The 5 WORST Environmental Pollutants in your Beauty Products

Did anyone read this article today?

We need to read labels CAREFULLY so that we are aware of what we are putting ON as well as IN our body.

Recently my husband and I have recommitted to eating more naturally. We are shopping more at the local farmers markets and purchasing organic in the stores. This can get expensive. We are slowly integrating more and more green products into our home. I have discontinued using store bought chemicals for cleaning and have started to use, and sell, Amway products as they are GREEN and have been for 50 years...well before it was THE POPULAR thing to be. The plant based home care products do not have a chemical odor and have reduced the sniffles we used to have when we cleaned. The organic ingredients get my clothes even cleaner.

After this article I am off to read more about what I am using for my personal care!

Easy Pose...Sukhasana

Sounds easy...well it can be much more challenging if you take time to pay attention to the details.

Sukhasana is a grounding pose that can be done in a yoga class or can be part of your personal practice at home.

Start by finding a seat with your pubic bone and tail bone so they are equidistant from the floor. Place your feet under your knees so your femurs extend. You can sit up on a bolster if your knees elevate above your hips. You can place support under your knees if you wish greater relaxation. NOTICE WHICH LEG IS IN FRONT.

Once you found YOUR comfortable seat stack your vertebrae one on top of another creating a tall spine. If you wish you can even sit with a wall behind you so you feel the support of the wall. Breathe in to draw breath up your spine, maintain the height of your spine, and exhale to draw breath down your spine. Breathe deeply and evenly. Perhaps count to 5 on your inhalation and exhalation.

Your hands may rest palm up or down upon your knees. Find what is comfortable for you. Palm up is more of a chest opener. Another option is placing your hands at prayer at your heart. This allows you to feel the breath as it travels up and down your spine. Be mindful to sit tall and aim your shoulders out, try to avoid rounding. if you are indoors, think of aiming your shoulders toward opposite walls.

Half way through your practice gently switch the cross of your legs. The leg in front is getting the most work. You want to even out your body.


My take away from this pose is to remember to focus on details in yoga and each aspect of my life. I can take aspects of my yoga practice with me "off the mat". I can take Sukhasana with me in the car and sit tall as I drive. I can have good posture as I stand in line at the grocery store. I can remember to breathe evenly and fully to keep myself calm in each situation I face.

Healthy Backs

With Spring Cleaning comes sore muscles! Perhaps you find that you overdid it as a weekend warrior OR are avoiding starting a task so you do not hurt yourself. Pilates can help.

Pilates helps you bring your body back into alignment. Breath and core stabilization are 2 of the KEY principles.

One exercise you can try to work on core stability is the kneeling one arm and one leg lift. This exercise strengthens your core PLUS activates your brain as you work on differentiating movement on the right and left sides of your body simultaneously.

Start with your arms stacked under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Distribute weight evenly over all 4 limbs. Draw your navel toward your spine, the crown of your head forward and your tailbone backward. You should be looking DOWN at the floor to keep your neck and extension of your spine.With an inhale lift your right arm and left leg. Stay for a breath. On an exhale lower the limbs with control ... FIGHT GRAVITY. On an inhale repeat on the other side.

Photo courtesy of About.com

Make a difference...Starbucks

visit the Starbucks Website to see how you can make a difference and GO GREEN. Save trees, use reusable mugs!!

Today, APRIL 15th, you can get a free cup of coffee by bringing in a reusable travel mug.

Clear Some Stress from your shoulders...get the monkey off your back!

Dolphin pose is not just a headstand preparation, it is a great way to open your upper back and relieve stress. Many of us carry our stress in our upper back - sometimes even developing a hunchback from the stress of sitting all day at a desk.

Try a dolphin pose to help relieve tension. The inversion calms your brain while the physical posture strengthens your back, stretches your hamstrings and stretches your shoulders.

(Photo courtesy of Yoga Journal)

Staying present

After a week off from exercise due to illness I took a yoga class from a teacher that I enjoy and has always challenged me.

The practice last week reminded me to stay present and let go of expectations. I was weak from illness and could not do what I normally can do in a class. What I needed from class is a reawakening, it was a great experience for me both personally and professionally. I remind my students to let go of expectations, I needed to practice what I preach.

Changes along life's path

Recently I had to say goodbye to people I worked with for years. Change is difficult. Each person enters our life for a reason. It is sad to think our time with others must come to a close. Appreciate each moment you have with your friends and family. This experience helps me understand a line from a quote my grandma always said:...Today is a gift that's why they call it the present.

We must be like bamboo and have strength and grace, bend but do not break.