Throat Chakra 101

 

Like John Mayer says... say what you need to say! But also don't forget to listen too!

Location: throat... see, this is really not rocket science!

Color: Blue

Physical: throat, mouth, neck, ears

Balanced: good communication skills, content, mediator, artistically inspired 

Unbalanced: over-talkative, arrogant,  holds back self expression, inconsistent opinions, 

Yoga: legs up the wall, fish, shoulder stand... check this post

Oil: peppermint, breathe blend, spearmint, wintergreen

Stones: aquamarine, lapis lazuli, sodalite, blue lace agate

Nutrition: it's all about the fruit... blackberries, grapes, and especially blueberries

Affirmations: I can speak up for myself, I speak from the heart, I listen to acknowledge others, I can express myself 

Heart Chakra 101

 

Feel the love! 

Location: where your heart is sillies! 

Color: Green

Physical: heart, lungs, thymus 

Balanced: unconditionally loves, compassionate, nurturing

Unbalanced: possessive, over dramatic, fears rejection, feels unworthy of love

Yoga: think heart openers... camel, cobra or updog, wild thing... check this post for more.

Oil: sandalwood, rose

Stones: green aventurine, jade, emerald, peridot, unakite, watermelon tourmaline, or even a little rose quartz for good measure! 

Nutrition: I'm always preaching for y'all too eat your greens, now I'm making it even more important.  Kale, spinach, chard, broccoli, celery, avocado, zucchini, and green fruits too... pears, apples, kiwi, grapes.  Caring for your heart chakra is delicious! 

Affirmations: I love myself for who I am, my love for myself is unconditional, my love for others is unconditional,  I am grateful for all the love in my life. 

10 Roads To Happy Chakras

A dear friend and I just did a reiki training yesterday.  Awesome! Eventually I'll do a post on it.

The reiki attunement was such an amazing experience!  And it kicks off an energetic cleans that works its way up through the chakras.  As this cleanse takes place for me and moves into each of my chakras I'm going to post that info for you guys that I talked about here.

But first I want to share/remind you of some ways to check in and bring balance to your chakras.  I want you to keep these ideas in mind as we work our way through your basic chakra system.  Remember definitely keep an open mind, but otherwise only keep want sounds and feels good to you. 

 

I can't stress enough how life changing it has been for me to take a good hard look at my chakra system!  Being a #gutsygirl I focus SOOOOO much on my physical body.  And while that's so important for everyone, it's just the vehicle that drives your #soul around.  There is so much more to your entire beautiful self!  Checking in with my #chakras helps me make sure my entire being, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual, is functioning in top notch condition! 

These are some ways that I do just that! 

10 roads to #happychakras...

1. #Nutrition

2. #Aromatherapy

3. #Yoga

4. #DailyQuestions & #Journaling

5. #Affirmations

6. #Meditation

7. #Nature 

8. #CrystalHealing

9. #SacredSpace & #ColorTherapy

10. #SoundTherapy

#holistichealing #holistichealth #fillyourtankfirst #selflove #grateful #happy #blessed 

 

Here my gorgeous friend and I are being the playful Yogis that we are in the yoga room where we did the reiki training.  I am participating in an instagram 10 day yoga challenge through #yogabycandace and the #wildthing was the pose of the day.  So we snapped this cool picture to represent our sunny Sunday morning learning new things in the city.  Awesome reminder of an awesome memory! #namaslay 

Why love inversions?

 
This moment was one of my favorites of all time! Anyway... 

Do you love inversions? Hate them? More of a love hate thing?? 

I used to be scared of them.  Not scared to get hurt, but scared to fail, and that's the worst and most useless kind of scared.  I needed to get over it!!

I always tell the kiddos just try.  So I listened to my own words and I fell in love.

Why??

Here's 10 good reasons...

YES, there are tons of reasons that this physiologically helps your body... draining lymph fluids, circulation, balance, coordination... but I want to focus more on the mental side... 

And yes, of course they just look cool and photograph well... but there is soooooooo much more than that. 

1.  Perfect for teaching you the classic life lesson that when you fall you get up and try again... always try again! 

2.  Overcoming fears feels damn good!

3.  The kiddos (and some big people too) are so inspired by them.  I love sharing inspiration with them for their yoga!

4. Knowing you can hold yourself up physically makes you realize you can mentally too.

5.  My core can be a hot mess inside with all my digestive issues, and that tries to get in my head sometimes, but every time I do an inversion I prove that that core is way stronger than I think.  You are always stronger than you think and the proof is right here.

6. I said "I don't give a shit" to what people think of me.  Am I happy with my yoga? Yes! Do I do these to "show off"? Absolutely not! Previously, I didn't share because I didn't want people to think that about me.  But I realized even the people who can't stop and open their mind to the beauty of all these why's are inspired too.  Remember jealousy is flattery.

7.  It forces you to tune into your breathe, which is always, always, always important.

8.  It actually really challenges me.  Yoga has always been something that I was just naturally good at.  Like I was born and built to do it.  I don't care who you are, inversions are always at least a little bit challenging.  And that's a refreshing way to stay humble and grateful for what your body and mind can do.

9.  It forces you to stop and focus.  That's what you see in the picture below.  I was frazzled and overwhelmed... get inverted and I am balanced and centered again just like that.

10.  Sometimes you just need to change your perspective, and what better way than by hanging out upside down! 

 

Right here I have a full shop and full heart... but a full brain too! 

When I lose it, I find my zen by my vehicles, and usually upside down! 🙃 🏎

Just like I said above, it forces me to take a brain break, to focus and breathe, to find gratitude and balance. 

#yogi #zen #balance #strength #breathe #focus #gratitude #pontiac #g8 #liquidred #cargirl #stillplayswithcars #shinebykat

So, friends, be afraid, but don't let it stop you!  Try it, fall down, try again. Use a wall, who the hell cares?! Just do YOUR inversions... That's what it's all about! 

Here is a PERFECT example!

Look at this beautiful mama and her baby! I got the pleasure of teaching them both how to do that.  She didn't think she could do it, but I assured her she totally could and after walking her through it for not even five minutes she did it!  Now she has this precious picture of this amazing moment with her son!  So yes... just try damn it!! 

 

There is no room for competition on your yoga mat...

 

I'm not competing... I hope we all win... 

It's easy to look at the mat next to you and think why can he/she do that and I can't?  Well... lots of reasons.  Number one being that he/she is not you and doesn't have your body.  Duh! 

None of us are created the same... our bodies have the same parts put together relatively the same way, but the relatively part is EVERYTHING.  Our bones and muscles, connective tissues and organs, how we process our nutrition, how our nervous system is functioning on any given day... it's all variable.  We aren't made the same way, we don't think the same way, we don't fuel our bodies the same way, we don't have the same experiences both throughout our days or on our mats, and we certainly don't move the same way.  And that's where the beauty of yoga lies.  It is your yoga! Yours! Got me?

This is one of the reasons I LOVE teaching kids yoga.  In a world that is so full of competitive sports they need a physical outlet where they can just be, move, breathe, and have fun.  The beauty of kids yoga is that they still have the innocence to not give a shit.  Kenzie isn't looking at Clayton with a mind full of comparisons... she's too busy barking like a dog.  Why can't we do that??

Let's take some notes from the kiddos and try to check our egos at the door and leave the competition off the little islands of our yoga mats.  After all, that little island is reserved for peace and growth, strength, balance and flexibility, there's no room for competition.

Here are some little reminders/tips to help get your head out of your ass and into the right place.

1. Remember the kids can do it, so... so can you.
2. If you're too busy comparing you sure as hell aren't focused.  Focus baby!
3. Forcing is bad!  What someone may or (most likely) may not be thinking of you isn't worth getting hurt over.
4. It's your yoga... never forget that.  Be aware of your body and do whatever the hell you feel like doing.
5. Nobody is judging you, and if they are it's because they have issues of their own. Just do you thing! 
6. The end goal is for you to feel better mentally and physically after class than when you walked in the door... and competing isn't going to help get you there.
7. Comparison is the thief of joy.
8. There is no prize.
9. You are all on the same team.
10. There's really no finish line.  You are a work in progress always.  Just because you can't nail something that you perceive to be super important today doesn't mean you won't tomorrow.  Or maybe you'll come to the realization that it actually isn't all that important at all.  Whatever. It's a practice... duh, again!

Sometimes our mind still goes there.  If none of this works and you still feel the need to compete, acknowledge and deal with those thoughts... 

1. Remember: thoughts are just thoughts and they can be changed.
2. Consider why you feel that way... hmmmm... there must be something you feel that you need to be practicing more.
3. Think of the person you are "competing" with as an inspiration rather than a so called "opponent"
4. Tune your focus inward to what you are feeling instead of what you are thinking.  Thoughts can be dumb, just feel.
5. Recenter yourself and just breathe... when in doubt always just breathe!

There's my two cents on that! Namaste, my friends!! 😉🙏🏻 

Balance... these are words to live by!

Are we really positively sure that I didn't write this?! #rachelbrathen took my words! 😉😂

#words #balance

 

Bringing Sexy Back.... yoga poses for a strong back

 

People tend to focus on abs, but they neglect the fact that the ENTIRE core needs to be strong!

It serves very important purposes... posture, encasing very vital organs, protecting the spine... 

Before I get way too much into the sciencey lingo and bore you to tears let's just get to the point...  

Bring sexy back... literally!

Here are some fab poses to work to strengthen both the upper and lower back.  Make them as hard (or easy) as YOU need them to be!  

1. Bow pose- hold for a good 5 to 10 deep breaths.
2. Flapping bird- start in airplane pose, clap your hands together, making sure to engage the muscles in your back and shoulders the entire time.  Do 20 times on each side.  Hint: want to get a little booty action and even more balance and coordination in... lower your leg that's elevated to touch your toe on the ground each time you clap your hands together!
3. Supermans-  who doesn't want be a superhero?! lower down and just touch your hands and feet to the ground and pull them right back up again- do at least 20!
4. Side plank-  work the entire core at one time... super efficient! Throw a push up in between switching reps to build some real badass strength!
5. Cobra- keep it simple!
6. Warrior 3- hold that shit for a good 5 breaths. 
7. Wheel- or baby bridge if that's more your speed... a good five breaths here too. Lift back into it a few times too!
8. Flickering lights- remember I speak kids yoga lingo! 😂 This is just a chair pose, stay in the pose but fold forward over your thighs bringing your arms up behind you and then come back up, bringing your arms to the sky but don't straighten those legs. Flicker those lights at least 20 times baby!
9. Shark- if you're not full of child like wonder you may know this as locust! But feel free to make a scary shark face anyway if you want! 
10. Reverse plank- lift that booty! 

Love yourself this February! 30 day love yourself program... yoga and gut health

The phrase namaslay had been popping into my head a lot.  I googled that shit and it led me to this book! 

 

Guys, I feel like I could have written this book... like every word of it.  I relate so strongly both to her struggles and to her rising.  

I just love her!  I want to channel more of her kind of gutsy into my life.   I started following her blog and downloaded her app.

I came across this just in time... thank you universe!

I need help in the self love department,  it's always nice to look at gut health through a fresh set of eyes, and you know how much I love to yoga!  Win, win, win!

Join me this February! 

 

Gutsy Yoga... 10 Poses for a happy digestive system

I really do consider yoga to be an integral part of managing my digestive conditions.  Doctors said I would need the meds everyday, thankfully they were so so wrong.  Really I just need the yoga (and my diet) everyday!  My tummy is not happy if I miss my practice, if even for a day... Demanding bitch that she is! 😉 😂

Read this post if you want to know why I think all gutsy girls should yoga!

Here are some awesome, gentle poses to start with...

 

•child's pose- there has been many a time I've managed pain by chilling out with this one! 

•cat stretches- every morning!

• down dog- come on, what is this not good for?

•legs up the wall- the bomb of restorative poses, everyone should be doing this one! 

•revolved triangle

•twisting lunge

•seated twist- as you can tell, twisting is good! 

•knees to chest 

•bridge

• savasana- who doesn't want to just zen out and breath?

Third Eye Chakra Yoga

 

Keep that third eye chakra happy with these poses and learn to trust your own inner compass and see things the way you need to... #intuition #wisdom #understanding

 •child's pose

•dolphin

•eagle

•warrior 3

•standing forward bend

•down dog

#thirdeyechakra #yogaforyourchakras #yogi #yogaeveryday #yoga #hippyvibes #happychakras #chakras #balance #flexibility #strength #energy #badass #rocksolidvibes #rocksolidvibestribe #apennyformyglutenfreethoughts #holistichealing #blossomsunited

Let's shift the way we think about healthcare!

 

A very wise man once said...

Guys, let's shift the way we think about healthcare! #wellness

#eatlikeyouloveyourself #movelikeyouloveyourself #nutritionista #alignment #balance #mindbodyspirit #eatrealfood #foodismedicine #movementismedicine #healyourself #gutsygirl #apennyformyglutenfreethoughts

Heart Chakra Yoga

 

Feel the love with these yoga poses that are fabulous for heart chakra work!

#allyouneedislove #openyourheart 

•cobra

•camel

•bridge

•up dog

•warrior 1

•cat/cow

#heartchakra #yogaforyourchakras #yogi #yogaeveryday #yoga #hippyvibes #happychakras #chakras #balance #flexibility #strength #energy #badass #rocksolidvibes #rocksolidvibestribe #holistichealing #blossomsunited

Sacral Chakra Yoga

 

Let's work on that sacral chakra and use yoga movement to find all of the sweetness and pleasure life has to offer... #iamhappy #iamfullfilled #iamgoodenough

•pigeon

•happy baby

•cobbler

•frog (hands down my lil yogis fave pose 😉)

•dancer

•triangle 

•straddle

#sacralchakra #yogaforyourchakras #yogi #yogaeveryday #yoga #hippyvibes #happychakras #chakras #balance #flexibility #strength #energy #badass #rocksolidvibes #rocksolidvibestribe #holistichealing #blossomsunited 

Root Chakra Yoga

 

One of my favorite ways to keep my chakras happy and healthy is through yoga.  Here are some fab poses to practice to work on your root chakra! Focus on building a stable foundation both on and off your mat...  #iamgrounded #iamconnectedtotheearth #rootforyourself 

•tree

•warrior 1

•bridge 

•child's pose

•deep squat

•lotus pose

#rootchakra #yogaforyourchakras #yogi #yogaeveryday #yoga #hippyvibes #happychakras #chakras #balance #flexibility #strength #energy #badass #rocksolidvibes #rocksolidvibestribe #holistichealing #blossomsunited 

Follow me on instagram @rocksolidvibes for more!

Yoga for your chakras!!

 

Yoga became the rock solid foundation that I built my road to holistic healing and self discovery on. 

 

I admit I am addicted and can not function as my best self without the balance, strength, and flexibility yoga brings to my mind, body, soul, and chakras every single day! 

At first it was a gentle way for this gutsy girl to workout without making myself sick.  I saw physical results, and being in such a shaky place physically and mentally (body image and digestive disorder wise) I needed the strength that gave me.  To me strong was definitely the new skinny, and I started feeling less broken and more badass.  As I progressed, the badassery made its way into all other aspects of me and I loved it! 

So, yes, of course, yoga is an amazing way to calm your mind and strengthen and balance your physical body, but don't discredit its ability to do the same for your energetic body.  

I want to share this with you all to celebrate Christmas and hopefully help you kickstart your own journey with the coming new year!  I'll be posting my fave poses for each of your seven basic chakras.  Follow me on instagram (rocksolidvibes),check here, or join the facebook group to feel the hippy yogi vibes and join me in balancing our chakras through the beautiful movement that is yoga! 

#yogaforyourchakras #yogi #yogaeveryday #yoga #hippyvibes #chakras #breathe #balance #flexibility #strength #energy #badass #tellyourstories #rocksolidvibes #rocksolidvibestribe #holistichealing #blossomsunited #gutsygirl #celiac #apennyformyglutenfreethoughts