Mid-day breath break.

Hello there readers,

I'm Kelly! I have the great honor of teaching yoga at 5focus. Yoga, in a nutshell, brings the brain, the body & the breath into divine union. If you have ever gone to a yoga class or practiced yoga at home, you may be familiar with the feelings of calm joy and alert presence that often accompany the practice. Too often, however, the feelings dissipate as we navigate traffic or manage a full schedule. It may seem impossible to imagine the feelings “joy” or “calm” accompanying you on a trip to the market after a long day at work, but adding moments of quiet into your day will put you on the path toward a calm, alert holiday season. Begin by taking 5 minutes for the following exercise during your lunch break or whenever you need a lift and work up to 20 minutes as you grow accustomed to “sitting” with your breath.

Part One: Lunar breath.

The lunar breath calms the mind in preparation for a few moments of quiet. This video demonstrates how to practice the lunar breath.

lunar breath. from kelly c on Vimeo.
Part Two: Experience your breath fully.

Use all of your senses, one at a time, to experience your breath.
Listen to the sound of the breath.
Feel the breath move the entire body.
Smell the air as it moves through the nose.
Taste the breath as it touches the back of the throat.

Try not to *think* about it too much. Let your senses guide you.
Practice this using all of your senses for a few minutes.

Part Three: Solar breath.

The solar breath energizes the body and brain, maximizing focus. The calm center you created through the lunar breath and sensory breath experience will stay with you as well, leaving you energized, yet peaceful. Sounds perfect, right?

solar breath. from kelly c on Vimeo.
Namaste.
{The light in me bows with respect to the light in you.}

Join us for yoga at 5focus on Monday nights and Friday over the lunch hour. Click here to view the schedule.

Kelly

This week Kelly is going to post. If you don't know who Kelly is. She is our 5Focus Yoga teacher. She also has hung her art here in Cafe Mae. I can't wait to see what she has to say. Check back this week to see what she has to say.

Worry

Do you worry about things that you know you shouldn't worry about? I do. ALL the time. My roommate is moving out at the end of the month and I'm trying to find a new one. My older sister is coming back into town in November.
I worry about not finding another roommate in time. What happens if I don’t? I might be living in the café……
I worry that my sister and I are going to get into a fight when she comes. We never really got along….
I worry that I'm doing bad at my job most days (so I may not be living at the café….).
I worry that I don't take enough time for myself. I feel like most the time I might be a victim. UGH.
And you know what? I know in my heart that everything will work out.
The trick would be to learn to live without worrying so much….or to not play the victim role….I know that I need to not take so much on, breathe and just let things happen. To let go and not have so much control. Like I said, it will all work out…..

Any tips on how to NOT worry so much or do you??? and what do you about it???

Stressed out???

So the past year of my life has easily been the craziest year of my life. I've been adjusting to my new responsibilities as a mother and also as a business owner. The "to do list" at times is overwhelming and I must confess, even with my background in health and wellness, that I lost track of balance in my life. Stress manifests in many ways... and we typically cope by not taking care of ourselves. Working harder isn't always the answer. I've learned the most important thing is to remember to breathe, to move, and to slow down. Breathing connects us to the present and helps us clear our body of toxins. We tend to hold our breath in times of stress, so it becomes that much more vital to breathe throughout the day. Movement is another vital component of a healthy lifestyle. Getting up, away from your computer, and walking around or stretching is one of the best things you can do to release the tension and stress which accumulates in your body. Workouts obviously help, but just moving brings great benefits. Lastly, slow down. Somehow the "to do list" always takes care of itself. I've found more peace in my life the past few months, remembering to breathe deeply, to get up and walk away, and to allow a pause or a break in my day. My life really hasn't become any less stressful, it's just my approach to it that has created more peace.

Today

Today you will hear Laura. If you don't know who Laura is, well she is one of the owners of 5Focus & Cafe Mae. She is the mother of Miss Mae. She is also a great friend.

If you ever feel stressed out?? Well, you’re not the only one!! Laura and has a few good tips about what to do when your stressed.