101 Reasons Women Punish Themselves And How To STOP IT!

I’ve been incredibly busy doing private consultations with the women who have come on board for our Body Enlightenment System. I love connecting one on one with participants of the program…hearing the stories, giggling and getting windows into where they’re at.

And yet, it’s incredible to see again and again that more than eating “bad” food, or not getting enough exercise, the one thing plaguing women around the globe more than anything else is a nasty virus of self-punishment, guilt and invalidation. (Now, if you can relate, please don’t start punishing yourself about the fact that you tend to punish yourself!)

Chances are pretty good that, though you may feel generally positive, productive and happy, you have moments where you can fall victim to beating yourself up for:

not eating the “right” foods

not eating the “best” foods

eating too much food

spending too much on food

not eating organic food

wanting to eat “bad” food

not exercising enough

weighing too much

having too much loose skin on your body

not having enough money

asking for help

feeling helpless

feeling out of control

not being fast enough

not being productive enough

not being considerate enough

not trying hard enough

not getting enough done

Blah, blah, blah, blah, BLAH!! *PATOOOIE!!*

These are circuits of data and they do not belong to you. But, when you are tired, worn out, stressed, under pressure or just down, these circuits come and slap you around like a nasty old witch.

They’re old stuff. If your memories collected dust, these ones are way up high in dusty shoe boxes where you can’t even reach them any more. They’re older than you remember, because if you could remember them, they wouldn’t be there slapping you around.

You probably don’t have to work very hard to spot similar circuits that were played out by your mother, and her mother before her. No, they’re not passed on genetically. There’s more to it than that. I’m not going to get into a dissertation on how the mind works. You’ve got enough stuff on your desk to sift through, already, so I’m not going to give you any more “data” to pile on your little piles.

I will tell you this:

Self-invalidation may be calorie free, but it is not any healthier than a double fudge, NON vegan brownie or a greasy plate of French fries and gravy.

Before you obsess about that 10% cooked food you’re trying to eliminate from your diet, how ’bout you send guilt, self-punishment and invalidation for a flying leap from a tall, tall window.

You ARE beautiful.

You ARE a great woman with tremendous potential.

If you’re seeking perfection, you’re never going to find it. It’s not the attainment of goals that keeps us alive, it’s the thrill of the chase. Just create more important things to put your attention on than those last 10 pounds, and they’ll fall off automatically. Get busy living.

Celebrate how lucky you are to have fresh fruits and vegetables and a marvelous, healthy way to nourish your body, instead of punishing yourself for that cracker you ate.

Celebrate how great it is to be part of a community of women working to get closer and closer to their ideal of what vibrant living looks like.

And celebrate the fact that where you are, even if it challenges you, offers the potential for great learning and change. So just get busy living and loving and you’ll get to where you want to go.

For the time being, don’t accept these “circuits” as an inherent part of you. They are not.

Get out of your head, and get into life. Just live life joyfully and accept the learning along the way.

You CAN get to where you’re trying to go, but enjoy the journey of getting there and celebrate your success along the way.

There ARE solutions to the things that aren’t working for you right now.

Be patient trust the process, and remember, asking for help is a sign of intelligence.

The 4 Worst Foods for your Fertility

A recent study by Harvard researchers examined the diet and lifestyles of 18,555 nurses trying to get pregnant over the course of 8 years. They found several common dietary choices corresponded to ovulatory infertility, which accounts for at least a quarter of all cases of infertility. Their findings are presented in “The Fertility Diet” (Chavarro, Jorge E., M.D., Willett, Walter C., M.D., and Skerrett, Patrick J. 2008. McGraw-Hill).

If you are reading this blog, you probably already eschew the following dietary villains. However, whether you are struggling with some nasty cravings or not, it’s always good to have yet another reason to keep away from these health and fertility thwarting no-no’s!

1. TRANS FATS – It was found that consuming a mere 4 grams of trans fat a day – about the amount in one donut or a small order of fast food fries – doubled the risk of ovulatory infertility. Moreover, each additional 2% increase of trans fat consumption translated into an additional 73% greater chance of infertility.

Trans fats, reason the authors, increase insulin resistance, spiking blood sugar and creating inflammation in the body, a major factor in ovulation problems.

Furthermore, while cutting trans fats from your diet alone increases your odds of conceiving, replacing them with healthy mono- and poly- unsaturated fats, such as those found in avocados, nuts and seeds, actually boosts reproductive chances even more!

2. RED MEAT – In the nurse’s study, those with the highest intake of red meat were 39% more likely to have ovulation problems versus those with the lowest, while those with the highest intake of plant protein were significantly less likely to have ovulatory infertility than those with the lowest. Even one serving of beef a day proved disastrous to those trying to conceive. An abundance of protein from fruit, vegetables, nuts and beans, however, actually offered some protection from ovulatory infertility.

Yet another reason plant protein is far superior to animal protein!

3. LOW-FAT DAIRY – The nurse’s study found that the higher the intake of low- or no- fat dairy products, the greater the difficulty conceiving. However, it also appeared that the higher the intake of full-fat dairy, the lesser the problems one had conceiving.

This, according to the researchers, is due to the hormones found in milk. One might think they are safe if they consume organic milk, but BST, or bovine growth hormone aside, most of the hormones come from the cows themselves. Dairy is big business, and to keep up with demand, most cows on commercial farms are milked 300 days a year, pregnant or not. During the late stages of pregnancy, milk can contain up to 33% more estrogen than milk produced by non-pregnant cows. Moreover, cows and bulls are bred for their milk-producing genes, which results in higher levels of milk-producing hormones.

The problem comes with separating the fat from the water part of hormone-laden milk because some hormones (e.g. estrogen, progesterone, and some androgens) attach themselves to fat while others (e.g. androgens, insulin-like growth factor-1, and prolactin) are water-soluble. When the fat is removed from milk, it is left with a dominance of water-soluble hormones, which can interfere with our reproductive systems when consumed. When androgens, male hormones, dominate, it can prevent follicles from fully maturing. Insulin-like growth factor-1, on the other hand, suppresses the body’s production of sex-hormone binding globulin; this leads to hormonal imbalances. Prolactin is the hormone responsible for stimulating milk production and suppressing ovulation, which is why most women who breastfeed on demand experience a delay in the return of their menstrual cycles. So, you can see that consuming an excess of prolactin cannot bode well for ovulation!

It is obvious that fat-reduced dairy products can wreak havoc on our fertility, but what about dairy consumption in general? Although it appears the nurses saw an increase in fertility with the consumption of full-fat dairy, these findings conflict with some other studies. One such study showed that fertility declines faster with age in countries where milk consumption is the highest, while another suggested that dairy products contribute to blood sugar problems, a big factor in ovulatory infertility.

Therefore, suggest the authors, it is best to get our calcium and vitamin D from supplements, plant sources, and the sun. An abundance of green leafy vegetables and a few minutes in the sun a day should suffice!

4. SOFT DRINKS – According to the findings of the nurse’s study, the consumption of 2 or more soft drinks a day translated into a 50% greater chance of ovulatory infertility. The researchers attribute this to blood sugar spikes (the average soda contains 9-11 tablespoons of sugar!) and to overweight as a result of consuming too many empty calories such as those in soft drinks.

However, staying hydrated is very important to overall health as well as reproductive health. The best source for this? Good, pure H20!

So, skip the Happy Meal, and instead enjoy a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, avocados, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, sunshine and fresh water…hmmm. We’re doing okay, eh? ?

-Ardis

Party Success

Today I felt like I was feeding my son to the wolves. He was invited to a birthday party and those are always a breeding ground for his typical social and emotional problems. Life with a child within the autism spectrum is never easy, even if on the ‘milder end.’ Some of these events can be pure chaos and that is difficult, at the very least, for him.

He is old enough (7 and in the second grade) that these parties no longer include parents. It is a fine line to live on; being a concerned (and hopefully not overprotective) parent, or letting them out to experience the world with hopes for the best. I know how to best handle a stressful situation for him and can see when it is about to happen. Knowing that I can’t be there to guide him in a very uncontrolled environment is scary for me.

So, in reminding myself of two great pieces of advice my sister gave me long ago: 1. They (our children) will never be able to rise to the occasion if you don’t give them the opportunity to try, AND 2. They are capable of more than we give them credit for, I prepared a backpack with food and drink, the friend’s gift, and he was on his way.

We walked to the party and as I let him go through the door I said a silent prayer that all would go well, for both him and the other kids! With his problems interacting with other kids socially, he is an easy target for teasing and bullying. Thankfully we live in a very small Austrian town and the entire first and second grade class combined is only 9 kids and he doesn’t have to deal with much more than one mean kid that doesn’t get along with anyone. I can’t imagine what it would be like in a larger school setting.

He has an amazingly friendly and outgoing personality. He has never, at any age, known a stranger. He will talk to anyone, yet that is part of the problem. Talking too much, too loud, not giving personal space, talking about things that people start to tune out…he tries so hard and still doesn’t get so many of the typical social clues that people learn naturally. We literally have to practice with him on how to greet people, how to say goodbye, and how to talk with someone without overwhelming them, just to name a few.

So, back to the party. I let him go in, telling him to have a good time, and mentally thinking that I hope he thinks about his interactions with others and doesn’t get over-excited in the midst of the party fun.

That is just the first part. The second issue we deal with now is that he also eats different from everyone else since making the dietary changes. I would much rather choose this natural alternative than drugging my child, but it is him that has to deal with the social issues. Would he enjoy this party or be upset that he couldn’t fully participate (i.e. chow down on the junk with the rest of them)?

Remember that backpack full of food I sent? We simply tell the other parent that he has allergies and that he will be bringing his own food. It contained a bottle of fresh-made strawberry lemonade, a couple of apples, two raw ‘cupcakes’ (a.k.a. Ani Phyo’s donut holes in cupcake form topped with coconut ‘icing’), and a dark-chocolate covered rice cake. The rice cake was his special treat (non raw) that still fits our gluten free vegan diet. (The kids are very high raw but still have some cooked occasionally if it meets the other criteria!)

The offerings at the party? Hot dogs, French fries (which we don’t do even though they are vegan and gluten-free!), soda, cake and candy galore. I didn’t expect much more since it is typical party fare, but when I hear about these situations, it makes me realize just how far we’ve come.

Just how far has my son come? Well, after asking how the party was, he said he had lots of fun and no one bothered him. He is always quick to let me know if he has a difficult time with someone. That alone was good enough for me! Upon arriving home, I noticed he was louder than usual (if that’s possible!), but he quickly quieted down after I reminded him we needed to use our ‘inside voice.’ Without the diet changes, it was almost impossible for him to control how loud he was.

As for the food, he ate what I gave him, even sharing some with another boy who wanted to try some, and was happy. He could care less about what they ate. He was there for the fun, and he had it! This is the first party he has been to since ‘the diet change’ and the first one he came home from without being upset over something. He even told me he would rather not eat that stuff since he knows it makes him feel bad!

He certainly did rise to the occasion and was probably more capable than I would be of being able to enjoy himself. I was too hung up on whether or not he would get teased about the food or some other issue, although I didn’t let him in on my secret stress. He was just a kid having a good time.

Now, if I could only learn from him!

Natural Tips and Tricks for Beautiful Eyes

It’s strange, you know. I had an enlightened experience when I realized the importance of eye contact. I was thinking about how important it is to look people in the eyes–how powerful it is.

Then I realized that the center of the eye, is just a hole, and I thought to myself that if people could just look each other in the eyes, and connect with that dark spot, that “nothingness”, maybe all the other stuff they judge and attach meaning to would just fall away.

Maybe they could just realize that the black part… that little nothingness is really all there is.

I’m either highly illuminated, or extremely under-slept. You decide.

In the meantime, check out Tracy’s super contribution called:

The Eyes Are The Windows to The Soul

I’ve been thinking a lot about our eyes and how we show so much emotion through them. You know, there are some days when I wake up and I look in the mirror and I am just shocked that whatever I had on my mind before I went to bed, still shows up in my eyes the next day.

I thought it was only fitting that I talk about how to care for our eyes today, since the skin underneath them is pretty fragile and has less oil glands than other areas of our face and body.

As we get older, the skin under the eyes becomes more delicate and how we take care of them has an effect on our emotional well being.

Here are a few simple ideas to keep our eyes looking healthy and full of life:

• Hydrate your body and drink good clean water, now is a great time to check out the Divas Water Ionizers. When a person is dehydrated the body starts storing water as a defense system and this will add to puffiness around the eyes.

• Buy a great pair of sunglasses to reduce the amount of squinting when out in the sun. A good quality pair of glasses should have enough protection to block out UVA and UVB rays.

• Quit smoking. Smoking cause’s vascular (blood vessel) problems that can not only threaten your life, but also make your blood vessels appear more prominent and bluer beneath the skin, causing dark circles.

• Cut down on the amount of salt in your diet. It could add to water retention and puffiness

• Balance the stress in your life with something that brings you pleasure

• If you have allergies, look for natural, herbal, or alternative treatments that may possess the same long lasting effect that over the counter products provide.

• Get a restful night sleep, and if possible sleep with your head slightly raised. Add an extra pillow or prop up the head of your mattress. This helps prevent fluids from accumulating around your eyes as you sleep to prevent puffiness.

• Eat a healthy balanced diet loaded with fruits and vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables, which offer major benefits to your entire body, including your brain, your bones and your heart, while helping to prevent cancer, detoxify your body, boost your immune system and give you more energy.

Diva Beauty Tips:

• Grind a raw potato and add almond paste to it. Use the mixture regularly on the under-eyes to minimize dark circles and puffiness.

• Cut a fresh fig in half, place a half over each eye, flesh side down , leave on for 15 minutes to minimize dark circles

• Soak cotton pads in cold milk and place over closed eyes for five to ten minutes to reduce puffiness or swollen eyes.

• Apply crushed mint leaves in cheese cloth around eyes for five to ten minutes to minimize dark circles

• Steep two herbal tea (chamomile (if allergic to chamomile or ragweed use, black or green tea),( rosehip), bags for about 2 minutes, chill the tea bags and use them as a compress to reduce puffiness and drink the tea to relax and unwind.

• Place 2 thinly sliced, chilled cucumbers on each eye and relax for 15 minutes to minimize puffiness

Enjoy!!

Life is like Playdough

Another week has flown by. Are we all enjoying the whirlwind?

I KNOW time is a human-made construct, an illusion in the cosmic scheme of things- but deadlines, appointments, and other time pressures like getting dinner on the table in time sure feels real! With all the fabulous technological advances that are supposed to make life so much easier and convenient, why does it seem like we are going faster, doing more, and feeling under building pressure more than ever before? Life feels overwhelming and I can’t see it letting up any time soon…

OR…

Another week has flown by. Are we all enjoying the dance?

I KNOW time is on my side. I have all the time in the world, because I am in flow! We are eternal and have forever to get it right! Creating life from an open heart that is clear about our Purpose here, we may learn to manage our schedule based on priorities. We can use all the fabulous technology to expand, and assist our soul’s mission, and that includes daily to do’s. In a world where everything is coming at us from all directions, being able to distinguish what is worthy of your attention is a powerful skill. Claim it now. Claim into being that which you want and it shall be done!

Well, these are the kinds of conversations going on in my head at any given point in the day- can you relate? And which one feeeels better?

I think that answer is evident… so why do we even bother with the one that stresses us out…? Truth be told, it’s just a habit. A pattern we picked up and by repeating it unconsciously for years or decades, the grooves go deeeep.

The beauty of being alive in this dimension is the ability to choose again. We CAN make changes! IF we are aware. Awareness is the first step; a desire/willingness is next.

I always tell my kids “Life is like Playdough; you can make of it what you will” Gee, I’m brilliant! LOL! So why am I making a mess sometimes and beauty at others? It seems to take a lot of practice…Like my dear Father-in-Law used to always say to me “In 20 years Kid, you’ll be perfect”… Hrrumph.

Thank Goddess, time is on my side!

This week, along with having more FUN with the boys and hubs, I have dialed-in something else. It only takes minutes, but can shift the atmosphere in the home/relationship/conversation INSTANTLY- now that’s effectiveness we can all use!

All it is, is actually LISTENING.

Literally STOPPING whatever I am juggling, and just turning around. Maybe even sit down or bend down, and HEAR not just what is being said, but what is the message, the need, underneath what is being said?

The beautiful thing is how much space that gives everyone to hear themselves, and they usually can actually discern their own answers from that honored place. When I am distracted and ‘trying’ to listen, which doesn’t validate the other person or what they’re sharing, which can get them distracted and confused so it actually takes LONGER for them to even express it in all the static we’re both feeling. Another benefit is that I get to Relaxxxx. I just listen with an open heart, and breathe deep, and feel them, which actually gets me to tune into myself too, and we all seem to connect in that moment.

Something magical transpires. I can’t even believe my ears, when so often I say literally nothing other than maybe, “hmmm”, “I see…”, or “wow, that sounds rough”. Before I know it, the tears, anger, or depression vaporizes and suddenly I am engulfed in a hug of small arms, big heart, and POOF, they are off again!

Taking time to listen saves time, and creates time.

For now, I leave you with an all-time favorite quote that says it all so beautifully:

“JUST BY LISTENING DEEPLY, WE CAN ALLEVIATE MUCH SUFFERING.”

I am not exactly sure where I first came across this, but I believe it is a Buddhist saying.

And remember, listen deeply to your self too! That’s where all the answers are.

I’ll be whispering this loving reminder in your ears and hearts this week.

Bless!

Shannon Leone

Memories in the Kitchen

Hi, For some reason I’ve been thinking a lot of my mom and me in the kitchen when I was young. My fond memories with her bring me back to a time when I was still very young. Many days as I was walking home from school and getting closer to home, wonderful smells would reach my nose. Ah, mom was baking again.

I would quickly rush the rest of the way, hoping to be the first to try all the amazing treats she had made for us. I would also secretly be hoping that she wasn’t done baking so I could help. It was as if she could hear my thoughts, she knew me that well. She’d hand me an apron and asked if I’d like to help. My face would light up as she smiled back at me. As a middle child, this was my special time with my mom. No one else, just the two of us.So started my love for treats. These memories have stayed with me and in doing so, are an important part of who I am today. Although I do not make treats very often in our home, when I do they are received and given with warm smiles and love.

With these thoughts a tradition started, first with my own mother and I and then with each of my four children. Though the older ones don’t spend as much time learning to make dishes and treats anymore, they still enjoy it when they do, which is how it should be. They are getting ready to leave some day soon, to start their own lives. Bringing with them the fond memories of the time we have shared together. As I look at my two young ones, I see many memories ahead for us together. I will cherish these moments. My hope is that you will share a moment with your children in the kitchen, and have warm memories of those moments in times that have gone by.

In keeping with this I would like to share a recipe that my two youngest love.

White Chocolate
Macadamia Nut Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup cashews
1 cup almonds
2 tsp real vanilla extract
1 large banana
3 tbsp raw agave nectar

tsp celtic sea salt
½ cup white chocolate (ground
into chunks) or raw cocoa butter
½ cup chopped macadamia nuts

1. Place cashews and almonds in your food processor and grind into flour.

2. Add the remaining ingredients except the white chocolate and chopped nuts and process. Add a little water if needed to get a dough consistency.

3. Add the white chocolate and chopped nuts and pulse chop 2 times.

4. Using your hands roll into balls and flatten into round cookie shapes. Place on a mesh sheet into your dehydrator at 105 degrees, for 12-14
hours.

Note: If you do not have a dehydrator, don’t worry. Simply turn your oven onto the lowest setting and leave the door ajar. It will take longer but it is worth it.

With warm thoughts

Monique

Interview With Raw Model Anthony Anderson: Definitely Divalicious!

When we had the chance recently to connect with Raw Model, Anthony Anderson we had lots of giggles and great inspiration to share. So, in the spirit of sweet treats, renewal and inspiration, we wanted to leave you with this. Sit back, click play and as you bustle about your kitchen or sit back to kick up your feet, enjoy this inspiring interview with a young guy who’s making a big impact on the world around him.

In this interview, Tera and Anthony discuss:

The 4 Things To Focus On To Ensure You Look and Feel Your Best
(Hint: One of them, you might NEVER have thought of!!)

What it takes to get to the place where you can easily maintain your weight.

How to get off the raw-cooked roller coaster. (It’s easier than you think!)

We wouldn’t be divas if we hadn’t asked him to give us the scoop on his new girlfriend!

What are his plans from here on out?

The two things you simply must avoid if you don’t want a puffy face and dark circles under your eyes!!

How vanity sparked his raw food pursuits and interests and how his passion for raw food and conscious living may help him leave modelling behind.

When you’ve reached a plateau with your raw food diet, the next step in your nutrition evolutions is…

What makes him the PERFECT consultant for most women who are passionate about raw foods, natural beauty and… …eating disorders.

How many days it takes for cooked food to show up on your skin, and how many days it takes to get rid of it again.

The 3 things you simply must eat to have BEAUTIFUL skin.

Superfoods: Are they necessary?

How to Eat Like a King in Central Park for free all summer.

How to make use of your neighbors back yard and public parks for your own wild food gardening.

To enjoy these and other bits of inspiration, and Anthony charm that will leave you smiling click this link. Enjoy more calorie-free treats, sent with love from The Raw Divas.

Stop Obsessing About Fruit, Fat and Raw Food! Eat More Greens!

n often repeated discussion here in the raw food world, seems to center on disagreements of whether a high fruit diet is best, and then assumptions are often made that a diet not high in fruits needs to be high in fat. These discussions frustrate me, as they really miss the whole key to a healthy diet (raw or otherwise). While fruits, nuts, and seeds all play an important role in a well-rounded, healthy diet, the real stars of the show in optimum health are greens. Whether you’re a fruit-loving raw foodist, a supplement fan, a low-sugar advocate, or anything in between, the core of your diet should be fresh greens of all kinds.

Here are some of the benefits of centering your diet on greens:

1. Mineral salts naturally occurring in greens help neutralize and expel waste in our bodies.

2. Greens are a good source of natural fibre, helping to keep colon healthy
3. Greens provide important nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and other minerals not found in fruits, nuts and seeds (unless you eat the white pith or seeds of oranges or figs, blended for digestion)
4. Greens are a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, D and E

5. Greens (especially sunflower greens – which are delicious) are a wonderful source of lecithin, which helps break fatty acids down into a digestible form
6. Greens are full of chlorophyll and carotenoids (components of vitamin A), which benefits the blood, tissues, and inflammation, supports our immune system, our vision, and protects against coronary disease, and tumours
7. Greens are our best sources of folates and folic acid (a B vitamin), which are important for cell growth and reproduction
8. Greens like spinach, parsley, kale, and mustard greens, are extremely high in vitamin C.

Unlike fruits and fats, leafy greens have never been accused of causing acidity in the body.
In fact, greens help the body become more alkaline, which is a goal of many raw foodists who understand that illness can only exist in an acidic environment in the body.

Worried about the cost of buying fresh, organic greens in sufficient quantities?
Remember, farmed greens are simply cultivated wild herbs and greens. For a truly low-cost and nutrient rich diet, consider edible wild greens. A little research into your local edible flora and fauna could provide you with some of the highest quality food in your diet!
Another cost-saving tip, is to grow your own! There are many books and website dedicated to teaching people how to easily grow the highest quality greens, even in small, city kitchens. Sunflower greens are one very easy and delicious green that can be grown this way, without fancy equipment.

So now that you know why you should focus your diet on greens, and you know how to do it in a way that suits any budget or environment, you might have one other issue that has kept you from becoming a full-fledged green practitioner yourself:

Taste!

Many people have the notion that greens don’t taste good. If you fall into this unfortunate category, take heart! Greens are an acquired taste for some people, especially if your taste buds are more familiar with processed grains and fat-filled sauces than fresh produce! Most people find that the more greens they eat, the more they come to fall back in love with the food that nature intended for us.

A great way to ease into a greener diet, is by adding green smoothies to your daily menus. While the appearance of a green smoothie can be intimidating, an attractive jug and a few recipes have proven that even the most cooked food eater can enjoy greens in their diet in this form!

Another great way to get more greens is to eat them in salads with fruit. Salads of luscious and soft baby spinach topped with juicy mandarin orange slices and velvety sunflower sprouts don’t miss fatty dressings at all, and you might be surprised at how enjoyable they are as a main dish.

According to Ann Wigmore, “after you’ve been eating lots of green foods for six months to a year, you will feel that something is missing unless you have them each day. When you recognize this, your body is beginning to take a more active role in food selection, and that is the purpose of any good health program – to help you tune in to your own body’s needs.”
April’s Issue of Health In High Heels will be pulling out all the Green Stops! Watch for April’s Great Green Gazette to learn more!

“And now a word from our sponsors:”

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Hear ye! Hear ye! We’re having a pajama party!!!

In case you missed this in our latest issue of Health In High Heels…

**BIG NEWS**

Hear ye! Hear ye! After multiple requests, much consideration, finger twiddling, and gum chewing, the Raw Divas have decided to make it OFFICIAL!!

OUR FIRST LIVE RAW DIVA EVENT IS HAPPENING!!

Over much of the last year we’ve had a lot of giggles about the idea of hosting a great, big pajama party and sassy Raw Diva event. Well, it seems our plans are finally about to be realized!

But before we make the big announcement, we’d love to know what you think about a few of the ideas up our sleeves. Please take a moment to peek at a few of the ideas we’ve been playing with and let us know what you think!

Shavasana Snooze

While looking for a document the other day, I came across an index card on which I had taped the words of an “Earth Meditation” when preparing for a children’s yoga class back in November. This meditation was adapted from “Meditating with Children” by Dr. Deborah Rozman and was part of the teacher training materials given to participants of the Radiant Child Yoga Program (RCYP).

The “Earth Meditation” reads as follows:

“Imagine you are the earth, you are one with Mother Earth. Feel that you are deep inside the center of the earth and that the mountains and oceans and rivers are your body…Feel all of the rocks as part of you…Now feel all the soil and dirt as part of you…Now feel all of the little plants as part of you, and all of the big trees as part of your body…The grass is like your hair…Now feel all of the animals as part of you…And now feel all of the people, everywhere, of all shapes, sizes and colors, are all part of your body…Feel all of the earth beings as part of you — the earth whom you feed and shelter and give a home to…for all have the same home — the earth.”

I read it and vividly remembered the evening I did a similar meditation with my son and how it totally relaxed him. After playing around with some yoga postures in our living room, Caleb laid on his back in Shavasana (Corpse pose) in the dimly lit room, while I spoke empowering words, reminding him about the power and light that lies within him and radiates outwardly.

I reminded him to believe in himself and all that he brings to the world. I told him to never underestimate his value and connection to life. I prompted him to reflect on being made in God’s likeness…….how could we then be anything other than loving, caring, forgiving and great?

At one point during this guided meditation, Caleb asked me a question (although I now forget what it was). After I answered it, he requested that I “keep on talking,” which let me know he was indeed tuning in to my words of inspiration. I loved that he was in the moment of the journey.

Eventually, I decided to hush so that he could soak up the quiet and empty his mind for ultimate relaxation. I told him that, with eyes closed, he could focus his attention through the area between his eyebrows (his third eye) which would help spiritually balance this journey for him. And, as Mary, one of my yoga instructors, tells her students, I echoed to Caleb: “As thoughts enter your mind, acknowledge them, but don’t take part in their drama. Just let them go!”

I literally watched Caleb drift into deeper and deeper relaxation, to the point that he just lay there as if he was about to doze off any second. When Shavasana was “officially” over, so to speak, he chose to remain on the floor with his body completely still.

I moved on to doing other things, merely looking over at him from time to time. Before long, he was knocked out. Fast asleep. Wow! It was a Saturday night, before 9:00 p.m., and my child was asleep. Unheard of! I realized it was rest his body needed, so I did not want to disturb him. Words from Cristin Tighe, RCYP facilitator, came to mind. When we fall asleep in Shavasana, the body is really tired, she had explained to our group of children’s yoga teachers in training.

The night that Caleb lay on the floor asleep was the night my husband and I were supposed to be having a date at the movies. The plan was to be leaving home within the half hour to take Caleb to his grandparents’ house. However, I found myself questioning if Collin and I should postpone our date. Obviously, Caleb’s body needed this rest and I wanted him to reap the full benefits of it.

After going back and forth in my mind as to what to do, and even sharing my “dilemma” with a friend, I convinced myself that if Caleb was that tired, he would quickly drift back off to sleep once he got to his grandparents. And, he did! He usually likes to play Monopoly with his grandparents, but that night he darted straight for the bed at their house.

Now, there are yoga teachers who, of course encourage optimal relaxation during Shavasana, but believe yoga students should retain awareness and not fall asleep during Shavasana. Others feel that if yoga is about honoring the body’s natural needs, then why shouldn’t yogis and yoginis fall asleep during their relaxation time?

In Is Snoozing in Yoga Class OK?, FitSugar writes: “When I take or teach class, I think falling asleep is a great thing. It means that you’ve completely let go of your body and your thoughts, and it’s a sign of complete relaxation. It also means you’ve worked really hard physically exerting yourself, so who can blame your body for trying to re-energize itself?”

Oh how I loved that Caleb had allowed his body to do just that! However, technically, he fell asleep after our “official practice” was over. He was definitely in a state of initial awareness during Shavasana, so I feel he got the best of both worlds of Shavasana, so to speak.

“I’m OK with students falling asleep in my yoga class,” FitSugar explains, “because people have different needs and personalities. Some people are sleep-deprived or not feeling well, and others have the gift of being able to fall asleep within minutes of lying down. Allowing people to do what comes naturally to them is what yoga is all about.”

I’m with FitSugar! What about you?

Namaste,

Penny