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Happy New Year!

2 Jan

I hope you all had a lovely holiday season and that 2012 is treating you well so far! It’s going to be a busy and exciting year for me! Despite big plans, my 2012 intentions/resolutions are focused on making the most of the “little things” in my life, (in addition to checking off my long to-do list!) and creating more harmony between my personal and professional life.

I love the fresh feeling and opportunity to reset each new year brings and I’m spending time today writing my affirmations for 2012.  Some I’ll share, some are more personal, but they’ll all be documented so I can check-in from time to time.

I hope personal wellness is near the top of your goals for the year (without it, what do you have?!), and I look forward to sharing more tips, experiences and anything else you request!

Wishing you health, happiness and love in 2012 from Balancing Wellness (and puggle brothers Lincoln & Winston)!

Sunday Night Santosha

8 Aug

I’ve been drafting posts in my head for the past few weeks but have been too busy living to actually write them.  I won’t bore you with details, let’s just say this summer has been full of ups and downs (more ups than downs, thankfully) and I’ve been doing a lot of reflection. I’m at an amazing time in my life where big life changes and growth are all around me. It’s exciting and can be pretty scary, but this is life – what can you do but go with the flow?

After my grandfather’s funeral a couple of weeks ago, my mom and I talked about how my grandmother would do now that she’s alone. The last few years of her life have revolved around my grandfather, just as most of her adult life revolved around her family. There’s a wonderful support system around her and while I’m sure there’ll be lonely times, Mom and I both agreed that she’d be fine. She has an incredible ability to live in the present and it’s kept her young and strong. Sure she tells stories and has many fond memories of the past, but she’s completely content with who and where she is right now. It’s powerful.

And so amid all the action and reflection of summer 2011, I’ve taken a cue from my kick-ass grandmother and once again found my santosha. Despite wanting some things in my life to progress faster and others to coast a bit more, I know I’m just where I need to be on my journey. There will always be ups and downs and things will never be as we planned (how boring would that be, anyway?!), so we might as well enjoy each day!

Dedicated to my grandfather, Victor Cloots (1/24/23 – 7/17/11). Go hug your loved ones!

 

source d’inspiration

14 Jul

relax! vacations are good for your health

2 Jul

We live in a crazy world. If you’re anything like me, you go from one thing to the next without taking much time to rest. Our technology-filled world keeps us constantly connected, so much so that we often forget to just be in the present. I sometimes feel like taking one day off will leave me feeling more stressed or behind than rested, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

My lovely little sister, Stephanie, passed along this article from Brenda Wilson on why vacations are so vital to our health and wellbeing. From lower blood pressure to improved connections with friends and family, relaxation and rest give our mind, body and spirit a welcome break.

A pic from our February trip to Puerto Rico. Ahh!

This weekend, I’m challenging myself – and you – to take some vacation. Even if it’s just a day, try to disconnect. Focus on living in the present, really being with the people (or nature or book, you get it) you have right here, right now. If you can do it, ditch your cell phone for the day (or at least put it at the bottom of your bag and only use it for emergencies).  We’re taking a stay-cation pool/BBQ day on Monday and I’m soo looking forward to laughing, swimming, eating and catching up with friends.

I hope you all have a very happy and safe 4th of July weekend and remember to relax!

Sunday Night Santosha

6 Jun

Rather than worry about all the things on my to-do list (those lists are never-ending, anyways), I consciously took time this week to take breaks, let down my guard and open up – and I’m glad I did.  Tonight’s santosha is thanks to just that: opening up to the beautiful energy of others.

- I took a hot yoga class (not my preferred style) on Wednesday at a studio I’d never been to and was pleasantly surprised with the class and the friendliness of the staff, who welcomed me with open hearts and fun conversation. I will definitely go back.

- What could’ve been a one-time business exchange on Friday turned into an hour and a half of deep discussion on spirituality, yoga, and life, and hopefully the beginning a long-term friendship.

- And today I had drinks with an old family friend in town for the half marathon, and we ended up being a group of 8 friends-of-friends (2 from Chicago, 1 from Houston, 1 from Hawaii, 1 from Riverside, and 3 of us from San Diego) and we all talked and laughed as if we had known each other for years, rather than hours.

Had I not been open, all these encounters wouldn’t have been anything special, but because I was, they were all special and I made many new friends. Pretty sweet how that works.  Have a great week!

happy valentine’s day!

14 Feb

“There are four questions of value in life…What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for?  The answer to each is the same. Only love.” – Johnny Depp as Don Juan deMarco

Despite the heavy commercialism, I have to love a day that celebrates LOVE! We all need it, want it and do crazy things for it.  This year, in addition to loving those around you, make sure to give yourself some love. For some yoga/relaxation love, my Valentine’s Day gift to you – Helen’s V-Day Vinyasa Love Mix

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as one year ends, another begins

27 Dec

I love the New Year.  I think the New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day combo is probably my favorite holiday of the year!  Between the fun parties with friends, countdowns, sparkles, and the feeling of fresh newness that January 1st brings, it’s the perfect end to the holiday season.

2010 was an exciting and busy year for me.  I finished my nutritional consultant and yoga teacher certification programs, started a new job, got a new car, and traveled quite a bit (throughout the US for work and in Europe to vacation and visit family).  I wouldn’t change a thing, but I have to admit that the year left me exhausted!  I’m hoping that 2011 will get me even further on my journey toward balance.

I don’t really make resolutions for the new year, but I do like to set goals and write them down somewhere to hold myself accountable and this year you can help!  In 2011, I plan to… (more…)

journey to the heart

25 Apr

This passage spoke to me when my yoga teacher read it at the end of savasana last Sunday, so I wanted to pass it along. It’s from Journey to the Heart.

lessons of love, that’s what they are.

we usually don’t know what the lesson is while we’re learning it. maybe we’re not supposed to. besides, if we knew it, really knew it, we wouldn’t need to learn it. we’d already be practicing it in our daily lives. but even when we don’t know what the lesson is, we can know one thing: it’s a lesson of love.

courage. faith. patience. loving ourselves when it looks and feels like nobody else cares. starting over again one more time, when we think we’ve already started over more than times than we should have had to. forgiveness. compassion. gentleness. joy. each one is a lesson of love.

for many of us, the problem isn’t that we haven’t had love in our lives before. the issue is that we haven’t understood love. know this: not only are the lessons about love, the lessons themselves are love.

feel your feelings. struggle through your situations and experiences and emotions. the struggle to learn isn’t incidental to your purpose. it’s an integral part of your purpose, your destiny, your reason for being. go through your moments of darkness and confusion, and trust that the light will come. through it all, rest in one thought: you’re on track. you’re on your path. you’re connected to love. and the lessons you’re learning are lessons of love.

two weeks until yoga bootcamp!

13 Apr

I start my first week of yoga bootcamp (and my teacher training certification!) in two weeks. I’m super excited and thought that I’d share the answers to my yoga background questions (yes, even yoga sometimes involves homework).

1. Please write a brief paragraph on what yoga means to you and why you practice.

Yoga brings the world into balance for me.  Even when I’m having a crazy stressful day, it all melts away on the yoga mat and everything is good again. I initially started practicing yoga for the physical benefits, but I find myself returning for the total sense of wellness that yoga delivers. I always feel a sense of accomplishment and peace after practicing and the strength and flexibility I’ve gained from yoga – both physically and mentally – are invaluable.  In my career as a wellness consultant, I find myself advocating on behalf of yoga for all types of people from all different backgrounds and physical abilities and I truly feel that if more people practiced yoga we’d live in a happier, healthier world. (more…)

changes

9 Jan

It’s been a crazy few weeks for us!  Through the holidays, a move and a new career opportunity, we’ve been very busy with things that have made big changes on our lives.  I find it interesting to look back on busy and/or stressful moments in my life, and see what I did and how I reacted. I think it’s times like these that say a lot about who we are.  And so far, I feel good about 2010.

One of my goals for the year is to better handle the stress in my life and not let it get to me.  Our change of routine has forced me to pay attention, to live in the present (one of the best ways to live life!) and stress just doesn’t last.  Sure, there are trying moments, but you learn not to dwell in them and everything always works itself out one way or another.  It’s pretty awesome.

I hope you all have a wonderful year.  Stay healthy – you want to live your life to the fullest! Here’s to 2010!

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