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Celebrate the Milestones

9/9/2014

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Hi friends!

I just got back from vacation and am still trying to get back into the swing of things!  Even though it was only a week, it always feels like I've been away forever when I return from a trip.  But I'm still happily refreshed and rejuvenated.  It's good for the soul to get away every once and awhile.  I speak to that a lot in my yoga classes- the idea of spending time on yourself in order to replenish.  It's so easy to give and give until we get depleted.  

The trip we took was a very special one because it's where we spent our honeymoon 7 years ago.  This was our third time back.  We're kind of addicted to this place!  But there's also another really important reason why I love this place.  Back when we first went was at the height of my anxiety.  Traveling, as I'm sure you can imagine, was a nightmare experience for me.  To get to this hotel is easily a couple of flights and then a 90+ minute cab ride.  When we first went I made myself so sick over this travel day that by the time we reached our hotel I was barely able to stand up straight without feeling incredibly ill.  That car ride was the scariest and most stressful part for me and I spent a good part of the trip dreading the ride back to the airport.  

I was also too anxious to try a lot of the activities that the resort had to offer... which left a lot of time where we just sat around the room or hung out by the beach.  I wasn't in the mind frame to take advantage of everything and it was a bummer.  

The amazing part is that I always remember those initial days each time we go back on this trip.  The flights and car ride don't seem scary anymore.  I am excited to try new things and explore different experiences.  I have so much more fun now.  I really appreciate the fact that I have these moments when I can remember how far I've actually come on my journey through anxiety.  

The path is one of the most important parts of the journey because there will be leaps of faiths and times where you step backwards.  There will be challenges and triumphs.  You'll face hurdles of all kinds and experience freedom.  Most importantly, you'll realize how truly strong you are.  

Think back about your journey thus far.  It doesn't matter if you're just taking the first steps or have been going through this for years.  Celebrate your victories and acknowledge them!  That cab ride is one of mine :)  I have a lot of them and I bet if you think about it, you have quite a few too!  

My refreshed soul is going to teach some yoga tonight and then go for a run.  My first official training run for my Disney Half Marathon in January.  <-- another milestone I plan on celebrating!  

sat nam

xo, b
















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what santosha means to me 

2/7/2014

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I've been thinking a lot about santosha lately.  santosha is the yogic practice of contentment.


in a world of hustle and bustle, a place where people are perpetually on the search for the next best thing, is the practice of santosha even reachable anymore?  


i've been considering this on my mat recently.  when i was dealing with hardcore anxiety, i always had those thoughts... when i become less anxious i'll be happy.  if i didn't have so much pressure i would be less stressed.  if i could just reach this one work milestone or buy that one new thing i'll be completely satisfied. i found little solice in the present and was always focused on the future. 


that search for satisfaction and happiness was neverending because once i got what i thought i needed, i was already on the lookout for the next best thing, or worse, i still found myself riddled with anxiety.  


i started thinking about how my practice of santosha was shaken last year. i noticed that i had been falling into that same mindset i had when i was dealing with anxiety - if this than that.  if i just get past this one horrible thing, everything will be better. if i can make it through this tough time, things will ease up.  i came into 2014 with positive energy and was determined to make it a terrific year and truly release the resentments, mistakes and frustrations from the previous year. 


than something happened.  one little piece of my "perfect" puzzle wriggled out of place.  nothing catastrophic, but enough to make me take notice.  and i was ok with it.  i meditated.  i focused on breathing.  i let it go and was content with this little hiccup.  if this bump in the road happened last year, i think i would've exploded.  so what changed?  


it was then that i realized my mindset had changed.  i created the focus on positivity, growth and persistence for 2014 and everything that happened this year was going to happen for me rather than to me.  and i viewed this situation from that perspective.  i was content with it.  i was ok and i trusted the process.  the storms bring the sunshine. uphill climbs lead to high peaks. and i realized i had found my practice of santosha again! 


santosha is being ok with what happens.  it's being grounded amidst chaos. it's going with the flow.  it's being happy with the present moment. and for me, its trusting the process.  


everyone practices this differently.  some people focus on finding the joy in everything, others work through their feelings of dissatisfaction. i work on trusting the process and accepting the journey.  


and that's some serious gratitude ;)


sat nam!


xo, b 

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Ego VS Love 

9/10/2013

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My classes this week have been themed around love.  I was inspired to create a flow that focuses on our heart chakra after a beautiful conversation I had with someone this weekend.  

We were chatting about anxiety and fear and how they play such a huge role in how people live their lives.  I spent a big part of my life living with a fear-based, or EGO driven, mindset.  We've all been there.  Small battles with the Ego are a daily occurance for most of us. When we flow on our mats and get jealous of someone that falls into splits without breaking a sweat or when fear strikes hold at the thought of going into an arm balance and falling  or even when you judge a co-worker for going after a promotion that you were scared to go after for fear of failing...that's our Ego.  And that tricky little sucker likes to pop up and control us as much as it can.

During our conversation, I shared my thoughts on the Ego and how I work to combat it when it rears its gnarly little head.  At first glance, it might seem that to beat out this Ego, we should shift into the opposite mindset. And that's right!  But... the opposite mindset isn't what we first think of.  If the Ego causes fear-based living, then the opposite would seem like safety, but it's actually not.  Tricky Ego! When we buy into the illusion that the Ego creates (i'm not good enough. I can't do that. I'm dumb.  I'm not worthy of love.) we create a feeling of safety for ourselves.  Giving into that fear based mindset makes us feel like we are avoiding scary things.  We get fooled into thinking that this fear is serving a purpose.  And therefore, we feed into it even more.  We perpetuate the Ego loop- fear, avoidance, safety.  But when we move into the opposite mindset, we shine a light on that Ego and bust through it.  This opposite mindset is >LOVE<  

When we live from a place of Love, the Ego looses its grip on us.  We have faith, trust, acceptance and security.  And we don't have to do anything to get it.  We just vibrate with that energy.  We begin to see challenges as learning opportunities, fear dissolves with our faith and our journey is supported by our trust that we'll reach our destination.  

I had to move into that Loving space to stop hating my anxiety.  My Ego justified my anxious feelings and I felt comfortable keeping them around.  At the peak of my anxiety I hit rock bottom and had a choice.  Keep living in fear or shift to love.  I think you can guess which one I chose ;) 

Find time today to open your heart and radiate love.  

And be mindful of when the Ego tries to steer your course.  Stay commited to that loving mindset and set the intention for an attitude of gratitude!

Sat Nam xo
b
 



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3 Practices for Becoming More Grateful

6/17/2013

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Anxiety often blocks our ability to find gratitude and contentment in our daily lives. Anxiety leads us towards feelings of fear, stress and insecurity.  


It's during these times that we need to focus on appreciation and santosha (contentment). Our santosha practice helps guide us to find peace regardless of what our path presents us with. Santosha is one of five niyama practices that can be found in the eightfold path in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra and encourages us to find satisfaction with what we are given in life.  


Here are 3 tips to help guide you to gratitude and practice santosha 


1- keep a journal with you at all times. during the day, write down everything you find yourself being grateful for and satisfied with. whether big or small, write it down! the act of writing it down makes you become aware of what you are thankful and happy for and at the end of the night before you go to sleep, pull out the journal, read what you wrote down and reflect on all of your daily blessings. *the coolest part about this practice is that you go to sleep with a heart full of appreciation. 

2- offer sincere moments of gratitude to everyone around you. go out of your way to show the people you love how much you appreciate them. tell your friends, family and co-workers that you are thankful for them and truly express appreciation for what they do. spread this appreciation far and wide- to the stressed out barista that makes your morning latte to the office intern who helps organize your files. when you operate from a place of gratitude, you will bring more things to be grateful for into your life. offering it outward, helps you feel it and experience it inward. 

3- create a mantra. make one that empowers you, reminds you to find peace with what is and be grateful for it. write that mantra on the cover of your gratitude journal. write it on post-its and stick them around your house. make it your background on your laptop and phone. incorporate it into your meditations. do whatever you can to expose yourself to this mantra everyday. and most importantly, say it when you notice ungrateful, anxious and disempowering thoughts come up. 

what are you thankful for today?
i am thankful for you. 

xo, b

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    Author

    I'm a formerly anxious chick that found my zen on the mat. I used yoga, pranayama and yogic philosophies to alleviate my debilitating anxiety and get my life back on track. Now, I spend my time teaching yoga, coaching others and helping people find a more peaceful path in life. 

    * The opinions expressed on this blog are solely my own and what personally worked for me. Always consult a physician before starting any new yoga or workout routine. 

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