PEACE, LOVE, and BLESSINGS!!! EyeAM just a soul passing through spreading positive vibes and radiating love . Making the conscious decision to eat healthy and take care of myself spiritually through Prayer/Mediation and Yoga has given me a new found peace that everyone should have. Allow me to share my life as we rebuild together. UNAPOLOGETICALLY MELANINATED
When it comes to scarfs, head wraps, and hejabs I am all in. Often times I consider wearing one for everyday of the week. However, being a yoga instructor you sweat a lot and I tend to sweat in my head. Nevertheless when I dress outside of yoga 90% of the time a head wrap is in tow. So it was only right that my head be covered for the most important day of my life. The colors for the ceremony were Turquoises and Silver and I wanted my wrap to be the accent of Turquoises. Finding the perfect wrap was pretty hard. Many of the wraps I came across were Turquoises and orange or had patterns that clashed with the ceremony. My vision was simple and elegant and Fanm Djanm had exactly what I was looking for. My biggest concern was that the color wouldn’t be the exact shade that I wanted considering the fact that Turquoises comes in many shades. However, the wrap matched everything perfectly and I was able to wear it the entire day because the material isn’t heavy. The wrap fit perfectly over my base wrap creating the perfect amount of height and fullness I was looking for. Shipping was easy to track and actually came earlier than expected. Fanm Djanm wraps was another major factor in creating the vision for the ceremony. I can also wear the wrap multiple times because it is a solid color which was the deciding factor when making the purchase.
When you think of Jamaica what is the first thing that comes to mind? Shottas or Bob Marley?Is it the beautiful resorts and white sand? I recently heard someone say, ” People Think That Jamaica is Beautiful But It Isn’t Some Real Bad Things Happen There.”
The truth is bad things happen in our own backyard often times on our doorstep. However that doesn’t stop us from going out every week. There are “bad” areas in every city; places you should not go if you don’t know anyone in that area. For that reason alone Jamaica was a wonderful way to break in my passport. Honestly, I was excited yet nervous about being in Jamaica because I went with zero expectations and reservations. I just knew I had a list of to do’s that needed to be checked off; everything else was a bonus. We stayed in a town named Negril, Jamaica that had so much to offer. Unlike Montego Bay things are a little cheaper and less touristy. Many people stay here to get away from the shenanigans of the city. Of course people still on their hustle but after a while you either ignore it, shake your head, or they leave you alone all together.
The 2 main things that I loved about Jamaica is the food and you get Alkaline everywhere. Because the island has many natural fresh water falls the alkaline water comes straight from the source to the people. Making the process more eco and people friendly. Each day we made it a point to try out local foods away from the resort and we were successful. The entire trip I was mindful about eating strictly sea food and ital dishes; which is not hard in Jamaica. Majority of the people are vegan which made it easy to find Ital food. Also everyone has access to different types of fish daily due to the fisherman on the island. Needless to say everything was fresh and everything we ate was made to order. A place by the name of Rasta Lemonade made a huge impression on us. The restaurant was right down the beach from us so we ate there a couple of times. Rasta Lemonade is a strictly Ital restaurant that makes your food to order; along side daily freshly made juice. The portions they give you for each platter is massive. The 2 days we ate there we were full for at least half of the day. However you can honestly find good food on accident anywhere that you go on the island. Also since everything is made fresh it is best to never be in a rush to get anywhere. On average the food can take anywhere between 5-20 minutes to make. But, you’re on vacation what’s the rush anyway RIGHT!?
While in Negril, Jamaica we blended in fairly well. It was clear we weren’t raised up on the island itself. However, many people assumed we were American Jamaican which made our stay a little less nerve wrecking. Meaning we weren’t a target for shenanigans most tourist find themselves in. Because of this we made friends with some of the locals. In Negril many people are on their hustle in a good way. Two of the people that we became acquainted with were our personal drivers. In Jamaica there are a lot of tour companies that own buses that strictly take a group of tourist around the country. This may sound cool until you look at the prices they are charging and how crowded the buses are. Also the tour bus is often in a rush to get you to all the places people want to see. So it’s not worth it. On the other hand locals in Negril made their own Uber or Lyft system. They wait for tourist to come out of the resort and ask if they need a taxi. Having a taxi is much like having a personal driver. The cost is cheaper because it is calculated by the distance of the drive. Also because they are using their personal cars to drive you around. The drivers willingly act as your tour guide and wait for you at each stop you make. Some may even enjoy the day with you if each part feels comfortable. Each day you are there you will most likely have the same driver. If the driver is not available they send someone else in their place for that day. The drivers we had while in Negril were Roger and Chris (yes we made it a point to know their names). They really made an impression on us because of how laid back, kindhearted and open they were. The entire time in Negril Roger was our main driver and we had the pleasure of meeting his father which was such a treat. We made it a point to genuinely ask questions about the history and culture of Jamaica; which they willingly answered. This made the trip an educational experience as well. While with Roger he went to every site with us and often times gave us a little tour of his own. He also didn’t mind having fun with us along the way; which made each of us comfortable . Chris was a little different; he was more of a talker than a hanging out type of guy. As he drove us around we made frequent historical stops; such as Columbus Landing. Turns out Columbus actually landed in Jamaica before redirecting himself to America. He also shared with us his experience growing up in the country side and how things have changed over the years. Each of the drivers really knew how to maneuver through the jungle and rain forest. Yes we went on some adventures willingly.
This may seem scary right? To just go an adventures with some men who claim they’re taxi drivers?!!
Well we also made friends with the security at the resort as well as some of the staff women. Because of this we knew where to go and who to talk to while in Negril by our second night their. So each day and night people did look out for not only us but other tourist as well. What really made the trip magical is that everyone we encountered we made a connection with. We bridged a gap that some people are too afraid to do or so self righteous. We did witness times where people were very rude to the those who are simply doing their job. It is something special when you see someones face light up because you actually came back to speak with them or to even buy something that they may have. Often times to get something free or a little extra just because of that simple moment of kindness.
Now I am not going to lie by the 6th day I was tired and ready to go back home. Only because each day we got into something. We would wake up and hit the beach running. if we weren’t on the beach all day we were in the hills going on adventures. I will say that it would be awesome to spend a week in Negril or Jamaica period then got to another island for another week. We did meet a family who spent 3 weeks in Negril. I was amazed because in a week and a half you can pretty much see the whole island if you moved around like we did. We purposely left some things untouched to have a reason to go back. However, we did everything we set out to do and a little more. Of course we had our iffy and scary moments while there. But it only lasted a few minutes because we realized we were okay. Luckily we ran across some genuine people; yet at the same time we didn’t linger long enough to get taken advantage of as well. We developed a fine line between being nice and being gullible because at the end of the day it is am island that has been raped and taken advantage for so long. Because of this everyone is trying to make it the best they know how.
Tips for Jamaica:
Convert some of your currency and spend before reverting back to your cash.
Bring a small bottle of mosquito spray. Try to find a natural brand because the smell is string.
Do not stay on the resorts the whole time. The resort is not Jamaica; there is so much the island has to offer. It helps you throw away the stereotypes.
It is okay to say NO!!
Do not fall for the tricks. Sometimes people will try to talk you into buying them food or drinks.
Let nothing ruin your trip.
Places To Visit:
Ricks Cafe: The world famous Ricks Cafe is known for their cliff divers. The cafe opens around 1pm and closes around 8pm or 9pm. There is a live DJ who is really good who is accompanied by dancers who convince tourist to dance and have a good time. The drinks are really good and very strong. The food isn’t the best on the island however it is good. There is a live bad that places everyday at 7:00 but they aren’t a good act. All in all Ricks Cafe is a great places to relax and enjoy the end of your day.
Pelicans Bar: If you are up for an adventure and a good time Pelican Bar is right up your alley. Pelicans Bar is a bar that sits in the middle of the ocean right off of the Black River. You have to take a boat to get there which isn’t a problem because there are many boats that go back and forth to the bar. At Pelicans Bar they serve food and drinks all day. The food is freshly caught around the hour to serve the guest. And there is great music to set the mood. Sounds crazy?! Not at all. The Bar is completely solid made of bamboo and real solid wood. It offers seating inside as well as outside. If you pay close enough attention you may even be able to met the amazingly talented Rasta who built the bar himself not once but twice. As a really bad hurricane did come a few years back. Definitely a place I will always return to.
Mayfield Falls: The beautiful Mayfield Falls is a place like no other. You have to go a little ways up the forest to get there however it is worth it. The Mayfield Falls is a tour through the falls and the rain forest. You are accompanied by a tour guide who is well experienced through the rivers and water falls. The tour guide is hands on and helps you along the path and takes pictures for you. When in the falls you are free to swim and sit in the water falls. After taking the tour you are welcome to order from their kitchen and have a bite to eat. The food at Mayfield is amazing and they give you really big portions.
Bob Marley Mausoleum: If you are a Bob Marley fan the museum doesn’t do his justice. The Bob Marley Mausoleum resides in Nine Mile where he was raised and grew up. The Mausoleum is on the land where his family lived. There lays the tombs of his Mother, Brother, and Bob Marley himself. When you arrive you are appointed a tour guide. While on the tour you sea the home if his grandmother as well as his mother. There are areas where you are not allowed to take pictures. When walking through the mausoleums you are directed to take you shows and to not take pictures. Bob Marleys mother made her own jerk and dipping sauces while living. They are only sold at the mausoleum;during the tour you are given time to rest and listen to music while taking her sauces. There are gift shops and a restaurant where you are able to eat,drink, and indulge.
Many people ask me the question, “Why do you do yoga?” And honestly at first I couldn’t do anything but tell them it was something I liked to do( A good cool down after a lengthy dance rehearsal HELLO!!!!). For me doing yoga after a long day or workout is something that I look forward to, some may call this positive reinforcement since I always find my self doing something ( It’s hard for me to stick to a routin). I watched random videos daily and incorporated different stretches we do in dance rehearsal. Now let’s be honest searching for videos can be time consuming and some videos are very lengthy. One thing I will say that helps me now is doing Yoga Challenges; it doesn’t matter how long it is just choose one that best fits you. They are normally no longer than 30 mins and vary from 7-30 days. And if you get lucky the person you subscribe to will have morning and night time sequences; as well as different yoga stances, breathing exercises, and a host of other How To’s that will not only make your practice easier but teach you more about the practice.
Slight History
Many people believe yoga began in India over 5,000 years ago. Although that seems to be what is in all the yoga books and when you take a yoga class that’s pretty much the typical story. Many people to Hinduism and Buddhism solely with the misconception that it is a” feminine” practice or that it is only for people who are a part of that religion. In reality yoga started with OUR ancestors as an Ancient Kemetic spiritual practice. The word Yoga means Control or some may say Yoke or Bind. Kemet was the name for ancient Egypt; the people of Kemet were. Many mathematicians, architects, and much more for many years before the people of India studied yoga. Kemetic Yoga dating back more than 10,000 years was seen as the way to reach your highest form of think and self. The purpose was the merging of an individual’s lower self and higher self striving daily to be a better you. When looking at Egyptian art you notice the correlation of yoga from the many poses our ancestors were in, the names of the poses and the way they were depicted in art form, and the philosophy of Kemetic Yoga in reference to body alignment. Self care and Knowledge of self was the key to civilization and Kemetic Yoga was seen as the outlet.
Benefits
Whether you are just looking to do yoga for the purposes of flexibility, toning,and burning calories; or to deepen your spiritual connection. Yoga is perfect for all these things, when doing yoga the key is to focus on your breathing. We all know we need air to breath, Right? Yoga focuses on that A LOT. Why? Because we forget to breath when we are doing continuous movements and when concentrating. Also breathing helps you flow through movements with ease and is beneficial when holding poses. When doing yoga of any form you often feel pressured to be the more flexible and do things with ease. Well I am here to tell you that thought should never cross your mind. Yoga is about listening to YOUR body and self love. It is always encouraged to take your time and ease your body into the movement and BREATH. One thing I learned in my practice was patience, a very hard thing to master; When you do yoga you cannot rush through the movement you’ll end up hurting yourself. Yoga is a form of teaching you how to appreciate yourself. Physically you have balance, you’re stronger, and more energetic. Mentally you are calmer, concentration is better, and the practice has meditative qualities. Spiritually your health and well being improves, anxiety decreases , and you a have sense of peace. Emotionally you ignore negative emotions and feelings, and learn to be the truth situations demand. Through yoga you learn to accept their presence and in time negative emotions will cease to control you, as long as you continue to practice.
I do yoga to find my inner peace and to remain CONCRETE in my decisions and SPIRITUALITY!
DO YOU YOGA?
Peace and Blessing,
My thoughts my views, share with me, vibe with me,
A lot has changed since I first started my spiritual journey. When I first started my yoga practice I was just researching ways to heal my knee as well as my spiritual and mental state of being. Early on I never knew the practice of yoga would lead to something deeper. If you have read my first blog post ” Why Yoga” and “Loose As A Goose” can see how and why I started this journey.
I get asked the question often, “How did you get it to yoga?”. And I am always compelled to tell the story of how I popped my knee out place while in the middle of a dance performance. How*So Glad You Asked*?!! During that time I was out of shape mentally, spiritually, and physically. Mentally I was lacking true self love. I did not realize my value. Somehow I lost site of how influential, talented, and powerful I truly was. Being passive had become second nature causing me to lose my voice in many cases. Over time I silenced my own voice allowing views of others to guide me. I didn’t know who I was; resulting in me big unhappy. Spiritually there was something missing…… me. I was searching for something outside of self. I expecting everything to magically work itself out while I just sat and waited. Because of this mentality I found myself crying a lot; I was not following the path set out for me. Deep inside I always knew there was a force protecting me. However, I was not connected the way I should have been. Physically I ended up putting on a little weight and I was extremely out of shape. Due to my injury these things doubled. Poor eating habits and an inconsistent working out routine does have its effects on the body. I also found myself not stretching properly before I dance which caused me to strain muscles over time. Needless to say yoga helped aid me in the realization and soothing of all my ailments. Many of you may think saying “Namaste” and burning sage doesn’t do anything. Well I assure you may be right (0.1 % accurate). However, it is about the core principles that change your life and the lives of those around you. (We will dive into that a little later.) Initially I started my practice at home on my front porch. I came across YOGA WITH ADRIENE on YouTube and I was hooked. But we already know this right?……RIGHT!!
Here is the reason I decided to give you an update on Why
I realized yoga is something that has to be a part of my life. I have learned that yoga is more than doing the Asana (Poses). And it is also not just saying “Namasta” and burning sage or incense. Yoga is a lifestyle; it consist of how you treat yourself daily as well as others. It is about being aware of why and how you feel day in and day out. Owning those feelings as well as reflecting and adjusting those emotions if they do not serve your highest good. Most importantly yoga reminds us we are always learning. WHY?! because we will never know everything. In that we learn how to tame the ego; which means getting uncomfortable. From admitting your wrongs to letting go of things that never truly resonated with our true self. I realized early on that I had a lot of things that were weighing me down spiritually. As I move in and out of yoga poses emotions come up from my past as well as present state. There have been moments where I have cried during a yoga flow or meditation because of the mental space I was in during that time. This is not a bad thing at all; being a yogi is about being. Sweating, crying, shacking, and even falling are all signs of cleansing. Yoga cleanses us of ego, negativity, and all things rooted in fear. *How is this possible?!* Daily we allow our thoughts to unconsciously control our actions. Many of us are aware and refuse to admit it may be the cause of our unhappiness. In yoga many emotions come up at once and we are guided to breath and push pass them. Once that is done we then are able to reflect on the process in peace and quiet. Allowing ourselves to breathe; reflecting on who we truly are and what we are capable of. As I continue my personal practice I give myself more and more time to sit and reflect. I realized those quite moments are important because we are able to see that the answers we sought out for had been there the whole time. Is maintaining a daily yoga practice hard? Of Course! However there is always room and time to get even the smallest of flows in. We can yoga in the car, in our beds, even in the kitchen. Just take some time to get weird and be a kid again. It all about dedicating time to yourself to get connected.
When I dedicate myself to something I do research to see how things came to pass. When it comes to yoga you are forever a student. I love that reality because there is always something new to learn about yourself and the practice. You can always add on or take away from your practice; the same holds true to your life journey. The history of yoga runs very deep. Depending on the training you take and the books you read you will learn that yoga began in India over 5,000+ years ago. To understand the teachings of yoga we must first overstand it is a lifestyle not a religion. Yes!!! being Yogi is not a religion and is not religion specific. Many people connect yoga to Hinduism and/or Buddhism solely with the misconception that it is a religious practice or devil worship. While some believe it is a “feminine” practice that men shouldn’t do. Truth is in India men and women alike can take on the lifestyle of a Yogi starting at very early ages. Men are some of the leading gurus of the Yogis.
As we dive deeper into the truth we must look to Mother Africa for the original origins of Yoga.
An even deeper truth to this reality is that OUR ancestors created this spiritual system over 10,000 years ago. What is known today as Kemetic/Egyptian Yoga; or as the ancients would say ” Smai Tawi” is the first spiritual practices known to man. However Egypt or Kemet is not were the concepts were birthed. Ancient Nubia and other neighboring dynasties gave birth to these spiritual concepts and yogic text; which Kemet payed homage to. Meditation is noted as the first style of yoga known to man. The Kemetic yogic system is recognized as the foundation of religious structures around the world. When we look at the meaning; yoga means to yoke. Connecting the breath to body as well as our higher and lower self. Smai Tawi ( Kemetic Yoga) means the union of two lands; holding the same purpose and truth as what would be considered today as western yoga inspired by India. As we dig deeper we will find no mention of a Devil in ancient times. The satin or Setian self are our impure thoughts and worldly desires; which strokes our egos. The root of our irrational impulsive actions as well as our greed. Yoga is designed to help us find that balance so that our ego may be satisfied in a way which feeds the soul; bringing a sense of wholeness to ones being. Many mathematicians, architects, prophets, sages, and much more in early Kemet mastered yoga before perfecting their craft. Yoga was used as a means to reach their highest realm of thinking and self. It is were we found ourselves before entering into the world to master ourselves. When looking at hieroglyphics we notice the correlation of yoga in the many poses our ancestors were in. It is there we notice some Kemetic Yoga poses were named after the gods. Each pose focuses on alignment physically as well as spiritually. The goal is to always balance those energies within ourselves. In doing so we are able to cleanse ourselves of the energy that weighs us down. When the Kemetic Empire spread to India the spiritual practices followed as well. When studying Kemetic Yoga and Modern Yoga the language may be different however the principles and concepts are all the same. Acknowledging words and meaning become lost in translation and dialect; we can see the commonalities run deeper the more we dive into the yogic practice. Although there are many schools of thought the foundation and destination is the same; total peace. There are many forms of yogis and all are respected because of that one simple truth. India keeps the Kemetic Yoga essence alive in the hills. Many individuals break away from their societal structure in search of a deeper meaning to life. This involves fasting and praying for many days. As well as heavy meditation; in this yogis are able to be detach themselves from what is now seen as a normal way of life. The yogi is detached yet fully conscious and in tune.
Benefits
On my last post I go in depth on the benefits of yoga in many ways. After 2 years of practicing I am able to share more of my experience. I used yoga as rehabilitation after my knee injury; from that point on I have been using yoga as a go to for everything. Yoga is great for lower and upper back pains as well as shoulders. For women with painful menstrual cramps restorative and gentle yoga is a great tool for the bloating and the tension. For athletes as well as those who lift a lot of weights yoga gives a wider range of motion and prevents injuries. Yoga is also great for those who have anxiety as well as for those who battle with depression. The breathing techniques assist with calming of the nervous system and treats asthma as well. There are many healing components to the yogic practice and many are still researching other benefits. There is a sense of discipline within the practice that aids adults and children alike with concentration. Those we struggle with a spinal condition can benefit from the practice as well. Where there is a need yoga meets it.
As my journey continues my only goal is to deepen my love and practice. All while sharing the healing practice with others.
It’s a new year and some of us are on the road to being a new and better us. With many new New Year Resolutions in high gear there is one that gets recycled every year. The Resolution to drop a few pounds. We often start off motivated and inspired however somewhere we fall off some where along the way. No worries this is not a blog to post nasty pictures of pork and red meet; or to tell you how bad it is. I am here to tell you that it’s OKAY. And to ask a question that many of us may have yet to ask ourselves.
Does Size Really Matter?!
We have heard the term size matters time and time again. However, does that statement hold true in the context of a woman’s figure? Over the years the color of our skin and the shape of our body has caused much controversy. We find ourselves using terms such as skinny, petite, thick, average, fat, and obese; what does it look like to be any of theses sizes? Who signs off on the meaning of too fat or too skinny? Some may argue that words such as thick are used out of context. Many of us obsess over our weight because we want to have the perfect body. Causing ourselves to become sick in the process; not just in terms of anorexia and bulimia. There are some of us who find ourselves over indulging to gain the pounds we feel we lack. Everywhere we turn there are cross-fit gyms, personal trainers, and social media sensations desire to look like. However many of us are merely imitating what we see. Is that wrong? Of course not. The true danger in not knowing is dietary. Often times we work out and return home to poor eating habits. If we are not putting the right fuel in our bodies how well we keep it up will not matter. Health Over Image; many of us live in the gym only to have serious health conditions later on. Does our bodies really make us who we are if we are constantly ill?
Body Shape Does Not Determine Health!! When speaking of health I am talking in terms of immunity, physically, spiritually, and mentally. We often confuse physique with health. You can be thick and very healthy; slim and unhealthy. As well as fat and vegan or skinny and have poor eating habits. The true work is in eating to live not living to eat. Meaning it is our responsibility to keep our bodies functioning properly.There is nutrients in all of the foods we should be eating to give us longevity. Our food consumption is the key to a well functioning vessel. Taking the natural approach not only give us a great body but it acts as a preventative regiment to fight off ailments. Yes, meat is not meant for our bodies however it is not a necessity to drop it completely. Asses how your body feels when you eat certain meats and/or too much meat. And make the judgement on what you need to cut out. The truth is too much meat is bad for the body and we will get sick. Taking baby steps is what is needed to get our bodies to full health. When taking the natural route whether vegan, vegetarian, or simply all organic our bodies begin to take its natural form and is able to fight off any ailment it encounters. Exercising is an additive to assist in the toning and longevity of mind, body,and soul. Taking our health into our own hands is an act of self love. We should feel as good as we look and look as look as good as we feel.
Health Secretes They Don’t Tell You?
Being mindful that when you change your habits of eating along with you personal life your body begins to return to it’s natural state and size. Many of us do not realize how important eating clean is to the body and soul. The foods we consume have the power to charge, cleanse, and strengthen our chakras as well as harm them. Chakras are our energy wheels with in the body. Think of them as pressure point of the soul. Our chakras can be over stimulated, under stimulated, or blocked completely. They are a reflection of our mental and emotional state. Our mentality is what controls the state of our chakras as well as our daily functions and interaction. What we consume and engage in daily has the power drain or energize the chakras. There are food that are soothing to the soul as well as food that can clog the soul. Fruit and vegetable naturally have a direct correlation to the chakra system bring our longevity and vitality to body. The foods we crave, our emotional state, and areas of stress or tension is a reflection of our chakra alignment. Balancing our intake of proteins ( not necessarily meats), roots, spices, liquids, and more makes way for a healthy diet and chakra system. When are chakra are cleansed and aligned we tend to have more clear perspective on our day to day life as well as smoother days. We are less sluggish and cravings; emotions are stable with less of a tendency for out burst and lash outs.
Know that we have more control and will power over our emotions than we realize. We have healthier food options that give us the ability to be Eco-friendly and health conscious. Health is wealth not the other way around.
Listed below are tips about ways to naturally lose weight as well as vegan habits that may help you pack on pounds.
Rest set and reflect. Something I needed much time to do.
Have you ever felt as though you were losing yourself? As if you are trying your hardest to hold on to the pieces of yourself that keep you going. Like you’re looking for ways to salvage what your reflection use to looks like. The feeling of losing ones self in some cases may be what triggers depression and anger issues. When you are losing yourself it feels as though you do not have control of your life; like everyone wants a piece of you. Or like everyone is holding on to the old frame of what use to be you. To lose yourself is to become a robot; carrying the same routine day in and day out with little to no capacity for self. We begin to slowly back track reverting to old ways. In some cases we become stagnate because we fill stuck; trapped with no where to turn. Each of us go through a time in our life where we fill we are suppose to chase something. Whether it is money, fancy items, the latest trends, fame, or all of the above. When do we reach a point where we realize this doesn’t make us who we are? How can we treat ourselves to nice things and “quality” living without falling in the materialism trap of what seems to be “normal”?
Each time you start a new chapter you are destined to fight to save yourself once more. As you shift in income you being to run after more money. You want to make sure you keep the steady income maybe even work harder to see little increases here and there. However, this wasn’t my problem. My problem was fighting to not compromise myself for the sake of keeping what was steady, normal, and secure. I felt myself embarking on a new curve of my spiritual journey; one that would test my breaking point. My fight was not with money, materialism, or temptations it was with conformity. We are often asked to remove layers of ourselves to let others in all while keeping emotions dormant. We are asked to over extend ourselves to make others comfortable. Wearing a mask in society is a normal day to day thing. Little do we know we become that mask and slowly our true self is forgotten. All because we no longer have the capacity for self.
*How much do I love myself to carve out as much time for me? That is the question I ask myself.*
As you set boundaries for yourself to protect your peace others become angry. The more comfortable you become with yourself the more uncomfortable you make others. Mask are pulled back and the truth of others will show.
My decision to take a break was a slow and gradual process. It was a must for me to pull back slowly but surely. I felt as though I was losing a grip of my peace and I wanted to asses the issue little by little. I had become very sensitive and vulnerable to the negativity around me. I found myself uneasy and in tears. I was not easily worked up however irritability and frustration was close to second nature. I gradually became uninspired. Some days I didn’t feel like doing anything. Taking small escapes is what kept me going. Because I felt myself slipping away I would force time in to read and write so that my creativity wouldn’t fad away. However, it felt like every time I found a groove something would happen to lower my frequency. I began to pull away from people, activities, and actions that didn’t align with my values or morals. In this I created space for my meditation and yoga. I carved out a little more time that I had for writing; it wasn’t enough……… My heart craved more, my soul was heavy, and my mind wondered. While at work I found myself day dreaming about what else was out there; drifting to a space where I was doing what I loved to do. I dreamed of being in a space were I was appreciated and valued for being my true authentic self. I wasn’t in a good head space. I realized there were times I questioned my intuition and my sacred connection. That is when I knew I needed more of a push. It was time for a radical act of self love.
For a while I had been putting into the universe that I wanted to further my knowledge and master my craft. I planned and set up a time line and the opportunity presented itself when I needed it most. Taking the leap of faith I enrolled in Yoga Teacher Training. Everything that I knew was confirmed and life slowly came full circle. It wasn’t until I took a week to disconnect I realized I needed silence. No phone no social media just nature and endless adventure. My soul was happy and I was surrounded by nothing but love in it’s purest form. After connecting with nature and stepping out of my comfort zone I felt it was only right to take that time for self. I carried that with me and realized I needed to extend that period of silence. I wanted to experience the silence in stillness as well; no adventures just stillness with self. I needed time to shift my perspective and focus on the present moment. I had forgotten why I embarked on this journey back to self. Because of this I needed to remember my purpose and honor my journey. Honoring your journey allows us to honor our pace along that journey as well. To honoring my pace I needed to take time away from outside influences. I often felt it was a race instead of a tribe of people making a difference. As I focused my energy on being lighter my time at work became lighter. Once Hurricane Harvey hit I was forced to bring the self care aspect back into my life; something I desperately needed. Being in an environment where the energy and mindset is scattered or weird can drain a person mentally, physically, and spiritually. During the hurricane I had time to up the doses of self love and care. I meditated and recharged myself; reflecting on myself in every way was healing to my soul. During the hurricane I spent much needed time outside. One day while it rained I allowed myself to take a walk in the rain. As the rain rolled down my flesh it felt as though every drop was cleansing me. That day I gained clarity and started to goal set. I knew my perspectives were shifting however I didn’t know in what way.
I quit. The shift was to take another leap of faith on self. To resign and dedicate myself to the path that is carved out specifically for me. Scary? Yes. Nerve wrecking? Of course. However, it is so worth it. There comes a time in our lives where we will be tested. We often times confess to the Most High that we want our universe to shift. We speak things into the universe that we wish to manifest in our lives. We do this without expecting to take action ourselves. When we ask of anything within the universe it is expected of us to do the work that is required. This is how we grow; it is necessary to take leaps of faith on ourselves. Trusting our intuition is trusting our higher self our soul that guides us which is directed by the Most High.
Peace and Blessing,
My thoughts my views, Share with me, vibe with me
– Rose
Constina’s Boutique is filled with beautiful authentic clothing and much more. The boutique makes you feel like family the moment you visit with them. Their pricing is very reasonable and there is something that caters to every style you could imagine. I had the opportunity to shop with them at an amazing event and I was in heaven. I love the fact that everything is often an one of a kind piece with the exception of a few things. Therefore it is few far and in between that you will cross paths with someone that has on the exact same outfit as you. As vendors they were so personable and they pulled out all the stops. The owners are such beautiful souls and their shop reflects just that.
Both tops you see featured below have a loose fit that allows for comfortable movement.
When looking up the term old soul it is rare that we come across a concrete definition of what that term really means. We often hear the term at a very young age when we are called an old soul. Elders say it with sense of pride as though they are giving you a bage of honor. Referring to our effortless ability to hold good conversation and listen attentively as they tell stories passing on wisdom. As we look up the meaning of an old soul list come up that describe what is to be one. The description consist of; you are very wise and spiritually in tune. Often times introverted and withdrawn from the materialistic way of living. Urban Dictionary also gave a brief definition of an old soul.
A spiritual person whom is wise beyond their years; people of strong emotional stability.Basically, someone whom has more understanding of the world around them. Some people even believe an old soul is a person whom has learned from past incarnations, or lives.
We are told time and time again that we are “Wise beyond our years”. Others may go out of their way to tell us it is almost as though we have been here on this earth before. However, we never truly knew the extent of what that meant until we were old enough to be fully aware of our actions. To be an old soul is to be unapologetic in your authentic self. We put thought into everything we do to insure we are remaining true to our self. As we grow older we can probably think back to the many times being wise got us in trouble. For example constantly asking “why”. In being an old soul; as a child we never went about the conventional way of doing things if we didn’t understand. “Because I said so” wasn’t enough to convince us of anything. Even though we would get in trouble for asking too many questions we often got our answers one way or another.
We always knew from an early age there was more to life. The status quo often bores us due to the fact that we may feel trapped in a box. When we find ourselves confined to the beliefs of others we feel compelled to break free.We are fully aware of our divine right to be authentic in every way. There is something deep within us telling us we have the ability to create the life we have always wanted. Fulfilling our purpose is always in the forefront of our mind.When in a box we are aware we are forced to repress our souls cravings and our hearts desire. Aware we are placed in a rat race to create competition or conformity; we consciously seek deep meaningful connections. Because of this some of us may be drawn to a none materialistic way of living. Our hearts may desire the freedom to travel the country or even the world to experience other cultures and their way of living. We acknowledge there are many perspectives within this world and we are driven to explore those views. Everything within the universe is full of life. Everything that has life has a purpose to serve. In being old souls; wise beyond our years we often feel the need to assist the universe in healing to rise back to it’s full potential. Feeling compelled to assist the universe in healing and raising the conscious level; we realize this is more than a feeling it is a purpose. The gift of purpose comes with the perspective to see that everything is connected. Everything is connected by energy because everything is energy. Energy has a divine order which can not be destroyed.
Being an old soul may consist of holding space for others as an listening ear. Often times called an empath; we relate to others and their experiences because we are very sensitive to energy. If we can not relate we are able to feel their emotions on a soul level. Because of this people are drawn to us and often times feel comfortable enough to vent about anything. Old souls, empaths, indigo children, etc are all titles and labels that have pretty similar meanings. The titles often refer to those that have a higher energy frequency. With those frequencies comes a sensitivity to others energy and emotions. Your energy level allows you to have a aura or energy that transforms negative or stagnate energy into something positive. However, everybody has a different experience; although we may experience similar moments. It is hard to compare each persons spiritual journey. Many of us may feel older than what are from time to time; causing us to feel the need to rush through life. We all have a purpose to feel and rushing the process causes us to forget the purpose and 9 x’s out of 10 miss the purpose. Being spiritually inclined we often feel as though we can not relate to others. We are often introverted until we warm up and get to know people. Often labeled a loner however it is normally not the case. We enjoy meaningful conversations and/or being out exploring what our surrounds has to offer. We are happy with our own company doing things that intrigue us. When we do hold space for others it is for meaningful, memorable, and adventurous fun. Old souls may be seen as the “odd ball” in many cases. Although we can adjust to just about any setting as long as at the core we do not feel out of place deep within or the need to compromising who we are.
The truth of the matter is everyone including old souls are unique in many ways. To compromise who we are to fit in is not the name of the game for many old souls or etc. Becoming a better version of self is what drives an old soul and enjoying the many gifts of life. Because it feels we have a second chance in many instances self growth is at the top of our list. Knowing there is more to life than meets the eye; stagnant is a direct reflection of what we do not wish to become. Because of this we often need to rest and reflect. Something I needed much time to do.
Peace and Blessing,
My thoughts my views, Share with me, vibe with me
– Rose
Yoga, when broken down to Yuj means to bring together. In yoga we are bringing the body back to the breath. When researching the history of yoga we find the many fathers and pioneers from different schools of thought.We find that each school of thought is reaching a similar goal; ultimate peace. With yoga we can find it dates back over 10,000 years. More interestingly enough we will find that meditation was the first depiction of yoga. When practicing yoga we find ourselves focusing on our breathe from the beginning of class to the end. We use the breathe to heat, energize,and cool the body. In focusing on our breathe yoga becomes meditative and relaxing no matter the style or pace. Surrendering to our breath allowing it to carries our movement; it is then yoga and meditation is connected. Yoga is often referred to meditation in motion. We each have our own yoga preferences and experiences. Some of us do yoga for spiritual purposes and some for the workout. The fact of the matter is we are meditating whether we realize it or not. The same applies to yoga; we are doing yoga daily. When we are being mindful our thoughts as well as actions we are doing yoga. Taking the time to consciously remind ourselves to breathe we are doing yoga and meditation.
The art of yoga and meditation is rooted in stillness. When our lives feel chaotic we must challenge ourselves to remain committed to that moment and breath through it. However, we find a way to retreat so we do not have to deal with the choatic uncomfortable situation. In yoga poses become more challenging, we being to shake, it becomes uncomfortable, and we want it to be over so we come out of it. When things get hard that is when yoga kicks in. We then remember to breath and find that solid foundation we started with. In meditation being still is the hardest thing to do. We want to fidget, open our eyes, look around, and our thoughts become scattered. Some call this having monkey mind. Monkey mind is when our thoughts are all over the place and we can not focus on just one single thing. It is as though your mind is filled with drunken monkeys all making noise for attention; the loudest of them all is fear. Meditation initially may seem impossible because we are afraid of carving out time for ourselves. We are afraid we may not have enough time or that someone may see this as being selfish with our time. Often times it is the fear of silence; it is the loudest when your thoughts begin to roll in. In meditation we have the challenge of facing those thoughts without feeding them energy with our emotions. The moment a thought triggers an emotional reaction we are stuck in that moment for what may seem a lifetime. Allowing each thought to flow freely pass us gives us the capacity to let go, forgive, and be lighter.
Even though yoga and meditation challenge us on different levels one of the connections between the two are reactions. When practicing yoga and meditation we are training the mind and body to be less reactionary to our thoughts. Each thought we have triggers an emotion in turn triggering a reaction. In practicing stillness and fluidity we learn to think before we react as well as flow with the currents of life; becoming more observant of mind, body, and soul rather than reactionary. There are a few yoga poses that cause us to deepen the breath.
Pigeon Pose, a hip opener that provokes thought. We are promoted to rest in this posture for quiet some time to allow our hips to open and breathe through the process. Our hips carry the issues and trash we thought we let go of. Here is where what if’s and why not reside. In this moment it’s very enticing to interact with those thoughts rather than breath through them. Deepening the breathe and sinking deeper on the exhales makes way for a deeper posture.
Svansana, a yoga pose that focus on breathe solely. This is the most important yoga pose of yoga; at least that’s what the people say. Right? Along with “Can we smile to lessen the tension in the face?”. In svansana we are laying down, hands gentle resting by our sides, palms facing upward to the heavens, and our eyes are closed. We are breathing; mentally scanning our bodies to feel and observe every tingling sensation. What do we do? We experience the sensations we connect with them. In this we allow our body to feel and our mind to interpret the sensations without any reaction physically. Here thoughts come up as well. We allow ourselves to be the observer of the thoughts. Our breathe acts as a filter releasing each thought back into the universe
When things get intense such as hip openers or uncomfortable like silence and stillness it is our first thought to move around and/or entertain the thoughts in our mind. Through yoga and meditation we learn to not take every thought and situation seriously. Honor the time you carve out for self no matter how big or small. Just drop and yoga. Namaste.
Peace and Blessing,
My thoughts my views, share with me, vibe with me,
When we take a look at social media, the magazines, and our TV’s we see that Zen is in. Everyone is talking about yoga and meditation as if it were a new fashion trend. To some it is just another fad while to others it is a way of life. Nonetheless, people are looking for alternative ways to fight off the stress of day to day life and more; and meditation is in fact one of them. But why? More importantly why is mediation in? I started meditating as an extension of my yoga practice. I chose meditation as a way to calm my anxiety and anger. I realized how much smoother my days went by in college as I deepened my practice. I was able to set intentions for the day and in that I become more focused. I noticed I was more involved in my school work and how my grades improved along the way. Aside from retaining information better inside the classroom and outside; I am more in tune with my emotions. I noticed how I responded to situations as well as why my emotions change throughout the day. Creating that mindfulness assisted with being less reactive; forcing me to express how I felt and why. In that I was able to learn how to pick and choose my battles. In meditation I realized I am able to take ownership of my mind, body, and soul. Yoga and meditation is what I thank for my knee healing as rapidly as it did also. Yoga and meditation has become the cure for any ailments that I may have that doesn’t require medical attention. Why is that?
Meditation by definition is vague do to the fact that there are many different approaches to meditation leaving room for many interpretations. However, meditation is holding space for yourself. As we hold space for ourselves we begin to create more space by clearing space. Meditation is simply focusing on our breath. As we focus on our breathe we allow our thoughts to come and go with each breathe. In doing this we create awareness of the mind without interacting with our thoughts directly. Connecting the mind with the breath allows us to connect with our bodies as well as bring everything in sync on a soul level. In this awareness meditation becomes a lifestyle due us becoming more mindful of our actions and reactions. When talking about meditation many assume to meditate you have to be seated only. Meditation can be in movement as well; yoga is meditation synced with movement. There are yoga practices that challenge us to place a movement with each breathe we take. Meditation can also be dancing. When we sent an intention to use these practices as meditation it is done. *Well how do you I begin meditation?*
I am glad you asked. You begin mediating by creating space for yourself. What does that mean? It means carving out time for yourself; which is the hardest part. Once we have carved out time for ourselves we can meditate anyway we want. You can meditate lying down, in cobblers pose (sitting Indian Style), in the shower, or even in a chair. There is no right or wrong way to meditate; as long the focus is on breathe. Many may choose to use crystals, incense, and/or essential oils to add on to their meditation practice as well. When meditating it is all about what resonates with you. In finding what resonates with you, you being to experience the many benefits of meditating. Let’s look at some benefits of meditation:
Physical Benefits would consist of: Great Sleep, Boost Endorphins, Increase in energy, help PMS, help infertility, and Reduces Hypertension
Mental Benefits would consist of: Boost in learning ability, quiets the mind chatter, improve memory, beats bipolar disorder, and beats addiction.
Emotional Benefits would consist of: Control of anger, cure anxiety, clarity, beat depression, helps PTSD, cure phobias, and productivity
Spiritual Benefits would consist of: Inner stillness/silence, awaken intuition, higher consciousness, discover life purpose, present focus, and balance chakras.
Choosing mediation is choosing to give yourself a new life. Connecting the mind and body to breathe is a metaphysical way of pressing reset. There are many scientific as well as metaphysical benefits that come from the practice of meditation. I say this because once we begin meditating we not only become aware of the mind but our inner and outer body as well. We start to notice that our bodies tell us when it needs a break from certain things or a little TLC. In that we learn how to tend to every part of our being. These are the many reasons why mediation is a lifestyle.
If you would like to research more about the amazing benefits of meditation visit Live and Dare as well as Eco Institute.
