care

Circadian Rhythm

/ Self-Diagnosed Yogi / Leave a comment

What is it about time that makes our bodies crave a scheduled cycle? There’s a feeling of necessity for me and I crave a schedule even though I fight it sometimes. My bedtime is 9:30 pm everyday. I wake up at 4:30 am most days. My schedule rarely changes except during daylight savings time. We fall back an hour. Here we go…

Night, night, Sunflower. Enjoy the full moon gaze tonight. 💗

Last year, I stayed in bed until 5:30 am most mornings. I get all kinds of emotions about getting up into the cooler air to get my bathroom habits done and get my day started. I am very aware of my patterns so planning ahead is imminent. My morning routine is still in infancy so I need to define it into fall and winter so it doesn’t get lost. I love my morning routine. It is so imperative to start your day right!!

My morning meditation and journaling routine😍

The weather outside is getting slower. The weather is getting chilly overnight. My basil harvest is over and I put them in my compost. I feel myself longing for a slower schedule. Who am I to not listen to my intuition or my body. I am learning to respect myself on all levels of being. I put complete trust in myself unlike before. I am ok with this because I put in a lot of work into myself over the summer. I wish I found more time to be on my paddle board. I still have a month or so, so there’s still time to slow down and be in my head.

My medicinal garden is abundant and I have all the goods to prepare for winter! St. John’s Wort studies indicate assistance with seasonal depression…of course, Disclaimer: this is not proven to treat, diagnose, or cure anything.

Typically, I eat dinner around 5pm. I ate too late last night and what I notice about myself this morning is sluggish. I also ate grease and sugar which is 1,000% what I expect. I had a healthier alternative in the fridge I completely forgot about until I reflected on it this morning writing my blog. Ha! I am lucky to have a clear understanding on what works and what doesn’t. It makes decision making easier if you know the outcome. I plan on having brunch with my parents this morning so I’ll look for a very light helping of fruit or green juice. This will give my body time to digest last nights bad decision😝

Some kind of hybrid pepper😂 I have been roasting, dehydrating, and grounding my peppers for chili powder. I have so many Serrano peppers too😍

My biggest meal is usually lunch. This is when digestion is most fiery. Get in my belly! I am making sure it’s balanced with bitter, astringent, salty, sweet, pungent, and sour. I miss being creative in the kitchen. I’ll have more time as I will crave being home more in the winter and as it chills outside. Do you notice your seasonal habits? I mean I’m lucky in a sense because I experience 4 seasons. It’s beautiful! I have a maple tree in my backyard and as it gets fiery colored it is a gentle reminder to let my fire slow or risk burn out. I am so kapha so I understand why fall is my favorite. Don’t get me wrong! I love summer and all her heat! I detox and sweat and move in my life with all the love! Summer is freeing! Let your hair down, no bras…stay real💖

Jalapeño lemonade season

Another huge habit to keep in any changing season is to move. I love my yoga in all seasons. I especially love restorative yoga and all of its healing intentions. Walking is especially important to me. I love exploring nature and my neighborhood. There are a lot of walkers and that’s beautiful. We have a walking/running group. I love my community. I have to get ready for my yoga session. Stay mindful and stay in your knowledge. You’re the only person on the planet who knows what you need. Get in your head and stay mindful and pay attention💝 stay gifted✌🏽

Namastè 🙏🏽

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.

A Day Off Yogi Life

/ Self-Diagnosed Yogi / 2 Comments

Hi, Friends!!

I hope the world has been kind to you. I had a pretty good week so far. Work-life balance is sustainable, my bills are paid, food in the fridge, and I have my health. I decided to take a mental health day to enjoy the fruits of my labor and surround myself with all the things I enjoy. These are the best, earned days off ever!!

Breakfast craving: sliced apple, almond butter, homemade granola, cinnamon❤

A day cannot start without my morning routine. Always. I get my bathroom habits done, sit & sage myself, then begin my Reiki practice. I am hearing new things and my visions are becoming more developed. Eeeek! I love progression!

Me trying to read my tea cup after ingesting. I saw a crane.

I have been loving tulsi tea. I bought Tulsi Rose tea from my friend and this is my daily ritual. I performed Reiki on myself yesterday and I found I need to drink more water, cayenne, hot water daily. I also need to buy a filter and drink filtered water only. Lol! Things I am already aware of but they surfaced as important so I am trusting my gut❤ I did manage to bring my hot water with me all day to sip on.

No time like tea time outside💜

I begin my movement practice at 5:30 am in my Rise & Shine Yoga. All the slow, methodical movements get my joints cracking and eventually get all nice and lubricated. I find my mind is so laser focused on my body sensations. I take all the care to ensure my body is not injured during our hour practice.

I soak up all the morning glory🥰

Today, I decided to treat myself to a London Fog on my way to the lake to meditate. After all, it is a day off. A treat for the cause but the meditation is the true TREAT🥰

A healthy lunch makes me swoon. Today, was pizza Friday though and I couldn’t pass up.

To make the most out of my day I have been block scheduling. I usually only do this on work days but I found this to be beneficial today because I have so many events now that my morning self healing is complete. There are so many great videos on YouTube to help you design your day to fit your needs! I highly suggest!!

So detailed and as you see, not a minute wasted!

I water the community garden and get the vegetables that are ripe and ready to eat picked and put up for the community to grab and eat. I truly love taking care of people. My superpower is embedded in my cells. Now, I am off to lunch with my brother! Then, headed to therapy and we’ll catch up!

Normally, I would be stressing about getting my lemons and limes juiced but I get to sit at the coffee shop with my computer. I am in love with today! I have about 30 minutes of reflection time to get a few more chores done before Acupuncture.

Work calls but the weekend vibes are getting stronger😍

I am currently in Acupuncture loving the tender care today brought me. I need to grab dinner before heading home to get well rested for my busy weekend. I’ll update you on my summer nights routine soon. I hope this transpires to a healthy message for you or affirmation for you to keep on the path. Don’t stop and keep learning about yourself. We are powerful and ever-knowing.

Namastè🙏🏽

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.

Practice Makes Perfect

/ Self-Diagnosed Yogi / Leave a comment

Hi, Yogis!!❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍

I had a stellar day! It’s amazing how going to bed early and waking early with a routine and intention can cure energy zaps! I typically wake at 4:30 am and get my bathroom habits done quickly so I can get on my mat and perform reiki before my 30 min yoga flow. I have been craving a nature meditation daily, so outside I go. I’m in front of my computer for work at 7:30 am. I seriously love my morning routine!

I love to greet and witness the light you bring🌄

I have never felt so alive in my skin. What is it you ask? Well, I’m asleep by 9:30 pm and awake at 4:30 am bright eyed and bushy tailed. I wake with intention for my yoga practice, my reiki practice, my meditation practice.  These are my why. I KNOW these work for me. 

My morning sunrise walks are my time to reflect without paper. My best ideas are on walks or on my mat❤

I started my Ayurveda classes last year. I learned these habits via Kate Stillman and her book “Body Thrive”. I highly, highly suggest this book! I managed to luxuriate myself with my bedtime routine. I love bubbly, steamy baths, filled with reading by candlelight or YouTube. What can I say? Balance.💜 I use rose Epsom salt, Lavender bath bubbles, my own created body oils, dry brushing. All the beauty. Does it have to be this extravagant? No.  I like my bedtime routine and it fits my life. You’ll figure out yours in your time and it’ll be beautiful for you!

My morning routine is so nourishing.

I finally, yes, a year later, created my morning routine! It’s perfect for me now. I awake at 4:30 am and do yoga & reiki. I will drive or walk to nature and meditate. It’s really working on me! I feel the pull of this natural attraction. This feels so familiar and reminds me of my early mornings as a kid spending time in the woods exploring. It keeps pulling me back!

I am so proud of how far I came. I had no life in me. I was a robot going through the day to day routine. Years flew by. I am glad to be where I am. My mind is clear and I am focused on my future. I am up for a promotion at work and my business is thriving. I have vacations planned. I am keeping to my work schedule so I don’t find myself working extra late most days. I find strict boundaries keep me from burn out. I have to take care of me and listen to my intuition. If we listen to our intuition, we will breeze through life trouble free. I like that. ❤

Get curious about how you are gliding through life. Small changes create big ripples and people will notice your new energy. It’s quite magnificent and anyone can do it.

Namastè 🙏🏽

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.

Self Care is Love ❤️

/ Self-Diagnosed Yogi / Leave a comment

Hi, my yogi friend!

My best days are the days full of attending to my needs. I know. Why a full day? Have you ever needed a moment? Some time to wind down and process your wins of the week? I think even an hour is time well invested. I’ll take you on my typical day of healing for inspiration only purposes.

I love to heal my body using any modality necessary💝 even if it’s 11 needles to the crown.

I will awake and spend time in bed stretching and gathering my morning plans in my head to get me prepared. Lately, I’ve been getting ready for a long nature meditation at the lake where I will journal and use my tarot cards. I enjoy my alone time to get my headspace right and get ready for work or my day depending on the day. I am working  up to 5 min of stillness. I truly enjoy this practice and it heals my soul. Deep healing.

I am amazed every night and morning I can witness the beauty of the moon. This smiling moon is amazing😍

I will get home in time to get changed for work and get my breakfast ready which is usually oatmeal and peaches or Raisin bran with plant milk. I’m usually starving by this moment which is the summer digestion, all fiery unlike any other season. My kapha slow digestion is a thing of the past in these fast moving days of summer. I appreciate a powerful digestion.

Balance😆

Lunchtime can be crazy. I sometimes have appointments, meetings, all the things at noon. I’m also supposed to eat something that will sustain my high energy levels and keep me from making too many bad decisions. I try to get in a yoga session or at least eat my meal with intention and know I’m ingesting beneficial medicine for my beautiful body.

When in doubt chop it all up and mix with citrus juice, salt and pepper. It’s summer salad season!

By the time I’m done with work my body is ready for movement. I mean a juicy, fluidity, bendy yoga with lots of Pranayama. Yummmm! I am trying to get into a habit of moving atleast 30 min in the morning. I’ll either move to what feels good to my body or practice to a video. I also have 4 yoga classes Monday- Thursday at 5:30 pm and Friday at 5:30 am.

Uttanasana- forward fold. A delicious back stretch❤

I am craving my Ayurveda basics of earlier, lighter dinner. My plan is to eat before yoga but I won’t fret too much about it. I’m sure to eat dinner before the sun goes down. I also am mindful on what foods do good to my body versus bad. I know my body doesn’t like dairy. It’s loud with gas and I can be constipated after. I have to weigh the benefits. I typically like a smooth operation.

Spicy beef birria nachos which utilized all 6 tastes of Ayurveda.

My most prized ritual is my nighttime love fest. No, not that. Lol! I typically begin at 8 and will bathe or shower and moisturize with my homemade herbal oils and crawl into bed for reading, learning, getting tomorrow planned and I get to cuddle with my husband and discuss our day. I will make sure my facial skin is properly pampered for. I’ve been so diligent and creating new facial oils and body creams. I love creating these decadent creams. So luxurious!

My yarrow six week infused oil will make a great body cream🥰 I’ll also keep it around to stop bleeding.

My most prized self care ritual is journaling. I get to reflect on my day and digest it fully. I can list my gratitudes and see how many days in a row I can journal. I’m on a two week roll and it’s great to be so intune with myself. I try not to take any moment for granted. I’m here to learn and take away the lessons to apply in my life. In my circumstances. The growing process is forever changing for me. I’m learning what it takes to feel my best and this routine is so, so, so good for me. Establish yours and be gentle with yourself. Kaison. Small steps.

Me and my journal witness the best sunrises🥺

Namastè🙏🏽

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.

Abhyanga (Self Massage)

/ Self-Diagnosed Yogi / Leave a comment

Happy Wednesday!!

Whoa! Two posts in a row? Who is she? Well, I have a lot to share since my three-week hiatus! I rediscovered self-massage and let me tell you that there is nothing like it! Get you some body oil, lotion, coconut oil (yes, that one in the kitchen will work!), and let’s get this thousands of years old practice to work!

So, I made my own dandelion salve and had my masseuse use her magic fingers and hands to work this into my sore neck and legs and it was dramatically life changing. I decided to practice abhyanga or self-massage to tend to my sore muscles at home every night…. well, most nights.

I like to make me a hot tea and sit on a towel and rub away. I pay close attention to every inch of body. I feel like my endorphins are exploding with sheer pleasure when I practice my abhyanga. Especially when I’m sore. Plus, there are benefits of detoxification and preventing premature aging. My hand is raised, please sign me up!

I would love to try this before bathing so I can let the oil sit on my skin and penetrate the layers with detoxifying benefits of whatever herbs I decide to infuse. I’m thinking a lavender rose vanilla infusion with sunflower oil, jojoba, and coconut oil for its cooling benefits. I love, love, love floral scents with deep vanilla scents. I can’t wait to begin my infusion and it’ll be just in time for summer. I need to research more how this oil situation will be going down my drain. If it’s a no go I’ll just continue with my after shower/bath rub down. No biggie!

I like to concentrate on my head. I will use some vitamin E or jojoba oil and just a few drops and massage in with my fingers all over my scalp. I pay attention to my Marma points and stay firm with my movements. Next, I move onto my neck and shoulders then arms…you get the point. Think long up and down strokes on your bones and circles in both directions on your joints. I also “C” clamp my hands on my forearm and move in half circles back and forth up and down. I hope my night routine continues to support my self massage. I’m really feeling grounded and clear headed with my routine.

I hope this sparks some idea to begin your research on abhyanga. I truly appreciate my body and all it does for me. I want to treat it with all the respect and give my body the healing movements and treatments it needs to recharge. It gets me ready for bed which gives my body the rest it needs to begin another day. Please do not let not having organic, unrefined, cold pressed oil stop you from trying this today/tonight. Just get what you have on hand and explore. This is good medicine and I highly recommend.

Namaste!

Life Asanas

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Hello my yogi friends!

This was created 5/7/22 but in my pending file😅 I’m not 100% sure where I was going with this. Maybe a week in the life? Enjoy❤️

Tuesday was the day I began my new morning yoga practice and practice I did! Post meditation. I started with exploring slowly sun salutations. I connected fully and held the positions for 5 breaths. I pushed myself to all edges even beginning in mountain pose (standing pose). I spread each toe and meticulously placed them down in perfect formation. I could feel each ridge in my foot and felt completely grounded and ready to begin my practice.

Mr. Baby loves yoga.

I allowed myself time to practice shoulder stands, plow, headstands, crow pose. I’m definitely loving the time I take to explore each pose. I do find if I record myself, I have something to help guide me into the correct alignment if I’m doubting myself or at least away from hurting myself. Safety is number one always. Especially when you are by yourself.

Idk about you but I always love to make time for a long savasana. I do love to meditate either guided or silent but it’s such a great intunement time. I appreciate lots of opportunities to meditate, especially in the morning. I am blessed to enjoy a free symphony of birds in my backyard. They serenade me while eating their seeds.

It’s Wednesday and I didn’t do a morning yoga session. I instead walked my dogs by the river and let them frolic in the tall grass. They literally had smiles the whole time. They really love being dogs. I was going to get my paddle board out and float at the lake with my dogs but I had some things around the house I needed to get accomplished and there will be a whole season devoted to such days 🙂

I found myself studying my herbalism lessons and organizing my kitchen. There were lots of little tasks to complete and I’m proud to announce they were all completed. This was definitely an accomplished day for me, and I was able to stay grounded and focused on my goals.

It’s crazy how fast Thursday showed up, but it was another day of no yoga. I’m kind of lost on how to begin my journey into Ashtanga. I have a book, “The Power of Ashtanga Yoga” by Kino MacGregor, that I love but I need to reread it to get me motivated on how to start. I can also pull up a practice on YouTube. A full Ashtanga session is 90 min of amazing breath practice and amazing human forms. So beautiful!

After dinner, I had to work on my weekend farmers market plan and measurements on how much to prepare. I’m also exploring ways to utilize my lemon and limes after I squeeze them besides composting them. I feel like it’s a waste to just compost them when they have such good medicine left. I can’t wait to see how this turns out!

Fun in the sun 🙂

My last day of the typical work week, Friday, is among us. I had to wake up early and begin juicing my lemons. I decided to soak my lemons in vinegar to create an amazing kitchen/bathroom spray. I love the benefits of vinegar which disinfect and clean with no streaks and then to combine with my used lemon carcasses and added extra scent and antimicrobial benefits with thyme and rosemary. I literally cannot wait! I juiced 20 lbs of lemons this morning. Winning!

Namastè 🙏🏽

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.