mindfullysavvy

Mindful Mondays: The Power Of The List

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Do your list of TO-DOs ever make you feel like this?

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I think the moment I realized I was doing this was when a friend of mine called me out. “There she goes, making her lists again…” It’s just what I do, and no matter how unorganized it may look – for the most part, these things actually do help me. Seeing it all in front of me and having the power to cross something off after it’s completed is my absolute favorite part.

But what happens when the list takes over your entire life? What happens when we become so enthralled in those tiny little pieces of paper?

Today, I’m asking you to ditch the to-do list.

Alright, alright. Don’t all go shrieking in horror and unfollow me. Take your to-do list for the week, or even the month and tack it on the fridge. Leave it in the open, where it doesn’t get lost. (or do, because God, do we love making lists!) But, it doesn’t leave the fridge – got it? (I know you just added a bunch of stuff to it because I told you that you couldn’t touch it… I’ll let it slide for now!). 

I want you to know and accept that you will NEVER get EVERYTHING done.

There will a l w a y s be something to do. Extinguish your guilt!

Now I want you to try condensing your to-do list; even if it’s just for today. Pick the top 3 things that absolutely HAVE to get done. Organize them in order of priority and do your best to get them done.

There is however, one small little catch;  b e    p r e s e n t ! In anything you do today, and especially from that list, take notice in what happens. Notice your frustrations and your advances. Notice your annoyances and your satisfactions. Notice the people you greet, the stress you feel and the relaxation that comes after.

At the end of the day, I want you to express gratitude to yourself for getting the things that you did done, and making a dent into your list. No matter how small, it’s still a dent. Be proud of that!  If there was something you just couldn’t get to; that’s okay. Add it to the top of the next day’s list. Don’t beat yourself up over it. The most important thing you can do is be present, and even if you didn’t get everything done; you were present.

Bottom line;

I know how important tasks and deadlines are. But they shouldn’t consume our entire life. If you’ve got to get something done – do it beautifully.

Mindful March: links and loves

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One of my favorite things to share here on the blog are the things that I am loving at the moment. I figured I would carry that concept over to Mindful March and share with you the places I've found true inspiration in not only creating this course, but diving deeper - and them some!

In researching for the content I’ve written to share with you throughout Mindful March I came across a website called The Mindful Morning by a blogger named Joanne Poon. Joanne has some GREAT Mindful content on her site! The thing that caught my eye, as I am sure will you is this Weekly Mindful Planner. If you sign up on her website you can download yours for free (in black and white AND color). I don’t use it every week, but during those times I’m really looking for some inspiration or a pick me up, I will bust this out and work my way through the week a little more mindfully.

Find The Mindful Morning here;

I also came across Mindful.org which has some pretty awesome meditation and practices centered around mindfulness.

The Little Book of Mindfulness has tons of amazing 10 minutes (or less) prompts to bring in a little more mindfulness to your life. I ordered a few of these to giveaway also throughout the month just to be able to share with you all. I’m loving that it’s pocket sized and I can take it anywhere for a little inspiration!

Speaking of books, The Mindfulness Coloring book is PERFECT for on the go. It’s a pocket size coloring book for adults with images to help support your life being less stressful. Throw this in your bag with a few colored pencils or markers and you’re set for a car, plane or train ride.

I am loving this sweater from Fat Girl Flow. It is the perfect warm & comfy oversized sweater to get me through the remainder of Spring and cool nights. I also can’t wait to wear it as we sit around the fire this summer. I found Corissa on Instagram and she has been nothing but a true inspiration! Her work against fat shaming and body acceptance is simply amazing and I am truly grateful to have such an amazing person to look to for support & motivation!

Find the sweater and her website here.

If you follow me on social media, it’s no surprise that my family has been loving Hello Fresh!

I’ll be posting an in depth review of our Hello Fresh experience soon! If you’re interested in trying, I’ve got a coupon code for $40 off of your first box!

Use the code HQNLTJ at checkout for $40 off of your first box!

This stuff works beautifully! I am truly fascinated by how this hides my ends and makes my hair soft and smooth! I WILL GROW MY HAIR OUT DAMNIT! ^_^

Meet my new HOLY GRAIL go-to eye palette. Usually by the weekend I’m craving something more bold and dramatic. BUT for those days where I need to look put together and am in a rush, this just makes sense. All the colors are so blendable!

THIS CD! (I know, I'm late to the party, don't judge!) Click to purchase!

THIS CD! (I know, I'm late to the party, don't judge!) Click to purchase!

I should probably warn you that this palette is for those ‘no make-up” makeup looks. You can get some smoke out of it, but not much! So if you’re looking for something that’s going to pack a punch; this isn’t it.

Using products from this brand of greatly improved the integrity of my hair! I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I am still so impressed!

This playlist on Spotify!

 

Crispy Chicken Parmigiana Salad; so tasty! Click for recipe!

Crispy Chicken Parmigiana Salad; so tasty! Click for recipe!

and last but not least; THIS CRISPY CAULIFLOWER RECIPE!

Practice Gratitude

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Gratitude meditations could very well be the most powerful and rewarding exercise that we can practice. The ability to develop an attitude of gratitude creates serenity, happiness and bliss. Experiencing a sense of gratitude makes us feel good and the art meditation helps us to a state of deep mindful relaxation.

You can choose to incorporate gratitude into your meditation, or prior to your meditation take a few moments of Pranayama (breath) as you visualize all of the things you are grateful for in life.

When you are ready, lie down in Savasana (corpse pose) or sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Allow your muscles to relax by tensing every muscle within your body and letting go. Feel a sense of relaxation wash all throughout your body.

Let go of your thoughts and begin your breathing exercise.  

Would you like to hear me  read this to you? Click here!

Become aware of your natural breath, become aware of your natural and spontaneous breath that moves in and out of your body without any effort. The natural breath that flows in through both nostrils. Notice the feeling of the breath as it comes in and out of your nostrils.

There is a sense of coolness as you inhale the breath. Follow this feeling into your nose, your sinuses, the back of your throat, into your lungs.

There is a sense of warmth as you exhale the breath. Feel this warmth on your upper lip as you breathe out.

Your natural breath flows through both nostrils during the inhale and exhale.

Allow this breath to become longer and slower. Take a long slow inhalation, followed by a longer slower exhalation.

Now make your exhale even slower – notice the slight pause after your exhale. Slow inhale, even slower exhale, and pause. Feel the urge to breath in bubble up inside of you. When you need to inhale, please do so making sure you take a long slow inhale, and a longer and slower exhale pausing after the exhale before you take in your next breath.

Please continue breathing this way for a few more breaths.

Now, go back to the natural easy breath; releasing any control over the inhale or the exhale.

Without any control over the breath, begin to visualize the things in life you are most thankful for. This could be a person, a place you visit frequently, or a material object. Simply focus your attention onto whatever pops up in your mind, and when you’re ready move on to the next. 

 

For more resources on Gratitude Meditations check out these websites;

http://www.gratefulness.org/resource/how-to-practice-gratitude/

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11776/5-yoga-meditation-techniques-to-help-you-practice-gratitude.html

 

Mindful March Collaborators: Meet Ganesha Yoga Chicago + Giveaway (closed)

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To understand what Ganesha is all about, you have to go back to the summer of 2008. Mindy wanted to become more active–a lonely task and difficult to stick to without support—and this was just the impetus that Jane needed to get back to some semblance of the person who long ago had run the Chicago Marathon. Holding each other accountable and laughing a whole lot along the way, they ran, rowed, and swam, but most importantly, they got back to yoga which they had both practiced intermittently since 2000. And the more they practiced yoga, the more they became believers in yoga’s ability to serve all people.

At Ganesha, both Mindy and Jane are in the 'business' of helping you find your yoga groove. They specialize in yoga for beginners, teaching vinyasa classes at a manageable pace and helping students challenge themselves without pushing to injury and frustration.

Ganesha is a laid back community where people know your name, you're encouraged to explore, and you'll never feel intimidated. Specialty classes include Ganesha Plus (for people carrying extra weight or who want a gentler class), Stiff Guy Yoga (sequenced for men, taught by men, geared towards gaining flexibility and balance), Ganesha Rx (a therapy class that improves range of motion and heals injuries), and Gentle Chair Yoga. 

They also offer workshops for students and trainings for teachers that delve deeper into adaptive yoga, yoga therapy and pose modification.

Additionally, they also offer private yoga sessions for both personal practice and yoga therapy.

Jane; pictured above in a photo taken while in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Jane; pictured above in a photo taken while in Dhaka, Bangladesh

In 2012 Jane Rossi Musgrave completed her 200 hour certification with Suddha Weixler of the Chicago Yoga Center. She is also certified to teach HeavyWeight Yoga, and has completed a 300 hour certification in yoga therapy with Joseph Le Page’s Integrative Yoga Therapy. She plans to start the full 800 hour training in the fall, as soon as she is done with her Masters in Human Nutrition from Eastern Michigan University.

 

 

 

Mindy Hanzlik is an E-RYT 500 Yoga Therapist who specializes in helping people who are sure they don't have a body built for yoga begin and grow their yoga practice. She believes there's no challenge that can't be beaten, no obstacle that can't be overcome, and if you apply yourself, not only will you succeed, but you can have a great time doing so.

Mindy; pictured above in a photo taken while at the beach in Sawyer, Michigan

Mindy; pictured above in a photo taken while at the beach in Sawyer, Michigan

As a teacher, her focus is on "plus size" yoga, and she is certified in HeavyWeight Yoga, Curvy Yoga and Big Yoga, with training in Somatics, Chair Yoga and Yoga for Osteopenia and Osteoporosis. She completed my E-RYT 500 Yoga Therapist certification through Integrative Yoga Therapy, and is currently pursuing her 800-hr certification, as well.

 

You can read more information about the wonderful power ladies behind Ganesha Yoga & Adventures in Fitness here.

Additionally, you can also find them on Facebook & Instagram by following the links below.

Each week Jane & Mindy will be sharing content they've created in Mudra Mondays where each week we will explore a new, mindful Mudra to practice.

To help you along in the process, they've so graciously offered to giveaway a copy of Mudras for Healing and Transformation Flash Card Set.

You may enter the giveaway below using the Rafflecopter prompt.