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11 Ways To Fill Your Home With Hygge.

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I was inspired by the Danish term for simplistic, cozy living after a friend sent me an article on it a few years ago. Hyggehouse.com describes it like this.

“Hygge (pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah) is a Danish word used when acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary as cozy, charming or special.”

Hygge is practiced in the homes and hearts of the Danish, and in the home and heart of a lot of inspired families around the world, including ours, due to it’s exposure through countless articles and books on the subject circulating throughout the internet.

Hygge is that feeling you get on a rainy Sunday. The feeling that makes you just want to curl up in bed and read a good book with some favorite snacks in arms reach. I LOVE cozy living and practice it daily.

Here are 11 ways I practice Hygge at home whether I am literally at home or in a retreat center somewhere in the world.

  1. Warm cocoa or tea.
  2. Cozy blankets.
  3. Candles.
  4. Good smells.
  5. Baths.
  6. Board games.
  7. Books.
  8. Journaling.
  9. Togetherness.
  10. Decorating with plants and good lighting.
  11. Unplugging from the internet and other electronics.

How you practice Hygge?

Author:

Alana Roach

Owner & Director of the Explorations of Self Travel Community

Memories From Our January 2018 Costa Rica Yoga Retreat!

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This year’s “Liberated Heart,” A Costa Rica Yoga & Healing Retreat was absolutely astounding. The bonds that were created there among the old mango trees and ocean-vibes were life-changing. Joseph Adams, Alana Quattro, myself, and my little nugget 21 month old journeyed to the land of Pura Vida early so that we could get our feet on the ground a bit before welcoming our guests. Traveling to far off destinations is always
filled with a little excitement as there is this quality of the unknown. That’s one of the qualities that makes world travel so great. We gained memories and stories to tell our family and friends for a lifetime. Stories that I am sure will be past down through generations. You never know what kind of foot print your inspiring life will leave.


Once our guests arrived, ate a delicious meal, and got a good night’s sleep, they made their way down from their bungalows to the open air yoga shala to do their first Costa Rica, Explorations of Self Retreat yoga class. You should have seen their faces wash over with a cool, calm serenity as they gazed out over the ocean, breathing and moving with guided asana and pranayama by Alana Roach. One of our guests commented later on how this place was going to change her life and how places like this needed to be a little hard to get to because the land felt so untouched by tourism. If you walk out onto the beaches in this little beach town there are usually 10, MAYBE 15 people enjoying the beach as well.. and these beaches have plenty of room.. a near by 20 minute hike and you are on a deserted beach. Have you ever experienced something like Leonardo DeCaprio’s, “The Beach?” It’s here. I’ve swam into the Pacific Ocean with friends and gazed back at a beach which was untouched, only inhabited only by the palm trees, hermit crabs, wind, and sky…there’s nothing quite like it. That alone is worth the trip. But there’s more..

Our guests went deep within their hearts, bodies, and minds during their afternoon workshops with Joseph Adams and Alana Renee Quattro. There were tears and laughters shared. Everyone was incredibly BRAVE and courageous in their commitment to shed what they felt was blocking their ability to love themselves fully. I was taken back by it.

The food!!! From vegan to pescatarian cuisine, our retreat had it all. The food here was delicious and SO fresh… the breakfast restaurant overlooked the ocean with outdoor seating and a lawn that was reminiscent of The Secret Garden. After we ate, we stretched out on hammocks strewn about the lawn or walked into the sea which was just steps in front of the hammocks. Iguanas as big as cats bobbed their heads just feet away from us, and beach dogs came to bid us a, “Buenos Dias!” Heaven on Earth. The dinners were candle lit, and the service AND food was 5 star. Plates of fresh greens, tuna, phyllo dough encrusted lobster & salmon, vegan stuffed zucchini, and home made vanilla ice cream drizzled with fresh raspberries were just the tip of the iceberg for what we were served EVERY night with the ocean waves lapping just 20 feet away and our feet digging into the sand…

Our guests enjoyed the safety of this funky beach town after dinner and often walked into town, sharing stories of their lives, getting to know each other and yet they all shared the same sentiment out loud to me several times, “I feel like I have known these women all of my life.” I kept hearing, “Thank you for bringing us together, “ and I even received a, “I have been on retreats before but I have never felt a bond like this with the guests and teachers before. We are family.”

Saying goodbye to one another was difficult but we all KNOW we will see each other again soon. Everything was timed perfectly from start to finish. It was indeed, “Divine Timing.”

Alana, Joey, & I thank you from the core of our liberated hearts for journeying with us to Costa Rica and we invite you to journey with us again Jan 12-19, 2019, same place, same time. Email info@explorationsofself.com or send your $365.00 deposit via paypal to explorationsofself@Gmail.com now to reserve your spot!

 

 

So much love, light, and infinite blessings,

Alana Roach

Owner and CEO of Explorations of Self, LLC.

You Can Thrive.

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There was a time in my life when I would have given anything to escape. You know what I mean. When you experience something so devastating that all you want to do is get out. You start to question things and numb out until one day you can’t do it anymore. You reach a breaking point and there are two choices.

 

1.You can thrive

 

2. You can wilt. 

Choosing to thrive takes guts. To thrive is to be ALIVE and show up no matter what. You won’t make a wrong choice when you CHOOSE to face the truth in the right here and the right now. You can not lose here.

Living is FULL of emotion. Full of ups and downs, twists and turns. Don’t live in the why. Live in the how.

How can you do it?

How can you succeed?

How can you LOVE.

How.

How.

How.

Rest assured that this will take time. Your journey was meant to be long and full, dear ones. You are sitting on the precipice of something exquisite and no one can do it but you.

You are so full of potential. So ridiculously SMART. So wise in your animal skin. Awaken to that Truth.

Choose to help another by living fully in this lifetime. Express your unique paint brush and sound unlike anyone else who has come before you.

I dare you.

I dare you to step up and step IN to your POWER. 

With love and so much light and respect for your incredibly journey on this Earth,

I thank you so much for being you.

Sincerely,

Alana Roach

Owner & Director of the Explorations of Self Travel Community

A Yoga & Meditation Practice to Balance Your Throat Chakra during Mercury in Retrograde

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Hello EOS Community,

This month’s pose is, “Plow Pose,” aka “Halasana,” (In Sanskrit, India’s sacred language of yoga) accompanied with the fifth of the 7 main energy centers in our body called the, “Throat Chakra,” or ,”Vishuddha,”in Sanskrit which translates to, “Especially pure.”

This blue, 16 petaled lotus of the throat chakra is located in your throat.

This energy center governs our ability to speak our inner truth through accepting our authenticity . When balanced, not only will you be able to express yourself with confidence and compassion, but you will also be a great listener.. You will have a sense of personal integrity and honor. Maintaining a regular chakra balancing practice is necessary to cultivate the dance between communicating and listening, which is ESSENTIAL during this month’s Mercury in Retrograde.

Halasana pose helps to nourish our throat chakra by activating our glandular system & directing the life force energy of prana to this center for activation.  If this is your first time in Halasana, or you have a tight back,  grab a chair to place behind your head for the feet to rest on, please do so now. You can also grab a block or a folded up blanket to place under your hips for support in this posture.

Let’s begin.

1. Lie down on your mat after doing some gentle warm ups.

2. Breath in, and draw your knees in towards your chest, holding your knees with your hands, while gently guiding your shoulders and head towards the earth.

3. Allow your entire back body to feel as though it were melting into the earth.

4. On an exhale, allow your feet to draw up towards the sky, keeping your head and shoulders rooted on the earth while breathing deeply, start to lift your lower back off of the earth, either placing a blanket or block underneath of your tailbone or walking your hands towards your mid back, fingers facing upwards. Shimmy your shoulders underneath of your chest a little more, while walking your hands as close to your shoulder blades as possible. Keeping your gaze at your toes or the sky directly above your head, start to breath deeply in and out through your nose while slight constricting the throat.

5. Visualize your throat chakra in the center of your throat as a swirling 16 petaled blue lotus flower. Every breath in you see your flower grow brighter and brighter, and with every exhale you see it spin faster and faster. As it spins, you may notice old energy leaving this energy center as dark and oily drainage. This is completely natural and to be expected during this meditation. Breathe slowly and rhythmically.  Syncing your breath with your visualization will enhance this sadhana or spiritual practice.

6. Stay with the visualization for 15-20 breaths, and then slowly release your hands to use them as breakers while you unwind your spine vertebrae by vertebrae back down to the Earth. Stay in Savasana or Corpse Pose for a few minutes to allow this posture to marinate.

7. Feeling grateful for this time that you have taken to connect with yourself, smile softly, and blink your eyes, slowly coming back into the room to continue on with your day, a little more centered, calm, and happy.

Stay tuned to our weekly emails over the next 3 weeks to journey through yoga asana and the remaining 3 chakras!

Namaste,

Alana

Owner & Director of the Explorations of Self Travel Community

5 Steps to Manifesting Your Dream Lifestyle

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Spring is here and how beautiful it is outside. Spring energy is ALL about creation. We plant seeds for them to grow into beautiful blooms of variety. We release the old. Welcome the new. What are you wanting to create this Spring? How can I support you in making your dreams a reality?


5 Steps to Manifesting Your Dream Lifestyle

…

A Heart Centered Yoga Practice

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Hello EOS Community,

This week’s pose is, “Supine Bound Angle Pose,” aka “Supta Buddha Konasana,” (In Sanskrit, India’s sacred language of yoga) accompanied with the fourth of the 7 main energy centers in our body called the, “Heart Chakra,” or ,”Anahata,”in Sanskrit which translates to, “Unhurt, unstruck, & unbeaten.”

 

This green, 12 petaled lotus heart chakra is located in your chest.

This energy center governs our ability to give and receive love freely. When balanced you feel a sense of compassion for all living beings including a deep reverence for mother earth and father sky. You will have a sense of the interconnectedness between all. When others are in the presence of someone with a balanced heart chakra, they feel accepted and embraced by this benevolent force. An open heart is inspiring and not to be underestimated. When this center is out of balance, you can feel unworthy of love, untrusting, pessimistic, and reclusive. Maintaining a regular heart chakra balancing practice is necessary to feel at peace in your heart and to attract that peace into your life on an ongoing basis.

Supine Bound Angle Pose is a restorative pose. If you would like to grab a bolster or rolled up blanket to place under your spine for more itensity, please do so now. If you have tight hips, you can grab two pillows or folded up blankets that will be used underneath of your thighs and knees once we are in the full position.

Let’s begin.

1. Come
on to your mat with your back facing the mat or floor (If you are using the bolster or rolled up blanket, sit up first, slide on end of the prop to your lower back, and slowly recline your spine back down onto it, grabbing an extra pillow for underneath your head if you feel the support is needed.)

2. Breath in, and bend your knees and slide your heels in towards your sits bones.

3. Allow your entire back body to feel as though it were melting into the earth.

4. On an exhale, allow your knees to fall to either side (If you are using pillows for thigh and knee support, you can gently find the support now.) Allow you hands to rest on either side of your body, palms facing up. Close your eyes, and breath slowly.

5. Visualize your heart chakra in the center of your chest as a swirling 12 petaled green lotus flower. Every breath in you see your flower grow brighter and brighter, and with every exhale you see it spin faster and faster. As it spins, you may notice old energy leaving this energy center as dark and oily drainage. This is completely natural and to be expected during this meditation. Breathe slowly and rhythmically. Inhale through the nose slowly, and exhaling through the mouth while creating an, “O,” shape with the mouth as you exhale slowly. Syncing your breath with your visualization will enhance this sadhana or spiritual practice.

6. Stay with the visualization for about 10-20 breaths, and then slow release your chest, shoulders, neck & head back onto the mat.

7. Feeling grateful for this time that you have taken to connect with yourself, smile softly, and blink your eyes, slowly coming back into the room to continue on with your day, a little more centered, calm, and happy.

About the author: Alana Diosa Roach 

Yoga Instructor, Integrative Nutrition Coach, Reiki & Shamanic Energy Worker, Intuitive, Meditation Teacher


Alana Diosa is a world renowned Yoga and Wellness Teacher. She has been teaching her dynamic, breath centered style of yoga since 2011. Alana holds 2,000 hours of Yoga Alliance Certified teaching experience, including leadership of teacher trainings for upcoming yogis and yoginis, years of INTENSIVE Integrative Breath Work Trainings + is a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Health in NY, holding a certification as an Integrative Nutrition Coach. She harnesses an apt understanding and application of energy work both intimately and remotely as a certified Usui Reiki Practitioner, Ascension Clairvoyance, & Shamanic PLR Chord Cutting.

Celebrating our Dream: Peru 2017

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You are being called to embark upon a life changing adventure; to journey to a new land and leave with new eyes. Peru 2017.

Click here to learn more! 

Are you ready for this rollercoaster ride? You’re going to want to buckle up and empty your pockets because this exploration of self is going to take you through the greatest twists and turns of your life. I am Anahata. My soulmate Calliope and our best friend Alana will be your guides on this journey to heal yourself and heal the planet.

 

 

 

You begin to wake up to your true nature when you see past your past and create your life from the NOW. Peru is THE place to awaken because it is home to the Kundalini energy.

Kundalini is energy of the Earth that creates the resonance for the expansion of your consciousness.

This is a good thing because when you have greater clarity in navigating your exploration of self, your whole life is enlivened by the fun of choosing the dream you create every moment!

For nearly 13,000 years, the Kundalini energy resided in Tibet. So it’s no surprise that so many enlightened beings lived there as it was the place where the light energy was pouring into the Earth! But after the Chinese invaded Tibet in 1959, the Kundalini made its journey to the mountains of Peru and Chile. In Peru, the energy now acts as a mirror, quickly showing you where you are at; both the light and dark sides of yourself! Everything is brought up to the surface so you leave what no longer serves you and embody fully what does.

Last year, I journeyed through Peru for months and visited the various places where the Kundalini energy is strongest to activate it within myself. The Peruvian energy is so pure and powerful that it really enabled me to see the ways in which I was not being the best version of my self.  The Kundalini energy there enabled me to clear trapped emotions and mental obstacles that were clogging up my energy flow.

My practices allowed the coiled Kundalini sleeping at the base of my spine to stretch out and rise up through each vertebra through the pineal gland in the center of the brain. The opening of the pineal gland can happen gradually but a Kundalini awakening is a major opening that allows you to see where you are now and how to get where you are going in this space and time. It’s basically awakening to your Destiny. It wasn’t until a few months later until I had a Kundalini awakening (the awakenings keeps on going!). The seeds for it were planted in Peru, simply by sitting in her mountains and watching the sunrise past the peaks in the Sacred Valley.  The energy awakens effortlessly and on its own accord when you have the inner silence and practices to feel it flow!

That brings us to our Retreat in Willka T’ika. All the people who are meant to come are already called in. You are reading this because perhaps you are one of them. From Oct. 6th to the 13th, we will celebrate our selves to our heart’s content. Our heart’s content is sharing our hearts with eachother. We will all awaken each other and have fun doing it! Through yoga asanas (poses) and pranayama (breath control), crystal bowl sound baths and more, we will strengthen our spines and open our hearts.

With perfect food, beautiful people, out-of-this-world excursions and being present to the magic, we will be totally held in the harmony of our this beautiful space in time.

If you are interested in this retreat, apply soon! There will be exactly 33 of us in Peru in 2017, which means 30 spots for participants plus, myself, Alana and Caileigh. Once you are accepted into the group, you will receive exercises from us that will prepare you to flow easily for the retreat. Like everything, the more you put in the more you get out. So, if you fully commit to this journey, know it begins NOW and it is up to you how powerful this time will be to transform your life and live your dream.

The 33 people on the retreat are symbolic of the 33 vertebrae in the human spinal column. In our final ceremony, we will tone and move in a way that helps all of us to awaken the Kundalini. We will harness the Kundalini of the Earth and eachother to celebrate the energy that is arising on the planet at this time for the health, wealth and happiness of all beings! Each person on the retreat is your mirror to bring out in you what you need on your path. You may be re-minded of yourself through the joy in an other or you may be triggered and shown a ‘dark’ side of yourself to bring light to the situation, but its all for the best! The snake sheds what no longer serves to emerge anew. Are you ready to become who you were always meant to be? It’s certainly time to find out. Click here to register now!

 

Cayacama,

 

Anahata

 

Brian Anahata Russo

(Tibetan Singing Bowls and Sound Shaman)

Brian is a teacher, healer and channel who is here to raise the vibration of his generation. He brings the mind, body, heart and soul back into balance through overtone chanting, crystal and tibetan singing bowls, tuning forks, and drumming. Brian has the unique ability to hear oto-acoustic emissions, the natural frequencies emitted by the body. His spiritual name “Anahata Nada” means “unstruck sound” and echoes his ability to hear the sounds of the cosmos. Anahata also means heart and speaks to Brian’s passion to help others hear the sound of their heart to guide them on their journey.

Brian has been an English Dharma Instructor for the Chogye Order of Korean Zen Buddhism since he was fourteen. He has lived in a monastery in Bodh Gaya, India where Buddha attained enlightenment and studied throat chanting in Dharamsala at the Gyuto Monastery. He has also studied with Fabien Maman, the founder of vibrational therapy and singing bowl guru Sarah Turner. He uses voice analysis software from the BioAcoustic Institute to detect and correct physical and chemical imbalances in the body. Most of all, Brian enjoys learning and teaching from the heart to align all beings with their highest and best!

A Powerful Sadhana for the Spring Equinox

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Namaste EOS Community!
 

Happy Spring Equinox!!! This is such an amazing day for this post! The solar plexus chakra is directly in alignment with the new energies we are arriving with in this new Spring season. This is a time to really own our destiny’s work and live out our dreams! It all begins with owning your power with GRACE.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.”

-Marianne Williamson

So, in lieu of planting our seeds of our deepest desires and hopes, this week’s practice will include “Cobra Pose,” aka “Bhujangasana,” (In Sanskrit, India’s sacred language of yoga) accompanied with the third of the 7 main energy centers in our body called the, “Solar Plexus Chakra,” or ,”Manipura,”in Sanskrit which translates to, “Jeweled City.”

This yellow, ten petaled lotus solar plexus chakra is located in your abdomen, right above the navel.

This energy center governs our self confidence, well-being and personal power. Are you ready to really go after what you desire? What is your destiny? This is the center that reminds us that all of these things and more are possible. When this center is out of balance, one can become angry, depressed, and suffer from an over all low self-esteem. On the other end of the spectrum. Maintaining a regular solar plexus chakra balancing practice is necessary to feel motivated in pursuing your passions

 

As we enter the Pisces/Virgo full moon on March 12th, we  prepare to let go of that which no longer serves us, in order to planet new seeds for the Spring Equinox on March 20th. So, in order to get clear on what we WANT, and also to become ready to let go of what we do not, it is essential that we take the time to become centered through yoga and mindfulness practices

Cobra pose allows us to develop flexibility and strength in our lower back, while nurturing the lumbar spine.

***

Let’s get started!

1. Come on to your mat with your belly facing down.
 
2. Place your forehead on the mat and draw your hands underneath of your shoulders, palms facing down, fingers wide.
 
3. Allow your pelvis to stay neutral. Guiding the bottom tip of your tailbone towards the earth, while lengthening the crown of your head towards the sky.
 
4. Breathe slowly (Think of breathing up and down the length of your spine) drawing the tops of your feet into the earth and slowly peel your chest up, guiding your shoulders down your back, while keeping your head and neck in alignment with your spine. Keep your elbows close to your side body (Not bowing out.) Only come up as much as the spine allows WITHOUT straining. Once you have found your edge, stay there and find the gentleness in your cobra pose while we hold…
 
5. Visualize your sacral chakra as a swirling 10 petaled yellow lotus flower. 3 inches below your naval. Every breath in you see your flower grow brighter and brighter, and with every exhale you see it spin faster and faster. As it spins, you may notice old energy leaving this energy center as dark and oily drainage. This is completely natural and to be expected during this meditation. Breathe slowly and rhythmically. Visualize what you would like to manifest for your life over the next year. Really see it in your minds eye & feel it in your body, as if it were your reality right now. Do this for at least 5 minutes. Inhale through the nose slowly, and exhaling through the mouth while creating an, “O,” shape with the mouth as you exhale slowly. Syncing your breath with your visualization will enhance this sadhana or spiritual practice.
 
6. Slowly release your chest, shoulders, neck & head back onto the mat.
 
7. Feeling grateful for this time that you have taken to connect with yourself, smile softly, and blink your eyes, slowly coming back into the room to continue on with your day, a little more centered, calm, and happy.

Stay tuned to our weekly emails over the next 4 weeks to journey through yoga asana and the remaining 4 chakras!So much love,
Alana
BIO : Alana Roach  is a International Yogi currently based out of Annapolis, MD. Formerly adorned by the city lights and the busy streets of America, she was then whisked away by the illustrious path of yoga and took to traveling the world to share it with others. A few years back she started to write about the transformation she undertook by  practicing conscious meditation. Her passions became her career and she now holds RYS Teacher Trainings & International Retreats, Health Coaches, and writes every opportunity she gets. In her spare time she loves cuddling with her daughter,  surfing, being in nature, and living amongst her ever growing and global loving and conscious community. She is on Facebook , Instagram, Twitter, and can be reached by email explorationsofself@gmail.com & for health coaching at SelfHealwithAlana@gmail.com

Yoga & Chakra Visualization Practice for the Full Moon & Spring Equinox

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This week’s pose is, “Cobbler’s Pose,” aka “Baddha Konasana,” (In Sanskrit, India’s sacred language of yoga) accompanied with the second of the 7 main energy centers in our body called the, “Sacral Chakra,” or ,”Swadhistana,”in Sanskrit which translates to, “Your own place.”

The orange, six petaled lotus sacral chakra is located 3 inches below your navel at the lowest portion of the lumbar spine. It bares a crescent moon symbol in the center, representing the moon phases and the connection to the element of water which calls us to be fluid in thought and action during the lunar phases, because we all made up of about 50-65% water.

This energy center governs our sense of sensuality and creativity. When we desire to manifest something new in our life, it is important to harness the power of our sacral chakra. When this center is out of balance, one can become addicted to that which can not provide true fulfillment (Think substances, food, gambling, or sex.) On the other end of the spectrum, it is common to feel depressed, or a lack luster in their life whether it relates to relationships to self or other. Maintaining a regular sacral chakra balancing practice is necessary to feel grounded through life’s ups and downs while staying in touch with the way we choose to relate to the world and those in it. 

As we enter the Pisces/Virgo full moon on March 12th, we  prepare to let go of that which no longer serves us, in order to planet new seeds for the Spring Equinox on March 20th.

So, in order to get clear on what we WANT, and also to become ready to let go of what we do not, it is essential that we take the time to become centered through yoga and mindfulness practices

∞

Cobbler’s pose allows us to get in touch with pelvis while gently opening the hips, activating this energy center.

Cindy embodying her inner goddess in Playa Nosara

If you would like a more restorative variation of this pose, grab a couple of pillows and a folded blanket, and let’s begin.

1. Fold the blanket in half or thirds so that you have a half a foot length to sit on. If you have 2 pillows, place one on either side of you in arms reach. Come to sit on the edge of your blanket to gently raise the hips if your groin and/or hips are tight. Remember, the blanket is optional. First extend your legs out in front of you while breathing slowly in a soothing rhythm. Draw your awareness within your body and notice what your body feels like without judging the sensations.

2. On an inhale, bend your knees toward your chest, keeping your feet on the ground and drawing your heels as close to your sits bones as possible, and slowly let your knees drop out to the sides. The soles of your feet will be touching. (If your hips/groin are tight, your heels will be further away from you, creating more of a diamond shape with your legs. Place one pillow under each knee for support)

3. Allow your pelvis to stay neutral. Guiding the bottom tip of your tailbone towards the earth, while lengthening the crown of your head towards the sky.

4. Rest your hands gentle on your feet, massaging your feet with your thumbs for a few rounds of breath. Close your eyes, and start to center your mind by focusing on your breath. You can stay here, or if you would like to go further, draw your chin to your chest and allow your shoulders, neck, and head to be heavy as you round your cervical spine to forward fold. Only go as far as the body allows. Some may be able to draw the crown of their head to their feet, while others will feel great at a higher level.

5. Visualize your sacral chakra as a swirling 6 petaled orange lotus flower with a silver crescent moon in the center of it, 3 inches below your naval. Every breath in you see your flower grow brighter and brighter, and with every exhale you see it spin faster and faster. As it spins, you may notice old energy leaving this energy center as dark and oily drainage. This is completely natural and to be expected during this meditation. Breathe slowly and rhythmically. Inhale through the nose slowly, and exhaling through the mouth while creating an, “O,” shape with the mouth as you exhale slowly. Syncing your breath with your visualization will enhance this sadhana or spiritual practice.

Pinterest photo share

6. Stay with the visualization for about 10-20 breaths.

7. Feeling grateful for this time that you have taken to connect with yourself, smile softly, and blink your eyes, slowly coming back into the room to continue on with your day, a little more centered, calm, and happy.

Stay tuned to our blog to journey through yoga asana and the remaining 5 chakras!

 

So much love,

Alana

Alana Roach, founder of Explorations of Self, “A Mindful Travel Community.”

Yoga, Integrative Nutrition, Reiki, Tantra, Shamanista, Travel Enthusiast.

Contact me: info@explorationsofself.com

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIN.

Valentine’s Day “Sugar” Cookies (Refined SF, V, GF)

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Love is in the air! At least it is for these awesome vegan + gluten free Valentine’s cookies! So, break out the heart cookie cutters and your favorite Elvis Presley playlist so we can get started!

sprinkle_heartsAs you might have noticed by now, I clearly live a gluten free and planet healthy diet. I try to chose recipes that both serve the earth and my gut in the best way possible.

“Cooking is like love: It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” — Harriet van Horne

You may have also recognized my sweet tooth. I love desserts. In particular, I love holiday desserts. Baking (Or blending) for the seasonal favorites are my favorite health challenge. I love to transform holiday’s naughty side into something you can feel good about while maintaining your sweet tooth’s integrity. Mmmm.

Let’s get started. 

heartbowl

My daughter was dazzled by the mess that these created whilst we began to make this beautiful concoction. She was even more dazzled by the sight of them as we sprinkled them with rainbow speckles warm out of the oven. Sorry, Zya, not quite old enough yet. All mine? Forget it. I have 2 hungry room mates that are absolutely of age to enjoy these savory treats, and while I am single, I am still generous with my baked goods.

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food.” ― George Bernard Shaw

You may be surprised that the key ingredient to these sweet treats are raspberries! YES! Raspberries. You don’t need fake food coloring to make incredible colors for your desserts. Mother earth has provided us with a rainbow if fruits and vegetables to do that for us quite naturally.

raspberries

PREP TIME

2 hours 30 mins

COOK TIME

12 mins

TOTAL TIME

About 3 hours

Decadent and, “Buttery,” Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies.

Author: Alana Roach

Recipe type: Dessert

Cuisine: Gluten Free, Vegan, Refined Sugar Free

Serves: 30 cookies

INGREDIENTS

For the cookies:

•1 cup vegan buttery spread

•1 cup coconut palm sugar

•¼ cup unsweetened apple sauce

•3 cups gluten free flour blend (I like Bob’s Red Mill brand)

•¼ teaspoon of pink himalayan sea salt

•½ teaspoon of vanilla extract

For the frosting:

•¼ cup vegan buttery spread

•2 cups powdered coconut sugar (Learn how to make your own here)

•1 Tablespoon non-dairy milk (Choose your favorite! I really loved these with cashew milk)

•the juice of 10 raspberries, strained

METHOD

1To make the cookies: Cream the buttery spread and the coconut sugar. Slowly stir in the applesauce and vanilla extract

2Add the gluten free flour blend and himalayan pink salt and mix until combined. If the dough seems too moist, add a bit more gluten free flour.

3Divide the dough into two balls. Wrap each ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours.

4Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or grease.

5Spread waxed paper on your rolling surface and sprinkle with gluten free flour. Unwrap one of the discs and sprinkle liberally with gluten free flour as well.

6Roll the dough to about ¼ of an inch thickness. Cut out your hearts, and place them on the cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. They should be just slightly golden brown on the edges. The time may vary depending on the size of your cookie cutters. The hearts I used were about three inches across. Cool on wire racks.

7For the frosting: Press the raspberries against a fine mesh sieve over a large bowl. Discard the seeds.

8Add the vegan buttery spread and mix on medium speed.

9Add the coconut confectioner’s sugar a little bit at a time. When the frosting starts to look crumbly, drizzle in the non-dairy milk.

10Add the remaining coconut confectioner’s sugar and mix. If the frosting is too wet, add more confectioner’s sugar. If it’s too dry, add a bit more non-dairy milk. The more you make this recipe and/or frosting, the better it will get. So just do the best you can and have fun!

11Frost the cooled sugar cookies and top with sprinkles if desired.

sprinkle-hearts-cooling

Enjoy!

“People who love to eat are always the best people.” — Julia Child

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Namaste, soul family

13925864_10207460986383449_4494511862760385250_oBIO : Alana Roach  is a International Yogi currently based out of Annapolis, MD. Formerly adorned by the city lights and the busy streets of America, she was then whisked away by the illustrious path of yoga and took to traveling the world to share it with others. A few years back she started to write about the transformation she undertook by  practicing conscious living. Her passions became her career and she now holds RYS Teacher Trainings & International Retreats, Health Coaches, and writes every opportunity she gets. In her spare time she loves cuddling with her daughter,  surfing, being in nature, and living amongst her ever growing and global loving and conscious community. She is on Facebook , Instagram, Twitter, and can be reached by email explorationsofself@gmail.com & for health coaching at SelfHealwithAlana@gmail.com