Time for a quick energy break! πŸ’₯ β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β € 1. Do a simple body scan to notice the energy you currently possess. 2. Step into Reverse Warrior and make space from your front hip crease past your fingertips. Maybe even move your top hand around waking up your shoulder. 3. Repeat on the other side. 4. Stand tall, scanning your body and enjoying the little pop of energy you just gave yourself. 5. Continue on with your very important things. 😌 . . . . #yoga #yogateacher #justbebalanced #energy
My hip flexors used to be so tight from teaching, working out, and living that I was embarrassed by it. I felt like I was impersonating a yoga teacher with the pain I was experiencing. How you move matters. Fortunately, I learned a different way to move through my flows that allows my body to feel better from the inside out. The trick is accessing your deep core line of muscles by softening your knees. You hear me saying this in class all the time. Bye, bye crazy tight psoas. On the occasion that it does start talking to me, this is my go-to remedy. Find your ASIS (the boney part of your front hip) and draw a 2-inch diagonal line toward your pubic bone. This is the general area to start. Remember to go slow. No need to roll the area that is screaming the loudest. Work the area to the side of it. I also tend to remain still for this one and gently allow more body weight onto the ball. A few minutes is plenty. Try it out and let me know what you think. Note: you can do one side at a time, forearms can be down, but lift your chest. #happyhips #happylowback #justbebalanced
I recently heard a variation of this and I LOVE it. Whatever you’ve been working toward, it doesn’t have to be perfect to be helpful. Not your social feed, yoga practice, eating habits, or parenting. Let’s be imperfect in all its glory, and still commit to showing up and doing the work. We find joy and satisfaction in the doing. Not in the contemplation. #action #goalgetter #justbebalanced
Vacation used to throw me off balance. I’d find myself coming home in a funk because I was out of my routine. Thankfully, I've determined my greatest needs that must be met in order to get home without skipping a beat. I just got back from the Dominican Republic with the fam. Here's how I kept it together. β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β € Eat good-for-you food. The majority of my plate always has protein and lots of veggies. (Gimme all the veggies!) Don't be fooled though, I enjoyed my share of yummy cakes and champaign too. 🍾 β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β € Stay hydrated. πŸ’¦ My hubby and I are not beer drinkers so we ask housekeeping to skip the suds and load us up with extra bottles of water. I start my day and end my day with them, as well as bring them with any time we're out and about. β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β € Move your body. Walking is great, but add to it. We played tennis and I hit the gym for cardio and yogaπŸ§˜β€β™€οΈ (shocker;). β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β € Hit the MIND gym, too. Who needs to bring books when you have Audible? 🎧 I binged on A Discovery of Witches and Supernatural. I also snuck in my mediations while lying in bed before the rest of my family was up and at it. β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β € Ground and be grateful. I use my senses to lock in the lovely moments and feel those big, beautiful emotions. I like to imagine them amplifying and radiating out of my body. Then I usually add in a silent, "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β €β € What are your tips for embodying your highest self while on vacay to make your transition home silky smooth? I’d love to add some to my toolkit. πŸ™πŸ˜˜ . . . . #mindfulvacation #mindfulness #purposeful #mindfulmaster #mindfulliving #intention #goals #selfcare #startfresh #selfcaretime #selfcarecoach #balance #justbebalanced #bodyandmind #balancedlife #healthyhabits
Life got you in a bind? It's part of this beautiful experience. I've been thinking about how my best self is always within me. Remembering it's my job to reveal my radiance. I think of it as a game of questions and ask: Where are you stuck? What escape habits are keeping you from your goals (Netflix, Insta, cocktails, naps, cleaning, etc.) What's one thing you can do in the next 5 minutes to get closer to where you want to go? β€’ Shine a light on the ways you avoid accomplishing the big things that would bring you the greatest joy. Act on it. Unravel. Release. Radiate your light.✨✨ . . . . #mindfulness #purposeful #mindtool #mindfulmaster #intention #goals #doit #effort #strive #goalgetter #goalslayer #justbebalanced #yogalife #yogateacher
Hi, friends, let's talk about injuries. They happen to ALL of us. This past fall, I had serious pain moving from down dog to plank due to a lifting mishap. You know this is not awesome if you've been to my class. It made me reconsider what my practice looks like and how this wrist pain would affect my teaching. I did more verbal coaching and less demoing. I gave my body the therapy and time it needed to heal (3 months). You always have this option too. You may be working through a physical or emotional injury at any given time. Give your body the space and love it needs. Modify. Go slow. Be kind to yourself. It's your practice and will look totally different from someone else's. And that's more than ok. Let's call it perfectly imperfect. πŸ’› . . . . #justbebalanced #yoga #yogateacher #yogaeveryday #selfcare #selfcarecoach #mindfulness #purposeful #mindtool #mindfulmaster #mindfulliving #intention
Ease is a big deal for me. I think it's because I spent so much of my early years striving, competing, and doing my darndest to force things into being. Man, how things have changed! πŸ™ŒπŸ» Since ease is one of my highest values, it's part of my early morning routine. I get up before the kiddos, turn on the fireplace, heat up some lemon water, and get to work! And by work, I mean myofascial release. I spend 10-15 minutes rolling with my #yogatuneupballs in front of the fire, listening to my favorite tunes. Then when I'm done, I do a guided meditation by Lacy Phillips @tobemagnetic and work on removing unconscious blocks. This allows me to show up as my best self for myself and everyone around me. Since I've been doing this life has been unfolding in the loveliest of ways. We all learn from each other, so my question to you... what's one of your highest values and how do you incorporate it into your day? #values #awarenessiskey . . . #mindfulness #purposeful #mindtool #mindfulmaster #mindfulliving #intention #values #mentalhealth #selfcare #selfcarecoach #balance #justbebalanced #bodyandmind #bodymindsoul #mindbody #balancedlife #healthyhabits
Come play with me! I've got a new public class for you. Wednesdays 11-noon starting January 23 at Twin Cities Orthopedics in Maple Grove. The first 2 classes for new clients are free! Check out my stories for more info. . . . #justbebalanced #bossbabe #yogaboss #yogabiz #yoga #yogateacher #yogaeveryday #yogalife #yogafun #yogafitness #yogalover
While Lotus Pose lends itself to an iconic yoga-style picture, it has never been part of my practice. I've been mindful of my knees since high school sports and purposely haven't forced my body into unnecessary shapes. That being said, I've included hip-openers that I do use in my practice. Cradle-The-Baby, Thread-The-Needle, and Pigeon Prep. ... As for tips, I'll let one of the greats, Annie Carpenter, lead you through it courtesy of Yoga Journal. Do keep in mind that you'll want to be warm moving into this pose. Warrior 2, Side Angle, and Triangle will get you moving in the right direction. ... "Bend your right knee, then rotate it outward from the hip. Roll your left thigh open and, while supporting your right ankle with your hands, begin to draw your right ankle into your groin. Keep your left leg rotated open and bend your left knee, bringing your heel in toward your navel. Slide your hands under your left ankle and lift the ankle just high enough so you can slide it up and over your right leg, and snuggle the heel in tight. Press both heels into your belly and create the action of bringing your knees closer to each other. Press the outer edges of your feet down onto your thighs, lifting the outer ankles and eliminating pressure between the shins." ... It has been my pleasure supporting @heidischweigert and providing tips for poses featured in her 2018 Peace, Love & Yoga Calendar. She has created a new one for 2019 and it is beautiful. May your year end on a high note and you feel blessed throughout 2019. πŸ’›βœ¨ . . . . #justbebalanced #yoga #yogaflow #yogateacher #mindfulness #mindfulmaster #selfcare #selfcarecoach