Lets celebrate Sunmer with Surya Namaskar

Surya Namaskar is the sanskrit name for Sun Salutation, a yoga sequence dedicated to giving thanks to the sun. It is a Vinyasa that links our body, breath and mind into an attitide of gratitude for the sun, heavens and earth. It may seem silly to some but by freely giving thanks for this beautiful life we have been given and for the sun that offers light...we will leave the mat feeling happier and full of purpose! So in celebration of Summer, lets learn a sun salutation.

A sun salutation is a flow of asanas (poses) that are connected by the breath. It is important to pay attention to the breath as you move between poses because it will greatly benefit your practice. I didn't have someone to photograph me doing this so please refer to my guide above.

You will begin in mountain pose or tadasana with your hands in Anjali Mudra (hands pressed togther at the heart). Here you can close your eyes and set an intention for your practice today. Remember that yoga is about making a change from within.

 Then on an inhale you will raise your gaze up and bring your hands up above your head for a breath then slowly on an exhale bring them down into uttadasana or forward fold.

From there raise your back into half forward bend (make sure you keep a flat back and bring hands to the knees or shins) and take a breath here, then on an enxhale release and place your hands on the mat, step your feet or hop back into chaturanga dandasana.

Here slowely lower as if doing a pushup and then raise your heart on an inhale into urdva muka, (uppdog.) Open your chest, feel the stretch and give thanks to the sun.

 Then on an exhale push up into down dog, lowering your gaze to the earth. Take a few breaths here and then slowely walk or leap to the front of your mat and end your vinyasa back in mountain pose with your hands at your heart. Repeat as many times as many times as you would like.

Make Surya Namaskar a regular part of your practice and it will generate a feeling of peace and gratitide in your life. Then go eat some pineapple and enjoy your summer♡♡
Namaste

My Happy List ♡

Yoga can be so much more than a way to exercise! For me, it brings an abundance of peace and happiness into my life! Thus the inspiration for this blog post! Maybe it's cheesy....ok yeah it's definitely cheesy, maybe even slightly annoying to most people, but today was not exactly a joy filled day, until I made my list! Just do it....I promise it will make you smile♡♡♡

~Happy List

Hudson Bailey Labar (Duh! Did anybody see that coming...I only post a million pictures a day of him)

Branden Bailey Labar😘♡♡

My parents & siblings

Driving around this beautiful southern state we currently live in with the windows down and the country music up

Yoga

Mexican Food

The sunsets and fireflies here in the south

Hot showers

Sunday naps

New clothes

Book of Mormon

Hugs

Milkshakes

Fireworks

Thunderstorms

Raspberries

Soft Pillows

Soft towels

Soft sheets

Anything soft

Coconut oil

Lavender Oil

Bath Bombs

Fall

Pumpkins

Candles

Angels

♡♡♡

Lets learn the Chakra's.....what??

When I would first hear Chakra's talked about during Yoga, I would sort of start to tune out. Why? Well...it seemed weird quite honestly! I like many others started Yoga for the physical aspect and didn't have an interest in "connecting" to my "subtle self" . However.....the more I dived into Yoga and started to ask myself WHY does it change the way I feel, and WHY does it feel so wonderful, the more I started to realize that the Chakra's are actually part of the physical aspect of Yoga! Infact....they are pretty important! Knowing the Chakra's and what they mean, give you a great understanding of why you are doing the poses you are doing and how to sequence your poses when you do your own freestyle practice! Which is why I have chosen to write about them as one of my first posts! I, myself, am just learning, so if you have any insight to add I would love to hear it!


So what is a Chakra anyway?? Ancient Yogis believe that there are portals in our body through which energy flows. Specifically 7 that we call the Chakra's! Yoga tradition states that these portals or vortexes can get blocked. Certain poses (asanas) can help unblock "prana" or life force from the subtle body! When this happens we become more physically, mentally and emotionally balanced! So without further ado...What are the Chakra's??

The Root Chakra (Muladhara)

The Root Chakra's element is earth and its color is red! When this Chakra is out of balance you may feel low self esteem, sense a lack of belonging or not feel grounded! Focusing on this Chakra and keeping it balanced can create confidence and self worth! One pose that can open up this Chakra is Tree Pose (Vrksasana)

Sacral or Pelvic Chakra (Svadhisthana)

The Sacral Chakra's element is water and its color is orange. This Chakra represents creativity and fertility. When this Chakra is out of balance you may feel emotionally unstable and hard on yourself. When it is in balance you should feel creative and positive. One pose to help open up this Chakra is the Goddess Pose (Deviasana)

Navel Chakra (Manipura)

The Navel Chakra's element is fire and its color is yellow. This Chakra represents self esteem and confidence. It gives you motivation to take action and be productive. When it is out of balance you may feel stagnant and have a lack of courage. One pose to help open up this Chakra is the Boat Pose or Navasana.

Heart Chakra (Anahata)

This Chakra's element is air and its color green. This chakra represents love, compassion, forgiveness and acceptance. When it is blocked you may feel possessive, codependent and form dysfunctional relationships. A great pose to open up this Chakra is Camel Pose or Ustrasana.

Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

This Chakra's element is Ether and its color is blue.  When this Chakra is blocked you may feel like you can't find your own voice. You may also have a hard time listening well to others. When this Chakra is open you have an easier time communicating well. A great pose to help unblock this Chakra is a supported shoulder stand (Salamba Sarvangasana)

Third Eye Chakra (Anja)

This Chakra's element is light and its color is indigo. This Chakra determines how you govern all other Chakras. It represents your intuition or "sixth sense." When it is functioning well you have insight and trust your inner wisdom. When it is blocked you become close-minded, untrusting and cynical. A great pose for this Chakra is Sukhasana (The pose of ease)

Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

This Chakra's element is cosmic energy and color is violet or white. The crown Chakra connects to beauty itself and the spiritual realm. It helps you understand who you are. It is very personal. When it is blocked you think happiness can only come from the outside or from other people and you suffer. Savasana or Corpse Pose is a great way to connect to this Chakra.

Stuffed Salmon & Brown Rice with Creamy Ricotta Sauce!

SO I made this recipe last night! I found the idea for the stuffed Salmon and then I saw this recipe for a Ricotta sauce and I thought to myself....those things belong together! So I combined them and let me tell you.....Its a match made in Heaven! <3 So I decided to share my match making skills with you! Give this recipe a shot and let me know how you liked it!! 

Serves 2

Ingredients-

Salmon: 2 Salmon Fillets

               Butter/Olive Oil (Your Choice)

               Salt & Pepper

               1 Roma Tomato

               Handful of fresh Spinach

               Handful of Fresh Cilantro

Brown Rice: Brown Rice

                     Butter/Olive Oil (Your Choice)

                     Salt/Pepper

Creamy Ricotta Sauce: 1/4 Cube of Butter

                                      1/4 Cup of Ricotta cheese (Low in fat, High in protein! Win Win)

                                      1/4 Cup of Milk

                                      Salt/Pepper

                                      Garlic Powder or Fresh Garlic (To Taste)

Directions: I start by getting my Brown Rice in the rice cooker and cooking! 

Once that is cooking, I get out my Salmon fillets which should have been previously thawed. I slice them in half with a sharp knife! (I am not the best at this part... mine are not cut perfectly but it works! I then take a butter knife and spread some butter or olive oil on the inside of the fillets! After this is done I sprinkle sea salt and pepper and add diced tomatoes (Sun Dried Tomatoes are also a yummy option), Fresh chopped Spinach and Fresh chopped Cilantro and then close my fillets.

You can choose to bake your Salmon if thats how you prefer it! We are currently staying in a hotel that does not have an oven...So I cooked mine in a small frying pan over medium heat! I cook one side for about 7 mins until it is cooked 3/4 the way through and then flip it, turn off the heat and put the lid on and let it steam for another 7-10 mins. (You can tell when its done when it looses the translucent look)

Once that is cooking I pull out a medium sauce pan and add my Butter, Ricotta and Milk and stir over low heat until it has all melted nicely together! I then add Salt, Pepper and Garlic Powder or Fresh Garlic to desired taste! Once everything is cooked I add the Salmon and Brown Rice to a plate...pour the sauce over it and add some more fresh Spinach and Cilantro for garnish and whalaa! Sooo good and healthy so no guilt about going back for seconds! 

In Sanskrit (the ancient language of India), yoga translates as “yoke” or “union,” describing the integration of mind and body to create a greater connection with one’s own pure, essential nature. - Yoga Journal

Last year I decided I wanted to integrate a Yoga practice into my own daily life. I began following "Yoga with Adrienne" (whom I highly recommend), I bought a cheap mat from Ross (which I am still using... but trying to talk my husband into buying me new, updated equipment) and basically fell in love with how it made me feel! However....2 months into my new practice I found out I was pregnant with my sweet Hudson boy and I became too sick to continue. -Hopefully by the time I become pregnant again I will have learned about the healing art of Yoga and use it to help me through my nausea, but because I was so new to the practice, I didn't understand quite how to do that....So my practice was put on hold during my first trimester. 

Throughout the rest of my pregnancy I tried to learn and do prenatal yoga, which I enjoyed immensely!! However now that Hudson is outside the womb and I have my body back...I have been able to really focus and enjoy the benefits of Yoga! :) 

I have already learned SO SO much in the short time I have been practicing! In this post I just want to focus on a few things....

My body needs Yoga! Being a new mom...I spend ALOT of time holding my precious little boy! I cosleep with Hudson right now also, which means I have to lay super still and in some pretty weird positions to keep him asleep all night. This has left me feeling extremely stiff. So every day when I first hop on my mat I begin my checking in with my body to see what area needs the most loosening that day. THIS is my favorite part...I start in my neck and work my way down to my feet...stretching, moving and spending more time in the places that feel extra tense! Once I have completed this portion of my practice...My body feels lighter and looser and my mind feels clearer and more balanced. My body has started to crave that awakening each day. The days that I miss a practice do NOT go unnoticed! 

My mind needs Yoga! Life is stressful and frustrating for everyone. After Hudson's birth I, like most moms, struggled a bit with the "baby blues". It wasn't until I started incorporating Yoga into my schedule, did I feel a huge change. Spending a minute or two each day just being still and listening to myself think was a HUGE mood changer.  It brought so much peace into my life and I found that I had much more patience with my husband and baby after my practice. I was able to remind myself each day that Im not a failure, that I can be a great wife and mom, that life was good and that I had so much to be grateful for! The physical aspect of Yoga also adds so much mental clarity and energy as well! 

The beauty of Yoga is that there is so much to learn and it can be such a personal and different experience for everyone. So far for me...It has been about *Embracing my new role as a wife and stay at home mother! I am so excited to start this journey and see what I can *Create in the process! Yoga is about changing the way you see the world and yourself. I want to use that vision to help me be a successful wife and mother, to freely give the love my family and others around me deserve and I would love to use this blog as a way to *Inspire others to do the same! Hence where the title of my blog is derived! ♡♡♡