Let’s also look at how beauty is defined in different cultures. In the west, a fit, slim, muscularly defined body is en vogue. The media dictates what is beautiful and what is unacceptable. This summation leads many people into painful surgeries and a misguided identification of natural beauty. You are unique, bound by the genetic soup that makes up your lineage creating the most exquisitely perfect ‘You’. It is insane to believe that we should all fit comfortably into this generalized image presented to us. I found an interesting contrast to our western perception of beauty while living in India. On the street, you see the starving masses everywhere. They are thin, hungry and dirty. Because India’s cultural foundation is caste-based, the higher classes consider ‘thin’ to be undesirable. “Thin” represents the lower castes living in poverty and starvation, therefore, the higher classed women purposely wrap their saris to accentuate the fleshy folds of fat cascading down their backs. This is a cultural means of demonstrating their income and the ability to eat enough to create excess weight. Becoming pleasantly plump is a visual affirmation of wealth and status. Another interesting cultural perception there is skin color. Here in the states, people seek a sun-kissed glow and find dark, sultry skin to be highly valued. We buy passes to the tanning salons or vacation in sunny regions to bask in the sun and deepen our complexion. In India, to be naturally fair is yet another symbol of status and is highly coveted. Seeking “beauty” at all costs, they slather skin bleach all over their doe-colored complexions hoping to garner more social respect and elevate their status.

How does this relate to gratitude? I’d like you to consider that no matter what your definition of beauty is, your body is ‘aware’ of the signals you send it via your feelings, thoughts and words. Keep reading…

In yoga class, we talk about the mind-body connection. This simply means that the mind and body are interrelated. That they are not separate entities, but masterfully inter-twined. To support this scientifically, in the book, “Your Body Speaks Your Mind”, the author explains the roll of neuropeptides. These ‘messengers’ deliver information from the brain to the cells of the body creating a physical response. If you’re sad, tears are secreted. If you’re nervous, your palms sweat. If you’re angry, your heart rate increases. Basically, our emotions translate into chemicals triggering a somatic response within the body. The author concludes that “Neuropeptides provide the link between perception, feelings, and thought, on the one hand…with the brain, hormonal secretions (such as adrenaline), and every cell of the body, including the immune system on the other hand, thereby creating a single, whole-body communications system. In other words, each part or system of your body is listening and responding to your mental chatter- your every thought and feeling.”

In Masaru Emoto’s fascinating book, “The True Power of Water”, the author explains how he successfully froze water and photographed the resulting crystals. He used specialized photography equipment and lighting to capture the crystals that formed as the ice began to melt. These crystals, resembling jewel-like shapes, unfolded in front of the camera like delicately blooming flowers, each one opening into a unique multidimensional design. How does this relate to our subject of gratitude? Emoto labeled the glasses of water with words such as “thank you” or “love and gratitude”. He also experimented with negative words such as “hate you” and “you fool”. Guess what? The crystals labeled with positive words responded by opening up into beautifully balanced crystals. The water with the negative words either did not form crystals at all, or formed ugly, disproportionate globules. They took the experiment further and played symphonies by Mozart, Bach and other classical and modern masters. They prayed over the water. Each time the information was of a positive nature, the water responded by forming gem-like crystals, all radiating the ‘feeling’ of the information being transmitted to it. In like response, water that ‘heard’ heavy metal or song lyrics of an explicit or violent nature responded with broken or erratic formations, appearing extremely disturbed. Cell phones, microwaves and lap top computers had a similar, negative affect. They also experimented on jars of rice labeling them with “thank you” and “you fool”. A third jar was left unlabeled and ignored. The jars sat for a month. The “thank you” rice turned yellow with a mellow, malty odor. The rice labeled “you fool” turned black and rotted. The rice that was ignored actually rotted and blackened before the “you fool” rice, sending us another possible message. Often we ignore our bodies when they are communicating by means of symptoms. Many times, we deny our pain, whether it’s physical or even emotional, until illness or disease sets in forcing us to listen and take action. Because the ‘language’ of the body is felt rather than heard, bringing your awareness into your body is very beneficial to your health and well being. Meditation and yoga function as tools to do just that.

How does all this relate to our subject? Our adult bodies are seventy percent water. Infants are eighty percent water. Those neuropeptides we learned of earlier carry their information via bodily fluids. So, do our thoughts, words and emotions affect our bodies? You bet. Let’s go back to my original question. When you look in the mirror at the image staring back at you, what do you think, or even say to it? Do you berate it or criticize? Punish or abuse it? Do you feed it compliments, nutritious foods, exercise it gently and praise it? No doubt, whatever the message, your body is listening. Thoughts and words are pure energy and vibration. We send out this energy like a radio wave via electrical brainwaves. Your body is innately connected and tuned into this frequency. Becoming aware of this can mean the difference between illness and balanced health.

Your body is a temple to your soul and deeply connected to the interplay of thoughts and emotions within the mind. It’s time we become aware and reconnect with our chosen form of spiritual transportation. This is where visualization and meditation come into the picture. Meditation is soothing to the nervous system and is scientifically proven to reduce stress and support the immune system. Visualization is a form of meditation allowing you to relax and focus on positive mental images that heal and support your body. Mr. Emoto noted that the most dazzling crystals formed under the words “love and gratitude”. Keeping that in mind, I’m offering you an easy meditation to send gratitude to your body. Try it. You can actually feel the body’s endorphin response as you thank the different organs and cells. You can do this meditation in bed before going to sleep or upon waking in the morning. Click on “pages and links” to access the guided meditation.

Also, let me share something with you that I tried recently. My entire family was ill with a nasty stomach bug during these past two weeks. Even my “I never get sick” husband fell prey to it. I was caring for my little ones throughout, cleaning up messes (if you know what I mean) and tentatively accepting slobbery kisses from my little toddler all along. Needless to say, I was exposed in a major way to this bad bug that put my daughter in the hospital but I never got sick. And stomach bugs love me. I’m like a gut bug magnet. Why didn’t I get sick? I’m pretty convinced its because I labeled a piece of paper with “love and gratitude”, “strong immunity”, and “good health”, then rubber banded it to a glass of water. Sound crazy? I drank from it everyday, religiously. I was determined to stay well. Sometimes I charged it with a silent prayer for healing and health. By doing this, I was communicating to my body and sending it powerful armor through my thoughts, and into my subconscious mind keeping that virus at bay.

My next article will be on the benefits of a vegetarian and/or vegan diet. Prepare for some surprising information that may change the way you look at your food. I’ll also include some of my favorite, super easy recipes and a short list of cookbooks that support a meat-free lifestyle.

Until next time,

Namaste

My next article will be on Gratitude and will include a meditation script which I hope to record on MP3 for your use as a morning and/ or evening meditation. I will discuss how to “thank your body” into balanced health. Sounds a little different, I know, but the mental and physical results are almost tangible. It will give you a new-found perspective on your physical body. The book I’ll be using to support the article is by Masaru Emoto called The True Power of Water. My good friend and fitness colleague, Scott Jenkins gave me the book months ago as a gift. Little did he and I know I’d be using it in a future blog.

Also in the near future, I’ll be advising you on the benefits of a vegetarian and/or vegan diet. I’ll give you some great recipes and show you how to safely shed 2-5 pounds in as little as 7-10 days– a fabulous way to kick-start into a more wholesome, conscientious diet and bestow a feeling of lightness to encourage you in your weight management goals. I’ll also present some topics on diet and nutrition that will be addressed in more detail in my upcoming book. I’m still gathering research and pulling chapters together at this point, but I hope to be looking for a publisher by years end.

In addition to all this, I’m excited to be installing a newsletter on my site very soon, allowing me to better communicate and serve my audience and students. I’m also embarking upon something I’ve toyed with for a few years: Personal Training. I’m preparing for my P.T. Certification through AFAA and will pass my exam the first weekend in May. I will then be qualified to offer a ‘hybrid’ personal training program that marries weight training with yoga and visualization. Along with nutritional support and a technique to integrate mind, body and spirit, the mix should make for a very dynamic training experience!

I’d like to offer yoga retreats to Mexico by Fall 2007. I’m putting together a tentative itinerary and daily schedule. As you can see, I’m a planner. It’s the Girl Scout in me (or just being a mother of five kids). I want to offer a retreat that will leave you begging for more … and always coming back. We could all use more beauty, relaxation and yoga in our lives, right?!

Just a note … remember, I am a certified Reiki healing practitioner. If you have healing requests, e-mail me at donna@yogasoup.net or write down your request to be given to me in class, (please include the name and what the healing is for). I will send distance healing during my daily meditation. There is no charge for this so please don’t be shy. Every bit of energy counts. I can also administer healing in private sessions by appointment only. My rates are listed in “Pages and Links” under Private Reiki Sessions.

So! Thank you for being patient with me while I pull together my articles, get my newsletter going, write a book, study, and organize a retreat! Good thing I’m a multi-tasker …

Much love to all those who have given me such encouraging feedback on my website and my yoga classes. It keeps me motivated and brings much fulfillment and joy into my life to connect with you all at this level.

Namaste,

Donna

Now, to the task at hand….Being Present.  I was in a deep forward bend a few nights ago when the meaning of “being present” actually hit me.  I was thinking of my kids.  I was thinking of tomorrow.  I was thinking of the past.  It was amazing how my mind darted from one thing to another, always on “search mode” to find something to distract me from the moment I was actually in.  I had a bit of an “ah-hah” moment when a voice inside my head asked, “are you present, Donna?”.  My answer was, ”Wow, no.  I’m somewhere else.”  It finally hit me that I wasn’t in the moment.  I was wandering around in the mental maze of my thoughts and definately not “present”. 

I invite you to become the silent observer of your thoughts.  Watch how they try to entertain or distract you from what you’re doing at any given moment.  Realize that your life is happening right now in this moment.  The past is gone and the future has yet to come.  What you have right now, at this very moment is a gift.  That’s why it’s called the Present. 

How do you become present?  By stopping the mind’s constant stream of thoughts for a moment and  intensely observing your movement through an activity.  Are you doing dishes?  Driving to work? Exercising?  Listening to music?  Bring your focus to your body for a moment and observe it.  Be in the body.  Watch your hands as they clean a dish or hold the steering wheel.  You’ll notice a shift in your attention.  Focus on your muscles moving and your heart pounding as you breathe precious life into your lungs while performing your workout.  Sing out loud with your favorite song on the radio.  Be in-joy.  Laughter-real laughter-the kind that makes your ribs ache, is presence.  Your mind is empty and you are present in your bliss at that moment.  The act of hugging a close friend or your child, partner or whoever, and really experiencing the feeling of their physical being  is another way to achieve pressence.  Take a deep breath and really take in the essence of that person for a second or two and let the emotions roll through your body as you hold them close. 

Feel more, think less.  That’s how you become more present.  Feel your body, feel your emotions and bless each and every second of your existence. 

May light guide your path…

I am currently developing a workshop on how to use the Law of Attraction and hope to share it very soon with those interested in bettering their lives.  A new awareness is growing and we are slowly waking up to the idea that we create our lives.  We are all responsible for everything that occurs in our life, both negative and positive.  How we choose to respond is the challenge of the soul and it’s point of growth.

If you are interested in reading more about the Law of Attraction, one of the best books on the subject is the classic, Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain.   She explains the process in a very relaxed and easy style that is simple to understand and apply.  Start with her book and if you wish to see the movie, “The Secret”, go to www.thesecret.com and view it for $4.95 on your computer.  It’s a great visual source in understanding the basic premise of the law of attraction.  I will post more on this topic soon.

Register on my site and leave me some comments!  

Until later….Namaste.   

Give and you shall receive. Such a simple concept and yet, so profound. The very act of giving is key in living your purpose because it creates abundance in the lives of the giver and the receiver. By circulating our ‘wealth’, whether it’s information, art, or a special skill, we are aligning our physical experience with what we came here to accomplish. In that moment of spiritual interchange, all is perfect as we connect with others through our gifts. We create a backdrop for growth and happiness with every act, artfully weaving together the tapestries of our lives. This is who we are; players on the universal stage creating each and every moment of our lives in the most joyful way we dare to imagine.

To many, the journey of the soul seems shrouded in mystery, awaiting careful excavation from the depths of the mind. To begin the process of awakening, we must first let go of all expectation and begin the connection with our higher selves. Quieting the mind creates space by allowing spirit to shine into our consciousness, radiating with such purpose and emotion as to draw the body into action. Opening the mind also allows for inspired thoughts to be revealed which have the power to propel you further down your path of growth should you act upon them.

When making your list of talents and passions, (see Finding your True Purpose), it’s clear that you have more than one asset available to you, otherwise, it wouldn’t be a list! We were not given one purpose to accomplish and then sent out the door. We are multi-talented and multi-dimensional beings with many interests hovering tentatively below the surface waiting to be unearthed and offered to the world. You may not even be aware of some of your gifts until they are awakened by happenstance. For instance, I was quite unaware of my ability to understand philosophy until I was in college. I had to choose an elective one semester, so I randomly selected a philosophy class. I was completely blown away my first evening of class. I never expected to comprehend the subject, let alone enjoy it.

It’s time to honor the genius within and bring glory and meaning to your life. See yourself as the miracle you are and bring that person to light. The Divine breathes life into us and asks only that we receive the bounty of our endeavors through the innate creativity born within us. Utilizing your special talents gives you the chance to know and honor God within yourself. When is your moment of bliss? When does time stop and you exist in pure elation? Deepak Chopra calls this feeling timeless awareness and it means that there is something only you can do in a very unique way that no one else can, and when you are doing that one thing, time stands still. You are uniquely qualified to give exactly what is needed in the present moment to further your soul’s development. We tend to gravitate towards the path of least resistance, being entrenched in our ego’s limited depiction of our character, chaining ourselves to an average existence. What if you allowed yourself to step out of that safe haven you’ve created and opened yourself to the truly limitless possibilities you possess? Remember that your path is not linear, but an upward spiral of evolution. We are given many opportunities to express our God-given talents to bring our awareness and our purpose into alignment. We then make our way back to who we really are.

I encourage you to examine your list of special endowments and ask yourself if you are truly living in harmony with them. Use your intuitive feelings when you do this. Our emotions are a built-in guidance system given for the purpose of navigating the journey home. Listen to your feelings and use this powerful tool in living your true purpose. Everything up to this point in your life has prepared you to take the next step in your evolution. Take this step and observe what comes back to you. Find your blissful state, act upon it, serve humanity with it, and all the wealth you seek will naturally flow to your door. This, my friends, is how to know and live your true purpose. Seek that which brings you joy and offer it to your fellow man in sincere love. Herein lies our connection to spirit and it is this that is our natural state of being. To live in awareness and know why we are here and how we may serve.

Next, The Law of Attraction. How to create your life.

Let’s say, however, you’re knocking on the door to consciousness and it seems no one is answering.  Could be you’re expecting answers when what you really need are more questions.  You already innately know the answers to all these questions, you simply need to allow this wisdom to filter through to the mind.  How do you accomplish this?  Meditation is one way.  Sitting in silence for a few minutes once or twice a day is highly beneficial to the nervous system as it balances the hemispheres of the brain and calms the mind.  Meditation quiets the endless chatter and allows your thoughts to take a break.  It is in this silence where spirit speaks.  Listen and be amazed.

Another way to do this is through journalling.  Writing down your daily thoughts and questions is a way of communicating to your higher self.  The act of writing your thoughts is the process of transferring thought energy into form.  Go one step further and ask your questions out loud.  Your voice sends out a vibration to the Universal Energy and It must answer.  This is why prayer and chant are so powerful. Try the following exercise to help guide your intentions and begin the process of opening to your higher self and your true purpose.

First, grab your journal or a notebook and pen and find a comfortable, quiet place where you won’t  be disturbed.  Take some slow, relaxing breaths and sit in silence for a moment.  When you feel ready, mentally state I am opening to my inner wisdom and my true purpose.  Take a few more deep breaths and write the following questions in your journal:

• What is the one thing I enjoy doing that makes the hours pass like seconds?
• If money and time were of no concern, what would I do?
• What is the one thing I would do in pure enjoyment, even if I were not compensated monetarily?
• How can this talent I possess be offered in service to others?
• Am I motivated to engage in this activity for the highest good of all?

Once you begin making your list and writing out your talents, you start the process of opening the mind to your feelings.  No doubt, when you think of these talents, there is an emotional response that reflects the joy and fulfillment they bring.  This joy is passed onto others.  It draws people, situations and circumstances into your experience to support your soul’s desire.  You begin to live your purpose and the world benefits from this exchange of energy.

Next … living your purpose …

First and foremost, reiki is never a substitute for medical treatment.  Any practioner that claims they can heal you should be considered with caution.  No respectable healer will make such dynamic claims.  Reiki is an excellent complimentary therapy to medical treatment and recovery, and it is well documented that patients heal more rapidly when treated by reiki.  Many hospitals now offer holistic medicine and complimentary healing therapies such as reiki at their facilities.  Nurses are given continuing education credits to become reiki certified. 

Once you are satisfied with your chosen practioner and schedule a consultation and/or healing, I’m sure you will find it to be a relaxing and unique experience.  Every practioner has their own signature healing method, but, in general, you will sit with the healer and briefly discuss any questions you may have concerning your visit.  You may be asked to fill out a form and give some information about yourself and the reason you are coming for the healing.  You will then be asked to lay down on a bed or reiki massage table.  It’s time to get comfortable, close your eyes and enjoy the experience!  Using soft music to sooth the nervous system and set the mood, the healer will begin at your head and make her way down the different chakra points of your body spending about 5 minutes at each center.  The hands of the healer hover a few inches above the area, allowing the energy to ebb and flow naturally for as long as needed.  You may feel heat radiating from the practioner’s hands or nothing at all.  The energy is flowing whether you feel a sensation or not, so rest assured something beneficial is taking place.  The session will last about an hour.  Most people fall asleep and awaken refreshed and relaxed.

I would like to share my own story of how I became a Reiki practioner and why I chose the path of healing.  Since I was a small child, I have been keenly aware of the different levels of existence.  I was extremely sensitive to people’s moods and emotions and could sense fluctuations of energy in my environment.  I was aware of my spiritual abilities as early as age five through an unusual spiritual encounter with a female presence.  She showed me that I was sent here for a reason and that when my time here was complete, I would be reunited with my true spiritual family.  Now, this may sound really strange to you, but, as a five year old, I completely accepted it.  She seemed like a mother figure to me and  radiated such love and beauty that I felt a great deal of comfort from her visit.  This was a very personal experience and I have never shared it before until now.  I continue to have, several experiences that confirm my connection to my intuitive side through the manifestation of dreams, deja vu, past life experiences and connections to divine guides and angels.  I honestly did not know what to do with these experiences until I began reading books on subjects such as past lives, healing, quantum physics and higher consciousness.  I began to devour every book on the subject of connecting to other realms of existence and raising awareness.  I moved to India in 2000 where my true development began to take flight. I was having difficulty coping with life in India.  It was so very different from my home in England and America that I often described it as “another planet”.  Not only were the sights very disturbing outside my flat but the assault on my physical health was frightening and I was incredibly homesick.  I found myself in tears on a daily basis wishing I could escape and wondering how I could have ever agreed to move there.  As with most challenging life lessons, escape was not an option, so I decided to take control of myself.  I had to overcome the nagging fear and anxiety that was ever present in my mind.  I began collecting books on meditation and started a regular ritual twice per day to relieve the pressure that weighed heavily upon my mind. It worked INSTANTLY.  I felt a huge release in the first two sessions and subsequent sittings.  After about 3 weeks of regular meditation, a change began to occur during my sessions.  I began having regular ”visitors of light” as I would call them.  They exuded a great deal of love and relayed to me that we are not alone, no matter how isolated we may feel.  I would absolutely bathe in their healing warmth and looked forward to sitting with them in my meditations.  I was guided more and more to books on healing and began a thorough self-schooling in the intuitive arts.  In Bombay, the car rides could be one to two hours in length so I was able to move through books at an unusually high rate.  I contacted a healer/intuitive in the states and was given a psychic reading on my visit to England that confirmed my natural interest in the intuitive and healing arts.  I continued to meditate and practice healing with light, colors and the chakras upon myself and my children in hopes that it would someday serve a purpose. 

Today, I live in the Cleveland area in Northeastern Ohio.  I am a certified yoga instructor and aerobics teacher.  I have achieved my first level reiki training with a certified Master Reiki practioner and will be second level certified in February, 2007.  I am continuing to work with my Reiki teacher to develop my intuitive abilities.  I hope to offer a unique healing experience by developing workshops and a private healing practice.

My mission is to serve others in their search for balanced health and well being.  Through service to others, I am able to serve my own growth and development in this lifetime.  I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to share these gifts of spirit with those who are seeking the path of healing or reaching for their highest potential through expanded consciousness. 

Well, it’s a humble serving of life wisdom from my soul to yours, with the intention of bettering your life experience.

 Simply put, I draw upon a vast collection of experiences, self improvement books, seminars and workshops, then pass this knowlege along to you in an entertaining yet thought provoking article. When I find something worthy of attention, I offer it to my readers, students and clients in hopes that it will serve the higher good of all. You will find free aritcles about self improvement, yoga and meditation, balanced living, attracting abundance and wealth, learning to be ‘present’, chakra balancing, reiki healing, diet and weight management, spirituality, music, and even parenting and cooking. I will also provide links to my favorite product preferrences that will further inspire and enhance your journey into self awareness and growth.

So, it is with careful consideration that I place before you a nice, warm serving of YOGA SOUP. ENJOY! 

Thank you for your patience as I work on the following subjects of interest:

• Stop Procrastinating: How to manage your time and get things done NOW.
• How to manifest your thoughts: Thoughts are things. How to manifest thought energy into form.
• Diet and weight management: You are what you eat. Learn the basics of healthy eating and watch the person beneath the pounds emerge.
• Vegetarian and Vegan Cooking: Delicious recipes for the whole family. They’ll never guess its veg/vegan.
• Living in the Now: Understanding the power of ‘being present’.
• Yoga: The many benefits and basic philosophy plus suggestions on how to get started or enhance your current practice.
• Meditation: Simple steps to guide you on this incredibly life enhancing practice in just minutes a day.
• The Law of Attraction: The key to living the life of your dreams.
• Reiki Healing: Healing for body and spirit. What it is and how to do it.
• Chakra Balancing: Learn about your bodies amazing energy system and how to keep it balanced and clear for optimum health.
• Gracious Living: How to cultivate an ‘attitude of gratitude’ thereby enhancing your life and the lives of those you touch.
• Creativity: How to unleash your creative potential and change your world.
• Finding your Purpose: Suggestions on how to identify your purpose in life and ways to begin living it.
• Connecting with your higher self: You already have all the answers to all your questions. Learn how to discover this treasure hidden within your psyche.
• Channelling through journalling: What it is and how to do it.
• Music Therapy: Using music and sound to alter your mood, enhance creativity, balance your energy system and raise consciousness.

Take the next steps: register a username and read articles and discuss them with us.

Spiritual Eating:  Achieving weight loss through Conscioius Living.

Heal your Body:  Tools to achieve health through the mind-body connection.  

Creating an Abundant Life:  Finding prosperity in your purpose.

Coming soon!