Every morning when I wake up, my mind does not start with thoughts of gratitude. If you’re anything like me, your mind starts thinking about what went wrong yesterday, what could go wrong today, and what might go wrong tomorrow. This is not a great way to start the day. What I have learned from
At the moment of the Buddha’s enlightenment, he reached down to the earth goddess to affirm his triumph over Mara, the destroyer. He had seen through the house of sorrow that he had built around himself. The first teaching given by the Buddha after his enlightenment was the Four Noble Truths, which lays out the
It’s a time of celebration! You are busy and happily making a list and checking it twice. Trees are being decorated and lights are strung around the house which brings a glow to the season. The delicious smell of baking cookies is wafting through the house. The stockings are being hung with glee. You’ve fought
Almost our entire biology is geared toward protection and defense and our culture teaches us to grab what we want, even if it means taking from others. To work against this conditioning takes great courage and practice. The ethical and philosophical practices of yoga and meditation give us guideposts for leading a life in alignment with our values. When I practice them, they never fail. The key is remembering to wake up to our conditioning and make a different choice.
I quit weighing and counting calories a long time ago. These practices were never helpful and often harmful. I quit basing my value on the values of the diet culture. They always made me feel like there was something wrong with me. And, I quit looking in the mirror and being disappointed at the signs
Mindful eating changes how you eat, how you respond to emotions and thoughts, and how you approach your entire life. Some people who take the class have difficulty with emotional eating and body image, some have been diagnosed with eating disorders, some are professionals wanting to teach mindful eating, and some are people who are
Over the many years that I have practiced mindfulness, meditation, and yoga, what I have discovered is that the way you do one thing (whether it is eating, driving, yoga, gardening, etc.) is the way you show up for the rest of your life. For instance, if you are a distracted, emotional, quick eater, you
July 11 – 31, 2022 | 6:00 – 7:15a CENTRAL TIME To sign up, go to alleyCatYoga.com. ONLINE ONLY. Wake in the early morning, escorted by pastel shades of dawn. Sit in the consciousness of stillness and become poised to listen. Let yoga speak to you as the sun rises. There is no better way
One of the most common statements I hear at the beginning of my mindful eating classes is “I can’t stop eating (even when I’m full) because it tastes so good.” Upon further inquiry, I hear “Well, of course, I could stop eating.” What I really want to know at this point is “Are you listening
What do you do first thing in the morning? Do you turn off the alarm and snooze then must hurry when you finally get up? Do you check your phone for news and social media before you get out of bed? Do you grumble until you get your first cup of coffee? Do you skip
