Saturday, February 21, 2015

Universal Love Notes From the Year of the Goat


Dear Everybody,



As we ring in the year of the Goat, and travel through the astrological sign of Pisces, I just wanted to say I love you. Did you hear me? Yes. I mean you. This universe is a magical and wondrous place, and as I write you this love note, I can feel into the beauty that you are. If you take a few moments each day to tap into the invisible thread that binds us together, and allow yourself to surrender to that supportive force of nature, you will feel it too. I am a goat, so I know from experience that these creatures are creative and loving, which sets the tone for the year.

We are surrounded by this dreamy universal love energy when in the pools of the sign of Pisces. Pisces rules creativity, dream time, poetry, film and dance. Astrologically speaking, we are also crashing into our final of seven squares that have been demanding radical and deep transformational change. We have each been asked to make transformational change collectively and individually since 2012 and will feel the reverberation of these aspects well into the Summer. During these "exciting times", it is wise to find ways to mellow out. I know that when I am feeling agitated or angry, it is due to my not taking the time and space I need for myself. Then I have much to give from that place. What if each being took responsibility and cared for themselves enough daily? From there, fill others with that same love. The key is to create space. Dancing and Yoga are highlighted, rather than gym workouts. Be sure to get plenty of rest, adhere to a diet that is high in water content such as fruits and vegetables. Meditation is effortless in the sea of Pisces energy, so now is an ideal time to begin a meditation practice.

Here are some ways to relax and let go: 



CALM powder at night. Magnesium will relax you into a dreamy sleep.

Meditation AM and PM. Press the reset button and listen for cues.

Legs Up Wall Pose. Forward bends will do the trick to relaxing your nervous system.

Rebounder. A great cardio activity will release excess tension. Rebounding is also great for the lymphatic system.

Paint, or find a creative activity like knitting that allows your brain to rest for a while.

Dance. Allow yourself to be fluid and expressive.


As we head into the Spring and the energy shifts, I have some exciting announcements upcoming about a Y28 mind-body makeover weight loss challenge beginning on March 25th. So stay tuned for that in the next couple of weeks. Or visit dietbet.com/mandy for a preview!

In the meantime, reset yourself and be in the love.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Break Your Own Rules

I have a confession to make. I'm an absolute task master. It's true, I'm a natural born disciplinarian. A self starter from way back in the day. It is not something that I learned, or forced myself to do. I was born this way. I make my own rules, and I always have. I came out of the womb a rule-maker. Nobody assigned me any rules to follow, but when there were guidelines I could latch on to, I loved to follow them. If there were no rules, I requested them. Mom and dad did not give me chores, so I suggested that my brother and I be assigned chores, and earn an allowance based on the work we did. Needless to say, my brother was not too thrilled about this set-up and my parents thought it was amusing. The rest is history.
I actually enjoy setting goals and following through to accomplishment. Here's a little secret though: I can get very rigid and follow rules simply for the sake of meeting the demand or hitting the mark. As I say about myself, I like to deliver. This can leave me feeling empty when I am enslaved to the very rules that I created in the first place. What once was a pleasure has become my duty, and I feel bound to it for no other reason than, I said I would. Well guess what else I am? A rule breaker. A beater of my own drum. A rebel and an inventor. Every so often, when I feel responsible to out dated ideas, or after an extended period of work work work, I like to tear off the shackles, and break away from the "same old."
For years, I can marry myself to set of habits or guidelines, and in a moment I can cut loose and run like the wind, away from my former life. Or I can stop and drop into a stillness that allows the swirl around me to slow and I get very simple and clear. I am in a renewal period like this right now. So I have released a lot of what binds me to a persona that I have, or an idea that I have of myself in order to rediscover who I am today, and who I am becoming. This includes stopping the same physical movements that I have been habitually doing and moving in other ways. Dance is the movement of choice for my break-away moment. Moving away from the same rigid and practiced asana into the more fluid and free form circular, and lateral movements of dance has been freeing and renewing. I have been unplugging from hot yoga practice, which I got into a habit of doing over the past year, and immersing myself into the elements by hiking in nature and taking my deep breaths there.
The point is: do something different!
If there is a lack of luster, or if you've lost the pep in your step, perhaps you need to break your own rules. What new movements can you make in order to embody a new aspect of yourself? What rituals and habits have lost their momentum? What new treasures can you find from within?
Have a beautiful and re-creative week!