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May 2024 M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SPIRITUAL MEDITATION
YOGA PRACTICE
Yoga Goddess Followers
Category Archives: Heart-Based Healing
Image“To Be Able To Stay In Our Heart…Takes Openness, Expansion And Learning To Be Vulnerable”
By Jennifer Miller
To be able to stay in our heart as we navigate life is truly beautiful. It takes openness, expansion and learning to be vulnerable. My heart is like my inner guidance system, giving signals energetically. If something feels right, it sings with happiness; negative energy is sensed as well.
“When we complete the journey to our own heart, we will find ourselves in the hearts of everyone else.”
Father Thomas Keating, in Be The Change
I have realized what a gift my journey has been, with the most difficult times opening my heart even more. I now feel a connectedness, a oneness with all.
Namaste
Posted in Awareness, Feelings, Freedom, Happiness, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Mindfulness, Reflections, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Balance, Heart, Heart-Based Healing, Inner Wisdom, Jennifer Miller, Life, Wisdom
The Advantages Of Doing Yoga: “You Will No Longer Be A Slave To Your Body…The Greatest Gift You Can Receive.” – Vanda Scaravelli
“Your everyday activities will improve and become more efficient. You will have less time for useless occupations that are constantly in the way, preventing your contact with more essential things;
You are going to have a better digestion if you do some poses before eating when you are tired;
You will need to sleep fewer hours, as your body will be more relaxed during the night;
You will gain a few inches, eliminating that curve along the back of the spine, and therefore you are going to be a little taller;
You will be able to stand for hours without getting tired, if you gravitate properly on your heels with the knees straight;
You will be able to improve the poses, as there is no end in progress;
You are going to straighten yourself if one part of the body is weaker than the other, by paying a lot of attention while doing your poses, and by continuing this attention throughout the day you will reach a better balance;
You will no longer be a slave to your body, as the independence from it is the greatest gift your can receive.”
From: “Awakening the Spine: The Stress-free New Yoga That Works with the Body to Restore Health, Vitality and Energy” by Vanda Scaravelli
Posted in Asanas, Freedom, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Mindfulness, Quotes, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Asanas, Freedom, Health Benefits, Jennifer Miller, Poses, Postures, Vanda Scaravelli, Yoga
Building A Spiritual Altar: A Great Way To Connect With Our Soul As We Begin The New Year
By Jennifer Miller
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Building an Altar is a great way
To start the New Year.
Have fun with it!!!
Find a special place in your home.
My main altar is where I practice yoga.
There are several other small altars
Around my home that I move around
Depending on my mood and intention.
Ideas of what to place on your Altar:
Deities – I have Quan Yin (Goddess of
compassion), Kali and Mother Mary.
Photographs of loved ones, who I am
praying for.
Mala Prayer Beads.
Fresh Flowers – I like to place something from the earth.
Incense – I imagine the smoke going into the Heavens
with my prayers and intentions for the day.
Candles – I always light one when I am in the home.
Aromatherapy – I love beautiful scent.
Words of Wisdom – Beautiful thoughts as you walk by.
Mirror – To remind me to go within for answers.
Special treasures from travels.
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“May we all find peace within andExtend that love to all that we encounter.”
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones.
Namaste, Jennifer
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(Please note that Mala prayer beads, aromatherapy and candles can
be purchase at the Heart Based Healing Store, with a portion going
to benefit women at risk.)
Posted in Asanas, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Life, Prayers, Reflections, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Altar, Jennifer Miller, Mala Beads, Mirrors, New Year, Pictures, Prayers, Spirituality
“Possibilities Are The Gifts Of Living For A Higher Purpose”
By Jennifer Miller
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Possibilities are
The gifts of living
For a higher purpose.
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Survival into courage.
Loss created openness
As deception turned to trust.
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Heartache into strength.
Knowledge grew to wisdom.
Near-death to greater Life as
Hope found freedom.
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Sorrow into oneness with
Dreams fulfilling vision.
Heart Based Healing.
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I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold, service was joy.Rabindranath Tagore, Indian Poet and Playwright, as quoted in “Be The Change”, by Ed and Deb Shapiro
Namaste, Jennifer
Posted in Forgiveness, Freedom, Gifts, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Hope, Knowledge, Life, Love, Quotes, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Freedom, Gifts, Heart-Based Healing, Jennifer Miller, Life, Poems, Possiblities
“Lighting Candles, Hanging Lights And Letting Things Be With Words By Paul Ferrini”
By Jennifer Miller
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Morning coffee, so good.
Lighting candles and incense as
I start my morning yoga practice.
Arriving on the mat is like coming home again.
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Beautiful morning walking the dogs, aka “the babies”.
Breathing in the coves of Laguna ahhh!!
Breakfast at the local cafe; cool people, artist types.
Walking out, a homeless woman under a blanket.
All I can see is one foot.
My heart sinks and I want to ask her what she needs?
I know she is probably an addict.
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Back home to make homemade granola.
A yum yum Christmas tradition.
Looking through the mail and
a child support check arrives.
It’s been a while.
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My mind goes to the last 5 years.
No father in these kid’s lives.
No anger… only hope.
Could this man possibly change?
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I let it go to the Spirit and check my heart.
It’s in a good place.
Forgiveness is there.
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My beloved hangs Christmas lights.
So many years without lights.
They symbolize healing for my family.
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I look around….
No lights in the small neighborhood.
We have been judged here.
A single mom and trouble with her son.
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Interesting.
We are the ones with lights.
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A big lesson in my journey: do not judge by the outside.
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Open up a new book.
A favorite thing to do.
Reading, deep reflections come to me.
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The poetic words of Paul Ferrini:
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Life is constantly asking us to make adjustments,to give up our agenda.It is asking us to give up the conceit that we know the way things are supposed to be.Letting things be is a way of saying to God“I’m willing to dance with you.”From “Dancing With The Beloved”.
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Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Balance, Family, Forgiveness, Freedom, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Hope, Knowledge, Life, Light, Mothers, Pain, Poems, Quotes, Recovery, Reflections, Soul, Spirituality, Trust, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Candles, Dogs, Jennifer Miller, Life, Light, Lights, Paul Ferrini, Quotes, Yoga, Yoga Mat, Yoga Practice
The Importance Of Always Listening For The Inner Voice Of Guidance Within Ourselves
By Jennifer Miller
Its seems so simple to always listen to Divine Guidance. We hear it as a small whisper, and it sounds different from our normal brain chatter. But, in truth, this voice is always with us, as Caroline Myss states below:
“Do not assume that divine guidance flows only when you are in need of help. Guidance continues to flow whether or not you have problems…Whether guidance comes during times of tranquility or trauma, however, it is up to you to have the courage to acknowledge it”
It could be just a word, for example, while grocery shopping, as to what I need. I will often ignore it and when I get home, sure enough, that is something I needed. It’s happened so often that I know it’s “TRUE”.
Before getting married, there were warning signs, all of which I ignored. When we are young and innocent, we don’t listen much to anyone. I remember, as a small girl, hearing the voice that I now know as guidance. Entering the teen years, I no longer listened to its counsel. Now, as a mother and wiser woman, I not only hear, but feel this guidance with my body. When something is truly right, my body sings with joy. I breathe freely and my heart feels alive while my spirit sores.
I now listen to my heart, which is like having your best friend inside of you. It knows me like no one else, offering unconditional love while wanting the best for me and my family. As I navigate life, I am now constantly listening for that small voice within. Like a soft caress, it has a smooth and loving feeling.
A great way to complete this connection is through controlled breathing, which helps to circulate the positive benefits throughout our body. Breathing in, I feel a soothing calm that is pulled upward from my feet until it reaches my head. Tensions melt as I close my eyes. Breathing out, negative thoughts and worries are expelled, leaving a feeling of contentment that comes with releasing, letting go, and not remaining attached to things and events.
So many good things happen when we maintain a healthy mind-body-spirit connection…
Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Balance, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Mothers, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Soul, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Body, Caroline Myss, Divine Guidance, Guidance, Inner Wisdom, Jennifer Miller, Mind, Quotes, Spirituality, Wisdom
“A Life Of Dharma Is Exactly Like A Great Yoga Posture…An Experience So Far Beyond Any Pleasure You’ve Ever Had…” – Stephen Cope
Dharma: Knowledge of or duty to undertake conduct set forth by the Buddha as a way to enlightenment.
“…A Life of dharma is exactly like a great yoga posture. Everything must be aligned around the spine. The dharma is a strict taskmaster. It will require you to reach — to work at your maximum potential.
In order to do this, you will have to learn to take better care of yourself. You will have to sleep and eat properly…You will probably have to create a regular schedule. And one day you’ll realize you’re in training like an Olympic athlete. But not any old training– a particular kind of training, the particular kind of training that will support your dharma and no one else’s.
The dharma itself will prescribe this training, and you will know it when you stumble onto it through trial and error. You’ll know it by its results, because in moments when you’re in proper training, you will feel yourself a channel…You will have stepped aside somehow (and let it come through you)…And this is an experience so far beyond any pleasure you’ve ever had that you will most definitely want more of it. And so you will henceforth be increasingly careful about your training regimen…You want to be clear…”
From: “The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling” By Stephen Cope
Posted in Asanas, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Mindfulness, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Asanas, Dharma, Jennifer Miller, Life, Stephen Cope, Training, Yoga
Feeling The Deep Sorrows Of Being Human Allows Us To Experience The True Joy Of Healing
By Jennifer Miller
Should we strive to be TAO (Transparent, Authentic and Open) at all times? I have always been open and honest with who I am as it has been an important part of my journey.
But are there times when we should refrain from opening our souls to others?
I have been reflecting on this and feel that so much of happiness in life is dependent on relationships that nourish our body and soul. We must seek out positive energy to maintain our life force and vitality. This is why we must spend as much time as possible with members our tribe, people who support us emotionally and give us love and comfort. The “emotional vampires” , selfish and self-absorbed people who can drain our happiness and vitality, must be avoided.
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But there are events and situations, when we are a part of a group that is either unknown or possibly hostile to us, that we should make an exception. It was at one such event that I found myself this weekend. I was invited to attend a Bridal Shower for a friend that I have exercised with for many years, who was getting married for the first time. One of the women in the room mentioned to the group that I had gone through one of the worst divorces she had ever seen.
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I naturally shared with the ladies many intimate details of the my married life and how traumatic my separation and divorce were. I have thoroughly processed my anger and grief and feel true forgiveness now. In keeping with TAO, I opened up hoping that my story might inspire and/or give hope to someone in the room.
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But at the end of the event, my body was very stressed and I knew that my openness had taken a huge toll on me both emotionally and spiritually. The fact that many of these women might use what I had said as a source of gossip and not as a source of enlightenment represented the risk I took by being authentic.
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This represents an inner struggle I have within me. Whether to live by TAO at all times or be guarded when meeting with others that I do not have either an immediate or established connection. When we live our lives in fear of the unfamiliar or unknown, we risk shutting down emotionally and spiritually.
I choose to remain dedicated to TAO, realizing that there are risks to being authentic and true to myself and journey, but the rewards are so much greater.
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I have been through the dark night of the soul and have come back into the light of life. It is only through feeling the deep sorrows of being human that we can experience the true joy of healing, which leads to self-realization and ultimately inner peace.
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If I could help just one woman in that room to better deal with the pain and suffering that can affect any one of us in life, then the stress of being truly authentic and open would have been worth it.
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Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Balance, Darkness, Heart-Based Healing, Life, Light, Pain, Soul, Spirituality, Suffering, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Dark Night, Gossip, Healing, Heart-Based Healing, Jennifer Miller, Joy, Life, Sorrow, Soul, Wisdom, Women
“Love, Without Desire To Possess…This Is The Highest Love.” – Love Or Loving-Kindness (Metta), One Of The Four Basic Sublime States In Buddhism
October 8, 2012 in Balance, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Love, Quotes, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Buddha, Buddhism, Jennifer Miller, Love, Pictures, Wisdom
A Generous Gift Of Yoga Mats That Will Transform The Lives Of Women At The Recovery House
By Jennifer Miller
I had exciting news to share with “The Girls” at the Recovery House this week. Mats are a very important part of a yoga practice and I have been working hard to find a store or company to donate new mats to the program.
Several weeks ago I approached the “lululemon athletica” store in Newport Beach and spoke with the lady in charge of their “Giving Program”. I shared with her my vision of bringing young women at risk the beautiful and healthy benefits of yoga and she was quickly in agreement with the importance of a quality mat.
After numerous emails, the store agreed to donate 20 MATS! I was so grateful and I made the announcement Monday that I would be bringing them to the Recovery Home next week.
My new goal is to get the girls their own personal yoga mat. I will be seeking a store or supplier to share the vision of health and transformation that yoga has brought these amazing young women and mothers.
Thank you again lululemon for your very generous gift. You have made a difference in women’s lives.
Posted in Donations, Gifts, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Hope, Life, Recovery, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Donations, Gifts, Jennifer Miller, lululemon athletica, Recovery, Recovery House, Yoga Mats
Honoring Ourselves By “Seeing” That The Most Beautiful Things Must Be “Felt With The Heart”
By Jennifer Miller
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“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.”
Helen Keller (1880-1968)
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What are the best ways to honor ourselves each day? I have learned to start each day by acknowledging the beauty that is all around me, starting with the beauty that comes from within. It allows us to see who we really are.
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I love the connection that is possible when I walk past someone and after a quick look in each others eyes, there is a mutual “I SEE YOU”. I can see and sense that person’s soul’s essence. This is one of life’s most wonderful moments, and confirms a sense of being alive and in the moment.
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My own life’s experiences have established a mind-body-spirit connection for which I am grateful. I have grown as a woman through the pain and it has resulted in an appreciation for beauty that I experience with my heart. I learned that the only way through very difficult periods in life is to genuinely feel it and be transmuted to a higher plane.
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There is never an easy way to escape pain and trauma in life. You have to feel to heal…
Thank you life for bringing me here. Namaste
Posted in Balance, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Life, Mindfulness, Pain, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Suffering, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Beauty, Connection, Heart, Heart-Based Healing, Helen Keller, Inner Beauty, Inner Wisdom, Life, Mind, Quotes, Wisdom
“Breathing In The Benefits Of Yoga To Achieve Happiness In The Moment” – By Jennifer Miller, “SunGoddess Magazine” In July 30 Issue
Posted in Asanas, Freedom, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Meditation, Mind, Mindfulness, Reflections, Self, Silence, Soul, Spirituality, SunGoddess Magazine, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Articles, B.K.S. Iyengar, Breathing, Jennifer Miller, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Meditation, Mind, Mindfulness, Quieting the Mind, SunGoddess Magazine, Yoga
“Our Soul’s True Purpose” By Jennifer Miller (Video)
We must all strive to connect our mind, body and spirit to find our soul’s true purpose.
Rumi, a 13th Century Persian Poet, wrote beautifully about the importance of following your heart to find love and purpose in life….
My video presents 5 of his most beautiful quotations.
“What I have come to treasure most in life are the hardships I have overcome, and the satisfaction of feeling “heroic” in many ways. To live through challenging times and not only survive, but to emerge victorious and “thrive”, will bring all of us a sense of incredible joy and satisfaction.”
“To live a truly authentic life makes us vulnerable, but it is a life worth living. I am who I am and I can live with that.”
Jennifer Miller
Posted in Asanas, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Life, Light, Love, Meditation, Poems, Reflections, Soul, Women, Yoga
Tagged Happiness, Jennifer Miller, Poetry, Rumi, Soul, Soul's True Purpose, Videos