Living Bliss Yogini

A spontaneous altar

2012-03-08T12:41:00.000-08:00

On Thursday morning's I teach a restorative session combined with chakra healing. These classes are always magical. The energy that is created with this small group of women are amazing. This morning we focused on the 1st and 2nd chakra.
Chakra - Wheels of light, energy centers. Each chakra holds a certain energy, vibrates a certain color, is associated with an element, holds a special purpose, addresses issues for growth and enlightenment.

The purpose of the 1st chakra is foundation and is associated with the element Earth. Movement and connection is the purpose of the 2nd chakra and it is associated with the element Water. The vibrating colors are red (1st chakra) and orange (2nd chakra).

Today one of the women brought me gorgeous roses. And the colors were red and orange. So we created a spontaneous altar in the middle of the floor.

Our spontaneous altar

Here we have the rocks and crystals that represents the Earth and the 1st chakra. Water that represents the 2nd chakra and the qualities of fluidity, change, movement, sensations... The flowers represents the vibrating shades of red and orange. In the picture they look somewhat yellow though...

So this was our healing spontaneous altar for today. And of course the candle that represents our inner light...(or the element fire).

How about creating your healing altar today? Follow your intuition of what objects you need to bring into it. Maybe you wish to bring things that will reflect all four elements (earth, water, fire and air) or focus on just two...? A special picture...? Incense, sage or a certain essential oil...? Rock, shell or crystal...? Explore and enjoy. 

Since chakras lies so close to my heart I will begin to write about them. So look out for some chakra posts...

Namaste. 

Empowered & Blissful Living

2012-03-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

"Goddess Guidelines" for

Empowered & Blissful Living

Show compassion and love to yourself and others.   

Release judgment about yourself and others and focus on the light and love that is within everyone.

Keep your thoughts about yourself and others positive. 

Release perfectionistic tendencies. 

 Stand up for what you believe is right. 

Ignite your passion.

                     Speak your truth. 

Don’t worry about what other thinks. 

Take a risk and put your hearts true desire into action.

Pray. Meditate. 

Take long walks. 

Trust that the universe will support you in all ways. 

Live in harmony with nature.

Use earth friendly products.

Take care of your own inner child through play and laughter. 

See yourself as strong and victorious.

Don’t complain about anything. 

You are the embodiment of strength, NOT victimhood. 

See yourself in a new light of feminine strength.

Allow yourself to feel genuine emotions. 

Trust in the wisdom of the whole.

Practice yoga.

Living Bliss Yoga

2012-03-04T18:38:00.000-08:00

Spring Schedule starting tomorrow March 5

at Living Bliss Yoga Studio.

Check out the schedule at

www.livingblissyoga.com

I hope to see you there.

Peace, Love & Yoga 

Om Namah Shivaya

2012-03-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

Today I wanted to share with you a piece of music that I love. Nataraja by Jai Uttal and Ben Leinbach from the album Music for Yoga and other Joys. Nataraja represents to me; Transforming energy. To move through life with grace. Choose the path of knowledge and growth. Have-no-fear.  Blissful vibration. Creative power. Joy. Movement and Dance. Let go to create something new. 

Nataraja- The Lord of  Dance represents the source of all movements, the God of Gods  that is choreographing the eternal dance of the Universe.  The dance of  Shiva is called ananda tandava which means "dance of ultimate bliss."   Shiva is dancing out of pure joy and bliss and his vibration is the  longing for movement.  The Lord of Dance has four arms.  The upper right  hand holds a drum which represents the heart beat of all creation.  The  front right hand is raised in the abhaya-mudra (have-no-fear mudra).   The back left hand holds agni (fire).  The flame represents Shiva's  destructive and transforming energy, destroy to create something new.   Front left arm reaches across the chest in the gahahasta (elephant  trunk) pose that represents Shiva's grace, a way to liberation for  everyone.  The left leg is raised in grace and represents eternal  bliss.  Shiva's right foot is firmly rooted to depress a body of a demon  representing ignorance.  The ring flame around Shiva represents a  timeless state of pure being.  Around his waist he has a cobra which is  Kundalini-Shakti, feminine creative power that resides within all.  The  place of Nataraja and his dance is taking place at the center of the  universe.  The center of the universe is within our heart.  Om Namah  Shivaya.

Dream

2012-02-28T13:24:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like a dream

to create the future.

-Victor Hugo

Gorgeous and dreamy night sky...

Dream...Dream...Dream

Trust

2012-02-24T15:06:00.000-08:00

Do you have a creative dream?

I have a creative dream...

Sometimes though our creativity, dreams and vision get pushed aside by fear. Fear of not succeeding. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of others opinions. We look outside and compare ourselves and loose trust. That's the time when we need to get grounded and go back to that place of truth and trust in the universe.

You are the most qualified person to do what you dream of.

You NEED to share your soul-purpose. Share, create, express, inspire and live out what's inside you.

Celebrate, honor and enjoy the gifts that you have.

When you follow your heart and blossom, others will blossom too.

What would the world look like if you didn't share the gifts that's inside you?

Listen to your inner wisdom.

Trust your gut and don't second guess yourself.

YOU ARE UNIQUE and so am I.

Be like...

2012-02-22T12:43:00.000-08:00

This morning I looked through one of my old creative note books and came upon something that I wanted to share and find interesting to reflect on. I can't remember where I got it or who wrote this.

Be like the sky. Be open, have a beginners mind.

Be like the earth. Embody your deep talents.

Be like water. Feel. Be fluid, be sensitive, be compassionate.

Be like fire. Have a burning for the highest. Aspire to serve. Dare to be courageous no matter the darkness.

Be like air. Like the wind, that can move around any problem. Be imaginative and innovative.

Take a pause

2012-02-21T14:16:00.000-08:00

Fika is a Swedish word that has really no English translation. 

Fika = a-pause-in-the-middle-of-the-day-to-enjoy-your-coffee. 

The closest thing you can compare it to is the British tea time. We Swedes are really good at this. Fika is a must every day. People can fika in the morning, around midday and some time in the afternoon and evening. It is a wonderful tradition that I absolutely love and have introduced to my American husband (he loves it). An important ingredient to this fika tradition is that YOU SIT DOWN and PAUSE. Oh yes. I’m a total believer in that middle-of-the-day-pause. To just sit and relax for a moment. I think a lot of people could benefit from just doing that in the middle of the day. 

A lot of times a fika is just a coffee, cappuccino, or tea. But of course it can also be enjoyed with a really delicious pastry (especially on the weekends). 

Today is a SEMLA day. I don’t know how many countries that have a day dedicated to a pastry on their national calender? Well, we have…

 A semla

 A plain sweet bun with some cardamom, 

almond paste in the middle with fluffy creme and some confectioner sugar on the top...

Last weekend and today my husband and I have enjoyed home made semlor. Ok, I know. It is not the healthiest snack ever, but you only eat it once a year…so it’s ok.

I guess that’s really what I wanted to share with you today. Please, take a pause and enjoy a moment SITTING DOWN with your coffee or tea and favorite pastry. Have a delicious fika, you are so worth it!!!

Inner Light

2012-02-20T08:40:00.000-08:00

The other night I had a dream that I walked on a dark road, I couldn't see anything, I was completely lost in the dark. Then I remembered that I had a candle in my pocket. I took out the candle and lit it. Slowly I started to see the path in front of me. I looked around and saw big beautiful trees swaying in the wind giving me a comforting sound. I continued to walk with a new sense of comfort and courage. I believe that the candle was a symbol of my inner light…

The next morning I read in as I call my morning book, Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach, some words of wisdom that feels so encouraging and comforting in where I am right now in my life and I wanted to share those words with you.

“A safari of the self and Spirit is at times lonely. But we know we are never alone. It is a comfort to realize that this sense of isolation is necessary if we are to encounter Mystery, and mystery is very much part of a safari. Each day in the wilderness brings with it the struggle to survive and a heightened awareness of how wonderful it is to just see the sun set and rise again in the morning. Each day on safari is lived to the fullest because that is all that is guaranteed. If only we could learn this lesson as well in our everyday lives. Today, expect many things as you sit around the campfire of your heart. Someone is listening. Someone is talking to you, encouraging you to take that next step as you embrace the Mystery of the wilderness within. Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways.”

No matter how dark it might seem, how lost we might feel we can always turn to the guiding LIGHT WITHIN…  and pause to just BE and LISTEN by the campfire of our heart. 

Listen...

2012-02-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

There is only one journey.

Going inside yourself.

-Rainer Maria Rilke

Beautiful Goddess Leonie 

with a powerful message!!

http://www.goddessguidebook.com/ 

Flowers of Love

2012-02-14T07:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day To All

Peace, Love & Yoga

Short and Sweet

2012-02-13T14:29:00.000-08:00

Heart opening poses strengthens the back, allows energy to flow in the spine and dissolves heaviness from the heart. Ignite your heart with this short but sweet sequence.

The most beautiful things in the world 

cannot be seen or even touched-

they must be felt with the heart. -Helen Keller

Warm up your body with 3-5 rounds of a sun salutation.

Standing anahatasana

Interlace hands behind you, lift chest and gaze up, let shoulders melt away from your ears. Take 5 deep breaths. Feel the connection between heaven and earth. Root your feet down and lift your chest up. Expand ribcage and chest with the in breath and feel your legs and foundation with the out breath.

Fold forward

Bend the knees slightly and fold forward, lead with your chest, pull navel in.

Yoga mudra

Bow to the earth, tuck chin in towards your chest slightly, pull belly in to lengthen lower back. Feel the opening in your heart while breathing in and out through your nostrils. Allow yourself to surrender with every out breath, release the chatter of the mind. Stay for 5 deep breaths.

Release arms and walk hand forward, come into a downward facing dog.

Downward dog

Stay 5 breaths.

Transition to plank

Lift the heels, pull navel in and flow into a plank pose.

Plank pose

Lower your knees down...

Anahatasana

Reach tailbone up and melt heart towards the earth, pull navel in, arms are active just like in down ward dog. Stay 5 breaths. Draw chest forward...

 Sphinx pose

 Press elbows down, life chest and pull navel in. Stay for 5 deep breaths. Come back into a 

down ward facing dog.

Place left foot between the hands, root right heel down so right leg is slightly turned out. Lift torso up and bring shoulders over hips.

Warrior 1 variation

Interlace hands behind back, draw tailbone down and lift your chest up, draw ribcage away from pelvic floor. Stay 5 breaths.

Bow

Bow your head forward, pull navel in to protect and lengthen lower back, surrender with every out breath. Stay 5 breaths.

Flow into

Plank pose

Anahatasana

Cobra

Lift up through the crown of your head. Squeeze shoulder blades and draw them down and away from your ears.

Feel how the back muscles are engaged to support you. Press palms down and open your heart. Take 5 big breaths here. Gently lower down and pause for a breath or two. Move into...

Down ward facing dog

Warrior 1 variation

This time place your right foot forward. Stay 5 breaths.

Bow

Stay 5 breaths.

Move into a

Plank pose

Anahatasana

Stay 5 breaths.

Cobra

Take 5 deep breaths.

Lower down, pause.

Child pose

Take 5-10 long breaths here. If your knees feels tight place a blanket behind the knees.

End this sequence with a restorative heart opening pose.

Roll up a blanket and let the tips of your shoulder blades rest on the blanket while shoulders draping down and arms reaching out to the sides. Either bend your knees or stretch them out on the floor. Breathe deeply here.

Below are a link to a wonderful song that I enjoy listening to in savasana or another restorative pose.

Om Shanti, by Daphne Tse

http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=74077320&ac=now

Enjoy!

Om shanti, shanti, shanti.

Oh so true...

2012-02-12T11:42:00.000-08:00

Though we travel the world over

to find the beautiful,

we must carry it with us or we find it not.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

February Bliss

2012-02-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

Here is a simple recipe for 

blissful February days:

Lavender oil 

 Lavender oil is an oil every women should carry in her purse. The aroma is very soothing and can help the body with imbalance and stress. I sometimes put lavender oil on my hands before making the bed or when puffing up the pillows before bedtime. It makes it almost feel like you are sleeping in a lavender garden... It is a wonderful essential oil for beauty, relaxing and winding down.

Sphinx pose

The sphinx pose creates relaxation and focus and for your inner Goddess to come through. The sphinx is a female temple guardian that has a body of a lioness and a face of a human. Serene, fierce, wise and peaceful...

This pose releases serotonin to the brain, compresses the ovaries, bringing balance to hormones, calms the nervous system, compresses kidneys and releasing pent-up emotions.

Lisa Ekdahl

Lisa is a Swedish singer and song writer. She has a unique and beautiful sound and is one of my favorite artists. I LOVE her.

www.lisaekdahl.com

and...of course...

Roses

Give YOURSELF a bunch of roses.

Sweet dreams...

Put some roses by your bedside table. The sight of roses and the smell of lavender will for sure give you sweet dreams on a cold February night.

A little bit of inspiration

2012-02-07T07:43:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share this video with you that was sent to me from my sister. It is so beautiful. Beauty and simplicity...ahhh...

click on the link below or copy and paste it into your browser.
http://vimeo.com/31733784

Full Moon Meditation

2012-02-06T14:32:00.000-08:00

The moon is moving into fullness.

This is a time to reflect on the blessings that fill us up.

Why not try a full moon meditation...

Find a spot in your home where the light of the moon will shine in (you can be outside unless it is to cold). Just BE in that sacred space for a moment...gaze up at the moon and breathe deeply and offer your practice of sacred stillness as a gratitude of the fullness of life. At any time you can close your eyes and just bathe in the moon light. Be fully present to the divine feminine energy within you. Breath comes out...breath comes in... The light of the moon is like healing nectar that illuminates every cell of your body. Breath comes out...breath comes in...

What fulfills you?

What calms you?

What rejuvenates you?

Honor the lunar nature of yourself...feminine, calm, receptive, fluid, intuitive, sensual, creative, graceful.

Stay in your meditation for 5-20 minutes. When you are ready to bring it to a closure place your palms together in front of your heart and take a couple of deep breaths. Don't rush coming out of your meditation, take your time and savour the moment.

Lotus Mudra

2012-02-03T14:23:00.000-08:00

The lotus mudra belongs to the heart chakra. It is a wonderful mudra to do when your heart feels closed, tight or when you feel lonely, misunderstood or exhausted. This mudra is a symbol for purity, to keep our heart pure and open to receive and give love.

When I do this mudra I visualize holding flowers in my hands. Most of the time I visualize roses because it is one of my favorite flowers.

 lotus mudra

Breathe in deeply, drawing in the air... as softness, depth and wisdom. As you breathe, spirit comes within your heart and touches you...moving you...changing you.

Listen deep and hear inside, a silent sound. Listen deep and breathe into the sound, the breath, the winds of healing. In...and out...in...and out...in...and out...

Inhaling that which is new, exhaling the old, each breath renewing. Each breath a wind within you and around you, gentle zephyr, storm of life, winds of change.

For what does your heart cry? For what does it long? In what does it find peace? Release its hopes and dreams to fly upon the wings of love, fulfilled beyond your dreams.

-Anodea Judith, Wheels of Light

Connect to your Core

2012-02-02T14:02:00.000-08:00

Lately in my personal sadhana/practice I've been working on connecting to my core to build more strength and anchor myself to my own inner power. By connecting to our core we build balance and stability and it makes us feel more energized and confident. When living from our core/center we open up to a new world of possibilities.

Below are a few exercises that will connect you to your core power.

Begin with 3-5 rounds of sun salutation to warm up your body and get some circulation flowing. Then;

come into a downward facing dog

stay for 5 breaths, activate mula bandha - root lock

(see mula bandha post if you are unfamiliar with it). from downward dog to

plank pose

(sorry about the different directions...)

root hands down, reach sternum forward, activate your abdomen by lifting navel in and up towards your spine, legs are strong and active, hug the muscles into the bones, inhale. exhale,bring right knee towards your chest round your spine, pull navel in.

one legged plank

come back into a plank pose inhale. exhale,bring left knee towards your chest and round your spine, activate root lock. repeat 4 times each leg. come back to a downward dog stay 5 breaths.

move into a plank pose again and lower your forearms to the floor.

fore arm plank

keep chest open and upper back broad, activate core and legs. stay for 8 deep breaths. lower knees down, place hands on the floor and move into a downward dog.

bring left foot between your hands, toes in the same line as your fingers, root your foot down, left knee is aligned with your ankle.

crescent pose/ high lunge

lift torso up, shoulders over hips, arms reaching up, back leg is bent slightly, drop tailbone and pull navel in. inhale here and exhale pull elbows back and make a fist with your hands and activate your core a little bit more.

inhale reach arms up

strong exhale, activate core and root lock

repeat 10 times.

repeat same with right leg in front.

lie down on your back, bring knees into your chest, hands behind your head.

criss-cross 

shoot left leg forward while you rotate your torso to the right with left elbow reaching towards right knee. inhale back to center and repeat other side. repeat this 10 times.

rock up to sit in

navasana/boat pose

lift chest, pull navel in. 5 breaths.

modified navasana/boat pose

if keeping your legs straight is to much for you right now bend them, but lift chest and pull navel in. 5 breaths.

tabletop

root hands and feet down, lift up pelvic floor. legs are parallel and knees are directly aligned over the ankles. 1 breath.

repeat navasana, stay there for 5 breaths and lift up into a tabletop for 1 breath.

childspose

rest for a moment in childspose. separate your knees slightly, relax hips and chest. if your knees hurt or feel tight here place a folded blanket behind the knees.

kappalabhati-fire breath

end this sequence with some rounds of kappalabhati/fire breath.

(see kappalabhati/firebreath post)

close by sitting in silence for a moment. enjoy the sensation...

Everyone deserves to fully shine in their own light of empowerment, joy and bliss.

HAPPINESS

2012-02-01T13:18:00.000-08:00

is a perfume you cannot pour onto others

without getting a few drops yourself.

Lovisa, my niece.

A happy girl jumping in my bed at my mom and dad's house.

She always spread drops of happiness.

Mula Bandha

2012-01-30T12:56:00.000-08:00

 Mula Bandha - Root Lock

My intention in my asana practice today was to keep the activation of the mula bandha at all time. When my mind was wandering I returned to the mula bandha activation. Mula bandha is a very important part in our yoga practice. Sometimes it is really good to commit your whole practice to it.

Mula bandha is an activation of the pelvic floor muscles. The muscles in the pelvic floor are interconnected with the abdominal muscles. To really tone and activate the abdominal muscles we need to lift and activate the mula bandha.

Mula bandha:

strengthens us in all the poses

lifting energy up

supports us and our breathing

tones the pelvic floor

What does mula bandha feel like? For example, when you go to the bathroom and you stop the flow... you squeeze the vaginal walls...that is root lock, mula bandha.

In your asana practice you breathe into your ribcage but keep the tone and lift in the pelvic floor. You want to keep mula bandha activation throughout the whole practice and let it go when in savasana (relaxation). 

The Golden Tomorrow

2012-01-29T10:45:00.000-08:00

Today is the golden tomorrow

that you dreamed of yesterday-

and so it will be until the end of times.

This day, then, is your

Day of Opportunity!

A little bit of inspiration

2012-01-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is  that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness  that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,  gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a  child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is  nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel  insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were  born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just  in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we  unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are  liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates  others.” -Marianne Williamson

A breathing exercise

2012-01-23T13:17:00.000-08:00

Kappalabhati, also called breath of fire, is an energizing and forceful breathing exercise. It creates clarity and vitality and strengthens the entire nervous system. Kappalabhati is nice to do before your daily meditation.

Take a seat... 

Sit comfortably on a chair or cushion. Spine is straight and chest is lifted.

Before you start, blow your nose and while you do that be aware of what your body is doing, especially your belly. You will do the same thing in kappalabhati. Place both hands around your navel. Inhale through your nose and fill up your belly, exhale through your nose and let your belly sink in, repeat three times. Inhale and then exhale forcefully while your belly is moving in towards your spine and contracting your abdominal muscles. Allow your inhalation to happen naturally. Repeat the exhalations around 30-40 times. Then inhale fully and pause at the top of your inhale for a short moment. Feel the space and stillness within. Exhale all the air out. Repeat two more rounds.

Precautions: Don't do this if you are pregnant or menstruating, if you have high blood pressure or heart disease.

Pranayama

2012-01-22T18:23:00.000-08:00

Pranayama: conscious breathing,

the art of extending your vital energy.

prana: life force, life energy,

yama: to extend.

Breath is life, the most fundamental expression of being alive.
Our breath is the best guide in yoga and life. By noticing our breath during asana practice we can start to feel where there is restriction in the body. By noticing our breath in any situation in life we can ground ourselves into the present moment and bring stability and calmness. The breath has a direct link to the mind and can reveal truths about our emotions and body. Through the practice of yoga the breath will naturally lengthen and become more steady and that brings stillness and peace to the mind. The more we practice to let the mind rest on our breath in our asana practice the more we can bring that practice into our daily life.

When we can be in the present and listen to and trust our inner voice, the more we open up to our intuition and live from our authentic self.

Explore your breathing...

Take a comfortable seat, sit up tall, lift your chest slightly and relax your shoulders. Now watch the patterns of your in breath and out breath. Just briefly reflect on how your breath might mirror how you feel right now in your life.

Slowly begin to balance the out breath and the in breath. Let them be equal in length and depth without straining.

Just briefly reflect on how this can affect you and allow you to fully participate in life with grace and ease.

A moment of meditation

2012-01-18T13:19:00.000-08:00

The sensuous ebb and flow of the breath,

The warmth of the sun on the skin,

The touch of light on the eyelids, like a kiss,

The soothing sound of leaves rustling in the breeze,

The satisfying release of body weight into the support of the Earth-

Nothing in particular to do or to be,

Just savoring the texture of life in this moment...

Relaxing, melting, soften into lusciousness.

Sinking down, letting go, deeper, deeper...

Breath spreading, massaging everywhere inside, a gentle caress...Ah...

Muscle release, a sigh of relief, all the way to the bones.

Here, now, revealing its simple truth-

I am immersed in the embrace of life.

Yes, I hear the Yes.

And my response, Yes.

I am this movement.

I am home.

-Camille Maurine, Meditation secrets for women

Sadhana

2012-01-17T12:10:00.000-08:00

Sadhana – daily spiritual practice, a yoga "pilgrimage", a journey that leads somewhere.

Sadhana often gets translated as practice. A lot of times we think of practice as something separate from ourselves and our daily life. Something that we just do, another thing on the list and then we don’t think about it. I see sadhana as a practice and journey of wholeness where all parts of my life are participating. When we live our sadhana we enter a continuous stream of living with awareness, grace and flow. I think what’s most important with a yoga sadhana is continuity. To daily carve out some time for an asana practice, pranayama (breathing exercises), meditation, reflection. It is better to do it every day, short, sweet and meaningful than just do a vigorous practice once or twice a week.

short, sweet and meaningful

a practice anywhere...

A daily yoga sadhana is for me a pathway to wholeness, balance and growth. I let my sadhana be a tool for living and a reflection of my core values.

Let your sadhana become a natural support and tool to empower and uplift yourself and dive into your personal evolution with intention, color, creativity and passion. 

A beautiful reminder of a daily asana practice

What we embody becomes our way of being.

Our way of being in the world is the result

of what we practice. -Victoria Castle

What is your sacred practice today...?

A little bit of inspiration

2012-01-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

"There is a vitality, a life force, an
energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action; and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. You must keep that channel open. It is not for you to determine how good it is, nor how valuable. Nor how it compares with other expressions. It is for you to keep it yours, clearly and directly." -Martha Graham

January Bliss

2012-01-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

A simple recipe for January Bliss...

Essential oil

I love peppermint oil. I put it on my temples and on my third eye (between the eye brows). This oil is refreshing and uplifting. Peppermint oil is helpful when having a headache or feeling tired.

Relaxing music

Wah gives you a magical journey with her beautiful sacred music.

Down ward facing dog

Adho Mukha Svanasana

This pose is wonderful to practice when you feel tired or fatigued. It lengthens the spine, opens the chest and the back of the legs. It releases stiffness in the shoulder blade region. Since you are inverted in this pose blood and oxygen flow increases to the brain for clarity and glow. Stay for at least 10 long breaths.

Yoga Mudra

A calming pose that stretches back of legs, lower back, shoulders and triceps. Releases serotonin in the brain and balances hormones. Internal organs are compressed and that is great for digestion. This pose, just like down ward facing dog, increases flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. Stay for at least 10 long breaths.

Breathe deeply in both poses, bow the head humbly to the earth and come into alignment with your heart.

Living Bliss Yoga

2012-01-09T10:37:00.000-08:00

Today we roll out our yoga mats for the winter season at Living Bliss Yoga studio. I look forward to see familiar faces back in the studio and welcoming new ones.

It is always exciting to take new intentions for the practice and take a deeper leap into the flow of growth, balance and total awareness. So step onto your yoga mat, let the adventure begin and see what unfolds...

For more information visit:

www.livingblissyoga.com

Clarity

2012-01-08T18:47:00.000-08:00

The last couple of days I've been thinking about clarity when gazing up at the clear night sky with the moon coming into fullness.

Clarity is something we all want.  To achieve balance in everyday life we need both clarity within and without.  Clarity brings harmony, order, efficiency and creative ideas to flourish.  Below are some steps that I find helpful in achieving clarity:

walking

organizing home and office space

clear clutter 

a clean surrounding 

seated meditation 

journaling 

 list 5 things you wish to accomplish the next day

give away clothes you haven't used in the last 12 months 

give away books and things that is just taking up space 

a steady asana practice 

deep breathing

 Let the star filled winter sky inspire you to create more clarity.

Clarity = Space

Space = Possibility 

Possibility for dreams to come true. Possibility for brilliance
and magic.

Winter sky in northern Sweden.

Namaste, 

Helén

A Poem

2012-01-01T19:52:00.000-08:00

The other day I came upon the poem "Ithaka", written 1911 by the Greek poet Constantine Peter Cavafy. A poem of encouragement for someone that is setting out on a journey of self-discovery. In the book Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy the author Sarah Ban Breathnach created a personal translation/adaptation of C.P. Cavafy's poem for women. As we move through a path in search for authenticity and wholeness I find Breathnach's adaptation to be a great inspiration. Breathnack writes: "As we move through our daily rounds on the Simple Abundance path as daugthers, friends, lovers, wives, mothers, and artists of the everyday - what we are really seeking is the Ultimate Reality. We are seeking Ithaka."

Pray that your journey will be long,

full of many summer mornings

when with much pleasure and much joy

you anchor in harbors never seen before;

Browse through Phoenician markets,

to purchase exquisite treasures-

mother-of-pearl and coral, ebony and amber

and sensual perfumes of all kinds-

as much as you desire.

Visit many Egyptian cities, content

to sit at the feet of sages, eager

and open to receive learning.

Keep Ithaka always in your mind.

Your arrival there is your destiny.

But do not hurry the journey at all: be patient.

Better that it lasts for many years-

longer than you can even imagine.

So that finally, when you reach this

sacred isle, you will be a wise woman,

abundantly fulfilled by all you have gained along the way:

no longer expecting Ithaka to make you wealthy,

no longer needing Ithaka to make you rich.

Ithaka offered you the profound journey,

the chance to discover the woman you have always been.

Without Ithaka as your inspiration, you

never would have set out in search of Wholeness.

And should you find her poor, Ithaka did not deceive you.

Authentic as you have become, full of wisdom,

beauty and grace, enriched and enlightened

by all you have experienced

you will finally understand what all life's Ithaka truly means.

-Sarah Ban Breathnach

A Blissful New Year

2011-12-31T13:54:00.000-08:00

This morning I was thinking about all the energy around the world that is put into welcoming the New Year. Energy of hope, change, shift, action, dreams, inspirations, starting over, exploring new ways, aspirations, love, journeys of new discoveries, authentic search for wholeness, and more dreams…

What is your dream for the New Year?

I decided to not make any New Year resolutions. Instead I asked myself what kind of a feeling do I wish to bring into my everyday life and what action needs to be taken to create that feeling. So I decided to explore that and see what it might bring. Feelings of comfort, beauty, simplicity, wholeness in every part of my life is something I dream and wish for my personal evolution. I hope by creating that in my life I can help bring that into other people’s life. I wish you a Happy Peaceful New Year. I hope it will be filled with dreams coming true and with sprinkles of magic everyday. Let the adventures of 2012 begin…

Holiday Greetings

2011-12-23T11:01:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

I wish you a blissful season!

Peace & Light, Helén

Happy midwinter

2011-12-22T21:04:00.000-08:00

In the midst of holiday preparation we may need to take a moment to pause and breathe.  When things get to busy, just pause..... and take ten long breaths.  Breathe in the fragrance of contentment and comfort.  Or pause and breathe to savor a magical moment.

Today on winter solstice we welcome the winter and the slowly return of light.  Winter bring us a time for reflection, rest and renewal.  I believe we can move closer to wholeness if we take a look at what every season has to bring.

Maybe you won't have a lot of time for reflection, rest and renewal during the Christmas days......  I know I won't.....

Carve out some time next week instead for yourself to enjoy.

Recipe for blissful reflection, rest and renewal.

Enya

http://www.myspace.com/enyaofficially

Legs-up-the-wall

Goddess Pose or Supta Baddha Konasana

Altars

2011-12-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

This time of the year it becomes natural to set up small altars around the house to remind us of peace, love, truth, bliss, joy, faith and to pause and reflect on the mysteries of mundane.  My altars I use for meditation, prayer, and contemplation.  Creating the altars become a ritual in itself, a ritual of creating a sacred place of beauty.  The altars around my house changes depending on my mood and the season.

A mini altar in our living room
 This beautiful icon I received from my sister one Christmas. It is a Christian picture that wants to reminds us of God.

 Virgin Mary
  I love love love this.

Simple, beautiful and spiritual
A sacred place in my art room.

Balance...
A beautiful reminder to find balance every day.

My main altar
This altar is by my bed.  I constantly changing it depending on my mood, my practice, for inspiration and creative play.

For me altars can be a place of artistic expression, creation of a feeling, a reminder to create a daily ritual for balance, peace and harmony.  They can be an expression of appreciation for life.  An expression of faith.  I don't follow any rules when creating my altars.  I just love to put lovely things together to create a sacred space that symbolize faith, peace and beauty.

Lucia

2011-12-13T18:44:00.000-08:00

In Sweden, where I was born and raised, December 13 is a very beautiful day filled with song and candles. It is called Lucia. I started my morning by listening to some lucia songs that filled me with warm memories. 

Lucia is a celebration associated with light.  Lucia brings in warmth and light in the midst of the winter darkness.  It is a strong tradition at home, and is celebrated almost everywhere. The most common song is Sankta Lucia.  Lucia, dressed all in white with candles in her hair is followed by a choir of both men and women, boys and girls. 

My husband and I went to the Lucia celebration in New York City when we lived there and it is spectacular.

Lit a candle for peace, hope and faith.

I have inserted a video from a Lucia Celebration in Sweden from 2009 that I found on youtube. Enjoy! 

December Bliss

2011-12-12T08:06:00.000-08:00

Recipe for December Bliss

Fresh flowers and candles in abundance...

A Bliss tip from my cat

Long cozy naps...

This sweet heart my husband and I adopted a week ago from 

Queen Ann's County Human Society.

We have not yet decided what his name is going to be.  The other day we gave him a little ball and this 3 year old beauty could dribble and pass like a pro soccer player.  So maybe his name will be Beckham...?

Mantra

2011-12-11T16:49:00.000-08:00

Mantra is a repetition of a phrase of sacred words or sounds.  It's a nourishing phrase that will remind us of our intention and/or a feeling state.  The word mantra comes from a combination of two syllables; "man", meaning to reflect or be aware, and "tra" meaning tool for.  A mantra can come in handy when we need to focus, calm down, reflect, cultivate awareness or if we get struck with a stressful situation or negative thinking.  A mantra can be practiced almost anywhere.  You can use it when in meditation, in your asana practice, walking, biking or waiting in line somewhere. 

OM is a mantra or vibration and is considered to be the sacred sound of the universe.  Om is made up of: A, U, M and the silence in the end.

 This is the OM sign on a homemade bunting.

"As we chant OM, it takes us for a ride on this universal movement, through our breath, our awareness, and our physical energy, and we begin to sense a bigger connection that is both uplifting and soothing.  This is the true meaning of yoga". -Cyndi Lee, Yoga Body Buddha Mind.

You can come up with your own mantra, I do that all the time. Here are a few examples:

OM SHANTI SHANTI.  Shanti is a sanskrit word meaning peace.  This mantra is one of my favorites.  It reminds me of cultivating peace within and without.

 Take a long deep inhale, silently or chant out load 

om shanti shanti with your exhale.

SO HUM.  Meaning "I am that".  Inhale and silently repeat So, exhale and silently repeat Hum.  Let the mantra softly flow with your breath.  The So Hum mantra is nice to chant quietly to calm the mind and relax the body.

LOKAH SAMASTA SUKHINO BHAVANTU.  "May all beings, everywhere, be happy and free.  And may the thoughts and actions of my own life contribute, in some way, to that happiness and freedom of all".  That is a translation from Sharon Gannon.  I always chant this mantra after my own asana practice.  It creates awareness and make me reflect on living my values.

LET GO.  Internally chant Let on every inhale and Go on every exhale.  This is one of the most simple mantras, very useful and helpful.

Create your own mantra and take a deep breath 

and dive into the moment...

Reflection

2011-12-07T08:55:00.000-08:00

I feel that this is the time for reflection and to absorb the past year.  What can I let go of? Did I reach the goals that I set up for myself? Did I live by my values? What needs to shift and what would I like to embody?

Taking time every day for some quiet reflection is so valuable for finding clarity and understanding within so that I can create a pathway for what lies ahead. 

The holiday season is often filled with obligations. But this year I will make sure to create time for reflection. I often find that I can clear my head when walking outside in nature. When I walk I try to create a rhythm connecting movement and the breath just like in a vinyasa flow where you connect the movement and breath, doing this creates a sense of space to think clearly.

A quiet cold morning perfect for reflection.

Total stillness. So beautiful.

Welcome

2011-11-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

I wanted to create a blog to share my inspirations, thoughts, joys, and insights about yoga. Ideas about a home practice, share asana sequences and breathing exercises. Ways to relax into restorative poses and my insights and thoughts about practice yoga on and off the mat.

I love to seek beauty, magic, and bliss in everything I do. Bliss for me is a feeling of wholeness, safety, see beauty in all forms, and grounded faith and trust. Beauty and magic can be all around us if we just look and allow ourselves to be present. Yoga is my core practice, that's where I ground myself into my truth and authentic voice.

On this blog I will also share my love for creativity, books, and beautiful things.

beautiful space for meditation...