Inspiration: Yoga

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Do you ever feel overwhelmed by life? Not just overwhelmed by work or by relationships, but just by everything? Feel burnt out and crabby and useless?

 That is how I have been feeling lately. It seems like every time you turn around and every time you finish one thing... another pops up, either by email or by text or by request of loved ones. You want to do them all but you just feel so overwhelmed and like you have not had time to just rest? Not meaning sleep... meaning resting in yourself, resting in time and thought. 

Lately, I have realized that when I do yoga or meditate.. this is exactly what I need.. time not only for myself but to dwell in myself and in my life. It has been a comfort and a creative relaxing outlet.

 Take from this time and space what you need. Love yourself, love your life. 

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attention yogis....

I seriously need yoga to make its way back into my life. I don't think there has ever been a time when I thought about yoga more than I have this whole week, but I have been having headaches and feeling so fatigued that I have not even attempted to go to class or even practice on my own.

Does anyone know a good way to create a habit of doing yoga everyday??

Or good books/cds to help withhome practice??

Because I am in a serious rut right now, wanting to practice and feeling as if it is necessary but not bringing myself to do it.

HELP ME! I need inspiration!

Health

Recently, I have been having a lot of health issues and have had to go to the doctor a few times, and while I am not going to elaborate past that on here.. bascially I have been feeling horrible. My doctor asked me to start keeping a food jounral to see if anything can be alleviated by cutting out any particular food or drink. So I have been doing this for about a week and I have realized that I eat very poorly. I used to be a vegetarian.. well almost, I have always eaten fish. But I stopped doing that about a year ago when Erik and I first moved in together because I didn't want to have to make tw different dinners. But, Erik is great, and told me he doesn't mind eating mostly vegetarian again. So, I am thinking I might need to go back to that. (I will REALLY miss buffalo wings... for some reason they are pretty much the only meat food I love). 

So, here I go. Also, I have been looking into cutting my caffeine intake because I am not sure it makes me feel good and also cutting down on gluten. So, here is an experiment that I am willing to try. First things first, I need to figure out a plan for grocery shopping where I don't just buy everything I think looks good, but instead go in there with my weekly plans set out. And, I need to start eating a better breakfast, exercising, doing yoga, cutting down on alcohol, and setting up a sleep schedule. All of this will come easier once I start work again and have a set time to arrive at work. But I need to start now so that the transition is easier. 

So. Wish. Me. Luck. 

Figure it out!

I have been thinking a lot about my day to day life and how I am always really upset when I wake up in the morning. I work at 7am and have to leave my house by 6:30. So usually, my routine consists of my alarm going off at 5, hitting the snooze till 6, then eventually rolling out of bed at 6:10, getting ready as fast as possible and dragging my feet all the way to my car to leave.

I am realizing that this routine needs a complete makeover. When we lived in our apartment, I would get up early enough to sit and eat some toast and drink some coffee while watching Good Day Oregon and I realize now that it was a very important part of my waking up. I have also gotten super into yoga lately and I realize that even if I did a short, twenty minute, set before work, I would feel great all day. So tomorrow, I am going to try it out. 

Also, I have come to realize that my whole work day is so much better when I make my lunch and pack a few snacks for throughout the day. So I need to be better about going grocery shopping and packing it all up the night before. Because, the few days when I forget and I have to go from 7am till 1pm without food, I am a real horror to be around.

So. Tomorrow is the beginning of the rest of my life.
See you there.

Happy Hump Day everyone! 

Life.

"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape."      -Anonymous

Yoga and... frozen pizza?

So, usually I make soup on Wednesdays then go to yoga, but i have been feeling a bit under the weather so I decided I don't want to make soup tonight because it just sounds like it it is too much work for me right now. So instead, I am going to spruce up a frozen pizza I already have..

Tomatoes

Artichoke Hearts

Basil

Then I am going to head out to yoga. 

Thought I would share what it said on my  Yogi Detox tea-bag tag today..

"Happiness is nothing but total relaxation"

I think this is an  amazing saying. it makes you realize that happiness is totally what you make of it. So, go out and RELAX. 
Happy Hump Day! 

Soup and Yoga Wednesday

 

Caribbean Black Bean Soup

Ingredients

• 2 large white onions
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 jalapeno peppers
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 4 (14oz) cans black beans
• 4 cups Vegetable broth
• 1 bay leaf

Instructions

• Saute onions, garlic, jalapenos, allspice, and cumin till onions are soft then add to the slow cooker
• Add beans, bay leaf, and broth
• Cook on low for 4 hours

So, today I went to work and since there were so few kids there (flu season, snow) I was asked if I wanted to go home early. Naturally, I said "Of course!" and headed out the door. I have a phone meeting today and I was happy to do it at home. But now, I have decided what I am going to do for the rest of my unexpected day off: Go to the library, treat myself to some lunch, buy Amanda from Creative Ramblings a bridal shower gift, make soup, go to yoga! Can't wait!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Soup and Yoga Wednesday!

So, as I said yesterday, one of the new things of 2011 is that it is soup/yoga Wednesday. My mother and I are going to Kundalini Yoga every wednesday at 7pm. So we decided that we would make soup in the slowcooker every week so that we could eat ebfopre yoga and our husbands could eat whenever they wanted during the evening. So, Today we are making...

Roasted Tomato Soup with Spinach Pesto! 

To be served with grilled cheese sandwiches!

And then we'll be off to Yoga to get some relaxing, heart pumping (oxymoron?) exercise done.

So Happy Soup/Yoga Wednesday Everyone!

Operation Get Healthy

So, in honor of the new year, it would not be complete without thinking about getting healthy. It is my plan every year and usually I do it for a little big, usually even a few days, then get back into my old routines. But this year, I am feeling it being different. First of all, my mom and I set out a calendar and divided up days as to who would cook at home because we realized that one of the main things that gets us out of shape is going out to eat. We designated Soup Wednesday because we go to yoga every Wednesday night and it is an easy enough dinner for us to eat after and the boys to eat at any time. Next, I have been making Erik and my lunches every night before I go to bed so they are there to pick right out of the fridge on the way out the door. And lastly, I am trying to be active everyday. I used to think it meant going to the gym to sweat it out for an hour, but I gave up on that much too quickly every year. So this year, I am just telling myself that I need to do something active everyday. For example, yesterday I lifted weights and jumped rope while today I spent a half hour power dancing with my kids at work. So! Lets see how this new improved more relaxed guide to getting healthy goes!

Sunshine Song

In Yoga class every wednesday we usually finish the class by singing the sunshine song. I have found that I love this song and often sing it to myself when I am having a bad day or just need a little pick me up. It has such a positive message and just makes me feel better, like things are going to be just fine. I thought I would share it with you. Hopefully it gives you a little jaunt in your step as well.

May the Long Time Sun Shine Upon You

All Love Surround You

And the Pure Light Within You

Guide Your Way On.(Repeat Twice)

Guide Your Way On... (Repeat three times)

Currently Listening to: "A Friend Like You" -Aberfeldy