despicable_me_2

“Lightbulb!”…Recognizing The Importance of Honoring Your Self!

despicable_me_2Have you ever felt not worthy?  Maybe you lacked Self-love or maybe you didn’t surround yourself with goodness at the time.  Who we surround ourselves with is who we become.  If we surround ourselves with downers we begin to feel down.  If we surround ourselves with happy, joyous, and delightful people we become more happy and joyful.  If we were to eat junk food every single day we would begin to feel down and ucky.  When we eat healthier we experience delight and Self-love.  Honor Your Self!  Surround yourself with goodness.   “The first step toward awareness is being willing to look at yourself and your life without judgment or self-criticism.” (Iyanla Vanzant)  Awareness opens the heart to new possibilities.

In “Despicable Me”, Gru was surrounded by downers. In the beginning, his only friends who seemed to laugh were the adorably playful Minions. His entire life he dishonored himself. As a young child, Gru was criticized, judged, and believed he wasn’t good enough. He was smart, bright and wanted to be accepted. Since Gru was constantly searching for acceptance from others he gravitated toward evil because he lacked Self Honor. Self- Awareness is key to peace! It opens the mind and the heart. When Gru met sisters, Margo, Edith, and Agnus his heart became brighter. He said, “Light bulb!” not knowing at that very moment his heart opened to new possibilities. His life was about to change in more ways than one….and for the good.

Gru – the main character was not grounded and did not surround himself with goodness. Let’s celebrate and help Gru honor himself while recognizing the importance of honoring ourselves as well.

The Minions – little guys full of laughter, huggable, and playful. They reminded Gru to smile.

Victor (a.k.a. “Vector) – The villan. He put all his energy into being evil and trying to make his daddy happy. Not himself! He too, lacked Self-love and Self-Awareness. In the end, he found himself alone.

The 3 Girls… Margo, the oldest was wise, Edith, the middle sister was curious, and Agnus, the youngest was cute, playful, full of imagination, and always happy.

Let’s hug into ourselves and honor who we are while shining bright and celebrating life. Let’s connect with our “Light bulb!” (Energy Circuit) Surround yourself with friends and lets celebrate the beauty of who we are. Connect with your breath while inhaling and exhaling. Deepen your breath in order to stimulate the energy created. Make a wish for yourself! Celebrate who you are. You are worthy! (Wake Up Mountain) Let’s wake up and smell the joy of life. Life is GOOOD! Stand tall, proud, and feel the earth below you, solid and feeling heavy. Pulling in positive energy. (Down Dog) Melt Your Heart! (Dolphin) Open yourself up and SMILE. Honor your strength and playfulness. (Lighten Up) despicable_meGround yourself into the truth of who you are. Become aware of who you are. (Fish) Lie on your back. Go with the flow…inhale, then exhale, softening your skin and opening your heart becoming more aware of the connection with all others surrounding you. Are you surrounded with goodness? (Take Out the Trash) This is a very powerful cleanser that makes you shine from the inside out. Inhaling and exhaling rapidly will help you take out the trash. Feel present! Honor Your Self in this breath cleansing pose. (Serious Crow Playful) In Serious Crow Playful let’s hug into ourselves, into our center, melting our hearts, squeezing together, shining BRIGHT! (Baby Got Back) Suddenly we all feel giddy, full of laughter and full of love. We are surrounded by Grace, by the love of our friends, our family. Spread your toes and pull in all that yummy, good for ya kind of energy, allowing it to flow through you. Make an imprint on the earth. (Mountain Range Laughter) Root your feet into the earth and rise up into your breath. Bring your hands to your mouth and smile with your imaginary harmonica. Bit by bit begin to laugh, slowly at first, but then go ahead and let loose. Allow yourself to let go. Lift your smile up to the great big sky and tilt your head back giving gratitude to all the joys which surround you. (Twist and Target) Gru said, “Light bulb!” when he first saw the 3 sisters, Margo, Edith, and Agnus outside of Vector’s home. They were selling cookies. What Gru did not know is when he had his “light bulb” moment he also opened his heart to new possibilities. Choose the color of your light bulb and let it SHINE. (I Am What I Am) That’s right! You are who you are and be proud of who you are. (Savasana) Take this time to tune in to your Self. Take this moment to honor your Self and be with your Self….breathing and resting peacefully….each time you breath allowing your light to shine more and more with each breath.

More to Explore

  • Namaste

    Namaste

    Said my young friend who wants a connection:
    “I wave. I shake hands, with no objection.
    No pain, no remorse, no one intervening
    a choice I make without much thought or meaning~”

    “…Is there a gesture that honors each other?
    That celebrates greeting sisters and brothers?
    Can you show me HOW to express happiness
    with social and spiritual significance?”

    YES, my dear friend, I can show you a mudra~
    a gesture of sorts, for kings, friends and sudras.
    Place hands together from fingers to wrists~
    like a knife, cut through difference that may exist.

    This immediately gets you to the shared ground~
    of ALL people, of all cultures, of all sound.
    It’s a recognition, a united force~
    that honors equality of all from the Source.

    Close your eyes and tune into your own inner light;
    your divine spark that forever burns bright.
    That’s the key, my dear friend, you must see your OWN
    in order to recognize others’ light shown.

    BLEND your five fingers of action on the left~
    with five fingers of knowledge on the right~
    to achieve the symbol of perfection
    the union of opposites; interconnection.
    FInd the Connection of your brain and your heart;
    your sun and your moon; your stop and your start.
    Marry together reason and emotion~
    unite thoughts and feelings, stillness and motion.

    Join positive and negative; hot and cold~
    theory with practice, silver with gold~
    Wisdom with Method, intellect with instinct~
    talent with genius, and feelings with think!

    Exhalation and inhalation, ,brain and heart~
    Align in harmony, right from the start!
    There is indeed no sphere of our existence
    untouched by the symbolic significance~

    of Namaste~

    Namaste

  • Snow White and the Seven Chakras

    dwarves
    (Inspired by Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra Chapter II, v. 42
    samtosad anuttamah sukhalabhah)

    From contentment,
    Highest happiness is obtained
    Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs
    Are invited to explain….

    Consider us each a chakra
    An energy gate of sorts
    That we open, clean and balance
    For optimal support.

    Work on passing through
    The seven chakras {or gates}
    In order to visit the underworld
    And ascend to blissful states.

    Let’s begin in MOUNTAIN with SLEEPY,
    Awaken abundant roots.
    Stand with both feet straight
    Ground heavy in your boots.

    Mountain SG1 big

    Each time you inhale,
    Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HERE.
    Each time you exhale,
    Root your feet a little deeper.

    Reach up high with outstretched hands
    FORWARD FOLD and touch the ground.
    Prepare to balance GRUMPY
    Who needs some healthy bounds.

    Forward Fold Orange

    Whenever you breathe in,
    Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL.
    Each time you breathe out,
    Circle your hips like a water wheel.

    Step your right foot back
    Into a STRAIGHT LEG LUNGE
    Here we balance DOPEY
    Soak up power, like a sponge.

    straight leg lunge yellow

    Each time you take breath in,
    Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO ACT.
    Each time you release breath out,
    Stretch your belly with great tact.

    Step your left foot back
    Press hips up into DOWNWARD DOG
    Open up to HAPPY
    Melt your heart free from smog.

    Down-Dog green

    Receive your in breath and
    Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO LOVE.
    Give your breath out
    Feel Unworthiness? Get RID of!

    Shift forward into PLANK
    So BASHFUL can get clear.
    Soften your throat back
    And open up your ears.

    Plank Blue

    Each time you breathe in
    Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK WORDS.
    Each time you breathe out
    Say, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD.

    Lower knees, chest and chin
    GRATITUDE for SNEEZY’s insight and vision.
    Draw back of eyes toward back of head
    To focus on decisions.

    Gratitude Indigo

    Each breath in
    Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEE.
    Each breath out
    Cross your eyes to a degree.

    Stretch your crown forward and up
    To balance DOC in SNAKE
    Straighten legs behind you,
    Connect to what’s awake.

    Snake Purple

    Each time you breathe in
    Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW
    Each time you breathe out
    Stretch from head to toe.

    Lower back down
    Prepare to pose in reverse
    Remember your rights
    Remember to immerse.

    SNAKE back to GRATITUDE
    Breathe into your poses
    Up PLANK to DOWN DOG
    Your rights are like roses.

    STRAIGHT LEG LUNGE to FORWARD FOLD
    And back up to MOUNTAIN
    Keep moving and grooving
    Till your rights flow like fountains.

    When we know our rights,
    And pass through chakra gates~
    We develop a sense of contentment
    And more deeply relate.

    Happiness is indeed obtainable.
    When we follow the path of contentment
    Accept the ups and the downs
    of our very own presentment.

    May we be content with GRUMPY work
    Or no work at all~
    DOPEY or HAPPY states
    BASHFUL or baseball.

    May we be content when SLEEPY
    Or wide awake~
    SNEEZY or Doc
    It’s our right~For Goodness Sake!

  • Going Grounded (not postal) at the Post Office

    bigstock_Local_Post_Office_61490We teach kids and teens how to find humor in every day life and how awareness leads to amusement in even the most mundane places. This event took place this morning and it’s what I taught in my Grounded class this afternoon. I shared the story, taught the poses and we had an awesome, authentic experience. The kids were inspired to write down their own personal stories and the poses that prepared them to handle real life with ease. They loved using the pose stickers to illustrate their writing. Find all the details about these poses and more in our box of 84 Grounded Elevator Series Pose Cards. Enjoy! 

  • A Sutra a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

    What are these sutras
    You speak so about?
    Are they stitches like sutures
    With some sort of clout?

    Good question, my friend~
    Why, yes, yes indeed,
    These sutras are potent
    In times of great need.

    In times of great need,
    And in times of great bliss,
    These highly condensed words
    Should not be dismissed.

    The most essential core thread,
    Of deep subtle meaning,
    That runs through the fabric~
    It supports out of gleanings.

    Gleanings of insights,
    And wisdom fused pearls~
    From the direct experience
    Of wise boys and girls.

    Sutras express so much
    In so very few words.
    With vast significance,
    It’s not for the birds.

    Sutras are formulas
    To be memorized and studied.
    To solve the perplexities~
    Of minds getting muddied.

    So chose your text wisely~
    Yoga, Shiva or Seuss,
    Buddhist, Tao, Platform,
    Tripitaka or Mother Goose.

    Then write them in BOLD~
    Where you’ll see them each day!
    Melt their magnificence
    In every which way.