A Twelve Day Practice - Light Up Your Spirit

Light up your Spirit

New Years' Considerations, Gentle Poses for Renewal and Hopeful Guidance

Welcome New Year - Light Your Way into the New Year. "We have prepared 12 Days of joyful poses, simple meditations and community notices to bring about a healthy and heart-centered beginning for your New Year."

Day 1

'Breathe in (2 minutes), sit in Sukhasana and use this time for yourself to unite your body and mind.'
'Breathing out, open your body (1 minute) in Matsyasana and feel the vibrant floating feeling in your spine to feel refreshed.'
For local enjoyment of floating this holiday join in the Cayucos Polar Bear Dip at 12 noon. It is a large social interaction (some 2500 people) and truly cleanse yourself in the ocean. — with Nicøle Nøel inCayucos, California.

Day 2

Celebrate Day 2 of the #NewYear and we can commit to being great this year let’s also be grateful. Any shift in our lives will take focus and time. Good thing we have Wednesday (hump day) poses to keep us centered during the week. At our MELT Method Yoga practice today we created that warm-up of the body and with gentle rocking we moved with control to reconnect to our center. Allow today’s poses to connect with your core and use the momentum of to re-center ourselves. Not only will we be able to keep the course for the remaining of the week but through the winter months ahead. Speaking of winter months, visit the Elephant Seal habitat in No. SLO and Monterey Counties Hwy 1. There are new miles of trails to safely allow peaceful observation.

Here's Mary doing a standing twist to engage the center. Use your hands and feet to feel even weight and pressure this allows us to stay centered. Thank you for following and for practicing with us. ❤️

Day 3

"Determined to obtain the greatest possible benefit for all beings...I shall hold them dear at all times." H.H. Dalai Lama
There are many roads to take through our beautiful backcountry. Count on your wildlife friends to welcome you for a visit.

Day 4

Practicing living with harmony to light up your spirit brings an opportunity to refocusing on ourselves with new intention. Use YOUR yoga practice to take care of yourself so that we can be in harmony with others and the world around you. 

Get rest in your evening and celebrate the upcoming weekend filled with some fun, lively gatherings.

These poses are modified to connect your 2nd Chakra. Practice using props, chairs, bench or balance ball. You can do 10 breaths or allow "breath of fire".

Meditation: May I be peaceful, happy, and light in body and spirit. May I be safe and free from injury. May I be free from anger, afflictions, fear and anxiety.

Day 5

Light Up  Your Spirit through Change

The sensation of stillness in Corpse Pose allows you to stay aware so that you are conscious of the deeper state of oneness. In this way change is not so worrisome and you can become perfectly comfortable.

If feel this is the ultimate pose as it does bring an awareness of the path of letting go fully. A long-term illness ended with one of my students in this pose. Literally, she was able to achieve the state for her final moments. Her body and heart allowed love to change into a new form. New years is mixed with loss, change and hope. Let this pose help you through all your changes.

Day 6

Yoga brings an internal motion that is not always evident on the outside. The nature of movement is known to regenerate cells, decompress joints and improve cleansing throughout the day. As a rainy day continues, find some way to move.

Today we visited the Labyrinth at Allegretto Resort Hotel in Paso Robles and enjoyed the contemplation in the rain. Achieving the quieting of the mind while in movement brought us to a natural state of our surroundings - the peace, beauty and light rain.

Day 7

Observation is a life of practice moment to moment. Look for time in your practice to practice your Dharma and observe your spiritual discipline. In these poses we can feel components of authentic balance, enjoyment of the fruits of our efforts and liberation from Self. These are Four Aim in Life proposed by Yoga Philosophy.

Take pleasure in your local hikes or join us as we explore "Open Spaces, Open Minds" mindful path walks at local city parks.

Day 8

Tuesday afternoons are abundant in practice here at EarthTones. Mary teaches a restorative class at 4pm, and another wonderful class at 5:15pm. Please join! Nicole's 7pm Hatha class this evening is canceled, but her classes start back up next week!

Day 9

Freshen up your practice! These rainy days are a great time to refresh. Add some flowers, incense or a candle to your practice space. Clean your mat. Drinks lots of water (freshen it up with some lemon!). A great cleansing and refreshing pose is revolved triangle. We prefer to do it after stabilizing in a regular triangle pose. Make sure to rotate from the torso, thinking about your chest facing the wall behind you. Add an arm toward the sky after you've got the twist down (or place that top arm on the lower back as May is demonstrating in this picture). Exhale completely! When you inhale think of bringing in all new FRESH energy with the breath. Come in to EarthTones and ask Mary or Nicole for more information if you have any questions : )

Day 10

Yoga can be a meditative practice during asana (postures /poses). It can also prepare us to sit in mediation, and then relieve our body after sitting for long periods of time (in meditation or otherwise). Do you allow asana to prepare, relieve, or guide your meditation practice? Day 10 of our yoga exploration invites us to examine the relationship between yoga practice and meditation practice. If you'd like some meditation inspiration, be sure to visit with the Tibetan monks while they are constructing a Peace Mandala Central Coast Center for Spiritual LivingFebruary 7th-9, 2019. Their full schedule is Drepung Gomang Tour of Central Coast

Day 11

Transformation

The beginning of the year we sense the need for transformation. Anytime we choose to transform energy take a time of possible to reflect on what works and what has not worked. If there are un-serving mindsets or paths you can make a decision to commit unconditionally to your new practice. Some helpful keys are keeping transformation joyful. Laugh, release and delve into the humor of life. Also, taking risks of being with new people can bring the world together and make align you with others who care to make that commitment. 

Look over our Schedule and Description of Classes at Whole Balance @EarthTones. They include skilled and trained instruction and small groups for Yoga, Pilates and THE MELT METHOD. Everything has its time. Call us if you're ready to launch into a new practice. 

Day 12

New Year "Lighten Up Your Life" with Yoga. Our final post (thank you for following us). Today we close with the value of Generosity. Practicing a sense of purpose in our charity and acts of generosity enhanced by the awareness, focus and personal clarity we achieve in all our yoga practices.

Select your plan for giving, exchange or charity with openness to your own path of self understanding.

Local Charities will love your fresh approach. And to mention a few: Paso Cares, Hospice of SLO, RISE, The Lighthouse and Paws Cause.





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EarthTones Gifts, Gallery & Center for Healing

1319 Park Street

Paso Robles, CA 93446

805-238-4413

www.earthtonesgifts.com

@earthtonesgifts