Self-care Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Abundant Living Over Sadness Feelings

When I was a child, a birthday cake 🎂 like this put a BIG smile on my face.😀 I only needed a slice for joy, but appreciated the whole abundant cake! 🍰

Abundant thoughts can make the difference in sadness over a sad situation and then settle in as a positive new normal. This can be important because many of us know at least one person who is dealing with sadness.

Abundant living often gets confused for wealth and having things. It definitely could help, but then some of the most well-off people are sad too, sadly. So that tells us it’s deeper, and more about us.

…And doesn’t come from external material things.

…And since we’re all made from the same human fabric, we all can feel lack (and not abundance) at any time relative to our lives. We don’t live anyone else’s (similar to, we only know and live in our bodies).

So if we don’t stay grounded inside, we may not find our well and wealth of abundance, where our greatest happiness is.

In America where I live, celebrities have their place on the Red Carpet and I think that’s fantastic as actors put in long, hard hours in their craft providing entertainment for the rest of us…

Which btw, did you watch the movie event of the year this week… The Oscars?

…I always like to see dressy attire (I think that comes from my childhood because my mom was a dressmaker, so her clients sometimes brought and left their dreamy sequined gowns around👗).

…Plus, I love good movies (…you too?). 🎥

This year I have to say Lady Gaga stole the show in her raw performance where she took off her Hollywood-glam look she came in and put on a T-shirt, then sang her heart out with the Top Gun Maverick theme song (“Hold My Hand”).

Everyone has their opinion, but maybe it made her feel less glitzy and more empowered to share her gift with the world. 🙌🏻 And I could listen to her 🎶 in dressy hoopla or not.

…In any case, it happily drowned out last year’s lingering negative-energy fiasco involving emcee, Chris Rock

…Anyway, back in our reality lives, we can learn from and drown out our own negative energy that can creep in daily if not recognized.

That includes anger like in a Pitta imbalance, and also sadness that’s generally more Kapha, and another way to express our emotions for how we feel.

We learned emotions from a young age. And now as adults, if a sad situation creeps in 🙃, we’re equipped to handle and turn our frowns upside down better with a DO IT ANYWAY mantra.

…And this helps us, so we bounce back to our happier selves, quicker.

Here are some great DO IT ANYWAY ways for you, or someone you know going through tough or crisis times:

Practice self-care even when you don’t feel like it.

Don’t skip a day without a shower. I know for some that sounds sil-ly, but people who are sad because of a situation that occurred or who are lacking abundant feelings, let their sad feelings guide them and keep them down.

So a simple act like taking a shower or bath can be a big ordeal, for whatever reason. It helps remind any of us of self-care and how we’re relevant in this life.

And that’s one DO IT ANYWAY easy goal we can do.

In abundant countries, it’s easy to forget to cherish the abundance around us like the 4 basic needs (food, clothing, water, shelter), but if we stay grounded and grateful, we can do this daily no matter how we feel in the moment. And we don’t let a day slip by unnoticed because a day can easily slip gradually into a season.

And soft, pitter-patter water on the skin and being sensitized to the comforts around us can help us feel alive as thriving people again.

While the sadness feelings may linger and fade in and out, find a way to make the day brighter.

Add a warming mask to your face. Drink a warm cup of lovely tea. Shower yourself with few essential oil drops. These could be the reminders to take care of yourself (or loved ones for themselves). And the more you douse yourself in love, the more that can come back to you.

Because YOU are loved.

And the Universe shows this to all of us, if we observe.

An example of this is:

Water is ever-flowing. It’s recirculating. It’s abundant. There’s no lack of drinkable water in modern culture. There may be a temporary drought or local drinking water issues in certain areas, but bottled water is transported from abundant areas that have fresh, clean water. And we always have some choices in the matter in our relative abundant living.

Our bodies are mostly made of water so we are made for abundance. Lean in on this idea and maybe visit a natural waterfall or moving body of water, and feel this external power on you…so you can appreciate the simple needs of life that are provided.

And then in the abundant overflow, you can be the problem solver for your community or the world’s greater needs, that matter most to you and are called to. You rise up!

Remember, none of us can give what we don’t have. And the more you operate from a lens of abundant living, the more you can make good impact and contribution in this life.

…So, abundance is love. ❤️

Let that grow in you so that becomes more of who you become today and tomorrow. …And what you do with your time here.

The Parable of the Talents (you may know) is about how one person buried all their talents and so then they had none. When they used one, they got more. And that grew and became many.

That’s just how this abundant earth operates from the energy generated from above. And the more you pay attention to those phenomenal blessings, you can better invest efforts in those areas.

…And also focus on what you have to look forward to. No matter what our circumstances or limitations are, we can use that to our advantage if we can look out from the right lens that starts with our thinking minds and re-writing empowered thoughts.

Our minds are the muscles to grow ourselves and our abilities.

Some of the best things in this life don’t cost anything besides willingness.

Just being open to the world’s possibilities can free us up to get the best out of this life… because then we discover what’s impactfully good for us (and not just what’s busy in front of us) that’s going to affect the world around us too.

Growing up in an affluent, busy city metro area, I learned that being busy and prideful are enemies. Trying to “keep up with the Joneses” hurts us. And not doing anything meaningful in life is another extreme.

A better way is staying balanced, staying humble, active, and curious, and trying new things to help each of us grow.

And growth is our path to abundance. And if we take the DO IT ANYWAY mantra into our day, then we have a step forward.

We’ve all experienced times when we didn’t feel like doing a task or activity.

But once we got into it, we were okay.

And after you finished, you actually felt GOOD for making a contribution or accomplishment for the day. You were glad you did it anyway. 👏

So magnify those experiences in your remembrance, whenever you don’t feel like doing something that can help you grow. Because being productive (however that looks for you) and making accomplishments, gives us more of those healthy and happy hormones. That’s what I’m talking about! 🤸‍♀️

If you prefer, you can Spotify listen to this 6-minute audio snack bite.

Grow Self-Awareness For Your Happiness (Part 2 of 2)

Grow self-awareness to “believe in yourself” never grows old. That mantra can change your entire day and how you feel about yourself… and still be you, but better!

Be you and believe in yourself are good daily self-awareness mantras. — Be You and Believe in Yourself! 🪞And love yourself with chocolate heart cookies. A health conscious sweet cookie recipe below… 🧡

A few weeks ago, I published Part 1 (of this 2-part series) on using yoga meditation as a way to develop and grow self-awareness for your happiness. And the one thing yoga and your happiness have in common is self-love.

Think about this, you are loving on yourself when you’re focused inward (and in yoga pretzel bends 🥨).

…So first and foremost, love yourself first.

And if that’s what you’re doing, then that love energy radiates and carries over to the (and your) world that needs more light.

And know that the opposite of love is fear. (It’s not hate that can be usually what we’re constantly upset about).

And by knowing this, we can do something about it as we grow self-awareness.

Our ego is built-into our brain construction that serves up internal obscure thought messages to us every day in a “lizard brain” protection way. Triggers turn into threats in the subconscious ego mind and thrives in our dark area where self-love is missing.

So to grow, we want to bring back love to restore.

Ego fear shows up first in our thoughts, so we have a chance then to shut it down, walk away, change our thoughts, and replace with loving thoughts that grow self-awareness and our happiness.

And if anyone you know thinks they’re not affected, then their ego is definitely playing them every day.

As silly as it can sound to our ego minds, telling yourself and believing “I am loved” (or substitute with your fave loving mantra to build yourself up) will eventually kick out the ugly ego imposter ways.

And then you have a concrete go-to way that helps the next time. And you count on that there will be a next time whether it’s later in the day, week, or a few weeks away.

And if this ego idea is newer to you, think of ego as fear and how you feel when you’re scared in some way. Similarly, an unhealthy amount of ego shows up from time to time from some situational trigger, memory, or enemy forces (where ego stands for Edging God Out if you’re spiritual).

And know that ego fear is disguised on a platter to you in your subconscious thoughts, behaviors, and decisions. More serious is when it shows up in you, and that affects others in your actions if the thought is allowed to grow.

So, do yourself good…

Healthy Love yourself more… and stop the ego fear madness!

When you bring out the accumulated baggage in self-awareness that you’ve been carrying around already too long, let it go, and magnify self-love, then you’re on your merry way to personal happiness.

I wrote a special Valentine’s Day personal happiness article on self-love (the most important love relationship you can have, and that’s no hype!)… so, enjoy and I’ll leave you here with some tasty chocolate biscuits 🍪 for your own sweet inspo.

chocolate almond heart cookies recipe. Print Recipe

Chocolate Almond Hearts

Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Ingredients

1/3 cup melted coconut oil
1 egg, room temperature
1 tbsp honey (or maple syrup substitute)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups almond flour
2 tbsp coconut flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder (use 70% or higher dark cocoa for added antioxidants and nutrients)
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

Mix dry and wet ingredients together.
Refrigerate for about 15 minutes.
Roll out cookie dough. Add bench flour as needed.
Bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes.
Let cool and then dip in melted chocolate. Refrigerate.

27 Habit Tips for Your Wellness New Year

Happy New Year’s resolution practices are a concept of yesteryear, better replaced by a wellness new year.🌱

…And better formed habits (in my healthy list below).

But resolutions are still embraced by some as it’s commonly referred to around the world.

And for others of us, we’re open arms to big changes we want to make and a healthy world revolution to head into a better future world… oh, and to make up for the losses from the past few years.

And in light of the global events affecting us all over the past few years, our world needs more uplifting. We don’t need more challenges. We need a revelation. Amen?

And maybe for you (like me) starting goals in the coldest, winter months in the U.S. is not the easiest plan to stick to and would be preferred in warmer and summer months when we have higher serotonin levels and more natural Vitamin D sunshine.

…And, that’s a time when we’re more active, happier, and apt to make changes.

So, on that healthy intention, you want to set yourself up for success and feeling good for better mental health this wellness new year (…and that’s better than last year).

When you can show up as your Best Self, then you have a chance to make a better and bigger impact. Being healthy and happy matters. And even more so as parts of our lives have become initially harder to eventually make it easier (…I believe).

And I also believe that’s where our world is headed. We see this fueled faster by new technology 🚀 advancements and awareness-growing of the need to save our planet.

And that means some of the old ways we did daily life… and the resolutions we once hung our baseball caps on… will change.

But one area that won’t change and can stay traditionally evergreen 🌲 is a wellness new year plan that will help keep you going year-round and that you can count on consistently. If you show up, it’s available.

…And these natural pinecones (above) showed up in my view, which to me is one of nature’s beauties. It also serves a purpose where the cone protects the precious seeds inside.

This natural miracle hasn’t changed through generations.

And like traditional pinecones, if you want to embrace traditional resolutions, then go for it…

Isn’t the post-2020 famous saying?… You do you.

Either way, here I share some of my better health and wellness new year habit tips (…27 to be exact) that give you a better wellness new year list to practice, so you can better navigate this new emerging world of changes.

1. Drink more water naturally. When you jump up and down or run circles cardio-exercise, you naturally are thirsty

2. Improve your mind-body health

3. Gratitude keeps pride in-check

4. Eat a diverse variety of healthy foods

5. Work on daily body balance and yoga that helps in years to come

6. Improve your heart health with cardio and healthy cholesterol levels

7. Write daily (or find your daily creative practice)

8. Color your world with inspiring home and clothing choice colors

9. Learn something about yourself, deeper than you normally would

10. Start mornings eating a plant-based meal (...cool beans?)

11. Add more spices (and make your own punchy, hit-you-in-the-nose with anti-inflammatory gut clove spice blends like in holiday gingerbread or exotic Ras el Hanout spices with fennel, coriander, cinnamon, black pepper, and cloves.)

12. Do-it-anyway yoga (and any which way you can!)

13. Get enough amino acids (starting in the morning with your protein sources)

14. Put out a bowl of no-prep easy, healthy snacks (e.g. carrots, nuts, and apples)

15. Pause on feeling-frustrated and change the air you breathe by stepping away

16. Change your anxious tunes in the morning with calm breaths

17. Change your worry thoughts in the evening that stir up

18. Change your rainy-day moods with the environment around you

19. Change your negative thoughts at the gate so they build up and become your day

20. Scan the headlines and read one healthy growth article a day

21. Choose the recycling option even if takes just a ‘lil more effort as you’ll feel better you did for our planet…. and you can appreciate all the bean cans you consumed 😊

22. Remove some of the older digital overwhelm habits you no longer need

23. Spend a rainy day weekend organizing your belongings (and feel lighter afterward). Rock out to some good tunes while time melts away 🎶

24. Find your share-to-the-world message that’s part of what you do. This builds your self-worth and confidence as you get better at your talents

25. Prepare more plant-based meals. It’s easier to get veggies and lentils in if they’re cooked or ready-to-go, and in your kitchen. You could have a leftover dish for breakfast so your drinking coffee has a happy landing

26. Spend time in nature. You get out of your busy life and into the busy bees doing theirs 🐝

27. Embrace the neti pot. This is what our new world can be all about… clearing out the old stuck mess, and bringing in fresh ideas that work for us. We need the new. And happy new year! 🎉

If you want to see what your body is trying to say to about the balance it needs, take the Body Balance Quiz (…and if you already did it last season, do it again this season as our bodies are always changing. 🧘🏻‍♀️)

Self Love Quotes for 30 Days

Self love quotes and thoughts are one way we can count on to feel-good daily.

You are loved.

…Btw, how are you inside these days?

Because life is more than our situations and what appears on the outside.

Bringing in joy is what can keep us going.

And self love quotes can get you through and growing.

These days, I’m counting down the days with Advent chocolates and tear and share healthy-inspired Greek yogurt brunch recipes enhances life… (brunch is my favorite meal 😊 that comes from a decade of planning parties).

…And the holidays aren’t over yet, but a New Year can be exciting, relaxing, or a stressful time…

I hope and choose for the former every time… and I bet you do too.

One thing that we all wonder about is what a new year will bring.

And besides putting out a spread of healthy baked sweets, I’m working on cranking out a New Year’s List ✍️ of healthy mind-body tips that’s growing daily… and should be ready next time (on this blog) after I bake my 4th batch of healthy gingerbread cookies.🫚

…And before January 6th (that’s Epiphany Day with a capital “E”) that’s meant to be a hope-filled day, that somehow got erased by an unrestful Capitol political news headline.

I grew up in the DC metro area so it’s close to home.

I had to work hard to find peace amongst chaos.

That what I now value most. There’s no price you can put on calm and peace. It adds years to your life.

And we’re built with these calm, loving ways inside us.

And we can find in our daily quiet time.

Yoga is one of my ways.

And in your way, you can look for more hope and encouraging messages to help your cause today.

On that mission, below is a list of self love quotes and empowering reminders for good vibes that you can check out and think about today. 📝

Healthy challenge yourself… 💪

And these also make good journal prompt ideas, so you can better breathe in your best self today and breathe out what isn’t helping you grow into tomorrow.

Repeating self-love quotes are your ticket to reframe daily happiness and the way out of mental blocks that are holding you back in this life and season.

You don’t have to wait for situations to change… it’s YOU and your perspective that can be changed in an instant positive reframe.

And when you do, you reap mind freedom.

It’s the difference between abundant mind vs. victim mind and sad thoughts.

That’s my transformative story in a nutshell.

Because I didn’t grow up always feeling loved.

So point #1: ALWAYS remember you are loved. 🥰

And here are 30 self love quotes you can repeat to yourself in a mirror for your best day and year…

1. I am loved.

Because I am here, I am loved. I don’t have to do anything or be a specific somebody to be loved. I can just be.

“Love thy neighbor as you love yourself.”

Am I loving myself?

2. I have peace.

I am filled with a sense of freedom from worrying about _____.

“Peace be with you.”

Do I feel peace?

3. I am beautiful inside and out.

As I age, I become more beautiful as a person. I may have even traded in my old caterpillar self for my new butterfly life fluttering around in life’s abundance.

“Outer beauty attracts, but inner beauty captivates.” -Kate Angell

4. I have infinite wisdom.

I operate from more wisdom today than I did a decade ago. I’m not the same exact person.

I’m better and the world is gaining from me showing up with better self-wisdom.

5. I am strong.

I have areas of great strength. I’m going to pay attention to where in me I’m naturally strong.

Maybe I’m a good listener or I have strong arms or knees.

And I am strong in healthy convictions for what I stand for. And when I’m weak I’m strong because I lean into areas I need to make me stronger.

6. I am unique.

“By being yourself, you put something in the world that was not there before.” -Edwin Elliot

“You are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

No one is you except you.

7. I am creative.

I was born with creativity. I may not be able to get creative every day, but creative new ideas are born daily in me. Some good ones I can use or sit with for a moment and let go of others to share the wealth and let others take action on the same idea formed in them.

8. I am grateful.

I look at ways to be daily thankful, find the blessings in the daily miracles, and appreciate what I have by seeing what life used to be like or could be like from others who are less fortunate in those areas I’m grateful for.

“The grass is greener on the other side.”

I’m on the other side.

9. I am contributing.

I have offered to the world the most valuable things to me. And I have so much more to give, and that will give me more.

I’m going to make note of ways I’ve grown into a better person and today are more helpful and have become useful to the world.

10. I am calm.

I don’t let my situations raise stress in me.

I know I’m better off and make better decisions by staying calm every day.

11. I have control.

I don’t let my emotions or thoughts control me. I manage my self-control so that I’m not the source of problems, and that leads to better relationships, finances, and health.

And I’m patient.

“Haste makes waste.”

…Aren’t you glad you waited?

12. I know where I’m headed.

I know which direction I’m heading in and have a few ideas in my guiding gut as to what my next steps are.

I’m constantly working on improving and that always leads me to the right and better path. And I know what directions I won’t take again, and that helps lead to a better life.

13. I am healthy in both my mind and body.

I respect and take care of my inter-connected mind and body even better than I take care of my material things.

I have peace about myself. I don’t let thoughts that hurt my actions take over.

I think regularly about how I maintain a healthy body so I can live longer with more energy.

“Laughter is the best medicine,” and “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

14. I am organized.

I’m organized and that helps me feel at peace because the weight is lifted off my shoulders. And I have more time to work on my priorities and things I enjoy.

15. I am helpful.

I use my skills, gifts, and abilities to help the world.

Just this week I helped ____________.

16. I’m giving.

I help, collaborate, give, and share with the world.

“Do unto others as you would like done unto you.” (The Golden Rule)

17. My life has meaning and purpose.

I matter. And I’m here for a reason besides what I do to put food on the table.

My being matters.

18. I have intelligence.

I am smart and naturally wired for intelligence in specific areas that I know today and some I’m looking forward to discovering.

19. I have hidden talents and abilities that will emerge when I’m ready.

I can encourage or support, teach, know, and lead. And as I use these abilities, I will get and grow more.

20. I’m destined for success with my beliefs.

Where I started small, I can end up big. Through time I’m gaining experience and wisdom that will be productive.

The last often finish first.

21. I have joy.

Today I will have joy. And tomorrow I will have joy. I will use my senses to find joy…

[Every day I will find evidence that I’m lucky to be alive.]

This can be from seeing nature or beauty out of my mind, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

…From tasting something delicious or comforting that I savor.

…From smelling something pleasantly fragrant that calms me.

…From touching something that is soft.

22. I belong.

I know where I belong in the world and have groups that I belong to.

They share beliefs and thoughts for similar causes. We share and do life together.

And I’m at ease with them as they are with me. There are always loving people around who support me. And I’m meeting new people all the time.

“When one door closes, another opens.”

23. I know who I am.

And I’m valuable to the world whether or not the people that raised me or my family of origin gave that to me or not. They did the best they could…

And my worth is not based on their lack and what they didn’t know. It is what I better believe and the more amazing person I choose to become, despite my differences that make (and made) me stronger.

24. I am forgiven.

For all my past wrongdoings, I am forgiven. And in my overflow, I can forgive others who really hurt me, so that I can move on peacefully.

25. I am healed from past wounds.

I have forgiven those who hurt me. And I released those burdens so that I can be healed. And I have purged those emotions from me.

I use old scars to be the best person I can be to myself and the world.

This is the one of the greatest keys to start self love. If on the other side of your pain, you can repeat this daily in your self love quotes… you will unlock your freedom.

26. I have healthy interests that keep me curious.

Staying in wonder keeps me growing and young at heart. The kid in me never dies even though I’m glad I grew up.

27. I have grown.

I’ve not reached my destiny, but thankfully I’m not where I once was. And I’m making progress every day trying, taking two steps forward and fewer steps backward.

It’s okay to be the tortoise. I’m in my own race.

I know when I’ve won.

28. I have self-confidence.

I am able and capable…

And unstoppable.

29. I feel good about my future outlook.

I have a lot in store for the future. And my positive outlook will help me get past and through tougher times.

Going through is the fastest route with the deepest impact on the other side.

30. I know my good values.

I know what is important to me and I will not waiver in my integrity to myself that the world benefits from.

My good intentions will bring about the best outcomes that lead to the doors that are meant for me.

And I will not worry that I made a wrong turn because I acted truthful, good, and kind. I will be rewarded because of my good intentions.

And these are 30 self love quotes and reminders you can say to yourself anywhere and anytime to restore your morning thoughts, negative thoughts, and inspire your every day. 🧡

Lazy Yoga Accessories Mood Boost

Yoga accessories are a must for good yoga form, comfort, and help with balance for your Vata, Kapha, and Pitta. So is a recipe for hot water pastry and adding your balancing good foods below.

yoga accessories like a bolster, a block, and a blanket are classic. The yogi tea adds to pampered yoga wellness. — Yoga accessories like a bolster, a block or two, and a blanket are classic. The yogi tea adds to pampered yoga wellness. 🫖

Using yoga accessories or props on a lazy day can really help boost your mood.

And a peaceful mood is one you want to stay in daily whether you’re feeling busy and active before the holidays or lazier after Christmas has come and gone.

You may teeter back and forth. And eating well is one ingredient that can help restore balance.

Like this well-spiced open-faced savory pastry I made half with spinach, chickpeas, oni0ns, and a punchy five-spice blend (cinnamon, fennel, star anise, cloves, peppercorns) to balance Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. And the other half is a balanced mix of carrots, potatoes, scallions, and tarragon. Maybe this inspires you and puts you in a better mood?

Hot water pastry with veggies. Recipe below. ⬇️

And speaking of mood balancing…

When I used to visit malls on the weekend as a downtime pastime, after a while I’d get bored… the look-forward to anticipation feelings turned to drained and uninspired energy. I couldn’t wait to exit…

Then there usually was a line to get out of the parking lot and into traffic, especially during the holidays. Sound familiar?

We didn’t have online Black Friday shopping so it was a sheer annual mayhem event.

Since those days, our world has evolved and so have we. And these days I steer away from malls like the Black Plague.

…But whether you do or not, you know the feeling of too much of a good thing becomes numbing to the mind-body.

That can be how you feel about some adventures and projects you’d rather stay away from even if they started out okay. You can avoid some, but others require you and your endurance, like certain work tasks and travel stress.

Those growing tired moods can sink in and take a while to lift, especially if they’re our regular routines in life.

…like sweeping kitchen crumbs for the 10^th time or chores you hate doing. And if we ignore them and feel lazier than usual, that can turn into a Kapha imbalance.

Or if we feel irritated and uninspired…. then not making a change can lead to burnout. It doesn’t usually happen overnight but it can happen one day if you reach your snapping point. That’s more of a Pitta imbalance.

With both types of imbalances, lazy yoga poses can help you get your active balance and peaceful mood back.

(Corpse pose is a great one to relax your body and calm your mind.)

I know when I find time to just be still, sitting in silence, that’s when I feel the most peace. Maybe that’s how you feel?

The reason is centering allows you to focus on the calmness of this moment and the body can stop working so hard.

And by focusing on the silent moments, and not focusing on the busy activities like shopping or even watching Netflix (that can be good when you need a ‘lil downtime break), the quietness helps your mind to relax and to feel good again.

And in the silence, if you find your mind is racing, that’s a sign of an anxious Vata mind.

Sometimes we feel that way and to feel balanced, in my life journey, I found that getting a peaceful mind is easier when you tune into the right source for at least 8 waking hours a day and make it your habit in life.

Our lives are constructed in 24 hours of which 8 is good for sleeping, 8 for working, and 8 for doing everything else.

So during that everything-else time slot, that’s when it’s good to build in time to recharge, working on passions, and focusing mostly on less external influences (and maybe disconnecting from the world for minutes at a time).

And it’s good to find time to take breaks during work and about a weekend day’s worth off to rest. Not everyone can take all of Sunday off.

And I find staying in that rhythm is how you can stay balanced, happy, and in a peaceful mood year-round so you can show up in life as your best.

That type of lifestyle years ago would have been laughed at or not taken seriously by my business and corporate worker companions. But now they are reconsidering too as wellness is part of the discussions.

Our world is changing for better health and wellness, thank goodness!

Because having consistency and wellness routines in your lifestyle and mind helps prevent life burnout or waking up one day unhappy or depressed.

Feeling those ways can take more time to backtrack and restore, and they usually have an aftermath of sorts. It’s better all around to take time out daily to restore and prevent.

And if you like the idea of preventatively restoring daily, then one small way is with lazy yoga moves. That’s what I call it anyway. Those are perfect on the days when it’s hard to move quickly, you had a rough night before, or it’s dreary weather outside.

On those days, you know intense exercise is out of the question. But you can use that more tiring day for your lazy exercise day that still helps to invigorate your body and restore your mind.

We know that exercise is good for cognitive and physical fitness. So to stay in the game (of active life even when you’re not feeling it), you can use yoga props to help you engage and maybe even get off the couch if that’s what you find yourself doing and want to change that (…and your heavy Kapha mind may want to resist).

And those days would be a good time to do core work. When you have yoga accessories, doing ab work is not as challenging once you get moving… and maybe along with the right entertainment in the background.

So, here are a few yoga accessories and ideas that you can try and maybe build into a new habit:

Yoga Accessories:

A yoga block (or two), or a Yoga Wheel

Blocks are great especially in Bridge pose where you can turn the block vertically so that the longest side helps raise your back up to build a bridge higher than you can go without a block. This can really help you feel better instantly.

The evovled yoga wheel yoga accessories work in similar ways in a Bridge pose. I’m a bit old school as I prefer the block that raises up a new building structure without moving on you… and maybe a bit burned out from 90s fitness and turn-of-the-century gadgets and props that never got used more than a few times. 😉

Straps

Straps are great for keeping you focused on the guiding strap lines and that support your legs to various angles in the air when you’re laying flat back. These are great for helping you with flexibility that becomes more important as you grow wiser (and older too).

Bolster Yoga Pillow

Bolsters are pretty practical pillows to have around. And if you don’t have one, sometimes you can get creative and find lumbar pillows that some couches come with. And you can use other pillows and cushioned furniture pieces to be very effective.

I actually use an IKEA cushioned cube that I can rest my calves on when I’m laying back on my mat, and then do easy-ab roll-up work. And still, get all the benefits.

And then I can turn around and use the cube as a table or an ottoman. Now that’s usefulness! (No more ab roller devices and machines that take up additional space!)

Breathe device apps

I like the Apple Watch where you can feel the inhale and exhale vibrations of the Breathe app. It’s great for getting centered and intentional on your breath.

Another great prop (that you can add to your yoga accessories):

Wall

Legs Up the Wall pose is a great resting pose. You scoot and seat yourself as close to a wall as possible, and then lay back. Your legs are straight up against the wall. That should feel really good as you release tension from your legs.

You can rest your arms straight out and turn your head from side to side and be intentional to see different perspectives.

This can feel really good on lazy yoga days. The point is to never give up on yourself in any season of life!

Be the tortoise in Aesop’s fable. 🐢

You can be just one good move or pose away from getting you back into a good swing and crossing the finish line.

And people are back in yoga classes. …maybe that’s you or just what you need to keep your calm through the holiday and into the new year. Btw, are you counting down the days?

In addition to building a better Bridge yoga pose, I have my baking calendar on my mind. I’m coming up with building a better Yule log swiss roll this year from peppermint inspiration. 🍥

For savory hot water pastry, you can be inspired by this recipe.

Print Recipe

Easy Hot Water Pastry

Course Breakfast, lunch

Cuisine American

Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Ingredients

flour of choice (whole wheat and plain flour work well)
hot-warm water, room temperature
1 tbsp of butter (for larger batches and healthy, use a little more butter about a pat of butter per serving)
pinch of salt

Instructions

Mix flour, water, and salt. Add pat of butter to melt. Work into a dough.
Shape into a shell or desired shape.
Bake until golden brown color.
Add cooked toppings desired (e.g. cheese, cooked veggies), and pop back into the oven for a few minutes.