YogaGlamGirl's Weblog

Yogaglamgirl enjoys Eat, Pray, Love

I was travelling yet again this weekend for a wedding. One of the down sides about being a Californian who is originally an east coaster...means that any family or extended family function takes at least 3 days. 2 to get there and one to be present at the event itself.
The good news is that the necklaces I made for the bridesmaids looked terrific.

The other good news is that I was able to read Elizabeth Gilbert's book: Eat, Pray, Love
So much of what she wrote reasonated with me...my love for food, my search for spirituality and truth, and the love that I too celebrate in Bali. She even mentions Ann Barrows, one of my yoga teachers...who has led many yoga retreats in Bali. A fabulous read for any other fellow soul searchers, truth seekers or people who find that there must be more to life than the status quo.

Yogaglamgirl on Yoga Book Recommendation

Jai Sivananda claims that the best yoga book in the world is Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha
I haven't read it myself, but I intend to buy it right away. The reason is...as both a yoga student and teacher I have spent hours flipping through BKS Iyengar's book studying the poses and (as Jai Sivananda says):

...it is rather difficult to follow the asana list because you must follow plate numbers of the photos and search amongst the pages to locate the particular pose. [In this book] it is neatly tabled.

In addition it has a detailed list of contraindications (poses you shouldn't do if you have certain ailments), preparatory poses for beginners, instructions for pranayama, clear illustrations and more.
I'll send you an update once I've read it...

Yogaglamgirl Preps for a Cleanse

Several weeks ago I mentioned that I was getting some blood tests done in attempt to measure my current health and discover any ailments that might be causing my recurring headaches. All the tests came back fine and the headaches are a little less frequent. I'm assuming that a combination of accupuncture and a glorious vacation in Bali has something to do with the improvements.

That said, it is a new year, and I'm ready to clean out the closets and start fresh. Physically, that means doing a cleanse and ridding my intestinal track of (for lack of a better word) crap. I started reading Cleanse and Purify Thyself and have ordered all the supplements I will need in this little venture. The more I read the more motivated I am getting....but I will miss little warm bowls of chicken noodle soup (like the one I just finished) as I am loading up on raw veggies and juices.

More to come on that later...

Yogaglamgirl on Tantric Practice - Complete Presence

I’m reading a really special book, that describes the foundation of tantric practice~awareness and presence. It is called Desire: The Tantric Path to Awakening.

It’s precepts are simple: spend just a few minutes in the day being completely present. As you continue to practice, increase the number of times you practice, rather than the length of each practice interval. Daniel Odier, the author explains how it is done:

When you leave the house, give a few seconds of your attention to the sky, then, after a break, to the movements of your body. Continue in this manner, consciously entering into and then emerging from presence. Be present to a face, to a look, to thirty seconds of a conversation in which you listen to the whole person who is speaking to you and not only to her words. If you succeed with this light, open awareness, in the spirit of a game, free from all religious or spiritual ideas, you will make, starting from the first day, a series of major discoveries that will help you to be totally alive.

He continues, saying:

You will discover that if you can find such pleasure in presence, then your joy no longer depends on exceptional circumstances waited for in a state of neurotic tension, but on simple reality, as it presents itself to you from moment to moment.

I've been practicing and it really works! Ah, bliss…in every day life…moment to moment.

Yogaglamgirl’s tidbits on How Food Makes You Feel Good

I’m reading Candace Pert’s latest book, Everything You Need to Know to Feel Go(o)d
Candace has a Ph.D. in pharmacology and is a pioneer in the field of emotions and the bodymind connection. She is often known for her appearance in the movie What the Bleep Do We Know. I just came across the following paragraph in the book that really resonates with me:

I believe that the whole point of good nutrition is for us to feel good. This may seem blunt, but if you eat crap, you’ll feel like crap. That’s what I’m calling any food that you buy today that wasn’t on the market before World War II, when all farming was organic. During WWII, large chemical companies made munitions for the war, and when the fighting ended, those corporations switched over to making herbicides and pesticides, chemicals needed for mass food production. Commercialization of agriculture since the early 1950s, while fueling the baby-boomer population, has turned much of the food that you and I buy in the supermarket into a collection of chemicals.

Why Corn and Wheat Make Me Fat

I'm not actually fat, by the way, but I have always wondered why Americans have become so obsessed over the whole no carb/low carb thing.  And I think I finally know why it is such a big deal.  If you haven't already read it, I highly recommend a book called: Eat Right for Your Type. It is a book that talks about how different blood types deal with different foods.  I happen to be a Type O.  According to D'Adamo, author of the book, O stands for "Oldest".  He explains that Type O blood came about around 40,000 BC when Man (and Woman) were hunters and gatherers.  It was prior to an agrarian lifestyle where wheat and dairy were introduced...and Type A's digestive systems that could handle wheat, dairy and corn.  To be honest, the animal loving, eco-friendly side of my self didn't like hearing that meat was actually good for my type.  However, it is true, I have never had trouble digesting meat while I've been doubled over in pain from many of the items on my Type O Avoid list.  According to the American Red Cross 45% of Americans have Type O (+/-) blood.  So if I gain weight as a Type O eating wheat and corn (America's most common carbs) it makes sense that half of America gains weight consuming them as well. 

So yes, the reason this finding is important to me personally, is because I have always struggled with a weak digestive system.  Things like bread and ice cream have always given me a stomach ache.  Going to the doctor in high school and being diagnosed with "Irritable Bowel Syndrome, caused by stress" just didn't cut it for me as the explanation for all my pain.  I've searched and experimented with tons of different nutritional remedies ever since--from Raw and Living Foods to vegan and vegetarian, but none really felt good to me.  It wasn't until I began eating a more traditional Japanese diet (not just sushi) that things started to change for me. 

Knowing now that as Type O, my blood and system isn't fit to handle wheat and dairy, really pulls it together for me.  Not to mention that it is consistent with my weight loss the past 2 years as I've transitioned to a Japanese diet.  According to D'Adamo, things like wheat gluten, corn, kidney beans, lentils and cabbage lead to weight gain for Type O's.  Now that I consume rice as my primary starch and eat things made with dashi (fish/seaweed stock) and fish I have lost 15 pounds.   I do think bodywork played a part in changing my metabolism as well, but for most of us, diet dictates how much we gain or lose in the weight department.  I also think that the scary High Fructose Corn Syrup that is overused in so many food products these days is a big time culprit.  But I'll refrain from going off on that tangent for now.

So if you are struggling for answers to lose weight or heal disease in your body and ease the process of absorption, digestion, etc, I highly recommend this book to arm you with possible solutions. 

Yogaglamgirl listens to Jack Canfield~becoming a MASTER

I always have 30 minutes to myself as I drive to work and I feel like a big success when I use it constructively.  Some of the constructive things I do: meditate, practice being a better driver (my Dad will laugh at that one), send loving or healing thoughts to the people in my life, sing, dance, laugh (the laughing happens when someone else sees me jammin in the car)...and focus on abundance in my life (thank you Louise Hay).  I've also discovered that I can listen to audio books while I drive, and I love listening to ones that get me motived.  So this post is dedicated to Jack Canfield, the speaker I liked best from my latest audio book called Masters Audio Collection. 

Jack explains the steps a person should take to become a master at anything in life.  Here are some of his helpful tips:

1) Have a goal that you are dedicated to.   For me, that goal is to become an instrument of health and healing, sharing my knowledge and learnings as I go...

2) Spend extra time each day on that goal.  Mr. Canfield talks about cutting out one hour of TV watching each day and using that time to read a book and learn more about his own field of mastery.

3) Create or join a mastermind group. Use a group of people and meet with them regularly to hold yourself accountable for your goals.  This mastermind idea comes from Napoleon Hill's book, Think and Grow Rich. 

4) Have a coach. Coaches can help you recognize patterns in your life that you may not see on your own.  They provide support and an unbiased view to hold you to your goals.

5) Make a list of all your relationships.  Note next to each person whether they are nurturing "N" or toxic "T".  Remove the toxic relationships from your life.  (this is a tough one, but important)

Mr. Canfield suggests an exercise from Dr. Nathaniel Branden--a pioneer in the field of psychology and self esteem~"if I had 20% more time each day I would...."  and what would you do to become more of a master....
ps...if you want to read one of Dr. Branden's books, I would recommend his 6 Pillars of Self Esteem. 
Jack Canfield is a great speaker and story teller, I highly recommend you get this cd to hear him as well as the other Masters who share their insight. 

Well, hope you all feel motivated now, I'm looking for folks to become part of my mastermind group...if you're interested lemme know.  :) 

Yogaglamgirl Recommendation for Feng Shui Book

Practical Feng Shui, by Simon Brown is an excellent book for detailed solutions and remedies to feng shui problems. 

I refer to it again and again.  If you are new to Feng Shui and interested in learning about it, I suggest that you try several books though.  Take a look at a few and go with what makes most sense to you.  Start simple and make just a few changes to your surroundings and see how it feels.  You can start just by cleaning out your closet--literally clean out the clutter in your life to allow for new experience new joy to come in. 
For those of you who already know quite a bit about Feng Shui, Brown uses the Compass Method and Nine Ki astrology as the primary systems for this book. 

Yogaglamgirl Recommends Iyengar Book for Home Practice

BKS Iyengar is the author of a beautiful book called Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health. 

This book is wonderful for anyone who is learning and practicing yoga on their own.  It contains beautiful images and pictures of each asana (pose), what props to use, and the benefits of the asana.  The latter 1/3 of the book gives a structured weekly series and includes dozens of illustrated sequences of asanas for specific ailments.  Ailments range from immune disorders to female problems, digestive problems, circulatory ailments and more.  This morning I just happened to do the series for vericose veins.  On Monday I did a series to boost the immune system b/c I was feeling worn out and didn't want to get sick.  Here are sample pages from the book:

Yogaglamgirl: Louise Hay's book, Receiving Prosperity

I recently purchased Louise Hay's audio CD called Receiving Prosperity: How to Attract Wealth, Success, and Love into Your Life. 

I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to change their financial success in life.  Louise talks about how the power of your intentions can bring about change--and cultivate an abundance of love, supportive relationships and money.  She explains that the universe is rich and full and there is always enough.  We must release the negative perceptions we might have like: I don't deserve, I'm afraid of money, I will never have enough....and replace those thoughts with ones like: "My income is constantly increasing" (my new mantra!).