Give yourself a little gratitude

As Published in the Sun Monthly November 2008
Give a little gratitude to yourself
By Kendra Arnold


The holidays are coming, and so begins the dizzying hustle and bustle of searching for that perfect gift for the ones that we love. Holiday rituals, like shopping, decorating, and attending parties, certainly puts us in the spirit; however these festivities can also create pressure, stress, and frustration. I want to give you all a little reminder that during this time it is important not to forget about yourself. Remember to take a break, relax, and appreciate yourself for all the hard work you have done this year. It is important to reconnect with yourself so that you can be fully present to enjoy this beautiful time of year. Here in Santa Fe, there is a spa or massage therapist right around every corner. Book an appointment for a massage or facial. Take an hour for yourself, to find a little bit of personal peace.

This goes for everyone, no matter male or female, young or old. What good can you be to your family and friends if you are stressed from dealing with too many people, too much traffic, and too much to do in too little time? Taking care of yourself is good for you as well as your family. It takes a lot of energy to balance everyday work and family and then add in the work of shopping, cooking, and traveling for the holidays.

Stress leads to headaches, jaw clenching, body pain and tension, headaches, heartburn, stomach pain, anxiety, depression, and a list that continues for miles. The Mayo clinic offers some suggestions to cope with the holidays, “Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Steal away to a quiet place. Listen to soothing music. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.”

Many men I know cut themselves short; by thinking that spa treatments are for women. I recently got my husband to a massage after some prodding. When he walked out of his appointment, his first words were, “ that was amazing, I want those all the time.” He went on to explain all the ways he felt better. I was thrilled that he now understood the wonders of massage. The benefits of massage, facials, and body treatments are not just about the pampering, although it is a perk. These treatments, when done by a good therapist or esthetician, bring about relaxation and healing in the body.

The medical benefits of massage are enormous. Massage can help alleviate stress, fatigue, muscle pain, and tension headaches. It can also strengthen your immune system and increase your ability to concentrate. Many do not realize how much impact one tight muscle can have on the entire body. A tight muscle can change your posture and balance. This can cause a chain reaction within the body leading to more and more issues.

You might even get yourself a facial. The benefits to your skin are numerous and you get the time to lay back and relax. Facials relax the muscles of the face and jaw, increase circulation, and help lymphatic drainage, which helps drain toxins from our bodies. Don’t forget you will also look great for all of the holiday photos that are coming.

Massage and facials are not the cure all to holiday stress, but they will leave you with less tension. Time constraints are often an excuse to put off taking care of ourselves until later, but it is important to stop and give yourself a break now. Give yourself a little thank you for all your hard work.

Living in the present

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

-Buddha

Why is it so difficult to always live in the present moment? Even with the best intentions, we all experience mind wandering, with our heads racing to tomorrow’s problems or dwelling on our past failures. Take a breath, and re-center, even if just for a moment. Enjoy the perfection of this exact moment. In today’s world of hyper-stimulation and media bombardment, it is virtually impossible to be fully present all of the time. So start small. Be like water and flow with the present 3 times a day. Make yourself available to anything. You might be surprised what you experience!

-Keryn

Hinoki

The light snow fall this morning was an exquisite sign of the winter weather that has only just begun. This kind of weather means more time spent inside getting warm and nesting.

This weekend I prepared my home for the cold by creating a cozy winter oasis (i.e. - I completed a major house cleaning session). Once I finished my cleaning frenzy, I burned hinoki (Japanese cypress) incense in each room. Then I had a truly aroma-therapeutic moment. I had been cleaning with such gusto that my heart rate was up, but within moments the hinoki incense quickly relaxed me. The woody-scented smoke brought me back to the present moment and created a sense of peace in each room.

Hinoki is a special type of cypress that is used in Japanese bath houses for tub construction. It is prized for its antibacterial properties and its intoxicating woody yet fresh fragrance. If you'd like your very own cold weather oasis to smell like a Japanese mountain bath retreat, you can find hinoki incense (made by Nippon Kodo) in BODY's eco-boutique.

-Keryn

Venerable Robina Courtin

We are so pleased to have Venerable Robina Courtin returning this upcoming January. When she came in 2007 the room was packed. If you have never heard her speak she has a thick Aussie accent, but is clear and concise about what she says. She is full of life and spunk. I highly suggest coming to hear her, even if you know nothing of Buddhism. This series of teachings will be called the Secret of Happiness.Ven. Robina Courtin has been a Tibetan Buddhist nun for more than 25 years. Based in San Francisco, California since 1997, she has run the Liberation Prison Project for Buddhist practitioners, working with people in prisons throughout the US. The project helps them with their practice and studies by correspondence and by sending books, tapes, and other materials. She visits prisons in California, Massachusetts, Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia, giving teachings to groups and meeting them one-to-one. Several of these men are on death row or have life sentences, and some have been involved in gangs, both on the streets and in prison.
Ven. Robina was born in Melbourne, Australia and brought up as a Catholic. She studied classical singing until her early twenties then, went to London in 1967, where she lived for four years. She became actively involved in the radical left, working mainly with a London-based support group for black and Chicano prisoners. In the early 70s she became a feminist and returned to Melbourne in 1972 to work with other radical feminists. In her quest for a spiritual path, Ven. Robina began studying martial arts in 1974, and moved to New York, where she studied karate. She continued her studies in Melbourne until 1976, when she attended a Tibetan Buddhist course in Queensland given by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
In November 1977, Ven. Robina went to Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, where she was ordained. Since then, she has lived as a Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition, traveling, teaching, and bringing the Dharma to people both in and out of prison.

Do not miss the opportunity to hear this amazing women.

Kendra

Renown Tuvan Shaman & Throat Singer

If you have never experienced Throat Singing from Tuva before, you are in for quite a treat! BODY is delighted to present the UnHun Master Throat Singers with Nikolay Oorzhak and Dr. Vladislav Matrenitsky on November 12. Though the music of Tuva is special for many reasons, the main point of interest is how the singers are able to create 2 or 3 sounds simultaneously to create a truly original sound. At first impression, this gutteral yet melodic music may seem perplexing to the Western ear, but its inspiration from nature allows for universal appreciation. Oorzhak was raised in a small village in western Tuva, between Mongolia and Russia where “his only audience were the horses, sheep, and cows.” Oorzhak, who is also a shaman, healer, and teacher, explains that there is a clear connection between Throat Singing and nature. “Throat singing imitates the voices of animals, and sounds created are consonant to sounds of Universe. For me all these sounds are the rhythms of the whole one”.

We hope to see you at this amazing heart opening and healing musical event.

If you are inspired to learn Throat singing yourself, there will also be a Throat Singing workshop on November 19 & 20 at College of Santa Fe.

UnHun Website

-Keryn

Trick or Treat!

Wishing you a Happy Halloween and Dia de los Muertos! BODY hopes you are enjoying the festivities and the joys of the season. Remember that Body café has a variety of treats for take out or to enjoy right here in the café. From our chocolate love cups to our raw pumpkin pie (you won't believe it doesn't have pumpkin!), there truly is a sweet for everyone. There are no tricks inside of these treats, all ingredients are raw, nutritious, and are completely sugar free! We use agave nectar to sweeten our desserts. Come taste for yourself!

~Check out our menu ~

-Keryn

The Continuous Path of Going Green

I asked google what it means to be green. Up popped many articles coming from different sides and perspectives on what it meant to be green. Many of the articles had conflicting statements and none of them had a straight forward definition. My question is can we ever really be green? Can our entire society leave no foot print on the world? Can every thing we do be green? The best that I can find is that being green is more about an ongoing process. I do not think that one day you can just be green. We all must strive to do better each day. Take the car less, walk more; Recycle all your scrap paper, find ways to reduce your energy usage; Keep your water usage to a minimum; Keep your heat down and air conditioning up; Turn off computers and lights; Use Energy Star rated bulbs; and the list can go on. Going green is about a promise to the people in the community and the mother earth. It is not something you are. It is really about what you do each day.
I know that I may be repeating myself, but I guess we all need a reminder. When I get reminded then I want to pass it on to others as well. Each day we can get a little further to being green.
Kendra

(Unconditionally) Love your BODY

“When you stumble...make it part of the dance.”

Being human means facing imperfections. Struggling to attain perfection in one’s life will only create unhappiness and obsession.

With this in mind this weekend, I will try meditating on acceptance of imperfection, in myself and others. Besides, flaws to one person may be character and charm to the next! When you find that you are judging yourself, know that you have the ability to transform that negative thought into something positive. By accepting your own humanity and flaws, you will grow to truly understand the nature of compassion.

So don’t be so hard on yourself - In many ways, life is just a dance.

-Keryn

Salt of the Earth

Natural, organic food is always healthier than processed food, and apparently this fact is true all the way down to seasoning. Standard table salt, despite its pure appearance, is chemically processed, heated up to 1200 degrees, and may contain anti-caking agents. Conventional salt processing intends to remove impurities, however it removes healthy minerals and natural elements as well. Historically, salt has been an essential part of life, with uses ranging from food preservation to therapeutic bathing, but in contemporary times, it is better known for causing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Intense processing has turned salt, a natural whole food, into simply sodium chloride, which is hard on the body.

Replacing your table salt with naturally derived Himalayan crystal salt is a way to flavor your food and get 84 essential minerals and electrolytes that are lost in refined salt. Minerals are an important part of the body’s digestion, and electrolytes regulate the hydration of the body, blood pH, blood pressure, and are crucial for nerve and muscle function. Himalayan salt is mined from a source that has been underground for millions of years and thus protected from the pollutants that are found in today’s atmosphere. Find this flavorful, pure, Royal Himalayan Pink Crystal Salt in BODY’s food marketplace, or taste it in your meal the next time you’re eating in BODY Café. It is one of the many special ingredients that our cooks use in our food!

-Keryn

The Wonders of Cashmere!

Cashmere is comes from the neck of a cashmere goat. The highest quality cashmere has to be hand combed from the goat and cannot be cut or sheared, that is why cashmere is so expensive. Cashmere is collected during the spring molting season when the goats naturally shed their winter coat. The production of cashmere does not hurt the goats in anyway. Cashmere is one of the softest fabrics and can last for years when it is high quality. The hair from the goats neck is the highest quality cashmere and can be very expensive. Cheaper cashmere comes from the goats legs and back. The cheaper cashmere is more apt to pil and is not as warm. In the long run it worth paying the extra price for better cashmere, it will last for years, even decades. Another fantastic aspect of cashmere is that is can be hand washed in cold water. One of our wonderful lines is Qi Cashmere is a contemporary knitwear company that is sexy, chic and always modern. Qi creates new contemporary knitwear each season, with the use of imported yarns, cotton, cashmere, and cashmere blends. Their goal is to offer “Affordable Luxury”. Drop into body boutique to check out some of our beautiful cashmere and stay warm this winter! As our boutique buyer said, "Some women want diamonds, but all I want is cashmere!"

Seasonal Depression and the Blahs

With the clouds over hanging and the rain poring down, I was reminded of seasonal depression. Between 4 and 6 percent of the U.S. population suffers from SAD(Seasonal Affective Disorder) and 10 to 20 percent suffer from a more mild form of winter blues. Symptoms include fatigue, insomnia, decreased levels of energy, weight gain, increase in appetite, difficulty concentrating, depression, and increased desire to be alone. The symptoms of SAD are intense and begin at the end of fall and do not disappear until spring. It is a very serious disorder that often requires medical attention and light therapy, which has been found to reduce symptoms. The exact cause of this condition is not known. One theory is that with decreased exposure to sunlight in the winter, the biological clock that regulates mood, sleep, and hormones is delayed, running more slowly in winter. Exposure to light may reset the biological clock. SAD is diagnosed in women more often then men, but men's symptoms are often worse.

The winter blahs are not fun, but are not as severe as SAD. With winter blahs it is best to get yourself up and moving and do something that you enjoy. Get out, take a class, and get some exercise. Siting around in doors and being sedentary can very often make the blahs worse. Go hiking, skiing, sledding, try something you have never done before like yoga, nia, or dance.

Take of yourself over this long cold winter. Continue to exercise and eat right even though your body wants to hibernate. You'll feel better in the long run, suffer less blahs, and enjoy the winter more. If your blahs are on going or severe, get help. It could be something much more then the blahs, it could be Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The Adventurous Spa

One of the greatest pleasures of traveling is to visit a local spa to try the local treatments. Spas frequently feature treatments that reflect the region’s natural resources, and often will incorporate local beauty secrets into high end facials and body treatments. The goal of all of these spa trends is ultimately the same; to detoxify, rejuvenate, relax, improve skin texture, and of course beautify! But, as many of us spa lovers know, enjoying the unique processes of special spa treatments is equally important as the end result of glowing skin and relaxed muscles. The following spa treatments range from simply unconventional to intriguingly quirky. They truly make one question, how adventurous are you when it comes to beauty and therapeutic wellness?



When traveling to the Czech Republic, spa loving tourists flock to Chodovar brewery to indulge in their infamous herbal beer bath. Bathers soak for 20 minutes in a reinvigorating concoction of dark beer, mineral spring water, and a mixture of aromatic herbs. This luxurious bath comes with a free pint of Chodovar’s naturally brewed high quality beer!



If your next vacation takes you to Turkey, Malaysia, Japan, or Korea, your feet are in for a treat with a session at a Dr. Fish resort. Adventurous people in need of a pedicure remove their shoes and dip their tootsies into a tank full of Garra Rufa fish, also known as nibble fish. These tiny toothless fish feed on dead skin and calluses, giving feet an extremely effective (and painless) pedicure. The sensation of a Dr. Fish treatment is likened to a tingling machine.



In California, the trendy facial du jour comes straight from the sea in a protein rich caviar facial. This treatment boasts powerful antioxidants and ultra hydrating moisturizers that smooth fine lines, promote collagen production, and lift the skin. This facial’s power comes from the high mineral content naturally found in high quality caviar.



If you’re not planning a trip anytime soon, or you simple prefer a stay-cation instead of traveling, we have many special body treatments here at BODY. If you’d like to experience a locally derived treatment, try the Sedona Mud Bodywrap. This staff favorite will detoxify your entire body while reconnecting you to the healing properties of the Southwest.

- Keryn

Surviving the Holidays

With the holidays coming it is easy to get wrapped up in shopping, traveling on top of our normally busy schedules. I want to remind everyone to stop and take a break. Just take a few minutes a day for yourself, whether you go for a walk, take a yoga class, or go get yourself a spa treatment. When we get stressed out the holidays are not as enjoyable and they are a time for celebration. There is no need to drive yourself crazy. There is no such thing as a perfect holiday. But we can always enjoy them more when we are calm and relaxed. So don't forget to take time for yourself!

Kendra

Sattvic Sleep

A couple of nights ago, at 4am, I was woken up by my typically quiet dog, barking and growling into the night. Normally this wouldn’t bother me at all, but as I tried to fall back asleep, my mind began to move at lightening speed as I mentally went through every task I had planned for the day ahead of me. Ironically, the following day I was dragging in everything that I did, and my eyes closed at any chance they got.

Determined to prevent this from happening again, I did a little of detective work. I changed my sheets, fluffed my pillows, stayed away from caffeine & sugar all day long, and ate an early dinner. Suspecting it was exercise that my body & mind needed, I took a long uphill walk with my dog and then enjoyed a hot shower.

And then I got serious. I reopened a book I read a few years ago – Light on Life by B.K.S. Iyengar. The premise of this book is that health is earned specifically through sweat. Light on Life frequently elaborates upon the fact that yoga improves anatomical health equally as it helps psychological health. This is because the mind and body are essentially one, which simply must be aligned through yoga and mediation. Iyengar writes a long passage about sleep, and how it is time of renewal in sattvic sleep. This certainly was not the type of sleep I had the night before, and I was reminded that I could not pinpoint whether my restless sleep was a problem with my body or mind, because it was both.

Unfortunately, we all have experienced a night of restless sleep. Next time you experience one, I strongly recommend the Halasana Asana (Plough Pose) preceded by Salamba Sarvangasana. It really has given me a good night’s sleep. This pose calms the nerves, relieves tension in the neck and upper back, improves mental poise and mood, benefits the thyroid, and, of course, is a natural sleep aid. I only wish I had thought of it sooner!

1. Spread a folded blanket on the floor. Lie flat on your back with both legs and feet touching each other. Keep your palms facing the floor.

2. Exhale and bend knees over the chest. Press hands down on the floor and, with a swing, raise waist and hips.

3. Support hips with the hands and lift the trunk.

4. Raise hips and thighs further, supporting them with the back of your hands. From the shoulders to the knees, the body should be perpendicular to the floor.

5. Straighten legs towards the ceiling.

6. Stay in this position for two-three minutes. Gradually increase the duration to about seven-eight minutes.

7. Exhale. Bend the knees and gradually slide down buttocks and back. Release hands from the back and extend legs on the floor.

8. While exhaling, lower your legs over the head, one by one.

9. Inhale, then exhale, extending your legs over the head without bending them at the knees. Place toes on the floor.

10. Stretch arms on the floor in the direction opposite to the legs.

11. Interlock fingers and turn the wrists, so that thumbs rest on the floor. Tighten arms at the elbows. Extend them away from the shoulders. Also extend palms along with the fingers.

12. Stay in this position for about five minutes, breathing normally. Increase the duration gradually to about 15 minutes.

13. To come out of the posture, bend the legs, take the buttocks back, and slowly slide down, keeping palms alongside hips.

Wishing you sattvic sleep,

- Keryn

Throat Singers

CHIRGILCHIN MASTER THROAT SINGERS FROM TUVA
Saturday, October 4, 8 pm

CHIRGILCHIN is the cream of the crop of today's younger generation Tuvan throat singers and are the current champions of the Tuvan national throat singing competition.
This ancient tradition is kept alive (and kicking!) in just a few countries across Central Asia, south of Siberia. The best throat singers in the world come from Tuva, and the best throat singers in Tuva are the members of CHIRGILCHIN – and YOU will have the opportunity to experience them live in Santa Fe.
The three male singers and instrumentalists of this group are masters of their trade.
In throat singing, the singers create sounds from deep in the throat area which range from a lower, medium to a higher range. At times, one singer can create about 3 different sounds simultaneously with just one voice. While listening to a melodic tune, one can hear whistling tunes on top.
This art incorporates the culture and daily live of Tuvans. The Throat Singers will bring to life horses, rivers, wind blowing, the Stepps and other parts of their lives.
CHIRGILCHIN will not only use their voices but will also play traditional instruments. One of the members is a master instrument maker as well.

Let yourself be transported to the Tuvan Stepps through this live performance of these masters. A very special treat!!!

Kendra

Welcoming the Autumnal Equinox

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
- Albert Camus

Monday, September 22, marked the Autumnal equinox on the solar calendar. I have always thought of this day simply as the beginning of fall and the end of summer's festivities, but technically it refers to the exact time when the sun is directly above the Earth's equator. What does this mean for all of us in Santa Fe? Even more amazing sunsets! When the sun is in this position, the atmosphere refracts light; so, even when the upper limb of the Sun is below the horizon, its rays reach over the horizon to the ground.

This time of year is considered special in may of the world's cultures, and in many cases, is thought of as a time to move inward and begin to focus on introspection. But between the incredible fall sunsets and the colorful autumn leaves, I'm going to try to squeeze in a few more outdoor adventures to enjoy this extraordinary seasonal change before focusing on my inward journey. Below are a few fall festivals from around the world. How have you been celebrating the equinox?

Chuseok (Korea) - This 3 day celebration of good harvest entails visiting ones ancestral hometown to share a feast of traditional Korean food. Harvest crops are attributed to the blessing of ancestors and a variety of folk games are played.

Mabon (Paganism) - Celebrated on the Autumnal equinox, this pagan holiday is celebrated with a feast, similar to Thanksgiving. This is most likely of Welsh origin.

Mehregan (Zorastrian Iran) – This autumn festival is celebrated in honor of the divinity Mithra, who represents friendship, relationships, affection and love. Festivities include wearing new clothes and setting an elaborate, colorful table decorated with sweets, flowers, herbs, pomegranates, rose water, silver coins and marjoram. After a lunch feast, handfuls of wild marjoram, lotus and sugar plum seeds are thrown over each others heads while they embrace one another.

Sukkot (Hebrew) - During this seven day holiday, Jewish people build a temporary structure in which to eat their meals, entertain guests, relax, and even sleep. This holiday is intended to reflect God's benevolence in providing for all the Jews' needs in the desert.

- Keryn

A Commmunity of Eco

"Be gentle with the earth."- Dalai Lama

We all need our reminders. Some days we forget how fragile the earth is and how the little things that we do can make a drastic impact. I have to remind myself periodically not to through the can in the waste basket, but put it aside for recycling or do not through out paper. We can all have our days where we forget. Earth Day can not be the only day that we are reminded. Constant reminders will help everyone make better and healthier choices in their lives. Just remember this quote by the dali lama, maybe write it on a post it note and place it around your house and office to help everyone remember. - Kendra

Green Toys for Little Bodies

Parents have always wanted the best for their children, but today's generation of moms and dads are even more fastidious about how their little ones are being raised. The green movement has brought a new set of ideals into the mainstream, which, in a sense, is going back to the basics. From organic baby food to fair trade toys, parents have a lot of options in the path towards going green with kids.

Today's hot toys are not only fun and cute, but they are also made with organic materials from sustainable sources, and many times are handmade by companies that take big steps to invest in social responsibility. Plan Toys is a company that sets a perfect example of taking green ideals into action. These super cute toys are made from recycled rubberwood that is non chemically treated. The rubberwood is taken from trees that are no longer able to produce latex. Producers of latex usually burn the rubber wood at this point in a rubber tree's life cycle, but Plan Toys has found a way to re-purpose it into toys - a much happier destiny.

This adorable "Dancing Alligator" for toddlers is one of my favorite from Plan Toys. Not only is he green in more ways than one, he teaches several developmental lessons, such as eye-hand coordination, gross motor skills (such as running and walking while pulling), fine motor skills, creative development, imagination, and agility. Many of Plan Toys' products are meant to allow room for the child's imagination to be active, and are intended to be adapted into each individual's play-style.

Another completely organic toy company that deserves props is Miyim. For 30 years Miyim has been making completely organic plush toys. The materials all come from the finest raw cotton, and are colored with Miyim's own technology. Their adorable stuffed animals include a monkey, bear, bunny, elephant, and more. If I were a kid, this little guy would be on my wish list:

Baby George

If you want to come play with these toys, they live permanently in BODYKids with a variety of other toys from the same lines. BODY Boutique also offers a variety of organic toys for sale.

-Keryn

Men on the Mat

For anyone who missed my article in the Sun Monthly in June. I thought I would pass this on, Yoga is not just for women.

Yoga began more than 5,000 years ago as a religious endeavor for men. Fast-forward 5,000 years, and the Westernized view of yoga practice is that it is primarily a women’s activity, whereas the repetitive, quick and heavy process of gym going is generally identified as male. But the benefits of yoga for both genders are being more widely recognized, and more and more men are seeing yoga in a new light.

Our society has taught us that men should be muscular and strong. The answer to this is spending hours pumping iron focused on isolated muscle groups (biceps, quads, abs). Over time, this practice promotes strength by the flexing of bulk muscles, but the fact is, without supplemental forms of exercise (swimming, cardiovascular activities, even daily walks), many muscle groups never develop. To address this issue and for many other reasons yoga is a perfect supplement to any exercise and health regimen.
The benefits of yoga are impressive. It improves organ and respiratory function, reduces anxiety and back pain, promotes weight loss, improves sleep and has antiaging ability. Yoga has also been used to treat hypertension, prostrate issues, high heart rate and asthma. Athletes are even turning to yoga to improve their performance and prevent injuries. Superstars include the likes of Boston Celtic Kevin Garnett and former Los Angeles Lakers top scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the National Basketball Association, as well as Major League Baseball’s Barry Bonds. Even entire teams, such as the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants in the National Football League, practice yoga together; the list goes on.
I spoke with a man who had focused on the Western version of strength up until seven years ago, when he found himself stressed out and realized that his usual release, working out at the gym, was not helping to reduce his anxiety level. His wife suggested he come to yoga with her, and he has been practicing ever since. What he found was that yoga was far more challenging than he had imagined. His upper shoulder muscles had been trained for years to lift and to contract, not to relax and expand, as yoga does for muscles in addition to strengthening them. He says that although he still can’t touch his toes, he has learned how to better handle stress, has become more aware of his body, has more energy, and, coupled with his gym routine, is in the best shape of his life. Most importantly, he attributes his his new understanding the most essential part of living — his breath — to yoga. This practice allows time for deep focus on breath, relaxation and quieting the mind.
Another man, a newcomer to yoga, was very surprised by his experience and results. Walking in for first time, he expected there to be an ongoing competition about who could bend farther or hold a pose longer. He found instead that the students were there to focus on themselves and that egos had been checked at the door. “In two months’ time, I found myself opened up to feelings and emotions of which I was previously unaware, and many things I was holding on to were loosened.” Physically, he has found himself standing straighter, with tighter abs and more overall strength. He has chosen to include yoga once a week as part of his lifestyle.
Finding the right teacher and the right style of yoga may be the key to opening up a new part of yourself and finding strength. It’s important to find a teacher with whom you are really comfortable and a type of class that suits your style. For example, in the early stage of learning yoga, you may not want to be surrounded by a bunch of limber women with their legs around their ears. If you are too nervous to go to a class, try starting with a beginner’s video or book, and start with a few poses a day. You can gradually build yourself up to a more advanced workout until you feel comfortable enough to join a class. Here in Santa Fe, we have no shortage of excellent yoga instructors leading classes at all levels, at any given hour of the day. Namaste.

Oh, the wonderful urge to shop!

Happy Friday!
I wanted to share about all the new clothes the boutique has received in the last week or so. Who knew that sustainable and organic fashion could be so beautiful! We have come along way from just yoga pants. I was talking with our buyer the other day and she was sharing some of her requirements to pick companies to buy from: First she prefers things made in the U.S; The items must be organic and fair trade, No sweatshop companies!; and everything must be produced humanely. Did you know that cashmere is almost always organic and humane? Cashmere wool naturally repeals bugs so they do not need to be dipped in chemicals and because of how it grows it has to be hand combed and not sheared off the lambs. No wonder why it is so expensive, but it is such a wonderful fabric. Here are a few of our new items. - Kendra