Healthy Living

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Feb.06
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Bliss (The way of the solo practice Vol I.)

Posted by in Art Of Yoga, Self Help

It’s amazing how far you can travel without leaving your yoga mat. Asana Practice: I just spent the last two hours on an epic asana journey. Alone in a dark house, moving through subtle energy, listening to the Desert Dwellers Pandora station. There is an old saying that you can never step in to the same river twice.  I like to add to this, you are never the same person stepping in to a river.  After a good asana practice I rise from savasana as a different person than when I arrived…read more

Mythology and the Evolution of Asana

Posted by in Self Help

A momentary glance at yoga in the West… As the world shrinks and common mythologies become antiquated, asana takes on new dimension. During the time of our ancient ancestors, we lived among small numbers of people, and while the cosmos seemed infinite, the world around us remained confined and comprehensible.  As technology increased our understanding of the world and our capacity for travel, we began to see our planet as large and diverse.  We fought to preserve what we believed in and created rich stories to educate the younger generations…read more

Feb.02
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Patterned Response (Type A v. The Sloth)

Posted by in Self Help, Weight Training

Don’t give in to your patterns. Asana Practice: Ask yourself, are you the type of person who gives up too easily, or do you tend to over-work?  Today, notice your pattern and do the opposite. I am typically an over-worker.  In the last few months,due to injuries, I have backed off and I have tried to surrender and relax if I experience discomfort.  Today, for the first time, I noticed my body giving up before it needed to. My pattern changed.  I now need to guarantee that I am not surrendering…read more

Jan.26
0

Never Stop Exploring

Posted by in Meditation, Self Help

Whether you are traveling the globe or standing on your mat, remain curious and aware for around every corner is a new discovery. Asana Practice: My wrist injury prevents me from putting any weight on my right hand.  Therefore, I’m taking things very slow and focusing on going deep. I’m currently in Aruba where the weather is very warm with a nice breeze.  This helps my body open up with less effort.  Specifically, I’m spending time opening up my psoas, hip flexers, hamstrings, and doing deep twists. I am keeping things…read more

Jan.12
0

Habitual Harm

Posted by in Self Help

What may start out as a good decision, if turned habitual, may become a detriment. It is important to remember that every moment of every day we are a different person with different needs. For example, I was once on an 80 mile bike ride and my friend and I misjudged the number of calories we would need to have with us.  I felt my energy getting low and bought a Snicker bar.  Normally, I would never eat processed candy full of hydrogenated oils, but the gas station only had…read more

Jan.11
0
katie-armstrong-yoga-and-dancing
Jan.04
0

The Key to the Heart is Found in Mysterious Places

Posted by in Self Help

When in doubt I start my practice dancing.  Whether I’m tired, hyper, full of food, tight, or sore, one of my favorite ways to start doing yoga is by shaking my booty.  I recommend dancing as a start to most activities.  Dancing is healing and rejuvenating and a great way to check in with your body and spirit. Today, dancing revealed a message from my heart.  It wanted attention and it wanted more space. Asana Practice: My first pose was a gentle back bend from tadasana (standing with arms raised).  I think its…read more

Distilling Distractability with Distraction

Posted by in Art Of Yoga, Self Help

Heavy dreams last night and a busy morning had me awake shortly before my alarm went off.  The day was what I like to refer to as a “natural caffeine” day, one where I’m careful to  provide calming substances such as fish oil and relaxing tea to my system. I used a cornucopia of practice techniques to occupy my mind in order to rest in the bliss of meditative mind. Meditation: On mornings like these, I try to do breath work (“pranayama”) or mantras prior to beginning my normal meditation routine…read more

Jan.03
0
katie-armstrong-yoga
Jan.02
0

Bright and Shining Velocity Control

Posted by in Self Help, Yoga

I woke up enthusiastic and playful and I wanted to be sure to take that energy to the mat.  I set the intention of a solar (as opposed to lunar) practice that would be upbeat and challenging.  I found myself very well-balanced and able to pay attention to detail. It surprised me to find that I could slow poses way way down and maintain vibrancy.  I actually found the partnering of high vibrations and slow movements to be very vitalizing and will intentionally slow down the next time I find…read more