By: Jason Chaussee, Holistic Trauma Expert, a Certified-Master Transformational Coach and successful Spiritual Teacher

We’ve all heard that we are supposed to be well rounded individuals. Try new things. Be open minded. Jack of all trades, master of none. Diversity is key. Or is it?

Take a moment and ask yourself: the people who make it to the top of their game, the top of their field, do you think they got there by being well rounded? Or did they sacrifice some areas of their lives in order to pursue greatness in specific areas?

Think of a successful athlete. How many hours spent perfecting their craft? A professional chef specializes. They may make an amazing eclair and a lousy brisket.

So, stop trying to master everything. Stop trying to be perfect. Make the effort to do your best but don’t use your energy in ways that aren’t true to who you are. Heck, I don’t plan to take up needlepoint anytime soon, but grandma can knit as many doilies as she wants. It’s okay not to be good at everything.

Focus your energy on enhancing your strengths. What are you good at? What brings you joy? Put your energy there! Would you rather be mediocre at many things or fantastic at a few things?

Find what you love and pursue it with your whole heart. Stop listening to other people’s opinions about what they think you should do. Be true to you. Embrace your strengths.

Do you have a natural aptitude or skill in a particular area? Good with people? Organize ideas? Empathetic? It’s okay if your strength is unusual. It’s okay if your strength seems strange. Embrace it and use it!

And once you identify what you’re good at, find a way for it to bring joy to your life. If you can, bring joy to other people’s lives. And if you can figure out how to monetize it, then you have truly found the holy grail. 

How can you monetize your passion? Maybe you like to help people so what careers might you explore? You could follow a traditional career path like doctor or lawyer. But don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Maybe you want to be involved in nonprofits. 

Maybe your strength will lead you somewhere non-traditional. Maybe you need to be your own boss and create your own dream job.

But no matter what, be true to you. Find a career that brings you joy. If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day of your life. You get to wake up with an attitude of joy and enthusiasm. You get to tell yourself, “Look what I get to do today!”

If you don’t love what you do, then stop and reassess. Stop making yourself miserable. If you need help, seek it. There is no shame in pursuing happiness. 

Get out of the mind jail you are trapped in that says, “I have to work so it doesn’t matter if I’m happy at work or not. A job is to be merely endured.”

If you’re going to do something 8 to 12 hours a day, make sure it’s something you’re passionate about! Use your gifts and talents.

WHAT’S NEXT AND HOW TO REACH OUT

This is all about discovery – uncovering the uniqueness of you and providing a space to step back.

I like to offer my clients a complimentary discovery session before joining my program.

This provides the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about my programs and my coaching philosophy.

To schedule your discovery session please email me at [email protected] and mention “MASTERYOU11”.

Otherwise years will have gone by and you will have spent more time in the negative energy and have more of what you don’t desire and less of what you do desire.

About the Author:

Jason is an accomplished Holistic Trauma Expert, a Certified-Master Transformational Coach and successful Spiritual Teacher.

His teachings are based on extensive studies and his own life experiences. His special gift was received through a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), at the age of 2 ½ which resulted in a 25-day coma. Since awakening with seizures, Jason has experienced life differently.

Despite his physical limitation, he has been able to research and apply a full-body approach to his own healing. His spiritual teaching/energy work has transformed many lives, teaching individuals to find different ways to heal their own mind, body and soul. Most people who have had traumatic events are unsure how to thrive in life. The truth of trauma: to learn to understand it as a Special Gift to thrive WITH – not to die FROM.

The post MASTER OF YOU appeared first on Dallas Yoga Magazine.

Courage, Confidence, Consistency, Change & Coaching to Find Balance Off the Mat

By Candice Frazier, Certified Health/Life & Master Transformation Coach

While many yoga enthusiasts know the path to finding balance on the mat is practice and patience, how does one find balance off the mat in their daily life?

What does it take to truly find balance in today’s busy and demanding world?

How do we find the ability to be consistent in our courageous pursuit of our best life?

How do we change limiting beliefs so that we can stop sabotaging ourselves?

Are you struggling with finding your courage to make changes?

Does the idea of achieving your goals excite you or make you dread even considering the possibility?

Do you feel like it is not worth to even attempt new things because you struggle with being consistent and always fall short of your goals anyways?

The first step is to take an inventory of where in your life you are out of balance.

This is where you get to step back and see the bigger picture and evaluate what areas of your life you will need to give attention to as you say yes to your desires.

Where are you feeling out of balance?

The “Wheel of Life” is waiting for you to discover what wants to be nourished.

There are 12 Spokes and if one is flat, the outcome can result in an imbalance all around. Each spoke of the wheel is calling for balanced nourishment.

While it may seem overwhelming if you have all your wheels flat, and you find yourself resistant to the idea of change, and just unsure of where to even start then reach out…a coach like myself can help.

Where do you want to feel more balanced bliss in your Wheel of Life?

Again, it may seem like a lot of work to find the balance, but if this is you or someone you know, I have great news!

You can find balance again. You can make shifts that allow you to feel confident and consistently take actions that allow you to change.

It is not you driving the struggle bus, it is your brain and how it is wired!

You, my dear, are perfect!

Your brain is just trying to keep you safe from the very change you are seeking!

Here is where I come in with my coaching and consistency.

With the magic of transformational coaching, I can help you heal from thought patterns and beliefs that are keeping you stuck, so that you can easily shift your habits and behaviors at a deeper level.

As your coach, we will get to the root cause of your struggles and uncover the self-sabotage programming in the brain. Awareness allows room for change! Take advantage of this incredible opportunity NOW!

Think of transformational coaching as a system upgrade for your brains operating system. This approach will get rid of the fear based, joy stealing viruses and replace it with courage, confidence, consistency and change that you desire without fear.

Shift the focus to what you want more of because where attention goes, energy flows and we are wanting to find balance in order to feel that bliss.

Small shifts at the core of how we view the world around us is how successful transformations begin to create change.

Let’s connect and learn more about how to transform your wish into your reality.

In my practice, I teach how the simple basics of self-love through Sensual Self Care for your Soul is the ultimate form of Self Love that opens the door to living an empowered and full life, be fully accepting of self, full of abundant joy, love and prosperity and finally create happiness instead of chasing it.

If it is time to take action, just one small step is all it takes to start the shift.

To begin your transformation, message me at 916-542-9853, or email [email protected] to schedule your complimentary coaching session (60- 90 minutes ABSOLUTELY FREE!)

Your brain may be saying that change is not possible, but it likes to play small and hates change.

Lucky for you, I have the cheat sheet to its game, and I am here to guide you and transform your old limiting beliefs and create change that is the freedom to be you and quickly see you soaring fearlessly! Imagine I am your coach and I have a magic wand…what is your wish?

Remember to LOVE SELF FIRST. Be the peace, patience & compassion that the world needs more of.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Candice is a Certified Health/Life & Master Transformation Coach, former Certified Medical Assistant and an Air Force Veteran. She an Author Sensuality of Self Care (coming Summer/Fall 2019), Founder, Wellness With Candice and Elite Care Coaching Consultants. Creator and Host of The Self Care Success Show Podcast coming June 2019.

Implementing a holistic/alternative health approach, she overcame the adversity of childhood abuse & trauma, and is a 2x suicide survivor. She has overcome own health struggles of multiple autoimmune illnesses and debilitating fibromyalgia, and narcissistic abuse. Her A-HA moment came when she realized that all the disease and illness in her body, was it communicating to her that she was not in alignment with her truth and was ignoring her intuition.

After tuning into her intuition and allowing it to guide her in her daily actions, her new reality is now health, peace, happiness and connection to self.

Her goal is to teach humanity how to be complete mind, body and spirit through reconnecting to love of self through sensuality of their self-care to create confidence, intimacy and prosperity.

Her passion is to share the knowledge that healing is possible. Her healing was not found in a pill or in doctor’s office. Her healing was right inside her all along, and with the help of her own Internal Guru, she can now enjoy a fuller life.

She will empower you to honor your need for sensuality and guide you in way that excites you to show up for your daily self care date with yourself.

Her philosophy is that self-love is the path to freedom and happiness that allows you to live an empowered and full life and be the best version of you possible for self and others.

The post 5 C’s of Transforming appeared first on Dallas Yoga Magazine.

By: Aloisa Zimm

One of the great things about yoga is its accessibility, with hundreds of resources and classes available to help you get started on your practice. Yogi Amy Jo Crowell recommends expanding your practice through as many avenues as possible, whether through trying new types of yoga or learning about its history. If you’re a beginner, now is the perfect time to learn as much about yoga as you can.

With this in mind, podcasts are a great way to supplement your yoga practice: you can find podcasts to help you meditate, or else listen to seasoned practitioners talk about their own journey with yoga. Researchers from the University of California found that storytelling and meaning-making through podcasts engage the mind, which can lead to improving focus and taking in information better. Below are five podcasts that beginner yogis will definitely enjoy:

Yogaland by Andrea Ferretti

Yogaland blends Andrea Ferretti’s training as a journalist and love for yoga into insightful podcast episodes. This podcast is centered on conversations with experienced yoga teachers who have traveled and practiced all around the world, providing an avenue for beginners to dig deep and further cultivate their love for yoga. The best way to learn about yoga is to immerse yourself with as many different perspectives as possible, so listen to this podcast both to and from your yoga class and get inspired.

Mindfulness Meditation Podcast by The Rubin Museum

New York City’s Rubin Museum, known for its collection of Himalayan and Indian art, hosts weekly meditation sessions inspired by works of art from their galleries. Each session is recorded live, which means you can enjoy the feeling of being in a class even from the comfort of your own home. The Rubin invites different teachers for each session of the Mindfulness Meditation Podcast, so you can listen to several of them to find whose practice best speaks to you.

Tara Brach

Greater public interest in alternative wellness methods has brought about a rise in medical professionals who are promoting meditative and health-boosting practices like yoga. A post by Maryville University notes that job growth for health educators is driven by exactly this, as more and more people look to improve their health through good habits and holistic treatments, as well as lowering their overall healthcare costs. Psychologist-turned-yogi Tara Brach fuses her practice with the psychological benefits it brings through her self-titled podcast, using yoga as a way to stave off anxiety and practice mindfulness.

Yoga Talks by J. Brown

J. Brown’s podcast is loved for its incisive look into the yoga community. Yoga Talks features topics ranging from the rise of yoga Instagram profiles to more hard-hitting examinations focusing on sexual harassment. Because of this, Yoga Journal notes that the podcast presents beginners with a look on what being a yogi truly means, and how its principles go way beyond your mat. The podcast features a rotating host of guests, from fellow yoga teachers to trained physicians — a great pick for those who are naturally curious and want to go beyond guided meditations.

Yoga Practice Podcast by Jason Crandell

Jason Crandell is one of the best teachers a beginner yogi can have. His voice is soothing and instructions are clear, making it easy to follow along even without a visual aid. His podcast means that there’s no reason to miss out on a yoga session, as all you’ll need is your mat and a working speaker. Fun fact: Crandell is actually Andrea Ferretti’s husband, meaning you get the best of both worlds with her insight and his peaceful practice.

The post 5 Great Yoga Podcasts for Beginners appeared first on Dallas Yoga Magazine.

Presented by Mandala Publishing

Dallas Yoga Magazine is honored to share with you a new book coming out this month (June 18,2019). This new book, Yoga and the Art of Mudras, is a guided journey into the alchemy of asana (yoga pose) and mudra (symbolic hand gesture). Brazilian-born yogini, dancer, and author Nubia Teixeira has been practicing and teaching traditional yoga and classical Indian Odissi dance for over 26 years. In this book, she fuses her passion for yoga and dance with her love for bhakti (devotion). In so doing, she has created a unique, original, and contemporary yoga system that encompasses all three healing arts.

Through beautiful photographs of each yoga pose, Nubia guides the reader in a meaningful union of hand gestures with asanas. Drawing, in particular, on expressions and hand gestures found in Indian dance, these newly developed poses will help transform a person’s Hatha yoga practice into an embodied devotional and artistic yogic experience.

Nubia’s yoga-mudra system combines expressions that are deeply rooted in the heart of traditional yoga, classical Indian Odissi dance, and inspirational bhakti yoga storytelling. Honoring the gifts of all three systems, Nubia Teixeira shares a beautiful and truly original voyage into the heart of devotional yoga practice.

This is what others have to say about the book:

“The hands are extensions of the heart, reflecting what is in your heart. Mudras tell stories with the hands. Nubia’s hands express the celestial stories and songs of her innermost heart—the eternal abode of Divine Love where God and the soul dance in ecstatic delight.  Nubia is an other-worldly apsara who has taken birth amongst us mortals—to show us the keys to the heart of heaven and how to open the secret door. This is an incredibly important book”

~ Sharon Gannon, founder of Jivamukti Yoga

“If you think you understood yoga—think again. In this elegant volume of thoughts and images, Odissi dance master Nubia Teixeira reveals the power of mudras to awaken and unite our many disparate selves. An overlooked component of complete yoga practice is finally receiving its due. A must-read for serious yogis.”

~ Joshua Greene, author of Gita Wisdom

For more information please visit http://www.nubiateixeira.com

About the Author:

Yogini, dancer, and author Nubia Teixeira was born in Brazil and has been practicing and teaching traditional yoga and classical Indian Odissi dance for over 26 years. Nubia is founder of the Bhakti Nova School of Yoga and Dance and leads classes, workshops, and teacher trainings internationally, independently, and in collaboration with her husband, kirtan artist Jai Uttal. Nubia lives in Fairfax, California, with Jai and their son, Ezra.

The post New Release: Yoga and the Art of Mudras By Nubia Teixeira appeared first on Dallas Yoga Magazine.

Many people are reluctant to meditate. They think in order to meditate, they must sit cross legged on the floor, quietly watching their breath for an hour. They wonder how it is possible to sit still for even 5 minutes. The good news is…you don’t have to!

If you are practicing yoga, then you are doing a form of meditation. By bringing your attention inward to your movements and breathing, by focusing your energy and by releasing mental and physical tensions, yoga postures become moving meditation.

Yoga philosophy suggests our lives flow from a source of awareness and energy within each of us. Meditation makes you conscious of this higher, calm, quiet source of strength deep within. The more you are aware of this source, the more you can appreciate the serenity and strength that come from it. Meditation helps your awareness of this source in your life grow.

The process of yoga meditation begins when you decide to take a break from your daily activities and turn your attention inward. In the process, you will look at your true nature. You may ask, “Who am I? Why am I doing it?”

Ideally, everybody should receive an individualized meditation from a competent teacher. To be most effective, meditation simply cannot be generic. Choosing a meditation is an art. It must suit your background, temperament, interests, and ability to focus.

To do yoga meditation, you need to close your eyes and focus on some object that helps you go inside yourself. The object can be something in nature such as a leaf, flower, a tree or the sun. It can be a person who embodies the spiritual qualities that you would like to attain, such as Christ, Buddha, Krishna or another great teacher. It could even be a vision of yourself free of problems or free of the characteristics that interfere with your relations with others.

The object of your meditation can be a picture or a color. You might use a mantra or a vocal or a silent sound, such as “OM” or “Amen”. Or you might focus on the feeling associated with a word like compassion, trust, strength, or truth. Try repeating a phrase or prayer. Before your practice, you might enjoy reading a meaning passage from a book and then meditate on it.

Freely experiment to see what is most useful. What feels right for your meditation may well up from somewhere deep within you. What intuitively feels best?

You might begin by meditation a few minutes or perhaps you will be comfortable sitting for 15 minutes or more right away. The length of time is less important than the quality. People often ask when they should practice. Morning is usually best, but the main thing is to meditate when you don’t have to look at the clock for half an hour.

Never force yourself to meditate. It is a waste of time and is not productive. Some days you might set out to do a half hour meditation and find instead you need thirty minutes of strong yoga poses and twenty minutes of easy poses and ten minutes of lying down and breathing gently. You can even do your meditation after a long asana.

Ideally, you plan your meditation first, but you need to find what works for you and practice it like you would any yoga pose.

To begin, warm up with simple yoga poses to make your body comfortable, begin to regulate your breathing, and quiet your mind. When you have gained a feeling of relaxed energy, you are ready to sit in meditation.

Next, sit comfortably erect and focus on your breathing to steady your mind.

Then, think about what kind of object might help you move toward a deeper awareness. Go more deeply inward, breathing slowly and focusing on your chosen object. Feel or experience the object in whatever way you can. Then let go of thinking about it. Allow it to fill your mind until you become mentally almost one with it. This is the heart of meditation, the part that will bring you closer to your deepest self.

Finally, gradually make a transition to the next activity of your day. Sit quietly or do a simple yoga pose. Take it slow and do not rush starting your day quickly.

Meditation does not happen easily. You will be distracted at times. Our minds, like the wind, are hard to control. Sometimes we think about everything but what we are trying to focus on. Our minds wander and they do it often. When this happens, simply notice the distraction, accept it, and gently bring your attention back inward.

Practice and it will come.

The post Yoga Meditation 101 appeared first on Dallas Yoga Magazine.

By: Nena Watkins, Lac, Licensed Acupuncturist, Oak Cliff Acupunture

Healthy living means different things to different people. For some people, it means going to a doctor and taking western medicines, for other people, it means staying healthy and avoiding western medicine. Luckily, there is a natural option for everyone. Chinese herbal medicine is an ancient system of using herbs grown in China to both treat illness and keep people healthy. Even though it is old and from another country, it is in perfect alignment with the modern American lifestyle.

Chinese herbs are given in groups, called formulas. These formulas are specific to parts of the body, the pattern of illness in the person, and the symptoms one is having. One formula will contain herbs to address all of a person’s problems. Formulas generally contain between 3 and 12 herbs. So, you don’t have to buy a bunch of different supplements. You take one and get all your herbs in a balanced dose.

Chinese herbs can be taken in different forms. The original form is as a tea. One puts the herbs in water and lets them simmer for an hour. You can drink the Tea. Most American don’t have an hour to cook herbs, so instead, herbs are ground and can be stirred into a hot cup of water. Instant Tea! That’s more like it! But even that is too much cooking for some people. For you guys, the teas have been condensed into tea pills. Yes, Pills!

Many people believe that herbs are not regulated, and often they are not. Or they are sold by sales people with no medical training, like at most CBD stores. Chinese Medicine is NOT a multi-level marketing approach. Acupuncturists in Texas are Licensed by the Texas Medical Board, after completing national board exams and years of training in Chinese Herbal Medicine. You can get non-GMO, gluten free, heavy metal tested, preservative free herbs, dispensed by a licensed Acupuncturist, at a very reasonable price.

With a pharmacopeia of 500 herbs imported from China, Acupuncturists naturally treat illnesses, including anxiety, insomnia, allergies, colds, infections, digestion, and infertility, to name a few. Chinese herbs sold in America are regulated through the Good Manufacturing Process to assure safety and assurance in the purity of the herbs. And YES, Cannabis Sativa is one of our Chinese herbs! You probably won’t get it in your formula though. It is a fantastic herb, but not for everything. We use herbs as needed and more effective herbs are used to quickly and effectively treat many health conditions.

Chinese herbs are not as well-known as other forms of herbs and people are generally surprised that they work so well. These herbs are given to alleviate symptoms within hours to days. These are not vitamin supplements. These are plants grown and harvested because of their medicinal qualities. When given in the right dosages, and combinations, healing is immediate. If you are wondering which herbs are best for you, then call your local licensed acupuncturist and experience the natural medicinal herbs of Chinese medicine.

Contact Nena Watkins:

Oak Cliff Acupuncture located at 210 S. Madison Avenue (Bishop Arts) Dallas, 75208

Call to make appointments: 214-840-3445

http://www.oakcliffacu.com/

The post Chinese Herbal Medicine… Better than CBD? appeared first on Dallas Yoga Magazine.

By: Mandy Montgomery, Yoga Instructor

I love adding sound when I teach classes or workshops. I’m not referring to adding crystal bowls or gongs…although I love that too! I’m referring to adding sound to yoga classes using your own voice. Our own personal inner vibrations can help relieve stress and tensions. Sound is an assistant to letting go.

Adding simple “AH”, “O” or “OM” sounds can increase the benefits of your practice. Sound can help you concentrate and go inward more. It can help you find the peace and harmony your soul desires. Sound can put you in the now and where you can find stillness.

Let’s think about when someone has hurt themselves, they scream or a cry out to release the pain. This is what happens when you add your voice to your practice. Releasing becomes easier.

I’m going to introduce you to adding sound to a few yoga poses so you can incorporate it in your practice. If you find it beneficial, ask your yoga teacher other ways of using sound. In Kundalini yoga, they use loud, soft, whispering even silent sounds. It’s a journey I recommend you explore.

The process is very simple, you make a simple drawn out “AH”, “O”, or “OM” sound while EXHALING. Experiment with these and decide which one you prefer. Everyone is different and connection to a sound is very personal. I have noticed I enjoy varying the sounds I use. One day I’m more connected with “AH” the next day to “OM”. The “OM” is probably the most popular and most widely known sound. The “OM” is often thought of as a mantra of true self. The Universal Sound and the source of all energy which brings mental clarity within.

Don’t be shy…just let the sound release from your body and soul! Let it release openly from your abdomen. When you exhale and start the sound vibrations bring your attention downward and inward. Just let the sound vibrations soar and feel the affects it has on your body including your energy level.

Practicing Using Sound:

In each pose, practice 3x without sound and then 3 or 4x with long, controlled “AH”, “O”, or “OM”. You can repeat this as much as you desire.

Standing Forward Bend:

Use one of the three sounds as you exhale and bend forward. Pause and feel a quiet space at the end of your exhalation. As you lower your arms after each repetition, bring the sound inward by silently thinking it.

Triangle Bend:

As you exhale and bend forward vibrate the sound “AH”. Listen to the “AH” resonate as you turn first to one side and then to the other. Do you notice a difference in your breath and the sound between the two sides? Can you steadily maintain the volume of the sound to the end of this movement? If one side of your body is tighter than the other, you will notice the sound will differ going to the left compared to the right.

Cat Cow:

Inhale as you go to Cow Position and exhale as you go to Cat Position with your back arched up. Do this a few times. Then add the “Ooooo” sound to the pose as you exhale and go into the Cat Position. This is very refreshing and one of my favorite additions to this yoga pose.

Seated Sounding:

Sit in a comfortable spot with your eyes closed. You may want to use a pillow or a cushion to remain comfortable. Take a few natural breaths and feel the peace of each breath. Place your hands on your abdomen or chest. Keep your arms and shoulders relaxed. You can choose whatever sound of the three we have mentioned, but for now let’s use the “OM” sound. Inhaling move your arms comfortably to your side. Exhaling use the “OM” sound as you bring your hands slowly back to your front. Stay for an easy breath just thinking the sound as you exhale. Continue this pattern of arm movement and sound for a while.

Experiment with the sound. Make it loud! See how it feels in your soul. The more your release and are open with the sound the more you will relax and feel energized. Fill your entire, mind, body and soul with sound and vibrations.

When you finish, place your hands on your chest, abdomen, or knees. Sit for a few minutes. Relax further into the feeling of the sound. Then take a deep and long inhale and exhale and open your eyes.

I hope you will explore adding sound to your yoga practice. You will find yourself loving your practices even more and be able to journey inward on a deeper level.

Namaste

The post OM, AH, O: Adding Sounds to Your Yoga Practice appeared first on Dallas Yoga Magazine.

Get away from your busy schedules and detoxify your minds by taking a vacation. India has many destinations that would help you soothe your souls and here are the Top 5 most amazing destinations in India guaranteed to help you unwind.

Gokarna, Karnataka

Photo by Miran Rijavec, CC BY 2.0

A place hidden away on the western coast of India, Gokarna holds significant religious significance due to the presence of many ancient temples like Mahabaleshwar and Maha Ganapati Temple. Apart from being a pilgrimage town, Gokarna is increasingly becoming popular as an alternate travel destination to Goa due to its unspoiled rustic beaches. Tourists can enjoy the laid back atmosphere at Kudle and Gokarna beach or trek their way to discover Paradise beach. Unwind by doing yoga, surfing, snorkelling and exploring this quaint town. The best time to visit is during February through April to enjoy the best climate.

Khajjiar, HP

Photo by Srinivasan G, CC BY-SA 2.0

Experience Switzerland in India by visiting Khajjiar, a hill station located near Dalhousie. This picturesque place surrounded by lakes and meadows is a photographer’s paradise. The nearby Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary is an ideal place to visit for any wildlife enthusiast. Trekking is the main attraction for the tourists visiting to enjoy the excellent view of the surrounding mountains and vegetation. The relaxed and peaceful atmosphere in Khajjiar can be enjoyed all year round but the best time to visit Khajjiar would be from March through October to avoid the inconveniences caused by heavy snowfall during winters.

Kalimpong, West Bengal

Photo by Abhishek Kumar, CC BY 2.0

A hill station with a significant historical background, Kalimpong will take you back in time through the presence of many Buddhist monasteries, ancient temples and British era churches. An amalgamation of Chinese, Indian and Bhutanese culture can be seen here at everything from the cuisines to the major markets like Teesta Bazar. Its proximity to Eastern Himalayas has led to a thriving horticulture business in this region with the cultivation of many exotic flowers. In particular, Cactus production is one of the major tourist attractions here. The other attractions include Hiking and River rafting at Teesta River. The best time to visit would be in summers and Monsoon during March to September to get the ideal climate for exploring.

Matheran, Maharashtra

Photo by Aditya Patawari, CC BY-SA 2.0

A hill station tucked away from all the hustle bustle of the nearby cities, Matheran is a popular weekend getaway in Maharashtra for people looking to step away from their busy daily life. It is filled with scenic viewpoints and is also pollution free due to its status as a vehicle free zone. Keep your walking shoes ready as trekking is the best way to explore this Eco Sensitive Zone. Louisa, Alexander and Panorama point provide the best views of the city. Monsoon season (July-September) is the best time to visit because of the lush vegetation during this time.

Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, Pasighat is surrounded by scenic mountains and beautiful waterfalls. It has something for everyone and appeals to every tourist—Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary would be ideal for wildlife enthusiasts and Kekar Monying would leave historical buffs asking for more. Unlike other popular travel destinations, Pasighat still remains unspoiled by commercialization and is still a place steeped in history and culture. The best season to visit would be the winter season (October to March) as the climate remains the most favourable during this time.

Break the monotony of your daily life and leave all your stress behind by taking a vacation in any of these cities.

Author Bio:

A traveller and voyager at heart, Rohit’s travel stories are shared on TransIndiaTravels.com to show his love for the most under explored places of India.

The post India’s Top 5 Relaxing Destinations appeared first on Dallas Yoga Magazine.

By: Akshay Sharma

Your oral health is up for a toss every time you are savouring sour delicacies that include popping in sour candies or relishing your favourite orange fruit. Sugar is not just the only culprit as far as tooth decay is concerned.

The sour taste can make your eyes squint and cheeks pucker, yet it never goes out of public demand and in fact, is on the rise.

However, your teeth can have a very different opinion regarding the same. Your teeth can suffer from the repercussions much after the sour taste from your last candy that you enjoyed has gone.

Your pearly whites can be worn away by the sour and acidic foods which include everything from the sour candies to wine. These can have far-reaching consequences like tooth discolouring, sensitivity and decay. If you have orthodontic appliances and braces, then this damage can further harm you.

But that does not mean that you have to get rid of all kinds of acidic and sour foods from your diet. The method in which you consume these foods can make a whole lot of difference to your teeth.

What is Tooth Erosion?

When the protective surface or the enamel of the teeth is worn down, the underline material called the dentin can get exposed and this is known as tooth erosion. This leaves the teeth vulnerable to bacteria and plaque which can lead to teeth decay. Tooth erosion is one of the greatest impacts of having more sour foods.

Signs of Teeth Decay

It is quite difficult to notice tooth erosion in the beginning. Nevertheless, erosion and sensitivity happen to be early warning signs that can get more severe with continued acid attack.

Here are some of the signs of teeth decay that you should be aware of. Take a look.

When tooth enamel wears away, sensitivity occurs. You may feel teeth sensitivity while consuming something hot or cold or something very sweet when you have teeth sensitivity.

Along the biting edges you can view transparency in the front teeth.

You can witness a slight yellowing of the teeth which is sign of discolouration of the teeth.

Ridges and cracks can appear along the edges of the teeth.

Dents known as the cupping can develop along the teeth’s chewing surfaces. Fillings can also rise up at this severe stage.

Along the surface and edges of the teeth, rounding appears.

Because of the loss of the protective outermost layer, tooth decay is caused.

How to Protect the Teeth

The best way you can protect the teeth against tooth erosion is by the preventing the acid attacks on the teeth. The first and foremost way to do that is to consume sour foods less.

In order to prevent, keep the tips below in mind. Take a look.

Try having acidic foods along with the ones that have higher pH level and hence are low in the level of acidity. Some of these foods include cheese, nuts, mangoes, oatmeal, apples, bananas, vegetables, melons, whole grains and brown rice. Lean meats and fish also have low levels of acid. These foods can assist to protect your teeth from the acidic and sour foods by neutralising the saliva and by offering the minerals and the calcium required to be back in teeth.

Reduce the consumption of sour foods as mush as possible.

If you do have sour foods, try to swish the mouth with water and drink cheese or milk afterwards for neutralising the acids.

Try avoiding sucking the sour treats like candies for long periods of time. This way the acid attacks get prolonged.

After having a sour food, you should wait for an hour prior to brushing the teeth. Brushing immediately after creates more harm than any good to the teeth.

Go for chewing sugar-free gums for protecting the enamel.

Use fluoride toothpaste with a soft toothbrush for protecting the teeth.

If the erosion has begun, you should immediately consult with your dentist whom you can find by typing in “best dentist near me” in your type engines without delay so that she can guide you regarding how to prevent it from getting severe and also reverse the process if possible, with advanced dentistry. So the faster you act the better for you in this case.

If you stay away from sour food and follow the above tips, you will be able to protect your pearly whites and retain your oral health without experiencing any kind of sensitivity or enamel loss for years.

The post How Can Sour Food Affect Your Teeth? appeared first on Dallas Yoga Magazine.

By: Candice Frazier, Certified Health & Lifestyle Coach, Medical Assistant & Sensuality Coach

It is now May and that means the big celebration of Mother’s Day. While some of us may greet that day with joy and excitement, there are others who greet it with dread, despair, sadness and loss.

While motherhood is touted as this wonderful thing, it can also be a very stressful, chaotic and confusing place.

And while some mothers long to be a mother, there are other mothers who confusingly find themselves longing to have back the peace and solitude of life before becoming a mother.

They have all these sweet memes talking about how awesome it is to be a mother. In contrast, there really is never a discussion on darker side of it. The sense of being unappreciated and unimportant can take its toll on a mother. This is even more so if she is giving all her time and energy to the care and well-being of her family but neglecting sweet love and kindness for herself.

I believe that there is much healing power in the act of mothering ourselves. I have personally experienced healing from giving that caregiving energy to myself. It had an added benefit of removing that deep-rooted need of my family to appreciate me, of needing something outside of me to feel whole, of looking for external factors to feel complete and important. It lessened and eventually dissipated the chaos, despair and sadness that can accompany the unmet expectations of motherhood.

There is a bigger picture of this mothering role/concept. If we look at this a bit deeper, from the perspective of inside each of us is a mother and father…yes… inside each one of us! The reason it is called “self-love”, is because you love yourself. Therefore, it cannot be called “love everybody else and give nothing to self”.

I operate from a place of “love me first, fill my cup first,” unapologetically, and without guilt or shame. I can’t be my best me if I’m giving away all of me to everybody else.

As mothers, (and even some fathers), we may find it hard to be selfish, often we were taught we must put our children first, from a sense of duty or even societal programming. But this is not true! We must make self-care & self-love a priority, not only be our best, but because they are watching us. When we give ourselves permission to do that, we are mothering ourselves from within.

Self-love through self-care is the ultimate expression of love from within. This is essential as you cannot give to another… not a child not a partner not a friend not a family member, what you are failing to give yourself. It is through the daily acts of kindness of self-care and self-love that creates the key to unlock the door to your internal and external happiness.

How Do Mother Myself From Within? So this Mother’s Day, I encourage and challenge you to take baby steps to grow in your self love and mothering from within using these steps as guidelines.

Top 5 Steps To Mother Yourself From Within

Step 1)

Take a few minutes each morning to look at yourself in the mirror (male & female). As you gaze lovingly at yourself, shower declarations of love, appreciation and admiration for self. Each morning stand in the mirror and tell yourself “I love you. I appreciate you. I admire you. I believe in you. I trust you. You are safe. You’ve got this!” This will build your self-love, self-esteem and self-confidence, sense of safety and connection through internal validation.

Step 2)

Move your Body in ways that make you happy and exhilarate you, even something as simple as stretching can be beneficial. Movement works to increase the feel-good chemicals in your body naturally, so you do not have to use substances. The idea here is to be holistic and love self from within.

Step 3)

Find people who you enjoy spending time with. Sometimes family can be just another “F” word and if you are alone on holiday’s, I know how difficult and lonely that can feel. The beauty of self-love is knowing that you have the power to choose how you seek connection. You may connect with your biological family or your connection may come with your friends. You get to choose.

Step 4)

Meditation is the quiet you will come to seek daily as the blessing to go inward and connect to inner mother, inner father and fully embrace you as you are. Here is where you will find your intuition as it guides you through the practice of tuning into self. Meditation and breathing are both beneficial for triggering the release of the calming and feel-good chemicals to be released into the body. This will provide a deep sense of love, gratitude and peace from within. This feeling is like a sweet cuddle for your inner child.

Step 5)

Fun, Fun, Fun…Lots of FUN! Part of mothering from within is play and imagination. Go to a park, the beach or wilderness and connect to mother earth and let your imagination come to life again as you revel in the sweet place of being a kid again.

For the next 30 days enjoy the reward and freedom that self-love and gratitude creates. I hope you enjoy the experience of feeling your healing mother’s love from within, just as my clients and I have. Enjoy the renewed energy, peace while finding self love and you will be able to share more love with others because you have more love to give within yourself.

Note: If you have a mother, don’t forget to call her. Tell her you understand she has done everything in her power to be the best mother she could, with what her abilities provided. Tell her you know everything she did for you, was an act of love or cry for love, and all had a positive intention, even if at the time it was painful and difficult.

What next? Get in Touch

If it’s your time to do things from an intentional space, then take action and contact me.

Let’s connect and learn more about how to transform your life.

In my practice, I teach how the simple basics of self-love through self-care opens the door to living an empowered and full life, free of fear and full of abundant joy, love and prosperity.

I like to offer my clients a complimentary discovery session before joining my program. This provides the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about my programs and my coaching philosophy.

To schedule your discovery session please call me 916-542-9853 or email me at [email protected] and mention “MOTHERME111”.

Don’t let years go by clinging to negative energy and having more of what you don’t desire and less of what you do desire.

Remember to LOVE SELF FIRST! Be the peace, patience & compassion the world needs more of.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Candice Frazier is a Certified Health/Life Coach, Sensuality Coach, former Certified Medical Assistant and an Air Force Veteran. She an Author Sensuality of Self Care (coming Spring 2019), Founder, Creator and Host of Awakened Sage Podcast, Wellness With Candice and Elite Care Coaching Consultants.

Implementing a holistic/alternative health approach, she overcame the adversity of childhood abuse & trauma, and is a 2x suicide survivor. She has overcome own health struggles of multiple autoimmune illnesses and debilitating fibromyalgia, and narcissistic abuse. Her A-HA moment came when she realized that all the disease and illness in her body, was it communicating to her that she was not in alignment with her truth and was ignoring her intuition.

After tuning into her intuition and allowing it to guide her in her daily actions, her new reality is now health, peace, happiness and connection to self. Her goal is to teach humanity how to be complete mind, body and spirit through reconnecting to love of self through sensuality of their self-care to create confidence, intimacy and prosperity.

Her passion is to share the knowledge that healing is possible. Her healing was not found in a pill or in doctor’s office. Her healing was right inside her all along, and with the help of her own Internal Guru, she can now enjoy a fuller life.

The post Self-Love from the Mother Within appeared first on Dallas Yoga Magazine.