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Posts Tagged ‘Yoga’

Practicing Yoga By The Lake

July 13th, 2010
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The  early morning sunlight filters through the Gambel Oaks and Ponderosa  Trees.  The hummingbirds are already active, searching for anything red, including my bandana.  There is a deep quite, a peace in these woods. I take my yoga mat down by the lake.  Big mountain views greet me. The lake is reflective this morning, gentle  ripples creating never ending patterns. I place my yoga mat on the grass, in the sun, craving the warmth. The  cool mountain air brings a chill to my still sleepy body.  As  I begin my yoga  practice I face the sun in the east and begin doing Sun Salutations ( Surya Namaskar), sweeping my arms up over my head, reaching towards the sun, giving thanks for the warmth it provides, shining light on these beautiful grasses that surround this mountain lake.  I bow down towards the earth, connecting to the Mother who provides me with everything I need.  As I bring my hands back together in Namaste I give thanks for this day. My heart opens to the beauty that surrounds me.  I feel so awake. I turn to the south and repeat the asana, welcoming a different view of the lake and its surrounding beauty.  Each time I turn to a different direction I am greeted by a deep sense of appreciation for  the beauty that is here.  I complete the Sun Salutations in all 4 directions.  I feel revitalized and deeply connected to the spectacular  natural setting I am witness to this morning.   Nature inspires me,  ideas run through my head for necklace designs reflecting what  I see before me on this early July morning.
 
Reflections from my camping trip to Vallecito Lake in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. Vallecito lake is at 8000ft elevation.
 
This Amber necklace was inspired by Sun Salutations and is available for sale from my web site: http://www.spiralsoflight.com/yoga-jewelry.html

Reflections & Essays, Yoga, Yoga Jewelry , , , ,

Why do Yoga?

July 6th, 2009
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yoga-teton1Someone asked me the other day why I create yoga and chakra jewerly.  Good question I responded and answered with—  I began designing yoga and chakra jewelry as a way to support my own yoga practice.  The next question followed, why do you do yoga?  Even bigger question.  Lots of answers came to mind, but the next day I received this email from my friends at  Pathways www.pathwaysbayfield.com. This description of yoga really helps explain why yoga is so important to my life and why I love creating jewelry to help inspire the yoga path.
 
Why Yoga?
Developed in India, yoga is a spiritual practice that has been evolving for the last 5,000 years or so. The original yogis were reacting, in part, to India’s ancient Vedic religion, which emphasized rituals. The yogis wanted a direct spiritual experience — one on one — not symbolic ritual. So they developed yoga.
Yoga means “union” in Sanskrit, the classical language of India. In Hatha yoga, for example, postures and breathing exercises help purify the mind, body and spirit so the yogi can attain union. Yoga doesn’t discriminate. Even if you don’t believe in the spiritual side of life, you can still do yoga.  If you do yoga, chances are that you will feel its psycho-physiological effects. Moreover, the concept of union has a powerful down-to-Earth meaning. Yoga helps us get in touch with our true selves.
Yoga gives us control of ourselves. It helps cut through the layers of mis-identities that arise in response to our actions, experiences and feelings. Specifically, research shows that yoga helps manage or control anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, headaches, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, stress and other conditions and diseases. It calms the frenzy, clears the clutter and allows us to get back in touch with ourselves.
 
Whether you pursue yoga as a spiritual path or for its physiological benefits, yoga is a methodology for developing a deeper experience of your self and the world. And it makes you feel really good.
 
To see some of my yoga inspired jewelry designs go to: http://www.spiralsoflight.com/yoga-jewelry.html

Jewelry, Yoga, Yoga Jewelry , , ,

Chakra Bracelets for Omega Institute

March 16th, 2009
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Chakra Gemstone Bracelet

Chakra Gemstone Bracelet

I just sent off an order of Chakra Bracelets to the world famous Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck New York.  If you don’t know about Omega I think you should. Please see their web site for more information: www.eOmega.org.  They are a nonprofit organization that specializes in teaching workshops, retreats and conferences on all areas of wellness and personal growth.  They offer classes at their NY campus from April through October with world renown teachers.  Workshops in Yoga, Massage, Energy Healing, Spiritual Practices, Art, Music, Sustainable Living and so much more.  With teachers like Neale Donald Walsch, Shiva Rea, Rodney Yee, Alex Grey, Caroline Myss, there is something for everyone at Omega.  The campus is in a beautiful rural setting in upstate New York  with a bookstore that sells my gemstone Chakra Bracelets.

I have eight different gemstone Chakra Bracelets that correspond to the Chakra Energy System.  Each Chakra Bracelet has a different color pattern and uses genuine gemstones to help balance the chakras.  I hand make each bracelet, one at a time with love and healing.  The idea to create the bracelets came to me as a way to help people learn more about the healing qualities of gemstones and how different gemstones can facilitate opening and balancing the chakra energy centers. This creates a vibrant, healthy and balanced individual. I am honored to have Omega selling my handcrafted jewelry.  For more information about wholesaling my chakra bracelets contact me.

For more information or to purchase a chakra bracelet go to: http://www.spiralsoflight.com/chakra-jewelry.html

Chakra Jewelry, Yoga , , , , ,

Yoga Love

February 14th, 2009
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Rose Quartz heart

Rose Quartz heart

Rose Quartz is perhaps one of the best known gemstones in the crystal world. Commonly known as the “stone of love.” I’ve been placing a Rose Quartz heart by my Yoga mat for the past week, in honor of Valentine’s Day. It helps me put my focus on heart opening yoga poses. Asanas like, cobra pose, cat pose, upward facing dog and bridge pose. At the end of my yoga sessions I sit and meditate with Rose Quartz and listen to its gifts.

Rose Quartz first and foremost reminds us to love ourselves. Each day when I get on my mat I am demonstrating this self love. I bring self acceptance to the mat when I feel the tightness in my muscles, and forgive the places in my body where it is difficult for me to stretch further. We often distance ourselves from self love when we feel un-entitled to it, or less than, or unworthy, or even guilty. But without self love there can be no love of others. Fill your heart with love and the world outside you sees it and feels it. May you have a love filled day.

You can find Rose Quartz Hearts and Jewelry on my web site: http://www.spiralsoflight.com/jewelry-specials.html

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Gemstones, Meditation, Yoga , , , , , ,

How to create a relaxing bath using gemstones

January 30th, 2009
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As part of my yoga practice I am doing a 2 week cleanse to help detoxify my body from all the holiday eating or should I say over eating! I am following the Ultra Simple Diet by Dr Mark Hyman:, check out his blog: http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog

Dr Hyman recommends taking detox baths at the end of every day. I love these quiet, relaxing baths, but I created my own recipe for relaxation while in the tub.

I add the gemstone Lepidolite to my bath water. Lepidolite is known for its calming and relaxing properties. Lepidolite can relieve tension and stress in the body and help sooth frayed nerves.

My simple relaxing bath recipe:

  • Place a piece of Lepidolite into the tub allowing the water to run over it as the tub fills. If you have more than one piece you can add them too. Just be sure you don’t lose them down the drain when you let the water out.
  • Add pure Lavender essential oil, about 10 drops
  • Add 1 Cup sea salt
  • Light a candle and dim the lights
  • Soak 15-20 minutes

As I soak I rub the smooth Lepidolite stones over the parts of my body that feel the most tense. I especially like to rub the stone around my face. It works to smooth the wrinkles and fine lines.

ENJOY!

Soothing Lepidolite
Soothing Lepidolite

Crystals, Gemstones, Yoga , , , ,