Life is one big adventure
Yoga: A Life Changing Journey
Yoga is more than a practice, it’s a life-changing journey. Like life, the practice of yoga is not in a straight line. There are many twists, turns, emotions, & lessons that will present themselves as you embark on the yogic path.
You may experience joy & love wash over you in the middle of your flow as you {re} discover the meaning of ‘pure bliss’.
Or you may feel a deep sense of sadness, an emotional release, in the silence of Savasana. Surpressed emotions bubble to surface as you learn the art of surrender & letting go.
Through Yoga, you understand why the power of breath is important, not only to keep you alive but to aid in healing, both physically & mentally.
Yoga re-wires the nervous system. The stresses that once controlled you begin to loosen their grip. You realize only *you* have control over your life, and you’re powerful beyond belief.
Sometimes Yoga can feel hard & uncomfortable. These moments teach you resilience & perseverance, both on and off the mat. Your learn how to face discomfort, rather than instantly turn away from it.
Living in a society where we’re told to ‘stuff down’ our emotions, Yoga guides you towards vulnerability & speaking your truth.
The art of Yoga teaches you stillness. The term ‘inner awareness’ begins to make sense as you explore the depths of your subconscious.
You learn how to understand your body. Compassion & self-love begins to fill the spaces that might have once been clouded with self-discontentment, judgement & shame.
Through each asana you energetically ground as you spiritually awaken. This feeling is something that cannot be explained.
Yoga cracks your heart open to experience gratitude at its fullest - and gratitude for how far you’ve come.
It invites you to embody a state of flow, for the only thing constant in life is Change.
Each time to you step onto your mat, it represents a new beginning. A new awakening. A new opportunity to transform.
It’s difficult to put into words the affect that Yoga has had on my life over the last 12 years. And it’s an honor to have the opportunity to share this practice with others.
I AM a forever student as I mold, change and grow into new versions of {my} Self.
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA 🧘🏼♀️!
Interested in learning more about Yoga or Meditation? Schedule at free 15-minute wellness call with Nat!
#internationaldayofyoga
Self-Care, Mental Health, and Habits for Happiness
Self-care is not selfish — it’s actually an essential part of supporting your physical and mental health. While the term “self-care” may conjure up images of skincare appointments, bath bombs, and smoothie bowls, the breadth of self-care is so much more. Self-care encompasses a lot of basic but overlooked practices such as getting enough sleep, taking time to alleviate stress, and saying “no” to things you don’t want to do.
One of the best things you can do to jumpstart your self-care plan is to work with a wellness specialist like Natalie, founder of The Now With Nat. She offers services like mentorship and even corporate yoga to help you get in tune with your inner self and set the foundation for a mindset shift that will put you on a path to inner peace.
In addition to contacting Natalie for your 15-minute Connection Call, if you want to be more proactive about caring for your own mental health, try incorporating the following healthy habits into your day for a happier life.
Diet and Mental Health
It’s no secret that there’s a direct connection between the food you put into your body and the state of your mental health. Your diet affects the presence of healthy bacteria in your gut, and the more friendly microbes that thrive, the better you’ll feel. Specifically, L. helveticus, B. longum, and Lactobacillus are the microbes that act as mood boosters. It’s a good idea to become acquainted with these little guys, as well as other friendly microbes, so that you learn why they’re so important. If you’re not getting enough friendly bacteria for your gut, now’s the time to make changes to your diet—which could mean taking a supplement, adding in gut-friendly foods, and/or eliminating foods that harm your gut.
The problem with sticking to a healthy diet, of course, is finding the time to spend in the kitchen while juggling the rest of your daily responsibilities. While you can use expensive meal prep services to help keep you on a healthy track, something as simple as an electric pressure cooker can make sticking to a diet much easier.
Look to Natural Supplements
For many people, taking natural supplements is a great way to boost mental health, and there are a variety of options worth considering. Adaptogenic herbs are common supplements used to help with stress reduction. Some of the most popular herbs are rhodiola, ashwagandha and maca, to name a few, and you can find these supplements online. Another option gaining in popularity is CBD, which continues to show benefits for everything from stress reduction to help with anxiety, depression, inflammation and even epilepsy. Because CBD isn’t regulated, it’s important to choose brands that have been vetted for quality. Do your research to see what’s on the market when looking at oils, juices or edible options, and always talk to your doctor before taking anything.
Practice Mindfulness Meditation
It may surprise you that one of the best things you can do for your mental health is nothing at all. Well, that’s a bit misleading. Mindfulness meditation isn’t really nothing. In fact, a lot of people find that it takes a lot of work to get into their practice. However, the work is worth it. Meditation trains your brain to stay present in the moment. By sitting down and paying attention to where you are without distractions, you learn to accept and dismiss noisy thoughts and difficult emotions that otherwise distract you. When you do this regularly, the brain trains itself to do this even when you’re not meditating, which makes it easier to be mindful in your day-to-day life. Meditating also gives you the opportunity to set intentions and manifest positive energy, which helps you create the joyful life you desire.
Give Back to Others
One of the best ways to practice self-care is by being selfless and giving back to others. While donations are great, “giving” doesn’t necessarily mean handing over money. Volunteering and donating your time are far more effective way to cultivate happiness. Being a giving person and helping others activates the reward center of the brain, which makes you feel good. What’s more, it boosts your self-esteem and improves your relationships. Having a charitable mindset increases optimism and makes you feel empowered. Furthermore, giving back to others spurs people to pay it forward, which makes the world a happier and better place.
Ease Your Financial Stress
Last but not least, one way you can help ease the stress in your life is to get your finances under control. This can involve doing something along the lines of paying down your debt or learning about the ways you can safely refinance your mortgage, though each person’s financial situation is obviously different. If necessary, work with a financial advisor and come up with a budget that will help lessen the stress you feel in this area of your life.
If you want to improve your mental health and cultivate more joy in your life, start with self-care. While some of the best self-care practices are pretty basic, it’s also important to go a bit beyond with healthy habits that make you feel happier. A few simple changes can go a long way toward feeling like your best self.
Article written by guest writer: Brad Krause (Self Caring Info)
SCHEDULE A FREE WELLNESS CALLL WITH NAT!
“For everyone, well-being is a journey. The secret is committing to that journey & taking those first steps with hope and belief in yourself.” - Deepak Chopra
DOES MEDITATION WORK?
Meditation. A word that seems quite scary to most. A word that can make one feel uneasy, resistant, or even anxious.
Taking time to sit in silence? Quieting the mind? What does that even mean? As westerners, it is a concept that goes against everything we are taught. Since we are young, the majority of us are programmed to constantly work hard, that if we stop for one second, we are holding ourselves back from succeeding or reaching our goals.
While it is important to strive every day towards what we want to achieve, we must do so with a quiet mind. When we become still and go within, this is where we can accomplish anything we set our mind to. We break all of the barriers that might be holding us back - we diminish our limiting beliefs. We ease stress and our anxiety while enhancing our creativity.
Through meditation we unlock our potential to create an outcome we ultimately desire. We change our lives.
I can attest for this firsthand. When I was young, I was very competitive. I started competing in dance when I was eight, and by the time I was 11 I was a competitive gymnast. I was always go, go, go, and strived to always win. However, this completely changed for me one night in 1998, when I was around 11 years old. At this time I had joined a diving team and fell in love with the sport (I later ended all other sports to focus solely on diving). During this particular evening, my diving coach had us watch an old video about using visualization to succeed in sports. This was a complete game changer in my life (no pun intended!). The tape taught me how to tap into the power of visualization to achieve what I wanted, and how to create an outcome I desired – basically I learned the buzzword we hear everywhere today, Manifestation.
The video taught me how to go within and to always focus on the positive (never the negative) outcome when diving. I learned how to replay each dive in my mind over and over again, performing it perfectly. The video provided me with tools on how to not let my external environment affect me in any way, always knowing I had the power to be successful, no matter what anyone else tells me.
And you know what’s crazy? It worked.
From that moment on I trained my mind before each dive, taking time to visualize how I would perform. I started to see success with this technique and used the method in other aspects of my life.
When my visualization meditation was on, so was my diving. When I was mentally off, I did not perform well. I noticed a pattern and began to realize how powerful this new tool was. The funny thing – I did not even realize this was meditation. In fact, this was way before Yoga was even popular in the US.
Flash forward to 2012
…the year I discovered what we call “mindfulness” today. This was another pivotal time in my life. I began to read about the power of the mind and meditation, started practicing yoga religiously, and took an interest in studying metaphysics and the science behind shifting our subconscious.
During this spiritual awakening, I was encouraged to meditate by mentors and friends – but why? I thought it was impossible for me to sit in silence, and to go within. My mind was completely all over the place. Yoga had helped, but I definitely needed more guidance. That was the moment it all clicked with me. “I started meditating when I was 11 years old. And it worked!” I decided to give meditation a second chance. Soon sitting for 5 minutes turned into 10, which turned into 20. The benefits were crazy. I started to unlock creativity that felt dormant inside of me. I started to release stored emotions that were embedded in my subconscious that no longer served me. My sleep patterns improved, and my mind started to regain more clarity. I received “ah-ha!” moments more easily, and life seemed to flow better. My body and mind soon craved meditation, that quiet time where it is just me, myself, and I. The time where I tapped into my subconscious and created change.
While not always easy, meditation is extremely beneficial and life changing. I will say, like going to the gym, you might not see changes the first time or overnight. But with discipline and practice, your life will shift. You will start to see the world through different, more vibrant eyes. Meditation teaches you to live more in the moment, to enjoy the little things in life. The practice takes you back to what really matters – inner growth. It enhances compassion and joy by decreasing cortisol and other stress hormones within the body.
With that being said, I encourage you to listen to my podcast interview with The Global Travel Channel Podcast Show to hear more of my story and how meditation greatly changed my life. I offer some techniques and personal examples of how to meditate for the first time – meditation really is for everyone!
Thank you to the Global Travel Channel Podcast Show for having me. Please don’t hesitate to comment or reach out!
PODCAST EPISODE >> HERE
*Tune in this week to listen to my guided meditation*
REPROGRAMMING
At one point in time I was constantly feeling anxious, tired, and downright unhappy. After refusing to live another moment completely fear-based, I knew my mind had to go through some major reprogramming in order to shift me out of this “funk”. Through countless books, self-development workshops, yoga/meditation, energy healing classes, and googling all things spiritual (you name it!), life started to become a bit easier. Things slowly began working out - and in ways I never expected. Honestly, once I went within, life began to drastically change.
Though a lifelong process, I wanted to share some key principles that continue to help reprogram my mindset while cultivating positive growth.
Just take what rings true to you and discard the rest. I would love to hear your feedback and/or any advice you might have as well!
Everyone we meet is a mirror image of our being. If we are bothered by someone, they are reflecting back what needs to be healed within ourselves
We are ALL connected – every human, animal, plant, life-form on Earth
Everyone’s thoughts + actions affect the consciousness of the planet
We must be aware of any limiting beliefs. It can take a while to un-program old thought patterns that no longer serve us, but every ounce of effort leads us closer to enlightenment
The reason we are “here” is for soul growth
Money is energy
We all have a certain path and we are all meant to succeed (in our own way)
We are all uniquely programmed and exude different vibrations
Our energies are constantly shifting throughout our life time, and we attract what we put out in our energetic field
We have the ability to create a life we truly desire
Thoughts create our reality + what we perceive
Be aware of synchronicities (“meaningful coincidences”) - these are signs you are on the right path
We are responsible for how we feel
We hold the answers to everything in life - all we have to do is practice going within
It is crucial to align ourselves with others who respect and love us
Fear based friendships/relationships will only leave you feeling depleted + drained
Protect/clear your energy field + chakras daily
Practice meditation/yoga to help stay grounded
We always have two choices: love or fear
Change is the way to self-growth. Though messy and hard at times, the outcome is always for our highest good
Practice vulnerability
Show compassion to all
Take time to listen
Be true to you (authenticity)
The past and future do not exist
Seeing 11:11 repeatedly is a message that you are in alignment
Earth is one big school, take time to learn from others
The universe is always speaking to us, guiding us. We hear the answers when we are fully present
“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” - Carl Jung
LIVE LIFE IN THE NOW
Living Your Most Authentic Life.
The idea behind The Now With Nat came to me when I decided to shift my mindset from constant mind-chatter + rehashing my future, to making a conscious effort to live more in the present moment. From doing so, I started to notice positive changes and soon became aware of opportunities around me. I knew there was truth in this theory, and I was eager to discover more!
As a society, we are programmed to over think, over indulge, + over exude ourselves in every aspect of our lives. But what if we took a moment to just be content with where we are now, in this very instant? To trust that life was going to work out in our favor? I knew this challenging concept was essential for self growth. In order to be fully present I had to make changes that shifted my energy. This meant detaching myself from what has happened in the past and from what was “going” to happen in the future.
Easier said than done, right?!
Stress and anxiety are created from a busy mind recycling the same thoughts over and over - from replaying past, perhaps traumatic, experiences, and projecting a false future for ourselves that is simply not real. These forms of thinking create an energy that leaves us feeling “stuck” and confused as to why our lives are not quite moving in the direction we ultimately desire. Constant worry is a form of attachment which leads to living out of alignment. The more we live out of alignment, the more prone we are to ailments, depression and dis-ease.
What does living in the now mean?
To me, living in the now is non-resistance to all circumstances in our lives. It is a sense of trust that we must cultivate. It is a constant learning experience to become in alignment with our purpose. Ironically, by chasing life we start to feel less happy and more depressed, for “chasing” takes us out of the present moment, or living in the now. Our mind, body and soul crave moments to just BE. By BE-coming present, an energy within us changes, opening up a new wave of experiences + opportunities in our current reality.
So how do we live life in the now?
Living in the now is a lifelong practice, but there are many steps to take to begin the shift. For me, I start my day with a grounding technique. This can be done by practicing yoga, meditating, and/or journaling (to name a few!). This helps set the tone for the rest of the day. {Click here to read my previous post on how to ground.}
Living in the now is an awareness that this exact moment is all that exists. It is calming the mind and working every day to reprogram our thoughts. Our thoughts create our inner + outer reality, so it is important that our inner dialogue is as positive as possible. To live more presently, I use positive affirmations to change my outer circumstances. I highly recommend the book: You Can Heal Your Life by, Louise Hay - she has amazing affirmations you can implement in your day to day routine! {Click here for affirmation ideas to help you step into your ultimate power.}
Living in the now is not always easy, but crucial. By being conscious of our thoughts, and working day to day to make changes, you will start receiving new downloads, insights + ah-ha! moments that will positively steer your life in the direction you desire.
“The art of life is to live in the present moment.” - Emmet Fox
I would love to hear your feedback on any techniques that help you stay more present, and/or any stories on how shifting your perspective has changed your life. <3
MY 200H YTT EXPERIENCE IN BALI
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Yoga + Inner Transformation
If someone would have told me at the beginning of April what the month of May had in store, I simply would not have believed them. As fate would have it, I wound up receiving an opportunity to travel to Ubud, Bali to work while earning my 200-hour Yoga Teacher certification through the Shades of Yoga program at Taksu Spa.
Throughout my time in Bali, my experiences on and off the mat are quite hard to put into words. For one, the idea of participating in a Yoga Teacher Training can be scary, even daunting. The long hours, new faces, remembering the sequences, and thought of teaching a class is a bit intimidating. Off the mat, the foreign destination, new home/environment, and strong energy of Bali can create a massive shift in everyday life. Why are all of these concepts so scary? Because individually and collectively they all bring about change.
The definition of change means “to make or become different.” Like I discussed in a previous post, when we are settled in our daily routine, why would we want to incorporate change? Why would we want to personally be different? Why change your life and embark on a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in just 21 days? Simply put: because change can transform us in ways we have never imagined.
During the month of May, Yoga Teacher Training ushered in new energy to help explore aspects of myself I did not know existed. While I have been practicing yoga for eight years and in-depthly studying philosophy for six years, I felt my personal growth accelerate throughout the entire four weeks, which I credit to the Shades of Yoga program at Taksu. During the intensive training I was able to challenge my mind through new concepts and meditation techniques, and challenge my body through “correct” postures and alignment. These new changes to my daily routine soon started to transform my life.
My experience in Ubud, Bali at times felt emotional and uncomfortable, yet cleansing and liberating. From the second I arrived at my guest house (Kunang Kunang) to the moment I boarded the plane back to Chile, my life had gone through a transformation. Thinking back, I would not have had the opportunity for such growth if it were not for my time at Taksu with Shades of Yoga.
Before embarking on my new spiritual, yoga journey, I had a few days to settle in to the Balinese way of life. Ubud itself is a magical place. There is an array of delicious, healthy restaurants, a plethora of yoga studios, and different wellness spas on every corner. The small city itself radiates with high vibes and spirituality. The Balinese culture is rich, and the locals greatly value their traditional heritage. I immediately felt a strong sense of peace and acceptance upon arrival in this magical city.
After a few days of some relaxation from traveling, I was ready to begin my Shades of Yoga 200-hour Teacher Training course at Taksu. I must say, the venue is absolutely amazing. When I first walked into Taksu Spa, I was amidst a tranquil, tropical jungle, lush in nature. From the entrance, a small pathway leads straight to the Shades of Yoga Shala. The Shala is where my classmates and I spent the majority of our time, whether practicing yoga or engaged in lectures.
Monday through Saturday I made my way to Taksu Spa where the day began with 30 minutes of mediation, 30 minutes of pranayama breathing, and a one-hour asana class. After breaking for breakfast, the rest of the day was comprised of lectures, self-practices, and/or learning the sequences, always ending with a second one-hour yoga class.
The Shades of Yoga course is more than a teacher training, but a life course guide to living one’s highest potential. The program is designed to take you out of your comfort zone, providing the chance for all students to look deeper inside of themselves. In my experience with SOY, the regimented yoga and meditation practices began to release and uncover “blocks” or stuck energy I might have been holding on to, creating changes to how I think and feel. This process is cleansing, and causes life-lasting effects within your mind, body, and spirit. While change can be painful in the beginning, the benefits are astounding. I began to feel more “open” and my intuition became stronger. I even started to have “ah-ha!” moments to questions that have bogged my mind for quite some time. I really felt a strong shift in just four short weeks.
Not only did yoga and meditation accelerate my self-growth, but the lecture classes played an important key to my development of self-awareness and inner knowledge. The May students and I learned about the Ennegram Personality system, Yamas and Niyamas, Chakras, Spiritual Philosophies, and Anatomy (to name a few). Our group was also lucky enough to experience an hour long sound healing session. The Shades of Yoga program is extremely well-rounded, providing the students with the most top-notch teachers in the field. I felt humbled to have found a curriculum that tapped on so many different subjects. The program was also extremely supportive, providing one on one guidance and personalized attention to each person partaking in the course.
While the Shades of Yoga program is amazing in itself, the cherry on top was the serene, peaceful venue known as Tasku Spa. Taksu is not only home to SOY, but is both an exquisite restaurant and state of the art wellness center. Taksu offers an organic breakfast, lunch, and dinner made only with the finest, freshest ingredients. For Shades students, breakfast is included in the training, and I must say, this was one of my favorite parts of the program! After morning meditation and asana practice, we were given a one-hour break to indulge in the breakfast buffet. The Taksu breakfast included fresh, tropical fruit (my favorites were the papaya and dragon fruit!), granola, oatmeal, yogurt, spring rolls, sushi, coffee/tea, and an array of hot food (I definitely got hooked on the coconut yogurt). It was such a great perk to the teacher training.
Not only does Taksu Spa offer healthy, delicious meals, but top-quality spa services as well. During my time in Ubud I was lucky enough to experience the amenities and relaxing treatments Taksu Spa has to offer. For example, during lunch after a particularly physically challenging day, I was able to squeeze in a reflexology foot massage. Immediately after booking my appointment, I was lead down a cobblestone pathway to a tranquil spa house – all located right next to the Shala. Not only was the foot massage exactly what my body needed in that moment, but the session was conveniently located. During my two-hour lunch break I was able to decompress for a full hour, with time to spare to eat a healthy lunch outside at Taksu.
Aside from my reflexology treatment, I had the chance to decompress for two hours deep in the jungle for another rejuvenating spa service called The Royal Mandi Lulur. The Royal Mandi Lulur is a (highly) recommended treatment consisting of: aromatherapy Balinese massage, full body scrub, and soothing bath filled with fresh flowers. When I checked into Taksu Spa for my Royal Mandi Lulur appointment, I had the option to choose which aromatherapy scent and scrub I wanted for my treatment. From there, my masseuse lead me through the lush forest to my room – surrounded by the vibrant energy and the soft whispers of nature. Taksu is uniquely designed and sits on a small hill in the jungle. The walk to the spa is also quite beautiful. Throughout my treatment I truly felt like a queen! The staff was beyond friendly, attentive, and extremely professional, and the atmosphere gave me a sense of relaxation, peace, and ease.
With all of the changes my mind and body were experiencing, I felt extremely thankful that Taksu Spa is home to the Yoga Teacher Training venue. The space proved to be healing and nurturing, a great outlet for both myself and the other students.
As the Shades of Yoga Teacher Training came to an end, I realized how much I experienced in such a short amount of time. Life is comprised of one change after another, some external or internal, some changes we facilitate, some out of our control. Moving forward, how do we deal with these shifts when they arise? How can we release fear? How can we use change to our advantage? We must "let go" and learn to trust ourselves and know timing is always perfect. Change is the catalyst to growth, which facilitates positive transformation, which pushes us to living our divine potential. Without change, how would we reach our goals? Our dreams? How would we ever fulfill our heart’s (authentic) desires? We must believe in ourselves as we shift out of our mundane routine into a space that is foreign and new. I know for a fact that positive, yet uncomfortable, situations can lead to new friendships, better ways of living, and experiences not even imaginable. Opportunities we never thought possible all of a sudden come into fruition once we embrace change.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to deepen my insight and gather tools to use during day to day life. What a month of self transformation! Thanks to my time in Bali, I am a different person for the better.
Whether or not teacher training is YOUR calling, I hope that everyone reading this can welcome change with open arms. Buy the plane ticket, embark on that adventure, start a new project, or sign up for a 200-hour Y Your life is not in the past or future, but this exact moment. Now is always the perfect time, embrace it.
“IN THE END… We only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.” – Lewis Carroll
Officially 200-hour certified!
