Seek Happiness And Celebrate The Selfie

Hey Friends,

There is little gray area on this topic. You either love or hate the "selfie." If you are reading this blog you most likely follow more than one social media source and you have seen a selfie along the way. You may be convinced some of your closest friends do not live life more than an arms length away. Am I right, or am I right?

My opinion on the selfie....Rock It! (okay, we can all agree the duck lips NEED-TO-GO!). Selfies of people smiling at arms length away is far better than someone airing their dirty laundry online any day. (And it has to happen at arms distance because we don't have our own personal photographers to capture all of our happy moments.)

It is no big secret that life on its own can have difficult times, sad times, and down right ugly times. It is also no big secret that each of us want to be happy in our own way. If snapping a photo of yourself in your new sassy dress, smiling in front of a sunset, or grabbing a snap shot of your new hair-do makes you smile, then do it.

(Rocking a no make-up selfie

and throwing my gang sign of Peace)

 

If you are a selfie hater...grab your smart phone, go find a place that makes you happy, throw that arm way out there, and snap a shot of your mug with a big smile on it. Now didn't it feel good to smile?

No, I am not claiming that selfies will solve all of our problems. It is not so much about the actual selfie, but about the happiness behind the selfie and how it cultivates contentment in your life.

Learn Santosa (Contentment) from a Selfie:
Cultivate contentment, compassion, modesty and tranquility by finding happiness with what you have and who you are. Seek happiness in the moment, take responsibility for where you are, and choose to grow from there. To be at peace within and content with your lifestyle, finding contentment even while experiencing life’s difficulties for life becomes a process of growth through all kinds of circumstances.

Peace and Happiness,
Natalie

Sweating Your Asana Off--Mat Cleaner

I have been practicing yoga for over a decade. That means my yoga mat has seen hundreds of down dogs and chaturangas. It has also seen major blood, sweat, and tears during my teacher training AND yes...dirty feet (my dirty feet mostly). I didn't clean my first yoga mat very often. (EEewww!). In my pitiful defense I am not a very sweaty yogi, but yes...gross none-the-less.

There was something awesome to me about coming onto my mat and seeing how hard I worked just by looking at the foot prints that were worn deep into the material. I also felt mat cleaners were expensive and I was (and still am) on a budget. The truth is anyone who is busting their "asana" on the mat should be cleaning it regularly.

(This is my first mat purchased at

Barnes&Noble

for $14.99 11 years ago)

Sweating Your Asana Off--Mat Cleaner
2 cup water (distilled if possible)
2 Tbsp witch hazel astringent
20 drops of Tea Tree Oil (anti-fungle and anti-bacterial)
10 drops of your favorite essential oil ( I love lavender)
Mix and put into any spray or pump bottle you find at the dollar store. I like to keep a large spray bottle at home and carry a small travel size pump bottle in my bag for a quick spritz after class. Wipe with a soft cloth.


Play around with the scents and find one that you like. For an energizing fragrance try grapefruit or orange.

Enjoy!
Peace and Happiness,
Natalie