Meditating Under The Catalpa Tree

Katrina Ariel13 Comments on Meditating Under The Catalpa Tree

meditation-catalpa1Each morning the first thing I do is to go sit out under the Catalpa tree.

I arrange myself on my red, heart shaped plush pillow, wrap myself up in blankets, and close my eyes.

Now you might be imagining this beautifully landscaped, clean, picturesque scene. You can go with that if you’d like, but the reality is that there’s a half falling over wood pile behind the tree, garbage and recycling bins next to it, and a wooden bench that really needs refinishing on the other side.

I don’t mind any of it. It’s the tree I want to be with.

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Balancing Hormones With Yoga

Katrina Ariel1 Comment on Balancing Hormones With Yoga

Me-OakTree-Child01When you practice yoga in balance – in alignment, with awareness and mindfulness of breath – it all contributes to balancing hormones. Rather than breaking it down to specific poses in your mind (which could give the more limited idea that only those poses help), know that the whole practice of yoga creates more harmony.

Part of what makes yoga so healing is bringing more circulation to the body, which nourishes every system including the glands which produce hormones. Also, yoga can be enormously beneficial in lowering your stress levels. This alone supports harmonious hormones, as many of our hormones are designed to react to stress.

Knowing this, there are certain poses and groups of poses that can help you find balance.

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Happiness In Times Of Turmoil

Katrina Ariel1 Comment on Happiness In Times Of Turmoil

ocean-meditationAre things that bad?

Well, on one hand, yes. There are wars being fought, economies collapsing, governments totally dropping the ball, morally bankrupt corporations that have way too much power, and a very real need to nurture our environment.

On the other hand, there are more people at this time than ever before who are raising their awareness of how we’re all interconnected, and how important it is to act in accordance.

We’ve reached critical mass of positive people; people who are choosing to live in ways that reduce their harm to the earth and others. In fact, we’ve surpassed critical mass. We’re the new wave of global, multi-generational citizens who have decided it is time for change.

“So is it possible to be happy in these chaotic times?” Yes. Definitely.

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Super Feet! Yoga Alignment For A Happy Foundation

Katrina Ariel5 Comments on Super Feet! Yoga Alignment For A Happy Foundation

yoga-feetUnless you’re upside down, your feet are your foundation. They do SO much work for us, yet they might be the most overworked and underappreciated part of the body.

Many people have pain and other issues that can be changed by working with the feet. Flat arches, bunions, weak ankles, knee pain – even conditions of the hips, spine and on up the body – all can benefit from awareness and optimal alignment in the feet. This may not be the entire solution to physical concerns, but it sure can help and is a great place to start!

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Happy Peace Day!

Katrina Ariel

Today is Peace One Day. Around the world people are celebrating and participating in peaceful activities. In places of conflict soldiers are putting down their guns and allowing humanitarian aid to take the starring role.

There are even soccer games being played in the most unlikely places – a mall in Tokyo, the desert in Africa – all in celebration of peace.

Ahimsa, non-violence, is the first guideline of yoga. It reminds us that, since we are all interconnected, harm to one is harm to all.

One of the most important steps in global peace is finding peace with yourself. Coming into a place of self acceptance and practicing treating yourself with kindness can sometimes be a challenge, but it is one of the best possible choices you can make.

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Listen To The Power

Katrina Ariel

Listen…

There is a potency in each breath, in each word offered to you, and in each bit of silence.

Every person you meet has something to teach you.

Can you see it?

Not always. But often you can hear it, yet only if you know how to listen.

Listen with your whole self. It doesn’t mean you necessarily agree, but that you value the spark of spirit in the other person enough to care. To do this is an extraordinary and powerful ability.

To truly be heard is such a gift. Can you give that to someone today?

I’m listening…

Meditation For World Peace

Katrina Ariel4 Comments on Meditation For World Peace

This guided mediation helps you visualize a peaceful world of light. It is beautifully powerful, and I hope you will enjoy it enough to incorporate it into your meditation practice more than once. 🙂

To download a free MP3 of this meditation, right click and save this link:
Meditation For World Peace

Remember to sit back, take your hands off the computer, and breathe your way through this meditation.

Meditation for Global Peace

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Karma Yoga: What Would You Do For World Peace?

Katrina Ariel2 Comments on Karma Yoga: What Would You Do For World Peace?

nasa-earthWorld peace is the ultimate dream. Ask any beauty contest contestant, 11 year old kid, war ravaged grandmother, or the Dalai Lama. Even better, ask your own heart.

Here’s the thing – we have a chance to make this dream a reality! When you read this article in its entirety you will understand how.

Karma yoga is the practice of yoga as service. It’s yoga in action.

Now, this can happen in any number of ways. It can be as huge as dedicating your life completely to selfless service like Mother Theresa, or it can be as simple as making people smile.

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Shaping Up: Yoga and Fitness

Katrina Ariel3 Comments on Shaping Up: Yoga and Fitness

“How can yoga help me be fit?”

Though you probably know at least one answer to this question, I’d like to give you more ideas on how to stay in shape with the help of yoga.

We all want to look and feel good, and physical fitness is a huge key which, balanced with healthy eating and meditation, can make all the difference in your quality of life.

The first thing I’d like to point out is that you want to supplement your yoga with other activities for a balanced approach to fitness. Unless you’re doing something like 2 hours of intensely playful, challenging yoga 5 times a week, you need to do some cardio.

That said, yoga is the number one thing you can do for all the systems in your body. It gets your circulation going, lubricates joints, strengthens muscles and stretches what’s tight. It balances your hormones, lowers stress levels, helps keep your internal organs happy and boosts your immune system.

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The Dalai Lama on Creating World Peace

Katrina Ariel2 Comments on The Dalai Lama on Creating World Peace

World peace is the ultimate expression of Ahimsa, or non-violence, which is the very first teaching of yoga. Will you participate in making it a realtiy?

In the next week there are two days that are dedicated to peace on a global level, September 21st and September 26th.

Monday, September 21st is Peace One Day. It’s a global cease fire and celebration of peace recognized by the UN and countries around the world.  What will you do for peace? Post a comment below to announce your contribution.

Saturday, September 26th, there are gatherings around the world called Earth Dance. People are coming together at festivals, small groups, and even on their own to join in a Prayer for Peace at 4pm Pacific Standard Time.

“It’s our moral responsibility” says the Dalai Lama in the Peace One Day film that explains about Peace One Day.

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