Yoga Matinal Express 10 min & Détox - Réveille-toi à ton corps et ta journée

Ton réveil du matin se fait-il parfois difficilement dans un corps raide et inflexible?  

Ton cou te semble de travers, tes muscles coincés, ton dos endolori...

Bien que le corps soit une machine complexe, il pardonne beaucoup.

Et comme une machine très sophistiquée,

À moins que tu lui apporte l’attention et le soin nécessaire chaque jour (respiration), lubrifier les rouages (exercices, étirements), et fournir les meilleures composantes (alimentation, eau, etc.),

La machine ne pourra fonctionner ni correctement, ni de façon optimale.

La majorité d’entre nous ignorons que, lorsque minuit sonne, on ne change pas tout à fait en citrouille, sauf que....

Tout les soirs à minuit, nos nombreux systèmes organiques débutent leur travail journalier -

Des milliers de fonctions et de taches aidant notre corps à départager le bon du mauvais et lui permettant d’éliminer les déchets toxiques.  Par exemple, à minuit, le foie commence à remplir 500 différentes fonctions essentielles à la santé du corps.

Imagine les autres organes, tels le pancréas, les reins, les glandes, etc.

Plus les organes doivent travailler pour nettoyer ton système de sa consommation quotidienne et ses activités journalières, plus ton corps ressentira  des effets secondaires de fatigue et raideur lors du réveil matinal.

Les animaux donnent le bon exemple

Chaque fois et aussi souvent qu’il se lève de son endroit de repos, mon chat ne manque jamais de s’étirer dans la posture du chien la tête en bas et du chien la tête en haut...ou plutôt chat la tête en bas et chas la tête en haut!  Naturellement, les animaux ont un comportement très intuitif et agissent toujours pour leur fonctionnement optimal. 

Un peu de YOGA engendre un grand bien-être...

Il y a quelques grandes choses que tu peux faire sur une base régulière pour bien prendre soin de ton corps.

Le Yoga est une de ces grandes choses.

Aucun besoin de participer à une classe intensive de yoga ou d’en faire une heure par jour.

Commence petit.  Et commence là où tu es aujourd’hui.

10 minute de yoga au réveil est un grand cadeau et une merveilleuse façon de commencer ta journée.

Session Yoga Matinal Express 10 minutes!
Essaie cette routine...dans le confort de ton pyjama!

• Lève-toi 
• INSPIRE et étire tes bras vers le ciel pour joindre les paumes
• En maintenant les jambes bien fermes, EXPIRE prends le poignet gauche avec la main droite et étire tout le côté gauche du corps en tirant le poignet tranquillement vers le haut.  Répète maintenant pour étirer le côté droit.
• EXPIRE, pose les deux mains sur tes hanches,
• Avec le menton guidant légèrement vers l’avant et le haut, INSPIRE allonge la colonne,
• En maintenant les jambes fermes, EXPIRE descends le torse vers l’avant et vers le sol en pliant aux hanches.
• En prenant chaque coude de la main opposée, laisse la tête pendre et le cou s’étirer, le visage détendu, le cou détendu.
• Prends quelques grandes RESPIRATIONS complètes tout en laissant la gravité allonger la colonne et étirer les muscles du dos.  Maintenant, laisse tes bras pendre au sol ou vers le sol.
• La circulation inversée du sang activera tranquillement le coeur tout en rafraîchissant le cerveau et le visage.
• En gardant toujours les jambes très fermes et bien engagées, INSPIRE entrelace les doigts derrière le dos, EXPIRE étire les bras vers le ciel et vers l’avant pour ouvrir et étirer les épaules.
• En pliant légèrement les jambes, INSPIRE tout en déroulant tranquillement la colonne pour aligner les vertèbres, une par-dessus l’autre, la tête s’enfilant en dernier.
• Une fois la colonne déroulée, INSPIRE pour rouler tes épaules vers l’arrière.
• Maintenant, les yeux fermés, prends quelques grandes RESPIRATIONS complètes pour régulariser le flux sanguin et pour savourer les effets revitalisants de ce massage vertébral.
• Sur la dernière EXPIRATION, laisse tes paupières s’ouvrir.  

Avec cette session de Yoga Matinal Express 10 minutes, tu devrais maintenant te sentir ravivé(e), énergique, et prêt(e) pour une merveilleuse journée.

NETTOYAGE FLASH ! Boire un grand verre d’eau citronnée/lime-ée...ou deux!

Reconnaissant maintenant comment tes organes travaillent fort durant ton sommeil devrait te faire comprendre comment de simples actions ont de grandes répercussions...

Justement comme cette session de Yoga Matinal Express 10 minutes!

Maintenant, voici un autre conseil simple et rapide pour commencer ta journée.

Bois un grand verre d’eau, idéalement avec un peu de jus de lime ou de citron.

Non seulement l’eau aide à évacuer les déchets toxiques que les organes ont dirigés dans les reins et les intestins, aussi

Le jus de lime/citron aide à neutraliser l’acidité causée par les déchets toxiques.

Bien que le pH de la lime et du citron est très acide lorsqu’en contact avec l’air,

Son acidité se transforme instantanément en élément alcalin une fois dans l’environnement très acide des liquides gastriques contenus dans l’estomac. 

Une fois que tu auras goûté à l’effet désaltérant et rafraîchissant de cette citron/lime-ade, pourquoi ne pas t’offrir un autre verre !?

Assure-toi seulement de profiter pleinement de cet effet bénéfique durant au moins 30 minutes avant de consommer le petit déjeuner, et voilà nettoyage instantané!

Rappelle-toi, sois gentil(le) avec toi-même.

Essaie ceci aussi souvent que tu le peux/veux.  Si tu sens que ton corps en demande plus, propose-toi de prendre le temps pour t’offrir un petit extra durant la journée ou avant d’aller au lit.

Toujours, simplement une journée à la fois.

Avec beaucoup de lumière et de joie,

Yoga Love Life à Toi,

Julie

10 minute Morning Yoga & Cleanse - Wake up to your Body and Your Day

Do you wake up in the morning sometimes feeling stiff and stuck?  

Your neck might feel crooked, your muscles tight, your back sore...

Although the body is  complex, it is a very forgiving machine.  

And just like a super sophiticated engine, 

Unless you provide it with the right care and attention daily (breathing), oil the facetts (exercise, stretch), and input the best data (food, water, etc), 

It will not function optimally nor properly.

Most of us don’t know that when midnight strikes, we don’t exactly  turn into a pumpkin.  

At midnight every night, our organic systems start their daily work - 

Thousands of functions and tasks to help your body sort the good from the bad and help your body rid of toxic waist.  For example, starting at midnight, the liver starts performing 500 tasks.  

Imagine the other organs like the pancreas, kidneys, glands, etc... 

The more your organs need to work to clean your system of your day’s intake and activities, the more tired or stiff your body will feel after sleep.  

Animals set a good example

Never do I see my cat get off his sleeping spot without stretching in downward dog and upward dog...make that downward cat and upward cat!  Naturally, animals are very intuitive in behavior and always know what’s best...

A little YOGA goes a long way...

There are a few great things you can do on a daily basis to take good care of your body.

One great thing is Yoga.  

You don’t have to attend a super intensive yoga class or do a full hour a day.

Start small.  And start where you are.  

10 minute when you wake up is a great gift AND a wonderful way to start your day.

10-minute Yoga Wake-up Session
Try this routine...in your pyjamas!

• Stand up
• INHALE and reach for the sky and join your palms
• Keeping your legs firm, EXHALE take hold of your left wrist and stretch the left side of your body.  Switch to repeat with the right side.
• Place both hands on your hips, INHALE elongate the spine with the chin slightly up, 
• Keeping your legs firm, EXHALE fold forward at the waist 
• Taking hold of your elbows, let your head hang, face relaxed.
• Take a few full BREATHS as gravity elongates your spine and stretches your back muscles.  Let your arms hang.
• The reverse blood flow will softly activate your heart and refresh your face and brain.
• Keeping the legs still very strong, INHALE interlace your fingers at the back, EXHALE extend the arms forward to open and stretch the shoulders. 
• Bending your knees a little, INHALE as you slowly roll up your spine one verterbrae at a time, head last.
• Once your all rolled up, INHALE to roll your shoulders back.
• Now, eyes closed, take a few FULL BREATHS to enjoy the effects of this spinal massage and let the blood flow settle.
• On your last EXHALE let your eyes open.

With only this very strategic wake-up session, you should feel revived, energized and ready for a wonderful day.

FLASH CLEANSE! Drink a Full Glass of Lime/Lemon Water...or two!

Knowing how hard your organs work for during your sleep should help you understand how little actions can go a long way...

Just like that 10-minute Yoga Wake-up Session!  

Now, here’s another quick tip to start your day.  

Drink a full glass of water, preferably with a little lime or lemon juice.  

Not only does the water helps flush what your organs have directed to your kidneys and bowels, but

Lemon/lime juice acts as a toxic acidity neutralizer.  

Although lemon/lime juice is very acidic when in contact with air, it instantly turns alcaline once it reaches the gastric acid of your stomach.  

Now, once you’ve tasted the wonderful refreshing taste of this lemon/limeaid, why not have another glas!?...

Remember, be kind to yourself.  

Try this as often as you can.  If you feel your body wants more, intend to make time for a little extra during your day or before going to bed.  

Always, one day at a time.

With much Light & Joy,

Yoga Love Life To You,

Julie

STAND TALL EVERYDAY ... WITH NEW BEGINNINGS

INSPIRED NEW BEGINNINGS 
In my blogpost entitled "Be Inspired In 2011" (posted January 7th), I invited you to be inspired everyday in 2011 by creating new intentions for yourself throughout the year to create a new You.  On this day of January 11th in 2011  -  11.1.11  -  let's celebrate new beginnings.   "1" being the number of new beginning, I invite you to re-visit your intentions, hold them close to your heart, with goodwill and in good faith, and stand tall everyday with the help of this new message.  Happy New Beginning!  Renew You!


INSPIRED STANDING
Standing, in itself, is a statement.  "Standing" may be used to describe your status, your reputation, popularity, rank or position.  One thing is certain, your posture lets the world see a glimpse into your self-perception, as well as the perception you have of others and the world.  «Stand up», «standoff», «stand tall», «stand proud» are all expression used to describe a stance or an attitude.

Like smiling induces positive thoughts and outlook, standing in TADASANA will induce a new fresh and positive mindset and attitude.  Ultimately, with regular practise, standing will positively transform your caracter and behaviour.  

«TADASANA» is sanskrit for Palm Tree Pose, or Mountain Pose.  It’s a posture that is deeply rooting, strong, uplifting, alive and balanced.  It’s the foundation of all postures, and the foundation to a healthy body structure.  Tadasana enables a person to take a stand, stand tall and strong, and weather with a strong attitude and balanced flexibility whatever life serves as challenges.

TADASANA is THE posture you carry with you.  It supports you, keeps you upright, and helps you work against or with the effects of gravity.  Palm Tree Mountain Pose can easily practised everywhere and anytime of the day.  When standing in line waiting, or in a conversation, a social gathering, Tadasana can be consciously practised often until you don’t really notice you are standing upright, strainght, strong and tall and that all these little conscious efforts have been integrated deeply into your own body and personal caracter.

Tadasana is the posture in which I observe myself everyday.  Observing myself standing gives me a true reflections of the way I am feeling and the way I am expressing what is really going on inside.   Sloutching shoulders, shoulders back, heart leading, head up or down, leaning on one side or the other, these are all glimpses into my inner self and what is going on inside my head.

STAND TALL today and everyday in 2011!!  Practise TADASANA a little everyday, everywhere and everytime you think of it.

TADASANA (Palm Tree or Mountain Pose)

Basic instructions:

                    1.   Stand erect, feet hip widht apart, outer edges of your feet paralelle to each 

                          other.  pressing equally the big toe and baby toe mound, inner and outer heels 

                          («four points of the feet»).  Stretch all the toes flat on the floor.

                    2.   Making sure your weight is neither more on the heels or the toes.  Make sure 

                          your weight is distributed evenly through out the feet.  

                    3.   Contract the hips forward.  Engage the legs firmly, lift the knee-caps, pull up 

                          the back thighs muscles.  

                    4.   Keep the stomach in but soft.  Lift the chest.  Elongate the spine up through the 

                          crown of the head.  Make sure the chin is paralelle to the floor, head in the 

                          continuation of the spine.

                    5.   In this variation, keep the arms to the side of the body, making sure the 

                          shoulders are kept mid-line between the front and the back of the chest.  

Extra instructions:

                    1.   INHALE, as you press the feet deeply into the ground, EXHALE extend the 

                          legs away from the feet, feeling the pelvis lifting.  

                    2.   INHALE, as you keep the leg action, EXHALE elongate the spine upward 

                          feeling the sides of the chest lifting.

                    3.   INHALE, as you keep the spine elongating and chest lifting, EXHALE keep the 

                          shoulders moving away from the ears.

                    4.   INHALE, as you keep the shoulders moving away from the ears, notice if the 

                          shoulders have a tendency of rolling forward, EXHALE descend the shoulders 

                          blades towards the buttocks.

                    5.   As you continue to breath, keep your face relaxed, your tongue relaxed, your 

                          eyes are relaxed, your lips are relaxed.  And as you continue breathing, 

                          observe where your body has a tendency to let go, and re-create the 

                          movement.  

As you continue to hold the effort and the intention in your body, maintain a relaxed face and a soft SMILE.

Keep up the good intentions.  Keep smiling.  And most importantly, HAVE FUN DOING IT.

With much Yoga Love Life,

Julie

Yummy Super Avocado Drink

Let me share with you the recipe of a powerful drink I often make in the summertime and helps replenish my skin and rejuvenate my digestive system during those dry winter months.  It’s highly alkaline and nutritious, as it’s full of essential minerals, fatty acids and vitamins.

AVOCADOS

Avocados are a great source of vitamin K and folate.  It’s also rich in vitamin B6 (pirydoxine), vitamins C and E, as well as Pantothenic acid, Potassium, riboflavine,niacin and fiber.  Avocado fruit is rich in oil and fatty acids which is often used in hydrating hand and face creams.  

YOUNG COCONUT JUICE & MEAT

Young coconut juice is a powerful laxative and cleanser that also heals the bowel as it’s absorbed.  Coconut water is pure clear and is one of the highest sources of electrolytes known to man.  It's also a great blood purifier.

I always add a pinch of good sea salt, like Pink Himalayan Salt.  Salt not only brings out the taste of a dish, it also adds extra minerals and oligo-elements which are good for the body.  Himalayan Pink Salt particularly can harmonize the alkaline/acidity balance in the body and normalize blood pressure.  It can also help with skin diseases by cleaning from inside out.

Yummy Avocado Drink

1 Hass Avocado or 1/2 Bruce Avocado

Juice and Zest of a Lime

1 cup of Young Coconut Water with its meat 

Pinch of Sea Salt (Pink Himalayan Salt)

1 Tablespoon of Agave Nectar

Thaï or Sweet Basil - or Parsley or Mint 

Blend all together.  In the summer, I often blend in some ice to the mix to make it frosty and cold.  You can also add a cucumber to get that extra fresh taste.

Play with the ingredients

I often vary some ingredients depending on what I have on hand, and I also play with the quantities.  It all depends if I want it to be tart, sweet or very green.  You may use any juice you like as long as it’s mild in taste and  light in color.  Apple or litchy juice will do.  You may even use fresh water as a base or to stretch the drink when you think it’s too thick.  I also vary my sweetener - honey or maple syrup adds a wonderful taste.  Also add a handful of herbs.  I personally like thaï or sweet basil, and sometimes will use parsley or mint for a more hearty earthy taste.

This mix is a drink but it may also be used as a intense therapeutic skin treatment.  Skin is the largest organ of the body and is the one that is most efficiently absorbing.  Since all that touches your skin quickly reaches the blood stream, what you put on it should be edible.  Avocado oil is often used in skin care products and beauty treatments.

Skin Treatment Use

So, to use this recipe as a skin treatment, I suggest you cut the quantity of liquid to make it thicker and use honey as the sweetener.  Honey is a powerful antisceptic and has been used by ancient civilizations as a beauty secret and medicinal healing ingredient.  You can also add a generous quantity of extra-virgin olive oil to add extra nutrients.  Apply to any area of the body and leave at least 20 minutes for best absorption.

Yoga Love Life,

Bon Healthy Beauty Appetit!

Julie

BE INSPIRED in 2011!!

CREATE INTENTIONS and WITNESS YOUR TRANSFORMATION

Feel already overwhelmed by the idea of taking on new resolutions... Let go of the resolutions that feel heavy in «i should do», «I have to do this» and «I have to be like that».  More importantly, stay away from those resolutions that, once pronounced, already make you feel like you are carrying unbearable weight of guilt and judgment ready to fall on your head on your first missed step. 

Instead, JUST START WHERE YOU ARE.

This year, CREATE NEW INTENTIONS FOR YOURSELF.  

Setting intentions is certainly more natural than taking on new resolutions that are general and supposed to fit everyone.  Intention stems from freedom and is fueled by goodwill.  Its essence is rooted in your heart and guided by your soul.  And so, rarely will you miss the mark on doing something that’s good for yourself when it comes from that place.  And, if you do miss, when and on any day, than no guilt, no regrets...you just pick up where you left.  And, always start right where your are.  Everytime.  No limits.  Make it your own personal journey.  Take time to assess where you are and why you do it.  Transform your mindset.  Change your language.  Say «I could» or «it would be best if I» instead of saying «i should», «I have to» or «I must do».  This new perspective offers an unlimited potential of personal power and goodwill.  It also presents infite possibilities in choosing your challenges and setting new intentions.  One at a time.  

Notice how fast you achieve your «goals».  You’re probably saying: «You were talking about setting intentions not goals.  Indeed, goal appear, or are «activated», when the intentions are put into actions.  Concrete actions.  One step at a time.  You just need to hold truthfully and simply the intention of doing.  The doing, the action will transform the intention into a goal that’s already being achieved.  Simple.  No fear.  No hesitation.  

Observing yourself in action - your behavior, and listening to your own language - and your voice in your head! - are the first steps of transformation.  Switching the behavior or the speech is the most important step.  It takes the old behavior or speech/language and replaces it with something more useful, beneficial and of the moment.  It’s just like painting a wall with a new color.  You don’t strip the wall.  You keep the same wall and apply a new color.  Nothing is thrown out.  It’s just taking a new program to replace te old one.  So, anytime you catch yourself thinking or saying «I should», «I have to» or «I must», change the tape to the other more empowering statements «it would be best if I», «I could».  It then becomes a matter of choice instead of a paralysing obligation.  The difference subtle between the two and yet so powerful in it’s effect.   

Transformation of a thought pattern or any behavior takes usually a cycle of 21 days of repetition.  The physical body, as well as the mind, transforms and integrates things over a 3-week period or 21 days.  That’s why in a physical training or practice, it’s best to modify the routine every 21 days to trick the body into not settling into comfortable ease.  In a similar way, it takes 21 days to the mind to transform a thought program into a new one, for the body to integrate a new movement, or the body/mind to take on a new behavior to replace an old habit.  In the thought and behavioral process, the key is to OBSERVE without judgment, SWITCH with compassion, and repeat as often as the opportunity presents itself.  Most importantly, BE KIND TO YOURSELF.  Smile in the mirror and laugh to fill your ears with music.

Start with something small.  Experience the journey.  Do it for yourself.

Over a period of time, without any judgement on the quality of your effort, the success of you practicing this new tool, objectively take notice of how all this effects your toughts and actions, and again, start where you are again at that moment.  

Being Present and in the now is exactly that - Starting over and over again.  Starting new, starting fresh.  No expectations.  Just contentment.  Being totally mindful of what you’re doing and where you are.  Be fresh.  Start new.  Create your new and improved you.  Over and over again.  And be content with YOU.  Just do your best.  All the time.  That’s all there is to it.  There’s nowhere to go and nowhere to be else than good within YOU.  Comfortable.  With as much space as possible to be free, explore and welcome new experiences.  Being good in anything you do is doing your best everytime.  Then you’ll know you’re good in everything you do.  No comparisons to anything or anyone.

So, join me in creating your own personal journey everyday this year.  Start breathing.  Adopt a new posture.  Eat healthy everyday - a little or a lot.  Drink water.  Try something new.  Try something YOU would like and something you CHOOSE.

Most of all, HAVE FUN DOING IT.  That’s where I start.

Yoga Love Life to You,

Julie