February is the Month of Self Love!

Self Love comes in many forms and I am not suggestion that any one way is best! I have learned that my personal list of self love practices changes with the seasons and the time in my life. As I have studied Ayurveda ,the ancient science of life, the season can have an impact on how we nourish ourselves. Here is a list of practices that I am using throughout February to love myself.

1. Self Massage or Abhyanga is a wonderful practice this time of year. This practice is using warm oil like olive oil to apply all over the body, face and even hair. Leave the oil on for 10-20 minutes and then slide into a warm bath or shower off. I suggest not washing the oil off but allowing the warm water to open the pores in the skin and let the oil penetrate. The trick to removing it from the hair is to add conditioner just before rinsing the oil out and then wash the hair. Every time I use this I can't believe how full my hair looks and feels.

2. Eating Warm and nourishing foods throughout your day. Ayurveda has specific suggestions based on your energy (Prakriti) and imbalances (Vikriti). There are ways to learn about this and I will have more information on this to come in future posts. The main point is to have warm, fresh cooked nourishing foods. We are dry now in this cold month so dry foods will just add to the dryness felt in our digestive system and our skin, hair and nails. Adding warm oils while cooking foods like veggies and grains can help warm the body up from the inside out!

3. Starting your day with a hot cup of lemon water to rehydrate and clear out the channels of the body! If you take awhile to wake up or feel fuzzy or cloudy in the morning, this daily practice can do wonders for the mind and body.

4. Move the body- This time of year we are at our strongest in immunity and strength. Ayurveda refers to this strength as Bala. Our bodies crave movement and it is good for mental health, lowering our stress levels and keeping our weight at a healthy level. I am not going to tell you that yoga is the only way to move, that would be presumptuous of me. I will share that I love teaching yoga with individuals that enjoy coming together, holding space for each other and to meet themselves on the mat!

5. Quieting down the mind- This is an important one!!!! You can call it what you want, you can practice what works for you, but I will suggest that you learn tools to help you decompress on a daily basis. 1 to 2x a day can be powerful and for short amounts of time like 10-20 minutes at a time.

This Sunday February 6th from 9:30 am to 10:45 am Dora and I will be celebrating the month of self love with a slow flow yoga class including a sound bath, massage and meditation. We can't give all our secrets away before the class, but I will say there are some surprises for this month's session. This experience is open to new and existing students, spots are limited, and you can signup on the website now. If you have any questions please let me know through email or a text.

February's schedule for general classes is on the website and you can book your spot for classes. Class passes can be purchased in single class, 5 and 10 classes increments. First class is free with the exception of the Sound Bath Sunday Flows. Also remember that you can also cancel with being charged up to 24 hours.

There is no class on Thursday February 10th and Sunday 13th due to I need some sun on my face for a couple of days in Florida!!