Kind is described in so many ways. At the least, it’s being gentle, caring, and helpful. Those are all conversations that come from the heart (depicted on this wall where we’re like the colorful hearts sending out messages of kindness). 💛🩵♥️💙🤍
Others feel your kind (and your kind kind) in your energy and overflow without you saying a word.
All you need is a sincere outward expression to show your non-verbal kindness.
A smile does this to make a warm first impression. 🙂 😀
Because when you’re an ambassador of sorts, represent an office, or have been in position longer than another newcomer, the newbie feels judged if they smile and you don’t smile back…
It doesn’t matter if the other has more years or experience than you if he/she just sat down after you in a shared new space…
And it doesn’t matter your mind was elsewhere or absent-minded when you looked at them once and again…
Your gift for the day could be a smile or a smile back.
If the other person feels unloved or unwelcomed in a place unfamiliar, that easily trips insecurities and an ego mind when meeting eye-to-eye.
The unwelcomed feeling other wonders:
“Am I not good enough?”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Do they not like me?”
“Does this person have a chip on their shoulder?”
“Do I avoid this person and keep my distance?”
They doubt themselves in some subconscious way… and then they also doubt you.
We live in a world of doubt already.
In their moments of doubt, the other person could remember you later for the wrong reasons even if it’s just a chance one-time meeting.
None are the loving and kind impressions or neutral interactions that were intended (where we need more love in this world). 💞
And when you smile greet to a newbie or stranger someone, they don’t remember you badly… or at all.
That’s the kind impression and peace we want to leave for most we encounter.
Be kind. 💕
…Going out of your way to be the smiling kind when you’re going out in the big wide world surroundings.
Going out is a leveling field.
We’re all just people with feelings inside.
Even those who don’t appear to care or are acting a bit nuts… and those on magazine covers or big platforms.
We only see snippets of people’s lives.
And we want to plant good karma in our travels.
Annddd a smile is a good way.
But most people don’t do it often.
And if it’s something you’re interested in trying more of…
It’s easy to build into your habits.
Practice by warming up your smile after your coffee and breakfast. As you’re getting dressed, exercise your face muscles as you look in the mirror. If putting lip balm on is a habit, you can do it again then.
And plant another smile before you exit your door. Leave your previous part of the day (and disappointing parts of the season you’re in) at the door.
If you’re a veteran to the places you’re entering or where you’re going on a certain day, be the one to smile first.
When eyes meet with others, turn the frown upside down to everyone who has done no immediate wrong.
This is your chance to show the world your kind side and a reminder that you’re sharing space with others.
You’ll feel better when you go back to your home realities… that you contributed to the world that day without even having to say a word.
…And even if you recently lost your job, have an ongoing health battle, and are dealing with financial or family problems.
Everyone has something or some thingsss in life they’re dealing with.
Not smiling when given opportunities doesn’t make those (in your life) better.
You free yourself when you enter the world smiling and those around you know none of this.
Play a little game with yourself, take your work-errand task list less seriously, and see how often you can offer your kind smile gesture first.
…For no other reason than so that others have no reason to doubt themselves and can feel good someone thought they were worth smiling at.
…and you gain more confidence (and feel less shy) if that’s what you need.
If a stranger beats us to the friendly smile first, be open to what the world is offering up in this encounter…
And kindly mirroring back…
That we matter.
And that we’re in this thing (Life) together.
Isn’t that the deepest connection and way to make impact in our fragile world?
Just by stepping outside.
…Of our comfort zones sometimes.
Where a kind smile requires little… and offers a lot not having to go far on our planet to give and make positive impact.
You and I can be the kind kind. And the world we cherish will be just fine.
Recuperate is something we’ve all done in life whether it’s from a difficult season, illness, or exhaustion.
…Recently I felt the effects of a move where I had to take a break to recuperate.
…And why you may have missed me during my short break.
Well, I’m glad I’m back.
And I feel good NOW.
But before and during my move, I was exhausted as moves are exhausting.
It felt like a hangover everyday!
Every muscle in my body was at work packing, planning, or moving something from one corner to another.
…Oh, and I have a tendency to love a basket, pair of socks, or a mug as much as my television or comfy pillows.
So, making decisions for moving my things took a lot of care, planning, and effort… that was well worth it when I found a place for them in my new home.
…Which btw,I know this move challenge and the need to recuperate feeling VERY well, as I’ve moved every couple of years and sometimes sooner.
I’m happy about that choice, so I can experience more and new places in this life.
And I wouldn’t be in my new happy place if I didn’t make those other moves.
That’s how you and I are similar.
Oh, and let’s be real, I know I won’t be doing this physical moving in my 70s and 80s… most of us won’t.
So losing a couple weeks while able is worth the time and effort.
The biggest tradeoff for me was giving up routines like blogging.
I had no creative ideas coming in and out as everything was focused on successfully moving.
…And that gave me a creative mind break.
So I’m glad I took that time off from my weekly posts. And I’m even more glad I came back (and hopefully you are too!). 😊
I mean, we’re not machines…
We’re not meant to keep doing something just because our ego pride tells us we have to be 100% all the time in whatever that pursuit is… or else we’re not good enough.
Who says?
Breaking self-imposed strongholds holding us back and keeping us stuck is satisfying, and telling the Imposter to take a hike is so gratifying!
And breaking have-to-do patterns is healthy!
If nothing else from the 2020 pandemic, that’s a lesson we all can embrace.
Amen? 😊
And taking recuperating breaks through life transitions is part of our life’s journey and daily joys.
Breaks allow us to let go and breathe in new energy and inspiration, grow, and discover what matters most to us!
In those ways, growth and discovery can be the best definition of success.
…Amen to that!
And that’s EXACTLY what the doctor ordered for me in my move!
…Plus indulging in a little coffee o’clock latte day break in my new town helped.
When I felt so completely out of it from exhaustion being on go-go-go physical moving action for over a week, I was nursed back to life through daily joys.
Because I was completely wiped out.
My discombobulation (…a word I almost never use 😎) happened mostly because of an unexpected last-minute broken elevator that changed my move plans.
Suddenly I found myself taking 52 steps for each up flight and 52 steps down flight (…but who’s counting anyway!? 😜). Plus all the stairs I was leaving behind.
Feeling the pain meant I was alive and determined!
…Oh, and my poor movers had to endure that for a day too.
They didn’t have the emotional mental toll I had. It’s not the same when you’re doing it for others and emotionally detached.
…But it can be physically as taxing as it was for me.
…All in all, I raked up thousands of moving steps that was probably more steps than I’ve taken in all the mountain hikes I’ve accrued… where 300 steps plus the mile up was the comme d’habitude (usual way).
I have my daily Apple points as my witness. ⌚️
The points overflowed… and I not only met the goal, I think I ran an extra marathon. 🎯
That kind of abundance can only be a blessing from above.
Because I now have more gratitude for what my body-mind can do. 💪
And that was training ground for spring mountain hikes.
…Btw, I’m wondering why isn’t there a race sport for climbing steps? ⛰️
The Summit CBS reality competition show (…did you see it?) comes closest to the physical challenge I felt.
But anyway and thankfully… physical was the deepest challenge felt as there were no weather hindering events, other than rescheduling from a storm… and there were no social obstacles to climb besides skipping social media.
I gave up most my routines besides work and my yoga mat (more on that below).
Because during the move and finding time to recuperate, I was lucky if I slept a few hours without interrupted sleep.
The mind-body knows when life is interrupted.
Calming the mind-body is how to get those routines and good feelings back.
And using routines to relax is how to recuperate faster.
RELAXING THE MIND-BODy
Unrest is often at the heart of why you can’t sleep… It’s NOT the lack of sleep hours, but the turmoil of change and stress happening inside your body.
So the sooner you can get to the routines, that helps the Vata (aka wind or change) in each of us and grounds the mind-body.
The body likes routine or predictability.
But the mind like a challenge to never be bored.
So during transitions like a move, let them duke it out 😊… as YOU the person grows and is healthier on the other side! 🫵
…Where sometimes you can’t see when the finger is pointing back atcha until you’re calm again.
And that’s what I went through to restore after the move and when the unpacking was finally over.
After I calmed my mind, I could use that to help recuperate my body where I still felt daily worn aches.
RECUPERATING THE BODY
And rolling out the yoga mat from Day One was a NO-BRAINER.
I was also ravishingly hungry (that’s par for the course as a Vata body).
And during this transition time, I was burning so many move calories every day.
…I couldn’t eat enough.
And I delighted in childhood foods like ramen noodles. And mixed it with plant-based adult foods like pea shoots and kohlrabi.
In my travels, I found my grocery stores (Aldi, Lidl, Whole Foods, and Harris Teeter to name a few).
And I found a walk-to farmers market.
…I mean, I couldn’t lose all the exercise I had just gained. 😊
…So I did a little of this and a little of that to get back to normal.
That was my way to recuperate and ease into my new post-move life.
And every time I had an idea for what to hang on my new home walls or rearrange into another drawer, I was putting my mind at ease and unleashing new ideas.
I was stirring up my creative juices again.
…And making fresh smoothies was part of that mix.
And of course, routine baking my way back to feeling like a human again.
There’s nothing like sweets that tell you you’re home! 🏠
Often we don’t consider the early wee hours as part of the morning.
If you wake up at 3 am and can’t fall back asleep easily, you can wisely use that awake time to think of solutions to your worry, and what’s on your mind or eating at you.
…But will you?
The ego can murky the waters instead of focusing on finding answers and reframing early awakening to the positive.
And if you can remind yourself of the positive way (as minutes can turn into an hour), then you create a special occasion healthy morning ritual that’s a personal growth reflection session.
Because unless it’s our job, we’re asked, or on relaxing vacations, most of don’t sit around during the busy day or waking hours to idly come up with creative solutions.
We’re focused with the task-at-hand.
But this little extra bit of carved out early morning time brings out ideas and may just be what you need.
And as far as losing sleep, it’s not as bad as it sounds.
Because the fact is you’ve already slept a few hours in the earlier part of the night (in Part 1 of your sleep), so your body has done its needed reset for survival for the next day.
In Part 2 of sleep in the morning, mostly you’re missing out on REM sleep or dreams.
And if you consider it, coming up with real-life solutions is more productive than meaningless dream movies.
So when you reframe your lack of sleep hours to productive self-time, your calm helps the day you’re entering.
…And often that is why busy, inspired people on a mission don’t need more than a few hours of sleep-a-night.
The last few morning hours are slightly optional.
It’s not a good regular sleep habit to get into, but sporadically or for a short season is not going to hurt you.
It’s like when you pull several all-nighters to cram for an exam or take a red-eye flight.
Because if you’re excited to wake up for a purpose, your enthusiasm or excitement makes up for the lack of total sleep hours.
…Ok, so now you can sleep better tonight even if you don’t get the 7-9 hours. 😊 🛌 💤
And below are some healthy reminders and yoga moves when the sun rises for your best day.
…So wake up, Sunshine! Rise and shine.
In the morning when you get out of bed, you use you mind-body muscles to get you up as part of the daily, morning human routine.
Sitting up and standing helps to clear your mind and passages that get stuffy from laying down in resting pose.
Morning is a great time to start deep breathing to clear the air waves for more oxygen… a natural way to get more immediate energy circulating. ⚡️
Eyes open, you can focus on the best morning light.
That will be the eastern exposure windows in your home or if you have indoor/outdoor living where you can step outside.
Be sure to let light into your eyes for at least 30 seconds to invigorate Vitamin D production.
Just think, you’re your own vitamin supplement factory. 🏭
[But remember, wearing blue glasses to protect eyes from digital screens and outdoor shades during the rest of the day is a good idea! 😎 Too much sunlight is not a good thing.]
In the morning with the naked eye when it’s not direct sunlight like it is at noon, you can see what’s happening in your natural environment while you enjoy your morning water, smoothie, or coffee beverage.
Scan and enjoy the horizon if you’re up early enough. 🌅
If you’re not naturally a morning person, creating good morning practices like these help to wake you up.
And if you’re prone to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) that’s typical in winter, healthy practices can be the game changer.
Women need more sleep than men and children need more sleep than adults, so that can help you be sympathetic to those sleepyheads still in bed while you’ve run circles around the neighborhood. 😊
Natural Kaphas also tend to be more tired than Pitta counterparts.
And Vatas are more inconsistent waking up at different times each day. It is a brand new day experience for these folks!
And for anyone, these tendencies can easily drift with a gradual seasonal imbalance.
You can get tips on how to restore your Ayurvedic imbalance with the body balance quiz.
Morning Yoga 🧘🏻♀️
Morning yoga for even 5-minutes is worth the effort!
Everyone has 5 minutes they can sneak in as a habit stack to a water or bathroom break.
Getting into Table Top pose and doing a few Cat/Cows can change your day because mostly your calm mood is improved.
With yoga, your Ayurvedic routine can include ginger and water or herbal tea that are good for the body.
Like finding gaps in the wee hours of the morning (if you’re awake), finding your regular morning imbalances and self-restoring is going to help your healthy, happy day.
One easy practice to do would be to use mood-feeling clues to discover what is dominant:
If you’re super tired or withdrawn, Kapha is dominant.
If you’re feeling hard charging or opinionated, Pitta is dominant.
If you’re feeling scattered or anxious, Vata is dominant.
And if you feel a little this-and-that throughout the day, know that Vata runs the show so restoring that energy first will do you good!
And restoring each mood as it appears will help you feel better than letting the hodge podge of feelings take over.
Welcome in the feelings and assess each one to restore separately is a good way to start the morning and invite in the day.
Do you need to calm from worry (Vata)? Are you thinking-feeling critical of others (Pitta)? Are you feeling disengaged or the needy opposite (also Kapha)?
Getting on your yoga mat to assess can change the trajectory of your day.
Deep breathing in and out on your mat is one helpful cure-all to help restore… calming anxiety/worry, lowering blood pressure, and breathing in oxygen for energy and love.
This is a good way to ease into the morning or Vinyasa flow to the next part of the day you’re called into.
And here’s a simple daily yoga morning practice that you can use and tweak up…
Do your standing Sun Salutations.
Rise up slowly and as controlled as you can like one spinal vertebrae at a time, into a standing Mountain pose position.
Then sit or lay down.
Feel and test your body for any kinks and tightness.
Cracking joint sounds are more common in the morning or sharp changes in temperature.
Seated, do a Seated Spinal Twist to see if your sides are tight. This was one we did as kids (…maybe, hoopla hooping or Sit-n-Spin twistering).
Check your back too.
Lay down. Do a Bridge pose. See if and where there’s tension in your bridge that you can restore.
Easy Yoga for Beginners
If you’re intimidated by the idea of yoga and doing poses wrong, don’t be…
I’ve been in morning yoga classes before where I would hear people say they’re “not good at yoga.”
Re-framing your yoga ability thoughts to encouraging messages help you and then you’re better at yoga!
It’s a good metaphor for being a lifelong learner.
We all start as yoga move beginners and each morning is a re-start, so your body feels different than the day before. You get to try something new.
Laying down flat on your back or Corpse pose is a fancy name for just being.
You’re connected or in union with yourself. 🔌
In a class, everyone is busy concentrating and looking at their own body parts and poses.
It’s a non-competitive, individual sport and pursuit.
You get a chance to look inward and see yourself like when you look in a mirror.
If you’re self-conscious, yoga can help you break away from judgmental feelings about yourself or others.
When I attended my first class I felt disassociated because I didn’t know what I was doing. And there was no home yoga back then…
But today years later, practicing yoga at home is accessible and can help give you the confidence you need.
Have fun with getting to know your body and mind as part of your you-uniqueness in the mind-body connection.
Trust the process of showing up and taking baby steps, and the rest will work itself out.
Having a morning yoga routine can reset your life balance and centering priority.
Bird yoga pose is one metaphor in life that can help you soar and help with your body balance, strength, and flexibility. It’s a healthy way to kick start your year. Learn what these poses are below. 🦅
More about this “crouching tiger” looking photo below 🐯
Today I’m gonna share how bird yoga pose (and actually 4 bird yoga poses) can help you get some of the tight kinks out.
Below I spend time on Pigeon Pose because I think it’s underrated for all the benefits (especially if your joints need some flexing).
And I believe everyone can use yoga no matter what profession we have or how active we are (as we tend to do repetitive actions that the body can get irritated with).
At some point, some part needs a stretch… and if you keep up with stretching, then the body cells remember the stretched feeling… and you don’t have to grease up the joints as much to get there.
I remember I took a season away from yoga at the beginning of my yoga journey and I thought I would have to start all over again.
I was surprised and happy to find that was not the case. I did lose muscle, but the time off actually restored certain smaller worn muscles. They appreciated the time off 😊
It’s like getting rest on the weekends. You probably need more self-care time than you initially think.
…Like if you take a few days off, your body kinda can unwind but isn’t totally relaxed. It’s ready to jump back into busyness, but that’s not good for your body.
And if you take a purposeful year off like I did to discover, travel, and recoup, you may sleep like a hibernating bear (and bypass a mid-life crises later on if that still exists).
You could call it a gap year or sabbatical.
Then once restored and feeling like a million bucks, your body wants to get back in action. And that brings more meaning and purpose to your life.
In contrast, ignoring the body can catch up with all of us at some point, but the good news is we have a chance to make healthy changes along the way.
When we’re in a busy season, carving out time to work out is hard work, and so many of us don’t get to do it, or we prefer to spend our time with other fun or catch-up activities.
Plus, how exciting is it to talk to others about your workout instead of a fun outing event you had?
…But like many good things for you, they are not exciting.
Like habits. But little by little (and in micro-habits) they make a difference… and the sooner you do them, the sooner they stick.
Yoga fitness is one (less intense) way you can do and stay consistent with fitness habits. 🧘🏻♀️
And if it’s important for you to check off working out for your week, consistent yoga could be your Savior… and you never know, could pivot you into other fitness areas as you discover more about your body.
You can do yoga anytime and anywhere without a change of clothing (or babysitter).
If I told you some of the unique places I did yoga, you’d probably laugh… like I did once on a cold, swept restaurant floor and on a busy, warm sanded beach…
Wearing stretchy pants, I even showed off my Bird of Paradise pose to my co-workers.
I found that adding fun challenges with step and move goals, kept me motivated. And keeping the eye on the prize helps… like staying energetically healthy as life progresses.
…I think we all want that in our lives so we can have a high-quality of life as our generations are living longer.
That’s where the bird yoga pose and poses I mention below can help. The poses can relax and stretch you (both body and mind).
And since none of us can fly on our own (at least not today), this is the closest we can get to being a bird. 😁
An inspirational bird yoga pose (that can be goals) could help encourage you to work on all or one of these core yoga areas: strength, flexibility, balance (holistic fitness), and body alignment because one side is usually tighter than another.
…Or, one slight tweak move in a muscle can be all you need for that nagging pain you or others have been complaining about in conversation.
Yoga isn’t a rigid practice (…it’s individualistic), so you can call it stretching if it’s less intimidating and can stretch your imagination to wanting to give it a GO.
The name of poses are really just to help you know which poses to get into, but your body and its needs are you-nique, so tweak the poses in a way that makes you feel good (and doesn’t hurt)!
In case you’re new or consider yourself a yoga beginner, yoga stretches should not give you a wincing pain or any agony where you’re biting your lip.
So that helps for you wanting to come back for more and to try all the bird poses!
…And if you’re not in alignment for certain poses (likes ones bearing the weight of certain body parts), you won’t necessarily feel the misalignment at the moment.
It could show up in a day or two, like when you work out with weights.
…So use good form in the pose moment.
Stretches should feel like you needed the stretch, and the longer you hold the stretch… the less tight it becomes, wearing off the tight kinks.
Of course, if you have any injuries, avoid those areas until they fully heal.
But other than those caveats, yoga can solve most daily and accumulated nagging sore muscle issues!
I’m living proof 😊
So with that encouragement, here are 4 inspirational bird yoga poses to work on and towards (and btw, you won’t end up on all 4’s even if you start out that way, so you can test out your flying ability just a little).
Crane Pose – is a good mat pose for building strength in arms
In this one, you’re supporting your body with your arms. Your feet start off on the floor and then lift off.
You want to be careful not to twist your wrists (the good form is keeping them straight on your mat and perpendicular to your matching left and right shoulders).
When I went through a short season where I stopped doing my arm exercises like push-ups, getting in a Crane pose was like starting over.
I had to build back the arm strength that this pose requires. Your body may feel that way or may not have those issues, but instead other ones in other areas.
Yoga is a journey and that’s what I think keeps it interesting. You’re always working on something.
For you, it could also be strength and/or a combination of flexibility and balance (or all of the above). We all start somewhere with our one and only body, so keep trying.
Pigeon Pose – is a floor or mat pose good for developing flexibility in the hip, legs, knees, and butt(ocks)
When you have tight quads or hips, this pose can help get you outta that quandary.
As with most yoga poses, there are many variations… and if you want to keep your arms and legs on the mat the whole time, that’s an option.
You want to find the body spots that are tight and sore and work on those. You can do this by moving around your pointed straight back leg after you get in the Pigeon Pose (that btw, your leg isn’t supporting the weight of other parts of your body so it’s OK to move it around in this pose if that doesn’t offer your body any pain).
Pigeon Pose can help with your largest muscle groups like your quads, your glutes (butt), plus the tight muscles surrounding your knees that you wouldn’t easily be able to get to in everyday positions.
We underestimate how much we need our knees to easily work to be mobile.
In Pigeon Pose, each side won’t necessarily be equal in terms of tightness and you’ll realize that quickly.
So give more attention to the side that needs the longer stretch.
The easiest way to get in this pose is to start in Downward Dog (your “V” with all 4’s planted) and then hinge your body and arms forward with one leg you want to have in front.
Then sit down on the mat focusing on squaring (aligned) hips to your shoulders.
The opposite leg will rest straight (not bent) back behind you with the top of your foot on the mat.
You should feel long and that can feel good in itself!
With this bird yoga pose, you can also work on opening your shoulders if you can reach back and grab your bent leg and foot.
This is a chance to look up to the ceiling or sky.
It’s a nice break for your neck.
If you regularly cook, clean floors, or work on a laptop on your lap, you may not realize how many hours you’re looking down all the time, and that hurts your neck that supports your head, brain, and reminder… your mind control center.
Well, when it’s put that way!…
But anyway…
In this active Pigeon Pose, there’s a good opportunity to look up (and restore your neck).
OK, this reminds me of movie theaters… have you ever sat in the front row of a movie theater? 🎭
I haven’t been to one in ages. But when I was a teen, movie theaters were often packed and we’d arrive later and not having a choice, had to sit in the front row just a few feet away from the big screen.
That felt like the worst movie scenario at the time. We had to crank our necks and gaze up for the entire movie.
Looking back now, we didn’t know the yoga neck-posture benefits we were deploying back then. You may remember me next time you’re at the movie theater 😉
So deploy that head up move in your active Pigeon Pose… or you can gracefully go into a more passive Swan Pose (like in the theater production Swan Lake). 🦢
This is almost like a resting child’s pose, but a great stretch all around as your arms are stretched long on the mat and your one leg behind you.
I love this bird yoga pose as you feel graceful as your body is stretched from one end of the mat to the other (maybe why ballerinas love it too).🩰
If you have tight quads or muscles you can’t seem to get to in your regular stretch routines, this pose can do the trick over time or days.
The longer you can hold the pose (like minutes at a time), the better the benefit. You feel the healing working when you ever so slightly move and the tightness eases up.
It feels good just talkin’ about it 😉
Here’s a Good Reminder!
Eagle pose – is a good standing balance bird yoga pose
On earth, eagles are harder to come by in the world. They were an endangered species and can fly higher than their prey and vultures.
That’s the meaning behind: “I can fly higher than an eagle” song verse in Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings” song.
This one takes a little body coordination memory. Just remember, the same side where one leg is lifted off the ground is the same side where the arm/elbow will wrap underneath the other. Don’t overthink it!
Then in union (the definition of yoga), the hands will meet.
When you’re in this pose, you feel good for being able to stand on one leg in balance… and you can do this anytime and during commercial breaks.
Or even in regular clothes, like this photo of me below where I’m in a dress wearing big costume jewelry ready to go to a holiday event, but still getting the benefits of my eagle here 🦅…
Eagle Pose
Bird of Paradise – is a pose that challenges flexibility, balance, and leg strength (…and isn’t a bird at all. It’s a tropical orange flower that could be found in this type of paradise environment at the Miami Botanical Center).
When you can do this Bird of Paradise pose, then you can be thinking you reached yoga paradise
The Bird of Paradise pose is a complete mind-body pose (and not one in awareness where I want to be wearing a dress without showing too much of my flower if ya know what I mean!). So you’ll just have to trust me here and give it a try yourself.😉
And if you want to know the mind-body mechanics of the bird yoga pose, I wrote a past blog post on this great mind challenge bird of paradise pose.
If you can do this pose, then you have a good shoulder opener, leg strength builder, and torso flexor, all-in-one.
Plus your mind will be stretched in a good way (focused and in the moment).
Just something to consider especially if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed and stuck in life… Bird of Paradise yoga pose can be a nice little goal to take your mind off for a brief moment.
You can change your outlook one bird yoga pose (and day) at a time… like I did being one with this Takahe bird (or blue hen if you prefer).
Orange coffee as in orange juice in the coffee is a powerful tasting combo. You may be scratching your head wondering how that odd combo is… that works unlike other citrus.
Below I share a couple orange photo inspiration as to what brought this on me…
And I understand if you need a ‘lil nudge because we’re used to separate cups and glasses for the two drinks.
Part of a popular American breakfast has both OJ and coffee.
But you gotta admit adding orange juice to your coffee sounds convenient (one less cup). ☕️
If you’re at a breakfast buffet, it’s one last cup you have to carry.
I’d say… also a smart idea that makes sense for boosting the immune system during holiday travel season… and calming anxious moods that oranges do. It’s good to carry one on ya!
Plus, orange 🍊 adds a nice flavor to your black coffee. Think of it like orange and chocolate or cocoa… another drink idea. 💭
Oranges brighten up your cup o’ joe choices.
And if you’re a Vata, you love the variety and oranges!
In a cup of coffee ☕️, the orange flavor comes through nicely… half orange (or at least 1/3) to half coffee makes it a brightened, pleasant taste…
The best way is with liquid orange juice you can freshly squeeze or mix with prepared juice. You can also use orange zest if you don’t mind the solid textures.
Those are the best ways for the zesty flavor punch to come through.
…Cold brew coffee has less acidity than regular brewed coffee ways. And fresh orange juice has less acidity than concentrated juices you would buy at the grocery stores.
If acidity is a concern, you can add spices like cinnamon and ginger to help tone down and counteract effects.
The caffeine in coffee btw is loaded with antioxidants that are good for not only quick cognitive reasons, but also improving heart health.
We all love that! ❤️🔥
And when you use fresh whole oranges, you bypass sugar added to processed orange juice from concentrate.
You get the Vitamin C and A antioxidants plus minerals and fiber.
Orange juice sales ramp up in the cooler winter months when people are thinking about ramping up on Vitamin C for cold and flu season.
And as helpful nature would have it, oranges are winter fruits.
That’s a great way to start the morning!
They support happy hormones and reducing stress hormones. Gotta love that too! 😀
Your choice of orange is based on your preference and where you are.
For a sweeter orange, you could select a blood orange, navel orange, or a Cara Cara orange.
You can also sometimes find oranges year-round depending on if there’s a good sunshine season.. That’s why Florida and California are the abundant king and queen orange states. ☀️
A Florida orange has thinner skin than California navel, and are more like Valencia oranges that are the most common kind internationally and around the world.
You can tell where you are located just by the oranges in the stores and trees. 🍊
…Like these Spanish ohh-ahh orange trees I saw. Can you imagine these fresh ones for breakfast?
I had my first Sevilla orange for the first time years ago and it was coffee life changing. That was one of the years I spent Thanksgiving overseas.
And then back home n the States, had Sevilla orange coffee that was inspired by my fun visit to Spain.
…So wake up, Sunshine! Rise and shine.
