Why is yoga valuable?

Why is yoga valuable?

Why is yoga valuable?

More and more people are embracing yoga as a tool for living!

What do you think makes yoga so valuable?

Why do so many individuals claim that yoga has helped to heal not just their bodies, but their emotional/ spiritual lives as well?
Is this just a fad?

For me, and for plenty, Yoga is so much more than just exercise. Here are some ways yoga has helped me. After years of practice and teaching, it surprises me how every time I come to my mat it’s a new experience that always contains infinitely more to learn.

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Acceptance
When we first sit for class, we soften and allow sensitivity to arise. We make a connection to the pure and simple movement of the breath and connect to our own innate worthiness.

Presence
We learn to bring ourselves into the direct experience of the NOW -the place from where all potential unfolds and fear and anxiety diminish.

Self Study
It’s possible to recognize patterns we perpetuate that are harmful or limiting.

Consciously Create
New awareness -with Intention, establish more optimal alignment.
Enjoy greater freedom and bliss by CHOICE!

Find your center
Experience the essence of breath through ups and downs, challenges, failures, and successes. Connect to what is most real through all of it.

Practice your capacity to receive what life presents. Experience the process of how to hold it, engage with it, and make something more as a result of it!

Create Beauty. Feel good
.
Learn what it takes to heal yourself by listening…

Get stronger, more resilient, more flexible.

Learn to RELAX…To let go… Feel connected to yourself and that which is so much larger than just yourself.

Develop TRUST. Feel your feelings, ALL of them. Know YOU are also more than just your feelings. You can watch, feel, and experience them fully, but you do not have to be controlled by your emotions.

Know that you are an integral part of everyone and everything around you! It is from this understanding and experience of oneness, that we say…Namaste!

 

Yours in yoga,
Andrea Thibaudeau

What Is a Seasonal Ayurvedic Cleanse?

What Is a Seasonal Ayurvedic Cleanse?

What Is a Seasonal Ayurvedic Cleanse?

A seasonal cleanse is a time to re-organize yourself to the rhythms of nature. Change is in the air! Yogis forever have recognized the need to synchronize and adjust with the changing seasons. This approach is absolutely necessary to stay healthy, vibrant, and in tune with our changing biochemistry and evolutionary expression.

When we take time twice a year to slow down, re-evaluate, rejuvenate, and recalibrate, we slow down time, and the process of aging. We simplify and get in touch with the direction of where our life is taking us. Is it the way you want to go? If not, the process of a cleanse is a perfect opportunity to recognize patterns that are not serving your highest interest.

These cleanses are like a time out. The “pause” interrupts the momentum of our patterns. Are your everyday habits helping you be who you really want to be? Or…. are they creating more chaos, stress and adversity? Press pause on those patterns! Create some space, then choose consciously what to perpetuate.

The process of cleansing helps our body and mind to release excess heat and toxicity. We accumulate toxic build up from media, NEWS, computers…even breathing! Oh and of course what we eat, drink, think, and feel. These toxins whether they are physical or emotional, distort the body’s true intelligence. Toxicity makes us feel “off” and we will even start to crave that which is not good for us! By reducing this toxicity, we start to feel and see things differently and become more in tune with our deeper wisdom and what our body truly needs to thrive. From this new starting ground, we are empowered to make real change in our lives.

Oh Yea, a seasonal cleanse also helps reduce excess weight from summertime / wintertime indulgence. A cleanse will help you establish new routines, and improve your immunity throughout the changing seasons (a time we are most susceptible to illness). We need our health to be top notch to avoid the crazy bugs these days!

My first seasonal cleanse was in 2004… The year my first son was born. I was adapting to my new role as a mom, and was a bit overwhelmed to be truthful. I felt heavy, and had no desire to leave my house for exercise, walks or much of anything. I remember those days of the nest, so precious… I decided to try my first Ayurvedic inspired cleanse. Because I was breastfeeding, I chose a very simple nourishing cleanse. This consists of less “taking away” and more nourishing, rejuvenating practices. This cleanse was truly a turning point of healing for me. After that, I was hooked! I have practiced some form of a cleanse every Spring and Fall since then! I LOOK FORWARD to these islands as a resting place. Life that can seem to move so fast!.

There are three different levels I choose from for a seasonal cleanse -MIld, medium or spicy!

The way to choose is to truthfully look at your needs.

Nourishing cleanse -if you feel overextended, stressed, overwhelmed inflamed or in pain. You need to ground down, and slow down! Think mild and rejuvenating.
Basic cleanse -For lightening up, reducing fat, cleansing and improving your self care
Detox- Reducing body mass, deeper detox, big shift.

The point is, YOU design a cleanse that suits your needs. – I can help you do that!

JOIN ME for my 3 Week Community Cleanse Starting September 11, 2017!
SIGN UP HERE and get yourself back on track with guidance and a supportive group!

Cost $25
What you get:
3 Weekly group calls (recorded and made available) Mondays starting September 11th @ 2:00 pm. I will offer meditation and group exercises to help you design your cleanse, as well as an informational lecture with time for Q&A
Link to private Facebook group page to connect with peers on the path
One weekly informational email and reminder for the call
Links to videos and resources to support your cleanse

I hope you can join us! We have a great group starting! Go HERE and reserve your place to make a big shift!

Cheers to your smooth Fall transition and vibrant body and mind!

Much love,
Andrea

What is Yoga Mantra

What is Yoga Mantra

What is Yoga Mantra

A mantra is a sacred sound, word, or phrase. Thoughts and words are the very vibration from which we create. The etymology of the word mantra, takes us to the root manas which means heart / mind. ‘Tra’ means to traverse, to protect, or to cross over, to bridge the heart and the mind together.

The repetition of mantra shifts our vibration. Like attracts like. When we are spinning in fear, negativity or limitation, this is what we tend to attract and perpetuate. Physics proves it over and over with this universal principle. The right mantra can protect us from harmful patterns of mind and spinning emotions. At any time we can interrupt negative momentum and anchor into Love, and Universal support. With mantra, we cross the bridge of perception and connect deeply with our highest intention. We are not limited to our fear and pain. Who we are is much bigger than that. Mantra can help us remember that field of possibility.

That said, it is necessary to welcome the whole of who we are. Our suffering does not want to be denied. It wants our attention and patience. When we try to cover over the pain and push it down by pasting on false positivity, we actually short circuit our deep healing! But, as we turn toward the pain of what challenges us, allow ourselves to feel, and be present in our pain, we can also find comfort in healing sounds and words. Being real with ourselves is critical. Only from here can we begin to dissolve the scar tissue and let it go into the ocean of love. Try it next time. When you are caught in a negative mind set, take time to listen. What is the source? Go into the sensation and wait for what you know. Write it down. Bring your loving awareness breath, and compassion there. Then, when you are ready, start to shift the trajectory.

A mantra can be given to you by a teacher or guide. It may also be your most beloved prayer, or a phrase chosen by your own loving heart. Examples of mantras can be as simple as “Thank You.” or “I love myself and I give love freely.” “I am blissful, I am Free, I am forever.” ‘I am strong, my heart is pure”.

You may also encounter mantras in a yoga class… (I love them)… Perhaps the words are in Sanskrit, a beautiful and magical language. It is good to know the translations of these words to put the full power of your heart behind them if you so choose.

Repetition, or ‘Jappa’ is key! Often a mantra is repeated 108x’s -a sacred number in the yogic tradition or, even chanted continuously, throughout the day. You can do this silently, softly, or full blast to keep you on track. Rosary beads, Mala beads, or even bowls with stones can be used to count during mantra meditation. It’s a great way to retrain our minds to Divine frequency and watch the knots of suffering unravel!

The beautiful Mala beads in the picture above are created by local artist and yogini Beth Robbins. Find them at our studio! 50% percent of all proceeds go to create:

-No Yogi Left Behind! Yoga scholarship funding.

OM SHANTI…SHANTI…SHANTIHI
(Peace, Peace, Peace)

Namaste,
Andrea