All You Need Is Love (and Chocolate)

Every tree, every growing thing as it grows says this truth:
You harvest what you sow. With life as short as a half taken breath,
don’t plant anything but love......
-Rumi

Welcome to February, one of my favorite months. The snow is always perfect and the holiday of the month is all about chocolate and LOVE!! I am so glad that the Love month (with Valentines day) comes after the New Years Resolution month (the hard core, not good enough, lose weight and get in shape month).

It seems to take about a month or so to really get down on yourself for not being able to hold true to your New Year’s goals. It all sounds good on New Years Eve to lose weight or get in shape because every commercial has you believing you need to be better in some way. If you make your resolutions based on what other people think you should do instead of what your heart wants you to do you are setting yourself up for failure. Bennison Sherrod our amazing surf diva in Costa Rica says “Don’t Should On Yourself!”

It is a good idea to first be inspired before you make a decision so there is positive energy around it and then check in to make sure the decision will make you feel good. If you have these two things in place you will have enough energy and motivation to succeed.

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Why is it to hard to lose weight in the Winter?

If you are going to the gym less and staying in this winter, don’t worry, you are not a slacker…The Winter season has more to do with nourishing, restoring and going inward and it is unnatural to try to force your body into losing weight when it is natural and normal to have extra weight this time of year.

So…. Don’t get bummed out if you don’t turn into superwoman January 1st shedding pounds, working out constantly and making big leaps forward. 

Do what is Natural

The Winter season has more to do with nourishing, restoring and going inward and it is unnatural to try to force your body into losing weight when it is natural and normal to have extra weight this time of year. It is also natural to be in a more dreamtime state sitting by the fire instead of taking action on all of your dreams. It is more natural for you to want to sleep more and go to the gym less. Don’t worry, you are not a slacker… You are normal and following the natural rhythms of nature. You would not find a bear coming out of his den and going to the gym… the bear is restoring his energy for the spring fun to come. So…. Don’t get bummed out if you don’t turn into superwoman by Valentines Day by shedding pounds, working out constantly and making big leaps forward. I think this whole weight loss and gym craze is a bit psycho. You absolutely want to move around but it should be gentle and at a low heart rate, especially in winter. You may want to do more yoga or Qigong or Tai chi, you may want to meditate or read. The key is to learn to listen to your body and follow the rhythms of nature; they will guide you.

Tips to help you LOVE YOURSELF this Valentines

1) First of all you are good enough just as you are. You are already AMAZING!

I am enough
There is enough
I am amazing, wonderful and lovable just as I am

Now that you have said this you can now relax and explore what is percolating from the depths of your soul. (Not something that society has told you that you need to improve.)

2) Change your perspective
Wayne Dyer says, “When you change the way you look at things the things you look at change!”  So a simple change of perspective can make all the difference

Why not change:
I NEED to lose weight to…..
I want more lightness in my life
I want to feel vibrant and alive
I want to build my energy and vitality

Why not change:
I NEED to get organized to…..
Everything is in perfect order and has divine timing
Everything always works out for me

Our life coach Helen Green has a wonderful saying about NEEDING!  She says… “All I NEED is within me now.”

I love that mantra and when you say it your whole body relaxes. If you can change your perspective on why you want this lifestyle change and go about it from a place of feeling good instead of not good enough or lack then you won’t automatically set yourself up for failure. Your body hears every word and thought so give it some positive prompting instead of freaking it out by telling it to lose 10 pounds in a week. If you tell your body that you are OK and you are just making some minor adjustments to the overall lifestyle plan then it most likely will not freak out and the change you wish to see will happen without effort and almost automatically. Don’t proclaim war on your body or your mind!

3) Make it realistic and EASY!!
If you start a program at the gym or a diet that is too hard-core you are setting yourself up for failure. So make it easy on yourself and let your body come back into balance naturally by starting off slow!!

4) Create a buddy system
You are more likely to get up and run, go to the gym, follow a healthy eating plan or train for your Tri for the Cure triathlon if you have a buddy to do it with. Just having a friend will make it more fun and you can help each other when you start to lose the excitement.

5) Take Baby Steps
Take your program one day at a time and if you slip up don’t throw the whole plan out the window. Ideally you want to train your body/mind to trust your words by implementing the actions to support your resolution. For instance I wanted to improve my swimming when I was a triathlete and I had to get up each day and go to the masters work out. If I had just blown it off each day then my body would have thought I was joking. So you want to do things each day that support your life purpose and your resolution dream but they have to fit into your already packed lifestyle.  And remember, these goals can be anything so don’t be too rigid…Let new ideas come in and the miracles happen. It is a step in the right direction and even leaning in the direction of your dream counts.

6) Create bite-sized jobs that you can accomplish
This goes along with the baby step part but the whole idea is to allow and coax you into feeling good about yourself. When I was racing I would keep a training log and each night I would write down my training but more importantly I would write down everything I did well that day. Sometimes it was just that I tied my shoes well. These little successes really help the subconscious mind believe that you are a success and that success is possible.

So here are some easy…stress free…feel good…resolution helpers:

*If you don’t have time to meditate 20 min twice a day just try One Minute Meditations throughout the day and use whatever is in front of you as your practice.

*If you don’t have time to go to the gym 3 times a week just go out for a walk to the mailbox but most importantly just try to get outside everyday.

*If you don’t have time to stretch or do yoga for an hour everyday just find 3 simple exercises that you can do to move your spine and breath and do them everyday.

*Instead of cutting out all junk food allow yourself one day a week to have your favorite treat.  Make it special, not a punishment. 

*Instead of doing any of this just go out and have fun and Enjoy Life!!

Finally I want to leave you with my favorite saying of all time by Thich Nhat Hanh which will help you LOVE yourself a bit more in the Love month!

Go Slowly… Breathe and Smile!!!

My translation of this for resolutions is as follows:

Go Slowly and bit by bit. It is a healthy, long lasting lifestyle that will create the vitality you want.

Breathe… The breath or “Inspire” or Inspiration is learning to listen to what motivates, excites and inspires you. It is hard to MAKE yourself MAKE the changes but it is easy if it is inspired action because you will want to do it…  Rumi says
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love.” Love is like a magnet, which sets everything in motion.  It is much easier to swim downstream than swim upstream so find what inspires you and go with the Flow!

Smile…Well this really sums it all up…Just smile because it actually opens the central channel of your body and allows grace to align you with what you are naturally.  You are the God Spark of all that is beautiful, magical and wonderful. When you smile you “Align with that Divine” part of yourself, which is this internal giggle of delight that is just so happy to be alive.  Remember, “angels fly because they take themselves lightly” so don’t take it so serious and lighten up the fast and easy way…Just Smile.  My motto is: If it is not fun. Just don’t do it!!

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Thaw Out At A Retreat!
Much of the country is covered in snow and cold temperatures, so why not visit some place warm to rejuvenate and warm your body and soul?! Women's Quest is offering amazing trips, both domestic and international, where there is plenty of sunshine and warmth to go around!

Hawaii Retreat
March 20-27, 2011
$2200 per person
Our first Hawaii date filled up fast and this one is as well! Our Hawaii retreat offers a full week of yoga, ocean swimming, kayaking and hiking in a rejuvenating atmosphere for the body and mind. Register now to ensure your spot on this popular adventure!

Costa Rica Surf and Yoga Retreat
March 27 - April 2, 2011
Cost: $2400
We have found surf paradise! Practice yoga, stretch your body and mind, share sunsets with new friends, oh and did we mention, with the beach located right out the door, there are ample opportunities for surfing for all ability levels! This retreat will visit February Newsletter's featured resort, Pranamar, where you will experience the meaning of Pura Vida, Pure Life. Click here to register!

Bali Yoga Retreat
April 2-10, 2011
Cost: $3000
Bali, Indonesia is one of the most magical places on earth! Come restore your essence on our luscious yogaretreat and cultural exploration in Bali! Immerse yourself in the exquisite beauty of a culture devoted to harmony and the celebration of the sacred in every element of life. Our adventures will include yoga, guided walks to sacred temples, hikes, snorkeling in a crystal sea, a bike ride downhill through the villages, a batik class, and more, integrated with abundant traditional culture. Click here to sign up for the trip of a lifetime!

 

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