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Explorations of Self: A Costa Rica Yoga Experience

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Starting in Jan. 2015, I will be teach the first of many retreats in Costa Rica. I love being able to experience different cultures while traveling light.  There is something to be said about the “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,” all you truly need to bring is a towel and a toothbrush.  I can’t claim that I have traveled with that little, but I like the idea.  The more I travel, the less I bring with me.  It is freedom.  We aquire so much in the material as we grow.  From small items to the large, we become subconciously and sometimes very conciously attached to these things.  Currently I am in the process of slimming down these items.  I am getting back to the basics.  That is a big reason why I like yoga, all you need is an intention to do yoga. Sometimes you might want a mat, but not always.  I think that is why I like the idea of surfing, it’s you, the board, and the ocean.  I pick my activities like I pick my food, the less ingrediants the better.

Alana Roach, Wild Horses on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica with lancelaurence.com
Alana Roach, Wild Horses on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica with lancelaurence.com

Here are some ways to get back to the basics:

1. Declutter.  Do you really need that dress you’ve had for the past five years and never wear or that broken printer you’ve been hanging onto in hopes of some day fixing?  I didn’t think so.  Get rid of it! Create a good-will pile, e-bay pile, and a junk pile.  I know sometimes clearing space can feel daunting but the release you will get afterwards is by far greater than any anxious feelings you may have about doing it.

2. Do more yoga.  It’s simple!  Get to your local studio or pop on a youtube video at home.  The more you practice getting into the flow of the present, the more you will instinctively get back to the bare nessecities in life.

3. Local Farmer’s Market.  Buy local, buy often.  When you support local farmers you are supporting a healthier you.  Local raw honey has been known to fight pollen allergies and organic vegetables and fruit hold more nutrients. Plus, how good does a fresh tomato or local raw honey sound right about now?

4. Craft.  Our ancestors used to do it often.  We only do it in grade school unless we take a special interest in basket weaving and continue it into adult-hood.  There is something to be said about creating something with our own hands or feet for that matter.  Check out some of these great ideas for crafting with nature on Pinterest.

5. Only bring 1 back-pack next time you travel. You’ll be happy you did.  Bring the bare minimum.  A toothbrush, a towel, fresh underwear, socks, one change of clothes, and climate dependant gear like sun block, bug spray, scarves, etc.  It’s less to watch, lug around, and worry about period.  I will be hosting a Yoga and Meditation Retreat in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica Jan 17-24, 2015.  I would love it if you came to practice the art of letting go with me in a community setting.  Here is where you can find the details!

Remember, non-attachment comes in stages.  I am definitely still learning to let go, but I can tell you that when I do, I find a new level of awareness that is so incredibly healing to my mind, body, and Soul.

“As spiritual searchers we need to become freer and freer of the attachment to our own smallness in which we get occupied with me-me-me. Pondering on large ideas or standing in front of things which remind us of a vast scale can free us from acquisitiveness and competitiveness and from our likes and dislikes. If we sit with an increasing stillness of the body, and attune our mind to the sky or to the ocean or to the myriad stars at night, or any other indicators of vastness, the mind gradually stills and the heart is filled with quiet joy. Also recalling our own experiences in which we acted generously or with compassion for the simple delight of it without expectation of any gain can give us more confidence in the existence of a deeper goodness from which we may deviate. (39)” 
― Ravi Ravindra, The Wisdom of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras: A New Translation and Guide by Ravi Ravindra

With much love always,

Alana Roach

RYT, CYT, Wellness Support and Freelance Writer

www.AlanaRoachYoga.com

 

 

 

It’s a New Day! 5 Ways To Appreciate It!

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Alana Roach Yoga with Lance Laurence Photography
Alana Roach Yoga with Lance Laurence Photography

Do you ever feel like your days seem to repeat themselves?  You wake up, brush your teeth, get the kids off to school, work, come home, make dinner, read a little, put the kids to bed, go to sleep, and then wash/rinse repeat the next day.  There was a time in my life where this was always the case and even today I can fall into the same habit of idling away through my days.  I forget that each day is a gift full of many moments where I have the option to be truly present to those gifts.  When I become present to the little nuances in my day, my whole perspective shifts.  Suddenly, the birds outside are singing a beautiful hymn, the grass outside has an emerald green hue with dew drops glimmering in the sun, my lovers smile is the most magnificent thing I have ever seen, and when I lay my head down at night I am so incredibly comforted by the gratitude I feel to have a roof over my head and these fluffy blankets to nestle up in.  That is the world in which I prefer to live in.  One which is a painted canvas of beckoning truth.

How might we make this presence more accessible through out our work week?  Here are 5 ways to tune into the beauty of each moment and to find that child like magic again.

1. Set the alarm 15 minutes before you actually have to get up and put on a soothing guided meditation, find you favorite on youtube by googling, “Guided meditation,”. This well set the tone for your whole day.  You will find that it is easier to be present once you have taken the time to tune into the Universal flows and no better time to do that than in the beginning of your day.

2. Stop watching the time.  Seem counter-productive for presence? Hear me out.  We all know what time it is, it is loud and clear every time we check out phones, get on our lap tops, i-pads, cook in the stove or microwave, get in our cars, every where we go, there it is… time.  Time is simply a way to sync up with the world, to meet, to plan and schedule.  I find that it is easier for me to unwind while at home, after I have taken care of everything I need to take care of in my day, to simply turn off the electronics and to flip over any alarm clocks that might be glaring in my face.  Don’t worry, with the alarms you have set yourself for the next commitment, you will be more than ok if you don’t watch the clock every minute of the day.  Since I started doing this I experience the time-less through out my day.  I stop thinking in segments of day and rather experience the light as it comes and goes with no expectations on how long it will last, everything sort of slows down.

3. Go for a walk outside, better yet, skip.  Do something you haven’t done in awhile, jump rope, sit down in the grass and pick clovers, make a pile of sticks, try handstands in the yard.  Tuning into your youthful spirit will make you feel exquisite.  When I do this, I am reminded of how everything felt new to me as a child.  Over time we become so bogged down with schedules, desires, expectations that we forget this incredible innocence that once existed within us, and guess what!? It still does!

4. Laugh for no reason. Laughing meditations start with one laughing for no reason, over time the laughing is contagious and before you know it you are no longer laughing for no reason but you are laughing because you are filled with joy.  Be courageous and ask your friends to join a laughing meditation hour with you.

5. Get creative!  When is the last time you worked on a creative project?  Better yet, when is the last time you finger painted?  Get messy, have fun, go get some canvases and acrylic paints.  I was recently at a friend’s birthday get together where she bought a huge canvas and gathered different art supplies then asked all 60 some of her guest to create a collage that she could hang in her condo.   It was amazing to see all of these different people, all ages, different cultures, come together and make a piece of art.  Whether you have an art party or turn on some music and create your heart out solo, your Spirit will thank you the whole way through!

 

Thich Nhat Hanh: “The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.”

Love always,

Alana Roach

RYT, CYT, Reiki, Wellness Support, Freelance Writer

www.alanaroachyoga.com

 

 

 

Salt and Vinegar Kale Chips

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Kale is one of my very favorite super-foods.  It has all of the essential amino acids we need plus omega 3’s and much, much more.  I fell in love with kale years ago and starting mixing it is smoothies, making salads with it, sauteing it with a little olive oil and a pinch of Himalayan salt.  One of my favorite quick “Kale fixes,” is baking it until crunch to make kale chips.  Now, I know that there are several brands out there that do this to perfection,  however at 7 or 8 $ a pop for just a small portion that I can eat in one sitting I prefer to make these at home.  It took me a few times to get these just right, so please learn from my mistakes.  Do NOT put too much olive oil, vinegar, or salt on your kale before baking.  This results in soggy kale that tastes like ocean water… not so great.

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Salt and Vinegar Kale Chips

Ingredients

One batch of organic kale, pre-bagged is easiest (My favorite brand is from Trader Joe’s!)

Himalayan Sea salt (Start with less, you can always add more later)

1 1/2  tbsp of Olive oil

2 tbsp of Vinegar (Pick your favorite!)

Baking Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
  • Wash kale and pat dry with paper towels
  • Toss kale with salt, oil, and vinegar in a big bowl
  • Massage (Yes, massage) the kale to break down the toughness of it, recommended 5-10 minutes
  • Spread a thin layer of the kale on a baking sheet
  • Bake for 8 minutes and then toss, bake for an additional 5 minutes
  • May require additional baking time, check often to bake to optimum crispness and to prevent burning
  • Let cool for 10 minutes or eat warm!
  • Enjoy!
  • Store in a sealed Tupperware container
  • Good for 2 days

 

Want to learn  more about Kale the Green Super Food?  Check out these sites by fellow bloggers!

https://www.healthambition.com/health-benefits-of-juicing-kale/

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/11/06/kale-benefits.aspx

http://foodess.com/2012/01/salt-vinegar-kale-chips/

http://www.aliveraw.com/Articles/Kale-The-Underappreciated-Superfood.aspx

http://kdvr.com/2014/02/04/super-food-kale-is-packed-with-healthy-things-but-dont-eat-too-much-of-it/

Q&A on Spirituality and Yoga with Alana Roach, 1st Series

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I have met many incredible souls through the spiritual community.  These people are an extended family all over the world.  We share stories of beautiful miracles, inspirations, Divine connections, and love.  The other day one of these beautiful souls asked me some questions.  I asked him if I could create a blog post of these Q & A’s so that I could get some communication going about how the Spiritual path begins and continues to unfurl.  He said, “Yes!”  Here are the questions and answers from our conversation.

I had a beautiful time meditating over these today and this is what came out.

 

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My interviewer Brian G. from Baltimore writes the following:

Heidegger wrote that he who poses a question always already knows something of the answer, lest posing the question be impossible. Please don’t be offended at my queries just as I shan’t take offense should you choose not to answer. I can’t speak for you, but in you I find a kindred soul, seeking to grasp but a drop of the great mysteries of existence and humanity. I believe that I can learn a great deal from you while respecting you as a friend. Please let me know what you think! Have a lovely evening.

(The question and answer interview follows.  All Q’s were posed as written by Brian G.  All A’s were written by Alana Roach)

 Q.How did you first come to practice Yoga?

 A.  I believe that we all practice yoga from birth and then slowly begin to forget the practice as we age.  I started yoga when I took that first breath and looked into my mother’s eyes.

As time went on I remember the first time I felt that pang of insecurity.  I was dancing in a baseball stadium a few steps down from my Mom and an adult male looked at me, and laughed.  In that moment I felt like I didn’t belong.  I felt embarrassed.  I wanted to be anywhere but where I was.  In that moment I was unlearning yoga.  I was learning about the ego which is also known as the me that is separate from you.

That ego took me on a journey of terror through addictive behaviors.  I was incessantly trying to fill in the space that the ego had created in my soul.  One addiction led to the other until one day I “Woke up.”  My “Awakening,” happened when I started to explore meditation and prayer a little deeper.  This “Seeking,” started to happen because I felt so empty. That empty feeling was what inspired me to reach for God.  I used to think that God was condemning.  That He sit on a throne, judging my every move.  What I have found for myself is that He is none of these things.   God is Me, and God is You, and God is all around Us and inside each and everyone of Us.  I started to feel a gentle guiding hand through out my days due to my seeking.  My seeking led me to my first yoga class in 2009.  Now I continue to seek with the physical, mental, and spiritual practice of yoga, just as I did when I took that first breath and looked into my mother’s eyes.

 

Q.Had you a previous interest or did someone introduce you to it?

A. Yes, I had an interest in yoga before I tried it.  At the time, Ashtanga was becoming big in the West with popular names like Madonna and Sting promoting the benefits of a regular practice.  However, just like everything else that I was interested in, I sort of thought, “Well one day that would be nice,” and I would leave it at that.  It was just a nice thought.  I never bought a mat until my 4th or 5th class.  I didn’t’ research it beyond looking at beautiful pictures and bodies that were the result of a disciplined practice.  I didn’t even know what, “Yoga,” meant.

I first attended yoga with some friends.  I tried one yoga center that deemed popular at the time and liked it but not enough to truly seek it out again.  About 2 months after that, another friend rang me up and asked me if I would like to try another studio that was closer to my home.  Remembering the past experience, I was intrigued but not at all motivated by the offer.

Everything in me wanted to say, “No.”

However what came out was, “Yeah, sure!”

Off I went.  Today I know that it was that gentle guiding force I spoke of before.  At this yoga studio, with this teacher, at this time, I was ready for yoga.  Yoga was, in fact ready for me.  I believe yoga finds us when the time is right.  I believe that I had shown the Universe that I was ready to evolve, to change… I believe that the Universe called me home, to Yoga.  I am so very grateful to my friends, whom I believe are channels of the Divine, and for the Divine synchronicities that lead us to our destiny.

 

 Q.What Truth(s) has God or the universe revealed to you? Have you always been so attuned to matters spiritual?

A.The Truths that have been laid out to me by the God or Universe are as such-

We are One.  We have chosen to be here as human beings to learn and grow Spiritually in order to Evolve.  In order to ascend we MUST seek that which is this, “Truth.”  That “Truth,” is that we are One with the Divine.  We must know this with every fiber of our being.  We must remember this to know that we are all part of the Infinite, the spark of the Divine, pure Love.  To know this is to end separation and war. Once this Truth is remembered, we must help to pass it on.

I believe that practicing meditation, pranayama, yoga, and service to others help us all become attuned to that place with in us that is Divine.  I did not become aware of this until I had a conscious Spiritual practice.

 

Q.Lastly, what is one thing I can do now to deepen my awareness of and attunement with God or the Universe?

A. Practice, practice, practice.  Find a discipline that calms the mind and brings you to the present moment.  Let yourself crumble and then give in to being built back up by this discipline.  Breathe deeply.  Laugh often.  Love passionately. Weep with fervor. Find the art of, “Non-Doing,” and simply just, “Be.” In that moment you will remember that we are all just a breath away from being in tune to the Universe, to God.

 

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(Read more on how I found Yoga on a group and individual level here -> https://explorationsofself.com/2013/03/31/how-i-found-yoga-my-home-practice/. )

 

Alana Roach

CYT, RYT, Reiki, Wellness Professional, Freelance Writer

www.AlanaRoachYoga.com

www.facebook.com/AlanaRoachYoga 

Alana Roach Yoga with Lululemon Athletica in Costa Rica!

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Photograph Courtesy www.facebook.com/LanceLaurencePhoto
Alana has arrived in Monte Zuma, Costa Rica!
Watch her make waves and stay cool in her Reverse Groove Shorts and breathable F105 Singlet. This outfit is sure to keep you dry even on those hot Central American Days!

Alana Roach Yoga, Lululemon Athletica of Annapolis, Costa Rica!

Lululemon has been really supportive of my mission to bring Yoga to the world.  You can follow my journey at www.facebook.com/LululemonAnnapolis to see Lululemon and Alana Roach Yoga collide with the beautiful Pacific Ocean, tropical Palm trees, and Yoga all-stars from all over the world.

Cliff Jumping in Costa Rica

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“If we never experience the chill of a dark winter, it is very unlikely that we will ever cherish the warmth of a bright summer’s day. Nothing stimulates our appetite for the simple joys of life more than the starvation caused by sadness or desperation. In order to complete our amazing life journey successfully, it is vital that we turn each and every dark tear into a pearl of wisdom, and find the blessing in every curse.” 
― Anthon St. Maarten, Divine Living: The Essential Guide to Your True Destiny

Every time I sit down I am reminded of the choice I made to jump from a 40 foot high waterfall cliff into a 30 foot deep natural pool.  Crossing the threshold of fear into trust can be both a terrifying and exhilarating process.  I found myself at the precipice of the gushing waterfall that poured over the rocky edge with an inner outpouring of emotions that felt nearly crippling.  Here I am, in Monte Zuma, Costa Rica with 2 friends and my wonderful boyfriend in paradise and all I can think about is jumping off of this cliff.  I watch them go before Me.  First my buddy leap frog jumps at the highest point of the cliff, and lands perfectly 40 feet below into what seems like a very forgiving nest of water, he sinks below the surface and then promptly comes back up with a smile on his face and beckons with both hands to follow his lead.

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“Come on!,” He says.

“Ok!” Here I go.  I walk to the edge right next to the place he jumped, there is no bush of branches and leaves on this side, but it is nearly just as high, maybe a 5 foot difference.  With bare feet,  a bikini, and a smile I look down and suddenly I smile no more.  There is a visible piece of the cliff that comes out a couple of feet down from where I am standing.  I am told that I have to tuck my arms straight along side my body and straighten my legs, point my toes, and land feet down to be safe.  Thoughts come into my head of horrid outcomes, my foot slipping as I jump, a limb snapping on the side of that rocky ledge, landing incorrectly in the water which could apparently dislocate shoulders or hips.

“What if I hit this edge?,” I shout down.

“You would have to try really hard to do so,” He responds with a devilish grin.

I hear his words, and all of a sudden I realize I don’t trust it.  I don’t have the nerve.  My heart starts to race now every time I get close to the edge, my parasympathetic nervous system goes crazy.  My mind WANTS to jump, I really WANT to jump, but my body will not let me.  My legs begin to lock up, and then I start to shake.  I better back off for now, so I walk back a bit and sit in the middle where it is safe, feeling utterly defeated.  I thought I could do anything within reason.  These past 5 years have been all about letting go and trusting the process.  I trust that when  I follow my dreams, God, the Universe, will absolutely provide, and I have been proven right again and again. I trust with all of my Being that when I TRUST the process, even though my path is a bit off of the beaten one, I am totally TAKEN CARE OF!  However, standing on the edge of that cliff, I was humbled.  Once again I had to trust my life to this new experience.  Whatever I chose, I had to trust that it was ok.  Looking back on the experience now, I realized if I were to jump OR not, I would have made the correct choice because of what I did before hand. I prayed, meditated, and paused.  I left that day not jumping.  I briefly made peace with that, but I had sheer determination to jump the following day, to show with my physical body that I Trust the Universe.   I wanted to literally live by my mantra, “Jump and the net will appear.” It is funny how the mind will teeter back and forth sometimes when the ego is challenged.

Here I am again, after the strenuous hike up the side of the mountain, I am at the top of the waterfall.  I’d like to give you more of a visual of what is around me.  This is one of 3 water falls.  The upper most is little, the second is medium, and the third one is deadly.  All of the aforementioned action takes place at the medium fall.  The back packers would jump from the base of the 1st to the second and most of the time they made it. The day before I heard rumors of 2 people dying from this cliff jump over the past 20 years.  Not bad odds.  However, I find out on this day that 10 more have died from jumping the base of the 1st to the 2nd waterfall pool and even though I normally would have taken this as a sign, I see several boys jump from this point before me for hours.  Not many of them jump a second time, but they all land safely.  Now my ego gets involved again. If they can do it, so can I.  Thoughts start invading my head like,  “You will regret this for the rest of your life if you don’t jump.” “You got this!” “You could die!”  Suddenly I am reminded of another mantra I learned from my ashram, “God is with me, I am not afraid,” and another one, “Courage.” Everyone around me is saying, “JUST DO IT, DON’T THINK ABOUT IT!”  When I thought about it, I would not do it, so I started to repeat my mantras.  I walked to the edge.  My boyfriend didn’t believe me when I said I was going to do it.   Even though he did it the day before, he was to afraid to do it again. (He later tells me that he had a bad feeling about me jumping the previous day…)  Again, all of these signs, big and small.  Earlier in the day a wise voice admonished, “No, Alana, don’t do it.  I have lived here 20 years, and I have not jumped, nor do I want to.”  This was the owner of Los Mangos, the resort we were currently staying at.  All of these signs seemed trivial  in that moment. I said, whatever happens, “Pura Vida” which is a local saying in Costa Rica which translates to “Pure Life.”  Here is to living pure life.

I step off, with a small jump, and before I know it I plunge into the water… Then in rapid succession the following happens: My tail bone feels a sharp pain exploding upwards. Next, my back slams into the wall of water causing my sternum to bruise on the inside of my chest and leaving me unceremoniously winded. I can barely breathe. I can barely paddle. I am frozen beneath the surface somewhat helplessly as my survival instinct kicks in and I begin to paddle with one lifeless arm to the surface.  One hand is on my chest and the other one is navigating through the water.  I am terrified. What have I done?  I reach the surface in so much pain, I scream to the top, “I am hurt!!!”  I couldn’t believe it. I had seen so many jump before me. One was a drunk guy who did a triple gainer and landed with seemingly no problem.  My boyfriend, who courageously leaped after an hour of fighting with himself and had nothing but exciting stories to tell after the fact.  My friend who had done it at least 10 times between the 2 days with a cool smile and the grace of a professional high diver.  All of these success stories and yet I got hurt.

My boyfriend rushes down the side of the cliff to my aid.  I catch my breath and realize I did not hit anything solid except the water, which from that height feels like concrete.   I thought that I would be free falling for a bit with enough time to adjust into the straight pike that I needed to land safely.  According to everyone else I looked great going down.  I bet I did.  My first hand experience was quite different.  I felt no free fall. There was no pause that I could sense between the jump and the water crash.  I straightened as best as I could, but I believe the mix of the expectations I had of how I thought it was going to go and my utter surprise of how it actually did made for bad form.  Now try to picture this in slow motion.  I slightly bent my knees and rolled back a little, landing directly on the tail bone which delivered a fierce blow to my spine. Then I was thrust back from the impact landing second on the middle of my back compressing my chest and lungs, creating pain in my chest and loss of air.  I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to swim up to the surface because I could barely move.  Luckily, I did.

Had I have listened to that calm voice that said, “Not today, not tomorrow, maybe never, this may not be in your story,” I would have avoided this crash landing.  I was more relieved that I was alive.  Nothing was broken.  I would endure pain every time I sat down or did anything to cause irritation to my sternum.  Hiccups made me cry.  Yoga was a nightmare in some positions.  Still, I had to  find the positive so that I could go on.  I DID IT! Would I do it again? Probably not.  If I ever did it again, I would want to feel much more confident going into it. What does Yoga teach me?  Acceptance, non-judgment, and listen… listen… listen….to your body, mind, and heart.  I am actually not sure what would have been worse… the pain from my crash landing, or the pain my mind would have thrust upon me for not doing it.  I am no longer beating myself up for not doing it, but my body is beaten up from doing it.  Either way I get the experience of growth through pain…  Haha, go figure.

When a challenge arises, we have an opportunity to MAKE CHOICES.  All choices have consequences that are good and bad.  That day I chose to not live in fear.  What I realized was that a healthy dose of fear is meant to prompt a healthy dose of judgment.  When I see a car coming, I do not step in front of it because I know I will get hit.  This was a completely NEW experience, one that was unique to me.  I painted the outcome through my thoughts, decisions, mind, and body.  Had I of been more confident or less timid perhaps I would have landed better.  Had I avoided it all together, I would have been safe physically, but my mind would have run rough-shot with me for who knows how long.  If I would have  landed perfectly, I would have written a different blog post.  I landed imperfectly, and had a different experience, now I am sharing this with you, and that is perfect within itself.

Trust has become a way of living for me.  I have jumped off of many metaphorical cliffs in these past few years with nothing but sheer determination and success. This cliff was no different.  All jumps require confidence, intuition, physical awareness, proper timing, and faith.  Even though the Path may not be what was expected, perhaps a bit bumpy and painful at times, we will always learn soul lessons if we require the patience and awareness to listen to them.

Everyone’s journey is different.  We all have choices.  Paint your destiny. Follow your heart.  It is not without hurdles, but the experiences will expand your horizons always.  It is all a learning process that brings forth growth.

Thank you for exploring my “Explorations of Self,” with Me!

As always with love,

Alana Roach

E-RYT, CYT, Wellness Supporter & Freelance Writer

www.AlanaRoachYoga.com

www.facebook.com/AlanaRoachYoga

AlanaRoachYoga@Gmail.com

5 Steps to Financial Freedom

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Money.  Just seeing the word can bring sensation into the body and some thoughts into the mind immediately for most people.  How we see money has impact on our lives.

Alana Roach on the PIer, Lance Laurence Photography (www.LanceLaurence.com)
Alana Roach on the PIer, Lance Laurence Photography (www.LanceLaurence.com)

I grew up being taken care of, so don’t get me wrong.  I always had a roof over my head, food in my stomach, education, loving parents, clothes, etc.  I am SO grateful for that.  With that out of the way, I’d like to continue and say, what I was told about money through media on radio and television and adults what that it meant success.  Those people that had it were rich maybe famous by our standards, political leaders, maybe upper middle-class at the least, but what was constantly repeated to me was that, “Money doesn’t create happiness, those people are empty.”  I heard this repeated AGAIN and AGAIN.  On the flip side, those who were living in apartments in an upper middle class town at the time , like myself, and those who had welfare,  those who were homeless,  those who lived in the ghettos, whatever it was that straight out said, and I repeat, “You are poor.”  I was told many things about this class of people growing up. “Poor people are God’s chosen ones, they are going to heaven.”  “Poor people are less then. Lack more. Suffer more. Aren’t good enough to get more and never measure up. Un-deserving and un-loved. Trash.” You get the point.  SO, you can IMAGINE that I had some really misconstrued views of money right up through my late twenties.

Woo!  So, with ALL of that said.  Guess what? I have found… that all of it… it.. drum roll…

A  matter of perspective and that depending on an individual’s perspective, this will directly affect the way they receive or block Abundant Living.

Abundant Living is truly a way of life which I have found incredibly satisfying.  It spawns from gratitude.  It requires some un-doing. It takes some Self-Work which means Action!  Action which I have taken and I can report to you has completely freed me from those chains of  old-thinking.  Money is neither good or bad.  It is ENERGY!  It just is! 

1.       Gratitude list

Gratitude lists on a daily basis which I recommend writing for the first year to really get it into your habitual  practice is the very first step on this journey.  I have been doing this for nearly 2 years and the results of this ritual are that I embarked on a Path/Career that I am TRULY in love with, my personal and professional relationships are wonderful, and I live Abundance in health,wealth, and happiness on a daily basis.  Does this mean I never have sad days, sick days, bills, arguments, etc?  No, but what it does mean is that I find gratitude in the sad days, I will have miracles in how my health is taken care of on those sick days in how I think and treat my body, I pay my bills on time and I have money left over AND in savings (Money left over and in savings was not the case before these two years of Gratitude Practice), my arguments are constructive and reflective, and I receive abundance from my Dream opportunities in Career and Service work (They go hand and hand with me), Travel, Relationships all the way to mechanical and computer repairs.

2.       Releasing Ancestorol Chords That Could Be Impinging on Your Ability to Receive Success

Continually.

For me this meant going to see a Shaman, Breath-worker, doing Yoga, Meditation.   We all have energetic chords to our parents, grandparents, perhaps their grandparents, past life ancestors.  If we do not put in the work to release these chords, we can continue to live our their Karma, causing energetic blocks in our lives. 

3.        Positive Thinking and Speaking

I watch my thoughts and speech today.  I believe that what we think repeatedly and say repeatedly have energetic vibrations.  What are we really putting out into the Universe?  I am not saying that we cannot have negative thoughts, but once we do, are we massaging those thoughts or implementing gratitude and positive thinking once we become aware of it?  Are we constantly saying self-deprecating things that come from a space of insecurity and lack?  If we are, it is something to look at.  If I have negative thoughts, I make a gratitude list, even for the negative thought for bringing me to what I am grateful for!  I try not to say anything negative today, and if I do I replace it with 3 positive things.  I write and say positive affirmations.  Sometimes I do Positive Thinking and Abundant Living meditations.  All of this creates Abundant Living!

 

4.       Trusting God/Universal Spirit.
Yes.  Trust.  This is an all-encompassing detail.  My journey into trusting God started about 5 years ago.  It has been a journey.  It has taken time.  It is worth it.  I recommend the book, “The Shack.”  Through my process which is unique to me, I have discovered that I can rely upon my God for everything.  Every little and big thing.  When I trust more, I receive more abundance.  I have to continually let go of my control and my fears because when I do, the God of my understanding introduces me to the life that was truly intended for Me. 

 

Here is a story on this.  My car was on it’s second trip to the mechanic in 2 weeks.  The first trip I had all the money for and plenty left over.  The second was very unexpected, but the beauty of it for me was that I did not panic.  In the past I would have.  Everything unexpected would have thrown me into a financial panic.  I would have been ridden with worry and despair.  However, THIS time, since I have been practicing Abundant Living, I felt a calm presence guiding me and I Trusted that everything would be just fine. I didn’t even know if I had money to cover all of my expenses in this second trip, but I KNEW from the depth of my Soul that I would be OK.  So I go to pick up my car from the mechanic,  I ask him how much it was (I had an estimation of about 150-200 on the phone which I barely had in my checking and  with a smile on my face that was genuine… the mechanic looks at me and says, “You don’t owe me anything.”  Miracles in my life today that continue to show me that I live a life of abundance.  I open myself up to all avenues of abundance and TRUST it to flow to me and they do in ALL ways.  I drop the expectations of how the abundance with flow to me and then I open up to all of the ways that my Creator wants to take care of me. 

5.        Money is Energy, Give Freely, Receive Freely.

I said it before.  Money is neither good or bad, it is ENERGY!  Abundance is also energy.  When I view money and abundant living in this way, I drop the expectations of how the abundance with flow to me and then I open up to all of the ways that my Creator wants to take care of me.  When I do a service or get a service, I am receiving or giving energy back in exchange for the energy put out.  If I am putting out Abundant Energy, the Universe will send Abundant Energy back my way.  One of my favorite affirmations for this is, “I live in Abundance, free from want.  I open myself up to Abundance and I am taken care of in ALL ways.   I have all that I need and more in health, wealth, and happiness!”  Remember, I live a simple life.  I am grateful to that.  I feel abundant and I AM that.  I could be an Abundant Being whether I lived in the woods or in a mansion because I my soul is at peace when I live this way.  Sharing in the Abundance is what life is all about.  Whether that is abundant conversation, bounty of food, services, money, intelligence, wisdom, and LOVE! 

 

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With love always,

Your Yogini,

Alana Roach

CYT, ERYT, Reiki, Wellness Support and Free-Lance Writer

www.AlanaRoachYoga.com

LIKE my page! www.facebook.com/AlanaRoachYoga

A Letter Written Today, to Myself, 5 Years Ago

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I am inspired by Frank Ocean’s recent blog post where he wrote a letter to Himself 5 years ago.  You can find it here.  This is someone who followed their heart.  This is what I try to do myself.  In spite of what I grew up hearing about what, “I should do,” or what, “I was capable of doing.”  I am following my heart.

So, today I am going to write a letter to myself 5 years ago, Feb 9, 2009.

Dear Alana,

          I want you to know that everything will be okay.  You are going to be moving back home with Mom in a couple of days because your drinking has gotten really bad again.  I want you to know that after you move out of Dad’s, He will go through one of the roughest periods of his life but it is a blessing in disguise because He will end up being taken care of.   None of it was your fault.

        You will get sober this year on May 29 from drugs and alcohol.  No matter how bad it gets, I want you to know that your pain will benefit others through helping them get sober eventually.  Your eating disorder will not control your life when you get sober, because God blesses you with a Miracle to stop the compulsion to control your inner world through abusing yourself in these ways.  You will help many people in this area as well.  Spirituality is going keep you afloat through all of these changes.

This is you on your first year sober! This celebration is for you if you don’t believe Me!

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      and then on your second year of sobriety!

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It keeps going, this May you will have 5 years sober!

  Yoga is going to become a great provider of peace for you and eventually others through you.  You will find a studio that feels like home in late summer of 2009 and it will feel like this is what you have been searching for your whole life.   You are going to be a Yoga Teacher, but first you will practice often for 3 years until you meet the Woman who will train you on how to teach.  

You will run a half marathon and then a full marathon in 2011.

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         You will make friends that feel like family and eventually move out of Mom’s, never to go back because you have finally learned how to take care of yourself.  There is a lot of help along the way, but you are going to really do it this time.  Yes, you finally get a car and will see that it was in the Plan to get your first car at 23 because you probably would have died or hurt others otherwise.

          You will get your heart broken three times over the next few years.  The first one you will realize was for the best.  The next two will be by the Man that you are going to end up with in 5 years, madly in love with.  He will break your heart so that you can learn how to love Yourself and God first.  So don’t worry,  keep working on Yourself and it will all work out. 

          You will travel the world.  Yes.  So when you get your passport for, “No reason,” in a couple of months, know that there is SO MUCH REASON.  You will spread Joy all over the world, because it is your PURPOSE to do so.  You will show others that, “Following your dreams,” is more than just a saying; it is a way of life.  You will grow into an incredible woman.  Your Mom and Dad, your friends, community, and life-partner will love you for just being You.  They will be incredibly proud of all that you accomplish.  You will find the courage to go after your dreams of teaching yoga, traveling, and writing about it every step of the way.  You will find the courage because God will lift you up everytime you find it.

          You’ve made it, Alana.  

So wipe those tears off of your face , everything is going to be OK.

With much love,

You, 5 years from this moment. Feb 9, 2014.

This is YOU NOW!

alananow

Alana Roach Yoga with www.facebook.com/LanceLaurencePhoto
Alana Roach Yoga with www.facebook.com/LanceLaurencePhoto

Living “The Four Agreements”

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This is from one of my favorite books “The Four Agreements”. I try to live by these principles. Key words are “I try!”

“1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.”
― Miguel Ruiz

 

Sound like a lot?  It totally is.  I understand.  The first time I read through this book, I merely skimmed it.  Skimming it was enough to know that I had some serious self-reflecting to do.  Since then I have grappled with how much I bring up other peoples names when they aren’t around, how often I assume, take things personally, and finding balance with always doing my best.  I have gone through intense training in these areas at a “Spiritual School” where these were practically mandatory and I failed to meet the mark every day, 365 days and counting.  What I have come to find is, I am definitely human.  I believe it was eloquently put once that we are , “Spiritual Beings having a human experience.”  I resonate with that quote because when I read the 4 agreements, they resonated with me on a deep Soul level.  I am getting to know these agreements on a very personal level and I can finally say after many years of knowing of these things, I am starting to make SOME progress.  It is progress, not perfection.  I highly suggest this book.  It is a short read and you can pick it up when you feel like it as every page is filled with enlightening words that will fill your mind for years.

Let me know if you have read this book or if you have had any experiences with these principles.

Love always,

Alana Roach

RYT, CYT, Reiki, Wellness Support and Freelance Writer

www.facebook.com/AlanaRoachYoga