California Mid-State Fair Series: Chakra Wisdom. DAY 5 - THROAT CHAKRA

(A continuation of our blog series on Chakra Wisdom during the Mid-State Fair, with associated yoga postures -asana).

Salamba Sarvangasana

Whether you regularly incorporate Shoulder Stand into your practice or not, use the preparation as part of toning your Throat Chakra. I use blankets to support my shoulders and encourage more space for breathing. As you prepare for the pose keep the neck shoulders and upper back agile. Be breath conscious while maintaining the pose.

DAY 5 - THROAT CHAKRA

- You'll feel good in Denim and Blues.- 

This energy center is located in the throat and is all about communication and connection.  By Sunday your voice may be tired from the cheering, the laughing, and all the connecting you've been doing.  Add a little restoration into your morning routine and keep it comfy today.  You'll want to ensure you have energy to continue connecting and communicating lots at the fair!  GERANIUM oil has a beautiful scent that eases nervous tension, and general tensions around the throat.  This popular scent can be found in many products - check what you already have around your home!  BLUE LACE AGATE is a great stone for supporting the Throat Chakra.   This stone calms nerves, just like the geranium scent, and it also helps to soothe an overactive or overly stimulated mind!
When you're feeling calm it's so much easier to communicate, listen, and connect.

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At 8pm KEVIN GRAYBILL will be serenading the Chill Zone.

His vibe is very "chill" - perfect way to close out a Sunday.

California Mid-State Fair Series: Chakra Wisdom. DAY 4 - HEART CHAKRA

(A continuation of our blog series on Chakra Wisdom during the Mid-State Fair, with associated yoga postures -asana- to follow).

DAY 4 - HEART CHAKRA

- Be a breath of fresh air wearing GREEN! -

We bet you can locate this energy center in the body, though keep in mind; the heart space includes the back side of our chest as well (easy to forget).  This chakra is all about taking risks, being brave and opening up.  GREEN AVENTURINE is a great stone to have around; known as a good luck stone of opportunity.  What opportunities might you find at the fair today?  Winning some games?  Meeting new friends, or running into old ones?  The scent of NEROLI encourages confidence, strength, courage and joy.  Spritz some on yourself as you head out the door, ready for the new opportunities to come.

Green Aventurine Stretch Bracelets
available at EarthTones Gifts, Gallery and Healing
1319 Park Street, Paso Robles

Have any kids in your life?

Starting at noon every day of the fair is a fantastic creative opportunity for kids to express their heart through ART!  Head to the Frontier Pavilion to play with the wonderful local Kids Art Smart program.

Want to test your luck in Floral Design?

There's a demo happening in the flower building at 1pm.

Go root people on and/or try your good luck at the 

Cupcake Challenge Public Contest, 6pm.

Make some friends in the audience at the Mission Square

where B & the Hive will be playing at 7pm.  FREE.

She really knows how to keep her Heart Chakra open through song!

California Mid-State Fair Series: Chakra Wisdom. DAY 3 - SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA

(A continuation of our blog series on Chakra Wisdom during the Mid-State Fair, with associated yoga postures -asana- to follow).

DAY 3 - SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA

- It's Friday! Celebrate in Yellow! -

Our third energy center is located at our Solar Plexus: under where the rib-cage meets below the sternum, in that open triangle space where our diaphragm may hide.  Have you ever had your breath taken away?  You probably felt a grip right in this spot!

Friday calls for celebration and when this chakra is feeling comfortable, relaxed and flowing along, we are beaming with pride and celebratory feelings.

Some tangible things to help this chakra get comfortable:

CITRUS: ESPECIALLY MANDARIN ORANGE 

The scent of Mandarin promotes joyful feelings and helps elevate us into a comfortable, happy state.

CITRINE

A stone of abundance; of joy, love, light, opportunities, pride.

Citrine Earrings, Ring, and Tumbled Stones
at EarthTones Gifts, Gallery, and Healing
1319 Park Street, Paso Robles

How can you celebrate at the Fair today?

ARCY LIVE! Spray Paint Demo @ noon

ARCY is known for his unique style of large scale mural art and has been perfecting his craft since 2003. ARCY has performed for The Smithsonian Institute, America’s National Park Service and the Walt Disney Hometown Museum. For more details on ARCY’s work, visit www.arcyofficial.com.

(We bet he'll use Yellow ...)

Have you ever made butter?

Now's your chance.

3pm at the Rancho Frontier

Dance to the infectiously joyful band

Bear Market Riot, 7pm at the Mission Square

Free!

California Mid-State Fair Series: Chakra Wisdom. DAY 2 - SACRAL CHAKRA

(A continuation of our blog series on Chakra Wisdom during the Mid-State Fair, with associated yoga postures -asana- to follow).

DAY 2 - SACRAL CHAKRA

- Play with some Orange colors in your life! -

Our sacral chakra is an energy center located below the naval and is associated with the qualities of creativity, exploring your senses, and play.  What better place to play than at the Fair!  Wear your favorite Tiger's Eye piece to feel fearless and step out of your usual comfort zone: maybe some extra dancing, or carnival rides?  Bergamot is a great scent to encourage awakening your senses, and, in particular, uplifting your sense of joy.  Perhaps diffuse some Bergamot oil in your home as you're getting ready to head out the door.  This can get you attuned with all the pleasures you may find.

Some playful fair pleasures today?  

- Carnival games/rides

- Check out the DAHLIA'S after 3pm in the Flower Building




- Free Dancing Opportunities (if you didn't get tickets to Pat Benatar) :

7pm: Monty Mills & the Lucky Horseshoe Band @ Mission Square
- old timey country fun!-
9pm: 80s DJ/Karaoke @ Island Stage - the Quad
9pm: KJUG Country Barn Dance - Headliner Stage



Tiger's Eye Pendant - Feel Fearless!

California Mid-State Fair Series: Chakra Wisdom. DAY 1 - ROOT CHAKRA

Last night was the Full Moon, and here we are starting a new series for you on a fresh new day.

Today is the first day of the California Mid-State Fair, and the first day of this blog series on Chakra Wisdom.  We'll be posting 7 days of Chakra Wisdom for the first 7 days of the fair, and then some associated yoga postures (asanas) for the remaining 5 days.  Use this guide to learn about Mid-State Fair highlights, ways to stay grounded, getting the most out of your fair experience, or; simply, follow along from home or wherever you find yourself.

DAY 1 - ROOT CHAKRA

- Wear your best Red! -

Warm up to fair season, and your chakra system, by activating that root chakra.  This energy center is located at the base of the spine, our "root."  Try some GINGER (also a root) in your food, as a drink, or used as an essential oil to get yourself going.  The spice helps activate your blood flow, energizing you for the day.  We'll be wearing ONYX in our jewelry, with the intention of leaving any negativity at the door, as we start our fair experience off right!  Some fun warm-up fair activities are:  petting zoo and pony rides for kids at the Rancho Frontier (noontime) -and- local favorite Kenny Taylor playing at the free Mission Stage at 7pm!

PS:  We sell an essential oil blend called "Sore-no-More" (for use blending into lotions, oils, or other topical creams) here at EarthTones.  There is a fair amount  (no pun intended) of GINGER in the blend.  Need a pick-me-up to get you to the fair?  It may do the trick!  Carrier oils sold here as well.

Thoughtful Thursdays

May Focus on Clutter Clearing

This week, let's start with more journal reflection.  

Get out your journal (don't have one?  We carry some here at our Park Street Paso Robles shop). 

Following Eleanor Brown's definition above, list a physical item, an old idea, a relationship, and habit you are willing to "de-clutter" from your life.  

Next to each item on your list, jot down one small action step can you take to de-clutter each of them.  Your action doesn't need to be dramatic; it can be as simple as making a decision, deleting a phone number, writing yourself a post-it note, looking into support groups, therapies, or books on the matter.  

Take a moment to thank each list item for what it brought to your life, and say "good-bye" while following through with your small action step.

Notice how empowering it feels to come up with some ideas and follow through with a small action!  Close your eyes and allow yourself a moment to really notice the sensation of spaciousness as you just made more room in your life for your own expansion.

Already, transformation has occurred!

Thoughtful Thursdays

May Focus on Clutter Clearing

Could it be as simple as that?  What if by eliminating clutter, you find clarity?  

Last week we initiated Clutter Clearing focus and effort in our lives.
But what if you can transform your surroundings, and therefore your own approach to life.
We combine this effort towards an objective of re-tooling ourselves, like a "modern-day alchemy".

We think it's worth the experiment.

Let's explore how you have been approaching an obstacle and, after this week of de-cluttering,
then how you can approach that previous sense of a barrier (obstacle) as flowing progress.

Set down the phone or mouse and begin to journal for 10-15 minutes on how you have initiated this process of de-cluttering. Remember this is your journal; it's not necessary to share.

1. Did you find a goal or task for the de-cluttering initiative?
2. How did you made the conscious or unconscious choice to pick that task?
3. Has there been a positive change in your space since initiating the project?
4. Do you need to make modifications to your plan?

Returning to the blog, let's try a small energy exercise to open the the door wide.
Close your eyes and allow 10 deep breaths. During this breathing time, visualize removing physical barriers (trash, baskets, boxes or clothing) through an open door.

After the breathing exercise, return to see and feel the space more open. Create a positive image of that clear space.

Inspirational art @EarthTones - crystal infused Affirmations by Andee Allen

Now consider how to celebrate that space. Visit us at our Conscious Living Store and select one inspirational item to celebrate the progress you've made. Pick an item that is affirmative of your goals whether it is a candle, chime, incense or printed inspirational message.

We will check-in next week for more elements of the clutter clearing focus.