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8 Holistic Ways to Manage Grief During The Holidays

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Sometimes the holidays can be a reminder that someone we have loved dearly is not with us in the physical any longer, or that a new chapter in our life is beginning, which means another chapter, for better or for worse, is ending. Grief is grief. Anytime you go through a big transition, you will inevitably experience some sort of grief.  If that is the case for you, I am deeply sorry for your loss. I recently lost my step-father & his presence is definitely missed by my family.  With all that being so, I am feeling particularly grateful to be at home with my family during this holiday. Losing someone close can really put life into perspective. You realize what is truly important in life and that can make all of the difference in what you prioritize.

Here are 8 Holistic Ways to Help You Manage Grief During The Holidays:

  1. Gratitude: Expressing gratitude is one of this quickest ways to access your inner peace.  List what you are gratitude for and WHY. For instance, “I am grateful for my sight because it allows me to see all of the beauty surrounding me,” or, “I am grateful for the ability to take a deep breath because it helps to calm me down.”
  2. Surround yourself with good people: Stick with people who remind you of the good in life, uplift you, and that it’s also ok to be exactly where you are in the moment. Surround yourself with people who manage their own emotions in healthy ways.
  3. Meditate & Move: Meditation and movement will help to activate your para-sympathetic nervous system and actively get you out of your fight or flight response. This is a great meditation for Grief.  If you are looking for some easy, at home movement, here is a short Qi-Gong routine and a Yoga Sequence for Grief.
  4. Journal: Journaling has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and boost your mood. In addition to this, according to Cambridge.org, “Writing about traumatic, stressful or emotional events has been found to result in improvements in both physical and psychological health, in non-clinical and clinical populations. In the expressive writing paradigm, participants are asked to write about such events for 15–20 minutes on 3–5 occasions. Those who do so generally have significantly better physical and psychological outcomes compared with those who write about neutral topics. Here we present an overview of the expressive writing paradigm, outline populations for which it has been found to be beneficial and discuss possible mechanisms underlying the observed health benefits. In addition, we suggest how expressive writing can be used as a therapeutic tool for survivors of trauma and in psychiatric settings.”
  5. Ask someone else how they are doing today. The quickest way to get out of your head is to ask someone else how they are doing, and if they are not doing well,  be the Light for them. Remind them that it’s ok to feel what they are feeling and remind them of HOPE. At the end of our life we are remembered by our loved ones for how we impacted their lives. It’s not typically how hard we worked or what accolades we acquired. It’s how hard we loved and who we directed that love towards.
  6. Good nutrition: We have all been there. Emotional eating. When we feel stressed it’s easy to reach for the unhealthy carbohydrates. The more we lean towards healing our gut and improving our digestion + decreasing inflammation, our mood and energy levels will increase. Email me at Explorationsofself@Gmail.com to receive $50 towards your Superfoods Transformation.
  7. CBD: While more clinical trials still need to be done, there are rave reviews for the efficacy of this incredibly plant medicine. Consult your doctor before adding CBD to your regime to see if it’s right for you. If you would like 20% on your first CBD order through Explorations of Self, contact me at Explorationsofself@gmail.com.
  8. Prioritize Self-Care: Make sure that you are taking the time to tend to your self-care first and foremost. Take a bubble bath, treat yourself to a spa day, go to your favorite fitness class, read a great book, or take a nap. We can feel especially run down when we go through Grief. That is our body wisdom screaming at us to slow down and take care of ourselves. Be sure to listen.

If you are dealing with grief during this Holiday Season, I am praying for you. I pray that you are surrounded by love. I pray that you feel the nearness of your Creator. If you feel cut off or alone, please here me. You are not alone. There are communities around the world that want to support you. This is just one. Please reach out to someone and allow yourself to receive support. This is one of the best gifts you can give someone. When we allow others to be of service, we are being of service to them. Acts of service are what this life is all about. Learning to give and receive love unconditionally is so important in life because it is what connects us to one another. 

 

 

With much love and respect for your journey,

 

Alana Roach

CNS, E-RYT, Author

Yoga, Nutrition, and Wellness

Founder of Explorations of Self

 

Delicious & Creamy Mushroom Soup for Keto-Comfort

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Baby, it’s cold outside! Are you craving an easy to make, comforting meal that’s easy to digest, filling and nutrient rich?

We made this last night for dinner and did not expect it to be as filling as it was! This is a great stand alone lunch or dinner recipe for those days when you’re craving something that’s both hearty and light on your digestion.

The holidays can be full of dinner and work parties, which can lead you feeling way off of your routine, which is all a part of the balance. Just remember the 80/20 concept. Allowing yourself the freedom to indulge 20% of the time and then making the concerted effort to eat clean 80% of the time. This subtracts the guilt associated with holiday eating. Eating well is a lifestyle, not a crash course. It’s something to be done, daily, for the rest of your life.

This recipe checks all the boxes for this functional foods conscious mama. We all know the famous Hippocrates quote,

“Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.”

Functional food, as described by, Mayo Clinic, “Are foods that have a potentially positive effect on health beyond basic nutrition. Proponents of functional foods say they promote optimal health and help reduce the risk of disease.” I love ALL nutrition. I went to an incredible nutrition school while I was pregnant with my daughter over 3 years ago and become a Board Certified Nutrition Specialist. I learned about all of these different food healing methods, which when combined, create a tailored nutritional regime for people on a bio-individual level. This system of thought goes in line with everything that I believe in. When I teach about nutrition, I invite you to think about what you believe in, what foods make you feel energetic and alive, and what habits you may have picked up from others growing up at any point in your life.

Ketogenic recipes are fun to use because they never include the unhealthy carbs, and they often still include delicious ingredients with healthy fat. Be sure to consult your doctor if you have pre-existing medical conditions to see if Ketogenic recipes are suitable for you! 

I love creamy soups, but often skip ordering them when I eat out because of the obnoxious, inflammatory ingredients. It’s SO NICE to be able to change a few ingredients and get an even better home made result with this Keto-friendly winter treat.

Portobello Mushrooms have naturally occurring B-vitamins which can boost your immune and digestive system during the chilly winter season. In addition to this, according to Livestrong.com, “Adding mushrooms to your diet can help increase your fiber intake, and lower your risk for heart disease.”

According to Ayurvedic Food Science, one of the oldest holistic healing systems, it’s best to consume a majority of warm foods during cooler weather to create a heightened digestive function in your gut brain (Also known as, Agni, or digestive fire.)

Whenever you browse recipes, I suggest taking into account all of the health benefits and risks. If you are beginning your journey into Mind/Body Awareness and fitness with functional foods, I suggest getting a journal. One exercise that really helps my clients is to write down how they feel after they eat a meal. Consider your mood and energy levels before eating the meal, during, and then after. Write it all down without judgement. Observe yourself like you would as if you were peering over yourself from a mountain top. It’s all perfect.  Nonjudgemental Awareness is one of the first steps toward you living a happier, healthier lifestyle, that over time, will become more and more effortless. When and if you get off of the beam, you will simply forgive yourself, and step back on. If you would like professional support to create a Functional Lifestyle to boost your health and wellness, go here for a free 15 minute Integrative Nutrition Consultation with me!

Are you ready to make this Delicious & Creamy Mushroom Soup for Keto-Comfort?

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Total time: 45 minutes

Servings: 4 small bowls of soup or 2 large bowls of soup

Instructions

  1. Prepare your vegetables! Thinly slice your mushrooms length wise. Dice your onion. Mince your garlic.
  2. Heat a large pot over medium high heat and melt your ghee. Sauté garlic and onions for 2 minutes, then add your mushrooms, italian spices, and thyme. Sauté for 5 minutes
  3. Poor in rice vinegar and sauté for 2 minutes.
  4. Scoop out 2 TBSP of the sautéed mushrooms and set aside for your garnish.
  5. Stir in the gluten free flour and low the heat to medium, stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes.
  6. Add your vegetable broth and bring to a boil. After it boils, reduce heat to a simmer and allow to simmer for 10-12 minutes.
  7. Remove soup from heat and add half & half.
  8. Add salt and pepper to taste!
  9. Garnish with sautéed mushrooms & gluten free croutons!

Enjoy!!

Author:

Alana Roach

E-RYT, CNS, Lifestyle Blogger, Wellness + Business Coach

Founder of Explorations of Self

Mother, Nature,Yoga & Surf Lover, Motivational Speaker, & Writer

 

 

10 Mindfulness Tips For Driving Cross Country With Your Toddler & Pets

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I have been traveling internationally with my daughter since she was 5 months old. I have been single the majority of that time, but never really alone because I have had the Universe’s wind at my back, directing and protecting me the whole way. When you have an inner calling, follow it.

My daughter and I have been to Costa Rica, Peru, and Nicaragua several times over the last 3 and 1/2 years. I love traveling with her. Being alone with a baby or toddler opens up the most magical doors into the hearts of fellow travelers. You find yourself in this special club called, “Parenthood,” and other parents become your tribe when you least expect it. I have had mothers that I just met seconds before help me with my luggage, airport security help me dash lines, and women from all over the globe treat us as their own family when they barely even know us. The fact is, a parent knows another parent in a way that no one else does. It’s a very special bond. Just remember that when you are traveling alone with your child you are definitely not alone. I believe that when you have faith that God will protect and guide you, miracles will happen in unexpected ways.

I recently had the opportunity to go out West for a month to teach and assist a mother run yoga studio that specializes in Prenatal + Postpartum care for mothers and families in their community. If you are ever in San Diego and want to visit this studio, it’s called Nature’s Whisper. They have on site day-care and incredibly knowledgable, skilled yoga and wellness teachers. I give this studio 5 stars!! Seriously amazing.

…and you read that write. Me. I drove cross country. 1 toddler. 2 cats. What!?

Why? I wanted to see this country. Up until the moment I left, I had seen more of other countries than of my own. I feel really grateful to have had the opportunity to do so and last year it was one of my goals to see more of the United States of America, and let me tell you, I feel so happy that I did. This is a gorgeous country with so many different landscapes and cultures. It made me feel really in love with being here.

I drove from Maryland to California & then I drove back a month later. I learned that when thoughtfully planned, a parent can absolutely go the distance literally and figuratively, as I have noted time and time again with our international air travel time for my travel yoga and surf retreats.

I believe that travel is one of the best forms of education. Getting to know different landscapes and cultures creates a well rounded, respectful, loving, outgoing, and grateful little. 

Here are 10 Mindfulness Tips For Driving Cross Country With Your Toddler & Pets

  1. Set an intention. Just like you would with a yoga class, set an intention for this incredible opportunity to BE with your surroundings, your SELF, your child, furry friends, and with God. Write down your intention before you leave and carry it with you. What do you want clarity on in your life? What do you want to dedicate this road trip to?
  2. Create a playlist. Spotify, Audible, and iPhone Podcast/Music playlists were life savors. I had an array of different music, audio books, and podcasts for different moods and time of the day. Anything to keep my mind alert. A new favorite podcast that kept me laughing was, “Girls Gotta Eat.” Thank you girls for being such boss babes. You rock.
  3. Prepare food, first aid kit, tire chains, stops, and activities for your little. While you won’t be able to plan for every stop, be mindful of where the gas stations and food stops are. Superfoods were ESSENTIAL for my brain power. If you would like to learn more about this fortifying superhuman deliciousness that I have been personally using daily for over 2 years email me now at Explorationsofself@gmail.com. Prepare a lot of fresh food that you won’t be able to find on the road to keep your kid and yourself happy. Bring a lot of animal food. Stay hydrated by bringing a lot of water. Bring an etch-a-sketch, books, and whatever little toy friends your little loves to play with. You can’t be over prepared here! You will be on the road for about 40 hours total. The more you bring with you, the less pit stops you will need to make off of your chosen path.
  4. AAA. Life savor. 2 of my yoga students from home suggested I get AAA for road insurance and trip planning a week before we left. They helped plan my entire trip and booked my hotels. Having them book my hotels took so much off of my plate. They found pet-friendly places to sleep which gave me a goal every day. I knew where I was going and how many hours I would be driving which helped me mentally prepare for the day ahead. I suggest taking about a week for your trip. That will give you about 5-8 hours drives each day.
  5. Get an atlas & check the weather reports before you leave. Remember that your phone could stop working at any time for any reason. Get a tangible map. Look at that map before you leave, on some of your stops. Get to know where you are. Look at your route. Relying on technology alone is never a great idea when you are on your own. Be smart! Check the weather before you leave. Make sure you’re not going head first into a snow storm. Take another route. AAA can help with this as well, but make sure you look, too. Take the reins a bit here. Be responsible!
  6. Practice yogic breathing techniques. Not a yogi? That’s ok! Practice breathing slowly in through your nose for a count of 4 and out through your mouth or nose to a count of 4 if you start to feel anxious or stressed. This will calm down your nervous system while in traffic.
  7. Positive mindset. Day 1 or 2 is exciting. Beyond that it can become a little repetitive. Stay positive. Catch your mind in those negative loops and shift your thoughts to what excites you! For instance, “I am so excited to have this opportunity to do something not many people have done!”
  8. Yoga in the morning before you leave. I highly suggest doing yoga in the morning before you leave. Even if it’s a 5 minute sequence to open your hips and stretch out your hand, neck, back, legs & shoulders. This will help prevent physical pain, stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system, and keep your mind alert!
  9. Make sure your animals stay hydrated. Keep those furry friends hydrated. Go to your local pet store and get travel friendly water / food, containers, relaxation foods (We loved these soothing hemp treats) litter boxes, toys, and travel carriers. We brought one of our kitties blankets as well so that they would have their scent on it and feel comfortable.
  10. Do not text and drive. Don’t TEXT AND DRIVE. Come on, now. Just don’t!!! Eyes on the road.

I am so happy that we were able to do this trip together. It brought us all closer together. My daughter will never be this age again and I savor every moment of it.

Believe in yourself. Whatever your reason for driving across the country, with a well planned trip, good FAITH, and a positive mindset, you will absolutely be able to reach your cross country goals with your family.

 

Join Alana for, “The Joy of Being,” A Yoga Escape to Bali, Sept 12-20, 2020!!! Mention this blog article and receive $100 towards your tuition! Email us now: Explorationsofself@Gmail.com or Register now: https://explorationsofself.com/retreats/

 

Love,

Alana, Founder of Explorations of Self

Mother, Yoga Teacher, Nutrition Specialist, Travel Retreats, Surf Lover, Writer

 

 

 

You Will Question Everything You Know When Aligning With Your Soul Purpose

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In the process of Becoming the most Divinely ALIGNED version of yourself, you will question everything you know.⁣
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I am in process during this time in my life. I barely recognize the person I was emotionally a year ago. I have been stretched through spiritual and emotional growth so much this year, it’s unreal.⁣

& then I look back to 2 years ago….. & then 3, 4, 5…

I have grown mind/body/Spirit substantially every 6-12 months ever since I chose to embark on the Spiritual Path of unpacking old traumas, stale beliefs, learned and unconscious destructive patterns over 10 years ago.

I choose to believe with every fiber of my being that every single experience and relationship that I have had, completely & totally has been there for MY BENEFIT.

I choose to do the work with my Creator to heal facets of myself so that I can fly like the Phoenix and rise out of the ashes to newer Heights.

It’s not easy. The ego… everything that makes us HUMAN, loves to keep us comfortable, and yet, it’s much more challenging to stay stagnant in your Spiritual growth. Your most Spiritually Aligned Self is beckoning you to be liberated. In yoga we call this, “Mukti,” and in Hinduism & Jainism it is know as, “Moksha.” I quite like the definition of Moksha found in the Merriam Encyclopedia:

Definition of moksha

Hinduism & Jainism
: release from samsara and liberation from karma together with the attainment of Nirvana for the Hindu or kaivalya for the Jain : salvation from the bondage of finite existence

 

I don’t know about you, but YES, absolutely YES, PLEASE.

What a gift Self-Awareness & Self-Work is because it reminds us to continually empty ourselves of anger, resentment, and fear. It reminds us to look at the places within ourselves that scare us and give those places a name. In Tantric philosophy, The Tantric Goddesses started out as fearful beings, who reaped havoc as they were living in a constant state of fear. As soon as these beings were face to face with their own destructive habits, they were shown the illusion of what they were doing and gave each habit or Samskara a NAME. From that very simple, not EASY, but simple act, they began to surrender to the TRUTH or Satya. From that TRUTH they were shown compassion and thus became transformed into Mothers. They in essence began to Mother their own inner child…. these Mothers turned into Goddesses… Fully embodied in their Truth of Love and Light..

When you call out the underlying emotion, memory, or root of why you are experiencing a so called negative emotion or habitual pattern, you are shedding light on WHY. When we shed light on why and what disrupts or blocks us from inner PEACE, we can start to understand where this belief came from. Understanding is the root to all compassion. This becomes mothering. You begin to give your inner child the mothering it always desired and once you start to do this, you will begin to shine brighter than ever because your inner child will feel safe and supported. You will stop self-sabotaging and you will begin to self-heal. Healing will attune your mind, body, and Spirit to the vibration of gratitude and JOY.
⁣

“To be fully alive, fully human and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man’s land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh. To live is to be willing to die over and over again.” ~Pema Chodrun

I’m so grateful.⁣
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Shedding the skin of who you once were to become the person you were always meant the BE takes time… be patient and loving with yourself. Roll with the tides of your evolution & TRUST that ⁣

Everything is happening in Divine timing… ⁣
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✨Stay in the moment.⁣
✨Keep returning to your breath.⁣
✨Keep taking action daily toward your Soul centered visions.⁣
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What are you releasing to create space for the new YOU? Write it down, share it with someone you trust. Begin surrounding yourself with positive and loving community if you haven’t already. If you need support, I offer 1 on 1 Lifestyle Coaching, and do not hesitate to reach out: Explorationsofself@Gmail.com

Much love with deep honor for your Soul Aligned Path and Purpose on this beautiful planet,

Alana

 

Alana is the Founder of Explorations of Self, single mama, international yoga and dance teacher, surf and yoga retreats, happy digital nomad entrepreneur, lover of LIFE.

You Already Have The Answers You Seek!

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The truth is within. It’s not in opinions. You can’t find it through someone else’s filter, nor will you find it through your own fears. Creating time to BE with your Creator is essential to finding the answers you seek. Only you know what they are, and first, you must become still enough to hear.

🙏🏽☺️

I am navigating my own feelings around big transitions during my life right now. Sometimes I look back on what I’ve accomplished over the last ten years despite the challenges of the emotional heart that I have faced, and say to myself, “Good God, woman, look at you. I am so proud of you. You are STRONG & courageous. You must really TRUST your Creator.” Our life Path is not linear. I believe God is a Thee Wild Artist & if we choose to listen and trust God’s guidance, we will be taken on a fun, miraculous, delicious, delightful, not always easy, but worth it ADVENTURE.

🦋You are a masterpiece. Your life is an exquisite & unique expression of your DIVINE PURPOSE. It takes a lot of guts to do what you do and be what you came here to BE. Be proud of yourself. You, even in your lowest moments, are perfect & loved beyond what you could possibly even imagine👌
You got to where you are because of every moment that led to who you are right now.
“It couldn’t have happened any other way,” Joe Zumbo

🙏🏽🦋
Cheers to new chapters. Are you entering a new chapter in your life right now? What are some emotions you are experiencing around this? I would love to be your guide during this transition. DM me for more info on Integrative Lifestyle Coaching 🥰🙏🏽💫

 

Love,

 

Alana, Founder of Explorations of Self

You’re Going in the Right Direction, Full Moon in Aries

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Journal Prompts for Oct, 13, 2019, Full Moon in Aries

 

What if you knew that you were and you ARE going in the right direction?

What if you stopped questioning your intuition and stayed the course.

Where would you end up in a year if you took more risks and followed your heart?

–

As we approach this Full Moon on Sunday, we burst forth as a shimmering and colorful butterfly after years of some serious growth as a caterpillar and chrysalis. We delight at this new embodiment and yet, we are getting to know ourselves again. This can feel emotional. It’s totally expected. 

Some grieving can take place in the LIGHT of the person we once were, especially because this newer version of ourselves can resemble our old-self at times. We must stay compassionate for ourselves and others, because this loss can sometimes involve other people, places, and things. When we change, others might not change in the same direction. That’s ok. It’s up to us to decide to follow the Universe’s call for us to step into full alignment with our PURPOSE here on Earth, and trust that everyone else is following their own PURPOSE as well.

When we take extra special care to follow our heart, despite what others say, we continue honor our Spirit. No one else knows what’s best for you, so it is VERY IMPORTANT that you get clear on what is. Being a yogi takes you on an inner Exploration. Whether that was your intention or not when you first brought your hands to heart center in that yoga studio. You were brought there for a reason beyond getting physically healthy. Yoga touched you deep down inside. It did so for reasons beyond explanation. You keep returning to your mat, for a reason. Listen to your Inner guidance…

It’s important to sit in prayer and meditation every morning this weekend to listen closely to our Creator for what that is. No one else can tell you, but the Creator.

My devotional morning practice has led me to yoga, love, travel, building a business based on my passions, the birth of my daughter, leading retreats all over the world (For 8 years!!!), amazing people, wonderful relationships, and continues to do so now as I am leaping again with a big home relocation to somewhere sunny where you can come to my home town and have an amazing Yoga & Surf Beach Retreat year round. (Details coming soon!)

..

A devotional prayer (Adapted from author, Tosha Silverman) can be something like this,

“Divine beloved, make me an open conduit for your PURPOSE today. Allow me to receive and give with complete ease and abundance. Allow me to know my own value, beauty, and worthiness without question. Let everything that needs to go, go. Let everything that needs to come, come. I am utterly your own. You are me, I am You, we are ONE. All is well.”

A meditation practice can be as short as 5 minutes (Or less!) Ideally we work upwards from 5, but I promise you, a few deep breaths in PRESENCE with the intention to listen to the Creator’s Guidance for YOU is enough. Establishing the discipline to make this your morning routine opens you up to Inner Grace to help give you a North Star throughout your day. Meditation master, Thit Naht Han talks about how just 3 conscious breaths can connect you to this all Persuasive Inner Wisdom. 3 breaths! That’s it. I am amazed by this. I’ve tested it out. It’s very true. Give it a try, let me know what you think.

Try this short daily, morning prayer , meditation, and journal ritual for 30 days in addition to your yoga practice (If you don’t already.) If it feels better for you to talk to Nature instead of the Universe, that works, too! Just keep an open mind and heart. I want this for you. You are amazing, and worth all of the Joy and Happiness in the Universe.

–

Much love,

Alana

 

I offer 1 on 1 Spiritual Lifestyle Coaching <<<< to help you evolve to your next Level. 

I believe in you. 

New Moon in Libra 3 Card Spread

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✨Happy New Moon 🌙 Libra ♎️!!!!⁣

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🌌I pulled our Collective New Moon spread this morning & we are to remember that God is our SOURCE, and when we tune into THIS, we have UNLIMITED IDEAS AND CREATIVITY TO LIVE IN OUR WINDFALL OF ABUNDANCE!!! Yes!!!!!⁣
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🌹🤗It’s time to journal & manifest your inner most Joy fueled TRUTHS!!⁣

Get creative. A vision board is a great way to celebrate in ceremony of intention and visualization to manifest your CALLINGS in life. Cut out pictures of images that bring you JOY. Lay these out on a large piece of poster paper or stick them to a tack board! Have fun with this!⁣
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Things to meditate on whilst creating your vision board.

What if you live a life of magic and abundance? What if you LIVE A LIFE OF DEVOTION, LOVE, FULFILLMENT, ADVENTURE, AND LAUGHTER?

⁣(Inspired by Marie Manuchehri’s,”What If,” statements!)

What does that look like?⁣
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🌊Let’s play ✨🌞🥳🌙🌊🌌🤴🏽🧘‍♀️

 

Author: Alana Roach. Alana is the founder of Explorations of Self, single mom, business owner, international yoga & surf retreat leader, copy writerwriter, intuitive, nutrition specialist, social media artist & curator.

Why do we let the opinions of other people dictate our choices?

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I stared intently at a couple of lines in a poem that one of my students printed out for me on thick, off-white, glossy paper, strung from a piece of tweed that was latched carefully to a partial wooden frame covering just the top edge.

 

How did I miss this before?

 

I read a Safire Rose poem quietly at the end of an evening yoga class months ago. One of my students who also happens to be a legislator, came up to me after a lengthy Savasana and locked eyes with me. Her gaze was deep and soft as she looked into my eyes, smiling and said, “I love that poem. I have it hanging in my home. I am going to make one for you.”

She brought me the poem a week later, in which I received with a lot of joy. I love receiving gifts from students. It makes me feel like the work that I love so very much is really touching the hearts of others.

 

She let go.

She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.

She let go of the fear.

She let go of the judgments.

She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.

She let go of the committee of indecision within her.

She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons.

Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.

She didn’t ask anyone for advice.

She didn’t read a book on how to let go.

She didn’t search the scriptures.

She just let go.

She let go of all of the memories that held her back.

She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.

She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.

She didn’t promise to let go.

She didn’t journal about it.

She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer.

She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper.

She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.

She just let go.

She didn’t analyze whether she should let go.

She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter.

She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment.

She didn’t call the prayer line.

She didn’t utter one word.

She just let go.

No one was around when it happened.

There was no applause or congratulations.

No one thanked her or praised her.

No one noticed a thing.

Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.

There was no effort.

There was no struggle.

It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad.

It was what it was, and it is just that.

In the space of letting go, she let it all be.

A small smile came over her face.

A light breeze blew through her.

And the sun and the moon shone forevermore… ~Safire Rose

I’ve read this poem many times in class over the last 10 years. I’ve cried with resonance countless times while reading it and so have a few of my students.

What is interesting to me is that despite my reading this so many times, I somehow subconsciously missed these lines.

She didn’t ask anyone for advice

She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter

I wasn’t ready for this lesson yet. Sure, I read it… but it didn’t sink in until now. I wasn’t ready to let go completely. I am slowly getting there now.

I have been asking others for their opinions and advice for what I should do and how I should handle my life for years. Anytime I have heart ache, I reach out to others. Sure, I meditate to seek the wisdom of the Universe, but until recently, I have been ignoring some of my Higher Self Wisdom and choosing the wisdom of others about 50% or more of the time.

The moments I have made the choice to trust MY GUT have been instrumental in my becoming a mother to an incredibly healthy, talented, and bright star of a child AND creating my passion fueled business. The moments I ignored other people’s judgements about my decision to travel far and wide and create a remote lifestyle were some of the best decisions I have ever made for MY LIFE. I knew my daughter was on her way 6 months before she came to be. The details surrounding how she came to be were strange and not what I expected, AND she is the biggest blessing in my life. I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I knew these things were coming to pass for the betterment of my God given Path and it did not need to make sense for anyone else but me. I had a lot of people disagree and judge my choices along the way, but I didn’t let that stop me from blossoming in my own way.

We all have a unique Path that the Universe has laid out for us. When we follow our JOY and GUT INSTINTS we are on the RIGHT COURSE.

It’s really, really GOOD to have a support system. We all need that, and it’s also good to recognize and discern between opinions and your inner TRUTH.

Letting go of other’s opinions about YOUR RIGHT CHOICE will be a process. Even if their choices took them to a great place, it may not be the right choice for your next step. Every moment is an opportunity to grow, learn, and excel towards manifesting your dreams.It will take A LOT of Courage, Trust in YOURSELF & The Universe. It’s not a straight or linear process in my experience. It just happens when we are ready and there is no way to calculate that.

Being in the Present Moment is how we begin to Let Go. It is a personal process. It’s the WAY to BEING HAPPY AND CONTENT IN THIS MOMENT WHILE MANIFESTING YOUR MOST HEART CENTERED DREAM LIFE.

How do you resonate with this poem? What lines stick out to you?

 

Author: Alana Roach, Founder of Explorations of Self, LLC. Happy Mama!! Digital Nomad, Writer, Yogini & Yoga Teacher, Yoga+Surf+Meditation Retreat Leader, Social Media Artist & Copy Writer. In Alana’s free time you can catch her lounging in hammocks or paddling in the water with her little girl!!!

 

 

 

 

How Having a Baby Made Me a Successful Entrepreneur

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I was already half in the entrepreneur world when I was pregnant with my daughter. I got a taste of what this kind of freedom tasted like after running Explorations of Self Retreats and Blog for a few years already at that point. It tasted GOOD, and I trusted that if I put one foot in front of the other, all would fall into place for me to create the Lifestyle Design that I so craved, which was, to have the ability to work from wherever I wanted in the world and make my own hours. I knew that this would take a lot of consistent FAITH and foot work to fulfill this Divine mission. Every morning I prayed for God to use me for His will. I talked to God & asked to be guided to the right people and places at the right time to fulfill my MISSION here on Earth and in this lifetime.

I also had a deep knowing that I was meant to parent this baby angel in a mindful way. I would stumble across these incredible methods of parentings like, “Attachment Parenting,” through out my Doula trainings and Prenatal Yoga teaching even before I conceived my little girl. It was as if God was whispering in my ear, “Raise her like this,” or, ”She will really thrive with this.” I even had a dream about what kind of bed she was to have one night, a month before giving birth. Up until that dream I had never heard of floor mattresses in Teepees. I woke up from that dream like, whoa, I need to look this up. Thank Google. I found out that Montessori schools use this model of sleeping to encourage a sense of confidence and independence within the child. So, rather than a crib, which to me, felt like a jail, I got the floor mattress and the teepee. It was the most perfect sleeping arrangement ever. We both slept great. We still do 3 years later. She is the most confident, happy, loving, and courageous little girl that I have ever known. I am proud of her. I thank God for leading my parenting for her every single day.

With all of this being said, I knew that I would need to give my daughter a lot of close to me comforts. I wanted to be the one who woke her up in the morning and made her meals. I wanted to be able to play with her whenever she desired, and hold her whenever she needed her mother’s warmth.

This desire to bring my daughter with me where ever I went through her early developmental years was crucial in my sail’s catching wind into my full time Entrepreneur life as a digital nomad. I create my schedule. I dictate my hours. I am with my daughter all the time, and guess what? I LOVE IT. My daughter has been by my side on all of my international retreats & I would not want it any other way. I sometimes get the question, “What do you do with your daughter on your retreats?” I TAKE HER, YES! I also hear, “What happens when she is in school?” I CREATE MY OWN SCHEDULE! NO BIG DEAL! To every problem, there is a solution when we involve God.

If I decided to pick up and move tomorrow, I could. My online copy-writing , social media marketing , yoga retreats/teaching, fitness training, energy healing and lifestyle coaching skill sets allows me to do so. I keep evolving in my skill set the more that I do them. I am absolutely an expert in my field, and so are you, you just need to start believing it.

My point is, what you LOVE to do, you LOVE for a reason. God wants you to be HAPPY. What makes you HAPPY? Write it down. What makes your grateful today?! WRITE IT DOWN! The more that we anchor down into this moment with the blessings that we have been given, the more we will be happy. The more often that we find that happy place, the more often we will start to navigate towards that happy.

Small steps every day, ignited from your Heart-Centered truth, will absolutely set you FREE.

If you feel like you’ve had the desire to do something but haven’t because you thought it had to be done a certain way, then you are not alone, but guess what? God is a master Designer. If it’s been laid on your HEART to do something, then you have a mission to fulfill. Everything in your life will rise up to support you in this and more if you keep following your INTUITION. Prayer and meditation are the keys. I also suggest going for walks in nature, traveling, and doing more yoga (Of course.) Eat a healthy diet. Surround yourself with positive and uplifting people. Keep working on yourself & continue to evolve. You were meant for GREATNESS.

What do you feel guided to do? Let’s transform our lives together through Explorations of Self Community. 

Journal Prompt:

What limiting beliefs are holding you back from reaching your goals?

What are NEW EMPOWERED beliefs that you can set in place? Cross out your limiting beliefs and replace them with the opposite belief. For example: If my limiting belief was, “I have children, I can’t do that with children.” My NEW EMPOWERED belief would be, “Having children makes this even easier to accomplish! I look forward to inspiring my kids with this new way of being!”

 

Author: Alana Roach, Founder of Explorations of Self, LLC. Woman of BIG FAITH, Mom, blogger, copy writing, social media marketer, surfer, yoga teacher, meditation guide, barre & TRIBE Team Trainer, free~spirit.

A mother’s love.

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A mother’s love.

My relationship with my own mother has been the best it has ever been since my daughter was born. My mom is a GREAT mom. She is my super hero now. She raised two girls by herself, working multiple jobs to do so. Our relationship wasn’t always perfect. I was often angry with her during my teenage years, and she had every right to be angry with me as well. I rebelled all. the. time. She loved me fiercely anyway.

We both made mistakes. Some felt unforgivable, but the power of LOVE is bigger than all of that. I can tell you that I was still harboring anger at my mother right up until I was in my birthing room at the hospital with my daughter, and then all of the sudden… I wanted no one else to be there but her and my sister. Baby’s are miracles in so many ways. My daughter’s birth was incredible. Not only was she born at 6:21am on May 4th, 7 lbs 10 ounces of pure SWEETNESS, but my new relationship with my mother & sister was re-born as well. It’s just been so amazing to see this family become united by her presence…

I now understand my mom a whole lot better than I used to. I get her because I get a mother’s love now. It’s unbreakable, all nurturing, all forgiving, and all protective. A mother’s love is the purest love there is and I am so grateful that I get to shower that on this little girl. Loving her has made my heart grow bigger. All of God’s children have become my children. I love everyone so much.

It’s exciting for me to know that YOGA is raising my child with me. Yoga and meditation have completely transformed my life, and I get to lead with yoga and meditation as an example for Zya. I hope that you will share this amazing practice with the women in your life. I believe it’s one of the best gifts that we can give someone..

I hope that during your Mother’s Day, you take time to appreciate the amazing women in your life. Devote your morning yoga practice to them. Women deserve to be treated like a goddess e v e r y single day. I pray that this Mother’s Day devotion continues on a daily basis. Sometimes women forget their inner goddess, and we must remind her how amazing she is by appreciating her with words and gestures.

“What is a goddess? She is: A women who is in the process of learning of to know accept and love herself on all levels Mind Body and Spirit A women who because she focuses on personal growth and self awareness experiences life increasingly filled with peace love joy passion fun and courage. A women who understands that she has an unlimited capacity to make her life anything she wants. A women who is inspired to give to those around her because of her sense of gratitude and abundance.” ~Author Unknown

Happy Mother’s Day to you!

 

Author: Alana Roach, Founder of Explorations of Self