AFFIRMATIONS & INNOVATIONS
Picture

The Art of Simplifying Your Life

3/25/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
Blog Autor: Emilia Wheaton
Blog Editor: Kristen Kennedy Smith

Less than a year ago, I resettled back to life in the United States after a three year hiatus in South America then Southeast Asia. I had accepted a volunteer opportunity with the Peace Corps--the chance to live and work in a rural Peruvian Andean community. When I left the US the summer after graduating from college, I anticipated a massive, earth shattering adjustment as I learned how to live without my American comforts: brunch on the weekends with friends, hot yoga with my favorite instructor, treating myself to a bath bomb and a glass of champagne (or really just even a hot shower), mornings spent perusing the shelves of the local bookstore, a cone of Ben and Jerry’s on a humid Vermont summer day. With all the excitement for my new adventure and lifestyle, I dreaded giving up the habits and items that made me feel comfortable and even greatly influenced my happiness (as I’d thought…)

Fast forward four years, and I now long for my days in Peru as a volunteer. Life was simple. Early mornings held plenty of time for a wake-up yoga flow and a hot cup of coffee (beans I’d roasted and ground myself). I changed from my pajamas into one of three or four outfits I rotated between and slipped on the same pair of sandals I wore every day. My possessions were minimal; I traded books with other volunteers in place of purchasing new copies, I went through about two bottles of shampoo and conditioner in two years (and zero bath bombs) only bathing once per week with lukewarm water I poured over my head from a plastic cup. Before the sun had fully stretched its morning rays over the community, my host family and I gathered grass to feed the guinea pigs and rabbits, stoked the wood burning stove to life, and had a pot of oatmeal rolling to a boil. Gathering around the wooden table in the thatched roof, dirt floor kitchen was as close as I was getting to Sunday brunch with the gals. And it was perfect. It’s not to say I didn’t wish sometimes that the oatmeal I ate five times per week weren’t eggs benedict with a mimosa on the side, but I came to accept the simplicity of my life, of their lives, and truly became accustomed to this bucolic lifestyle. Everything was simple and slow, noises were natural and soft, we moved without haste through our days and took it all in as we went. 

I believe that the changes and challenges of our lives serve to teach us lessons, to allow us time to practice the new behaviors and traits we wish to see in ourselves. It has been the challenge of my current chapter to duplicate the sense of inner peace that came so easily in Peru back her in the US. As mellow and laid-back was the lifestyle in Peru, I am finding the American lifestyle oppositely and equally hectic and frantic. When I stepped off the plane in the US last year, I returned with different lenses over my eyes and a reduced tolerance to the stimulus of the environment. My first challenge was to accept reality and not to resent it, not to constantly wish I were back in the place I had left, but to acknowledge the differences of then and now. I am now focusing on incorporating the simplistic aspects of my Peruvian life that had allowed me to focus on my self-development, inner peace and present-mindedness. 

What are those simplistic aspects, exactly? And how do I modify them for my current lifestyle? 
  1. Do I need to buy this? Consumerism is astounding to me. Really. Walking into big stores cues anxiety as I feel pulled in different directions to buy this product or that. Marketers really know what they’re doing and know how to convince us we want or even NEED something. And I’m totally susceptible to their persuasion. Initially, when I returned to the States completely broke off a volunteer’s meager compensation, it was a matter of “can I afford this?” which made the shopping game pretty easy, because the answer was almost always “no, you absolutely cannot.” But now that I’m a bit more financially secure, I usually can find a way to afford little things here and there. So now, my question is: “if I were moving across the country tomorrow, would I carefully pack this for the journey or would I debate throwing it away or feel it was a nuisance to take along with me?” Essentially, do I really need this? Will this item bring me joy or will it just clutter up the space in my life I am trying to simplify?
 
  1. Is this worth my mental/emotional energy? Just like choosing whether or not to buy an adorable throw pillow from a trendy boutique, we can choose how we respond to what’s going on around us. I’m confronted with these options every day; a driver cuts me off while driving, do I yell to their deaf ears and wave my middle finger or do I choose to smile, maybe turn up the tunes in my car and sing away some minor frustration? Granted, we can’t control our impulses 100% of the time, but I find that when I am more careful in selecting my responses, my relationships are more harmonious, my mood is lighter and life is just simpler.


  2. Am I making good use of my time? Right now, I’m trying out the 8-5 lifestyle on for size. I’m not sure it fits me just right but it’s what I’ve got for the moment and it’s how I’m getting by while I concoct my plans for the future. Often, I resent this schedule because it means only having about four hours every day in the evenings to squeeze in chores, walking my dog, self-care, exercise, keeping in touch with friends, hobbies, and quality time to spend with my partner. Gone are the days of slow and easy mornings blending into meaningful work alongside community partners and wrapping up the day doing chores outside with my family, with plenty of time in between to call up a friend and read a chapter or two of a good book. These days, I have to optimize my time with the goal of making it more meaningful and intentional. What are some ways you can squeeze in some tasks in down time throughout the day so that once you’re home you can take a deep breath in and feel some relief?


  3. What can I cut out of my days to create more time? This just boils down to discovering what is truly important to me. I have cut my time on social media down to fractions of what it once was, instead texting a loved one when I realize my hand is subconsciously drifting toward my phone. That interaction between a loved one has proven more fulfilling than scrolling aimlessly through Instagram. At work, I am given a full hour lunch break, which I could spend eating and lazing around the office, but I choose to squeeze in a little bit of exercise and take a walk around the block or will bring my yoga mat to do a quick flow in my office. Maybe this counteracts the idea of simplicity, cramming activities into every second of spare time, but this practice serves to make me feel more balanced, more accomplished, so when a moment of peace does present itself I can fully bask in it rather than focusing on the long list of tiny chores I set for myself.


  4. How can I be more present minded? When I feel life becoming hectic and I sense myself becoming frenzied and upset, I get ahead of myself and often let this sensation persist throughout the day. If I’m super unconscious of it, it becomes my base-state for days at a time until I realize “yikes, you are super grumpy.” and then try to snap out of it. However, it’s harder to snap out of a multi-day slump than to catch myself in the moment and change my focus to what is happening here and now. Maybe I’m driving home after work and I’m in a rush to grab some veggies for dinner, racing to make it home with enough daylight left to take the dog (who has been bored to death on the couch all day) to the park so we can both let off some steam. Instead of letting myself enter a frenzy, I can choose to simply focus on what is going on around me. Watch the drivers in the neighboring cars, admire the way the light is hitting the Santa Catalina Mountains, listen intently to each poetic word Trevor Hall sings just for my own listening ears. Living more presently clears worry and hurry from my mind, simplifies my mind, and allows me to feel more relaxed.

These techniques are imperative for me to stay not only sane but happy, productive and grateful for my life. Keeping it simple allows me to level up: to walk onward with a clear head, to push aside unwelcome stimuli and to focus on who and where I want to be. Keep it simple, folks.

​
1 Comment

A Dosha day keeps the doctor away…

3/18/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
Blog Author: Emilia Wheaton
Blog Editor: Kristen Kennedy Smith

​Photo Credit: @heymonicab on Instagram

Ayurvedic wisdom has a place in our diets, our physiology as well as in our daily routines! Based on Ayurvedic philosophy, the ebb and flow of the day corresponds to each unique Dosha. Depending on the hour, it is important to balance each Dosha’s influence on our body and minds. 

Wakeup: 6 am

Greeting the day before the sun rises allows us to wake during Vata time, when the air is fresh and pure. Rising with Vata energy allows us to get a clean start to the day. If we wait to wake during Kapha’s phase (after sunrise) we will wake to a more sluggish, slow, heavy morning energy. Start pushing back your wakeup time gradually to form a habit of awakening during Vata’s bright, airy hour.

Ayurvedic morning cleanse:
  • Drink a glass of warm lemon water to ready our digestive system for the day
  • Wash your face, brush teeth, do an oil pull and tongue scraping to enliven our senses right off the bat

Light exercise: 

Indulging in some morning stretches is the perfect way for our bodies to awaken. Vata morning hours are a great time for improving flexibility, releasing any creakiness left over from the stagnation of sleep, and to charge our bodies for a full day of chores ahead. Try grounding, stretching poses to set yourself up with a firm footing just as the day is beginning.

Breakfast: before 6am if possible

The first meal of the day should be a light one; though each Dosha is best fed with distinct foods, an Ayurvedic breakfast is typically warm or lukewarm in order to stoke the weak morning flames of our digestive fire. Breakfast time is Kapha time, so be sure not to agitate Kapha dosha with anything heavy or sugary. Aim for fresh fruit and oatmeal seasoned with warming spices, something light and stimulating.

Taking time to slowly orient ourselves during the mid-morning (Kapha time) is a good time for crossing small things off our lists, setting intentions for the day and preparing for the bulk of our productiving around the middle of the day, which is Pitta time. Pitta’s midday piece of the daily cycle is perfect for hard work, as Pitta is task-oriented, powerful and driven. 

Lunch: largest meal of the day (noon)

Our agni, or digestive flame, rises and intensifies as the sun peaks in the sky. Midday is the perfect time for the largest meal of the day, as our strong Pitta tummies are ready for the bulk of our nutrients to carry us through the most productive, active part of our daily routine. Since our digestive fire is so strong at this hour, it’s the best time of the day to eat meat, fish, or poultry. This is also the best time of day to eat raw foods, though these can be difficult to digest. Pay special attention to introduce cooling or neutral foods that won’t agitate our already hot, powerful digestion. 

Dinner: before 7pm

Eating at least three hours before bedtime allows enough time for our body to move through digestion, enough time for food to move completely through the stomach so as not to accumulate toxins. 

Calming nighttime routine, in bed by 11:

Kapha vibes rolls around again after sunset, the perfect time to wind down and soothe ourselves to eventual sleep. Nighttime meditation can help ease our minds as well as our sympathetic nervous system. Practice deep, slow breathing accompanied by meditative intention setting for a restful, healing sleep. A warm bath with lavender essential oils is another method of soothing our senses. Indulge in a temple and head massage, using warm oil in the traditional Ayurvedic way prepares our body to wind down and slip into deep, blissful sleep.

This routine matches the Doshas because we are pacifying Kapha by waking before 6am, pacifying Pitta by eating our largest meal when the sun is high at noon, and we are pacifying Vata by resting and restoring before bed. 

2 Comments

Chak...What?

3/9/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
Author: Emilia Wheaton
Editor: Kristen Kennedy Smith​
Maybe you’ve heard a yoga instructor say something like “raise your thumbs to meet your Ajna third eye center” or seen a Chakra balancing workshop advertized on Instagram and aren’t quite sure what everyone’s talking about when they mention the Chakras. Affirmations and Innovations is here to drop some basic Chakra knowledge.

First off, the word Chakra originates from a Sanskrit word meaning wheel. We can envision the Chakras as energy wheels that align along the spine. Each Chakra corresponds with a body position, a color, and emotional traits. Energy flows in and out of our Chakras, but energy can sometimes get stuck or be absent, leaving one or more Chakra depleted and weak. Fortunately, the more we know the better we can notice our body and mind’s signs to take care of our energy needs.

ROOT: Muladhara
Located at the base of our spine, the root chakra is associated with the basics, like security, money, home and survival. If there is a disruption in our lives causing us to lose security or groundedness we may physically perceive this root chakra imbalance as ankle or knee pain or we may experience fatigued or restless legs. Emotionally, an imbalanced root chakra feels like fear, overwhelm or worry. 

SACRUM: Svadhisthana
The sacral chakra sits among our hips and governs sexuality, suppressed emotion, frustration and a sense of feeling all the feels. Pain or discomfort in our sexual organs, lower back pain or tight hips or IT bands can signal an imbalance in our sacral chakra. An emotional imbalance feels like otherwise unexplained frustration or anger. 

SOLAR PLEXUS: yellow; Manipura
The solar plexus chakra is at our body’s center, right in the middle of our torso at our stomach and is associated with personal willpower, boundaries, confidence, excitement and anxiety. When energy flow to our solar plexus is disrupted, we can feel stomach aches, bloat and experience poor digestion. Emotionally, a disrupted solar plexus feels like anxiety, discomfort, doubt, or acting manipulative.

HEART: green; Anahata
Our heart chakra is associated with healing, love, care and compassion but when it is out of balance we may feel closed off, grief, sadness, depression, or fear of intimacy. Physically, an out of balance heart chakra can feel like a difficulty breathing, a tight chest, sore arms or wrists or general fatigue and illness. 

THROAT: blue; Vishuddha
Located at our neck, the throat chakra rules our ability to speak our truth and use our voice, to express ourselves genuinely and clearly. If energy running through our throat chakra is blocked we can feel a sore throat, cough, or produce phlegm and clear our throat constantly. Emotionally, an unbalanced throat can feel like suppression, disempowerment, inauthenticity or even a compulsion to tell lies.

THIRD EYE: indigo; Ajna
Posed in the center of our forehead, in between our eyebrows is the third eye chakra. It is associated with the pineal gland which regulates our sleep/wake cycles. It is associated with wisdom, foresight, spirituality and insight, which makes sense given it’s positioning near the optic nerves. If our third eye chakra is unbalanced, we can feel headaches and tired eyes or cause us trouble sleeping. An emotional third eye balance generates confusion, mental fog, lack of direction or feelings of being stuck without visions for one’s future.

CROWN: violet; Sahaswara
The last chakra positioned at the very top of our head or slightly above our head, where a crown would sit, is associated with thoughts, knowledge, understanding and our sense of presence. Physical imbalances will feel like migraines or tension headaches, fatigue, or sore temples. Emotional symptoms of an unbalanced crown can feel like overthinking, anxiety, close mindedness or urgency.

Knowing how to identify the ebb and flow of energy throughout our chakras can help us identify which chakras are open and balanced versus which are closed and blocked. These imbalances can be alleviated by practicing yoga, modifying our diet or receiving reiki. Give Episode 21 of The Old Soul Millennial Podcast a listen if you’d like to learn more about the chakras and ways to settle chakra imbalances.

Want even more Chakra knowledge drop?! Kristen offers an incredible webinar to help us uncover the truths behind the body’s 7 Chakras.

​
2 Comments

    Author

    About the Editor:
    Kristen is the owner of Affirmations & Innovations LLC. She is a Reiki Practitioner, Yoga Teacher, and Instructional Designer.

    Guest author Emilia Wheaton is an Nutritionist who served in the Peace Corps in Peru. where she gained extensive experience with blog writing and knowledge about holistic and traditional health modalities. 
    ​
    In this blog, "The Old Soul Millennial" they discuss ways to drop perfectionism and adopt self compassion with a holistic approach through Ayurveda, Lightwork and ModiYoga.

    Archives

    January 2021
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

     Subscribe in a reader

Picture
© 2021+ Affirmations & Innovations LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.