Mathew Janzen 10/27/13 Mathew Janzen 10/27/13

Why We Lie & Three Ways to Stop

Adapted from Ally Hamilton, and inspired (for me, Brandon Jacobs), by Jana Derges.

I teach on all kinds of things but most importantly I teach on self-love, self-appreciation and self-worth. We need to stop hiding who we are and what we believe in and speak truth: hard, authentic truth.

There are all kinds of reasons people lie but at the root of most of them is fear. Too many people go through life holding back or sacrificing their deepest desires and true intimacy because they're afraid to say and live what's true for them.

Sometimes people lie because they don't want to hurt someone else. Sometimes it's because they want to do what they want to do, and don't want to have to factor in someone else's feelings. And sometimes it's because they've done something they wish they hadn't and want to rewrite history. Or keep things as they are.

People lie when they feel threatened or trapped. The thing is, if you want people to know you, understand you, and love you for who you are, you have to be willing to show yourself. And lying is a way of keeping yourself hidden.

Here are three ways to pull back the veil and free yourself so you can live in a way that feels good.

1. Know yourself.

This is really the key. If you don't know what lights you up, what will bring you peace and joy and give your life meaning and purpose, there's no internal GPS to follow. Without that it feels like we're walking in the dark, bumping into things or people, hurting ourselves or others inadvertently.

Follow the pull of your heart and listen to your intuition. Neither of those will steer you in the wrong direction. Don't worry about logic or practicality for just a little while, simply allow yourself to move toward those things that fulfill you and give you the sense of being in the flow. For me it was yoga; for you it might be something completely different. (And I'm not talking about breaking commitments to people or shirking your responsibilities, I'm simply saying give yourself permission to explore pursuits that bring you joy.) Recognize that in order to do this you may need to make big changes in your life.

When we've been flying blind, it's likely we've landed ourselves in relationships and jobs that have nothing to do with that inner yes. Tell the people closest to you that you're feeling the need to change things up. That you aren't happy in that deep way, and that you're trying to get to know yourself. Understand that some people may feel threatened, but no one can fault you for trying to find some peace and meaning if you haven't already. Life is short, after all.

2. Face reality as it is.

As you get to know yourself in a profound way it's very possible you will realize there are areas in your life that don't fit anymore. If it's a relationship this realization can be brutal but it's probably something you've known for a long time and haven't wanted to face. Sometimes we lie to ourselves and those are the most painful lies. Betraying what's true for you at your core is the deepest rejection there is. There's no way to feel connected or seen or understood by anyone else if you aren't even able to do those things for yourself. A relationship or a job that is crushing you is like dead weight on your heart; it's hard to breathe.

Sometimes people tell me they're living in pain because they don't want to hurt the other people in their lives. The thing is, everyone deserves to be truly loved. If you're in a relationship with someone and you're just going through the motions, do you think the other person can't feel that on some level? I don't believe anyone would thank you for staying out of guilt or pity. If there are children involved then you work like hell to save it. You do anything and everything in your power to right the ship. You work to see if something true and beautiful, even if it's a glimmer of something that existed years and years ago, can be fed.

Remember: you don't do anyone any favors by being a martyr. You can't nurture anything or anyone, including yourself, in a dead environment. And that's what happens when we deny our own reality. Something within us starts to wither and die, and the roots begin to shrivel.

3. Respect people enough to tell them the truth.

There are big lies and little lies. If your old Aunt Marge knits you a horrendous hat for Christmas, of course you thank her. You might even wear the hat when you see her because that's what love looks like sometimes. But I know so many people who lie because they don't want to have a painful conversation. It can be about small stuff, like something they want to buy but know their partner wouldn't support, like an expensive pair of shoes or jeans or a new toy.

When you do something behind someone's back you know what you've done, whether or not you get away with it. You have to live with the fact that you've done something sneaky and that's not going to make you feel good about yourself. You put on those sneaky jeans or pair of shoes, and say they're really old when your partner comments on them. And now you have to live with your sneaky self. And that energy permeates a relationship.

Now you've hidden a relatively small thing; what else might you hide next? An email flirtation, tea with a "friend" you like in a way that scares you? Once you start hiding from the people closest to you it's only a matter of time before you feel very alone; it becomes hard to trust yourself, to trust in your goodness, in your ability to be kind to yourself and to the people in your life. There are some things you don't need to share, of course. If you see someone in line at the grocery store and you think they're attractive, you don't need to go home and tell your partner; that's called being human.

If you have an energy building with someone at work you need to talk about it, sooner rather than later. An uncomfortable conversation, while painful and not desirable, is still so much better than an emotional betrayal that you allow to grow. You're better off regrouping, whether it's something small or something big.

Speaking your truth or honoring your truth doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want. Sometimes there's confusion about that in the spiritual community. It means you have the painful conversations. It means you acknowledge what's in your heart and then decide together what to do about it. That's called integrity, and that will make you feel good about yourself, even if the process isn't fun sometimes.

Life is not easy. It's beautiful and heartbreaking and frequently awe-inspiring, but it isn't easy. Being a human being with all your history and all your experiences, with the particular lens through which you look is a vulnerable undertaking indeed. You make things a lot easier for yourself and for all the people in your life when you live in a way that opens your heart. You simply can't do that if you're denying your deepest truths.

"Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."

(This is not a direct quote from the Buddha, it's paraphrased. Truth! :)

Yogalife Team 10/24/13 Yogalife Team 10/24/13

Featured Teacher: Jennie Toshach

Meet Jennie Toshach. Yoga instructor at Yogalife North, Sub at Yogalife South. Teaches Hot Flow & Beginner's Hot Flow.

Since being introduced to yoga seven years ago, Jennie Toshach immediately fell in love with the practice. Having struggled with anxiety and seeing the difference yoga made in her own life she made it her goal to become part of the culture, and make a career doing what she loves - spreading positive energy.

"I was suffering from anxiety and found that yoga was the best cure. So i got drawn into practising and wanted to share it with others." - Jennie Toshach

Receiving her intensive training with Moksha Yoga in Montreal 2010 she immediately began putting her new skills to work all around Alberta. Jennie is very excited to be part of the HOT family and loves to bring a sense of ease, fun, and relaxation to her classes while still challenging her student’s body and mind. Expect to be pushed, have fun, and probably hear some awesome music too!“I shut my eyes in order to see.” – Paul Gauguin

"I find that yoga really centers me. Whenever I’m feeling upset, either teaching or practising I find that yoga makes me feel great afterwards."

Mathew Janzen 10/20/13 Mathew Janzen 10/20/13

Asteya - The Art of Non-Stealing

Asteya: The Art of Non-Stealing

By Vlady Peychoff

When you hear the word ‘non-stealing’ what does your mind jump to? Personal possessions? Time? Energy? Friendship? It may be none of these answers as each and every one of us have been influenced by different experiences, people and environments.

Non-stealing in yogi terms refers to Asteya, a branch of the Yammas and Niyamas (one of the eight limbs in yoga).

Stealing is a term that stereotypically extends itself to the taking of personal possessions. At any rate, stealing has the potential to encompass in its scope non-material forms such as time and energy. When engaging in a conversation, whether it is in a professional, social or amicable setting, there can be dips in our attention span, we are human. Have you ever dozed off when a friend has been telling you about something seemingly unimportant that does not resonate with you? Sometimes you catch the last part of the conversation, then you tangent off to another topic without acknowledging what was just said. This is an example of stealing, time and energy were wasted; it can even be an unconscious unintentional act, but it happens.

An interesting excerpt from the Huffington Post titled How to Practice Asteya: Non-Stealing of Others' Time by Alexandra Franzen suggests the following ways we can adopt Asteya in our daily lives:

· Write short, concise, elegant emails. Most working professionals receive upward of 100 emails a day. If you're going to add to the queue, strive to be precise.

· Think before you reach out for "help." Can the answer you're seeking easily be Googled? Do you really need assistance? Do you have a specific question, at all?

· Consider not speaking.

"Open your mouth only if what you are about to say is more beautiful than silence." -- Arabic Proverb

· Show up on time. Model punctuality and inspire others to do the same.

· Don't commit to projects that you have no desire to complete.

· Make it easy for people to help you. If you're reaching out to someone to request a favor, tell them exactly what you need, and when, and why.

· Make it easy for people to understand you. Nothing steals away time like struggling to decipher what someone is trying to say!

· If you tend to be overly-wordy, pretend as though you're appearing on a morning talk show and only have a few moments to captivate your audience. If you tend to use a lot of convoluted jargon, pretend that you're speaking to a very young child.

· Try to avoid changing your mind mid-stream -- especially if your new choice creates a significant inconvenience for others. If you must shift gears, do it fast and do it right.

Be concise and precise. Don’t steal your time and the time of others.

A note on Vlady's personal experience:

Asteya is a practice that I try to integrate on a daily basis. It takes discipline and patience, but over time I've noticed a difference. Asteya is not limiting in regards to awareness in conversation, though it has taught me how to attune to the tone of conversation being spoken. Perpetual boredom or feeling complacent can be mitigated when you realize that your time matters. For instance, crossing something off your to do list that you've been procrastinating. "I have no time to do _______" is an expression that has become meaningless when even the simplest of tasks such as 'washing the dishes' turns 'impossible'. In brief, Asteya is to respect the value of time.

What do you do to practice or incorporate the art of non-stealing?

Mathew Janzen 10/20/13 Mathew Janzen 10/20/13

Asteya - The Art of Non-Stealing

Asteya: The Art of Non-Stealing

By Vlady Peychoff

Non-stealing in yogi terms refers to Asteya, a branch of the Yammas and Niyamas (one of the eight limbs in yoga).

· Write short, concise, elegant emails. Most working professionals receive upward of 100 emails a day. If you're going to add to the queue, strive to be precise.

· Think before you reach out for "help." Can the answer you're seeking easily be Googled? Do you really need assistance? Do you have a specific question, at all?

· Consider not speaking.

"Open your mouth only if what you are about to say is more beautiful than silence." -- Arabic Proverb

· Show up on time. Model punctuality and inspire others to do the same.

· Don't commit to projects that you have no desire to complete.

· Make it easy for people to help you. If you're reaching out to someone to request a favor, tell them exactly what you need, and when, and why.

· Make it easy for people to understand you. Nothing steals away time like struggling to decipher what someone is trying to say!

· Try to avoid changing your mind mid-stream -- especially if your new choice creates a significant inconvenience for others. If you must shift gears, do it fast and do it right.

Be concise and precise. Don’t steal your time and the time of others.

A note on Vlady's personal experience:

What do you do to practice or incorporate the art of non-stealing?

Yogalife Team 10/16/13 Yogalife Team 10/16/13

Pete Longworth at Yogalife

We were delighted to have TEDx talking, globe walking, Aussie photographer and Mr. Art of Seeing, Pete Longworth, drop by the studio on his visit to Edmonton. He conducted a community event and spent an afternoon getting snap-happy with some of Yogalife's most notorious characters. From portraits to poses, headstands to heckling, kisses and crack-ups... it was an amazing experience that left us all better than we started. Thank you to everyone that came down and created such a wonderful energy, and a very special thank you to Pete for providing such a juicy offering to our community. For those who missed it... next time just believe us when we say that and event is not to be missed!

You will find more of Pete's work at www.petelongworth.com.

For anyone interested in using these images for anything beyond personal social media exploits, Pete has very kindly extended the opportunity to own your images for any purpose provided you donate the associated fee to Brandon & Lindsay's Nicaragua charity. Each image will be made available to you un-watermarked in both an optimised online version and as a high resolution print version. Images will be $50 each and all payments may be made directly as cash [in a clearly marked envelope - who/for what/how much] to Yogalife. Please forward all image requests to petelongworth@me.com

Please check out the collection of images on Yogalife Flickr Page.

Mathew Janzen 10/13/13 Mathew Janzen 10/13/13

Debunking 8 Fitness Myths!!!

Photo credit Paul Swanson

Adapted by Brittany Mullins

Each day I get at least a handful of press releases sent to me — new products, recent studies, contests, requests for me to share info… you name it, I’ve probably gotten an email announcement or press release about it. As we move into Autumn, we tend to spend a lot more time indoors and more time may be spent at the gym, as we prepare for "hibernation." With that in mind, I know how frustrating it can be to "spin your wheels" or have a bit of false information or fear-based info. SO, here are the top 8 myths that the Canadian Exercise Journal has hoped to clear up!

Myth #1: Stretching before exercise reduces the risk of injury- False. The scientific literature of the past decade fails to support stretching before exercise as a successful strategy for injury prevention. However, research does support stretching at other times, including post-exercise, to reduce injury risk.

Myth #2: Walking a mile burns as many calories as running a mile. – In our dreams. While walking is a great physical activity, it does not require as much energy as running. Research has shown that running has a 40 percent greater energy cost compared to walking. That means you burn more calories when you run.

Myth #3: Lactic acid causes acidosis and muscle fatigue during exercise. – False. This century-old myth, linking lactate or lactic acid to fatigue, is the result of a scientific misinterpretation that has prevailed through the years. Lactate does not cause metabolic acidosis. Furthermore, it is useful in the performance of exercise at high intensities.

Myth #4: Lower-intensity exercise puts you in the fat-burning zone, so it’s preferable to higher-intensity exercise. – Wrong. The “fat burning zone” at low intensities of exercise doesn’t even exist! The best approach is to think of energy expenditure as a calorie is a calorie is a calorie, rather than partitioning into carbohydrate and fat calories. To burn maximum calories in support of ongoing weight loss, progress to a moderate-intensity/higher-volume exercise program and include interval training.

Myth #5: Morning workouts increase metabolism better than workouts performed later in the day. – Wishful thinking. Research has clearly shown that total energy expenditure is equivalent across different meal and exercise orders. Therefore, the decision to exercise in the morning should be driven by personal preference rather than any false hopes that greater weight loss will be achieved by exercising before breakfast.

Myth #6: Muscle weighs more than fat. – Not true. Muscle does not weigh more than fat. A pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat. The difference is their density. As we lose fat and gain muscle, weight may change very little, while body volume decreases as we become leaner.

Myth #7: Women who want to avoid looking bulky should avoid resistance training. – False. Resistance training does not cause women to get bulky. In fact, it is virtually impossible for women to get as big (i.e., bulky) as men due to physiological differences, such as lower levels of testosterone.

Myth #8: Spot reduction really works, especially if you want six-pack abs. – In our dreams. Research shows that if a vigorous, high-volume, core-training program is performed, fat will be reduced in the abdominal area, but not selectively. A lean midsection requires, then, a total program of core, resistance and aerobic exercise—not just a focus on the abs.

We sincerely hope this helps as you move forward in any of your fitness endeavors!

10/2/13 10/2/13

6 Steps for Being More Creative

Adapted from Marc Lesser, CEO of SIYLI, Zen priest, and author of Know Yourself, Forget Yourself.

For most of my life I did not think of myself as creative at all. Then, many years ago, I started a greeting card company, despite that I had rarely purchased or sent greetings cards. My motivation was combining business with taking care of the environment, by making products from recycled paper. I found myself in a role where I needed to be very creative – in developing new products as well as how to distribute products. I also found that the act of leadership – my perspective about my role and the company’s strategy required tremendous creativity.

Creativity is important for many reasons. It is a path and process for not getting stuck in old habits and ineffective ways of seeing yourself and the world. Creativity can help with problem solving, with creating healthier relationships, and with having a healthier and happier life.

What I learned is that creativity isn’t something that you have or don’t have. It is something that you can nurture and develop. Most importantly, creativity can be a practice. This is especially true for me in my current role (as the CEO of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute) of helping business leaders to be both more effective and happy.

Here are the 6 steps that I began using, and find I’m using every day, not only in my work but especially in my relationships and my life outside of work These practices can be used to support the changing of habits and creating new habits. I’d suggest making the practice of creativity a habit that can support other habits. Here are some guidelines:

Believe in your creativity – This is the first practice and probably most important. You might begin by thinking about or writing down three creative things you’ve done – something you have written or said or completed. Notice an area in which you feel creative; perhaps cooking, drawing, fixing things, gardening. Creativity can show itself in lots of small ways, such as the gifts we give, or the clothes we wear, or how we set the table. Just begin noticing and recognizing your own creativity.

Know your voice of judgment – Everyone I’ve ever known has an inner judge. It can be difficult to accept that having an inner critic is part of the human condition. The good news is that this inner voice just wants to protect us and keep us safe, and that you don’t need to be stuck with or thrown by these inner voices. Knowing this, try relaxing your inner judge. Give it a name. Be playful. Experiment. Despite your judgments, you have the ability to be creative.

Pay attention to details – By entering into the practice of creativity, you can begin to notice more of the details of everyday life. By paying more attention to details, you can become more present; your world can become more alive. It is in this presence and aliveness that creativity takes place. When you put your shoes on, which shoe do you put on first? What’s the color of your front door? How many emails do you receive and send each day? Or play with giving things different names. Look at a paper clip or a strawberry, as though seeing them for the first time. What might you call them? These types of details and experiments can open doors to seeing the world differently.

Ask dumb questions – Our desire to look good and smart can get in the way of creativity. Instead, ask questions, especially those that may seem obvious, or even dumb. Risk looking awkward. Be curious about your feelings and your motivations. Let yourself wonder how things work and why you and others talk and act the way you do. Let go of the need to look good, and allow yourself to be curious and at times awkward. This is another door to creativity. There are no dumb questions.

Practice Mindfulness – Mindfulness is a fancy word for paying attention and for being in the present moment – not ruminating about the past, nor worrying about the future. Mindfulness is a simple and powerful practice. Of course, reviewing the past and preparing for the future are important. And, being creative, happens in this moment. The practice of mindfulness is to over and over notice when your mind is wandering and to bring your attention back to the present. In this way we build our capacity for presence, and for creativity. Mindfulness can also mean to allow your attention to open, to consciously not focus on any one thing. This space, of intentionally expanding your attention can be a creative process.

Embrace Paradox – It seems that nearly everything about being a human being is a paradox. In my own life, I’m an introvert and I enjoy speaking in front of groups; I can be indecisive and make decisions quickly; I’m confident and vulnerable. What are some of your paradoxes? Instead of ignoring or pushing these contradictions away, try acknowledging them, and embracing them. An example of a paradox I find myself embracing and practicing with is – fight for change and accept what is. These appear to be completely opposed, yet, the starting point for changing habits is to notice the habits that we actually have.

Being more creative is a practice, a habit, and a process. A good way to begin is to notice how creative babies and young children are. Just the act of crawling, walking, and exploring can be enormously creative. Creativity is easy – just let yourself be more childlike, curious, open, and start by exploring any of the six practices I’ve outlined.

9/29/13 9/29/13

When Good Enough Is EXCELLENT

Adapted from Daily Cup of Yoga

Sometimes good enough is excellent. Despite what our high school principals would tell us. Even though our leaders espouse magnificence. Even though our leading self-help gurus often say otherwise. There’s a lot of messaging out there about going beyond what’s good…to being great. Outstanding. Par excellence. Blowing the roof off.

All of this is good…except when it isn’t. Except when we look at what others are doing and think that’s what we need to do, too. Good enough is good enough when pursuing excellence would mean pursuing the excellence of others.

Good enough is, in fact, excellent when it means we stop looking at what others are doing and start asking ourselves what it is we can do. It’s excellent when it means we stop looking outside ourselves for the bar with which we measure our successes.

Nobody else walks in your shoes. Nobody else lives your life, has your story, or knows what you know. Nobody else has your combined talents, history, skills and expertise. Nobody else has your particular shine. Don’t be excellent if it means trying to fit yourself into someone else’s definition of the term.

In yoga, we talk about ahimsa: non-violence. Also interpreted as compassion, it can encompass seeing ourselves in others, the unity between us all, and operating from a place of understanding and acceptance. Turning that inward means applying these same values to ourselves. How would living from a place of self-compassion look? What role might understanding and acceptance play in the story of your future successes and how you got there?

There’s also the concept of the essential self and the social self—which from the yogic perspective links in with the soul or atman and the ego (the part of us that believes we are separate and defined by our differences). The essential self is the part of us that knows what’s right for us, and makes choices based on that. The social self is the part of us that is concerned about pleasing other people, and makes choices based on that.

Excellence isn’t excellent when it’s based on pleasing other people. And good enough is, in fact, excellent, if it feels totally and completely right for us.

When Good Enough is Good Enough

When it means you’ll take the first step, knowing that no matter what the outcome, simply having taken the first step is enough.

- When it means you’ll be stop comparing yourself to others and do it in the way that’s most right for you.

- When it means you’ll stop ignoring what you need: rest, fun, a break from what’s standard.

- When it means you’ll begin something you’d never otherwise had the guts to try.

We need both our soul and our ego, our essential self and our social self—and when we come from a place of ahimsa, we’ve got both sides of ourselves supported and unconditionally loved.

How would that impact your path to success?

9/25/13 9/25/13

7 Sexy Character Traits of Happy People

By Ken Wert - adapted from www.marcandangel.com

In an era of public booty-bouncing and other ubiquitous in-your-face expressions of sensuality, it’s about time we had a new standard of sexy. Real sexiness is so much more than physical shape and form. It’s more than style and wardrobe, attitude and visible swag. And it’s certainly more than the lopsided exposed skin to covered skin ratio depicted on today’s popular media channels. We are increasingly in desperate need of a more enduring standard, one that includes more than face and body – one that includes the shape and form of internal qualities, those that add joy and passion to life, those of heart, mind and soul.

"Sexiness is a state of mind - a comfortable state of being"

-Halle Berry

The Up-Close-and-Personal Principle

Have you ever seen someone across a crowded room you were immediately attracted to, approached them and got to know the person up close and personal, and then couldn’t remember for the life of you how you ever found them attractive? On the other hand, have you met someone who had no particular appeal at first glance, and then after getting to know them you suddenly discovered pure sexiness oozing from their pores?

Deep, moving sexiness is more than mere physicality and more than swaying hips and pouty lips. It’s more than broad shoulders and six pack abs. The most enduring form of sexiness is the most endearing trait and the clearest mirror of the human soul: happiness.

It’s time we elevate happiness to its proper place in the sexiness pantheon by learning and applying these seven character traits of happiness (and therefore sexiness):

1. Moral Courage

Happy people stand up for what’s right and don’t get pushed around by peer pressure into the newest fad or trend. They have the courage, conviction and inner strength to do what’s right even while others reshape themselves into ever-shifting expressions of someone else’s standards, becoming shadows of other’s values.

Chameleons are not very sexy creatures. But real men and real women who know what they believe and value, and stand up courageously for those beliefs and values are tremendously sexy! 2. Self-Confidence

Happiness requires a degree of confidence that allows us to believe we have value, that we are worthy of love and friendship and success. Happy people have faith in themselves and in their ability to develop the skills and qualities needed to become highly competent at living life well. Keep in mind, though, that it’s not the pseudo-confidence that hides insecurities under cocky exteriors that shout their accomplishments and exaggerate their strengths and experiences. It’s a humble self-acceptance and self-love that genuinely feels comfortable in their own skin. Not much is sexier than someone who humbly exudes self-confidence.

3. Thoughtfulness

They say nice people finish last, but that’s just not true. As a matter of fact, jerks are never completely trusted or respected by people who respect themselves. Happy people are thoughtful people. They consider the needs of others. Making a difference, in fact, takes center stage in their lives; it’s an important part of their self-identity. Their thoughtfulness is measured in how they treat others, including those they don’t know, and in countless silent acts of kindness. If you’re not convinced that thoughtful people are both happy and sexy, just ask anyone in a loving relationship with a few years under their belt how sexy thoughtfulness is to them and how thoroughly unsexy its opposite is. 4. Passion

Happiness at its highest level includes living a life of passion and purpose. Happy lives are directed lives, pointed at something deeply meaningful. The happiest amongst us are excited about living because every day offers them another opportunity to do what they love, because truly passionate people have many interests, they are rarely bored, adrift or indolent. Passion and purpose are ‘sexiness’ personified. Sexy people love life and love people and love what they spend their time doing. You may know people who are impassioned by nothing, who sit around and waste ungodly amounts of time. Are they sexy? Not at all. 5. Self-Responsible

Have you ever met a happy person who regularly evades responsibility, blames and points fingers and makes excuses for their unsatisfying lives? Me neither. Happy people accept responsibility for how their lives unfold. They believe their own happiness is a byproduct of their own thinking, beliefs, attitudes, character and behavior. And just as happy people never blame others, external circumstances or the universe for what is or isn’t a part of their lives, sexy people don’t either. Just think about the epitome of the unsexy: A whiny, sniveling, accusing, blaming, irresponsible victim of life. Not happy. Not sexy.

6. Honest

Liars hide from the truth. They lack the courage to stand up to the reality of their lives. They hide behind words and camouflage – their hidden agenda behind a web of stories and verbal slights of hand. Happy people don’t live that way. Honesty is a hallmark of the happiest amongst us. It is also a characteristic of the dangerously sexy. There is no sexiness in a liar. They breed distrust. As a matter of fact, lying is one of the quickest ways to ruin a beautiful relationship. Indeed, trust is one of the sexiest characteristics of the singularly sexy.

7. Self-accepting

Happy people are AUTHENTIC. They are real and know who they are and what they like. They are in touch with their feelings and spend time learning and growing and developing. Self-accepting people may forgive themselves of their own shortcomings, but they don’t excuse them. They look their weaknesses square in the eye, accept them as they are, then go to work growing and improving and transforming them into strengths. Self-acceptance is never used as an excuse for stagnation or laziness or apathy by the truly self-accepting.

Someone with that kind of inner calm, self-awareness and forward momentum is almost universally considered sexy and attractive to others.

Afterthoughts

Our superficial culture honors the young and thin. It holds up the tall and full-lipped and big-bosomed as the epitome of sexy. But that’s a woefully shallow brand of sexiness. That’s a standard of sexy that is only skin deep, lacking substance and depth; it misses the point of true and enduring sexiness. After all, youth eventually fades to gray, vertebrate compress, our thin parts plump and our plump parts thin, lips wrinkle and skin sags.

On the other hand, intelligence deepens, wisdom expands, experience informs, character lifts, hearts are softened and intellectual backbones stiffen with time and effort. Sexiness can therefore no longer be held hostage to a superficial culture addicted to taut skin on bony frames with sculpted faces. It’s time to take back the very notion of sexiness and recast it in the mirror of more profound and enduring qualities.

It’s time, in a word, to establish happiness as the new standard of sexy.

But a single voice can’t do much to change the cultural ideal. So please spread the word… to take the message of sexy happiness far and wide. Like and Tweet and otherwise share this post if you are ready to lift a new standard from the tired ashes of a jaded concept. Perhaps as a happy byproduct, more of us will be able to look in the mirror with confidence and walk away with a strut, knowing we’re deeply and happily hot.

9/22/13 9/22/13

10 Things I Wish Everyone Knew About Health

Despite throwing tons of money at the problem, Americans really are sicker than ever. Chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, anxiety and depression are wreaking havoc with our minds, bodies and bank accounts. Our “one ill—one pill” solutions are expensive, and frequently associated with adverse effects.

What to do?

For my part, I engage families every day, counseling about lifestyle prescriptions that include nutrition, fitness, rest, and stress-coping mind-body strategies. While my patients trend towards the greener, more holistic variety (as I’m sure do all you MBG readers), I find I’m revisiting the same themes in my quest to helps folks create a healthier life.

So here they are, the top 10 things I wish every American knew about health.Spread the word and put me out of business. I’ll happily spend more time doing yoga.

1. Prevention trumps treatment.

Most people go to the doctor to fix a problem, and in many cases, these problems are chronic. Every doctor will tell you that it’s safer, more cost-effective and, simply easier to prevent a condition rather than treat it. All the major health issues we see – heart disease, diabetes, cancer – are much more amenable to preventive lifestyle strategies (nutrition, exercise, rest and mind-body medicine) than to expensive, quick-fix medications. Whenever possible, I recommend to my patients what I call the “Rx Life Solution,” prescribing wellness strategies such as gardening, yoga and meditation in place of costly and risky medications.

2. Real food is real medicine.

The original holistic doc, Hippocrates, said it best: “Let thy food be thy medicine.” There are more health promoting factors in a bowl of berries than in any drug on earth. What else has the power to prevent cancer, heart disease and diabetes? Real food, not processed pesticide-ridden GMO chemicals pretending to be food. Locally grown organic fruits and vegetables provide micronutrients that keep your body and brain in balance. Better yet: grow and prepare your own food. Take time to enjoy it. Eat together, sitting down, as a family or with good friends. Food has the power to nourish your body, mind and soul.

3. You have to unplug to recharge.

We are a go-go-go culture. We multitask to exhaustion and massively overschedule ourselves and our kids. Chronic sleep deprivation is one of the greatest risk factors for depression, especially for teens. Remind your kids - and yourself - it's OK to stop. Create quiet, calm places to pause, both at home and at work. Schedule downtime. Feeling irritable when you shift from screen time to the real world? Back away from your devices and unplug. Your brain will thank you. Reducing mobile tech time will also limit your EMF and radiation exposure.

4. You can’t eliminate all the stress in the world… but you can develop better coping skills.

As much as we’d like to banish stress from our lives, it’s not going to happen. Accept this fact and spend your valuable time stocking your stress-coping toolbox with mind-body skills. The best methods to protect yourself from the toxic effects of stress are all related to cultivating mindfulness – the ability to pay attention to the present moment without dwelling on the past or future. Not sure where to start? Check out the Tree of Contemplative Practices and pick something, anything. Like to move? Try Vinyasa yoga or just dance til your hair sweats. Craving stillness? Explore Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, a form of meditation. Feeling creative? Start a daily journal or take up sculpting. The beauty of mind-body medicine is that it only requires one person (you!) and it's cheap, available, safe and very effective.

5. Time spent in nature is not a luxury, it’s a medical necessity.

Very few interventions have as great a power to heal the mind and body. So I frequently prescribe nature. It’s proven to positively affect mood, focus, energy level and stress response with no risk of severe adverse effects. Sign me up! While more Americans than ever live in urban areas, we still have access to green spaces. Go visit your local park or nature center to experience what author Richard Louv calls the "transformative power of the natural world." While you’re at it, don’t let our schools continue to eliminate free outdoor playtime. Too many are replacing recess with more time sitting at desks, and our kids are suffering from an epidemic of NDD – Nature Deficit Disorder. Stop the madness.

6. You don't have to choose between conventional health care and alternative medicine.

I find that many families come to see me because they feel trapped between the worlds of conventional health care and alternative medicine. The good news is: you don't have to choose! The beauty of integrative medicine is that we use what is safest and works best. Period. We draw on the traditions of Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and Native American herbalism, but we don’t abandon conventional remedies when needed. Whether it’s acupuncture or surgery, or herbals or antibiotics, we decide together what’s best for you. I realize not everyone has access to an integrative practitioner. It’s why I wrote my book, Treatment Alternatives for Children. Side by side, you can review the top scientifically-based conventional and natural options for common conditions and consider what makes the most sense for you.

7. Good relationships are vital to your health.

Often overlooked in the quest for better health is the crucial role of relationships. Studies have shown that social support – surrounding ourselves with those who love and nurture us – can immunize us against depression, cancer and heart disease. How so? Stress is toxic, and healthy relationships blunt the impact stress has on our health. In fact, new research shows that social support can actually reduce inflammation, the root cause of many chronic illnesses. Additionally, the bond you have with your health care practitioner can be incredibly restorative. I'd argue that a positive, honest connection built on mutual trust is as necessary for healing as any prescribed treatment.

8. Going green just might save your life.

Do you really need more reasons to make your life more eco-friendly? Maybe you’re trying to convince a skeptical friend or family member. Here’s some ammunition to make your case: Published studies find that increased use of chemicals in our cleaning products at hospitals and rampant overuse of antibiotics in farm animals are leading to superbugs with phenomenal resistance to all known antibiotics. As my work with Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Centerhas taught me, an entire hospital can be safely and effectively cleaned using green cleaning products – and so can homes, schools and workplaces. You can even make a cool DIY all-natural hand sanitizer from a few essential oils, aloe vera gel and water that will save you money – and your health.

9. Germs are our friends.

Yes, some bacteria are harmful, but not all. We coexist peacefully with billions of organisms that help us maintain a careful health balance for our gastrointestinal and immune systems. When this delicate balance is disturbed by exposure to antibiotics or in the increasing number of babies born via C-section (not exposed to normal vaginal bacteria at birth), we are at higher risk for allergies, obesity and diabetes. Thankfully, we have an answer: probiotics. Literally bugs “for life,” when given to pregnant women they can reduce the likelihood of allergic disorders and obesity in their babies years later. Eat more fermented foods with live active cultures and avoid cow’s milk yogurt if you’re dairy-sensitive or vegan; instead opt for a high quality dairy-free supplement.

10. Real change is hard work… but it’s worth it.

“Change is good” was the mantra in the late 1990’s yet we’re still struggling with long-term, sustainable changes in health care. On a personal level, I want you to know, above all that, yes, change can be good, but the changes worth making are hard work. The health you desire is proportional to the effort you put in. Altering long-standing unhealthy patterns of eating, sleeping and exercise take time and commitment. But it's the only thing that works in the long term. I’ve seen it time and time again – quick weight loss and maximum intensity workout programs often lead to illness and injury. Instead, invest in working with a health practitioner or a coach who will partner with you to take the slow but steady steps towards optimal health.

Mathew Janzen 9/20/13 Mathew Janzen 9/20/13

Brandon Jacobs: Yogalife’s First Teacher Training

As you all know from our announcement last week our first ever Teacher Training led by Yogalife's very own instructors will be commencing next summer, on June 30, 2014. We are extremely excited, and humbled to be guiding some of our studentship along a pathway that we know will be nothing short of epic.

"Ultimately [becoming a teacher] is about reaching your pure potential so you can guide others." - Brandon Jacobs

Brandon Jacobs shares with us his experience searching for a yoga training, and gives advice to individuals considering doing a teacher training for the first time. Brandon's experience as a physical trainer and his background as a physical education instructor, as well as a massage therapist provides him a vast amount of knowledge in the areas of anatomy and alignment, which is why we felt he'd be perfect to lead that portion of our training.

"Teacher training is all about you connecting with yourself so that you can connect with people." - Brandon Jacobs

Check out our video below, where Brandon discusses his role, as well as his journey through yoga teacher training. Though we'd love for you to be a part of Yogalife's first training, as Brandon mentions, we want for you to find the teacher training that is best suited to you, which can provide you the opportunity to truly be yourself.

Brandon Jacobs Talks about Yogalife's Teacher Training for 2014 from Yogalife Studios on Vimeo.

To register for our teacher training or to find out more information, please visit our website here.

Yogalife Team 9/14/13 Yogalife Team 9/14/13

It's time to Bloom, YEG!

What is... BLOOM | a one day yoga, music and inspirational speaker event

Date | Friday, September 27, 2013 | starts at 6pm

Where | Art Gallery of Alberta

Edmonton, imagine the Art Gallery of Alberta filled with hundreds of yogis practicing yoga, listening to keynote speakers, dancing at the barefoot ball with DJ Drez from California and participating in mini workshops all designed to help your life BLOOM together and as a community.

This event is being organized by The Co-Creators Lab - Robindra Mohar & Myrah Penaloza.

More details on their website | itstimetobloom.com

We believe that through joyful celebration, music and meditation, the mind, body and spirit come alive. It’s an awakening, a blooming. - (about us) itstimetobloom.com

Yogalife wants to send 2 people to Bloom for free.

Here's how you can get a ticket. Tell us your story about how yoga has touched or inspired your life. The 2 stories that we publish on our Members Stories page will each receive a ticket to Bloom. Email your story to: info@yogalifestudios.ca

Mathew Janzen 9/11/13 Mathew Janzen 9/11/13

Lindsey Introduces Yogalife's First Teacher Training

Yogalife has been around now, for a little more than 3 years. In that time our studentship has grown and evolved, creating a community of committed practitioners of all levels. From the very beginning, one of our goals was to host a teacher training led by our own instructors, and now it has finally happened. On June 30, 2014, our first ever Yogalife Teacher Training will begin, facilitated by the amazing instructors, Lindsey Park (see bio here) as well as Brandon Jacobs leading the anatomy portion (see bio here) and Brittany Rudyck leading the philosophy portion (see bio here).

Watching our studentship grow and become amazing yogis, it almost seemed like a really natural evolution to have our own teacher training

With the growing number of students, all wishing to deepen their practice, or share their knowledge, a teacher training was the natural progression to follow. Our program is a full month long, 200 hours, completing on July 30, 2014 and is fully recognized by the Yoga Alliance.

The school is called Uttara Vidya, which means "higher learning".

Check out our video, with our primary facilitator, Lindsey Park, chatting about the upcoming program, and her team of accomplished instructors:

Lindsey Park Talks about Yogalife's Teacher Training for 2014 from Yogalife Studios on Vimeo.

To register for our teacher training or to find out more information, please visit our website here.

9/8/13 9/8/13

What's the Point of Pranayama?

An excerpt from Ekachakra....

As part of my attempt to “go beyond asana” this year, I’ve been trying to practice and learn more about pranayama (yogic breathing exercises). Luckily for me, one of my teachers is also into pranayama and he’s been incorporating about five minutes of breathwork into most of his classes lately. Of course, if you practice vinyasa style yoga, you should always be doing a form of pranayama in your regular practice–i.e., Ujjayi breath, or “victory breath” (as is very common here at Yogalife Studios). But there’s a lot more to pranayama than just breathing deeply during your asanas. As you delve deeper into the intricacies of pranayama, however, a nagging question will inevitably arise: What’s the point? In some sense, this is a question you could ask about any aspect of yoga. With the physical asana practice, it’s a bit easier to come up with an answer. For a lot of people, yoga is just another form of exercise, so “the point” of going to yoga class is to, say, lose weight, tone your muscles, get ready for bikini season, etc. Of course, yoga is so much more than this, but it’s easy to fall into the trap of approaching yoga as mere exercise.

If you’re like many, though, you’re intrigued by the philosophical and non-physical aspects of yoga. But you might also be wary of esoteric or religious ideology (as many of my teachers are...). Some teachers are pretty skeptical of chakras, doshas, nadis, or many of the other spiritual ideas you sometimes hear yoga teachers talk about, while others base their entire practice and teachings on them.

What is important to recognize is that yoga has the potential to be so much more than just a good workout, so I am gradually tiptoeing my way into other areas of yoga beyond asana. For now, these two areas are meditation and pranayama. With each of these practices, I find myself struggling sometimes to relate it to the physical asana practice. I also find myself lost at times, unsure of what these practices are meant to accomplish in terms of the spiritual, emotional, psychological, or what have you.

With pranayama, I think I’m finally starting to get it. For years, I would do breathing exercises in yoga class just as a matter of course. I’d roll my eyes and just go along with it, annoyed that the teacher was wasting valuable class time on something that seemed to have no obvious purpose (have any of you reading this felt this way...been annoyed with something other than the physical practice?). I mostly felt like we were playing yogi, and that the pranayama exercises were really accomplishing nothing more than shortening the amount of time we’d have to do the fun stuff, namely, the asanas.

Nowadays, however, when the teacher leads us through some pranayama exercises, I find myself almost elated. I love this portion of the class, when I’m lucky enough to get it. Afterwards, when I reflect on my practice, I often think that the breathwork was the most challenging and rewarding portion of the entire class.

Part of this shift in attitude has been my growing realization that pranayama is a way to prepare for dhyana (meditation). Now that I have a regular meditation practice, I can better understand how pranayama fits into the larger yoga picture. When you control the breath and focus on counting the inhales and exhales, you’re engaged in the sort of mental activity that is the precursor to a clear mind. That is, you encourage your mind to focus, and by turning inward towards the breath, your mind is much less likely to indulge the random thoughts that usually occupy it.

So if I had to say, in a word, what the purpose of pranayama is, it’d be this: focus. But focusing is not, in and of itself, meditation. According to the eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga, focusing the mind is an intermediary stage on the way towards meditation. This meditative state, what Zen practitioners sometimes call “empty mind,” is marked by perfect clarity and stillness. You’re actually not focusing on anything; rather, the mind is sharp without being directed towards any particular object or thought.

I find myself drawn to the practice of pranayama. Yet the appeal is not intellectual. Instead, I find myself drawn to pranayama because of my immediate, first-person experience of it. Somehow, the act of doing pranayama is far more enlightening than reading or talking about it.

Have any questions about Pranayama or all things "breath?" Feel free to contact us at info@yogalifestudios, or get in contact with our Exquisite Breath expert, Brittany Rudyck!

Mathew Janzen 9/4/13 Mathew Janzen 9/4/13

Learn to Fly: Sara Cueva's Love of Inversions

If you know Sara Cueva, you know that she loves being upside down, or balancing on her hands. This love of inversions has been there ever since the beginning of her yoga journey and has developed with her dedication, continuous practice, and attendance at workshops with master instructors. Sara's love and experience has culminated into a workshop that she'd like to share with you (yes you!) on Saturday, September 7 and Yogalife Studios North!

"I think that I love arm balances so much because, not only are they challenging physically, but they also challenge our fears" -Sara Cueva

For Sara, teaching arm balances is more than just making students stronger physically. It's about generating the willpower to conquer our fears. Being upside down isn't a comfortable state of being for most people, as we live our lives upright. Being able to go upside down (even if you fall out) is a testament to a person's will to overcome their fears and to venture outside their comfort zone.

Check out our latest video of Sara demoing some of her favourite arm balances, while also talking about why she loves them so much!

To register for Sara's upcoming workshop please click here. Where: Yogalife North When: Saturday September 7, from 1PM-4PM

Cost: $35 Open to all levels!

Mathew Janzen 9/1/13 Mathew Janzen 9/1/13

Beware of the Decoy Habit(s)!!!

Adapted from Gretchen Ruben of the "Happiness Project."

Lately, I’ve been thinking about “decoy habits” (still pondering whether this is a good name). A decoy habit is a habit that a person claims to want to adopt—but really doesn’t intend to do. Often, decoy habits reflect other people’s values or priorities. “I want to cook dinner every night.” “I want to finish my Ph.D. thesis by the end of the year.” “I want to give up coffee.”

The decoy provides cover—we don’t have to acknowledge the habits that we actually follow, because there’s this other, better habit that we intend to adopt.

I first noticed this type of decoy when I sat next to a man at a dinner party. “I really should exercise,” he said in an unconvincing tone. He certainly looked like a person who should exercise. He was at least forty pounds overweight, and he looked puffy and uncomfortable.

I said, “Why don’t you exercise?”

“I don’t have time, and I travel so much. It’s really not feasible for me. Also my knee bothers me.”

“It sounds like you actually don’t want to exercise,” I pointed out.

“Oh, I do,” he answered. “I need to do it. Periodically my wife and kids sit me down. I’m going to get started.”

But he didn’t sound as though he meant it.

Decoy habits are harmful, I think, because they allow us to pretend to have certain aims or values that we don’t really have.

Maybe we don’t want to admit what we really want to do, or maybe two values are in conflict. Ironically, I suspect that if my dinner partner had said, “I don’t intend to exercise,” and accepted the consequences of that habit, he might help convince himself that he should exercise. But by voicing the decoy, by saying, “I plan to start exercising,” he avoided acknowledging his true intentions. As I said, I’m still pondering this idea. Does it strike a chord with you?

Have you recognized this in yourself, or someone else? Is there a way you can let this "decoy" go and REALLY move forward? You CAN move forward with intent, but the COMMITMENT has to be there. Not simply the words." - Brandon

Mathew Janzen 8/29/13 Mathew Janzen 8/29/13

Melissa Talks About Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga is a lineage of Vinyasa Yoga developed by Pattabhi Jois and is a methodology to cleanse our body of impurities. Through the use of Tristana, we hope to cleanse 3 areas of our body.

1. Asana - the physical postures to clean our body.

2. Pranayama - breathwork to clean the energy channels in the body.

3. Drishtana - the idea of focus, used to cleanse the brain and nervous system.

Ashtanga yoga follows the lunar cycle; as our bodies are composed of 70% water, and the moon governs the tide, by practicing according to the lunar cycle, Ashtanga hopes to reset the body to a more natural state before we implemented artificial lighting in our society.

"The point behind Ashtanga, is that if you practice every day, your practice will eventually change." - Melissa Perret

Ashtanga yoga is accessible to everyone, but be aware it is challenging! It's a humbling experience, as the postures initially seem impossible, but with time, patience, and the ability to let go of the exterior, the postures will find themselves into your practice, and your ego will begin to dissipate. For Melissa's registered yoga class, beginners are welcome, but we ask that all participants come already comfortable with the basic postures of a vinyasa - upward facing dog, downward facing dog, chaturanga etc. We do not recommend attending this registered class if you have no yoga background at all.

"You will immediately see that you have to let go of your ego, as you initially face some very challenging postures, and take a more inward focus to your practice - a moving meditation." -Melissa Perret

Ashtanga Melissa from Yogalife Studios on Vimeo.

Mathew Janzen 8/25/13 Mathew Janzen 8/25/13

5 Things You MUST Become An Expert At

An excerpt from www.marcandangel.com.

1. Being unapologetically YOU.

To imitate others is to never truly live. It’s like YOU never existed. From now on, forget about what everyone else is doing. Forget about what kind of person you think they want you to be and just be the most authentic version of the person you are. Let who you are and what you believe shine through in every word you speak and every move you make. Figure out which people you genuinely like, instead of which ones you want to like you. Hang out with people you think are cool, instead of those you’d like to be considered cool by. Get to know people by telling your own true stories and listening to theirs. Do things because they interest you, not because you think they make you look interesting to someone else.

2. Living through love.

Every human thought, word and deed is based on fear or love. Fear is an inner energy that contracts, closes down, draws in, hides, hoards and harms. When you live through fear, you pull back from life. Love is an inner energy that expands, opens up, sends out, reveals, shares and heals. When you live through love, you open to all that life has to offer with passion and acceptance. Love is risky. Love is unsafe. Love isn’t for the faint of heart. Love takes courage. And most importantly, love and fear can’t coexist. Love means giving life the opportunity to break your heart, but knowing that there are far better things ahead than anything you’ve left behind.

3. Learning from mistakes.

Mistakes are part of life’s natural course. Everyone makes mistakes; you are not immune. The only question is: Do you want them to help you or hurt you? This decision is one of primary factors that defines your character. If you lie about having made a mistake, then it can’t be corrected and it festers. On the other hand, if you give up just because you made a mistake, even a big one, you will never get anywhere worth going in life. Successful people learn from their mistakes. By doing so, an error becomes the raw material out of which all future successes are invented. Failure is not a crime. The failure to learn from failure is. Ultimately, mistakes are the price you pay for a full, rewarding life.

4. Forgiving your past.

The practice of forgiveness is your most important contribution to the healing of YOUR world. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you’re erasing the past, or forgetting what happened. It means you’re letting go of the resentment and pain, and instead choosing to learn from the incident and move on with your life. You have to forgive. You don’t have to like what happened, you don’t have to cherish the memories, you don’t have to hold on to the people and circumstances involved, but you do have to forgive them, let go, make peace with your past and move on with your present. Because if you don’t, you are strapping all the weight from your past to your back, which is far too heavy to comfortably carry.

5. Creating your own happiness.

As Abraham Lincoln so profoundly said, “We are just about as happy as we make up our minds to be.” Happiness is the result of personal choice and effort. You fight for happiness, strive for it, switch careers, build relationships, and sometimes even reinvent your lifestyle entirely as you uncover it. Why? Because you have to actively participate in the manifestations of your own joys and good fortunes – they are not ready-made for the taking; they are available for the making. Ironically, a big part of this is simply doing your very best and then letting go and trusting that things will work out the way they’re supposed to, without trying to control every little detail of the outcome. Instead of expecting to always get what you want, you appreciate the journey enough to want what you get. The joy of the freedom this brings gradually becomes more pleasurable than the outcome itself.

The floor is yours... Have a comment, thought, insight, disagreement, something to add? You can reach us on Facebook, Twitter, check out our website, or email us at info@yogalifestudios.ca.

Mathew Janzen 8/21/13 Mathew Janzen 8/21/13

Lindsey Park Talks About Her Favourite Class to Teach: Power Upside Down (PUD)!

You already saw her bio video, and learned about her journey. Now we introduce to you one of Lindsey's favourite classes to teach, and one of our most popular practices, Power Upside Down! In Power Upside Down or "PUD" as it is known to its attendees, we explore inversions, arm balances, and transitions between these poses. It's by no means an advanced class, and we welcome all levels to attend; be forewarned, however, that you will be pushed to your limit, and will be challenged to explore an area of practice you may not be comfortable entering, or familiar with.

"Power upside down is a safe place for anybody to come in and explore that side of their practice." -Lindsey Park

We have seen our students, who attend the class regularly evolve and be capable of doing amazing things. We've also seen some of our new clients within in one class, achieve postures they initially thought impossible. We encourage everyone to give this class a try, and really explore the world upside down!

"Power upside down is about fun. It's about exploring your practice, being playful, and just having a good time." - Lindsey Park

Below is a video we made explaining what the class entails, and why you (yes you!) should make your way to class Tuesdays at 8:30PM.

Lindsey Park Talks About Her Favourite Class to Teach: Power Upside Down (PUD)! from Yogalife Studios on Vimeo.

Mathew Janzen 8/18/13 Mathew Janzen 8/18/13

15 Affirmations for Loving Your Body and Feeling Beautiful

Adapted from Caroline Rushforth:

I was a hefty 235 pounds at the age of 14, which wasn’t the best start in life. I could never understand why I was so big. I believed that I was completely trapped in my own body, after experiencing one failed attempt after another at weight loss. I starved myself, yo-yo dieted, and tried all the fad eating plans, well into adulthood, but I could never lose those extra pounds. But eventually I discovered that it wasn’t about just losing a few kilos.

In my early twenties, I began to learn about Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), which focuses on the link between our language and our thoughts and behaviors. I eventually qualified as an NLP Coach, and had the opportunity to work on myself. I realized the main culprit in my battle with weight had always been my thinking and my habits.

I needed to work on my self esteem, self acceptance, and happiness in my own skin. I thought losing weight would give me those qualities, but in reality, I had to develop them before I could lose the weight.

From my ongoing research and practical NLP techniques, I have learned much about the unconscious mind and the importance of re-framing negative self talk. We all have patterns running inside our subconscious mind, which start at a very early age. We're heavily influenced by our friends and family, as well as our environment. If you were repeatedly given chocolate as a child to make you stop crying, chances are you have a deep rooted anchor to chocolate and associate it with making you feel better when you feel upset in your adult life.

Generally the habits we form at an early age are beneficial to us because they protect us and make us unique, but some can be detrimental to our well-being and cause us to self sabotage (i.e emotional eating).

While the process of understanding how you sabotage yourself can take years to unravel, there are shortcuts you can take along the way which will help you to re-program your thinking. Affirmations are a great way to send positive messages to your unconscious mind so that you start to think and behave in a nicer way towards yourself. (Remember my point about finding the qualities first before the weight loss takes place?)

Going from negative self talk to self love doesn’t happen overnight. However, I can assure you that if you practice these affirmations over time, you'll start to notice your thinking changes. And that's the first step.

I believe in my ability to truly love myself for who I am.
I accept my body shape and acknowledge the beauty it holds.
I am the creator of my future and driver of my mind.
I let go of unhelpful patterns of behaviour around food.
I allow myself to make choices and decisions for my higher good.
I bring the qualities of fulfillment, happiness and contentment into my life as I am now.
I let go of any guilt I hold around food choices.
I accept my body for the shape I have been blessed with.
I let go of relationships that are no longer for my higher good.
I believe in myself and acknowledge my greatness.
I allow myself to feel good being me.
I accept myself for who I am.
I bring the qualities of love into my heart.
I have hope and certainty about the future.
I am grateful for the body I own and all it does for me.

You're welcome to use these or write your own. Give it a few weeks! After practicing them several times day, I guarantee you'll start to feel more wholesome and in control, seeing your body as your friend, rather than your enemy.

***BUT PLEASE remember and consider our previous blog regarding staying off the scale. A number does NOT define you!***