POSITIVE Thursday

‎"When you are royalty, you walk different. It ain't about being arrogant. It's about knowing who you are." ~ Rev. Trunell Felde

Ever seen Queen Victoria act the fool? No, she's seen confident, dignified and strong (just to name a few). Her very presence eludes royalty.. and that's just the British Monarchy. But, we carry the very essence of royalty inherited from a King above all Kings. If we truly believe that God is our Father, and we are his children, then why not consider ourselves of a royal family? We may not live in palaces, segregated from the general public, but we can walk with royal integrity. We can discover our true inheritance made up of the fabric of our Savior. I'm jus say'n.

Have a wonderful and blessed POSITIVE Thursday (((+)))!

Fundamentals of Yoga

YOGA is usually defined as "union". Put simply, this refers to the process of the mind-body integration. However, yoga is also the set of practices that yogis use to achieve this integration.

Yoga as Union
Yoga is the integration of mind and body. You can think of this as a two-part process of self-integration. Internally, it is the union of your own physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual aspects. Yogis frequently refer to these as the four aspects of human self. Externally, it is your union with the rest of the universe.

Regardless of our philosophies of life or religion, most of us have had moments when everything becomes clear. For an instant, or more, you feel connected to everything and everything is o.k. We might call these moments of clarity, self-actualization, enlightenment or "aha" moments. They are moments of yoga. The actual practice of yoga exist to promote these experiences.

When you focus effort on mind-body integration, you acquire benefits such as..

It's good for your physical health

• Practically every one of your body's systems grows stronger from bringing mind and body together

It's good for your mental and emotional health

• You'll gain better understanding of yourself and you'll decrease your stress level

Your relationships will improve

• It's easier to deal with those difficult situations when you've got a better handle on what's going on inside you

Peace of mind will help you find your way in the world

• We all wonder sometimes if we're doing all we can with our lives. Unfortunately, there's no final answer, but easing doubts and worries for a few moments here and there can truly help you find direction

Here's what some people had to say..

Yoga teaches us to cure what need not endure and endure what cannot be cured. ~ B.K.S Iyengar

Sun salutations can energize and warm you, even on the darkest, coldest winter day. ~ Carol Krucoff

When the breath wanders the mind is also unsteady. But when the breath is calmed the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. Therefore, one should learn to control the breath. ~ Svatmarama, Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind. ~ Patanjali, translated from Sanskrit

So consider striking a 'sun salutation' and smile. Embrace the possibilities you can be offered.

Go Green

Green. Not only is it a color, which happens to be one of my favorites, it can be a way of living. Green can represent our concept to thinking, living, and eating. Our environment is affected by our personal impact and carbon footprint that we leave behind.

The carbon footprint is a way to measure the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, like carbon dioxide. Ultimately, it is a useful way for people to conceptualize their impact in contributing to global warming.

We have to take the time to think about ways to lighten our carbon footprint and preserve our planet from further damage. Our generations after us are inheriting mother Earth and need to enjoy it in its most natural form. There's a lapse between awareness and action. People will know what they should be doing, but they just don't do it, either because they are waiting for more information, trying to get their minds in the right place to commit, or have excuses as to why they'll wait until Monday, or after the holidays, or until some other vaguely reasons rather then begin making changes in their lives. But the state of the planet is now at a tipping point. The world is in crisis, and there are no excuses to sit on the sidelines anymore. Our current choices and behaviors are warming this planet, and you can do something now to have a significant impact on cutting your carbon footprint. THINK ABOUT THIS.

Put plan into action, take accountability for your personal footprint and live green. Some steps listed below to cut down your carbon footprint:

• become a sustainable shopper and use a cloth grocery bag when shopping. If you purchase few items opt to carry them in your personal bag instead of buying a plastic bag. Consider transportation and distance used for shopping when your items can also be conveniently sold in one general area, instead of traveling to get to a store that has that one item for sale.
  
• reduce, reuse, reuse, reuse some more... then recycle
• remove unused cords from the electrical socket and turn lights off when leaving the room
  
• make sure your appliances are energy efficient ho hum, sounds boring right? One of the biggest hotspot to determine a person's personal "footprint" is that household food storage and preparation account for 25-30% of the total carbon load of that food.
  
• eliminate overprocessed, overpackaged, oversized, nutritionally empty foods that are currently hogging up space in your fridge, pantry, and daily food jaunts. Replace these with sustainable, fresh whole, delicious foods that are much healthier for you and the planet. This will clear out a bunch of unnecessarily calories that are keeping you from moving towards ur personal best health.

Green eating is paramount to attaining a healthy clean body. Eating foods that have no labels, and is in its whole state can assure you will feel better, look better, and function better. You can replace flesh protein with green protein. Foods like lentils, split peas, black-eyed peas, beans, and tofu. Also nuts like walnuts, almonds, pistachios, peanuts, cashews, pecans, and soy nuts. These are nutrient powerhouses that are portable and last relatively long. They are considered high in protein, monounsaturated fats, fiber, potassium, vitamin E, and many trace minerals. They can also provide excellent source of Omega 3 EFA's that promote protection from free radical damage to a cellular level, promote better cognitive function, and provide anti-inflammatory benefits. Nuts and seeds are a winning combo of heart healthy fats and proteins that curb cravings and keep blood sugar and energy levels stable for hours.

It's not difficult to incorporate this ideas into practice. These steps can leave a lasting impact that you will benefit from immediately and consistently, and will impact others positively. Ready. Go!