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Breathe in love, Exhale light!

4/28/2019

Beautiful humans,

The path of yoga is a constant invitation to begin again and start anew. Literally down to the smallest level of breath by breath moments. And sometimes that is what we need to get by... one breath at a time. When you feel lost, confused, overwhelmed, stressed, any low vibrating emotion, remember you are one breath away from getting back on your game. Simply pause to remember you are divine goodness and focus up your breath, heart, and mind on inhaling love and exhaling light. That is all. Try it right now.... INHALE LOVE- EXHALE LIGHT! Again & again & again until you can soften & settle.

The best part of this technique is you can do it anywhere, anytime, in front of anyone and no one will know you're doing it. If someone is in your physical or psychic space that is trying to hijack your positive vibes, put up your protective shield of all the goodness and breathe in love, exhale light. Not only will you stay centered in your integrity, your positive vibration, and intention of love & light, you can model for them a way of being they can be inspired to follow. The only way you can know if it works is to try; be willing to experiment with your own life. Let me know how it goes!

Check out the photos from Embody here in GR making our bodies spell out LOVE (w/ one group of "LUV") ! Showing up, coming together and using our physical forms to elevate our lives is a beautiful thing! Thanks to each of you who bent your body into the shape of love!

May our practice lead us on the path of life with love and light for all.

Namaste,
dana

Upcoming Events

May 1, 2019 in Grand Rapids, MI
Who: YOU and all your people!
What: Yoga & meditation with Dana
Where: Fountain Street Church Social Hall
When: Wed May 1- 6:30-8:00pm
Why: Shine bright like a diamond!
Ask: To serve your community 4+ hours/month

Community Events

Complimentary Yoga
Where: Lululemon Breton Village
When: Saturday, May 5 at 9:30-10:30am – FREE
What: Yoga for beginners with Dana & Zac

"You have to keep breaking your heart until it opens." – Rumi

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Meet Adam

4/22/2019

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Hi, my name is Adam Tijerina and I'd like to tell you all a brief story of my life associated with Dana & EmbodyGR.

As part of personal recovery, I volunteer with The Red Project. I particularly like helping during the annual Walk To Stop HIV, which is where Dana and I met. She was leading a yoga warm-up before the walk and invited me to join them that morning. This would unknowingly change my life forever.

I have remained clean and sober for almost 6 years and share the date with Dana's birthday!

When I began my yoga it was during a very dark period with anger issues concerning relationships with others, including family members. I have been able to come to considerable peace in this area of my life through regular association with individuals and groups such as EmbodyGR. This is a tremendous help, since now I know my family supports me again and the tribe "has my back," too! It really helps when Dana always says thank you to the group for doing the hardest part - showing up! Through her yoga, Dana helps everyone feel welcome and included.

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Practice Island Time

4/18/2019

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Hello beautiful humans,

Recently I was able to experience a 'real vacation' on a gorgeous island in the Bahamas... no work, no worries; a serious unplug & reboot experience. Day one of eight days, I was surprised it was a such a struggle for me to settle into the rhythm of island life. Looking back I think I had technology withdrawal. Instead of feeling calmed by the wind, water, and sand, I was challenged by my own monkey mind. Don't get me wrong, I jumped right in the water and embraced 'vacation' full force but it was not easy to let go & flow.

Day two I woke up feeling out of sorts, not knowing where I was and what do do next. So, I did what is comforting to me in the am...I made coffee and grabbed a book (it's a title I have picked up countless times and could never quite get into.) I knew I needed to read this particular book for some reason, so in the process of packing I took ONLY that one book which is highly unusual for me; I generally bring a mini-collection. Cracking open the book, I felt like I was cracking open my heart for the first time in a while. Why? I carved out sacred me time to read, reflect, journal & practice self-care, which has been pretty non-existent in my world as of late. As I began to dig in, the jewels of the text immediately began to present themselves as questions, challenges, & simple reminders that I needed to hear.

The lessons: Be the gatekeeper of all thoughts. Speak intentionally. Give generously. Enrich the inner & outer self. Fix life, business & the world by fixing YOURSELF. Touche!

So, what did I do as a result with my unsettled beingness?? I hauled myself & my friend Jen's meditation pillow down to the Carribean & sat in meditation. Full on seated pose, hands in chin mudra, prayer beads, mantra & timer with my journal at the ready. I pulled out all the stops and I sat. I closed my eyes, turned inside, and instantly softened; my breath welcomed me back home. The outer waves of the ocean lapping helped calm the tumultuous surface of my mind, allowing me to go deeper into myself, connecting to divine presence. I thought it was going to be a mental struggle like it often is after I get away from my daily meditation practice, but I was met with a sweet surprise of calm, grounding, and beauty. Ahhh... time slowed down. I was in the present moment without stress, worry, or thinking about what to do next. I was in a state of simply being.

Though I am no longer on the island, the vibe has gone with me. I remind myself anew each day to start intentionally, breathe deeply, pause in a mindful seat to set the platform of my day & reset my mindset & heart space. I make time to meditate again. Over and over again I must relearn that it isn't that I don't have time to meditate; it's that I don't experience real time until I meditate.

What is the prescription for meditation you may ask? This one always makes me laugh because it's so true... "You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes a day, unless you are too busy — then you should sit for an hour."

So now I invite you to close your eyes, take a deep breath in and out, fill your heart with gratitude, and experience the miracle that is your human & divine self. How does that feel? It is my hope that you continually feel better because the world needs us all on our "A-game" to do good in a world that has such great need.

Go in peace my friends. Shine your light & share your life. Until we see each other again...

Namaste,
Dana

Upcoming Events

April 17, 2019 in Grand Rapids, MI
Who: YOU and all your people!
What: Guest teacher Holly Haveman.
Where: Fountain Street Church Social Hall
When: Wed April 17- 6:30-8:00pm
Why: To feel better do good!
Ask: To serve your community 4+ hours/month

April 24, 2019 in Grand Rapids, MI
Who: YOU and all your people!
What: Yoga & meditation with Dana
Where: Fountain Street Church Social Hall
When: Wed April 24- 6:30-8:00pm
Why: Dig deep with yoga & meditation!
Ask: To serve your community 4+ hours/month

In West Michigan:
Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan – BeNice. Stomp Out Stigma Walk
May 18, 2019 at GVSU Campus
8:00am check in
8:30am speakers & yoga opening with EmbodyGR Founder & ED Dana Christian Lee
9:00am 5K walk
Join Team EmbodyGR to live out our "Feel Better DO Good" mantra

Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak. ~Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati

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Breathe in love, Exhale light!

Upcoming Events

Community Events

"You have to keep breaking your heart until it opens." – Rumi

Meet Adam

Practice Island Time

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