Spring is the perfect time to balance between light and dark, to nurture your intentions for growth and to cultivate your inner leadership. Confronting our shadows is the greatest work we can do.
Taking time to cultivate your growth will transform your business and personal life and how you show up every day.
Begin with reflecting on how to start your day. Just like beginning a yoga or meditation practice, you don’t wait to be good at it! You begin where you are right now and have patience and compassion with where you are. Taking responsibility for ourselves is where we can begin our growth.
My rituals include:
Lighting a candle and meditating for 20 minutes every morning, followed by a 20-minute yoga flow.
Tapping and inspirational reading.
Reciting affirmations, right before teaching or having a meeting.
Eating intuitively (choosing what my body tells me it needs) which gives me energy and makes me feel good!
Taking care of my skin in the morning and evening.
Closing my day with intention, and clearing my energy from the day.
Working out 2-3 times a week, from weight training to Pilates!
With love and gratitude, Mary Ann
P.S. In case you missed it or want to watch again, click here for my interview with Denise Zimmerman on Graced with Age Goes Live on Instagram!
Yoga Classes at Yoga Journey
Mon: 6:00-7:30pm
Tues-Fri: 9:15-10:30am
All levels Vinyasa, Online and In-Studio. In-Studio classes limited to 12. Register at yogajourney.com. Registration closes 30 minutes before class begins – please sign up early! Online classes available for 24 hours.
No time for an hour-long class? No problem!
Start with Downward Facing Dog
Just a single posture practiced with awareness and slow deep breathing can change how you feel instantly! For instance, downward facing dog could be your go-to pose. It’s a mild inversion that balances the nervous system and alleviates stress. You will love how strong you feel in your legs and shoulders after practicing this pose!
Simple Ways To Stay Healthy and Feel Your Best
by Laura Buchbinder Hedges
The chaos that surrounds us daily is out of our control. However, we can control how we respond to our current circumstances. It’s important to remember that there is always something we can do to make ourselves feel better! Here are some simple tips you can do right at home.
Breathe
Simply take 3 deep breaths. Breathe in a scent you love. The smell of citrus fruit is especially uplifting; Peel an orange from your kitchen or grab an essential oil blend to elevate your mood. Try Breathe in Joy aromatherapy roll-on by BFREE.LOVE, with tangerine and orange to improve your mood, as well as ylang-ylang to help alleviate stress and balance our masculine and feminine energy.
Hydrate
Drinking water through out the day helps to regulate body temperature, keeps joints lubricated, delivers nutrients to cells, and keeps organs functioning properly. Being well hydrated also improves sleep quality and mood. It’s also important to hydrate the skin. BFREE.LOVE offers a Balm that moisturizes, seals and protects the skin. It is made with high quality argan oil, coconut oil and a hint of pure vanilla essential oil. Together, these oils are calming and soothing when applied. It can be used on your face, body, and even your hair!
Boost your Immunity
Vitamin C, D and zinc are excellent supplements for boosting your immune system. Try Healthy Immunity Spray on your hands or any surface in your home or car. The spray includes oregano, lemon, clove, eucalyptus and cinnamon essential oils that are non-toxic and beneficial for your overall health.
Observe
Where attention goes, energy flows. Check in with your thoughts and notice what you’re focusing on. It helps to write down how you’re feeling in a journal. Set an intention on how you would like to feel throughout the day. It’s amazing what a little effort and conscious awareness can do to shift towards a more joyful life!
I absolutely LOVE The Purist, and get amazing inspiration and great ideas from their monthly newsletter. Click the button below to check it out! And Cristina Cuomo, founder and editor-in-chief, is a must-follow on Instagram! Her IG Live video on gut health was so interesting, click here to watch.
My meditation practice is something I'm deeply committed to, and I love this quote from Super Rich by Russell Simmons: "One of the greatest benefits of meditation is that not only will it help you find success, but it will help you sustain that success as well. Most of the great ideas we have in life are born out of fleeting moments of stillness."
