From March 19 – 25, 2012 Yoga Flava in association with Creative Charkra Spa and Yoga Studio will participate in Wellness Week™, the centerpiece of a nationwide movement dedicated to helping Americans take charge of their health.
Aimed at making it easier and more affordable for Americans to make healthy choices, Wellness Week will highlight the wide range of wellness services available in local communities, as well as encourage consumers to take the Wellness Week Pledge, seven simple yet vital steps towards leading a healthier and happier life.
The retreat is customized so e-mail me to let me know you are interested and we will design a package that caters to your needs and your budget. robin@yogaflava.com
This winter has been a whirl wind for me. Filled with unexpected events and transitions that gave me reason to pause and recreate my New Year's resolutions. At this point, on the east coast, it has been a pretty mild winter. I started off the new year encouraging a lot of self care for winter wellness. With these remaining weeks of the season, here are some tips to wind down from winter before we prepare for spring. Continue to nurture yourself and fill up your inner strength so that you can be full to bloom into spring.
New Year’s resolutions for weight loss are mostly doomed to fail. Trying to lose weight in winter is the hardest, and most unnatural, time of year to reduce your calorie intake. The human body naturally tries to keep weight on in the winter as a survival technique.
Your body goes through seasonal changes just like trees, plants, and hibernating animals. The human body uses calories to keep us warm and naturally holds onto fat to help us weather the freezing weather. Since calories = heat = winter survival, eating gives your body the fuel it needs to protect itself from cold winds, frigid temperatures.
Limiting your calorie intake in the winter flips an invisible switch that triggers your body’s natural survival mechanisms to store fuel like a squirrel hiding nuts. The crazy part is, restricting your food intake starting January 1st can actually cause your body to create more fat storage.
So wait until springtime for a real cleansing and calorie restriction program. Honor your human nature and give your body the calories it needs to get through winter successfully.
February is a great time to recreate your Resolution about food, supplements and health: Decide to transform your menus into natural, real meals filled with whole foods and seasonal ingredients. Get acquainted with whole grains, beans, seasonal veggies from your area, nuts, seeds, and sea vegetables. Create a new habit of including whole grains, beans, and steamed leafy greens at least twice a day. Use the seasonal produce available in your area to bring balance and energy to your body while you remove the junky, processed, and packaged foods this winter.
By changing the quality of your meals, rather than focusing on the quantity of calories and restricting yourself during this season, you can create a total body transformation that will give you the energy you need to make big changes to your weight in the spring when cleansing and reducing is more appropriate. The cool thing is this: when you start shifting your foods to be natural and high-quality, your weight will slowly start reducing on its own! But not in a forced, deprivation style. You’ll get balanced. Your energy will be better. You’ll sleep better and have an easier time kicking caffeine and sugar cravings.
Imagine a future where you totally love yourself and have totally owned your power.
In order to be able to truly love another person, a person needs first to love oneself.
Give yourself space to take breaks every now and then. If you spend your time working, without paying attention to your health, it also means that you do not love yourself well enough to take care of your own body. Fill your time with silence, soothing music and visions of beauty; anything that nourishes your Soul.
"Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all" - R.I.P. Whitney Houston (1963 - 2012)
It is important that you strengthen yourself with proper nutrition and regular exercise. Your body is a temple and you should treat it with respect, love and care. It has been found that the lack of self love is often the root causes of conditions like eating disorders, obesity or even terminal diseases.
CELEBRITY YOGA INSTRUCTOR, ROBIN DOWNES OF YOGA FLAVA™
IS A PRESENTER FOR
YOGA RETREAT FOR WOMEN OF COLOR ™,
KIRPALU CENTER FOR YOGA & HEALTH
MA.
Robin Downes’Yoga Flava And Maya Breuer invite you to
“Stir Up The Pot, Bring On The Light”
May 4 – 6th 2012
WHO: Robin Downes, creator of the Yoga Flava ™ brand and one of the four presenters for YOGA RETREAT FOR WOMEN OF COLOR ™, Yoga Flava ™ (www.YogaFlava.com) is a Hatha Yoga based tasteful blend of ancient moves to contemporary grooves. Since 1996, Downes is Hollywood's certified Yoga Instructor to the stars (actress Vanessa Williams, Brandy, John Salley, actress LisaRaye McCoy and Hip-Hop Mogal Russell Simmons to name a few). The first African Caribbean American woman to have an internationally distributed video through Wal-Mart, entitled "Yoga Flava™ for Relaxation", Vol.1 . Essence Magazine recommended Robin Downes' Yoga Flava™ in the "2010 Wealth and Wellness" issue. Ms. Downes is also an Emmy™ Award winner and a featured blogger providing daily updates on health, wellness and spirituality and Yoga Flava™ TV for Elev8.com and the Interactive One Network.
Maya Breuer, E-RYT 500, the founder and director of the Yoga Retreat for Women of Color™ is a certified, senior Kripalu Yoga Teacher (www.mayabreuer.com)
The Yoga Retreat for Women of Color™ is a weekend retreat designed for women of color. In 1999 I had an epiphany that it was important for me to share the healing benefits of yoga and meditation with women of color.
This beautiful image connected with my spirit today. In my search for inspiration, creative power and healing - Bastet was introduced to me as a Goddess we can invoke to help balance our sacral chakra. She is the Egyptian who manages dancing, animals, freedom, humor, joy, magic, overcoming and playfulness. Her symbols include the pyramid, sun and moon and her totem is cat.
This is a very personal blog for me and I am sharing based on the insight from my meditation this morning. The meditation was specifically about laying hands on my pelvis which has been developing a large hard mass, after a recent doctor's exam she suggested the possibility of fibroids. I have a ultra sound scheduled for next week to clarify the diagnosis. I have begun to research solutions to cease the growth of fibroids.
Fibroids are a benign tumor of muscular and fibrous tissues, typically developing in the wall of the uterus. Metaphysically speaking - fibroids devolop in the Sacral Chakra (energy center just below the navel)
The Sacral Chakra is associated with Self Respect. When it is in balance we are fully able to express and feel our emotions, we feel happy and confident with who we are. An imbalance will first resonate as a tingle, ache or sensitivity in the sacral region. (Lower abdomen). If the issue is left unattended to, may lead on to more serious issues such as. Pre-menstrual syndrome, problems with menstrual flow, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis, testicular disease, prostatic disease, low back pain.
When our sacral chakra is balanced, we will have overall feelings of creativity and production.
ORANGE relates to the SACRAL chakra which is situated in the lower abdomen of the human body. Orange relates to self respect. Having the ability to give ourselves the freedom to be ourselves, to have and respect our own boundaries and therefore, be able to respect those of others. Orange relates to our ability to "give and take" within our relationships with others.
When this chakra is balanced the positive aspects of this colour will prevail. However, an imbalance in this chakra can produce the negative aspects of this colour.
So energetically speaking, fibroid tumors denote a tumorization process of old, negative, toxic thoughts, emotions, or feelings that are clumped together and proliferate. The more old, stale, toxic thoughts and emotions (hurts and pains) you embrace and hold on to in the heart and mind, the more your physical tumors below (womb area) proliferate. Again, “as above, so below.” Metaphysics!
Before a physical fibroid tumor can manifest, there is always an emotional, mental, and/or psychological fibroid tumor that consists of old hurts and wounds pertaining to:
RELATIONSHIPS (past mate(s) cheated on you; past mate(s) harmed, abused, and/or disrespected you; father or paternal guardian abandoned you, etc., which leads to feelings of mistrust of males, insecurity issues, etc.)
Sacral Chakra Exercises:This chakra is fed by developing support systems and boundaries. Taking responsibility for what is happening in your life and "owning" up to your downfalls. Feeding your creative side and taking care of your body. Chakracise your sacral chakra with pelvic thrusts and circular pelvis movements - Yoga Flava style - for sensual healing - check out this video - - -
This post is the manifestation of my creative power! Circumstances had recently slowed me down and from this point forward I will continue to enthusiastically strengthen and heal. The photo of the Egyptian Goddess (Pictured Above, Bastet)- reminded me of the Fierce Urban Goddess (Pictured below,Me)
2000 Robin Downes on the Yoga Flava Journey
When I look at this picture of me, over a decade ago, I see a confident, creative woman. Yes, I knew my breast were large (compared to the typical thin yoginis being promoted at the time) and I embraced all that I was at the moment - The journey continues - - -
In 2012, I am partnering with advertisers and sponsors who recognize the opportunity to cross-promote as we continue to bring you the Yoga Flava lifestyle brand. We are syndicating Yoga Flava TV through various major digital outlets. The blog, newsletter and web site YogaFlava.com continues to build an audience.
I’ve signed up for Blogads, which allows advertisers to order advertising here with just three clicks. You will be able to support this site by clicking over to my blog advertising form and
forwarding it to friends and colleagues who want to reach readers like you. The journey continues . . .
Sending positive vibes - Yoga Flava with Robin Downes
Robin Downes of Yoga Flava, ice skating at Bryant Park In NYC
1. Act enthusiastic and you'll be enthusiastic.
This is a quote from motivational author / speaker, Dale Carnegie. Cultivate a positive, optimistic attitude by examining where you're already enthusiastic. Meditate upon your current enthusiasm and positive spirits a few times a day. Over time, you should find your enthusiasm increasing.
Set your intentions and goals and then break down the action steps day by day and then hour by hour. I use my calendar in my phone to plan the segments of my day and get alerts that remind me to stay on course.
Sometimes, worry develops from simply not knowing what to do. In the age of "Google" - just google it - to find the answer to your problems. Otherwise, read a book on the subject, check out a video, attend a class, seminar or workshop. Keep seeking solutions to your questions / problems.
