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Reasons to Incorporate Yoga in Your Morning Routine

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Are you looking for a way to start your day off on the right foot?

Consider practicing yoga in the morning! Here are some of the benefits:

  1.  Boosts energy and immunity

  2.  Creates a positive outlook for the day

  3.  Helps you tune inwards and acknowledge your own needs before addressing others’

  4.  Improves mental health and reduces stress

  5.  Increases flexibility and strength

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced yogi, a morning yoga practice can help you feel more awake, alive, and ready to take on the day. So why not give it a try? Set your intention, activate your body and mind, and enjoy some me-time before tackling your to-do list. You deserve it!

Learn more about remote 1 on 1 and team Integrative Leadership Training.
📚Sources cited:

Thread the Needle Pose

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Why I love ‘Thread the Needle Pose (Parsva Balasana)’

thread the needle pose

  • Opens shoulders, neck, upper

  • Awesome prep pose for arm balances

  • Full body stretch

  • Great shoulder opener for athletes (before & after)

  • Awesome prep pose for arm balances

  • Gentle spinal twist

  • Cleanses digestive system

  • Calms nervous system

  • Balances all chakras

  • Centers the mind

  • Mood booster

Parsva Balasana Step by Step

  1. Begin in table top position with your knees under your hip points and your shoulders over your wrists with your hands flat on the floor. fingers spread wide!

  2. Inhale and sweep your right arm open and up towards the sky to  your right!

  3. Now sweep your right hand underneath and through your left arm, resting your right shoulder & ear on the floor.

  4. Breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your nose if you wish to heat up your body or in through your nose and out through your mouth if you wish to cool down your system (you will know in the moment which one is best and remember that your body will need different things depending on the day!)

  5. Do the other side (advanced option below!)

 

thread the needle advanced

Author: Alana Victoria, founder of Explorations of Self

Learn more about YOGA EVENTS, COACHING, COURSES, EVENTS & RETREATS WITH ALANA VICTORIA HERE!

Super New Moon in Scorpio Guided Meditation

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During this guided meditation with Alana you will shield, ground, re-calibrate with positive love light frequencies, release old/blocked energies/patterns, re-birth, and allow the Divine energies to cascade into your being as you prepare to rise like the phoenix into your new life’s chapter! If you like this meditation and want more free mindfulness content from me every month, please like, comment, subscribe and share my Youtube channel!

How to Maintain Your Yoga Practice & More Without Childcare During Quarantine

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I was talking to a fellow yoga teacher and mama friend the other day and she asked me, “How do you do things with your little one at home since you can’t use help?”

I immediately thought of  my yoga practice and how much it has shifted and changed over the years since the birth of my daughter, and yet, I continue to practice daily, despite the perceived interruptions.  And that is the thing, they are only interruptions when I perceived them to be.  The truth is there is nothing other than this moment, and non-dualistic perspective gives us the opportunity to see all things as moving parts of our SELF.

So, she had a great question.

How do you continue to do things without the help that you might be used to?

For the last 4 years I have raised my daughter as a solo mom for the majority of our experiences and I have traveled the world, run international yoga retreats, ran several different facets of wellness businesses, AND she has been right there, the whole entire time.  When she was younger, I strapped her to me and I practiced yoga wearing her!  I did a lot of things wearing her.  That’s just one thing that you can do.  It’s great core work and great for baby!

I have hired help and used the help of the daycare centers at gyms when I taught abroad and locally. For the majority of the time I am alone with my daughter and I love it.  But, when this pandemic first hit and gyms were shut down, all of the sudden those few hours where I could get acupuncture or take a sauna were gone.  It DID take a few weeks to adjust to for both of us!!  My daughter missed playtime with kids her age.  We still prevailed.  We found new things to do together, which I am forever grateful for.  After those few weeks passed and I started to really relish in the fact that I was working less and had more time to be present with her.  We are in a groove now.  One that I am seriously grateful for.

So, we adapt.  We have this insatiable ability as humans to adapt to new situations and environments over time.  We can choose to make the best of it or not.  I suggest taking the high road here.  This takes mental diligence.

It has not always been easy to let go of the way that I think things should be done, or that hour long “Uninterrupted,” yoga practice, but when I surrender to the beauty of this sacred DANCE of life that I get to participate in, I get to do all of the things that I enjoy + household chores with a sense of joy and ease.

I set the intention every single day to co-create a day that not only nurtures our minds and bodies, but also, our souls.

I pray every morning to Divine to please keep me open to the miracles He/She has in store for me today.

When I do this,  I am blown away by the little things.  My daughter’s smile.  The leaves rustling in the breeze. The smell of fresh air.  The sun shine or the rain.  It’s all incredible.

I also whole heartedly believe that when I ask God for guidance in the way that I see my day, I am always given the opportunity to see the ease through out it all.   Divine gives us the opportunity to see Heaven on Earth all of the time.  The question is, do you want to see it?

Takeaways on “How to do things with your little ones at home & no help.” 

  • Remaining flexible and open to a new kind of day.
  • Staying open to the beautiful new ways of being.
  • Integrating my children with my day.
  • Remaining in witness to the miracles in each moment.
  • Remembering that we are human.
  • If your children take naps, use that time to do something for yourself.
  • When your children go to bed at night, take an hour to do self-care.
  • Take a deep breath.
  • Ask Divine to show you the reality of this moment.
  • Smile more.
  • They are only this age once.
  • You can do this.
  • Talk to other parents who might be in the same boat!  Connecting has this incredible ability to help us feel not so alone in our experiences, which can be very cathartic!!  Community, even if it’s remote, is so important.
  • Things are always changing so how can you adapt and raise up your vibration to meet this excellent new change?
  • Stay grounded in LOVE and be buoyed by the Divine Spirit.
  • Don’t forget to laugh… at yourself, at each other.  It’s most important.

Just as the certainty that life is always changing, our yoga practice will, too!  Remaining open to the change is what’s key here.  If we become attached to some facet of our practice, we may become distressed.  Yoga is meant to help you let GO of what was and welcome what IS.  You may be pleasantly surprised to find that what IS is just as incredible as what was, because the core of Divine is in each moment as it is and THAT is the only thing that never changes.  Are you willing to remain open to that JOY within this moment as it is?

 

In love and light,

Alana Roach

Founder of Explorations of Self

A Shamanic Guide to January 2020’s Full Moon Lunar Eclipse

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This Full Moon Lunar Eclipse is re-calibrating and uplifting our heart chakra center as it is in the sun sign of Cancer which governs this energy center & our emotional body.

I had some lucid dreams as a child as well; dreams that I remember to this day, but ever since I started a daily meditation practice, my dreams have become incredibly vivid, especially around the New and Full Moon.

Dreaming led me on the path of Shamanism around the same time I started meditation, where I discovered, “Shamanic Dreaming.”

Tribal shamans took dreams seriously, working with their own dreams as well as those reported by members of their tribes. Various tribes interpreted dreams differently; for members of the Mohave tribe, dreams were sources of knowledge and messages from the Great Spirit, while the Iroquois Indians saw dreams as “wishes of the soul.” ~Corrosion Doctors

I have been led through a maze of Shamanic rituals from various traditions ever since I started really paying attention to my Full Moon dreams. Perhaps you have, too. These dreams hold great messages. 

I had synchronicities surrounding this heart dream the day of the dream and the day after in my waking reality. I later found out that the sign of Cancer is all about the heart chakra.My dream this month was all about the heart. No surprise, right? Yet, I am always surprised, because I get so excited about these miracles!

Experiences like this happen to me all the time. They are so common for me these days that I don’t even question it anymore. They are experiences that hold so much wisdom. I pay attention. I trust that the Universe is gently guiding me in all moments, and the sooner I pay attention, the more joy I will experience in life.

The moon cycles work closely with Spirit to guide us into a deeper awareness of our I Am Presence.

Ascended Master Saint Germain, believed by those adherent to the Ascended Master Teachings to have previously been embodied as Plato, Proclus, Roger Bacon, Francis Bacon, and numerous others, was quoted as saying:

“When one individualizes within the Absolute, All-Pervading Life, he chooses of his own free will to become an intensified individual focus of Self-Conscious Intelligence. He is the conscious director of his future activities. Thus, having once made his choice, he is the only one who can fulfill that Destiny — which is not inflexible circumstance but a definitely designed Plan of Perfection.” [13] When You, the ‘Mighty I AM Presence,’ will to come forth into an Individualized Focus of Conscious Dominion and use the Creative Word, ‘I AM,’ Your First Individual Activity is the Formation of a Flame. Then you, the ‘Individualized Focus’ of the ‘Mighty I AM Presence,’ begin your Dynamic Expression of Life. This Activity, We term Self-consciousness, meaning the Individual who is conscious of his Source and Perfection of Life, expressing through himself.” [1] (Source)

The moon helps us to shed old patterns or belief systems that can make us feel disconnected from our Higher Self or I Am Presence. Remember that you are never truly disconnected from this Loving Presence. However, there are ways to attune your physical and mental body to become more and more in alignment with your divinity. This is why we are here! To tune into our Divinity and discover + share it with the world in our unique chasm.

Shamanic practices are an integral part of my personal healing practices to this day. Shamanic rituals that require nothing more than breath and awarenesses of the power that is pouring out of us at any given moment.

You are connecting to your inner shaman anytime you connect to the unseen realms of this Universe through presence of your breath, dreams, energies, elements in nature, and so on.

The healing of this Full Moon Lunar Eclipse is individualized for each of us. How can you know what The Universe is trying to tell you during this Full Moon Lunar Eclipse ?

Here are 3 steps to creating your own Shamanic Full Moon Ritual:

  1. Journal Your Dreams: Ask Divine to lovingly guide you in your dreams at the end of each day. Pay attention to your dreams all month long. Get a dream journal if you don’t have one already. Start writing down your dreams first thing in the morning. If you have a meditation practice you may be pleasantly surprised that dream recall may start to happen all throughout your day. As soon as a memory of your dream pops up, write it down. Take it as a message that you are meant to remember this. Don’t over analyze your dream, but DO write down what they mean to you. This will come in handy when designing your Full Moon Ritual.
  2. Self Care: What self-care regimes make you feel amazing? Is it a bath? Essential oils? Fresh pressed juice? Yoga? Dance? Massage? A walk in nature? All of these things? Great! The Full Moon energies are typically amplified 4 days before and 4 days after the Full Moon date. In the days leading up to and following the Full Moon, choose 1 or 2 of these self-care rituals and write them down in your planner. Create time for these as these are very important for your unique ritual. Taking care of our physical and emotional body is an important way to clear out psychic debris so that you can feel the PRESENCE of Your Creator.
  3. Get into the Receptive State: The Universe is always sending us loving guidance and wisdom!!! On the day of the Full Moon, thank The Universe for revealing potent wisdom for your loving benefit at this powerful time. Ask that you be shown clarity about your dreams and any other loving knowledge that will help you step into your Divine Purpose and Align with all of the LOVE that IS during this Full Moon ritual. Take a few moments in silence to listen to The Universe. Write down what is shared. Do not fret if you don’t get a sense for what it is. Sometimes God will show up through other people through out the day, a song, a certain quote that pops out to you while you are reading your favorite blog. Pay attention throughout your day with a soft, receptive, and playful energy. Trust the guidance that you are being given!!

These 3 simple steps will help you embody you practice your own unique Full Moon ritual. It doesn’t need to make sense to anyone else but you, just go with your inner LOVING guidance and more will be revealed!

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For example:

My dreams have been about relationships, specifically close relationships, and my heart. While noting this, I have been preparing my body and mind temple to receive the healing with daily self care rituals in the days leading up to the full moon. I have been praying and meditating every morning, doing at least an hour of yoga every day, and taking candle lit, essential oil infused, bubble baths at night. I have been asking God to reveal to me the wisdom being shared in my dreams and asking how I can step into full alignment of my Divine Purpose during my morning prayer and meditation. The reveal? I have been gracefully led to an abundance ritual that involves journaling, affirmations, and service. I have had 2 past students reach out to me seemingly random with potent information for me. Both of them said that I have been on their mind a lot lately, and one even had a vivid Shamanic dream about me. She called it a, “Manifestation Dream,” and had specific advice for me to apply to my business. This excites me!!! That’s how you know it is meant for YOU! Does it excite you? Does it make you joy-filled and inspired? That’s God speaking to you. That’s your Full Moon Ritual.

Remember, the more consistent you are with daily prayer and meditation, the more you open yourself up to miracles from The Universe.

The Universe is always sending us LOVE and guidance. Are you paying attention?

Do you want more guidance on how to step into your power in a whole new way and live in alignment with your Divine Life Purpose? If you are seeking guidance in spirituality, starting our up-leveling your passion project & business, or desire to get in peak mind/body shape, email me at Explorationsofself@gmail.com or go here to learn more!

With much love and light on your journey during this Full Moon Lunar Eclipse,

Founder of Explorations of Self

Abundance Coach, International Yoga Teacher, Write

Mother, Surf Enthusiast, Lover of LOVE, The Joy of Being Retreat in Bali

8 Holistic Ways to Manage Grief During The Holidays

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

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

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

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

 

 

With much love and respect for your journey,

 

Alana Roach

CNS, E-RYT, Author

Yoga, Nutrition, and Wellness

Founder of Explorations of Self

 

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

..

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

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

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

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

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Much love,

Alana

 

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

I believe in you. 

New Moon in Libra 3 Card Spread

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✨Happy New Moon 🌙 Libra ♎️!!!!⁣

⁣
🌌I pulled our Collective New Moon spread this morning & we are to remember that God is our SOURCE, and when we tune into THIS, we have UNLIMITED IDEAS AND CREATIVITY TO LIVE IN OUR WINDFALL OF ABUNDANCE!!! Yes!!!!!⁣
⁣

🌹🤗It’s time to journal & manifest your inner most Joy fueled TRUTHS!!⁣

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

Things to meditate on whilst creating your vision board.

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

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

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

 

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

A Leap of Faith, New Moon in Taurus

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A Leap of Faith, New Moon in Taurus
My dear friends,
 
It’s been awhile since I wrote you. I have been going through a lot of change this year and writing has taken a bit of a back burner. I am returning with my pen in hand (Or keyboard) to create monthly newsletters for you to contemplate, be inspired by, share with your loved ones, and enjoy. If you are not signed up for my newsletter yet, you can sign up now at explorationofself.com when the prompt comes up.
 
My daughter turns 3 this Saturday which happens to not only be, “May the 4th be with you,” (Putting my nerdy glasses on ?…) but also the New Moon in Taurus. What a special New Moon this is!!! She has been the biggest inspiration I have had to roll out my dreams and push myself beyond my comfort zone to insure that they come to fruition. Our children deserve to see us at our best, rocking it, changing the world for the better, and taking them along with us to experience all of the beauty that this life has to offer in great support to them because they will BE THE CHANGE that we wish to see in the world. She’s such a LIGHT. It’s incredible to watch her shine everyday… she embodies JOY. The children that are being born these days are just pure heart <3 . I know that their God given GRACE on this planet will be akin to angels walking on this Earth. They are reminding us of what WE ARE. Have you forgotten your inner GRACE? Let these beautiful examples remind you that YOU, too, are an angel walking on this Earth. The world greatly needs you to to know how loved and appreciated you are. It takes great courage to walk in your GRACE, and not succumb fear, but you got this.
 
This Sun conjunct Moon is giving us a lot of energy towards creating and setting our desires in full force motion. You may find yourself reflecting on old belief systems, habits, and patterns as you step into a new, more free YOU. Now is your time to shine.

New moon ritual:

1. Take some time to meditate and reflect.

2. Draw a line down the center of a page. On the left write OLD, and on the right, write NOW.

3. Write down negative belief systems that you have about yourself in the OLD column.

4. Write down the opposite of that belief system in the NOW column. (For instance, if you write, “I feel like I am no good in the OLD column, in the NOW column you could write, “I am SO amazing in every way.”

5. Cross out the OLD.

6. Go to a mirror and look at yourself lovingly and recite your NOW column in 1st person. Be sure to say, “I am,” before every NOW belief system.

7. Do this for 28 days in a row and watch your inner and outer world start to shift in a BIG way.

8. Have faith. Most of the time, having faith means believing in what we can’t see, and trusting that the Universe has us. Keep your biggest, heart felt dream, and allow the Universe to take care of the timing and details.

 

Author: Alana Roach, Founder of Explorations of Self

“I want to become a Yoga Teacher.” Questions from an aspiring teacher.

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Are you curious about becoming a full time yoga teacher? 

The following is a Q & A featuring the interviewer, Jenny Michele, business professional from Baltimore, MD and the interviewed, founder of Explorations of Self, Alana Victoria Roach as she explains what her journey has been like since she got her yoga teacher training certificate in 2011.

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What were you looking to accomplish when you started your career teaching yoga?

World peace and healing for all.

What are you looking to accomplish now regarding your career? The same thing.

How many hours did you work per week when you started? I taught anywhere between 15-25 hours a week after teaching for just a few short months.

After becoming certified, was it a struggle to find work? No. I was driven and the Universe co-conspired with me to bring in teaching gigs. I have taught everywhere from studios to college credited courses to retirement communities to kids yoga. You name it, I’ve done it. If you’re open to deepening your own skills as a teacher, and driven to find the work, you will flourish as a teacher. You must be willing to put in the action, though!

How many hours per week do you work now?Depends on what I have going on. Ideal work week is about 15 hours a week, but there have been weeks where I am crunching for a promo or teaching a festival or leading a retreat where I have to be on all the time so you’re talking 12 hour days, BUT, I love what I do and I don’t consider it work necessarily. It’s just disciplined action to achieve goals, help others, enjoy abundance, and play!

How did you build a following? Getting emails from every class I taught. Always ask if people want to sign up for your email list. Talking to your students before and after class. Maintaining your social media presence. Have a website to direct people to.

How did you network? Teaching everywhere I could.

How did you push through fears? Just do it. Once you start it, the fear subsides and you become a conduit for the Divine. It’s all about service.

Were there poses you could not do when you started? Yes! Your practice will grow as you teach. You have to remain a student of yoga when you become a teacher. A wise mentor once told me to, practice as much as you teach. It makes you human to your students when you can’t do all of the poses, but I would suggest to teach what you know. As you grow in your practice, teach what you learn.

I recently read the ” 7 Truths About Being A Yoga Teacher That No One Will Ever Tell You” by Edward Vilga and he wrote that centers insist teachers follow a strictly vegetarian diet.. Is this a truth for you? I LOVE a vegetarian diet, don’t get me wrong, but, no. I suggest you fuel your body with medicinal food. That means cutting out processed junk and fueling yourself with really good whole foods. I eat a largely vegan diet but in recent years have learned to listen to my body, which sometimes, craves fish, steak, chicken. I suggest students listen to their bodies. Eat organic. If you eat fish, make sure it’s organic and wild caught. Don’t eat too much of it. If you eat meat, make sure it’s grass fed and was not treated with hormones. Don’t eat too much of it. Fill the rest of your diet with organic (Local if possible) produce and cut out the processed junk all together. You’ll live a healthy and happy life if you do this. I am an advocate for being vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and carnivorous, just as long as it’s benefiting the person eating it while keeping the animals and the environment in mind. I always thank my food, where it came from, the sunshine, soil, farm, handlers, you name it, I thank it BEFORE I consume. I pray over my food to lift the energy of the ritual. Whatever you eat, you take in the energy of that thing. Sending your food good vibes and gratitude helps to commune with that food and that creates vibrancy and synergy within your body. I am also an advocate for eating mostly vegan because the Earth needs it now more than ever.

What inspires you to keep going? The feeling I get every time I teach. The incredible testimonials I receive after I lead a yoga retreat or teach an event or class. The outpour of people who say how inspired they are because I’ve created a business that was founded on passion, belief, happiness, love, purpose, and faith. The inner knowing I have that I am meant to trail blaze a lifestyle that is meant to inspire others to live a life that dreams are made of.

I want people to feel good, dive deep within themselves, and ask this question on a daily basis, “Am I following my heart?” That is what keeps me going.

It’s not a choice. It’s my PURPOSE. When you follow what you love, the Universe will support you to create it. Trust the process and don’t give up!

Do you still lift and do other types of work outs?  Absolutely. I have been cross training for almost a decade. Lately I have been really intro HITT and Crossfit style work outs that leave out the Olympic Lifting for the most part and have a big focus on form to avoid injury. Cross training keeps my body strong and balances out my 6 day a week yoga practice. I cross train at least 3 days a week.

What is your least favorite part of the training/ job? The spiritual ego!

What is your favorite part of the training /job? Helping others find true inner peace, good health, happiness, purpose, and connection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author:

Alana Roach

Owner & Director of the Explorations of Self Travel Community

Mother, Yogi, Business Owner, Dharma and Meditation Instructor, Surfer, Artist, Singer, Life and Nutrition Coach, Social Media Marketing, Lover or LIFE.