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Tuesday Spiritual Nutrition and Fitness Tip 1/17/2012

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Every Tuesday I’ll be bringing you a fitness and nutrition tip to help move you your week.  Subscribe, share and don’t miss out!

Nutrition:  Don’t tell yourself that you “can’t have something”.  We are programmed from a very young age that when someone puts a limitation on us we will rebel and do it anyway.  Someone saying “Don’t push that red button”, just makes us want to push it.  The same works with nutrition and diet.  When we tell ourselves that we will never have sweets, carbs, etc.  we only create a stronger desire for them.   This is affirmation work at its best.  Affirmations can work both ways, so we have to use a positive affirmation to eliminate the buried negative one.

Negative Affirmation:

“I will never have sugar again, its what is causing me to gain weight”

–This makes all sugar negative, and when we inevitably have something containing sugar, we hold onto more guilt.

“I allow myself to enjoy all aspects of eating.  I am in complete control of what fuels my body to be at its very best”

An affirmation like this one still gives me permission to have that cupcake, and without the guilt, and with more enjoyment.  Life is about enjoying what we have in front of us.  Allow yourself to engage in treats, but give yourself permission to be in control.  If you get a cupcake, eat 1/2 and give the other to a friend, or save it for another day.

Our relationship to food is 90% psychological, learning to balance this relationship will help you moving forward, and will be the focus of future blog posts.

Fitness:  “I don’t have time to workout”.  Well, I don’t have time to listen to limitations.  There is always time.  We find time to watch TV, we find time to go to Starbucks, we find time to complain about not working out.  All you need to do is consciously connect to your day and find spots to add in a little fitness.  Take the stairs instead of the escalator, if you are going to Starbucks pick one that is further away (and if it means you’ll be late getting back to work, more reason to move faster–adding in cardio).  See how easy it is to simply add in a few moments here and there.

Here is a personal example:  So we are stuck at my shop doing in inventory this week.  I’ve been off my personal routine, but I am not going to let that stop me.  Every hour my phone buzzes, I take a break, go into the back and do 25-30 push ups.  In 8 hours I’ve done over 200 hundred push ups, an each time it only takes me 30 seconds.

There is NO EXCUSE not to add some fitness into your day.  Connecting to the body is one step in connecting to the soul.  So, stop complaining and start doing!

Mahayogi Das CFT CSN MAT PAT

http://www.michaelbrazell.com

michael@michaelbrazell.com

Taking Inventory of Our Lessons

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Taking Inventory of Our Lessons

So, as we move into our store inventory I try to find some way to connect this into my spiritual world. There is a monotony and inventory is not fun by any means. To make these non-fun things a little more life bearable I try to connect some spiritual meaning to them. I try to find joy in the mundane, and in everything there is application to the spiritual on some level.  One of the biggest questions I get asked in my practice as an intuitive consultant is: “How do I let things go?”. The answer is simple: You cant. We are human, and we all have the need to hold on to everything in our lives. We become attached to memories–both good and bad, but more often the bad ones hold the highest energy. We tend to hold onto negative experiences in the hopes that we will never have to go through them again. Well, law of attraction says “THat which I focus on, I will constantly call into my experience.”  When we attach ourselves to anchors we will only drown. They keep us locked in negative and dangerous patterns. Many of us repeat negative relationships, find ourselves in similar unhappy work situations, or even stuck in negative habits. So, if we can’t let things  go–how do we move forward? We must transition the energy to something that is positive.  In ever experience, we learn something about ourselves. If we are unconscious to what we are learning, it means that we didn’t quite get the lesson. We understand the experience, but not the lesson. We have to go deeper. We have to extend gratitude into every life situation. Take a moment and let your mind drift back to a past experience that you might not want to repeat. There was something about that experience that you overcame, or learned to do for yourself. When you acknowledge the lesson you are more able to move forward from that point in time. You begin to see where your growth has been initiated.   Some of us are what I like to call “experiential learners”. What this means is that in order to fully engage life we have to “experience everything”. To understand joy, we really must go into our sorrow, to feel connection we must have periods of disconnection, to feel spiritual we have to first be angry at the divine. The previous are just a few things that I have noticed about my own experience, and how you go through your lessons might be different. The danger is that sometimes we continue to hold onto those negative vibrations because we feel we must have the balance, or we get comfortable with those low swings. We have to learn to live in the highest vibrations. When we hold on to only the negative we create a pattern. An example is the people who think that something bad is on the way because life is suddenly going great–of course it will, that is your affirmation! We must break ourselves out of these patterns of upswing and low swing. This isn’t to say that life wont have its sticky moments, but you will see that they last for shorter durations and that you are able to move through them with greater ease.

Here is a small process to take inventory of your lessons:

1) Get a notebook and at the top of the page write down a past experience that you want to focus on.
2) Write a small description of the experience. What you felt while you were in that space, how long you were in the experience, and who you feel the lesson bringer was. If this was a relationship it could be the person you shared the relationship with, it was a work situation it could be a boss, or a coworker that caused some struggle.
3) Start a list identifying what you learned about yourself in that place of difficulty. Did you learn that you anger easily. Did you learn that you had inner strength that was realized after you decided to leave an abusive partner, etc.
4) How do those lessons apply in your life now. Are you repeating old patterns? Are you a different person now due to those past experiences?

When we ae able to take account of all parts of self we begin a deeper process of
integration. We pull back any power we have given away to people, situations and circumstances. This is a new and exciting year. It is time to release all the anchors and move freely into what is coming. We are all who we are because of what we have gone through, what we do with those experiences will either propel us forward or bind us. It’s time for you to set sail.

Mahayogi Das CFT CSN MAT PAT
http://www.michaelbrazell.com
http://www.deviantyogi.com
michael@michaelbrazell.com

How To Meditate: A Guide for Chaotic Times

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Most of us live hectic lives. We live in an age of deadlines, rapid technology, and fast-moving everything. The thought of  being able to still our minds amid the chaos of twitter and Facebook updates sounds like a great idea, but a more like a far off dream. Meditation is powerful in bringing clarity, which is vital to those of us faced with rapid decision-making, tough decision, or just the daily pressures of a fast paced life. Here is a little test to see where you are in your understanding of what mediation is–

There are no right or wrong answers:

1) How long should you meditate for?
2) What tools should you use to meditate?
3) What is the proper way to sit to meditate?
4) What is the right way to breathe for meditation?

Many people feel separated from the action of meditating because of questions like these. What if I told you that you are meditating right now? Would you belive me? WE are the ones that get to decide what meditation is and is not. Right now you are focusing in on the words on the screen in front of you. You are breathing deeply as your eyes move across the screen. YOu mind is still as you absorb the information. You are sitting, completely focused on whats right in front of you. That is mediating. The first goal is to make meditation accessible. It has to be something that happens easily, and with as little work as possible.

Rule number 1: DO NOT LET OTHERS DEFINE THE EXPERIENCE FOR YOU.

If sitting and chanting “Ommmmm” is not your thing, create your own outlet towards mediation. There are as many ways to mediate as there are stars in the sky, and there really is no wrong way to do it. Here are just a few that I have found effective for myself and some of my clients living in hectic vibrations:

A) Tactile Meditation: This is an action oriented meditation. Tactile experiences engage the senses, primarily beginning with touch. Holding a stone, doing japa mala, moving your hands under running water, touching the petals of a rose, etc. Be creative. It is hard for the brain to engage in multiple places at one time. While you are holding the object, try to engage it fully through touch, notice everything about it. In this space you are fully engaged by what is right in front of you. The little worries in our mind take a back seat and you are able to detach for a few moments.

B) Movement Meditation: This is simply being mindful while you are moving. Yoga, dance, walking, workout out– all can be forms of meditation. It simply requires you to be fully engaged in the action. I know personally that when I go out dancing there are times when I get “lost in the dance”. The music, the people, the moving all build into a disconnection from one plane of reality and allow us to transcend into another. The Sufi spin, yogis will flow through asana, and Buddhists walk. THe next time you are out for a walk take a moment to focus fully on one single step. Feel the heel touch, and then each part of the foot engage the earth. Notice everything around you fully, hear each sound, smell the air, listen to the trees, be part of the experience–even if it is just one single step.

c) Visual Meditation: Staring at a picture, a statue, a flower, or even focusing in on a video can also be forms of meditation. To take it a step further, allow yourself to draw, paint, or to doodle (combining movement/tactile/and visual). Find something uplifting to carry in your pocket–a photo of a guru, a deity, or just a funny picture of a cute cat will do.

Rule Number 2: MEDITATION NEED TO BE SOMETHING YOU CAN ACCESS ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME

I would love nothing more than to sit in front of my altar with nag champa melting me into oblivion, but I seem to find myself on the go more and more often.  Meditation is something you must be able to access anywhere.  Sometimes we need instant access to clarity, and being able to shift away from the world around us allows us that access.

Rule Number 3: NO TIME LIMITS

What is the appropriate time limit for meditation?  30 seconds.  If you can’t do 30 seconds, you won’t reach 30 min.  You have to allow yourself to go to the smallest level possible.  Do not time your meditation.  Just start, and stop.  For some, just knowing there is a ticking clock adds to the stress of the experience.  Allowing yourself to just go into meditation and then to come right out of it when you “feel” done is more than enough.  Do not let someone else tell you that it has to be 15 min, 30 min or even a few hours to be effective.  We have to give what we can, and be happy with that.

Rule Number 4:  JUST DO IT!

Just start.  Don’t put a lot between you and the action of just meditating.  Some people when they want to start meditating they first will buy a book, then feel they need to take a class, then they have to find the perfect incense, then the right music, and in all that time they could have just sat down and meditated.  You just need to do it.  Stop waiting around for an invitation from the universe, and be present.

There are mechanics that can help you to engage in a deeper meditative experience, and I will cover those in a later post.  For now just allow yourself to start adding meditation.

In these crazy times it is important for each of us to find balance, and to create sacred space even in our chaos.  We owe it to ourselves to disconnect into a happier place even if for just a few breaths.

 

Mahayogi Das CFT CSN MAT PAT

michael@michaelbrazell.com

http://www.michaelbrazell.com

The End is Near: Using 2012 Energy for Creation

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The end is near, the end is near!  Well, here we are… in the most talked about year of our time, and there is not doubt that energy is changing and shifting around us. For some it will feel as if time is moving at an accelerated rate, and others will feel the pressure of trying to free themselves from last year’s anchors.  Regardless of where you are and what you believe will happen this year, it really is the best time to create the life you have always wanted.  There is accelerated growth opportunities for everyone, but we can’t be complacent and just let the opportunities pass us by.  So, the purpose of this post is not to discuss what will, or will not happen (or the million of scenarios), but o allow us to examine where we are through the lens of “an ending”.

Let’s assume for a moment that the end is coming on Dec 21st of this year.  That means that you have 11 months to really create the best possible life, why not go out with a bang, and if there is a day that follows, you’ll have done the work to continue moving into your goals.  Having certain doom looming over us does not have to be a scary thing, nor should you feed into fear.  Trust your intuition, trust your connection to source, and be prepared.

In the end, we all face a transition to a different energetic space–it could be death, or the world itself ending, either way why continue to wait to show up to your life.  Live with purpose, live fully, and engage your experience fiercely.  The beautiful part about doing readings and seeing others connect into their paths is seeing the joy they find with finally living in their own energy.  When we release ourselves from the expectations of others, society, or the ones we place on our own spirits we are able to fly.

Take a moment and follow these simple steps towards manifesting through the 2012 energy:

Write these down, create lists, and visit them often.

1)  If the world were going to end tomorrow, are there things that you wish you could have done, accomplished, said, experienced?

2) What is holding you back from fully engaging your life right now?

3) What can you do to release your anchors (past negative experiences, patterns, negative behaviors, habits)— Be simple, and forgiving with this step.  We do not want to hold onto guilt, nor do we want to create something new to bind us.  Just give yourself a simple action step towards elimination (ex: if smoking is holding you back from achieving health– reduce the amount).

4) What are the lessons that you’ve learned about yourself from your past experiences?

5) What are you going to do– TODAY– to make your dreams one step closer to becoming a reality?   It can be as simple as visualizing them as becoming part of your experience, or as involved as stepping into a new life.  Give yourself permission to engage the imagination.

 

These steps are basic, but they are powerful ways of starting a process of engaging your life.  It should not take a cataclysm to push you into living fully, but if it will motivate you, then use it to create–not to be fearful.

I’ll post more specifics on manifesting, connecting to your true self, and what you can do to engage this experience on all levels.

As always feel free to comment, ask questions, or contact me directly.

Mahayogi Das CFT CSN MAT PAT

http://www.michaelbrazell.com

michael@michaelbrazell.com

 

 

The Dangers of a Vegan Lifestyle: Enemy On Your Plate

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The Dangers of Veganism: Enemy On Your Plate

So, did the title grab your attention. Good. Many of you clicked the link, ready to pounce with a slew of soundbites.  It is not what you think, but the day of the “unhealthy vegan” needs to end.  Polls are showing the many are making the transition to this healthy and wonderful lifestyle.  Many do it for more selfish reasons (personal health), but some will make transition into the compassionate side of the diet (care for animals).  WE then become the example to those around us for what it is like to be vegan, and for how to best connect to not only the world around us, but to ourselves in a more compassionate way.  Working at PETA I got to see first hand the dangers of what the vegan lifestyle could create.  Being aware of these pitfalls helps us to eliminate them.  In turn making us more effective in being the example of compassion vs the “unhealthy vegan stereotype”.  The biggest enemy to those moving towards a compassionate lifestyle are sometimes the food choices that are presented to them as “vegan”, the second is the stress some of us internalize due to feeling we are not doing enough.  Some love using the “we must have all billion tasty options to help those make the transition” excuse.  Well, once you are there it does not mean that your diet should only consist of french fries, Oreos, and fritos.  I agree that it is important to support vegan options at restaurants, but your diet should not be Taco Bell for breakfast/lunch/and dinner.  We have to not only be conscious of making “vegan” choices, we must also be conscious of making “healthy vegan choices”.

Enemy number 1: Sugar/cupcakes/cookies/and all things unholy from the vegan bakery case

While these delicious vegan doppelgänger to hostess cakes might be more compassionate for our animal friends, they are not forgiving on our waistlines and our health. Now, I am in full support of the “everything in moderation” mantra, but many of us have very loose boundaries when it comes to moderation, and even less connection to what an actual portion size looks like. When was the last time you actually saw a calorie sticker on that delicious vegan pastry you were chomping down? How much fat, sugar, carbohydrates, ect are you putting in your body? Are the ingredients natural or are there chemical substitutions to the typical non-vegan ingredients? I am also not saying that you have to stress over every single bite, but we do need to take responsibility for what we are putting into our bodies.

Enemy number 2: Assuming something is “healthier” just because it is vegan

While I would love to thing that Oreos and Pepsi were healthier to a Twinkie and milkshake, this is alas not true. We are at times hypnotized by the illusion of what certain words create in our minds. We hear the word “vegan”, “vegetarian” or even see the word “healthier” written on shiny packages and naturally assume that this is a better choice. If you took a moment to look at the label, you would see the amount of chemicals that you are putting into your body are just as damaging as their animal hating counterparts. We need to not only be conscious of what we put into our bodies. We have a responsibility not only to the animals but to ourselves to be healthy and informed.

Enemy number 3: Not reading labels— on vegan products

While some of us take an hour to look for the smallest non-vegan ingredient in a loaf of bread, we will quickly whip a box of Boca burgers into our shopping carts without question. Take a moment and read the labels on the vegan products you are consuming as well. It takes a lot of chemical process to take a soy bean and make it look just like a “hamburger”. Many vegan foods are also loaded with sodium. Too much sodium can add to elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, and cholesterol. Be mindful of everything you purchase. Do not just assume that the word vegan eliminates all damage.

Enemy number 4: Compassion

Now, you are probably wondering why our compassion can also be our biggest enemy. Stress, is one of the biggest causes of overeating. Many who chose a compassionate life do so because of the horror that many animals face on a daily basis. We do the best we can. Live through an action of making sound choices, treat yourself with just as much kindness as you would extend to those suffering daily on factory farms, circuses, and countless other horrible situations.  Do something daily to help alleviate stress.  Workout, do yoga, meditate.  When we internalize our stress it becomes a mountain and it damages us on much more than just the physical, it hurts our spirit.  Take your anger and turn it into something productive for your body.  Be proud of who you are and for what you do to extend compassion into the world.  We might not save them all by ourselves, but if we die because of our stress we can no longer be their voice.

Ahimsa is a word that is invoked a lot when it comes to veganism it simply means: non-harming.  We extend this to those that suffer at the hands of an uncontrolled and unregulated food production industry.  Most forget however, that we must also extend this sense of non-harming to ourselves.  We must be kind to our bodies, make compassionate choices, and then be a living example of better health.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Gandhi

I just dumped a lot on you, good. Ponder some of these points, and these are just a few.  In the next few posts I am going to discuss some specifics of stress reduction, intention setting, and eating structure.

Think, grow, connect and love yourself fiercely!

 

Mahayogi Das CFT CSN MAT PAT

http://www.michaelbrazell.com

michael@michaelbrazell.com

The Ritual of Fitness: Intergrating Intention into Your Gym Workout Routines

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Intention, Motivation, and Connection to Your Physical Practice

The alarm clock goes off, and your feet hit the ground, and of course the first thought on your mind is heading towards the gym.   I can already hear the “Yeah, right” screaming from the recesses of your soul.  Many will sleep in until the very last possible second, some rush to the computer the moment feet touch the ground to check email/Facebook/twitter/or the latest foursquare updates.  Then after a long day at work, we are faced with our second opportunity to step into the sacred grounds of the gym, yet… we would much rather curl up to Netflix and catch up on the latest episode of Cake Boss.

The toughest part of any workout routine is setting up a steady routine.  There is a frustration when it comes to working out.  We have to remember that it took us a while to get to where we are, and it is going to take some time to see the results of our work.  As spiritual people we know that when it comes to manifesting things take time.  The universe/God/Goddess hears our call and life begins to synchronize and align to bring about the desired  outcome.  Our time in the gym is a microcosm of grand universal effect.  The first step is to set a realistic goal for yourself.   Ok, let’s pause right here.  Many of you immediately added up some magical goal weight that must be achieved, some of you might have seen muscles ripping out of every crevice of your clothing, others may have seen themselves coming across the finish line of their first marathon.  Let’s take the goal to an even smaller and simpler place:  Just show up.  That’s it.  If you do not show up to your workout, then the goal will just remain a dream.  The dream is also dangerous, because it can hold us in an expectation that is too far for ourselves to reach.  If my goal is to run a marathon, but I’ve never even jogged a mile, I might be frustrated if in one week, I’m not wearing that gold medal around my neck.  We have to be realistic about our expectations when it comes to our fitness.  Even better is to release all expectation.  Just show up and engage your experience.

You’ll also need a workout plan.  Not knowing what to do in the gym can be intimidating.  The machines can be complex, the classes can be intimidating, and at times we might just be overwhelmed by the multitude of choices in front of us.  Simplify your direction.  Start with cardio and build, do not be afraid to ask questions and take a class or two.  Group fitness classes are a great way to burn calories, connect with others that are moving towards similar goals, and just have fun!  When I was teaching and taking classes at a gym in Norfolk, I looked forward to my class, they became my “gym family”.  You share stories, and get excited in each others progress.

Now, let’s take our workout a step further.  What if I told you that you could add to world peace simply by engaging your process in the gym?   Take a moment and think of something that is important in your life, something that you want to dedicate energy to.  The next time you are in the gym set your intention, and dedicate your workout to that goal/place in the world/or person that might need it.  A simple affirmation might go like this, “I dedicate the energy from this workout to all the homeless in my area.  May they find peace, love and happiness this day” “I dedicate the energy of this workout to my friend Jim, who is going into surgery today, may the energy created guide him into greater health.”  You get the hint… Be creative.

By setting an intention, you create a deeper connection to your workout.  It gives the action new life and purpose.

Set the intention the night before and you might feel new drive to get those feet moving towards greater health the moment that alarm clock screams you awake.

I’ll be posting specific workout plans and tips to help ease the process and to make gym life less overwhelming.  For those of you that are not members of a gym, I’ll be posting specifics for you as well.

So, let’s recap:

1) Just start by showing up.  Not just to the gym, but to your life.  Choose health, choose life, choose to better yourself on all levels.

2) Set a goal for yourself.  Be realistic and release all expectations other than to be present in your gym experience.

3) Ask questions, have a plan of action.  If you can spend 10 hours on Facebook, you can spend a few minutes looking up workout routines.  Also feel free to email me directly if you have questions.  I will also be posting a resource list in the next couple of days.

4) Give your workout a greater purpose by setting an intention.  By doing this you make it more than just about you.  You are creating and giving energy to the world around you.  This alone should help drive your desire to get moving.

You are loved, you are beautiful, you are perfect in all of your imperfections.

Mahayogi Das CFT CSN MAT PAT

http://www.michaelbrazell.com

michael@michaelbrazell.com

 

 

The Importance of Physical Fitness in our Spiritual Lives

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We live in a world that is dominated by technology.  We spend our lives moving from one place to another at rapid intervals, speed seems to dominate our direction, and in all this many of us lose the connection to our physical bodies.  I see a lot of very spiritual people who have become very out of touch with their physical bodies.  Everything from how we move, to how we sit, to how we interact with everything in this experience is made possible by the temple we were given by the divine.  If you do not care for the temple it will deteriorate into rubble.  We as divine individuals owe it to ourselves to take charge of our bodies just as much as we devote to ritual, meditation, or crafting community.  Making a move into a healthier is easier than most think.  Most tend to put too much between the desire and the action ex:  We feel that we want to work out, so we first have to research which gym to join, what program we should do, what type of shoes would make the experience better…  Stop adding hurdles to your path and just engage it.  Engaging fitness can be as easy as walking, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and being mindful of how the body feels.  We often reach out for convenience foods rather than healthier options.  Ordering take out just so that I do not have to get up from my computer is not going to make what I am writing better, and the guilt that often comes with damaging our bodies keeps us in negative loops and patterns.  Would you go to a healer that is constantly sick?   Many lightworkers do more for others than they do for themselves, we readily offer healing yet refuse to just sit in our own space to give ourselves the same healing connection.  What we put into our bodies and how we engage the physical process says a lot about how we are truly dedicated to our paths.

We are given these temples for a short time, we must do all that we can to ensure that we are able to be part of this experience.  A damaged temple ensures that it will not stand long, but it is never too late to do repairs, to tidy up, and to upgrade the carpet.  I am going to be posting a special series on fitness, engaging the mind/body connection, and how to trust your intuition even in the fitness arena.

Take time to be healthy.  Take time to connect to improving your body as much as your spiritual practice.   Take action now.

 

Mahayogi Das CFT CSN MAT PAT

http://www.michaelbrazell.com

michael@michaelbrazell.com

2012: Connection, Expectation and Personal Growth

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We have finally arrived in 2012.  The energy of this year is very tactile.  You can almost feel it swirling around you.   I had the joy of starting off this year at my shop’s psychic fair.  Through each reading that was given, I was able to see a glimpse into what we could all expect in this coming year.  This is a year of expectation.  2012 in its on right, carries a legion of attachments: end of the world, ascension, light workers awakening, transition to 5th dimensional energy, and nothing at all.  Regardless of where we end up, we have to make the best of each moment in this time and space.  There are things that are continuing to shift that are beyond our grasp and comprehension.  What we can do is live into our paths fully, to make it the best possible year.  This is also a “me” year.  Many people will be stepping into their own energies and into their own paths.  We need to set our direction and follow it fully.  You must watch where your thoughts are taking you.  Those that start this year in an energy of deceit and transgression will have a harder time fully realizing their potential moving into the year.   We must fully step into our roles as healers, light workers, and beings of light.  Clouding ourselves with disconnection and negative attachments will only anchor us into energy that will be much harder to let go of this year.  We must remain clear of what our path is, what our goals are and work towards achieving them.  The energy will be moving quickly this year, and it will feel as if you are moving at 100 mph–because you are.  Do not let time pass you by without seeing your goals come to light.  Create and connect with soul groups, live in your artistic vibrations, be the person you have always wanted to be.

Those that will choose to align with darker vibrations and energies will also become more prevalent this year.  You will see them come forward, try to take power, and limit the experiences of peace.  We must shine and refuse to let our light be diminished or dampened.  You mush allow yourself to fully and fiercely be present in each and every experience.  Do not let the negative vibrations of those around you limit this connection.  Breathe in each moment fully, Breath out those that wish to limit your experience, regain control of your personal power, allow your breath to move you, and do not stop until you have arrived.

There is a lot that will change this year, do not hold too tightly to experiences, people, or things–they will only anchor you into their own vibration and karma.  2012 is finally here, make it the best.

Mahayogi Das CFT CSN MAT PAT

http://www.michaelbrazell.com

soulinteraction@gmail.com

Finding Your Flow: Finding Your Yoga Through Surrender

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For the past few weeks I have been able to re-center myself in my practice. For many of us yoga itself is an act of surrender, for those of us that teach, it becomes an even greater struggle at times to let go of the reigns and allow someone else to steer the car. To be a great teacher you also have to be a great student, we never truly stop learning. I’ve had the joy to be able to workout with some amazing yogis through my life journey, and as of recent I have found some great teachers at my local gym. Many here in the city feel the only way to get a great yoga workout is to join a high price studio, to purchase the fanciest equipment, and to have the coolest pair of yoga pants in class, or to do a hybrid of yoga and power movements. Stepping into unfamiliar territory is the what I love most about yoga. Hearing the powerful Sanskrit names, moving into pretzel like postures, holding each one until if feels like the world itself is going to end, then relaxing deeper into the internal space of our mind. Many of us view the world only through the external. Yoga (whether you want it or not) is designed to also connect you into that internal part of being. Each asana is an action of meditation, and when we connect this way we are surrendering to yoga itself.

One of the worst things we can do as instructors and practitioners is to become complacent in our practice. I am guilty of this from time to time. We can sometimes feel like we are just going through the motions, or we skip out on our practice all together. This was part of the drive that got me back into the gym, and back into class as a student. It has been amazing surrendering to someone else. To let them guide me deeper into my own practice. If you ar finding that you are growing tired of your practice to not be afraid to step out of the bounds of comfort. Try something new! Take a hot yoga class, try acro- yoga, if you are a fast flow yogi–try slower restorative classes, try power yoga, the idea is to dip your toes in new waters. Each time we attempt something new the ripples echo out into ever aspect of our being, our practice and our connection to our paths.  Yoga is an action of surrender. Surrender can be a foreign word for many of us, let yoga be your guide. If by chance yoga is not your thing, the same rules apply. Shake up your life a bit, get up, get out, and move–find your flow, and breath in all this life has to offer. Each moment a is a gift, don’t waste it.
Mahayogi Das CFT CSN MAT PAT
http://www.michaelbrazell.com
soulinteraction@gmail.com
757-839-3531

Expressing Peace in Turbulent Times

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We only need to look around us to see that we are in a state of upheaval.  Times are changing rapidly and everyone is moving to the streets to have their voices heard.  Many are also taking this time to go into an internal space to create change within their own lives.  The road ahead might look bumpy, but it is only as turbulent as we choose it to be.  This is an important time to trust your intuition.  The one thing that we have to do is give ourselves permission to be angry.  Be angry!  Get Angry! —  but then allow yourself to move into a state of release and growth.  Why plant weeds in your own garden?  Holding onto anger will only attract more of it in your life.  We are all looking for change, growth, and we cannot expect others to provide that for us.  It is important to have a message of equality on all levels heard in the public forum, but we must first ask “What am I doing to create peace and change within myself?”  Too often we get caught up in the energetic tsunami of others.  This is why we are currently not seeing a unified message within the ranks of the “Occupy” movement.  As time passes I feel that a true, underlying message will begin to bubble to the surface.

Here are a few ways to express peace in your life right now:

1) Say I love you to someone next to you

2) Give forgiveness

3) Ask for forgiveness

4) Smile at a stranger

5) Volunteer and help those that are in need

6) Love yourself fiercely

7) Pray

8) Sing

9) Dance

10) Look in the mirror and love yourself

11) Write a list of all the things you are thankful and appreciative of.  Be in a constant rampage of gratitude.

12) If you feel negativity coming on, pull out your list from line number 11 and begin your gratitude flow.

13) Love your enemies.  Hate, never erases hate.

What are some ways that you bring peace into your life?  What do you do to bring yourself back to center?

Share your posts below!!!

Michael A. Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

http://www.michaelbrazell.com

757-839-3531

Michael@michaelbrazell.com