June Favorites: Books, Movies, & TV

We're halfway through June and you know what time it is....okay, well maybe you don't. But I am going to tell you so never fear! It's time for Emilie's June Favorites: otherwise known as a list of random things that I've really liked during this month. Cheers.

1. Movie...

Wonder Woman: let's just get this obvious favorite over with. OBSESSED. I have always been a sucker for a good Girl Power storyline (Spice Girls represent) and this movie was one, big, epic, MFing girl power moment. I thought Gal Gadot did a wonderful job (pun intended) and that her portrayal of Diana was amazing. She made Diana relatable, real, and still an ass-kicking warrior princess. Wonder Woman is goals for all of us; she does what she wants, stands up for those who can't fight for themselves, doesn't let anyone tell her what to do, and is unapologetic about her femininity.

2. Book(s)...

I am not capable of reading only one book at a time. I get bored and end up taking forever to finish it, unless of course it's Harry Potter. Right now I am really enjoying:

*White Trash: The 400 Year Untold History of Class in America (Nancy Isenberg)
*The Secret History of Wonder Woman (Jill Lepore)
*A Breath of Snow and Ashes: Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
*Outliers: The Story of Success (Malcolm Gladwell)

I highly recommend all of these books especially if you like history or historical fiction.

3. Television...

When I say 'television' I mean Hulu, Netflix, or Amazon because I am cheap and we don't do cable unless its basketball season. But! Here are my favorite shows currently...

*American Gods - This show has incredible camera shots and the storyline is insane, I can't wait to read the book! Unfortunately I messed up my longtime pact of reading books before seeing the show on this one but if the book is anything like the show, it's going to be great. Neil Gaiman is an artist.

*The Handmaid's Tale - This show makes me angry & upset but it is relevant and I love it. I'm a little confused about why they decided to drag it out into more than one season, but excited to see where they go with it. Elizabeth Moss is insanely great as June and I love that she is also a producer on the show.

What are you reading, listening to, and watching right now??

Happy Monday...

Em

living your yoga

Happy June Everyone!

Summer is almost upon us here in NC and you can feel it in the air. Literally, it's muggy AF. I just wrapped week five of yoga teacher training and am more than halfway through this journey to get my RYT200. It's been such a wonderful experience and I can honestly say that I don't even recognize my practice from before. It sounds cheesy, but I am changed. Learning just the tiny little bit that I have so far has been so incredibly expansive for my heart, mind, and soul. Not to mention my physical body!

Each month I have continued progressing through our pranayama (breath-work) and dharana/dhyana (concentration/meditation) plans which are building up our experience level and teaching us the different methods for these ancient practices. It has been so interesting to learn about the history and purpose of these techniques. I never really appreciated or understood the pranayama or meditation aspects of yoga until now. I am impatient and the thought of sitting still and 'wasting' time breathing used to horrify me! But now, I feel like I have opened a whole new part of myself and its all because of these yogic practices that I used to think were silly.

What so many people don't know, myself (until this year) included, is that the asanas (poses) are only a tiny part of yoga. In fact, according to the Eight Limb Path it is only, well, one eighth of the full Raja practice! In order to truly live ones yoga there are many other aspects that are equally, if not more important. Below you can see a chart of the Eight Limbed Path...

The idea is to build upon the Yamas and Niyamas with your posture practice, breathwork, and meditation to eventually reach a place of enlightenment or divine connection. Of course this doesn't happen over night, but we have to have goals in this life right? 

This month our focus is on the first niyama, saucha, or purity. Purity in this sense means taking care of your body, mind, and soul in a way that keeps them clean and pure. So this can range from taking a shower, to eating healthy, to going to yoga or the gym, all the way to cleansing your mind, intellect, and spirit through study, the search for knowledge, and truthfulness. Needless to say, these are lofty goals that can seem SUPER overwhelming, but if I have learned one thing through my practice it is that trying your best is always good enough. 

Yoga is about trying to be your best self! Nobody is perfect and that's totally fine. Maybe you can't do a handstand, or meditate for longer than ten minutes without falling asleep, but that's not what it is all about. Being a true and good person, aspiring and striving to better yourself, and treating others kindly is yoga too. 

There are as many paths as there people when it comes to yoga, and no single journey is perfect. All I want to do is strive every day to live my yoga. Whether that means I make it to class or not, I want to truly know in my heart that I tried my best to live my yoga. One of my favorite modern yoginis, Rachel Brathen, has a great quote...

 

I don't know what these next few months have in store but I am so excited to continue growing and learning as a yoga teacher and student because I think a true yogi never stops learning. Being a forever student of ones self and the world sounds like a pretty great adventure! 

How do you live your yoga every day? 

Em

Memorial Day Thoughts

I woke up this morning after a wonderful couple of days at the lake with friends. We grilled out, went swimming, played games, and drank lots of beer. You know, what Americans do on Memorial Day weekend. But when I got out of bed I had a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. I tried taking a shower, doing some yoga, walking the dogs, but nothing I did helped me shake this feeling of anxiety and sadness.

And then I remembered that I read an article before going to bed which was written by the spouse of a Marine who was killed in action. She wrote about how it affected her when people wished her a 'Happy Memorial Day'. About how she felt seeing all of the Facebook posts of people celebrating with BBQ, and fireworks, and water-sports. Today, holds a very different meaning for those who have lost a loved one who died for this country. A meaning that can be hard to grasp because of the divide between military and civilian life.

I guess this article hit me a little harder than I initially thought. But I am one of those Americans who has been guilty of not understanding what this day is really about. Since becoming a Marine wife I have grown to have a better understanding of some things that civilians never have to think about (whether I like it or not), and Memorial Day is one of those things.

Today is a day for ALL Americans to stop and appreciate how huge these seemingly small, heroic actions are that have shaped our country. How each and every man and woman who has died in service to our country has made it possible for us to have all of the everyday rights and freedoms that we are so fortunate to take advantage of. I didn't understand what today was about until I married into the Marine Corps because I was never around many service members.  But I am thankful for having this bittersweet understanding now because the older I get, the more I realize how unique and amazing our country is. Sure, we have ups and downs politically and socially, but we have people who are willing to die to protect our rights as Americans. We have people who are willing to continue putting their lives at risk so we can have the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, the freedom of press, the freedom of assembly. Because of these men and women, every single American has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Memorial Day is just one day a year where everyone is expected to take the time to truly grasp and comprehend this monumental sacrifice. But the loved ones left behind when these fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, lose their lives for this country experience Memorial Day every single day of the year.

I think that we all need to do better, we need to be better in honor of this sacrifice. We need to be better Americans, better neighbors, better people. We need to realize that we all want the same things in life. We want to happy, we want our families to be safe, and we want to live our lives fully. We are all more similar than we are different. The Americans who put their lives on the line to make this possible deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated every day. And in my opinion the best way we can all honor that sacrifice is to be better people.

In times like these where it seems like the world (and more specifically, our country) is divided by words like 'us' and 'them', 'democrat' and 'republican', 'violence', 'hate crime' etc...we need to remember that there will always be people who put everything on hold to ensure that we have the opportunity to grow and become stronger, more united, and better as a country.

5 Things

As some of you know, I am participating in the Jenna Kutcher Instagram challenge which is geared towards streamlining your online presence and cultivating genuine participation within the blogging community. It has been an incredible experience to 'meet' and learn about so many different bloggers from all over the world and their brands! I think we are all aware that social media can be a double edged sword especially when it comes to appreciating and living in the real world in real time without having to whip out our phones every two seconds. This challenge encourages everyone to be their true, genuine, authentic self on social media instead of putting a filter on your life, and embrace others for doing the same. Sure, we all like looking at pretty pictures of tiny puppies in teacups surrounded by a sea of peonies, or a skinny tanned girl doing yoga on a beach in Hawaii while she drinks a gluten free piña colada and the sun sets majestically in the background. BUT! Where is the connection there? Where is the personality, and the depth, and the humanity for the love of god!?!?

I know that I follow a lot of those accounts on Instagram, but for the most part those accounts are what I call 'scrollers' because I look at them and scroll right on by without reading their post or clicking the links or caring what is happening at all. They are JUST pretty pictures. But my favorite accounts, the blogs I've been following for years, are the people who are so genuine in their online presence that you can't help but be like, 'yes! I have felt that same way!'. They are the bloggers who let you know that they are having a bad day because they had to deal with 5 diaper explosions while shopping in Target. They are the ones who are chugging wine while discussing what happened on the Bachelor. They are interested in traveling, learning, bettering our world, and also just going to the grocery store, finding a good deal on Lululemon, and encouraging others to be themselves too.

The disconnect our world faces right now between our online presence and real life is crazy! People feel more isolated and unhappy than ever and it's because we have gotten so far away from reality, or maybe we have just changed what 'reality' means. Regardless, I am trying to be more mindful of living in each moment and using my social media presence as a catalyst for expanding upon that real world experience.

So, now down to the nitty-gritty! Day 3 of the #jkinstachallenge was to pick five major facets of your self and share them on your account. This was tough because I feel like everyone has so many unique, and important things that make up who they are as a person. But when it comes down to it, these are the five, biggest parts of me that make me who I am...

1. Family: Obviously this was going to be number one because my family is amaaaazee! They have always been there for me through everything. Whether I was living around the corner or on the other side of the country. They have supported my harebrained ideas, loved me when I have failed, and encouraged me to be true to myself no matter what. My parents and sister have been my constant companions and without them I wouldn't be who I am today (sorry guys, if that sounds like an insult!)

2. My Marriage: It's always hard to imagine another person coming into your life and being on the same level as your immediate family. Meeting and marrying J has been such a learning curve. We initially met at an NCSU football tailgate during my sophomore year and his freshman year in college. And let me just say that if you told me then that we would end up married, I would have thought you were INSANE. Welp, turns out that I am the insane one because here we are! And I am so happy that we ran into each other that day, even if he doesn't remember! Our relationship has completely changed me on some levels and made me more steadfast to my roots on others. J and I are so different in some respects but so similar in others. We have learned how to work our partnership into every day life and continue to grow together every day. Entering into a marriage truly is a beautiful act of self sacrifice and love (I mean that in the best way!). I have had to learn to navigate the tricky waters of being a Marine wife while still GRACEFULLY holding true to my somewhat liberal roots. And I have had to embrace the lifestyle of moving every couple of years and being far away from everything that is familiar and important to me. Which leads me to...

3. Being a military spouse: this is a complicated one for me. Growing up in an area that is known for its acceptance, non-judgement, and down right artsy fartsy-ness (not a word, I know), I had never been around the culture of a military lifestyle. Durham NC is a small lake of blue in a big, red state if you know what I mean! I honestly thought everyone in our military had a crew cut, chewed tobacco, and was the complete opposite of me on the political spectrum. So you can imagine what a shock it was for me to be thrown into such a different environment, I'm not going to lie, I was down right scared. But, I was surprised at the immediate and genuine outpouring of help and friendship from this amazing group of people I had never met. You always hear about how the military is like a second family, but I did not even come to close to comprehending what that meant until I experienced it. This group of women is part of my soul now. Every station we go to, our military family grows. These women are some of the most compassionate, hilarious, REAL people I have ever met. Everyone is so different, and so strong in their own ways that I feel like a huge dum-dum for ever having thought of this group of people as being so one-dimensional (but that is what our 'bubbles' do to us). Anyway, I can proudly say that being a military spouse has made me a stronger, more independent, and self-confident person and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

4. Travel: As a homebody with a bad case of wanderlust I feel like I am constantly feeling this push-pull of wanting to nest and stay home, but also to travel and see the world and experience everything that is out there! I've been lucky to get to travel internationally several times in my life and my list of places to visit grows by the day. Each time I open a new book, or meet a new person, another place appears at the top of my list. I love the idea of being able to see the world but have a home-base to come back to. It's all about balance. Finding that perfect space between cultivating your home and growing as a person through seeing the world. And lastly (at least as far as the top 5 go)...

5. Yogaaaaa: This is a relatively new facet to my life, especially compared to some people who have been practicing yoga for decades! But it could also be labeled, spirituality on my list. Because you see, I did not understand what yoga actually was! I was one of those people who thought yoga was just asana, or the postures of yoga. I didn't realize that the postures were just a small part of what yoga actually is. I started my in-depth journey with yoga this past January in order to have a job when we move overseas this winter. I had no clue what I was getting into. It is like everything suddenly makes sense, like I was looking through a foggy window before and trying to figure out myself on a spiritual level but could never quite see through the glass. I have always identified as a spiritual person and loved learning about religion and cultural perception throughout school (anthro major, go figure) and have always felt that, if I'm being honest, all of the religions of the world are just different doors to the same room. So finding a spiritual practice that places everyone on an even playing field and is inclusive to all religions and sects and creeds felt like finding a little bit of light in what can be a very dark world :)

So, those are 5 of things that make me, me at my very core. What are your five things that make you, you?

Love and Light
Em

Winesday Wednesday Chadonnay Day Week Month?

Happy Wednesday friendsssssssaaahhh!
Okay, obviously I've had too much coffee and need to take it down a notch. But, today is (as the Skimm so eloquently put it) the Winesday Wednesday before International Wine Day!! Welllll technically tomorrow is International CHARDONNAY Day, not Wine Day in general but I've never said no to a good excuse to have a glass (or two or five) of vino. Personally, I am waiting patiently for June 10th which is National Rosé Day, not to be confused with INTERNATIONAL Rosé Day which is on August 14th. That was a lot of information but stick with me! Here is nice little chart to make things easier. You're welcome *high five*

Anyway, now that The Bachelorette is back I think it's safe to say that most of us celebrate weekly wine day on Monday's but for the past couple of weeks I have been getting together with my sister in law to watch The Handmaid's Tale and woooooo if you don't need a glass of wine to make it through that show! I seriously cry angry tears an average of two times per episode but it's so good! And at least they aren't tears of emotional distress (cough cough Grey's Anatomy cough).

Now, I am definitely not a sommelier by any means, like my ideal wine is from Trader Joe's and it has a pretty label and is five dollars but I know what I like and love trying new varieties. When J and I lived in Florida during flight school some of the other wives and I would get together for Wine and Cheese nights regularly and just take a few hours to wind down, commiserate, and have some girl time. Those nights were seriously the BEST!

All we needed was a few bottles of wine, some cheese and crackers, and some blankets and the night would be made. I'm definitely not advocating alcoholism here by any means! But there is something so nice about sharing some wine with your people and embracing the hygge of a night with friends :) We definitely never had a dull wine night and I always left the night with sore abs from laughing so hard!

My current favorite wine genré if you will, is of the Sparkling Rosé variety because I am basic and it is refreshing and delicious when it is muggy and hot out.

So, in the spirit of Winesday Wednesday, International Chardonnay Day, and because I want to knooow...what are your favorite wines??

Let me know!

Cheers, Em

Monday Motivation

Woke up this morning to the sound of my neighbors roof getting nailed on and a light rain falling. I'm not gonna lie, it was a rough morning as far as waking up goes! But after two cups of coffee, some sun salutations (with more than a couple of child's poses), I finally got up and moving.

This weekend was LOOOONG. It was month four of our yoga teacher training and we went through 4 full classes and an inversion module in addition to teaching circles, yoga anatomy, and assists/adjustments lessons. Not to mention my wonderful hubby surprised me by coming in to town on Saturday night and we all went out to celebrate my besties 28 birthday! (ughhhh we're getting old, but that's another issue altogether haha)

Needless to say I fell asleep at like 9:00pm last night and slept like a rock! But I still woke up tired and groggy. I think everything as far as getting ready for our move to Japan, keeping up with work, doing yoga teacher training, caring for four crazy fur-babies, finishing thank you notes (yikes, I swear they're coming y'all!), all of the weddings and social engagements we have, being a long-distance wife, and just remembering to breathe really caught up with me this weekend. I've been so gung-ho about getting everything done recently that I have barely stopped to take a minute to just breathe and relax, which may be why my meditation plan is all over the damn place.

Now don't get me wrong! I choose to do all of this and I loove it all but sometimes we need to take a step back and just chill. This is definitely something that I need to work on, but being able to recognize this feeling before having a meltdown is progress for me haha!

So, in order to get myself back on track today I decided to turn things down and just focus on the three R's that we use when sequencing a Moon Salutation: reset, reconnect, and refuel.

The first thing I did was take the dogs on a long walk and, don't freak out....I left my phone at home! Having that time to be outside in nature without any technology is really, really important. We're all so plugged in all the time, and I am especially guilty of this, that it can be pretty rare to go more than a few minutes without looking at a screen. We hear a buzz and immediately look at our phones, or sometimes (like Jess in New Girl) we have a 'phantom buzz' and literally nothing happened but we STILL check our phones!

After our walk I came home, took a long, hot shower and opened all of the windows. Then I rolled my yoga mat out and put on some music. Two of my favorite playlists to listen to when I want to focus inward are actually soundtracks from two of my favorite movies! Amelie and Pride & Prejudice (the one with Kiera Knightly...sorry Colin Firth). Today I went with Amelie, which is actually a beautiful soundtrack to do some yoga flow to, you should give it a listen :)

Then I took about an hour to do a little free flow, easy yoga stretching. Whatever feels good and healthy for your body, it doesn't even have to be an actual yoga asana, just get your body moving and focus on your breath. Even if you just lay down and do legs up the wall with a little pranayama, it will make a world of difference!

Afterwards, I was able to sit down with my planner and get organized for the week ahead. Now I know that TIME is the biggest scheduling factor that most of us struggle with when it comes to taking a few moments for ourselves, but it is SO important to take care of yourself mentally and physically! We should all strive to set aside a few minutes everyday for ourselves to refocus.

I was listening to the most recent podcast by Rachel Brathen (known as Yoga Girl) the other day and she was giving her list of tips and tricks to get started, or maintain, a regular yoga practice and her number one tip was: roll out your mat. This simple act will ensure that you spend a little quality time on your mat. Even if all you do is lay there and breathe, that is totally fine!

Maybe yoga isn't your thing! Maybe reading a book and drinking a hot cup of tea relaxes you :) Or going for a run! Whatever brings you peace and helps you reset, refuel, and reconnect you mind, body and soul is exactly what you should make time to do!

So, keep breathing, make time for yourself, and make sure you have some wine in the fridge because tonight is the first night of the Bachelorette.

Cheers!
Em

Living with Intention

We are swinging right through Spring and into Summer here in NC! The days are starting to get hot and muggy and long, and everything is green and full of life. I love this time of year in Durham and I'm so glad I get to spend the next few months here before our big move this winter.

During the summer months when the American Dance Festival is going on you can hear the rehearsals going on across the street at Duke! The cicadas are picking up their chorus and fireflies are everywhere. You can hear people walking their dogs, playing outside, grilling out, and laughing with friends and family until late in the evenings. On Friday nights you can hear the fireworks from the Bulls Games and the smell of charcoal and freshly cut grass is always in the air. These are the sounds and smells of my childhood, and it makes me so nostalgic to experience them again after being gone for the last two years :)

Even though it's starting to get too hot to leave the windows open, I love to throw them wide at night so I can hear the crickets chirping as I fall asleep and the birds singing when I wake up. Every morning I take my mat out onto the back deck and get in some morning asana flow while my coffee is brewing and the dogs are running around the yard. Everything seems to move slower in the summer. I love that. The feeling of waking up early, but slow, so you have time to start your day gently and with intention.

I have been thinking about intention a lot recently. I feel like I see so many people going through life every day full of worry and anxiety and chaos. And of course, I am guilty of that regularly, but I've noticed that my yoga practice has made me hyper-aware of this to the point where I am able to catch myself getting kinetic and am then able to take a breath and reset my intention. Naturally there are some big things in life that cause stress; a big project at work, a test in your hardest class, money problems, etc. But, there are also a ton of little, insignificant things that cause just as much anxiety, and when it comes down to it worrying about ANY of these things, big or small, is not going to solve anything.

I heard a saying once that, 'if you worry about things before they happen, you suffer twice'. To people who know me, it's going to sound like I'm being extremely hypocritical right now because I am seriously one of the biggest worry-warts alive! But I think that is why I am so aware of it, because I spend so much of my own time trying to quell my anxiety and stress that I have in my life (and to a certain extent exacerbate when I don't catch myself in time!)

One of the ways that I have started trying to live with more intention is by taking a step back, following my breath, and giving myself a minute to process things when I get overwhelmed or feel myself starting to experience negative emotions. This is harder some times and easier other times but the result is always the same: I walk away feeling more at peace with things, and I am able to move forward in a more productive and positive way.

It can also help to reflect at the end of your day! I recently had dinner with my family and I was telling them about a family I used to nanny for and how every night at dinner they would go around the table and each person would say what their "rose" and "thorn" of the day was. Your "rose" being the best part of your day, and the "thorn" being the worst. We decided to do it ourselves and it was so wonderful to hear the highs and lows of each others day and talk about things on a different level. It can be so easy to let little, annoying incidents effect the outcome of our days but if we take the time to appreciate the little things and focus our intention on being grateful for those things we can be so much happier and peaceful.

Smile at a stranger. Hold a door for someone. Call a friend you haven't talked to in a while. Go for a walk outside without your phone. Go to the gym. Start a book you've been wanting to read. Have a glass of wine on your deck and look at the stars. The list in endless!! Pick one thing to do each day that will bring you joy, and do it with intention!

Find the things that bring you joy and DO THEM! We are only here for a short amount of time and every second should be filled with love and intention and gratitude (easier said than done, but big goals build character and every little step in the right direction makes a huge difference!)

What are some things you can do to start living with more intention?

Em

Manifesting Gratitude

I've been thinking a lot recently about manifesting gratitude and positivity in my life. This of course, is partially to do with my yoga teacher training, but more accurately my yoga training has simply provided me with the vocabulary and tools to make this goal a reality. I think all of us to certain extent have the same priority, the same goal...to be happy. Different things make different people happy but ultimately we all want the same thing.

What I have learned recently through books, and live yoga sessions, and teachers, and independent experience is that there is one thing that makes everyone happy. And that is being grateful. Now, you may be thinking, 'well, being grateful is what happens after you are happy' but I disagree. Sure when something good happens or you are feeling positive and happy it is easy to say that you are grateful for that moment, and that isn't untrue. But I think a lot of people don't realize that starting your day off with a grateful heart for the simple, little things is what builds true happiness.

This isn't always easy to do. We wake up late, our coffee spills, our cars break down, someone we love gets cancer, we have a fight with a loved one, people die. But, there is always something to be grateful for, and if we can just take the time each day to appreciate those things, we will ultimately become happier people and that happiness and positivity will spill over and be shared with those around us. In simpler terms, 'appreciate the little things, because one day you will realize they were the big things'.

One thing that yoga teaches us that I have found profoundly comforting, especially given the current world climate, is that yoga is a deeply spiritual practice that focuses on bringing the individual closer to the divine. Yoga doesn't align with a specific religion or belief system, it aligns with ALL of them. Yoga is a universal truth that applies to every living thing on the earth. Yogic teachings tell us that we are all connected and all worthy of love and respect; whether we are a man, or a woman, or a cow, or the great barrier reef, or a blade of grass. Every single living thing on this planet has a role to play that can not be diminished. Yoga is a unifier.

Basically yoga is the golden rule. Treat others the way you want to be treated. I have started trying to wake up each morning and, before I even get out of bed, I run through a few things that I am grateful for; my family, my health, our home, that my husband is safe, that we live in a country where we can voice our opinions, that I have food to eat etc...It really makes a difference in my mindset for the rest of the day. Everyone knows what it's like to be around someone who is negative. They aren't bad people but somehow their negativity seems to be contagious and you find yourself in a bad mood after being around them. Positive energy works in exactly the same way! We have also all probably been around that one friend who is always happy and smiling and you leave them feeling full and happy yourself. This doesn't mean be fake and pretend to be happy when you are upset, I'm definitely not advocating hiding your true feelings. What I AM saying, is that there is always, always something to be grateful for and if we give more time and attention to those things, our hearts and minds and bodies will benefit in amazing ways :)

What are some of the ways you manifest gratitude and positivity in your life?

Happy Saturday!

April Favorites: Podcast, Book, Show

Every once in a while I remember to jot down a quick post of my favorite shows, podcasts, books, products etc... for the month. And it just so happens that I remembered today, lucky you!

Let's jump right in, shall we?

1. Show:
Black Sails. BLACK EFFING SAILS. Black. Sails. Sails of Black. Errrmahhgerddddd.

I honestly don't even know where to begin. This show is 4 seasons of piratey, swashbuckly, perfection! It is a pre-curser to Treasure Island and is loosely historical. The actors were so dynamic and well-cast, and the show even won a GLAAD award for Best Drama. Let me put it this way, if we were close friends and you couldn't get into this show, we would have to re-evaluate our friendship. Watch it!

2. Podcast:
I've been on a pretty big podcast kick recently, especially while at the gym. I also started getting depressed listening to news every morning so I alternate podcasts in so I don't suffer rage blackouts. My favorite NEW podcast is From The Heart: Conversations with Yoga Girl.

I have been following Rachel for a while now and when she said she was starting a podcast i was really excited but a little bit skeptical. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised because her podcasts are just as authentic and heartfelt as I hoped they would be. If you are interested in yoga, entrepreneurship, meditation, and healthy living you should check her out!

3. Book:
I haven't had too much time for 'fun' reading since I've been so swamped with required reading for my yoga teacher training but I have been really enjoying one of our yoga books a lot. I would honestly recommend it to anyone who is trying to learn more about yoga spirituality and incorporating breathing techniques and mediation into their life. The book is called Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness by Erich Schiffmann. It also goes into detailed explanations and benefits of many poses which has been very helpful.

What have you been reading, watching, and listening to this month?

Em

Dharana, Dhyana, Pranayama Oh My!

Is there anything worse than a Wednesday that feels like a Friday? Except perhaps a Monday that feels like a Friday...

As I write this the rain is pouring down outside in a typical North Carolina spring shower. The windows are open and the smell of the rain is blowing through the house. It is a perfect thunderstorm to fall asleep to, but here I am unable to turn my brain off.

Recently I've been doing my daily meditation practice at night before bed so I can fall asleep easier. I never used to be one for meditation, too hard to sit still and slow my brain down. But throughout my yoga teacher training I have come to realize how beneficial it is. It has helped to learn that it is considered normal to struggle with interfering thoughts during meditation. They teach us to simply let the thought pass through, and go back to your mantra or breath each time one occurs, and that slowly over time that will happen less and less.

Currently we are practicing silent Om Japa concentration (dharana) and silent SO-HAM meditation (dhyana). Basically, you find a comfortable, meditative position and recite the mantras in your head. At first I felt so ridiculous and it was impossible to stop my internal dialogue. But it has gotten easier with practice! Even though I still find my mind wandering, it has now become a matter of getting in the zone and then thinking 'I'm doing it!' only to realize I just ruined it with that thought haha! Oh well, regardless, it has been quite an interesting experiment and I am pretty thoroughly sold on the idea of a nightly mediation and breathing practice :)

I use an app on my phone called Insight Timer, which allows you to set a time and intention for your practice. I definitely suggest it if you are interested in trying to incorporate a structured meditation or pranayama practice into your life. This app also has guided meditation sessions for any number of things; sleep, anxiety, encouragement, confidence. Check it out, its a neat app!

I also use this app for my nightly pranayama, or breathing practice (also required by my RYT200 course). Each night we are asked to incorporate a Nadi Shodana breathing exercise and a basic 2:1 breathing exercise. In Nadi Shodana, you breathe through one nostril at a time using the vishnu mudra. And in 2:1 breathing you inhale for a certain count (say, 3) and exhale for double that (in this case, 6). I have a....complicated relationship with Nadi Shodana since I can't ever breath through my nose, so I usually do it first so I can use my 2:1 breathing time to calm myself down afterwards haha!

All of this would have sounded crazy to me before I started this class! But it has been very eye opening and I recommend researching some of these methods if you are curious because they aren't as crazy as they sound :)

Does anyone else have a nightly routine involving meditation or breathing (pranayama) techniques? What about a nightly asana practice? 

Nighty Night

Em

Oki Doki

Hello friends :)

A lot has been going on over here in the Nardi Morgan household!

Last weekend we all traveled down to Texas for J's Winging Ceremony. It was a wonderful weekend filled with family, friends, and lots of celebrating! And now, my sweet hubby is officially a winged naval aviator.

It is so crazy to think back to when we first started dating and he was just beginning flight school. Since then, we have moved 3 times, lived in 4 different states, bought 2 homes, and gotten married! These past three years have been quite a whirlwind and things aren't slowing down anytime soon because...

At the end of this year, we are PCS'ing to Okinawa Japan for our first duty station!

I'll admit it took me a while to find Okinawa on a world map because it's not exactly close to mainland Japan, but after googling images of the beautiful beaches and learning a little bit about the culture there, the shock has worn off and I'm starting to get excited.

Thankfully we have a few months to get everything organized for this adventure because let me tell you, moving to the other side of the world is no small feat! 

I've been so bad about blogging recently with everything going on, but I'm sure I will be very thankful for this platform once were in Japan so I can share all of our adventures and pictures :)

On an unrelated note, I am going into month 3 of my yoga teacher training! It has been such a wonderful, educating experience and I am falling more in love with my yoga practice every day. It's amazing what incorporating a daily asana and meditation practice into your life can do! I can't wait to share what I learn as I begin teaching classes!

That's all for now...much more to come!

Em