UrbanOm Living

Directing attention and our senses inward, like we do in yoga, mindfulness and meditation (pratyahara- withdrawal of the senses) activates alpha brain waves. It’s kind of an alternative medicinal therapy; one that can improve mood and cognition, reduce anxiety and depression and balance emotion. This is like a drug for me, and something I look forward to every time I practice- which is every single day in one form or another 🙏🏼

If you are like me, thinking can become exhausting, and it’s not something that can be switched off, even during meditation, because we don’t ever stop thinking. But when we focus the mind inward, thought is directed to examining the internal landscape without external stimulus. In this way we can increase awareness; it is the gateway to understanding yourself, developing self awareness and personal growth. Those alpha brain waves help dissolve the mind into stillness and calm. That’s the drug I’m addicted to, the dissolution of everything else, a single pointed focus and sense of clarity. Over decades of cranking and sweating my body through asana I’ve come to understand that it wasn’t so much the physical practice that kept me going back every day, it was what was happening to my mind.

Scheduling time for rest doesn’t mean you
a. are lazy or
b. worthless because you are not ‘doing’
Rest is an integral component of your wellness and one of the preventative inflammatory measures important for longevity and quality of life.

I found my dharma. I believe that every soul chooses which form and situation it chooses for its human experience. How blessed I feel that this one chose me to be her mumma. Her choice gave me spiritual growth and the capacity to experience joy and unconditional love along my life’s journey. Forever grateful you are my child . This has been the richest and most rewarding role of my life ❣️🙏🏼

# Mothersday

“Om Mani Padme Hum” (ohm-mah-nee-pahd-may-huum)
I love this mantra for a morning meditation, where we visualise our human form as the embodiment of compassion. This energy facilitates kindness and gentleness towards self and others. It is calming and healing and such a positive way to start the day.

Did you ever wonder why a mantra is repeated 108 times? Mathematicians of the ancient Vedic culture saw this number as the wholeness of existence. Linked to the sun and the moon, chanting 108 times is to align with the universe, its energetic vibration and spiritual completion. 🙏🏼 that’s why there are 108 beads on a Japa mala📿

Turning inward: this term comes up a lot in classes; for me it means ridding yourself from the addiction to speed and business.

We talk about it during practice because the hustle simply is not cool anymore; weaning yourself off the ride is. Developing a higher state of consciousness is the new grind ✌️

You might be surprised by the subtle energies you discover through slowing down and turning to an inward focus. Noticing the intricate effect of hormones, glands, viscera, blood and breath as opposed to the physical nature of the muscular and skeletal systems can be fascinating.

Learning to find calm isn’t that easy for those of us used to cranking it in our practice, but the reward is very much worth your patience 🙏🏼


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And on Sundays we do nothing; and that’s absolutely ok 🙏🏼

Of course she knew that she could, but she was so, so tired, physically, mentally. So she decided to rest. Really rest.

For once, she understood that rest did not mean she was not successful. She finally got the message that resting didn’t mean she wasn’t still the strongest person in the room.

And guess what, the world went on, and even her world went on and it was ok. And she knew that she would just try again the next day, and she was totally good with that 🙏🏼


📸Pinterest

You can’t heal a body you don’t love, so try actively transforming the negative self chatter into taking a 360 degree approach to self care. Taking great care of something makes it very difficult to hate it 💛
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Inhaling all negative emotion and limiting beliefs down to the root chakra and exhaling them into the the earth. Grounding and strengthening to start this day right. 🙌🏼

It’s been two full weeks since I’ve felt the direct sunshine on my face, the earth under my feet and the sound of the waves in my ears. These simple pleasures not to be taken for granted are now my source of healing. Grateful to be sitting at my favourite beach early this morning.

Just keeping things clean and pure over here... there’s a soul inside this temple 😇

We are making a huge batch of anti inflammatory soup today rich in bone broth, turmeric, parsley and all things green. And why is that???

One of our favourite Niyamas is Saucha. There are so many aspects to maintaining and improving the purity of your inner sanctuary beyond the physical body. It involves the mind, body, spirit and even our surroundings. We are devoting this last day of the break to purification, listening intently to our needs and transitioning that into self-love.

It may, or may not have a little to do with with chocolate rehab too 😂

Sipping on my chai this morning acknowledging that this day is one that signifies rebirth and renewal to so many people.

It is a good opportunity to declare out loud to the universe that you are willing to drop those things that no longer serve you, that your mind is open to new ways of thinking and being. Ask the universe for guidance towards your true essence, no matter how far removed that might be from your present self.

Sometimes renewal and transformation is a slow and gradual process that we work though at our own pace, but other times it is forced upon us when we least expect it.

Understanding that change is a powerful force for transformation, whether we asked for it or not, empowers you to relinquish fear, regret, and fight and accept it as the tool which will helps your growth.

Breath: A powerful medicine; with awareness and practice, that which produces superhuman powers and higher planes of consciousness.

🎯Current goal: become a super breather. Who would have thought that the most basic premise of life would be the source of such nourishment and healing.