How to Nourish Your Sacred Self

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Ana

Time to fly!

When you inhabit, connect with and nourish your physical body you become a clear channel for Divine Energy to flow through you.

This flow is what awakens your sacred self, or the part of you that is powerful, knowing, pure creative energy.

This is what I call “Sacred Embodiment” and it’s the critical foundation of the work that I do. Sacred Embodiment is the space where inspiration flows, and desires begin to manifest in physical form, meaning things you may have been wanting for a while begin to magically arrive. (pretty cool!)

I started to notice that I connect to many of my big “aha’s” and successful inspired ideas when I’m hiking, dancing or doing yoga. These are the times when I’m aligned with my desires and feeling peaceful, blissed, empowered, balanced and like anything is possible.

Connecting to nature

Those are also the moments when I’m fully connected with my Sacred or Divine self, and  magnetized to the health, lifestyle, emotional balance and prosperity I desire.

What are the moments when you connect to your Sacred Self?

In most cases, your Sacred self requires space, attention, ritual, movement, breath . . .

The body is the temple of the soul. I know this might not be a new concept for you, but rather than simply nodding in agreement or casual knowing, I invite you to actually breathe into this idea and really “embody” it.

The more connected you become with your body the more creative energy can pour through you. The more creative force, or Shakti energy, that flows through you, the more you open to and receive physical health, energy, passion, inspiration, clarity, connection, love and abundance.

Sacred Embodiment is much more than just going thru the motions, or doing, eating or moving the way you think you should. It’s about presence, as well as the ability to tune into what REALLY, genuinely feels good. Tuning into what feels good takes a bit of practice, but let the questions below serve as a first step to help guide you towards awakening your “Shakti” and have fun exploring what truly nourishes your divine self. : )

**Leave a comment below to let me know how it goes!**

Before answering these questions, take a moment to close the eyes, take a few deep breaths and really check in . . .

1. How does your body communicate with you and tell you how s/he is feeling? What is your body saying to you right now?

2. How do you care for your body? How are you “nourishing” your body? Your life? Your dreams? How is your life nourishing you? (think career, relationships, lifestyle, etc.)

3. How do you enjoy expressing yourself physically? Are you allowing this to happen in your life on a regular basis? If not, why not? (dig deep, don’t settle for the excuses of “no time”, “the kids”, “my partner”, etc.)

4. Do you feel like you are allowing your divine self to flow through every cell of your body? Where can you invite more divine energy into your physical body?

5. What inspired action can you take TODAY to invite more divine energy into your body?

In the revolutionary new Divine Diva Detox Virtual Retreat program, you have the opportunity to explore more deeply just how profound and transformational Sacred Embodiment and learning to tune into what REALLY feels good for you can be for your emotional, physical and mental health. In this 21-Day program, which you can do from anywhere, you learn to easily release overwhelm and stress, accelerate your progress towards your healthy body & life, and tap into your unique blueprint for unleashing your divine self with ease. Learn more and join us here.

Love and healthy bliss,

Ana

Sacred Embodiment

Posted in abundance, beauty, cleansing, detox, Energize Your Life, finding joy, holistic health, Inspiration, longevity, nature, spiritual transformation, stress reduction, Yoga | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

It Pays to Have “Good Energy”

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Ana

Laughter definitely creates "good energy"

First, I want to admit that sharing all of what I am starting to share with you feels a little awkward because there’s a part of me that feels like I’m bragging or trying to sound better than . . . but I’m having to get over this.

As one of my coaches indirectly pointed out – I’ve been playing small.

I realized that part of starting to play “big” is not keeping really wonderful “secrets” to myself! If I don’t share with you out of fear of what you MIGHT think of me, well, I’m really just being selfish!

Now that I’m over my insecurities . . . it’s time to talk about energy.

Specifically “good energy”.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve had people comment on my “good energy”, and say that they like just being around me. This sometimes makes me blush, sometimes makes me proud (because I have really been doing a lot “work” on myself), and other times just flat out surprises me!

“Really? You like my energy?!”

In the end, I’m always flattered.

Ego aside, what I’ve seen is that all this “good energy” is actually like a magical gift that attracts amazing people, things, experiences and opportunities!

Some of what I have experienced with this increase in my vibration are:

  • Getting free things at the market
  • People want to work with me because I have “good energy”
  • People want to give me things because I have “good energy”
  • I’ve started attracting other people with “good energy” into my life

I don’t want to make it sound like good energy is just about getting things, it also means feeling really fabulous . . .

  • Feeling at home and at peace in your body . . .
  • Feeling connected to those around you . . .
  • Feeling inspired to do good for yourself and others . . .
  • Enjoying a sense of knowing that everything always works out . . .

This is how I experience having “good energy”.

Raising your vibration, or creating good energy, is not about putting on a fake smile or never feeling a low, but rather about connecting to the REAL BEAUTY of life.

The beauty of love and of sorrow.

The beauty of joy and of pain.

The beauty of sunshine and of rain . . .

You get the point. : )

So, how did I go from having pretty lame energy to having this “good energy”?

And just how can YOU start cultivating your own “good energy”?

Well, a great start is by clearing the old, stuck energy and habits out. This makes space for the new, fresh, positive energy to flow in.

The first foundational gateway to raising your vibration is through the food that you eat.

Your Good Energy Assignment:

Get real and assess your diet.

Is the food you eat full of high-vibration, fresh, colorful, whole foods?

Does your plate hum with living enzymes, gorgeous healthy flavors, and light nourishment?

Or are you settling for less?

Are you compromising your own life energy for the sake of convenience or comfort?

The reality is that you don’t have to settle, you CAN have it all!

You can choose fresh, delicious, amazing, energizing foods that do not need to take half the day to prepare.

Take Action:

What quick, nourishing and delectable meal or dish do you know you could be creating for yourself (and your family), but aren’t?

Can you commit to doing that in the next week?

Put it on your calendar, and remember to schedule in any shopping you need to do . . . if it’s not on your calendar, most likely it won’t happen, right?

Committing to feeding your “good energy” with high vibration food is just the first step . . .

I’ll be revealing some deeper ways you can begin cultivating “good energy” right away in my upcoming FREE call: “Unleash Your Inner Diva: Sacred Secrets to Stop the Struggle and Start to Shine” on August 18th.

So be sure to register today to secure your spot on this extraordinary, high vibration teleclass. : )

The energy on this live call will be palpably exquisite and empowering . . . that is my promise to you.

If you will be unable to make the call live, I want to support you in making this happen . . . their will be a recording of the call (also loaded with high vibrational energy) sent to everyone that registers.

Just by registering alone, you take a big step toward embracing your inner diva and creating your own “good energy”. : )

Love and Healthy Bliss,

Ana

Posted in abundance, beauty, cleansing, detox, Energize Your Life, family health, finding balance, finding joy, giving, happiness, healthy bliss, healthy eating, holistic health, increase energy, Inspiration, self-care, stress reduction | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dairy-free Diva’s Cream Cheese

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Ana

creamy, dairy-free, delicious!

[POPUP=IMG1] If you’ve been reading my blog for a bit, you know I have a weakness for cheesecake, but being dairy-free (allergy, mucus, belly bloat, poor quality, hormones, antibiotics, etc) I set out to create an absolutely delicious version of this treat to obliterate any possible feelings of deprivation. See my recipe here.

So, when I had a craving for some cream cheese with the gorgeous wild smoked salmon, red onions and heirloom tomatoes I had in my kitchen, I set out to create a replication that wasn’t some processed soy experiment, AND could be easy to make.

So here’s what I created, and I will tell you, it’s almost identical to the “real thing” (minus the “dairy” after-taste). Enjoy it as a substitute for the dairy version! I’ve topped cucumbers or tomato slices with pesto and a dollop of this, spread it on my veggie/flax crackers, used it as a dip for for celery and carrots, and you could even use it in a dessert. Leave a comment below if you come up with something divinely inspired, healthy and delicious!

  • 1 cup cold coconut cream (simply buy a can of full fat organic coconut milk, don’t shake it, open it up and scoop the dense cream off the top. You may want to chill your can for a little bit to get it nice and cold)
  • 1 tbsp. white miso paste (you can also use 2 tsp. nutritional yeast)
  • about 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice (taste and adjust if you need)
  • zest of one lemon (optional, but really good – you can lessen the lemon juice if you use)
  • about a 1/4 of tsp. Celtic salt (again adjust)
  • 2-4 drops liquid stevia (a little goes a long way, so start small and adjust if you need)
  • optional: if it’s for savory use, you can add fresh herbs and chopped garlic. If it’s for sweet use, then cinnamon, vanilla and/or orange zest can be really nice

Now, you can get out your mixer and beat all the ingredients together for 2-3 minutes, or you can simply combine well with a spoon like I did.

Note: the coconut cream melts at a lower temperature than dairy, so wait for anything warm to cool a bit before spreading. : )

Eat and enjoy!

love and healthy bliss,

Ana

Posted in boosting metabolism, cleansing, dairy-free recipe, detox, digestive disorders, food allergies, gluten-free, healthy recipe, holistic health, immune health, increase energy, nutrition, recipes, weight loss | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

The Secret to a TRUE Yoga Body

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Ana

“You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you, and allowing that goodness to emerge.” ~Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose

I recently heard a concern again that I hear all the time. It varies with each person, but it goes something like this:

  • I’m too fat to do yoga
  • I’m too busy to do yoga
  • I’m too weak to do yoga
  • I’m too tight to do yoga
  • I’m too old to do yoga (see my post on a 93 year old student)
  • I’m too young to do yoga
  • I’m too out of shape to do yoga
  • I’m too stressed to do yoga
  • I can’t do yoga because of my kids/husband/wife/dog/cat/boss/hamster . . .

And on and on . . .

Can you relate? Have you said or thought any of these?

Now first, I don’t want you to think that I’m saying you HAVE to do yoga in the way you might be thinking of it. But I will say that EVERYONE and ANYONE  can do yoga.

Saying you can’t do yoga because of ____________ is like saying you can’t breath because of __________________.

Breath IS yoga.

What I want to present is potentially a new way to look at yoga.

First let’s start with what yoga is NOT.

Yoga is not being perfect in a pose. In fact, it doesn’t have to be about doing a “pose” at all!

Yoga is not about having expensive equipment or clothes.

Yoga is not doing a 2 hour practice everyday (unless you want to!)

Yoga is not a religion, nor do you have to know Sanskrit (although it can be fun to try)

Yoga is not tying yourself up like a pretzel, and it’s not devoting yourself to some guru.

Yoga is not about having a particular body (although it can profoundly transform your body without struggle)

Yoga is not about being vegetarian

In it’s simplified definition yoga is union.

The union of sun and moon, yin and yang, inhale and exhale. What yoga is about is being present in your body, with your breath and having compassion for yourself and all other beings.

It’s about transitioning from moment to moment, breath to breath, week to week with ease, awareness, grace and joy.

So, if you can breath (and if you are reading this, I’ll assume you can, lol), you can do yoga. : )

See how easy that was?

To illustrate just how darn easy, enjoyable, inspirational AND profound yoga can be, I’m gifting  you this “Breathing into Inspiration” audio, so that you can bring this with you anywhere and be reminded of your living yoga:

Click here to download… your audio gift!

Leave a comment below to share what YOUR “yoga” is (and how you liked the audio!)

PS – We have women of all abilities and ages (from 30-70), from all over the country registered for the LAST Divine Diva Detox retreat of 2011, so don’t be shy if you’ve been feeling “too” to join us. This is experience like no other – much more than a yoga retreat. You receive loads of personal attention from me, a guidebook to unveil your Divine Diva, a mind-body cleanse to jumpstart your process, connection with other like-minded women (so invaluable), not to mention ridiculously good food, a magical setting, gorgeously indulgent hot springs . . .

If you are on the fence, we have just 2 spots left as I write this. If you have a question, need clarification, want to find out if this is right for you, please send a note, so that we can find a time to talk.

The DDD retreat is something I’ve dreamt about doing for years, and it is now finally coming into fruition. I’m here to show you how to manifest YOUR dreams. : )

Join us here.

Posted in anti-aging, beauty, cleansing, finding balance, finding joy, getting healthy, happiness, holistic health, increase energy, Inspiration, longevity, prayer, spiritual transformation, weight loss, Yoga | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Creamy Dairy-Free “Ice Cream”

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Ana

This has been a summer favorite for me ever since I discovered it. All I can say is that you will love it! Warning: it may become a daily healthy obsession. : )

You need a food processor to make it, or you can also use a Vita-Mix. Just don’t try it with a regular blender – it won’t work.

Play with flavors, have fun! It’s summer after all. Ideas to try include adding raw cacao powder or nibs, frozen berries in the mix or fresh berries on top, goji berries, dried coconut, fresh mint, cinnamon, vanilla, even lavender can be exotic and delicious. Experiment, let your creative juices flow, or just keep it simple.

I often like to add a teaspoon or two of coconut oil  or almond butter for extra richness. Yummmm . . . leave a comment below to let me know how it goes.

Option 1: In the food processor (use the “S” blade):

You will need to peel and chop 2 bananas and freeze them at least 2 hours in advance. I usually just keep a stash in the freezer to make it easy.

Add: 2-3 frozen bananas, 2-4 tbsp. almond milk, coconut milk or water to to the bowl of the processor. You can add in any other extras at this time too.

Process the mixture just until smooth. Over processing can melt it too much. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl as you go.

Option 2: In the Vita-Mix:

Add 3 ripe bananas and 1.5 cups ice to the Vita-Mix. Add any additional items at this time as well. Blend using “tamper” to push the mixture to the blades just until smooth. Again, don’t over blend.

This mixture is best enjoyed right away, but you can store it in an airtight container in the freezer if you have leftovers (which I highly doubt!).

Enjoy!

Posted in chocolate, cleansing, cravings, dairy-free recipe, disease prevention, Energize Your Life, food allergies, getting healthy, gluten-free, gluten-free recipes, healthy desserts, healthy eating, healthy recipe, raw foods, raw recipes, recipes, seasonal foods, sugar-free desserts, vegan ice cream, vegatarian/vegan nutrition, Vita-Mix, weight loss | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments