please check out these videos to see how the gong is the vibrational wave of the future for healing & rejuvenation! I'm SOOO excited about this!
Ever wondered about how the gong can support you on your healing path? Check out my information on the Gong here. Hit me up for your very own private meditation session! Much love & humility....
The Wise Owl
xoxo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ-JDNfviDM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epSXnvtebjg
Ever wondered about how the gong can support you on your healing path? Check out my information on the Gong here. Hit me up for your very own private meditation session! Much love & humility....
The Wise Owl
xoxo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ-JDNfviDM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epSXnvtebjg
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