1. Ease
   The relationship develops and unfolds without drama and games.
2. Gratitude
   Both individuals express appreciation for each other
3. Authenticity
   You are both able to be yourself all the time.

The past few months I have researched what Yogis and Relationship experts have to say about meaningful and lasting relationships. I am excited to share the information with you. If you want to learn more I am offering the following workshop next week.

Rock Your Relationships
Friday, May 25th, 7:30-9pm
Rama Lotus Yoga Centre
$15+hst (includes handouts)

1. MEDITATION: Mind screen meditation
To dump the subconscious mind

Your subconscious mind is always on. It’s like a video camera recording everything you do. Eventually the tape gets full and needs to be erased. This meditation will help to delete the unwanted and unnecessary from your subconscious.

Sit with a tall spine, close your eyes and stare at the blank screen behind your eyelids. Notice any colours, patterns, or images. Do not get attached to what appears on the screen; simply become an observer.

2. HEALTHY FOOD: Kitchari Recipe
Kitchari is considered a balancing, easily digested, and easy-to-prepare. The lentils are packed with fiber, magnesium and other minerals, and B vitamins like folate, great for promoting cardiovascular health and detoxification. The flavour in spices alerts our taste buds to prepare for digestion by initiating the flow of digestive juices, which tends to improve overall digestion. Make kitchari with brown rice for more fiber and nutrients

• 1 cup basmati rice (wash in cold water until the water comes clean)
• 1  cup split yellow mung dal beans (Washed and soaked overnight. Rinse before using)
• 1tsp of turmeric powder
• 1tsp of cumin seeds
• 1″ pieced of ginger, finely chopped
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 pinch of ground coriander
• 1 tbsp of ghee or coconut oil
• 2-4 cups boiled water

Heat up the ghee or oil in a pot and add the cumin and ginger. Fry for a minute on medium heat until the seeds pop. Add turmeric, coriander, rice and mung dal, stir until all is coated with the oil, then add 4-6 cups boiling water cook until water is absorbed (about 20 minutes). Option to add vegetables when adding the rice and beans.

3. HYGIENE: Tongue scraping

Cleaning your tongue should be done first thing in the morning, before drinking or eating.  This maximizes removal of any ama (digestive toxins) from the tongue.

Scraping the tongue removes bacteria and toxic metabolic substances of the gut which are produced over night during the process of digestion, and deposited on the tongue. You can see it during scraping. Various types of digestive and respiratory problems can result from continued reabsorption of these waste products.

Tongue scrapers are made of different materials such as plastic or metal. You can find them at the pharmacy and sometimes the Dollar store.

Directions: Place the curved part of the scraper as far back on the tongue as possible. Gently pull the scraper forward over the surface of the tongue. Repeat a few times until you think the tongue is clean. When finished, thoroughly rinse the tongue scraper under running water.

It’s not too late for spring cleaning. I am on day 6 of a 2 week cleanse. I decided to keep it simple by avoiding sugar and common allergens such as gluten, corn, soy, dairy and eggs. I have included dandelion tea for the first week and I am taking some extra chlorella. I am doing my best to drink lots of water to flush out the toxins.

Spring is associated with the liver, the main organ responsible for filtering toxic substances. You can help your liver be more efficient by adding twists and forward bends to your yoga practice. You can download a Detox Yoga sequence here.

Practicing some pranayama such as breath of fire is also beneficial to the liver. Breath of fire can take time to master but it’s well worth the effort. It is said to cleanse the blood in as little as 3 minutes. It also releases deeply rooted toxins in the lungs, mucous membranes, blood vessels and cells.

Emotionally, the liver is know as seat of anger and other negative emotions such as frustration and impatience. A meditation practice can help clear your mind and emotions.

Spring Cleaning Part 2 will be posted Thursday. It will include a recipe, meditation and an ancient Ayurvedic technique.

1. Use reusable bags when shopping
2. Use reusable water bottles and mugs
3. Eat more vegetarian or vegan food
4. Eat more local food
5. Turn off the lights and water when not needed
6. Wash your clothes in cold water
7. Walk or bike more, drive less
8. Receive your bills by email
9. Compost
10. Only print documents if really needed

Have more ideas? Please leave them in a comment.

1. Give a sincere compliment and if someone gives you one claim it. It will make your day.
2. Smiles or hugs, the bigger the better.
3. Listen. Most people just want to be heard.

Here is what it looks like:

1. You are awesome!
2. :)   xoxo
3. Now listening by reading your comments. Please continue the list. So many possibilities…

“There will be periods in our lives when we are rapidly expanding, other times when we are taking a few steps back, and long fallow periods when it may seem as if we are making no progress at all. Let your practice evolve to support these changing phases. And perhaps the most difficult of all are those seemingly fallow times. This is the phase least accepted and least understood in a culture that values productivity and tangible results. The rhythm of pausing and surrendering to life is the most daring, for here we can learn to just be.”

And so my practice evolves to support my current phase. I practice less asana and make more time for meditation, reflection, surrendering and nurturing. Here are lessons I have learned in past few weeks:

• leave the important jobs to the experts
• don’t teach with a fever
• onion juice tastes as bad as it sounds
• don’t run with cold symptoms below the neck 
• Lifemaster paint and fabric paint rollers give great results

… and truths confirmed:

• rest is the best medicine
• God and friends always comes through
• … and I trust that “this too shall pass” will be a confirmed truth soon

If you are feeling like you have taken 2 steps back or are in a fallow period remember that sometimes the hardest practice is what is demanded of us off the mat.

I am enjoying reading business books lately. Last week I finished The Thank You Economy by Gary Vaynerchuk.

The book reveals how social media affects businesses. In this era businesses big and small can use social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to engage, infulence and empower their customers. The conversations online are as real as the live conversations and have great impact. Vaynerchuk states that “70% of people turn to family and friends for advice when making purchasing decisions.”

Word of mouth is now prominent and powerful online. Have a question? You can get answers or suggestions in a matter of seconds via a tweet or status update. A compliment or complaint can be seen by thousands and have a positive or negative impact depending on the circumstance and the conversation engagement.

The book is filled with valuable information. Here are my top 5 take aways from the book:

1. Care about your customers, about your employees, about your brand
2. Speak your customers’ language.
3. Allow your customers to help you shape your brand or business, but never allow them to dictate the direction in which you take
4. Build a sense of community around your brand.
5. Approach social media initiatives with good intent, aiming for quality engagement, not quantity.

Social media is a power tool. Use it well and your business will prosper!

You can follow Gary Vaynerchuk @garyvee or https://www.facebook.com/gary

Hatha Yoga

1. Extended Fire Flow with Clara Roberts-Oss
2. The Dragon Dance with Bernie Clark
3. Power Yoga for Happiness with Eoin Fin

Kundalini Yoga

1. Kundalini Yoga For Detox and Intuition with Gloria Latham
2. Kundalini Yoga For Your Power Centre with Lindsey Lewis
3. Core Kundalini with Gloria Latham

If you would like a free 2 week trial of My Yoga Online please send me your email and I will send you an invite. Happy Yoga :)

Monday I started a new job as studio manager at Rama Lotus Yoga Centre. I am getting used to a new schedule and new position. Being in transition mode I decided not to be too ambitious for my March challenge. This month I choose to drink more water. I bought myself a new water bottle by lifefactory to motivate me. I aim to drink 2 bottles a day.

Please visit my Three Things Thursday blog tomorrow to find out my top 3 My Yoga Online videos.

Sit comfortably. Raise your arms to a 60 degree angle, your fingers are curled into your palms and your thumbs are straight up. Do your best to keep your arms straight throughout. In this position begin breath of fire. On the exhale pull the navel in towards the spine and on the inhale the belly relaxes. Continue to pump your stomach with your breath.

The combo of the pose and the breath helps to strengthen the aura. Your aura is your projection and protection. When it’s strong you are able to attract the positive and repel the negative.

Breath of fire helps to cleanse the blood, builds stamina, strengthens the third chakra, expands lung capacity, releases toxins in the lungs and mucous membranes and much more.

Want to learn how and why relationships affect your aura? Join me for Rock Your Relationships workshop March 9th are Upward Dog or March 23rd at Rama Lotus. Please go to the events tab for more details.