by Debby on March 21, 2013
I was first introduced to Ayurveda in 2005, shortly after my arrival to India for the first time. There, I met a fellow American who was studying Yoga and Ayurveda, both of which were relatively foreign to me then. She shared with me the fundamental concepts of Ayurveda, and the insights completely fascinated me.
For the rest of my travel in India, I immersed myself in practicing Yoga and learning about Ayurveda (in India these two ways of life go hand-in-hand). Over the next several years, I continued to deepen my studies of both of these vast sciences.
After some time, it became challenging to continue learning Ayurveda and apply it to my lifestyle without having some outside guidance. This need for more support in living according to Ayurvedic principles, and adopting a lifestyle that is aligned with my yoga practices, led me to enroll in the program at the Ayurvedic Institute last fall, which many of you know I am currently undertaking.
This additional support and deeper understanding of Ayurveda has been incredible. Since beginning the program six months ago, the shifts I’ve witnessed in myself—physically, mentally, and emotionally—have been profound. Perhaps the most drastic shift has been a sense of empowerment that has come from an increased awareness and understanding of myself.
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by Debby on February 7, 2013
If you’re reading this blog, you’re likely a yoga enthusiast, and maybe even a teacher. At the very least you’re probably interested in living a life that is in alignment with your highest self.
When I first became a yoga teacher nearly 8 years ago, I knew it was what I wanted to do because yoga changed my life, and I wanted to share that with as many people I could. But it was tough in the beginning. I had no idea where to start or how to reach the people that most needed what I could offer. Making ends meet was difficult. I almost gave up in order to have the security of a “real job.”
But luckily, I found a woman named Marie Forleo. And I enrolled in an amazing program she created called “B-school,” that really helped me get my ducks in a row.
I know many of you don’t own your own business, and maybe you’ve never even considered it. I hadn’t either.
But–if you’ve ever wanted the freedom to live authentically, and share what you’re really passionate about, without allowing money to hold you back, you’ll want to check this out.
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by Debby on January 26, 2013
Most people have some perceptions about karma–what it is and how it works. In the west, we tend to think about karma from a place of fear, judgement, and/or duality. We don’t want “bad” karma, so we strive to do “good” deeds. But who’s judging anyways?
The sanskrit word karma means “action”. So, our karmas are merely our actions–and yes, our actions yield results. The quality of the results we receive is determined by the quality, intention, and awareness that goes into our actions.
I’ll share a personal example. I’ve been wanting to start a daily meditation practice for several months. Committing to and following through with this has been really hard for me. My mind can be so convincing when it says “I don’t have the time,” “I’m too tired,” or “I have more important things to do.”
But something shifted in me recently, when I realized that my karmas–my actions–weren’t reflecting my true values. I value spiritual practice. I value meditation. I value the development of connection with the true, divine essence of who I am. I value the inner calm and peace I receive through meditation. [click to continue…]
For the rest of my travel in India, I immersed myself in practicing Yoga and learning about Ayurveda (in India these two ways of life go hand-in-hand). Over the next several years, I continued to deepen my studies of both of these vast sciences.
