It starts with you.

by Nona on May 6, 2010

No matter what you are doing in your life — running a business, staying home with your kids, going to school, traveling the world, working for a corporation…. no matter WHAT, it is an opportunity to wake up.

We crave yoga and meditation because we’ve lost some essential connection with our true nature and why we are here.  We ignore what we know in our bones and compartmentalize:  now, I am practicing yoga — now, I am at work — now, it’s playtime — oh, time for my workout — etc.

The truth is, everything in life, every instance of fear, of frustration, of irritation, of sadness, of grief, even happiness, joy, and accomplishment — every. single. moment is an invitation from life for you to remember your true nature and step into it.  To become your bright, illuminated self.

Your life IS a spiritual practice.  Investing time and energy in contemplative practices or working with a coach, we are cultivating a curious, open mind and an unshakable connection with our internal wisdom — uncovering the diamond of who we are.  When we take that into the world – into our business, into our relationships, into the traffic jam, we begin to change– to more fully embody who we are meant to be in the world.  And as we change and touch lives and let our true nature shine, the world changes with us, in an endless ripple.

It starts with you.

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The “action” in law of attraction

by Nona on May 1, 2010

About 6-weeks ago, I received an email.  It was from a coach that I know sort of peripherally.  Her name is Lori Hamann and her coaching is based on law-of-attraction, which, as a yogini translates for me into aligning action with intention.

In this email, Lori was offering a 12-week spiritual weight loss e-course.  Since beginning my coaching practice and business a year ago, I’ve gained 15 pounds, which hasn’t felt good at all.  And it’s not the first time that I’ve gained weight in response to a big, positive change — so it’s a pattern that I want to address. When I read her email, I just felt like it was time to really get to the bottom of it, so I ordered the course. I ordered it with the intention of losing weight without going on a restrictive diet.  Her course felt like the right place to start.

The course consists of weekly lessons — there are downloads to listen to: hypnotherapy and guided meditation tracks.  Shortly after I began working with her materials, I bumped into a book called The Slow Down Diet by Marc David and devoured it, deciding to blog about my experience with implementing the principles.  Wow!  Fabulous!  A way to address eating without a “diet” per se.

Speaking of diet, diabetes runs in my family.  Another member of my family was just diagnosed with pre-diabetes.  And I started giving serious thought to what would be most loving for my body (and my genetics).  What food choices do I know contribute to diabetes and also don’t seem to “work” for my energy levels?  That would be white pasta, pastries, bread, and simple sugars.  Miraculously, I met this amazing nutritionist, Simla, who happened to be starting a program to help people be sane and flexible while still making the healthiest food choices for them.  Sign me up!!

Around the same time that I found the Slow Down Diet and Simla, I ran across this mommy blogger (I’m so sorry I don’t remember who it was!!) who had just done this 90-day strength program that had completely changed her body shape.  I love to strength train and have a strong body from yoga — but using different muscle groups, coupled with my regular yoga/walking/running sounded like just the ticket.  I ordered it and in fact, got started with it today…

All of this to say that I was thinking today that I might have been tempted to sit back and wait for the “results” of the law of attraction spiritual weight loss program.  I could have ignored all of the little nudges.  But one thing that I’ve learned over the years is:

Intention + Action = Results

Without an intention that I believe in, followed up with positive action on my part, none of it will make any difference.  I can meditate and visualize all day long, but it won’t be effective unless I take action.  So yes, I’m visualizing daily.  I’m slowing down and being mindful when I eat — bringing pleasure and attention to my eating.  I’m exercising at a level that feels really nourishing for my body.  And, I’m letting go of foods that don’t work for me or create health in my body.  Without being all nutty and rigid about it. (I mean, a girl’s gotta have gelato sometimes!!)

I absolutely believe that the law of attraction program attracted all of these different elements to me.

Intentions that are built on a strong foundation of positive action lead to the results we desire.  When we work at all levels to align body, mind, and heart, we are certain to meet with success.

Have you seen this at work in your own life?  Tell me about it in the comments!!

Did you know I have a newsletter, too?  To get periodic updates about yoga, coaching, and health, you can sign up here.

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Is yoga changing you?

April 29, 2010

When I began practicing yoga, it was for two reasons:

I wanted to have a yoga body (long, lean, supple, uber-flexible)
I needed some stress relief as a full-time university student, working almost full-time

I have received so much from my practice over the years.  The changes that yoga makes in us are organic and natural – one [...]

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Change. It’s for everyone who wants it.

April 24, 2010

Lots of people are content with their lives and have no desire to change a thing.
I love and honor that, but,  I’ve never been one of those people.  My very earliest memories are of wanting to be my very best, to express the most perfect version of myself during this lifetime, no matter what [...]

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A phoenix rising from the ashes

April 17, 2010

That sounds dramatic, but maybe it just IS that dramatic — it feels so good to have a space (again) to focus on my deep devotion and love of yoga’s transformational qualities.  For those of you who are joining me from Everyday Yogini, welcome to my new virtual yoga space. You will find all of [...]

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Don’t hate the mistakes: more reflection

December 7, 2009

After celebrating what went right during the last year, the next step in creating an intentional new year is to ask some more really good questions.
“What didn’t go so well this year? What could have been better? What did I learn?”
For a good portion of my life I have just hated [...]

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Gratitude: 12.4.2009

December 4, 2009

As I mentioned, December is all about intentions and actions for 2010. Gratitude plays a big role in this – especially from the perspective of taking a look at where you have been. We can’t know where we are going unless we know where we’ve been.
It’s great to look at how [...]

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Life Plan 2010: Start Where You Are

November 30, 2009

Can you believe it? December has arrived and I am excited! December, in case you didn’t know, is the perfect month to look ahead and set your intentions and plans for 2010! This month, each of my blog posts will relate to creating an intentional life plan for 2010.
I stopped [...]

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How to Eat: a common-sense approach

November 25, 2009

Though I am not a doctor or a nutritionist, I am a common-sense-ist when it comes to how we nourish and support our bodies with food. And given that the nuttiest time of year for food has arrived? I thought that some common-sense reminders would be welcome.
What to Eat
In order [...]

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Getting stuck in the mind-mud (and how to get out)

November 23, 2009

The last few days have been seriously squirmy and uncomfortable. Have you had times like that? Where everything just feels off and all wrong and you can’t shake a feeling of doom and gloom? Every spare moment was focused on questioning and evaluating everything about my business (and myself) and the work [...]

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