Katrina Ariel – Page 20 – Yoga with Katrina Ariel

The Power of Your Will: Olympic Inspiration

February 19, 2010Katrina Ariel1 Comment

climbing-victory-summit-39060466 Every person who does something great does so because they choose it, and the world class athletes competing in Vancouver, Canada’s 2010 Olympics are excellent examples.

But it isn’t just the elite few who can harness their Will to become something great. All people can do this, including YOU. On some level, you make a decision to give your best to the situation at hand. You will it to happen.

Watching the Olympics, you see athletes who inspire you and invite you into their lives. For example, you can’t help but feel a connection to Alexandre Bilodeau, the first Canadian to win Gold on home turf, because he won that gold medal for his brother Frederic who has cerebral palsy.

Shift Into Beauty: Wisdom From John Friend

February 17, 2010Katrina Ariel

“All actions are directed by one’s viewpoint.” – John Friend

This quote is in my notes from a training with my teacher, John Friend; the founder of Anusara® yoga. There is such wisdom to this. The way you perceive what you experience creates your understanding of it, as well as your feelings and actions.

One of the things that can become challenging about deepening your ability to be sensitive and open is that you can get rocked out of your center by the apparent horrors of the world. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Living Each Moment In Joy

February 15, 2010Katrina Ariel

eye-of-time So often we get caught in the workings of time, and drag ourselves down worrying about past and future.

Of course, so much of the wisdom of yoga teaches us to be in the present moment. When we do, worries and stress melt away, for we realize that everything truly is okay when we just live one breath at a time.

Focusing on one thing at a time, choosing to live mindfully in the moment, can lead to such happiness. (And it can also help you have a much more productive day if that’s what you’re after.)

My friend John Stringer contributes the following offering to this train of thought:

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Sprouting For Healthy Eating

February 15, 2010Katrina Ariel

The following article is by my dear friend Denise Holden. I’ve been meaning to post about sprouts for a while now, as they are a prominent part of my diet. They’re such a great way to eat fresh, live, nutrient rich food. Here’s what Denise has to say about them:

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During the winter season, sprouts are an excellent source of fresh vegetables.

Sprouts represent the point of greatest vitality in the life cycle of a plant. During sprouting, vitamin and enzyme content increases dramatically. The sprouting process predigests the nutrients of the seed, making it easier to assimilate and metabolize: starches are converted into simple sugars, proteins into free amino acids, and fats into free fatty acids. This explains why grains and legumes, many of which are common allergens, often do not cause allergies when sprouted.

10 Easy Ways To Meditate

February 14, 2010Katrina Ariel

Photo courtesy of my friend Toshi Kawano — Photo courtesy of my friend, photographer Toshi Kawano

Okay, you know meditation helps you de-stress, find peace of mind, feel happier, and find more balance in your health. But it’s hard! We’re not really conditioned to sit still, nor is your mind interested in emptying itself of the ten thousand thoughts it’s pondering. And where do you find the time?

The good news is that almost everyone who meditates deals with these same challenges, and you can enjoy the benefits of meditation without having to be a master of it. Here are some great tips and ideas to help you get the most out of your meditation practice:

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Who Dat! New Orleans Teaches Us About Community Of The Heart

February 10, 2010Katrina Ariel5 Comments

new-orleans-saints-super-bowl-parade — Yep. That's me in a tree above the vast crowd gathered to enjoy the Saints Super Bowl Parade

True togetherness brings a sense of belonging that still allows for self expression; something New Orleans, home of the Saints and joyful leaders of the Who Dat Nation, knows how to do very well. And I invite you to consider yourself a part of it.

All the excitement is not just about football, rest assured. The spirit of community here goes far beyond that.

We can all learn a lot from the culture of community in New Orleans.

In fact, I think part of the purpose of this city and its people is to teach us (the rest of the world) how to support each other, and at the same time allow each individual to express themselves as they choose.

A sense of being a part of something bigger and also free to be who you choose to be is what Mardi Gras is all about, and every other celebration that happens here.

“Let’s all get together and have a good time,” New Orleans says. “Be yourself, or try on a new identity as you don your costume – just remember it’s all in good fun!”

And that’s what’s so great about this place. Sure, natives are proud of their culture, but it isn’t exclusive or elitist. Instead it’s a sense of co-participation that says “The more the merrier!”

Who Dat! Yoga – A Meditation Of Belonging

February 9, 2010Katrina Ariel

Fleur-de-lis-gold-om The overwhelming sense of community in the Who Dat celebration of New Orleans Saints’ victory can actually inspire a great lesson of yoga: You Belong!

To understand fully how special you are and what this wave of excitement from New Orleans has to do with you, check out this article: New Orleans Teaches Us About Community Of The Heart.

Mini-Meditation:

Sit beautifully and quiet your mind.

Feel your breath dance within you.

Feel your heart beat.

As you tune in to your own inner music,

Realize that each being on this planet shares

The experience of breath and heartbeat.

A Seated or Chair Yoga Practice You Can Do Right Now

February 1, 2010Katrina Ariel1 Comment

I know, sometimes it’s hard to get out of your chair – but you can do yoga right where you are! Isn’t that great?

By all means, get up and move when you can, but sometimes it’s okay to do yoga sitting right where you are. This is a great little practice to help you stay healthy and feeling good while you’re working.

This video gives you some great options for doing yoga while seated:

Growing Your Own Food

January 28, 2010Katrina Ariel

One of the most important considerations in your health is the food you choose to eat. And not only what kind of food, but where it comes from and how it was grown.

For some incredible inspiration, watch this amazing short video about a community within the city of Milwaukee that is making huge change by growing their own food:

Walking Meditation

January 26, 2010Katrina Ariel

ocean03 Yoga is a moving meditation, and walking can be a wonderful way to practice it.

The idea of walking meditation, just like other meditations, is to be fully present. You can bring such awareness to the way you walk, your surroundings, and the moment itself, that this practice can create a heightened state of connection and peace.

My first experience with walking meditation was at a yoga teacher training in Baja, Mexico. Each morning we got up super early, did a short asana practice, then we went out to the beach for walking meditation.

I would place my feet slowly, mindfully, listening to the waves crash on the shore. I felt the subtleties of each step, and often would close my eyes or even walk backwards to shift my perspective.

Author: Katrina Ariel