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The Inner Voice
A weekly newsletter from Debbie Jensen-Grubb, RYT500
April 29, 2013 - Issue 33
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New Item! Free!!
The Daily Yoga Poses Poster |  FREE!!! For all who receive this newsletter my first ever poster to download and print out! Thank you for joining The Inner Voice newsletter! (You need to open it in another window and print it from there.) |
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Quick Links
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This weeks reading can be seen here at The Daily OM.
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To access past issues click here:
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| Greetings! |
Be yourself. It sounds so simple, but first you have to figure out who you are. That is where it really isn't so simple after all.
I once heard a story about someone who told her therapist that she wanted to be more herself. The therapist asked, "Who else do you think you are?"
To learn how to live within our families, society, and the world we copy our parents, teachers, and peers for much of our childhood. For many of us it meant conforming our authentic selves to fit in and be accepted within our circles. So much so that we may truly not know our own selves, or know how to go about unmasking ourselves.
It takes courage, experience, time, and wisdom to begin the journey of learning and being your true self. It is a process full of trial and errors, of pain and regret and embarrassment at times. It is also full of joyful moments, laughter, and friends.
It is a life long voyage which requires a willingness to grow, let go, and shed beliefs that are holding us in a stuck pattern of repeating the same circumstances over and over again. So how to change? Let's talk some more about it below...
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My Favorite Yoga Poses
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It doesn't take long after you start yoga that you begin to find your favorite yoga poses. Of course many of you I know will straight away shout "Savasana!" as your all-time favorite pose! As a beginner it was mine too!
Over the years as I began to strengthen, lengthen, and change myself through my yoga practice I began to add other poses to my list of favorites; oses that had been difficult but were now easier and fun to do!
At first I thought that to be a 'real' yogini I had to do handstand, place my foot behind my head, or do the splits. I forced myself into many difficult poses, only to find that my body wasn't really ready to do them, and I paid the consequences!
It took a while until I was willing to accept that there were just some poses that I was never going to be able to do without hurting myself. Then I became OK with it, and finally I learned to love myself just as I am. I began to do the poses that agreed with my capabilities, yet still challenged me, and as I relaxed I began to see the results that I had been trying so hard to achieve before!
It was an arduous process of relearning myself that taught me much about how the body works. It has brought me to a good place in my life and with myself, and for that it was all worth it!
The adventure isn't over yet though as I continue growing and realizing myself along my yoga journey. So put out your mat, hit the play button on the video above, and join me in some of my favorite yoga poses. Who knows what we will discover!
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| Mantra | |
A mantra is a sound or phrase that aids in the concentration of meditation. It is a Sanskrit term and literally means 'instrument of thought'. Here you will find a suggested mantra to use during the week (from Louise Hay's 'Heal Your Body'). Just repeat it whenever you need a lift.
I feel safe to be me.
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| Rib-Tickler of the Week - hee hee |
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman
where the Self Help section was.
She said if she told me it would defeat the purpose.
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Nutrition Prescription - Yogurt
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 I love dairy, especially ice cream! The problem is that dairy can be hard to digest, creates mucus in the body (gumming things up), and causes inflammation. The key is finding a healthy source from which to purchase your diary. Living, organic, grass-fed, farm-fresh, local foods are always the best option. I especially like to drink raw milk (read why at Weston A. Price Foundation) or eat products made from it. My digestive system can handle it much better, so I feel better when eating this type of diary items. Unfortunately Maryland does not allow it's constituents to purchase raw milk products or even bring it into the state from somewhere else. Even as much as diary can cause problems it is still a smart move to add yogurt to your diet sparingly. I strongly encourage you to buy the best yogurt you can find, this means NOT buying the conventional brands that you see in the regular grocery store. They are generally full of additives (like sugar and thickeners) and are made from CAFO cow's milk. Also, I recommend buying full-fat yogurt, not low-fat or non-fat, because it is higher in butyric acid (fatty acid good for the colon) and protein. Buying plain yogurt and adding your own fruit is another way you can cut down on added sugar and calories. Why yogurt is so good for you is because of all the gut-friendly bacteria it contains. The friendly flora manufactures vitamins such as biotin, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid and vitamins A and K. The lactic acid-secreting bacteria available in quality yogurts also increase the bio-availability of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and manganese. Good news for your body!
The AboutYoga.com website is full of good information as to all the benefits yogurt has. You might also want to consider making your own yogurt, especially if you don't have a health food market nearby. After reading the instructions I think I will be giving it a try real soon! I'll let you know how it turns out. One yogurt that I have heard rave reviews about is Seven Stars Yogurt. Some other great yogurts that I have found are: Erivan, Kalona SuperNatural, Brown Cow, and Fage. There are plenty of others out there too. Organic, whole fat yogurt from grass-fed milk (cow, goat, sheep) is a time-honored, traditional living food that has promoted longevity and health for ages. So why not add a little culture to your life? Include organic, healthy yogurt to your diet and begin to reap the health benefits it can bring. |
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Ponderings - Be Yourself
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'Be yourself' is a simple phrase for a very difficult task. Often times we have spent so much of our lives being what we thought we needed to be that we truly don't know who we really are! To follow along is the easier decision, but it certainly isn't a path that leads to contentment or fulfillment.
Each of us is born with innate talents, gifts, and skills that is only ours to give to the world. Why then are we so eager to conform, to act or look like someone else? Because it's less agonizing, draining, and painful to be accepted than it is to stand out and be different. We start playing a role and then lose track of who we really are or don't know how to change it. We forget that we only have a finite amount of time to enjoy and share the gift of ourselves with the world.
There are so many benefits to being yourself! Such as Snoopy states above, there is an ease to it because you can't get it wrong! I think that as we grow older we tend to begin to not care what others think, say, or do as much. Us lucky ones that get to enjoy the aging process begin to reap the benefits of learning from all of the more troublesome mistakes we made in our youth.
We begin to trust ourselves more and are not swayed as much by others opinions. As we become more comfortable with who we are, a more sincere and magnetic person emerges attracting people into our lives who honor, support, and love the real person inside. We are more accepting of our personal flaws, forgiving of our mistakes, and gentler with the world and people around us. We finally realize that we are good enough, just as we are.
Begin to notice what interests you, what attracts your attention, what stirs your imagination and causes you to lose all track of time for that is the path to your talent. Do your best to ignore the persuasion of others, after all, it's their fear that prompts them to pass judgment on you. You may be an enigma that they can't understand and this can distress them.
Treat yourself with respect, love, and kindness and others will too. Stand up for yourself. Admit when you are wrong (again). Listen to your thoughts and say nice things to yourself, about yourself. Realize that it is YOU, your life, that is the gift, for each of us is packaged with the details of our own rare physicality, family background, experience, and time in history that the world has never seen the likes of before. Most of all begin to love yourself. It is the best gift you could ever possibly give yourself and the world.
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For one minute contemplate how amazing life is, now realize that you are part of that life. Begin to grasp what a miracle you are and begin to live a life that is full of miracles. Begin now to take a chance and be yourself.
Thank you and Namaste,
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