A whole new year...

December came and went as quickly as I could bat my frosty eyelashes! I really enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the holidays and now I am ready to focus on this new year.

It seems many people don't buy into the whole "New Year's Resolution" thing. I for one, I see the new year as an opportunity to organize my many thoughts and dreams and to create a plan that will bring me closer to realizing my best life. Reflecting on the year that has past and on how many of my goals were accomplished and not spending  much time worrying about the ones that didn't come to pass is the first part on my process. I simply reflect on why they didn't and whether or not is was a realistic goal and one that I should try again this year. Then it's on to corraling all of those thoughts and dreams and the business of creating my new list of goals and desires.

With that said, as it turns out I had a few goals/desires last year that for many reasons weren't realized. I've decided that they are important to me none the less and I will be adding them to the list for 2012. Because my list is comprised of things that I feel will help to make me a better version of myself, I find this process an exciting one. 

I won't bore you with my entire list of goals for 2012, but I will share a few of the main ones:
~to teach more and learn more
~to be more kind to others and myself
~to do one thing that scares the crap out of me (haven't pinpointed this one yet)

So there you have it. I hope that you will take some time to reflect on where you've been and create a plan to get to you one step closer to your best life! Whether or not you believe in new year's resolutions isn't the point. 

Namaste

 

And so it goes...

Life just keeps rolling along, with or without your participation or even your consent.

That said, why not live like you mean it! Now I'm not saying that you have to make some grand gesture every day, or even every week, but how about trying to remember that our time here is limited and not endless (as it may seem in some situations), and that we're all in this together. How about starting with kindness. 

There's an old saying, "Our beliefs become our thoughts.  Our thoughts become our words. Our words become our actions. Our actions become our habits. Our habits become our values. Our values become our destiny". ~Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948).

What we believe about ourselves is projected into every thought we have, whether consciously or sub-consciously. As so eloquently stated by Gandhi above, our beliefs become our thoughts. Just as we have an opportunity in every moment to choose our thoughts, we have an opportunity to check in and ask ourselves, "Am I being kind to myself and others?". That simple question can change the course of our actions. Someday, if we ask ourselves that question enough times, it will become a habit, and with that habit we will have affected our personal core value system. Being kind to ourselves and others will become a part of our very existence and shape our true destiny. I am sure that would make Gandhi very happy.

So why not join me in my "Kindness Project"? The next time you are frustrated with yourself or someone else, ask yourself that simple question and see if there is a shift in your thinking and the resulting actions. This will no doubt come in very handy as the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins! 

Karma Yoga Wellness is back home in sunny Edmonton, AB!

Happy to be back with family and friends... and excited for what the future holds.

As the end of Summer draws nearer, feelings of nostalgia start to take over. The back to school buzz is all around. Memories of new school clothes, pencils, books, and the like, fill my head. The carefree stage when life was full of endless exploration and possibilities. When what to wear was the biggest issue of the day... ahhh those were the days!

Trying to recreate those feelings is never easy, but pinpointing the overall feeling of excitement may be more possible than we think. Choosing to be excited about the change in seasons (rather than dreading it) is a great place to start. The beautiful Autumn colors will soon be all around. That sweet smell as Fall takes over where Summer left off. For me that is something to be excited about.

Namaste

It's funny how things always work out the way they are supposed to. 

So excited to revamp my website and mark a new beginning... not only with my yoga business, but in my personal life as well. Following a big move with a new home, new yoga students to attract, and a whole new area to discover, I am feeling rejuvinated and ALIVE! 

Join me each month as I continue on my journey and Stumble Towards Enlightenment.

Tips to help reduce your Carbon Footprint. 








Here are a few tips to help you and your family reduce your carbon footprint on the earth:

• Lower your thermostat by 1-2C in the winter and further (down to 17C) when you go to bed at night. 
  
• Raise you air conditioning by 1-2C in the summer.
• Lower the setting on the water heater from 82C to 65C (1780F to 150F).
• Wash your clothes in cold water and hang to dry.
• Try wearing clothes twice before washing.
• Switch to recycled, eco-friendly paper products, or better yet use cloth.
• Turn off any lights, tv's, computers, or stereos when not in use.
• Recycle paper, plastic bags, bottles,  and cans.
• Use re-usable cloth bags to carry your groceries.
• Chose energy efficient bulbs, small and large appliances for your home and workplace.
• Carpool, take the bus, walk, or bikeride whenever possible.

Many thanks to the above excerpts from AliveMagazine's "Guide to Natural Health".