by bringmebliss | Aug 28, 2014 | Mind/Body
“There is something so holy about balance. It appropriates our time and our focus. It exposes the unnecessary and directs us to channel the meaningful.” Holy Yoga (www.holyyoga.net)
As a Holy Yoga teacher, I am privileged to work with and be inspired by a community of believers who genuinely want others to experience greater health and vitality in Mind, Body AND Spirit! Each month Holy Yoga designates an intentional practice that if we align with, we will experience more bliss. Since I’m all about bliss, I had to share this message: Seek to find balance!
How do we seek to find balance in this crazy world? It’s different for everyone, but my advice is to carve out time to do more of what you love. Recently I polled some facebook friends on what brings them bliss. Their responses weren’t to have more stuff. They were more like, “cuddling with my dog”, “having coffee in the morning while reading my Bible”, “taking a walk with my hubby”, “yoga class”, “essential oils”, “laying in my pool looking up at the clear, blue sky”, “sitting by a fire with a glass of wine”…
Find some quiet time and write down a few things you’d like to do this month that will make your life feel more balanced. If you need rest, plug that in. Plan a picnic. Take a pretty drive. Schedule lunch with a dear friend. Attend a Bible Study. Take an art class. Start a meditation practice. Investigate healthier eating. Consider a new hobby. Buy some pretty flowers for your home.
Whatever it is, make it something that you KNOW will bring you more joy.
For those who are more anxious or fearful, read these words for strength and courage:
Tell those who worry, the anxious and the fearful, “Take strength; have courage! There’s nothing to fear. Look, here! your God! Right here is your God! The balance is shifting; God will right all wrongs. None other than God will give you success. He is coming to make you safe.” Isaiah 35:4
Bringing balance to your life not only affects you; it affects others. Your energy bleeds onto those around you and to those around those around you. Harmony – Bliss – these are things that help us to be the utmost in service to others. Just saying…you don’t want to feel guilty about taking care of yourself, because self-care results in positive ripples that go through your personal relationships, the community and even onto the next generation.
Please comment here on what plans you have this month to intentionally bring more balance to your life!
by bringmebliss | Aug 20, 2014 | Self-Care Strategies
How would you like to have soft, calllus-free, pretty feet? You know, your feet are pretty important. Much like our back body, the feet get abused and neglected. The thing is, it doesn’t take that much to have healthy feet. They need love just like the rest of body. You can lift your feet higher than your heart to give them some relief. You can soak them in hot water with essential oils. You can give them a pedicure. I know this takes some time, but it’s really worth it! One of the tools I use to get beautiful feet is the Microplane Foot File. I can no longer be without this amazing tool.
EVERY woman should have this foot file! I actually bought one of these from my hairdresser who happened to have a few on hand and I haven’t looked back. This is one of THE BEST Self-Care items you can have. Taking care of your feet is important. They take you a long distance and you should give them some love every now and then.
The Microplane Foot File is used when your feet are completely dry. You rub back and forth on your calluses while dry and only long enough to see some of the callus come off. The blades are so sharp (but safe) that you want to prevent over filing. This is the most amazing tool ever! You use one of the files to “shave” the callus and the other one to “smooth” it out (buffer). This file brings health and vitality to your heels, balls of feet and toes.
When you’re done filing your feet, soak them, get them nice and clean and then moisturize with olive oil or one of your favorite lotions. Put some socks on and let the moisture soak into the skin!
Results? Relaxed, smooth, beautiful feet!
by bringmebliss | Aug 13, 2014 | Fun Food
Some women get jewelry for their wedding anniversary. Not me! My husband knows what I like and several months ago (before Christmas) I had mentioned I would love to have a Vitamix. I didn't get one for Christmas, but 7 months later, on our anniversary, he surprised me with this AMAZING machine.
I am so excited! Too excited really. I just spent GOBS of money on produce to make a million different recipes ranging from smoothies to soups. And it's only me drinking and eating the stuff. My husband is not into smoothies but he is intrigued. Tonight I witnessed him blending some concoction together without a recipe and it tasted pretty bad. Hopefully, he'll follow some real recipes. 🙂
ANYway, I am smitten with my new Vitamix. My fitness/nutrition coach girlfriend came over today and showed me how to make some Creamy Cauliflower soup. It was really easy and so delicious! Full of flavor and packed with nutrition, this recipe rocks! You can find her book, "simply seasonal" a simple guide to eating delicious and nutritious food, by Michele Rusinko on Amazon.
simply seasonal by Michele Rusinko
So please…if you are a Vitamix owner/user, please share your favorite recipes here or on my facebook page! I would be really grateful.
by bringmebliss | Aug 11, 2014 | Inspiration
Just spent two weeks in my original home state of Illinois and was in total bliss during this trip. So many blessings awaited me – from visiting a family relative who is very ill – to almost sinking in a boat on the Chain O Lakes. But the reason I went back there was to hang out with my high school girlfriends who I still have heart ties to after all these years. As I write this I'm listening to Free Bird by Leonard Skynard – one of the bands we danced to at our parties. I am so nostalgic and it's one of the reasons I find so much joy in the company of old friends.
Here are some of my girlfriends as we were getting ready to enjoy a lovely dinner on the lake in Williams Bay, WI:
I'm there on the top right along with my friends Joni, Paula, Cathy and Cindy. We have so many laughs together because we are just ourselves – like when in high school. No pre-tenses, no false hoods…we just catch up, share, drink, eat and laugh.
Here's another picture of our silly selves as we glammed it up for a Hollywood style party:
I'm there second from the right with my friends Lori, Cindy and Paula. What a night we had!
In addition to seeing these cool chicks, I also got to spend time with my neighborhood girlfriends. We are the Camelot girls from Mt. Prospect, Illinois. Two of us go back to 5th grade, then 6th, then 7th and we all went to high school together. This picture was taken before dinner at Biaggi's at Deer Park near Lake Zurich, IL.
I post this hoping that you will make it a priority to connect with the people who make you feel good – who you love to be around and who accept you for who you are. Life is short and it's good to find bliss in the little things – parties with old friends and other activities that make you happy.
Can you share a story that brings you bliss? Please do it here!
by bringmebliss | Jan 17, 2014 | Inspiration
Do you imagine laying on a beach, soaking up the sun and sipping margaritas?
Are you thinking about how nice it would be to experience a relaxing massage?
Do you long for a gourmet dinner with beautiful ambience with your best friend?
Perhaps a cappucino or caramel machiato would bring you bliss.
Maybe it’s a great yoga class with a longgggg savasana. Yum!
There are so many things that have the potential to bring us into a state…a state which I call Bliss…which translates to Supreme Happiness or Utter Joy or Contentment…True Serenity.
These things are all great for bringing temporary happiness. They reward us for hard work and help us to relax which is good for our health.
My job as a yoga teacher is to MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER!
Making people feel better actually brings me delight. It’s my dharma…my purpose…and I am delighted to help YOU find more peace, tranquility and serenity through whatever means I can. A good recipe, a restorative yoga pose, pretty picture.
Find your bliss today.
