The stories we tell ourselves...about ourselves.

We all have a narrative we've developed over time about ourselves. Over time we chisel out a picture of who we believe ourselves to be by assimilating all this information from our environment (experiences, what authority figures tell us about us, how people react to us and how we relate to others). We take that story and continue to tell that to ourselves and other people, which reinforces who we are. Unfortunately, when we're learning and growing, sometimes this narrative is impacted by negative and FALSE beliefs:

The person who is always being asked to take care of things for other people, but is never asked "are you okay?"; this can translate to a narrative that your needs aren't important and that if you can't be of service to someone else there isn't any value to, well, just being YOU.

Or the girl who has had some unhealthy relationships, maybe been cheated on or abused in some way, that begins to believe she is just the type of person that deserves this type of treatment. Her narrative may become that she isn't worthy of being truly loved and cared for because she hasn't actually had that experience before in her life.

The guy who has been told repeatedly that you are only as good as what you can provide materially; this can translate to a narrative that if you aren't yet in a place in your life where you feel you can provide to a certain expectation, you are not inherently worthy of love and acceptance.

These are just a few examples, but all of them are dangerous, and sometimes so automatic that we don't even realize we're doing it. Oh, and absolutely false. And really, if we shape our present thoughts about ourselves based on our past or things that have happened TO us, how does that give us any power over what narrative we want for ourselves for the future? Everytime we fall into that old storyline that maybe we inherited from family members, past relationships, or previous "mistakes", we give away our power to define who we want to be and give up on ourselves before we even try.

Habits are hard to break, and working on yourself is a terrifying thing to do because you have to face whatever baggage has been put away neatly in that spare room in your brain that you try so hard not to open. But the reality is, that baggage can really cause us to self sabatoge (without us even realizing it!) if we don't open that room and do some spring cleaning. The stories we tell ourselves about ourselves are POWERFUL, either in a detrimental way or an uplifting way.

Begin questioning your narrative rather than believing it up front; are you REALLY this person that "can't do a certain thing" or "is a bad daughter/son/partner/etc." or "can't trust anyone"? Is that who you want to be, or is that just what other people/past experiences have told you about you?

Narratives can come in disguises. They can come in the form of pushing people away because we are "strong and don't have time for XYZ", or because we "just don't care anymore". Sometimes that has more to do with fear because of a personal narrative developed from a history of hurt, rather than the lack of care or numbness that is used as a defense.

As always, I write these posts because they are something I'm working on in my life right now. I have always had this narrative that I "don't do relationships well". Past experiences, divorced parents, bla bla bla baggage (lol), and without even noticing I would self sabotage or detach myself before I really began to rely on another person being in my life. Because I truly believed this limiting story about myself. My brain would create all these signals that it wasn't safe to be vulnerable with partners because "I knew how it would end up". FALSE. The beauty of experiences and being self aware is that you can notice your own patterns, and I am now in a place where I have the ability to actively work on them instead of just accepting every nonsense thing my brain tells me. I am choosing to release that limiting belief, and trust that with self love and trust I can create my narrative in a way that feels good to me, not in a way that limits who I really am and what I really deserve.

So start the conversation with yourself (maybe through journaling), with a trusted person in your life, or even a therapist. History doesn't dictate your future; it impacts you, yes, but it doesn't define you. What you do now, what you say about yourself, what you believe about yourself will shape you and your future. Pick 1 limiting belief that continues to show up in your life and I want you to question where it came from? Every time it shows up, affirm the opposite of that to yourself. It changes the approach towards life and towards ourselves from one of reactionary fear to one of self love and trust.  Grabbing the reigns and defining YOUR story for yourself is the ultimate act of self love.

Light and love,

Chelle

Self care bootcamp aka PMS/post breakup/in a funk survival guide

One week before my menstrual cycle I become a hormonal, hungry, angry, tired, teary eyed mess. I literally just want to lay in a bed filled with hot wings and blue cheese while I curse people out and cry for one entire week. And no this isn't TMI because most women have their menstrual cycle so get over it, it's okay to talk about it. Anyway, this isn't about my cycle as much as it is about my decision this month to change my patterns during this time so I don't feel so shitty. I've also applied many of these things to getting through break ups, big life changes, or just when I'm overall "in a funk". The overall premise of this is that it is easy to do the things that are good and healthy for us when we're in a good space in our lives, but when we need it the most, when we are feeling overwhelmed or not like ourselves, is when most of these things go to the wayside.

This is somewhat of an extension from my earlier blogs  about self care (http://www.lotusholistichealth.org/blog/2016/9/2/self-care-saves-lives), but I'm getting a little more specific to set a challenge for you (and for me). One of the biggest things I've learned about myself when it comes to reaching goals or using self care techniques is that without structure, as soon as I don't feel like it, I won't do it. But if I write it down, if I set a schedule, if I do it at the same time every day, I'm helping myself overcome that barrier. Also if I tell someone I'm doing it, (or a few someones by writing a blog) I hold myself accountable. So join me as I try my best to not curse people out or drown in blue cheese this week. Let me know if you try anything from this "survival guide", and if so, how it worked for you!

MEDITATE:

5 minutes to 10 minutes a day preferably in the morning can make such a difference. I downloaded this app called Calm which I love (and it's for the free), because I can play the sounds of the ocean waves and set it to a timer for my desired meditation time. I sit in the sauna, listen to the waves, and pretend I'm at the beach every morning. So far I'm on day 4 and I can actually notice a change in my mood; I'm better able to choose how I think about situations later in the day. We shower, brush our teeth, and clean our clothes to keep up our physical hygiene, but what about your energetic/spiritual hygiene? Meditation is like cleansing your energetic/spiritual body, distancing you from reactive thoughts and patterns. Clean that shit up before you go out in the world because there's alot going on out here!

TREAT YOSELF:

This is a tricky one because you don't want to turn stress into a reason to splurge unneccessarily. But when I say treat yourself I mean within your budget and in a way that is out of the norm for you so that it feels like you are being pampered in some way. For example, earlier this week I took myself out to lunch...by myself. For some people this is not a big deal (I envy those people that can confidently go on dates alone), however for me, it felt pretty awkward at first. After about 5 minutes I got over myself though, and realized that noone is even paying attention to me, and I was able to really enjoy my meal and take my time all by myself while enjoying my own company. Take one evening off this week to do something that's all about feeling good, and do it on your own!

DETOX: PHYSICALLY

Choose one thing you are going to detox out of your system for this week. Maybe you know that the lack of sleep is impacting your mood and you should be going to bed a little earlier. Or those henny shots when you go out every night are probably impacting your body and mind a little the next day. Choose one unhealthy physical habit that you are going to work on letting go of for this week, and stick to it.

DETOX: MENTALLY

Choose one harmful thought pattern you have that you are going to let go of this week. Start to pay attention to what thought patterns are constricting you; are you doubting yourself, complaining about everything, or comparing yourself to others? Try to figure out what thoughts really limit your ability to be happy with you right now, and take this week to practice letting go of those thoughts. It doesn't mean they won't pop up because brain neurons fire out of habit, but the more that you work on redirecting and recreating these thought patterns, the easier it'll be to create new healthier thought patterns. Even better is if you can think of a replacement thought to tell yourself. For example if you find yourself often critiquing others or yourself, think of a loving or accepting thought pattern to recite to yourself anytime you notice the criticism coming up.

GRATITUDE:

Start a gratitude journal. Write down at least 1 thing a day that you are grateful for. So many times we are thinking about what we don't have yet, what we wish we had, and the things that are stressing us, that we overlook all the good things in our lives that some people have never gotten to experience. Maybe it's the heat in your home on a really cold day, or the fact that when you're hungry you have the privilege of feeding yourself; really tuning in to that feeling of being able to satisfy your physical needs and knowing that not everyone has that ability. It can be as simple as thanking your legs for getting you out of bed in the morning as you feel your feet on the ground. As you start to take notice of all these "small" things that there are to be grateful for, your brain will get trained to recognize the positive and what you are grateful for will grow! Practicing gratitude literally raises the energetic vibrations of your thoughts, and I really believe it attracts more positive things into your life. There is something to writing them down as well, not only do you reinforce them by putting them on paper, but when you're having a really rough day you can go through your previous journal entries to remind yourself of what there is to be grateful for.

We aren't always going to be our best selves and we definitely don't have control over some of our circumstances. Use what you do have control over, yourself, to show up in the best way possible for yourself and those around you. If you need some accountability you can contact me, or let a friend know that you are challenging yourself to a week or maybe even month long self care challenge, and maybe keep track of how many days you complete your self care list. Healing is active and intentional.

Love and light,

Chelle

I don't want to talk about the weather

When I read the articles about the recent murders of people of color by police (and recent doesn't even mean this week; sadly, it has been pretty consistent for quite a while so "recent" can go back as far as you'd like it to), I feel a visceral tightness and pain in my stomach. These stories aren't just "news". They are signalling a sense of danger and fear to my brain all the time because it could be me, it could be my father, it could be my cousin (which it actually was, exactly one year ago,when he was shot without cause by the police).

Every morning this week I've had to dust off my socially acceptable mask, put it on, and wear it to work; talking to co-workers about our health insurance or the weather or what our plans are this weekend, with an impending sense of doom and a growing rage tucked away neatly for most of the day.

I'm not sharing this to say this is every person of color's experience, I can only speak for myself. I can feel my senses heightened, a sense of tension growing, hypervigilance, a gut emotional reaction to any person who dismisses the seriousness of what's happening ("#alllivesmatter", "what about black on black crime", "well maybe if he didn't walk away from the police, we don't have the whole story"), and at times I feel helpless about everything that is happening.

As a therapist, these are the same things I sometimes see in people who have been through trauma; this sense of wanting to freeze and/or fight, of feeling disconnected, isolated, helpless. And I'm not using the word "trauma" lightly; it is scary AF to be black in America right now. 

So this week, I read articles and watch the videos when I feel like I can tolerate them; that's for me because I want to be in touch with how I feel about what's happening, I want to feel these feelings and I don't want to disconnect. But then sometimes, I do have to disconnect; I have to come up and get air so I don't suffocate. I watched an Empire episode for the first time all the way through and talked shit to myself about how terrible it was. I went to a yoga class for the first time in months for a sense of connection (I've been doing a home practice lately). I've found a way to move and sweat and feel good about what I'm doing every day this week.

To cope with that sense of helplessness and isolation and to mobilize my anger in a productive way, I'm going to a #Blacklivesmatter community forum this upcoming week (at the Levels Banquet Hall in Albany, Wednesday from 6-9pm); I'm talking to a close friend about starting weekly promotion of black owned businesses in the community, and I'm trying to avoid explaining why these issues matter to people who are so barricaded in their bubble of privilege that they can't allow any REAL information to penetrate that bubble, for fear that their world will completely collapse. There are so many more productive things I want to do with my energy, so I am trying not to "teach" people why racism is wrong (this one has been a struggle!). I am acknowledging my privileges that I experience as a result of our biased systems. As a person of mixed race with lighter skin, who has a platform to reach others through my career, I'm trying to use these privileges in the best ways I can think of to talk about the injustices that are happening and bring more attention to them.

 I journaled, I meditated, I cried, I vented, and have put that on repeat this whole week. I've been making more of an effort to put good food into my body because I know what I eat directly impacts my emotions. I've been hitting snooze on my alarm more often to get some extra sleep because I am paying extra attention to my body, to my needs, moment to moment.

I say all that to say, there's no clearcut answer for me on how to cope with the trauma happening around and to us. I just know I can't go around it and I have to go through it, and I feel an obligation to show up as my healthiest best self so that I can be a part of the solution and not the problem. I don't know what that solution is, but I know it has to do with connectedness, community, and wellness, so that's what I'm going for. I also know that the end result isn't me feeling "okay". In fact, I don't want to feel okay with what's happening, I need my outrage and pain to remind me of what's important. I just know that when I say Black Lives Matter, I also have an obligation to take care of me too, so I can take care of others, so we can take care of each other.

Love and light,

Chelle

It's okay to not be okay

This past weekend a friend reached out to vent, in some serious emotional pain. I jumped into "fix it mode" and overzealously told her changes that had to be made for everything to be okay. It didn't turn out well, for obvious reasons, because it's not what she needed in that moment. And we all have times like that, where we know things aren't going well, but nothing seems to help no matter how much of a good idea it is. It can be uncomfortable to not have a tidy solution to whatever train wreck a family member has caused in your life, or some messy relationship issue that's super complex, or whatever other person/situation from the past that makes a guest appearance (or they may have a starring role in our life) unleashing our insecurities/unhappiness/anxiety, etc.  

I've definitely had moments like that, and I've come to realize that sometimes the best any of us can do is to give ourselves permission to not be okay. Like yes this sucks and no I don't know what I'm going to do about it but I'm still here. And you know what, today that's enough for me.

Having coping skills is definitely healthy, but you don't want to "cope" your way out of listening to yourself and your emotions.

Resisting the urge to "fix" takes a lot of trust and letting go of the need to control your circumstances. This may sound scary because it can feel like you're giving up your power, and yes it definitely is scary; but you are only giving up the illusion of controlling certain circumstances. When you surrender to your individual process, you are trusting in your resilience, and reminding yourself that you've been through really fucking hard things before and you're still here.

So maybe the next time you're not okay all you do is take a second to acknowledge it. Name what you're feeling and why (maybe just to yourself, write it down, or share it with someone else). Let yourself feel and breathe through it, because we are not our emotions, and our emotions are not permanent states of being. We aren't our anger or our sadness or whatever uncomfortable emotion we try to avoid. We can feel them when they come, acknowledge their message, and check in with ourselves about what we need moment to moment as we let go of them.

But if we fix and fix and fix, or sweep it under the rug, it can get stuck and come back out to mess with you just when you think you have your shit together. And yes denial works moment to moment, but long term emotional numbing can prevent you from feeling anything fully and genuinely, even happiness! So yea you can lie to yourself and say that it doesn't hurt, you're not sad, you're not angry, you're "strong". But closing that emotional door to protect yourself doesn't discriminate; you can lose touch with the positive emotions too and ultimately you're closing the door on being connected to your whole self.

There is something so valuable on the other side of pain. People who have withstood emotional pain have incredible resilience and strength that allows them to reach others in a special way. They have seen opposite ends of the spectrum of the human experience, making them somewhat of an expert in healing, especially their own. So what I should have said to my friend I'll say now, and to anyone else who needs it:

There is so much beauty in you, and the simplest things that you do are a testament to your strength because sometimes it's a really heavy load to carry. Just by not giving up you are actually making a difference, not just for you but for everyone around you. 

Its okay to not be okay, trust your process. 

Bonus Challenge: when you're having one of those optimistic moments where you can see a glimmer of hope at the other side of what you're going through, write yourself a letter. Use that as a reminder when shit gets a little too heavy. You got this.

Love and light,

Chelle

"Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain. And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy; and you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields. And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief" - Khalil Gibran

Self Care Saves Lives

What better time to think and write about self care than when Mercury is in retrograde? Now this may seem like a woo-woo buzz phrase that people use, but if you pay close attention to your life when Mercury is in retrograde (this happens about once every four months), you may start to notice some things. Mercury is a planet in charge of communication and clear thinking, and it's taking a little orbit nap right now so it looks like it's going backwards in the sky for the next couple of weeks (from 8/30-9/22). Basically, everything having to do with communication and clarity (travel, business deals, electronics, basic communication with others) tends to be a hot mess during this time. Like many things in this beautiful messy crazy life, we don't have control over Mercury's orbit. What we do have control over is our self care patterns, which should be kicked into high gear when things feel chaotic or unsettled.

Many times in life, our focus is external; making sure others are okay, paying bills, setting and reaching goals, handling the day to day issues that come up. All of these things leave little room to really reflect on how you treat yourself! And even when we do, we can be really hard on ourselves. This can be for a number of reasons; people who have been in abusive relationships (verbally/emotionally, sexually, physically) have a hard time feeling that they're worth their own kindness. Or if you're that "go to" family member/friend that is always there for everyone else, you begin to see yourself as only that and forget that you need that same support! The other piece is, even if we know we need some extra TLC for our emotional health, it can be difficult to know how to give it to yourself. 

The first step is acknowledging that you are worth it. If this is a hard concept to grasp, that you're worth your own love and time, then you may want to take a closer look at that. What beliefs do you have about yourself that prevent you to value you, and where did they come from? This may take some extra work; work with yourself to improve your self esteem, work with a positive support system and/or a mental health professional for added guidance (no shame in getting help).

If you can acknowledge that yes, you are worth it, write down your schedule for the week. How many hours are you spending doing "have to's", or "should's"? How much is just because it feels good? Try to get 30 minutes to an hour of "feel good" in each day; this is something I've struggled with because my job can leave me tired at the end of the day (and wanting to bingewatch Love and Hip Hop, which is not self care for me, it's more like a "blah" thing I do on my couch while I mindlessly chew something crunchy). Not to say that bingewatching can't be self care, it can sometimes. You just want to make sure this activity is something that really makes you feel good and isn't you just numbing yourself, zoning out. Be present and engaged in what it is that you're doing, and make sure it's something you enjoy.

Now that you've taken a look at your behavior, let's look at your thoughts. Notice what your internal dialogue sounds like, especially when frustrated or uncomfortable with things. A lot of people feel they have to be "hard on themselves" to get stuff done. Untrue. There is a way to be kind and compassionate to yourself and not be a slacker, I promise. If you notice your self critic, kindly tell him/her to take a seat, and talk to yourself the way you would your best friend. You deserve the same thought and care that others do. At first this is hard to do, because our thoughts are so automatic that we identify them as who we are, but they aren't. They're the firing off of neurons that do what they do out of habit, and they can be changed if you bring awareness to them and practice purposefully choosing how you think about yourself (over and over and over and over....etc.).

Oh, and what is self care? It can be so many things. Actively doing something that feels good for you: for one person that could be taking a drive and listening to their favorite playlist. It could be running a hot bath and lighting some candles. Exercising, trying a new recipe to cook, art, poetry, going somewhere new, doing your makeup while watching a YouTube makeup guru then taking 103920 selfies. Do what feels good and schedule it in like it's an appointment; like your life depends on it, because it actually does.

 And if you're thinking you couldn't possibly do these things because you're too busy and too many people depend on you and whatever other rationalization your brain has come up with because self care isn't the norm for you, then just know that better emotional health has a ripple effect. Your positive healthy presence can uplift another person simply because you know how to take care of you! And you give others permission to live healthier lives and take care of themselves as well. Win-win. Plus, I know you have an extra 30 minutes in your day somewhere. You can do it.

Bonus Challenge: Make yourself a priority for the next 30 days. Practice self care daily (it doesn't have to be huge, just consistent and enough to make you feel like you connected with yourself and took care of you); say "no" to other people if that's what it takes, and "yes" to yourself.  

Love and light, 

Chelle

Ps. Happy Mercury in Retrograde, may the odds be ever in your favor  

Vulnerability

Today someone told me my first blog post was "eh". And I did a little bit of defensive floundering, explaining that I wanted people to understand the basics of yoga and that's why I went the generic route, but it struck a nerve. After we hung up, I had to really think about why I was bothered, and it didn't take me long to figure out it was because he was right! Valuable information, yes. Great delivery, no; super generic. And when I look closer at that, it's because the more specific I get on a public platform, the more vulnerable I am. Vulnerable to people not liking/being interested in/agreeing with what I have to say.

And I have taught a workshop on being vulnerable, but still find it so hard to do myself. Go figure. Why is it so hard? I think we all fear rejection, some more than others. I've always been drawn to the people who just don't give a shit because I imagine living that way could be so freeing. But then I realize I am the only one holding me back and placing this mental cage on myself. I call it the question mark syndrome: saying statements I know I believe strongly with a question mark afterwards, looking to another person to agree. Or not expressing myself much if I'm not in the company of others that I know would acknowledge what I'm saying. I don't know if it's growing up with a strict and overprotective (but wonderful, Pop you were wonderful) Haitian father, being a woman, or being a therapist that has to work with so many different personalities (chameleon skills on fleek), but I can't yet seem to shake the question mark syndrome.  I've noticed this with some other women too, like an apologetic presence. Trying to not take up too much space or be too loud. Shout out to the unapologetic women who make their presence felt and sometimes make others feel uncomfortable, I aspire to be more like you.

Even if this isn't your particular struggle, in my life and my work as a therapist I have noticed there is this universal "waiting" thing that many people tend to do. Waiting for an apology they'll never get, acknowledgment that might never come, validation that they are worthy, etc. etc., and as they're waiting life continues and their perceived suffering continues because of this external "thing" they never got. When we hinge parts of our lives on other people's reactions (which essentially we have no control over), we give up control over those parts of our lives.

I remember taking a yoga class and while in half pigeon pose (if your hips are tight then 1 minute in the pose can feel like forever) the teacher said "noone is coming to save you". In that moment it clicked; I am the only one that can release tension in MY body. I have to give myself permission, I have to breathe. I am me and I am worthy simply because of who I am. And the same goes for you, you are exactly where you're supposed to be in life, right now, and you'll figure it out. But don't wait for anyone else to do it for you, and don't be afraid to fuck it up, and don't be afraid to get vulnerable.  

So here's my challenge to you (and myself): Give yourself permission to just be. Don't apologize for who you are and what you've been through. It sounds cliche but it's true: there is noone else on this earth exactly like you, and you are a NECESSARY part of this big collective energy source on earth. Do that thing that scares the shit out of you that you've been wanting to do, and stop taking yourself so seriously (we're all just trying to figure it out). 

Bonus Challenge: Put one hand on your heart, one hand on your belly. Make sure the hand on your heart is still while you breathe in and send the inhale all the way to your belly, pushing your belly all the way out as you breathe in (your hand should move outward). Hold your breath at the top of the inhale, close your eyes, and repeat in your mind "I am enough". Exhale as sloooooowly as you can, imagining the air leaving your lungs like air slowly leaving a balloon (bonus self love points if you visualize the balloon a green color for your heart chakra). Repeat this mantra and deep belly breathing for 5-10 rounds of breath.

Love and light,

Chelle

What is this yoga thing and why do it?!

"Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are." -Jason Crandell

Yoga:  the word itself is Sanskrit and means “to yoke”, or union. The union is of the body and mind (some would say of the body and the soul), which in the Western world are often conceptually separated. Lately, research and popular culture is starting to catch up to the Mind-Body connection that Eastern Medicine had tapped into long ago. Yoga isn’t just stretching or just exercise; it can be an opportunity to link up your thoughts and your body to the present moment by using your breathing and manipulating your awareness! Yoga definitely has a physical exercise piece with poses meant to stretch the body and challenge the body, and it also has a meditative (and if you want it to, spiritual) aspect; by training your brain to stay in the present moment, breath by breath.

If you like concrete lists of why something is good for you, here goes: improves flexibility, increases strength, perfects your posture, prevents cartilage and joint breakdown, protects your spine, betters your bone health, increases blood flow, drains lymphs and boosts immunity, drops your blood pressure, regulates adrenal glands, MAKES YOU HAPPIER, lowers blood sugar, and helps you focus. And those are just to name a few; if you want to read more about these, check out www.yogajournal.com/article/health/count-yoga-38-ways-yoga-keeps-fit/

And yes, some advanced yoga poses look really cool against a nature backdrop. But that’s NOT what yoga is all about. Yoga gives us an opportunity to practice paying attention to our selves, nurture our true selves, and continuously change our selves for the better. For me, it has brought more awareness to how my thoughts can either be destructive or helpful to my self-growth. For example, I have noticed if I’m thinking “I should do better” in a pose, or am too focused on what it’s “supposed” to look like, my body registers those thoughts as tension and of course tenses up. I have found through my practice that it’s best for me to let go, see what happens, and explore the poses with curiosity rather than expectation, and I can often go deeper in the pose when I think that way. Funny how that works off the mat as well; when I don’t fixate on what things are “supposed to be like” and get out of my own way, they often turn out even better than I thought they could.

Working with my thoughts has been my most recent focus during my yoga practice, but yoga has helped me through break ups, HUGE changes, anxiety, stress, and has led me to loving myself and my body. This has been (and continues to be) my journey, and that’s not to say that yoga will be that way for you; the best part is it will serve you in whatever way is needed if you just show up and get in tune with your body and the present moment. With all that being said, if you’re not into self-exploration yet and are looking for cool yoga selfies and a nice yoga butt go ahead and love your #selfie and promote your wellness! It’s YOUR practice so make it yours.

Intro to Yoga: Sun Salutation A

Sun Salutations warm up the body, build strength and flexibility, and can be a great way to start your practice and even to start your day (also doing a couple of these throughout your work day can prevent tight hips and hammies that come with a 9-5 desk job).

Practice 5-10 rounds, moving with your inhales and exhales (see pictures of poses or press play below to follow along with some lovely yogis).  For each new breath, you move to the next pose. At the end of your Sun Salutation practice, sit in a comfortable seated position and focus on your breathing for 5-10 breaths, or however long you’d like. Comment below to share what yoga is for you, or if you're new to exploring this practice!

Light and love,

Chelle