Rain Drops Keep Fallin'

Rain...smell it, feel it, play in it, love it.

If you're like me, the rain must bring out the child in you. I personally get in a creative and child-like mood in this type of weather. Something about the puffy dark clouds, the thunder, and lightning along with cool drops of water awakens my senses, making me come back to life. A surge of energy rushes through me (and no, not because I got struck by lightning--though that would be quite a story to tell).

All too often, I think we as human beings tend to take for granted the nature that surrounds us. This beautiful show of change between seasons, between day and night, as well as the behavior of wildlife is a sure reminder that change is definitely happening everywhere all the time; and we can't stop it.
Because we get so busy in our lives, we rarely find the time to be grateful for what surrounds us. We can even find ourselves complaining that life is moving too quickly or that we don't have enough time, or even that we can't change certain things about ourselves as much as we'd like to.

We cannot change change. We cannot stop the circle of life. We cannot keep from getting older, our loved ones from passing on, or the clock from ticking. We just have to learn to 'accept the things we cannot change, to change the things we can, and to be wise enough to know the difference'.

The rainfall, the sunshine,the wind, the snow, the hot, and the cold can all keep us grounded--accepting life as it is, and learning to live with change.

Remember to always Breathe Deeply, Smile Bright, Play when the time is right, and Live today as if it were your Last. Give in and surrender to the nature that surrounds you.

Much Love,

Ashley

Center Yourself

"My hair is a mess!"
"I can't find my (insert item here)!"
"My pants are too tight!"
"Ughhhhh why can't I do anything right?!"
"Why me???"


If this is you, please....Stop right there, and put down the Oreo cookies! Thoughts like these most likely come from being out of touch with oneself and out of balance entirely. I'm sure many, if not all of us feel this way from time to time. Do you ever think to yourself, "My gosh...I feel so out of it...out of balance...exhausted, etc." I know I do. The past week has been just this way, and I just knew I had to do something about it.

Sometimes we can't help but feel a little blue. It happens; whether it's by fault of hormones, family, friends, or work. Sometimes it's just us being a little too hard on ourselves. As a result, our whole life can fall out of sync. We may reach for an extra sweet snack, we may avoid eating much at all, we may cry, and we may find other ways to "de-stress"... Honestly, none of these things will help the stress levels fall down. In fact, they can actually do just the opposite.

For me, I was so stressed that I wasn't drinking or eating enough to keep me 100%, especially with my amount of physical activity on top of other things. As a result, I injured my knee, just slightly... a couple days later, I didn't feel much pain at all, so I decided to go run again, only this time, I messed up my knee pretty bad. I was so focussed on other things that I payed little attention to my form, my level of hydration, and my need for nutrients.

That being said, I learned that it is absolutely imperative that one must be in tune with his or her mind, body, and spirit. When one of these things is even slightly off kilter, it can throw your entire self out of balance. I needed a remedy...

Meditation can do just the trick. Deep breathing, relaxation, and imagery; possibly even calming music, or maybe even the sounds of nature can be quite therapeutic and helpful while meditating.
Meditation can allow you to tap into your soul and find the root cause of all the problems that have recently developed in your life. It can allow you to get back in touch with yourself so that you may continue on in peace and tranquility.
Ask yourself, and honestly answer, "What is it that is giving me so much trouble?" "Why am I feeling so blue?"
Maybe the answer will come to you right away; and maybe it won't come until after a few meditation sessions...the key is to make it a habit. At least once a day, as little as 10 minutes can be beneficial and helpful to you in your hectic and busy life. It can be in the morning before you start your day, or it can be at night before turning in...it can even be on your lunch break or at some other random time that becomes available to you. It is all about becoming balanced and feeling whole. It's about being like a child, full of life and love. Find your inner peace.

Be grateful every day for the things that you have in your life...
It is good to count our blessings daily, because it keeps us in a mindset of positivity and joy. When we can be joyful and positive throughout the day, things just automatically go right, and the pieces somehow fall right back into place.

May we be grateful and loving today,

Ashley

Breath and Motion

The flow of yoga mimics the continuous flow of time, space, and the elements of life. It is an ancient practice of India which has since taught physical, mental, and emotional discipline to those who observe, follow, and apply.

Balance is an evident need in our lives. Once again, I point out that stress is huge in this day in age; therefore, it is great to find ways to alleviate that stress for better health.
Yoga has a way of keeping a person grounded and relaxed. The various poses, asanas, and sun salutations work together to purge the body of toxins (both mental and physical ones!)which may be keeping that person from feeling their best. Yoga is not a religion itself, and is therefore accepted across the globe by many different cultures. Although some people do yoga without connecting spirituality, others use it as a form of meditation or prayer. To some, it is solely a form of exercise, but to others, it is perceived as a much more in depth practice. For those who have learned to love yoga and do it often, you'll find that most, if not all of these yogis practice for the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits it can bring.

I was first introduced to yoga when I was a freshman in high school, close to 5 years ago. Once a week, my Physical Education class would be a yoga class for an entire semester. I found that after every session, my mood, mind, and body were somehow rejuvenated and refreshed enough to get me through the rest of my day in school and after school.
Once my freshman year was over, I continued to do more and more yoga. I found youtube videos as well as DVDs that took me through step by step sequences and taught me more and more things I didn't know. It was a great learning experience for me. I was learning how to connect all physical and non-physical parts of me with one another.

I stopped doing so much yoga between mid sophomore year of high school and junior year, but picked it back up again when I realized how much I missed it. If I go even a week without doing yoga, I still feel sore after an intense session sometimes...but I like the art and flow power yoga the most, therefore my body is pushed more than if I were to be doing hatha yoga, which is the traditional form. There are many types of yoga out there. You just need to find which one works the best for you.

Yoga is great for quieting the mind and listening to only your body. It is a wonderful way to connect with all things present and omnipresent. Yoga is for people of all ages, races, ethnicities, etc. The constant and simultaneous flow of breath (pranayama) and movement help us learn that our body, heart, mind, and soul all work together to keep us functioning and well so that we may live long, healthy lives.
"Holding the poses we learn to link the mind's intentions with the body's movements and the breath. Even introducing yoga into life on just a weekly basis offers a respite to free the mind and body from stress, releasing blockages in the muscular, nervous and glandular systems."-yogawarrior.co

My favorite poses are the ones which require a lot of balance, flexibility, and coordination. I personally love the challenge. It helps with concentration as well as with learning how to overcome any given obstacles one may encounter throughout their life.

A few to try:

Scorpion

Kings Dancer

Dancer

Crow/Crane

Side Crow/Crane

And many other arm/leg balances

You can find a variety of poses and sequences as well as much information about yoga and its benefits at http://www.yogajournal.com

I urge you who have not attempted yoga to try a yoga class, video, or group and see what it does for you, and your entire being. You may find that your first time isn't pleasant, but continue to practice, and you will learn to love what you are doing.

Learn to love, and love to learn.

May your week be filled with much love, joy, peace, and many, many smiles.

Namaste,

Ashley

The Beautiful Truth

What is beauty? Well, according to dictionary.com, beauty is:
the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

Personally, I believe that true beauty flows from the inside out, rather than the outside in. Outside-in beauty is considered artificial beauty, and has no real significance.
We are living in a world where material/temporal things seem to matter much more than spiritual or emotional things. It seems that true values have diminished, and many of us only care about the next greatest film, the most popular song, the newest cosmetic products, and so on....

So, what has happened to our true sense of what real beauty is?
It seems to have been hidden behind layers of facial products and even more layers of hair products--all in attempts to "make" oneself 'pretty'.
Women (and some men) feel that it is the end of the world when he or she has a new pimple on display...I have been one of those--but I was recently told by a (my definition of beautiful) woman that "acne builds character"...and it truly does.

Instead of focusing on how we look on the outside, we must foremost focus on how we look and feel on the inside. What covers our soul cannot be beautiful if the soul itself is dark and empty... We were each given a body upon conception, and it is our body until death. Whether we like it or not, it is ours, and we must take special care of it by eating right, exercising, breathing, laughing, loving, and living our lives to the absolute fullest.

One does not need artificial beauty to become loved and appreciated by others...for artificial beauty itself is empty and is never satisfied. When one is beautiful and content within him or herself, his or her full and living beauty is illuminated across rivers, seas, mountains, and streams...it matters not what he or she wears or looks like when they have this real, genuine beauty.

It is so important to take a good look at yourself in the mirror, and then imagine turning that body of yours inside out to see what you really look like... Is everything a healthy, pink and glossy color and texture? ...or is it just the opposite?
Stress, poor caretaking, and other factors of the like can affect the way we look and feel, inside and out...so, my challenge for you is to go, look into the mirror, and tell me what you really see.

May true beauty be yours,

Ashley

The Magic of Nature

Ever wonder why beautiful scenery makes you feel so warm and fuzzy inside? I know I do. I'm not even quite sure why beauty grips us the way that it does; but I do know that it is quite therapeutic.

When people like me go exercise, we don't do it in the gym unless we really have to...why? Because...it's not that pretty; unless you count the muscular people as being something nice to look at. But seriously...why go running on a treadmill or riding on a stationary bicycle, staring at a wall, yourself, or out a window, when you could be out on a trail or on some scenic route that makes your workout a much more pleasant and enjoyable one? Why settle for boring when you can go on an adventure??

My experiences while running have been most amazing, I must say. I encounter lots of harmless animals (and some maybe harmful animals...you just have to know how to react) and I get to see natural occurances most often. Today, I got to see a partial lunar eclipse happen. I was going on a long trail run, when I looked up and saw in the sky that the moon's glow was shrinking...It was a magnificent show as I ran through the valley of the Tucson Mountain Park.

The way I see it, if you run or walk or ride outside in the open fresh air, not only will your body love you for it, but your heart and soul will love you for it too. What better therapy than to train under an early morning sky, under the stars, in the rain, on a beach, in the mountains, on a trail, etc? I can't think of any better way to stay happy, healthy, and fit than this. It truly is remarkable whence you finally can experience the magic of nature.

Be well,

Ashley

Run Down?

If you are like most people in this country, you may be suffering from what seems like endless bouts of fatigue and stress. This, we know cannot be good on the human body. When we become tense and stressed out, our bodies go into lethargy mode...or so to speak. This in turn causes us to not want to take the time out of our 'already hectic' day to fit in some good ol' fashioned exercise...we become detached from loved ones and from the world around us...and resulting from this, as well as the poor diet that seems to always come along with fatigue and detachment, we see an unsightly product start to form around our waste lines.

I felt this way when I first began my freshman year in college. I never seemed to have the energy to exercise, to cook myself a healthy meal, or let alone to study well. What I didn't realize was that my lack of exercise had begun to affect my mental and physical health as well as my performance in school.

Sooner or later, I found myself craving daily exercise. Near the end of the first semester, I made a deal with myself that I would start a regimen and stick with it. I did many things. I cycled, I walked, I lifted weights, and I ran. Little by little I started to build up endurance and strength as well as confidence and wellness which helped me do well in all aspects of my life. School got a lot easier, and I couldn't believe how easy it was to find time to get in my exercise. Morning, noon, or night, I had to do SOMETHING.

It wasn't until the near end of the second semester that a friend and I had been at the gym together, and we had been on the treadmill for about an hour. Afterwards, we talked about our workouts. I told him I ran 5 miles. "5 miles?! Why aren't you training for a marathon??" So, guess what I decided to get myself in to...

On December 12, 2010, I, Ashley G. am dedicating myself to running a full marathon--the Holualoa Tucson Annual--at 7:30 am sharp.

Running has become a love and passion of mine since I began my training. Little by little, I've worked up my strength, stamina, and endurance to be fit and well enough to run such a distance. I am not quite to that point of running a full marathon just yet, but I am surely enjoying all the wonderful benefits that running brings to my life.

Running is a great form of exercise, whether you are looking for something to relieve stress or something to help you lose weight. It increases aerobic/cardiorespiratory fitness as well as muscular endurance. Your body actually begins to learn to use energy more efficiently and to burn more fat while at rest. When done correctly, it can relieve joint pain and other types of pain while it also improves blood circulation as a result of strengthening your life pump:the heart.
Risks of running usually occur in individuals who are already injured in one or more areas of their body or in those who over train or do not run with correct alignment and posture. Sometimes it is just runners luck as to who runs away uninjured or not. Risks include runners' knee, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and other joint related, muscle related, and bone related disorders.

Ever since I have begun my training, I've felt myself become a much calmer, more collected person. Stress is at an all time low for me, and I have become more able to deal with high stress situations. While running, it seems like I spend a lot of that time planning my life and resolving issues inside my head; that way, all the work is done so that I can spend the rest of my time doing more important things without all the clutter in my brain. It seems that my new hobby is here to stay, and I am glad to have it around. The endurance of running has taught me that I can go anywhere and do anything my heart desires...that the sky is my limit...but even the sky isn't a limit in these times. There are no limits to running. There are only the boundaries you set for yourself.

May peace be with you,

Ashley

Let's Talk Health - Welcome

We are living in an age where nutrition, weight, exercise, and everything in between are the center of daily conversation. Why more so now than before?

...Easy

3 out of every 4 Americans are classified as obese or overweight. Obesity is becoming known to being more of a threat than smoking, drinking, and poverty combined. Heart disease has risen to an all time high, and so have cancers of many different types. The health of the American people has dramatically declined so low that if we keep it up at this rate, within the next 2 decades we are likely to start seeing the average age of death occur between the late thirties and early fifties.

So, what do we do?

...once again, Easy.

We start eating better, exercising more, and finding ways to ease stress and anxiety brought on by our daily routines.

Where do you want your bloodline to be in the next two decades? Would you rather them loaf on the couch, cranky, with a bag-o-potato chips or would you like to see them outside, enjoying the life of the great outdoors, and living cheerful and full of life?

You can't decide how the future people will live, but you can help. Studies show that a child who grows up in a physically active family is likely to sustain that activity and pass it on to their children, and so on. Sadly, those who grow up in a sedentary household will likely do the same for their children.

Our generation must make a change now. We are in a gluttonous, slothful, and greedy world. There are some things that we cannot change, but there are always things that we CAN change. This widespread obesity epidemic can be slowed and reversed. All we have to do is play our part in passing on healthy habits that will be beneficial in living lives full of energy, confidence, kindness, peacefulness, and happiness.

So...what can you do to make a change?

Check back periodically for helpful advice and tips including nutrition, physical activity, stress relieving techniques, and more!

Thanks, and have a beautiful day.

Always the Best,

Ashley