Yogi Purely Peppermint, Herbal Tea Supplement, 16-Count Tea Bags (Pack of 6)

Caffeine-free, organic Peppermint Tea is the perfect way to lift your spirits and quiet your stomach; with a fresh flavor and aroma you'll want to enjoy everyday. The use of this refreshing leaf has been handed down from the ancient Greeks and Romans, who soothed their digestion after feast days with a sprig of mint. Today you can enjoy the invigorating taste of organic peppermint (mentha piperita) to ease minor stomach discomfort and relieve gas and occasional heartburn. It is also known to stimulate appetite, ease travel and morning sickness, and soothe common PMS cramps. The German Commission E (1998) and Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine (1995) cite Peppermint as effective for relief of minor spastic complaints of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as simple indigestion. This tea uses the finest organic peppermint leaves grown in Oregon and Washington, where the right combination of weather and soil augments the essential oil content of the leaves, boosting the taste of the tea. Enjoy a warm, relaxing cup of pure, organic Peppermint Tea for a refreshing after meal delight.

Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Price: $24.40

Click here to buy from Amazon

Finding Your Home in Yoga & a MyZenArt Yoga Mat Bag Giveaway

We all come to yoga for different reasons -- sometimes we're wanting to try something new; sometimes we're looking to satisfy a curiosity; sometimes we come for the physical benefits; sometimes we come to yoga grudgingly at the insistence of a friend; sometimes we come for healing; and sometimes we come to yoga for one thing and end up with something else entirely.

I rarely host guest posts on this blog, but I make exceptions for people who move, inspire, and delight me. The person I'd like to introduce you to today has done all of those things. Her name is Cyndi Roberts. Her message is simple but powerful: "Your true nature is love and greatness. Settle for nothing less." Her story of what brought her to yoga is one that's worth sharing, as it reminds us that yoga is often the path to something deeper.

Cyndi is not only a yoga practitioner and yoga teacher-in-training, but she's a talented artist. She is graciously offering up one of her stylish and functional yoga mat bags -- a $90 value -- for free for one lucky reader. At the end of the post I'll give you details on how you can enter to win. But first -- here's your dose of inspiration for the day:

Cyndi's Story
On my mat in twisting crescent lunge, in a room over 90 degrees, my heart racing, my breath frantic, sweat pouring in my eyes and soaking my mat, I heard the words, “let your heart shine and don’t forget to breathe.” I began to cry as these words rang so true in my head. Had I forgotten to breathe? Forgotten to let my heart shine? Where had I been for the past 12 years?

I was ready to start right then, no excuses, thinking “here I am and I am breathing.” I wanted to be healthy, and I knew so deeply in that moment that this was my path to heal not only my body but my mind, heart and soul. I found yoga and most importantly an inspiring and supportive teacher, Marcia Vallier; I was home. As months passed, I pushed myself to get back on my mat daily. So many things started to come up for me that had been suppressed. I dove back into meditation. I began to honor my body by eating nourishing foods. I worked harder at the gym. I walked longer. I went deeper. 

More months passed. More strength came. More weight came off. More layers were being shed to reveal my true self. My teacher continued to inspire me. I started to wonder what else was out there; I started reading and soaking up everything I could find with an open mind. One day, I had the profound realization that I was on a spiritual journey. Joe Keyes said, “Religion is for people who believe they are going to hell. Spirituality is for those who have already been there.” I could relate so deeply to these words.

I worked through the resistance, the dogma, and the fear of finding God not within an organized religion, but within myself. My mat became a sacred place where I felt fully supported, where the thoughts about the past dissolved, and worries and anxieties about the future didn’t matter. I was just in that moment, in that pose, fully present, letting my heart shine and finally remembering to breathe. I began taking what I was learning on my mat and applying it to other areas of my life. Yoga and meditation became the cornerstones of my spiritual practice. I was so deeply grateful to them and wanted to learn everything I could and pass it on. I wanted to teach; I wanted to share.

Through this process, my creativity started to re-emerge; it had been buried deep within. I started to create. I picked up my camera again, inspired by the beautiful world around me that I felt I had never truly seen or experienced. I started to paint, to sew and to create mixed media pieces. I used whatever I found around to make art that spoke to me and served as a constant reminder to me that I’m on the right path, moving in the right direction.

I started to allow the talent within to shine outward. I knew very deeply that I wanted to inspire hope in others to remind them to breathe, to let their hearts shine. I was awake, aware, back to optimal health, and had developed such compassion for others and the earth. My passion for creating art and practicing yoga and meditation comes from a place of peace and love.

I hope to share my story and reach others trapped in such a place of desperation. When I started this journey over a year ago, I was 75 pounds overweight, pre-diabetic, on the verge of liver failure from over-medication, hopelessly addicted to smoking, and desperate to escape from the hell I had created in my mind. I want everyone to know that there is hope; there is a way to live a healthy, happy life. Each day is a chance for a new beginning. The power is within you to make the changes, put in the hard work, time and determination. This is your world; you have the power to shape it however you want. If you are unhappy, if you are suffering, today is the time to change; the time to grow, and in the words of my teacher, to “let you heart shine, and don’t forget to breathe.”

More About Cyndi
I am currently in training to become a yoga instructor at West Hartford Yoga, journeying deeper and mastering the tools to share the gift of yoga and meditation with others. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of my art are going to pay for my teacher training. I am inspired by nature, hope and positivity. I enjoy photography, creating handcrafted, one of a kind extra large yoga mat bags, custom tapestries, inspirational desktop art, oil paintings and other mixed media pieces. I use recycled and eco-friendly materials as often as I can.

To learn more about me, please visit http://www.myzenart.com/about.php. For daily inspiration, like my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter .

Win One of Cyndi's One-of-a-Kind Creations

Here are the details on the bag that one lucky reader will receive: It's a handcrafted extra large yoga mat bag that measures 30" long x 12" tall, and is an original design made to fit your mat and props. It's spacious enough to fit a long yoga mat, mat towel, large Mexican blanket, block, strap, and personal towel.

Other features of the extra large yoga mat bag include:

Conveniently folds to a compact size for easy storage during class3 buttons make it quick and easy to fill and goOutside pocket with button closureInside pocket with velcro closure is big enough to fit your keys and cell phoneStraps are sturdy and reinforced so they won't dig into your shoulder Fabrics are machine washable (do not bleach; do not put in dryer)

To enter to win the mat bag, simply comment below with the answer to this question: What brought you to yoga? Be sure to comment by Tuesday, March 22, as I'll pick a winner on Wednesday, March 23rd. Remember to include your email address in the appropriate comment field so I can contact you if you've won.

Here's to the love and greatness inside of you!

Namaste!

View the original article here

Relax Momma, Yoga Could Aid Infertility

As if Valentine’s Day weren’t enough to get you and your honey bound up together in some sort of twisted lotus posture, it’s being reported that yoga can actually aid in your fertility. Score!

Well, we already know it helps the sex drive. Really though, infertility can actually be a very serious matter to a couple trying hard to conceive. Yay for yoga, a recent New York Times article highlights the benefits of the practice aiding in fertility. No, there’s no proof yet that engaging mulabandha in ardha matsyendrasana will increase your chances of babyness, but many women, and doctors, are finding that the support system a yoga class offers is vital to a potential mommy’s health.

Besides taxing the mind, body and wallet, infertility can be lonely. Support groups have long existed for infertile couples, but in recent years, “yoga for fertility” classes have become increasingly popular. They are the latest in a succession of holistic approaches to fertility treatment that have included acupuncture and mind-body programs (whose effectiveness for infertility patients is backed by research); massage (which doesn’t have specific data to support it); and Chinese herbs (which some say may be detrimental).

No study has proved that yoga has increased pregnancy rates in infertility patients. But students of yoga-for-fertility classes say that the coping skills they learn help reduce stress on and off the mat. For many, it’s a support group in motion (or lotus).

Sweet.

image cred cafepress

——

Earlier…

Tagged as: fertility, New York Times, pregnancy, science, sexy time

View the original article here

Bite-Sized Yoga

Everything Yoga: Bite-Sized YogaEverything YogaHomeArchivesSubscribeUseful LinksGet to Know the YogiHighly RecommendedResourcesServices -- Be Well Yoga TherapyThe Everything Yoga Blog StoreVideosWake Up & Join Living Yoga -- It's Free!Join the Living Yoga List & Get a Free Gift!As a subscriber of the Living Yoga list, you'll get ongoing access to free ebooks, special yoga-related offers, and special goodies to help you live your yoga and a happier, healthier life. When you sign up, you'll get a free ebook.Your First Name:Your Last Name:Your E-Mail:

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February 07, 2011Bite-Sized Yoga

I'm a firm believer that a yoga practice doesn't have to last 90 minutes to be effective. I suppose I fall into the quality over quantity category. Sometimes I think that people bit off more than they can chew -- if they can't fit a 60- or 90-minute yoga practice into their day, then they throw in the yoga towel (or mat, so to speak). What would happen if you practiced yoga like so:

Start the day with 10 minutes of meditation and 5 minutes of pranayama.Do 5-12 Sun Salutations before jumping in the shower.Take a 10-minute yoga break at lunch time to do a few Sun Salutations, chair yoga, perhaps some pranayama.Spend 5 minutes doing pranayama around the 3:00PM mark -- just when you start hitting the proverbial wall.Sit for 10 minutes of meditation after dinner.Do 10 minutes of yoga right before bed.

Does this sound more manageable than a full yoga class? I notice that when I suggest this to my clients, they seem a lot less intimidated by the thought of maintaining a regular yoga practice.

Personally, I enjoy interspersing my day with little yoga breaks. Last night before bed, I did a quick, 5-minute Kundalini practice that involved simple postures. I slept like a baby. Earlier this afternoon when I needed a little pick-me-up, I did some pranayama. After I finish this post, I'm going to squeeze in a short yoga sequence before having dinner.

Sometimes a brief yoga practice can be a great way to transition during the day -- before work, after work, after dinner, before bed, etc. You get the idea. This is not to say that having a longer practice isn't nice either. It's all good -- long or short. As long as it's consistent.

If you're looking for some bite-sized yoga to fit into your day, I highly recommend The Yoga Toolbox: An Everyday Guide for Shaping Your Future. This ebook -- which costs less than price of one yoga class at $10 -- offers 14 different "sessions" that will change your body and your mind for the better. Each practice has a different objective and many common issues are addressed:

gaining access to unlimited powerpurifying the five bodies or sheathsdeveloping concentration through controlled breathingbecoming flexible in life, starting with the spineconnecting to “the inner sun” for self healingbending forward into stress and changeremoving tension and blockages in the jointsdeveloping a strong nervous systemlearning to bend backwards, digest and let goreversing depression or sadnessstand up, be centered and act dynamicallydeveloping deep, restful sleepovercoming negative conditioningmastering the art of meditationusing the power of mudras (psycho-physical gestures) to change your lifeusing Yoga-Nidra (deep relaxation)

All of the practices in the book are simple and practiced separately or strung together to create a longer practice. Click here for a sample chapter in PDF form and click here for more information about The Yoga Toolbox.

Well, I'm off to do my 10-minute transition from work to play yoga practice. Remember -- you don't have to bit off more than you can chew in regards to practicing yoga. Think bite-sized.

Namaste!

 

 

February 07, 2011 | Permalink

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Get a Little, Give a LittleRecent PostsA Yoga Cool DownWanderlust, Pain, TranquiliT, and a Mala WinnerBite-Sized YogaTake a Universal BreathRediscovering JoyLet Your Intention Show & a Tiny Devotions Mala GiveawayEco-Friendly In-Studio FootwearYoga for Health and Social TransformationInflexible Body, Inflexible Mind?Big YogaArchivesFebruary 2011January 2011December 2010November 2010October 2010September 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010May 2010More...

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Feeling Good: Free Metta Practice and Yoga for Emotional Balance

Everything Yoga: Feeling Good: Free Metta Practice and Yoga for Emotional BalanceEverything YogaHomeArchivesSubscribeUseful LinksGet to Know the YogiHighly RecommendedResourcesServices -- Be Well Yoga TherapyThe Everything Yoga Blog StoreVideosWake Up & Join Living Yoga -- It's Free!Join the Living Yoga List & Get a Free Gift!As a subscriber of the Living Yoga list, you'll get ongoing access to free ebooks, special yoga-related offers, and special goodies to help you live your yoga and a happier, healthier life. When you sign up, you'll get a free ebook.Your First Name:Your Last Name:Your E-Mail:

Tired of Bad Yoga?
Search Everything Yoga
WebItsAllAboutYogaAdd me to your TypePad People listYoga Blogs & PodcastsSvasti: A Journey From Assualt to Wholeness Nadine's Yoga Blog 908 Asanas Synergy by Jasmine Yoga Gypsy Spoiled Yogi Yoga Lab Austin YOGANONYMOUS Rand(Om) BitesYogam Saranam: Yoga Diary Falling Open The Capricious Yogi Suburban Yogini Is Yoga Legal? Simply Yogini True Yoga On the Ashtanga path while on Mother Earth Yoga with Nikki Chau ISHTA Yoga Blog The Joy of Yoga My Other Car is a Yoga Mat PodcastOmazingAutumn Lotus YogaLexiYogaYoga Rants & Ravesit's all yoga, babySouthern YogiYoga AddictedEco YoginiYoga DorkThe World According to Om GalElephantbeansPadmani Yoga PodcastJoy YogaFive Points Yoga: Yoga On and Off the MatJonathan Bartlett: Philadelphia Yoga ExaminerTeaching Kids YogaChai & YogaYoga Diva's Divine LifeYoga With JohnYogaDudesSkeptic YogiThe Business YoginiEoin's Bliss BlogMy Yoga Online BlogYoga-AbodeMastery of Meditation, Enlightenment, and Kundalini YogaYoga BuzzLinda's Yoga JourneyGrounding Thru The Sit BonesMahamondoYOGAmazingHip Tranquil ChickThe Accidental YogistYoga PeepsPlayin' the EdgeThe Yoga Journal BlogPrana JournalAbout Yoga Blog Sites Worth VisitingiNamaste Do Yoga With Me My Yoga Online LiftVibe The Global Vegan GreenMonkey Alternative Medicine Zone The Beauty Bean Less Is More YogaTrampoline ReviewsTeach Yoga -- Yoga Jobs & Resources for Yoga Instructors Women's Peace Collection LifeunityOrganic EnvyLove Peace YogaBeautoriumYogi Seeker28 ZenDharma BoutiqueEven Keel Yoga Yoga for Better HealthYoga Jewelry from Sacred CharmsAdventurous Women BlogBlissChick -- Be the change. Live your bliss.Mind Body Green -- Share and Discuss Better, Healthier, Greener LivingA Complaint Free WorldWellsphere -- Tools, Support & Motivation to Live Well and Stay WellMarsya -- Handmade Chakra-Activating JewelryFind Bliss -- Tools for Conscious LivingBeYou.tvBig YogaJoyful Belly -- Ayurveda & CookingYoga JillianOnline Yoga Studio -- YogaDownload.comYogaYakEveryday Bliss Blog powered by TypePad « Up a Wall |Main| Finding Your Home in Yoga & a MyZenArt Yoga Mat Bag Giveaway »

March 08, 2011Feeling Good: Free Metta Practice and Yoga for Emotional Balance

This morning I was sitting on my deck, soaking in the sun while drinking some warm lemon water and appreciating my life. After coming inside I put on a little Jennifer Hudson and did a happy dance (literally):

 

Being out in nature, yoga, and living in gratitude make me feel good. What makes you feel good?

For those of you with yoga on your list (which is pretty darned likely, since you're reading this blog), here are a few ways to find good feelings through yoga:

Free 30-Minute Metta Yoga Practice

I'm a kinesthetic person, so I enjoy moving meditation. Metta, or loving-kindness, is often practiced in stillness. Vancouver-based yogi, Eoin Finn, has turned Metta into a physical practice (yeah!) with his 30-Minute Metta Physical Yoga practice. This practice is part of his Blissology Project DVD, which includes 6 DVDs complete with a week's worth of practices, but Eoin is generously offering it for free on Vimeo and via download (go here and use coupon code "spread love" to download the Metta practice for free).

Yoga for Emotional Balance

Clinical psychologist and yoga teacher Bo Forbes released an excellent book this month entitled Yoga for Emotional Balance: Simple Practices to Help Relieve Anxiety and Depression. The book, which tackles two common problems -- anxiety and depression, is part self-help and part yoga therapy. Part 1 -- The Path to Emotional Balance -- offers up 5 Building Blocks for Lasting Healing along with breath and body exercises. The 5 Building Blocks are:

Balancing Nervous SystemRegulating the breathCultivating a direct experienceQuieting the mindChanging our personal narratives

Readers might want to devote an entire journal to the useful exercises included throughout this book. Forbes invites readers to focus on the process rather than the result and cues awareness of before and after sensations for each exercise. The exercises will help people uncover and understand emotional patterns as well as offer easy-to-use tools to alleviate stress and tension in both the body and the mind.

Part 2 -- Breathwork and Restorative Yoga -- offers up 4 Emotional Types and practices for each. This second half of the book offers clear directions and illustrations for each practice.

If you're living with anxiety and depression or know someone who does, I highly recommend this excellent book.

Here's to feeling good!

Namaste!

 

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Do you want to live an uncommonly good life? My Secret WeaponI keep myself inspired and my brain limber with this funky yoga mind training...
Get a Little, Give a LittleRecent PostsFinding Your Home in Yoga & a MyZenArt Yoga Mat Bag GiveawayFeeling Good: Free Metta Practice and Yoga for Emotional BalanceUp a WallSay NamasteThe Downs and Ups of YogaA Yoga Cool DownWanderlust, Pain, TranquiliT, and a Mala WinnerBite-Sized YogaTake a Universal BreathRediscovering JoyArchivesMarch 2011February 2011January 2011December 2010November 2010October 2010September 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010More...

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