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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: Mindfulness
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 timesĀ 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
“Feelings Are Like Fluid Waves Of Energy…Like The Ebb And Flow Of Tides, The Waning And Waxing Of The Moon” – Anita Johnson
“Feelings are like fluid waves of energy. Like the waves we see in the ocean, they come in, peak, and pass, come in, peak, and pass. They have a natural cyclical rhythm like the ebb and flow of tides, the waning and waxing of the moon. The flow of feeling is as natural as the flow of life itself.”
From “Eating In The Light Of The Moon: How Women Can Transform Their Relationship With Food Through Myths, Metaphors, And Storytelling” by Anita Johnson
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
“When You Are Steadfast In Your Abstention Of Thoughts Of Harm…” – Patanjali
“When you are steadfast in your abstention of thoughts of harm directed toward yourself and others, all living creatures will cease to feel fear in your presence.”
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Posted in Awareness, Freedom, Knowledge, Life, Meditation, Mind, Mindfulness, Quotes, Self, Wisdom
Tagged Abstention, Fear, Harm, Patanjali, Quotes, Yoga Sutras
“Breathing In The New Day…Keeping The Stillness Within My Mind”
By Jennifer Miller
Breathing in the new day,
Gazing at its sunrise beauty.
Gratitude fills my soul.
Ocean is still, reminding me to
Keep the stillness within my mind.
Accepting and knowing that all is
Well and perfect as it is.
Crisp air fills my lungs while
Sounds of nature calm my senses.
Birds chirping and the pond trickles,
Joy rises in my heart.
Namaste
Posted in Asanas, Breathing, Happiness, Life, Meditation, Mind, Mindfulness, Reflections, Self, Silence, Soul, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Beauty, Breathing, Jennifer Miller, Mind, Mindfulness, Morning, Quiet, Quieting the Mind, Stillness
“The Present Moment Is Filled With Joy And Happiness…” – Thich Nhat Hanh
Posted in Asanas, Happiness, Life, Mindfulness, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Happiness, In The Moment, Jennifer Miller, Mindfulness, Present, Quotes, Thich Nhat Hanh
“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.Ā 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.Ā 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
The Importance Of Surrounding Ourselves With Positive People As We Clean Our Spiritual House
By Jennifer Miller
My weekend morning walks with the babies (my two small dogs)Ā have been so enjoyable and nurturing for my soul and spirit. As we walked into a small cafe in downtown Laguna and stood in line to order, twoĀ women, who appeared to be in their mid-50’s, walkedĀ inĀ behind us. I could immediately sense that both of them wereĀ comfortable with who they were, and their confidence and grace added to the positive energy I usually feel when I come here.
And it gave me an opportunity to reflect on my life and the lives of so many women.Ā Middle-ageĀ is a time to examine the health of our “inner selves” and honor the journey that has brought us to this point. For many of us, the proceeding 20-25 years required us to be “GIVERS”, sacrificing for our children and husbands. As our role changes, we must seek out relationships and activities that nourish our body and soul. So it isĀ very important that our support group of family and friendsĀ beĀ sources of positive energy, and not drain us of our vitality.
Ā Who is on Team Jen? Who is there to support and root for me?
I have been cleaning my home recently in a way that is very healthy and life-enhancing. I believe this reflects my desire to “clean house” in my emotional life as well. I am present and in the moment, sorting through physical and mental “attachments”, seeing what are necessary and which should be discarded. As I sat in the crowded cafe patio, eating a wonderful breakfast, I am deeply connected with positive and calming sounds.
I hear birds chirping. Surrounded by people talking, I am one with birds chirping…and peace fills my body.
The day before while grocery shoppingĀ at “Trader Joes”, I sensed aĀ woman looking at me and my daughter. She looked to be about 70 and I smiled andĀ made room for her, thinking that she needed to get by. She came up to me and grabbed my hand and said:
“If I could come back in my next life and be you for 10 seconds I would be the happiest woman in the world.Ā You and your daughter are so beautiful.”
ThisĀ was one of kindest compliments I have ever received.Ā I told her thank you and that true beauty lies within all of us.Ā She responded by saying thatĀ she knew I would say that, and if she felt otherwise, she would never haveĀ said it.
My daughter and I smiled at each other and thought that this ladyĀ was a truly beautiful person.Ā I asked her If I could take her home with me. She represented to me the beautyĀ of aging with grace.
Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Gratitude, Knowledge, Life, Love, Mindfulness, Reflections, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Aging, Beauty, Inner Beauty, Jennifer Miller, Positive, Reflections, Self-Reflection, Soul, Spirituality
“A Morning In The Life Of A Yogini” By Jennifer Miller, Published In SunGoddessMagazine.com
Posted in Asanas, Balance, Knowledge, Life, Meditation, Mindfulness, Reflections, Self, Spirituality, SunGoddess Magazine, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Asanas, Ashtanga, Jennifer Miller, Magazines, Nutrition, Power Shakes, SunGoddess Magazine, Yoga, Yoga Practice, Yogini
Honoring Ourselves By “Seeing” That The Most Beautiful Things Must Be “Felt With The Heart”
By Jennifer MillerĀ
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āThe most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.ā
Helen Keller (1880-1968)
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What are theĀ best ways to honor ourselvesĀ each day?Ā I have learnedĀ to start each day by acknowledging theĀ beauty that is all around me,Ā starting with the beautyĀ that comes from within. It allows us to see who we really are.
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I love the connection that is possible whenĀ I walk past someone andĀ afterĀ a quick look in each others eyes, there is a mutualĀ “I SEE YOU”. Ā I can see and senseĀ that person’s soul’s essence. This isĀ one of life’s most wonderful moments,Ā and confirms a sense of being alive and in the moment.
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My own life’sĀ experiences have established a mind-body-spirit connection for which I amĀ grateful.Ā I have grown as a womanĀ through the pain and it has resulted in anĀ appreciationĀ for beauty that I experience with my heart.Ā Ā IĀ learned that the only way throughĀ very difficult periods in life is to genuinely feel it and beĀ transmuted to aĀ higher plane.
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There is never an easy way to escape pain and trauma in life. You have toĀ feel to heal…
Thank you life for bringing me here. Ā 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
Reflections On “A Course In Miracles”: Choosing to Live In A Place Of Love And Not Fear
By Jennifer Miller
Marianne Williamson’s “A Course in Miracles” teaches thatĀ most of usĀ live in a place of love or fear. We have a choice of how we want to be and act in any given situation.I have been reflecting recently that I am atĀ a point in my lifeĀ where I am aware ofĀ how am feeling and, if I am reacting to these feelings,Ā I know it. IĀ am striving to limit theseĀ “reactions”,Ā and remain in the moment, aĀ state of peaceful quietude where nothing can “rock my world”.
And I continue to make progress. There have been many situationsĀ in the past yearĀ that might haveĀ “taken me out”.Ā IĀ now strive to find that place of acceptance and often, detachment,Ā which allows me toĀ step back and say to myselfĀ “I see what is going on here…game over”.
Every one ofĀ us canĀ choseĀ toĀ live in fear or love at that very moment. I recently watched Marianne WilliamsonĀ speaking to Oprah about how our life’s blueprint isĀ designedĀ to achieve our highest purpose.
AnyoneĀ can “download”Ā their life planĀ but ifĀ it is not synchronized withĀ our emotions, weĀ have little chance ofĀ fulfillingĀ our highest purpose.
In yoga, we are trained to stay with our breath. Whatever asana or posture we are in, no matter what is going on inĀ my body, I strive to remain in aĀ quiet place of peace.Ā Our body and mind follow our breath.Ā I strive daily toĀ remain conscious ofĀ thisĀ and come back to this “place of peace”Ā whenĀ I feel rattled or off in some way.
Ahhhh… that beautiful connection to our soul is all through the discipline of BREATH…
Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Asanas, Balance, Book Reviews, Breathing, Detachment, Knowledge, Life, Love, Meditation, Mindfulness, Reflections, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Books, Breathing, Fear, Inner Peace, Jennifer Miller, Love, Marianne Williamson, Peace, Quiet, Reviews
“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
“Just Detach From False Mental Objects And Be Enlightened To Being-As-Is” – Baizhang Huaihai
Posted in Detachment, Gratitude, Life, Mind, Mindfulness, Poems, Quotes, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom
Tagged Baizhang, Being As Is, In The Moment, Life, Living in the Moment, Mind, Mindfulness, Pictures, Quotes
“Like A Bird In Flight, Your Life Can Soar Above The Troubles Of The World” – Jonathan Lockwood Huie
“100 Secrets for Living aĀ Life You Love” by Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Photograph by Vince Maidens, “Snowy Owl, Canada”
National GeographicĀ “PhotoĀ of the Day”, July 11, 2012
Posted in Freedom, Knowledge, Life, Light, Meditation, Mindfulness, Quotes, Self, Spirituality, Wisdom
Tagged Breathing, Inspiration, Jonathan Lockwood Huie, Life, Pictures, Quotes, Wisdom