We all have "secrets." In fact, one of the greatest experiences I've had is when I took a workshop with Millennium 3 Education and one of the exercises was to tell our buddy we were paired up with a secret about ourselves.

My biggest fear when I told him my secret was that he would judge me. It was so scary to share with him and be open with him just as much as it was for him to be open with me. The thing which is amazing is we each have secrets, or what we might call "things we keep personal" about our own life, even with the people we are closest to...why is this?

I realized today, for me, it's mostly because of a fear of being judged. A fear that if I share about myself, maybe the person I am sharing myself with won't like me or worst yet, love me for who I am...

One of the principles of Yoga, called a Yama, is Satya or Truthfulness. The word Yama, according to the great sage and father of Yoga, Patanjali, means:

"The great universal vows or the sarvabhauma maha vratas, because they are not limited by either class, creed, time or circumstances. They are the guidelines for how we interact with the outer world, the social disciplines to guide us in our relationships with others. These five are:

• Ahimsa (non-violence),
• Satya (truthfulness),
• Asteya (non-stealing),
• Brahmacharya (celibacy/moderation) and
• Aparigraha (non-covetousness)

Patanjali describes truthfulness as: "To be in harmony with mind, word and action, to conduct speech and mind according to truth, to express through speech and to retain it in the intellect what has been seen, understood or heard." A perfectly truthful person is he who expresses in his speech exactly what he thinks in his mind and in the end acts according to it."
(from Life Positive)

Perhaps we can begin to become aware of where are thoughts and our speech are not in alignment. What things are we thinking, but not saying? Inevitably, our thoughts ultimately become matter in one way or another, so the truth will always reveal itself whether it is through our speaking it, or it coming back to us in some shape, form or manner.

I see this at work in my life more and more all the time. What I am not expressing through words...is still being expressed through my thoughts or thinking.

"When asked, "Can you pass energy to people?" Swamiji says, "Certainly you can. Energy is subtle matter. When it is gross, it is Matter and when it is subtle, it is Energy. As per Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, energy becomes matter and matter becomes energy. When people asked Einstein how energy becomes matter, he replied, 'Here ends Science and starts Spirituality'."
(from dhyanapeetam.org)

It's time for me to begin sharing myself and practicing the 'fullness' of Truthfulness with a new level of awareness for what it means to speak the Truth, being open and moving through my fear of being judged, because only in Truthfulness can love actually exist...

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Sometimes we just need to take time to rest. In Yoga, the resting pose is child's pose or Balasana. In the practice of Yoga, we learn that it's just as important to know when to take a rest as it is to know when to keep going...

What is your resting pose for your life? How do you allow yourself to take a rest from day-to-day?

I have several ways I allow myself to rest...but one of the most invaluable ways I allow myself to relax is by taking Savasana or Corpse Pose/Resting Pose. Not long after I began practicing Yoga 5 years ago, I started taking Savasana regularly. These past couple of weeks, I've spent a considerable amount of time in Resting Pose, taking it almost daily regardless of whether I've practiced Yoga or not...

Allowing myself to take time to rest, reminded me of the song Turn, Turn, Turn by the Byrds. There is a tremendous amount of truth in these lyrics which came from Ecclesiastes in the Good Book...The Bible.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1] To every thing There is a season And a time to every purpose under heaven 2] A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which was planted; 3] A time to kill, and a time to heal;... 4] A time to weep, and a time to laugh;... 1] 3]... A time to break down, and a time to build up; 4]...A time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5]A time to cast away stone, and a time to gather stones together;... 1] 8] A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 5]... a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 1] 6] A time to get, and a time to lose;... 7] A time to rend, and a time to sew; 8] A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.

Have a wonderful weekend!Read more

I'd like to thank my friend, Diane, the author of Everything Yoga for posting info about the San Francisco Yoga Journal Conference blog on her website. Whether you practice Yoga or not, you'll definitely find a tremendous amount of insight from the posts and videos on this blog of the Master Yogi's who conducted classes at this workshop. If you'd like to see the miracle of the human body in motion, click here to watch a video of amazing Master Yogini, Ana Forrest, demonstrating an incredible sequence of Asanas.

As you watch, let it inspire you and remind you that anything is possible for you through intention and focus. This is one of the greatest awarenesses we awaken to through the practice of Yoga.

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind." - William James

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Well, I'm on day 1 of my 5 day cleanse. The first day is always the most difficult. I started the day with a grapefruit, then a Larabar (raw food bar made with dates, raw almonds, etc.-you can buy them at Whole Foods or in the natural section of your grocery store), then a small mandarin orange and I just ate a salad for lunch made with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, mushrooms, oil and vinegar. It's been about 18 hours now since I've eaten anything cooked and I can already feel my body cleansing itself. My nose was a little runny earlier and I've felt a little lethargic. On the first day of a cleanse, the body is usually releasing a tremendous amount of toxins and so it's typical to feel a little tired and to sometimes even have headaches. Typically by day two or three, I have a renewed sense of energy, my skin begins to glow and I feel vibrant. At this point, sticking with the cleanse becomes easy because of the obvious benefits I can see and feel.

By the end of the cleanse, I usually have a hard time going back to cooked foods, because I know I will begin to lose the awesome feeling of being clean and literally "high" from eating raw. Raw foods have the most amount of life force in them, which is why we become more awakened, alive, clear and can even feel high when we consume them...

I just learned about a new product I'm excited to try once I'm finished with my cleanse. They are called House Foods Tofu Shirataki Noodles and one bag has:

-40 calories, 1g fat, 30mg sodium, 6g carbs, 4g fiber, 0g, sugar, 2g protein

They were doing a feature on tv about how all the celebs are going crazy for them because they are so low-fat and low-calorie, compared to regular pasta. You can find out more about these tofu noodles at House Foods. I've posted a recipe for Fettucine Alfredo in the Healthy Guidance section of True Yoga Life.

If you're interested in finding more health conscious foods that'll keep you feeling and looking great, you'll definitely want to check out this website which I just learned about today called Hungry Girl. The author of the website is all about finding the healthiest and best tasting foods that are great for your health and your figure.

"He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything." - Arabic proverb

Here's to a happier and healhier me and you in 2006!

"Happiness lies, first of all, in health." - George William Curtis

Have a great day!

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Have you ever felt...stuck? Like you don't know which way to go or you feel like you don't have a way to go?

These last few days I've been feeling stuck. And, I've come to an interesting awareness about this feeling. I've often thought feeling stuck meant I didn't have any options. What I'm realizing, is that I can also feel stuck when I have plenty of options, but am unclear about which way I want to go.

I actually had a headache yesterday and the only thing I could attribute it to was overthinking. For the past few years, the path before me felt so one directional. I was a studio owner and I had a business to grow. Sure, there were other things I envisioned doing, but it felt like I was never able to get to them or that they would be somewhere pretty far down the road...

Since letting go of the studio, I've felt a renewed sense of possibility in my life. This has been exciting to allow myself explore all of the different possibilities/paths I could potentially pursue. From teaching Yoga in Asia, to becoming certified in massage therapy, to living in Dallas, teaching Yoga in corporate America, DVDs, workshops, moving to another city in the US...there are no limits! At the same time, as exciting as it's been to dream and contemplate all the possibilities, I've also realized the importance of balance with everything. It's great to consider all we can do, but if we become consumed by all of our considerations and thinking, we may just end up with a headache, or ultimately, feeling stuck in a state of confusion or overwhelm.

The past few days, I've been in this place. So, then, how do we come out of this place once we realize we're in it? The first step is always awareness. Then, it's asking for what we want. But, what if I don't know what we want? Make the best choice possible with what you have and what you do know. It's called taking a risk. I'm currently working part-time at a wonderful spa in Dallas called, The Garden Spa and Gallery. It's an incredible group of women who are passionate about helping people to feel great through massage therapy, facials and more.

So, as I'm sitting here today, I happened to look at the calendar on the wall. It's a calendar with quotations by the great 13th century Sufi poet, Rumi. The one for this month says:

"The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. You must ask for what you really want." - Rumi

I realized this is the only thing I have yet to do. All of the opportunities are before me because I've had enough awareness of what I want to attract them into my life. But, now it's time to choose and to ask and be specific about what I want.

Sometimes it can feel scary to ask for what we want. Perhaps, because we know on some level, we will get it. Then, what if we don't want it? This is what life is all about...discovery...as we discover what we "want" and "don't want", we ultimately discover ourselves in the journey... And, we can always make another choice.

So, may you ask for what you really want as you awaken to a New Year of your life with infinite possibilities...

Namaste!

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OK, I've finally decided I will begin my New Year Cleanse next Monday. I've been intending to write this post for the past couple of weeks, but have been putting it off because I knew it would mean getting committed and making changes with my health. Choosing health is not always the easist choice, especially when we've been indulging over the Holidays.

I am happy to say I will begin my 5 day fruit cleanse next week. If you've never experienced a cleanse, I encourage you to take part in this 5 day life-transforming experience with me. It will completely revolutionize your health and have you feel and look healthier than you've ever been before. And, it's very simple and easy to do...especially if you are a first time cleanser. The five-day plan progresses gradually. It begins with one full day of a modified macrobiotic diet, then moves into three days of fruit only, then comes back to a more regular eating plan for the last day. Throughout, we eliminate caffeine, alcohol, refined sugar, dairy, and artificial foods altogether. There are no strict guidelines as to how much or when to eat...just listen to your body and eat all the fruit you like, including tomatoes and avocadoes (I even allow myself to eat salad with just oil and vinegar and some raw nuts.) Here is some information on this fruit cleanse, which is in the awesome book, Journey Into Power, by Baron Baptiste...

Eating with Awareness

• The power food has over our minds is profound.
• In so many ways, Americans use food as a drug: to numb, comfort, distract, or take the edge off in moments of emotional distress.

Healing comes:
• In those moments when you look into your mind, observe your cravings, your excuses about eating in that moment, and are willing to let the real cause surface.

There are two ways to heal any pain or anxiety:
• You can go the route of ego denial, indulging in food, drink, or cigarettes as a means of escape, which reduces you to a state of utter dependency.
Or:
• You can face the TRUTH, admit your error, take your licks, feel, be sad, cry…let whatever is there come up and then let it go, which leads to genuine healing.

THE CHOICE IS ALWAYS YOURS!

Just as when you hit your edge on the yoga mat, by not running away in the moment of anxiety or escaping into the arms of pseudo-comfort, you will probably feel old pains, anxieties, and guilt coming up to the surface to be resolved and released. THESE MOMENTS OPEN A DOOR IN YOUR MIND TO LEARNING ABOUT YOURSELF.

Staying with the discomfort allows you to receive insights into how you have used food as a drug to soothe negative feelings. By feeling what is there in that moment, you heal not only your relationship to food, you also open the door to healing the underlying cause of the symptom.

Our relationship to food heals when we heal our emotional wounds, destructive lifestyle patterns, and our overreactions to everyday stress-all things that are illuminated as we commit to a truthful path.
Why Detox?
Body toxicity is the root cause of many ailments we humans suffer. No matter how healthy you profess to be, no matter what measures you take to remain healthy, an ever-increasing level of toxicity will in time take its toll. Symptoms will accumulate and years of poor eating and other bad habits will gradually chip away at your immunity, vitality, and energy.

Expected Results of the Cleansing Diet:

• The toxic debris that blocks your natural flow of energy will dissolve.
• You’ll shed unwanted fat, cellulite, weight, and inches if that’s what needs to happen.
• You’ll put on healthy weight if that’s what you need.
• Your body will return to its authentic stature.
• Your skin will radiate.
• Stomachaches and intestinal problems will disappear.
• Your breath will be clean and sweet.
• Problems like constipation and fatigue disappear.
• You will have renewed energy and vitality.
• Your emotions and moods will stabilize.
• You will no longer have the mid-afternoon crash, when you look to a cup of coffee or a sugary snack as a pick-me-up.
• You will feel psychologically empowered, because you will have gained control over your eating habits.

If you would like more information about this cleanse or are interested in participating in it with me, please e-mail me at Leanne@TrueYogaInc.com.

Here's to awakening to a new level of Health and Wellness!

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If you haven't checked out the clip from the new True Yoga DVD yet, you can view a clip from it by clicking here. Making a Yoga DVD has been a dream of mine over the past few years and I'm happy to say it's one that is now becoming reality. The DVD will be released sometime in February!

Plus, The Mondrian Cityplace was gracious to allow me to film my DVD on the 20th floor of one of their penthouse apartments which gives it such an uplifting feeling. I noticed yesterday, that you can even see the horizon beyond all the buildings. One of my favorite things to do is to drive up on the top of the parking garage in West Village and look out over the city and the horizon. There's something about being able to see the horizon that has me feel at peace. Perhaps it's because it's perspective. An awareness that their is something much Bigger at work here, and I can relax and enjoy the moment for all it is and let go of contemplating the concerns or worries of my day...

"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul." - Johann von Goeth

I often remind students when they are in airplane pose, to look down at the ground and to ask for perspective and clarity as they soar above. To let go of the end result, the finish line and to allow themselves to be absorbed in the height of the moment...

"Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance toward the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point. Climb slowly, steadily, enjoying each passing moment; and the view from the summit will serve as a fitting climax for the journey." - Harold B. Melchart

So, let's remember to allow our eyes to be opened as we go throughout our day today, glancing occasionally at the summit, but being fully absorbed in the preciousness and the miracle of each moment...

Namaste!

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"My rule is to break one sweat a day," says Mathew McConaughey, "whether that's going for a run, whether that's dancing, whether that's loving-just break a sweat a day." Without exercise, "I don't feel like my head works right," he says. -People Magazine, November 2005

When I read this a light bulb went off for me. Sometimes I get attached to what "working out" looks like. And, in the past, when I've felt like I won't be able to get in the whole regimen or routine on a certain day, I've often opted out or talked myself out of doing it. I love this philosophy. Ever since I read this, my approach to exercising has shifted. It's really about just breaking a sweat. Getting the heartbeat elevated, the blood pumping and rejuvenating our mind and body...

For instance, if I couldn't get my whole 30 minute run in or maybe didn't feel like doing a whole 30 minutes, I would decide not to do it at all. Now, I realize I will feel better on every level, even if I just go for a ten minute run/walk/yoga practice/stair master or whatever I feel like on that day.

I think this is a great principle to live by. Break a sweat a day. (And maybe take one day off, too.) It certainly has made my approach to exercise feel more manageable with this perspective and so much simpler...Read more

I've resisted putting today's post up, because I know once I write this, I will get to practice it and make positive changes in my life. This sounds like a good thing, but I must admit, it does make me a little uncomfortable. Sometimes, it feels like it's just "easier" to keep going on as we are, pretending to be unconscious of what's best for us.

During the Christmas Holidays I had an awareness come to me as I opened the fridge looking for something to eat. What if before we ate anything we had this thought..."Will this food make me feel and look beautiful?" When I say beautiful, I do not mean a surface beauty that is only skin deep. I'm referring to radiant and glowing health in ever cell of our Being...

Right now, there are things I am eating which do not have me feel beautiful. For instance, I've gotten in the habit of drinking Soy Milk and Chai every morning. However, the Chai I drink is from Starbucks and is full of sugar. When I drink it, I can feel the sugar having an affect on me and can even feel it in my skin. Though I enjoy it, I don't feel like I'm being healthy when I drink it. Yet the idea of letting this go is terrifying to me. At the same time, I know I must break my habit with it and so therefore, I am committing to letting go of this daily ritual. I'm freaking out as I write this because I know this will be a challenge. But, it's not really about just letting go of drinking this everyday, it's really about choosing a new level of health and wellness for myself and being committed to releasing those substances from my life which are not serving me. This is why it is so scary. Choosing health, wellness and beauty is us saying to ourselves...I embrace the radiant and beautiful light that I am.

“Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our Light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented
and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God; your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that
other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God/The Divine
within us.
It is not in just some of us. It is in everyone and as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence
automatically liberates others.” - Marianne Williamson

So, I encourage you, as I encourage myself, to choose the foods, the practices, and the forces in your life which are going to illuminate the light you are, allowing your radiant and beautiful light to shine through.

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The Wheel of Life is a great way to start off the New Year. We hear so much talk about resolutions, but we can only truly attract more or create change when we have an honest perspective with where we are currently. This is an exercise devised by one of my greatest teachers, Anthony Robbins. Many of you know I have spent a great deal of time studying with him and attending his workshops and seminars over the past four years. His teachings have been instrumental for me in continuing to create my life and live it with passion.

I just took myself through this exercise last night.

Begin by drawing a circle on a piece of paper...

Then make the circle into a 6 piece pie. Label each piece of the pie as follows:
(You may click the image for a larger view of the Wheel of Life.)
1)Physical/Health
2)Relationships
3)Career
4)Finances
5)Contribution
6)Spiritual
(You may add other areas to your wheel of life, if you feel there are other areas you would like to focus on like Life Purpose or Self-Love, etc.)

Then, if the whole piece of the pie equals 100%, where do you feel you are currently in your vision of where you'd like to be? Draw a line on each piece of pie representing the percentage of your realization of your vision for yourself with each particular category. For example, for the spiritual aspect of my life, I put 70%, because although I have a daily practice of Yoga, I would like to incorporate a consistent meditation practice into my life at least 5 times per week.

Once you've honestly analyzed where you feel you are at, (of course, we may never realize 100% and it's not about being 100%, it's about setting a new level of growth for yourself through honestly taking account for where you feel you are now) then begin to focus more in depthly on each of these areas. On your piece of paper, write down what you would like create for yourself in each of these areas, in other words, your "goals."

The last exercise is your wish list. Just take a moment to write down your wishes for the New Year, not your "resolutions." For instance, maybe you've dreamed of purchasing a new car, or getting a lap top or maybe an ipod or something, or even taking a trip. Write down your wishes and allow yourself to dream.

Once you've gone through the whole exercise, which suprisingly doens't usually take that long, allow yourself to revisit your Wheel of Life and add to it as new awarenesses come into your heart and mind.

"The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not disgrace to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim, is a sin." - Benjamin Mays



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Happy New Year!

For the first time this year, I really took time to hear the words I was saying as the clock struck 12 am for the New Year on Sunday.

And, for the first time in a long time, I truly felt in my heart this year will be a very Happy New Year, full of blessings and joy.

I look forward to a year of awakening to the abundance of Goodness flowing inside of us and all around us.

I will begin posting regularly again next Monday. Have a great weekend!

Namaste!Read more