4 Steps to Manifesting Your Success in 2020!

December 31, 2019 // by Alana Roach// Leave a Comment

The spiritual journey is one of GREAT MYSTERY, and growth can happen both gradually and suddenly. For the last few years, the collective has been going through what feels like an uphill climb through a thick fog. Has your inner clarity felt stifled up until recently? There is always a reason for this. You are being prepped for greater vision. 2020 is The Year of Clear Vision. Punny? It is!! Yet true…

When inner clarity feels muddled, stay the course of loving awareness and do the next right thing. You are never abandoned. I believe that at some point, the Universe will take off our training wheels so that we can be prepared to surrender our egos even more, and throw our hands up in the air exclaiming, “Ok, Creator, I don’t know what to do. Please help.”

Ask and it shall be given you, because it has already been given. ~Course in Miracles

This next year will be a home coming for you. You will once again feel the nearness of your Creator because you, my friend, have been so incredibly patient and steadfast in your Faith. The fog is being lifted. Your mountain has been climbed. It’s now time to peer out at the beauty of this world with a fresh spirit and wide child-like eyes. Our inner child has been healing, and is ready to play and celebrate!!!

From my spiritual seeking, I have received wisdom that 2020 is the year of JOY. Earlier in 2019, I was guided by The Universe to put a deposit down on a yoga retreat center for a 2020 retreat in Bali and call it, “The Joy of Being.” After that, the Universe sent me 3 social media clients who were all intuitive joy life coaches. You can’t make this stuff up. I was being guided to do this all year. Preparing the soil for you those who felt called to join me on this journey to sow their roots and blossom in the most incredibly JOY-filled ways. I feel really excited for this retreat. It’s already half way full and there are a few spots left. If you are feeling the call to come with me to Bali, you can learn more here.

In Chinese Zodiac, 2020 is going to be a very prosperous and passionate year!

TheChineseZodiac.org says that,

“The Metal Rat Year is going to be a strong, prosperous, and lucky year for almost all Chinese zodiac signs. Everyone will show determination regarding their goals, aspirations, and even their hobbies. This is a great year for founding and evolving. Those who plan to buy real estate, to start a business or to invest money in a long-term project have great chances of being satisfied in the future. But, beware! This type of initiatives will only be successful if they are carefully planned.”

Are you trusting the inner guidance that you are receiving at this time, Old Soul? Are you ready to steep in your Divine purpose and delight your community with your gifts?

2020 is your year!!!

4 Steps to Manifesting Your Success in 2020!

1. Meditate: Meditation is a form of listening to your Creator. When we pray, we are speaking, and when we meditate we are listening. You have most likely already asked for guidance. Now listen. Often times it helps to create a sacred space or alter in your home to meditate every day. This area will become rich with meditative, sacred energy and it will become easier and easier to drop into a meditative state to hear your Creator the more and more that you use it. Sit between 5-30 minutes daily and listen… journal what you find.

2. Vision Board:

After you have meditated, it’s time to get creative!!! Whether you like to vision board with old magazinesand a large poster board or use Pinterest! Vision boards give you a daily reminder of what you desire on this journey in every way!! According to an article written by Huffington Post:

“Visualization is one of the most powerful mind exercises you can do. According to the popular book The Secret, “The law of attraction is forming your entire life experience and it is doing that through your thoughts. When you are visualizing, you are emitting a powerful frequency out into the Universe.”

Whether you believe that or not, we know that visualization works. Olympic athletes have been using it for decades to improve performance, and Psychology Today reported that the brain patterns activated when a weightlifter lifts heavy weights are also similarly activated when the lifter just imagined (visualized) lifting weights.”

3. Get a mentor and increase your positive network: The most successful people in the world all have had mentors. When you surround yourself with successful and positive people who have what you desire, you up-level, too. Like attracts like. Spiritual mentors can help you get out of stuck patterns like procrastination or negative thinking, and can introduce you to new ways of taking action to achieve your goals. It can be easy to beat yourself up or get tapped out when you are walking the road towards success. It’s not an overnight thing. Mentors hold you accountable and cheer you on the whole way through your process and can introduce you to other positive and successful networks. The more cheerleaders you have, the better. If you would like to work 1 on 1 with Alana to be successful in your life’s purpose, you can learn more here.

4. Do more of what inspires you. What lights you up? If you get stuck here, you can return to your vision board for inspiration. Do more of what inspires you. When we do more of what inspires us we tap into our bodies

When we find ourselves inspired our body produces higher levels of serotonin and dopamine…

Dopamine is the neurotransmitter involved in movement, memory, pleasurable reward, and motivation. Serotonin is involved in well-being, appetite regulation, and the transmission of nerve

Impulse” (5). This means that the more inspiration, the more of such simulations.

On the other hand, if we are victims of circumstances and just getting by in life then we will stimulate a higher production of cortisol. You have probably heard about this neurotransmitter as well. It is most commonly known as the neurochemical related to stress.

In the long run what impacts our mood the most, either energizing or depleting us, are the chemicals in our body called neurotransmitters. Inspiration “juices us up” with good ones, while the lack of it poisons our body with stress. `(Resource: https://intentioninspired.com/how-inspiration-works/)

I wish you so much joy and personal freedom in this next year to fulfill your wildest dreams in serving your loved ones and the world at large with your unique Divine Purpose!

Love,

Founder of Explorations of Self

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

December 13, 2019 // by Alana Roach// Leave a Comment

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

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?
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!”
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!
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.
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

Memories From Our January 2018 Costa Rica Yoga Retreat!

January 23, 2018 // by Admin// Leave a Comment

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.

October 12, 2017 // by Admin// Leave a Comment

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.

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

Celebrating our Dream: Peru 2017

March 30, 2017 // by Admin// Leave a Comment

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. 6^th to the 13^th, 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!

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

March 9, 2017 // by Admin// Leave a Comment

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.

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.

A Rooted Practice for Mahashivarati

February 25, 2017 // by Alana Roach// Leave a Comment

Hello Explorations of Self Community!

This week’s pose is, “Easy Pose,” aka “Sukhasana,” (In Sanskrit, India’s sacred language of yoga) accompanied with the first of the 7 main energy centers in our body called the, “Root Chakra,” or Muladhara.

The root chakra is at the base of our spine, and it is said to connect us to the earth. It governs our sense of security and practicality. When this center is out of balance, one can feel spacey, fearful, and insecure. A regular root chakra balancing practice is necessary to feel more in control of your mind and body.

As we enter the new moon and solar eclipse of February, we may feel a little un-grounded. These new energies can stir up old energies that are no longer serving us, and while they come up and out to leave, it is most necessary to find stillness through this mindful practice.

I love guiding my clients through gentle breathing and visualization exercises while in this pose. If you would like to try this at home, find a blanket, pillow, or yoga prop to sit on, and let’s get started.

1. Fold the blanket in half or thirds so that you have a half a foot length to sit on. If you have a pillow, make sure it is also about this height. Come to sit on the edge of your prop. First extending your legs out, and then gentle bending your knees to find a comfortable position with your shins crossed, guiding each foot behind opposite knee.

2. Gaze down to make sure that to make sure that your feet are relaxed and that there is a bit of a space between your pelvis and feet.

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 stomach. Close your eyes, and start to center your mind by focusing on your breath, , feeling your abdomen rise and fall.

5. Visualize your root chakra as a swirling 4 petaled lotus flower at the base of your spine. 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.

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.

A Shameless Retreat

January 9, 2017 // by Admin// Leave a Comment

Retreat! Surrender! Give-in! Fall back!

We live in a culture where retreat means defeat. In the West, life is viewed as a competition and we are programmed to believe that if you are not winning you’re losing. We’ve heard it so many times: winning is not everything; it’s the only thing. So can we end up stressed out and spend our time living on a mental and emotional battlefield instead of authentically exploring our self. The masculine bravado and militaristic vibe of our culture has seeped into these words. It’s not by accident. There is a war that is being waged on going inside ourselves. The consumer culture can’t take that because if we all looked within we would learn that happiness is inside of us and we really wouldn’t be compelled to fill the void with useless products.

So, in this exploration of self, we are not called to force our way in. We are called to retake. Sure, we have re-take what ‘surrender’ and ‘retreat’ can mean, but we can do so peacefully. We have to fall back. When we fall back, we are vulnerable. This is the last thing the culture teaches and tells us that vulnerability leaves us open to attack. But vulnerability is going inside and taking an honest look about who we are and what we feel. And in that nakedness, we discover that we reject the struggle and the dog-eat-dog world and resent having to cling to it out of the necessity that our survival is at stake.

On retreat, we learn that we don’t have to cling to it! Meditation, yoga and sound healing create the space to silence the clamor of our minds and align us with our true nature. But we have to surrender to get there! What we are surrendering from is the way we think we ought to be and what we should do. In the clarity and understanding of our true nature, we naturally flow. We don’t have to think. There is just a knowing. That’s the beauty of it!

To retreat;

it is a quiet and relaxing space where we can feel the truth and beauty of our being. It’s in retreat that we lose the false ego that makes us fight outwardly to avoid the unrest we feel inwardly. By flowing with rest, we see that it was the unrest that made us fight and force in our lives in the first place! Enjoying our journey requires surrendering our false ego –that aspect of our being that runs programs contrary to our highest and best self. And when we do that, we reveal our true nature that is already there because we feel it from that quiet place of clarity and understanding. Surrender is tough for the false part of ourselves because it does not want to let go of the stories that keep fueling the patterns that don’t serve us. The catch is that the false ego has to turn itself in – or should I say inward – and see how it is sabotaging our greatest good by causing suffering based on craving, delusions and many other mental and emotional patterns.

The solution is simple. No matter what comes up, surrender. Your false ego can lay so many traps for your mind because it knows you so well. So let yourself be caught. Sit there. Don’t avoid it. Let the feelings come up to be known and cleared. Stop running from it. Once your thought or emotion has nothing to take from you, it has no power over you. It has no fuel to sustain itself. By virtue of your soul sovereignty, your essence cannot be taken away. You are eternal conscious light and love. So the only thing that you can surrender is what does not serve you –and then you are left with what you have always been – light and love. Surrender removes everything that obscures our light. In offering up our obstacles to the flames, we are transformed.

May you hear the call to retreat, so that your life may answer with all the joy, beauty and creativity you have to shine!

About the author: Brian is a teacher and healer. He brings the mind, body, heart and soul back into balance through overtone chanting, crystal and tibetan singing bowls and tuning forks.

He 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. Follow on instagram @anahatanada333 www.besoundnow.com Contact: bjrusso333@gmail.com

A New Year to LIVE

December 31, 2016 // by Admin// Leave a Comment

I remember the first time I saw the picture that changed everything for me. It was of a man, somewhere on a seemingly deserted, white sandy beach, doing a one armed cart wheel. His legs were dancing in the brightly painted turquoise sky, and I knew in that moment that there was much, much more to life. There was more to life than the daily grind, and the striving for… what, exactly?

The Spiritual Path is like this. We get these glimpses into the very center of our SOUL and in an instant, we are changed forever. But we are not REALLY changed, we are just coming Home to, the inevitable and unshakeable Truth of our Existence, and who we REALLY ARE; who we were always meant to BE.

So how do we get so lost?

We wake up, brush our teeth, drink a cup or 2 of coffee, eat breakfast (If we are lucky) go to work or school or both, watch TV, distract, distract, more distraction. We spend money, consume, go into debt to make more money, and spend more money to get out of debt as debt consumes our lives. We end up angry, resentful, gaunt, and ultimately the lack of motivation to do anything is gone, and yet we keep going. We keep going as if we were somehow animated through wire and chord. We become caged in our thoughts, animated by our emotions, reactive, depressed, and spun out. We begin to think that THIS is the norm.

I remember the first time I saw the picture that changed everything for me, because it TOUCHED my Soul. Somewhere deep down in the core of my being, I felt like a tapestry that was just coming to life and woven by the Divine. Unlike the feeling of chord and plug, I felt powered by something far GREATER, far Superior to woman/man made (Though woman and man has made some really incredible things.) I can hardly describe it, as Spirit goes, It is ineffable. I do know that I couldn’t turn away or go back to sleep.

“The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you

Don’t go back to sleep!

You must ask for what you really want.

Don’t go back to sleep!

People are going back and forth

across the doorsill where the two worlds touch,

The door is round and open

Don’t go back to sleep!”

― Jalaluddin Rumi

By the New Year of 2012 I had broken a lease, went on a leave of absence at work, finished a semester in college with notice that I would be taking at least one if not two semesters off. By February of 2012, I was living and back packing through my sacred heart’s home. India. Though my flesh isn’t from this INCREDIBLE land, my soul most definitely is.

By New Year’s of 2013 I became a full time yoga teacher & I started to fully allow my rainbow colored tapestry to become a muse and channel for other hearts’ songs. I woke up every morning asking how I could serve the Divine Energy that changed everything for me, that BREATHED Life back into me (As if it were lost somehow, lol.) Animated by this Divine Spirit, I came to step into my PURPOSE on this Earth. I was GUIDED to combine what inspired me and made me HAPPY in order to take it to the masses so that THEY could be HAPPY; while continuing DEEP inner work to shed the guiles of the ego so that I could be a CLEAR and unencumbered channel for God.

By New Year’s of 2014 I was looking at leading my 3rd yoga retreat in Costa Rica after living on the Nicoya Peninsula of that land for 6 months. I was leaving the man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with in order to marry the MAN/WOMAN that has never and will never leave my side. God/Goddess. In 2014 I began my courtship with Divine. Truly. Though I strayed (Or thought I strayed) from the ULTIMATE Truth of who and what I was, Divine always persisted that I was GREAT. Thank you, Divine, for always BELIEVING in ME! 😉

By New Year’s of 2015 I was incorporated as a full fledged wellness and yoga retreat business, and embarked on the most important business of all, motherhood. This was the year of fine tuning my skills. I registered for an Integrative Nutrition school that I had been wanting to go to for many years, but was too afraid to believe in myself enough to do it. This was the year of staying in touch with my dreams, whilst recognizing what didn’t serve me (Attachment to anything that was material and changeable.) It was surrendering selfishness in order to be able to serve my daughter and my Dharma.

By New Year’s of 2016 I was sitting alone in a hotel suite. I was taking time for myself, ringing in not only the New Year, but my 30th birthday, 7 months pregnant with my daughter, and fully open to learning more from Divine. “However can I serve YOU and this Planet,” was my daily morning prayer and invocation. I spent time mapping out my life on a Vision Board and hours meditating on what I was grateful for (Everything) and what I desired to CO-CREATE with the Universe and my daughter. This is a great practice for anyone on a New Year’s Day. I suggest you try it if you haven’t a ritual planned already!

The New Year of 2017 is upon us, with the Solar New Year already among us (Winter Solstice.) My beautiful, nearly 8 month old daughter is sitting in my lap as I finish writing this. I am now fully realizing my dreams, traveling the world and teaching what I believe will help AWAKEN individuals to their HIGHEST Potentials in this incarnation. I am so, SO grateful for what is to come, because in my experience, what the Universe DELIVERS is far Superior to what I can even imagine in my BIGGEST DREAMS!

What LIT you up and INSPIRED you in 2016? What were your happiest moments, and what challenges did you over come? What do you want to DREAM into being in the New Year of 2017? How can I help in praying for you to fulfill this? How can I help guide and support you? Leave comments below…

A New Year’s 30 Day Warrior Woman Course to LIVING YOUR DREAMS starts soon. Stay tuned to the, “Self Heal with Alana,” Facebook page or email SelfHealwithAlana@gmail.com for information. Come away with the Explorations of Self Tribe and me to fully be present with yourself and to unwind from the daily grind on one or more of these incredible Wellness Retreats, information at www.explorationsofself.com or email explorationsofself@gmail.com

In deep DEVOTION and AWE of this WILDLY ABUNDANT UNIVERSE,

I go in PEACE & JOY,

Alana

Namaste, soul family

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

Are You Freelance:Digital Nomad Material?

November 3, 2016 // by Admin// Leave a Comment

What does it take to become a freelance entrepreneur and/or a digital nomad? What IS a digital nomad? Both offer the same thing. Freedom to work for either yourself or other businesses from any location in the world. As long as you have a competent digital office, you are able to become a freelance entrepreneur and/or a digital nomad. Within this past year, I made the jump to being a part time digital nomad, to a FULL time freelance entrepreneurial digital nomad, and let me tell you, it feels so GOOD! I still work hard, but I work from where ever I damn well please, and that makes working taste so delicious.

Are you freelance/digital nomad material?

If the following resonates, there is a good chance that you are ready to take this leap.

You could be online all day and night and still crave the sweet glow of an iMac screen, while enjoying your favorite kombucha. As long as you have your computer, headphones, and a delicious beverage, you are as happy as a clam whilst whistling away in your own digital cloud bubble. Mmm, technology, snacks, and a warm environment are your idea of a comfortable day.
You love meeting fellow workers at co-working spaces. Meeting others of like minds is such a treat for you. You love sharing space with those who are fast at digital work and occasionally like to take breaks to share fun tips to enhance your lifestyle while also taking a moment to share their life’s story and a bit of humor.
You get a rise out of sharing battle stories of traveling abroad. It’s happened to the best of us. One day you are perusing the streets of New Dehli, and the next thing you know you are doubled over in nausea from the street food you daringly tried because you… you are invincible. The next few days you feel like you’ve taken a couple tabs of acid and you can’t stop throwing up in those awesome holes in the ground. Laugh now. You certainly weren’t then.
Your laptop is always in the back of your mind. Especially when you are socializing. You take the evening off to hang out with your guest house mates from across the hall. You begin to get a little compulsive about your laptops safety. It might be nice to feel the lightness of not carrying a backpack this evening with your digital office, but you do it anyway. You are a part of your laptop, and it is a part of you.
You feel more secure not knowing where you will be in a couple of months. You enjoy going with the flow. Making plans too far out is not attractive unless there is a digital price tag attached to it, and even then you make it clear, “I work from location.” My location.
You get a thrill out of watching others cringe at your lifestyle. Even though they secretly wish they could do it, too. The secret it… they can.
You have a, “Don’t quit until it’s possible,” outlook on life. Living this way requires that. You enjoy not following the crowd. You dance to the beat of your own drum. You keep forging ahead to create the life YOU desire, which is free, and unencumbered by 4 walls and a nagging boss.
You enjoy traveling light. As Yogi Bhajan said, “Travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light.” You would not have it any other way. This is your outlook on life.
You tear up a little when you are typing away from a hammock that overlooks white sands and blue seas. Are you kidding me? This is my office? You feel like you have discovered a hidden secret to life, and by simply doing what comes naturally, you are inspired to create more situations that make this lifestyle possible.
The idea of a white picket fence nearly causes you to faint. It’s fine for your peers, but not for you. You can’t do that life. Your ideal mate is a free spirit as well. If kids are in the picture, they are living the nomadic lifestyle with you. You all energetically spray paint big red NO signs on this white picket fence. Maybe next lifetime.

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

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

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

Memories From Our January 2018 Costa Rica Yoga Retreat!