After class my daughter told everyone that Final Savasana was her favorite pose. One of my other students let her know that she uses the same technique for falling asleep each night. This made my heart smile.
What is Final Savasana?
Final Savasana is the posture where we are expected to completely relax the body and meditate with the mind. Final Savasana (corpse pose) to some is the hardest part of their yoga practice. How do you stop your mind from thinking about the past or moving forward into the future? What are the benefits?
Practice, Practice, Practice. Consistency is key to meditation. Similar to riding a bike, speaking in front of an audience, and learning anything new, the more you practice, the more comfortable you will feel and the better you will become. Start a small meditation practice.
Go somewhere quiet, set a timer for 2-3 minutes. Get as physically comfortable
as possible and choose something to focus on. I recommend a mantra that makes you happy. Repeat that mantra over and over allowing it to consume your thoughts. If something else gets in the way, acknowledge it and come back to your mantra/meditation. In time, with practice, it will become easier with more focus and less distractions.
There are many benefits to meditation, I'm going to tell you my favorite eight.
My favorite eight benefits of meditation include:

1. Meditation reduces stress.
2. It improves concentration.
3. The practice increases self-awareness.
4. It slows aging.
5. The practice benefits cardiovascular and immune systems.
6. Lowers high blood pressure.
7. Lowers the levels of blood lactate, reducing anxiety attacks.
8. Increases serotonin production that improves mood and behavior increasing happiness.

Meditation in final Savasana can be your favorite, can be your most challenging pose and can be exactly what you need. How could a regular yoga and meditation practice improve your life? How can I help?
Namaste ~Barbara

Everyone keeps asking what I want for Christmas❤️ I want LOVE!! I want to share experiences, I want to make memories, I want to be around people who make my heart smile❤️ If you know someone who may be away from home, who may be a little out of touch with others, who needs some extra love, invite them in.... Show ❤️ LOVE... Our first Christmas in Maryland we were invited to a families home in Crofton, a family that we met from church. It was one of the MOST memorable experiences for me because we usually shared the Holidays with family only. It was then I realized we ALL have extended families, we ALL have the capability of sharing LOVE, and we ALL have the SAME basic need to feel LOVE & ACCEPTANCE.
​SHOW LOVE THIS HOLIDAY ❤️ We ALL need it❤️ Namaste 🙏🏼

Being Thankful is a practice. It's not something that simply is. We must be mindful to be thankful not only for the big things but for the things that we take for granted. Be thankful for the now. Be Thankful for each breath. Be thankful for family time. Be thankful for you❤️

Wow, its November already!! What is your intention for this month? Will you get your shopping done early this year and truly take the time to enjoy and appreciate your family? Slow down, set your priorities and let them be your focus❤️ Watch the leaves change, watch yourself change, watch everything change and enjoy❤️

"The only thing constant is change" We all go through changes, we all must learn how to best appreciate them. We struggle holding onto things, people, and experiences that we let the current moment slip away. When things are truly right, they are easy. Things flow, without thought, without force, without pain. Regardless of what outcome you may have in mind, things always have a way of working themselves out. Stop forcing. Stop trying to manipulate. Stop the internal fight that is afraid of change. A caterpillar becomes a butterfly. A tadpole becomes a frog. We all start from eggs.. We live in a world of constant change. Embrace the change and embrace the now. You deserve to become your own butterfly❤️ Namaste

Sometimes the now seems so difficult we want to move through it instead of with it. Things change, people change, events change. These things are all meant to change. Everything is meant to happen. It doesn't mean that what's happening doesn't hurt or doesn't burn to the core. It means that things happen.....that is all. We live, we breathe, we smile, we love. When the things/people we love are no longer in our lives we need to be thankful that they were. Thankful for the beauty of having someone or some feeling to miss. By accepting change and accepting the now we are able to move and change the way nature intended causing less friction, causing less sorrow, causing less pain then needs to be. We need to let go of the thought that yesterday was better. Was it? Was it really? Or was it simply different? Meditate/pray on these feelings. Acknowledge yesterday, be thankful and then let it go so you can appreciate today. What wil you actively be thankful for today? Mother Earth? Your family? Your friends? Pets? Find the joys in your life today and enjoy them now. Tomorrow this may change... Namaste

Life is a practice. Every day, every breath we are blessed with, we get another opportunity to make positive change. We practice being kind to others, communicating in a way that makes others feel good, doing things for others. How often do we practice things that benefit us directly while making positive change? How often do we let our guards down and self evaluate or self appreciate? We must be accepting of ourselves (truly get to know yourself from the core) in order to practice loving and taking care of ourselves. Only when we practice our own acceptance, and understand we are exactly who we need to be, can we start to accept others for who they truly are.. Namaste

To truly CHANGE and create change, you must know you will become uncomfortable. You must step out of your comfort zone, try new things, new techniques, and meet new people. You must be open to BOTH success and failure. Keep in mind failure brings success, but you must keep trying. You must sweat, you must work, you may even cry. Keep your focus on your goals and know not many get it right on the first try.... You may not get it right ever, but isn't trying worth it? How else will you ever learn, grow, be the real you? It's time. BECOME UNCOMFORTABLE

If the the only thing constant is change, why is change so hard? We all know we must change, we must grow, we must be who we need to be.
Sometimes New Years can be so exciting and so overwhelming at the same time!
How do we meet our New Years resolutions without making change? How do we get to where we want to be without sacrificing other things?
We don't...... The only thing constant is change....
Its hard to take a serious look at where we are and where we want to be.
​Take a break, take a breath, prioritize.... What is more important? Is money more important, is time more important, is sucess more important? 
As I get older, I want more.. I want more smiles, I want more hugs, I want more moments with family and friends... I will make the change this year, who is coming with me???