Hello there! :D I know you're wondering where I've been, what I'm doing in life and what I'm going to do with this blog.
Let me assure you that my Fight dis-ease! and Healthy Junk blogs aren't going anywhere! I've been really busy this summer dealing with life and getting myself together. It's been stressful and enlightening at the same time. I have so many plans for my future and I'm really excited to share them all with you.
Right now, I'm at my part time job. I still work at the Integral Yoga Natural Apothecary (part-time). I start teaching at the Integral Yoga Institute (NYC), this weekend for 9/13. And that's only the beginning! I'll let you know what's really good next week...
oh yeah, I still have a whole lot of topics to update you on. Trust me, once I get my life in true order, there is going to be a whole new Drea and a whole new Fight dis-ease! and Healthy Junk blogs for you to enjoy.
Until next time (you know the drill)...stay strong, stay healthy, and fight dis-ease!
Vibrations are very powerful because energy is directly affected. One vibration may cause pain, one may locate it, and another may end it. What kind of vibrations are you bringing into your energy field? Vibrations are heard and felt. For humans, speech and other forms of sound create vibrations within and around us. The Bible speaks of The Word Being God and God Is (the) Word. With this "word," all creation, including our reality, was formed. In Yoga, this "word" is OM. It is pronounced AUM. Your mouth starts with the A shape and sound, leads into the U and ends with the hum that is produced with the sound of the M. In Yoga, OM is the universal sound vibration that creates a peaceful feeling and connects all matter within a certain space or environment. Sanskrit is a very powerful language because the letters and words create a certain vibration within the spirit. The English language can affect the mind (in so many ways This does that mean that English does not carry that potency. It has the potential to do that as does any language that beings use to communicate. With the languages of today, especially English, you have to be specific in your speech and especially in your intention and awareness. You have to give a clear and specific signal to the "universe" - in heart, mind and soul - in order for "the universe" to properly provide. I'm talking about this because I spoke to one of my oldest and dearest friends today. She told me that someone did some kind of bowl thing on her. The person put the bowl on her head and made a noise with it. The end result was that she was supposed to feel better. She had pains in her back before this occurred but she was able to deal with it through arnica. After the bowl treatment, the pain is back. Her mother did it too and now feels a lot of pain in her hands. I explained to my friend that this is not a bad thing. I figured that the bowl technique created a vibration that let you know what channels and passages are blocked. The vibration may not immediately treat that blockage but on first try, it certainly let them know what areas they have to work in. The trick for them is to find out why they have this pain and then figure out how to treat it. Let me say that my friend is NOT a fan of pills and doctors. She had to deal with them on many occassions and had "not so great" encounters with them. I told her that she should go to the doctor (especially in her mom's case) TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG. Then, go to whichever practictioners she feels comfortable with to treat the case. As for my friend, I know that she is very devotional to God. She is an Orthodox Christian and goes to church regularly. She is an Ethiopian Orthodox so in church, they speak Amharic. I remembered that in church (I used to go a lot myself), we used to chant in praise of the Lord. Amharic is not as old as Sanskrit, however since it is considered an ancient language and used for devotional purposes, I knew that it would be a good thing to use as therapy. So as I was talking to her about chanting in Amharic, Sanskrit, or English, she began to understand the power of vibration. She opened up and told me that Yoga was something she wasn't really into doing because of the chanting and the whole "religious" aspect of it. From an Integral Yoga point of view, I explained to her that Yoga does not take ones faith away but adds to it. You don't have to say "Hari Om" or "Om Hrim" to be a Yogi. A Bhakti Yogi is someone who is devotional to God, the form of God you choose is inconsequential. If you go to church and do everything in service of God (or at least have that intent If you're in a class and you don't want to say OM...that's cool. Say "AMEN" to yourself. AMEN, AMEEN, and SHALOM are all derivates of OM. I asked my friend to chant every morning and every night. She is going to use one of her church chants. I told her that she must say the same chant at these times and then whenever she feels pain, she should chant again, thinking and breathing into that area of her back that is giving her pain. She agreed and I think she also felt a lot better about Yoga, especially in regards to opening her mind to the healing possibilites that Yogic reasoning provides. This does NOT mean that chanting will cure her ailment. What this will do is facilitate the vibrations in her body to heal. She got the first vibration that pinpointed where she needs to work on. These new vibrations should enable her to relax her mind enough to realize what she needs to do in order to treat and heal her backache. In a nutshell, I'm hoping the chanting will make her realize that she has to slow down. In the meantime, she'll try this out and take arnica pills (instead of the cream), starting at 200cc and gradually going to 30cc, if necessary. Should I keep you posted? Let me know what you think. 
from krishnaculture.com
), however, when words are spoken in Sanksrit, such as "Hari Om" or "Om Shanti," a certain vibration is created that leaves a lasting and peaceful feeling - not only in the mind and body but in the spirit as well.
) then you are a Bhakti Yogi, no matter what faith or religion you are bound to.
Another way to be aware of your vibrations and how you can enable them to empower you is by taking away that speech for a while. For one week, sit in silence (which is called Mauna). If you can't sit down and be still (like in meditation), do your tasks but say nothing and try to think nothing else but what you are focusing on at the moment. You can do it for 5 minutes or for days on end.
Nada Yoga is the Yoga of sound. Notice if you keep still, the sounds you hear. Sooner than later, you will be able to hear the hum in even the most inanimate of objects. Sooner than later, you will hear the hmmmm (OM) within yourself. Leave a comment here or send me an email at drea@dorightforyourself.org
Until next time, stay strong, stay healthy, and fight dis-ease!
It's been a while since I really posted something up of substance. Now that the filler has been placed, it's time for me to get off of my self-imposed vacation and get back to giving you the latest and greatest information that will enable you to see and be better health!
First, I hope you like the pic. Kyla Jolene is a great photographer and I have been watching her work from afar. I wanted to put her photos on my blog for sometime and I'm glad I finally am able to do so. If I don't put up more of Kyla's pics, it's only because she asked me not to. I don't know her personally but good work is good work and it can't be denied.
I have updated one of my blogs. Please click here for the latest information on herbs that will help you in dealing with Uterine Fibroids. Please note that hops is a good herb to use for Breast Cancer as well.
My Yoga schedule is back in full swing! First up...I'm going to teach a 4 week course called the Fundamentals of Hatha Yoga. If you're in NYC and would like to learn the basics of Hatha Yoga and an Integral Yoga Hatha I Beginner's class, then this course is for you. For more information and to register, please click here.
I'm also going to teach a Hatha I Beginners Class every other Sunday at 6:15pm, starting March 15. If you click on the link above, you'll also find more information on Integral Yoga.
That's it for now. Please provide feedback by posting a comment or by emailing me at drea@dorightforyourself.org
One more thing, I have been doing this blog for a long time. What started out as a homework assignment for the Institute for Integrative Nutrition has become something much more. I need to stop acting like I'm not an accomplished Holistic Health and Nutritional Consultant and Yoga Instructor. Sooner than later, I'm going to put up links and give more information for my consultations and packages. Spring time is coming. I can provide you with the best in nutrition, fitness, and over all wellness. Now it's really time to get it together. All of us.
Until next time...stay strong, stay healthy, and fight dis-ease! (and thank you so much for keeping up with me and your health and wellness)
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As you can see, I have a brand new look. It seems like spring time in NYC right now. I know it's going to go back to winter but I feel like celebrating Brooklyn (where I'm from) hence the Brooklyn Bridge in what looks like a typical winter day without snow in New York City.
I still have to get my blog list back together. That should be done by Tuesday, if not sooner. I'm going to do a 4 week Introduction to Yoga course in March...definitely more details to come. That's it for now. Talk to you soon.
BA
I hope you enjoyed the Super Bowl. I, myself, did not get to see it. I taught my first "official" class at Integral Yoga and it was great.
I would like to thank all of those who attended my class and I'm glad you enjoyed it. My next class is on Feb. 15th. That is on a Sunday, at Integral Yoga Institute. The cost for the class is $12 and it's a Hatha I Beginner's class. If you stop by, mention that you saw this on my blog. I'd really appreciate it.
Another thing I have done is update one of my old blogs. My Essential 4 Series: Bad Posture can be a Headache is one of my most popular blogs. I have updated it with some new information that you may find useful. Click on the link to access that post.
I plan on doing this with other previous posts with time. I'm still working on putting some other posts up that are way past due. I'm not going to speak on them now. I'm just going to put them out there and get it done.
As I get my schedule together, you will hear from me and then you may not. Regardless of my state of affairs, I trust that I can always count on you to...
stay strong, stay healthy, and fight dis-ease!
- I'm going to start scheduling my Yoga classes soon. I'm going to teach at the Integral Yoga Institute as a sub (for now) and then I'm going to have classes in Brooklyn and in the Bronx, alternatively. More information to come.
- I'm also going to update a couple of my old posts with newer information. I'll let you know when that happens and give you the links when they are completed.
- I'm going to update as much as I can. It will mainly be Random Thoughts, Movements, and Karma Yogi posts until I get my schedule fully in tact. I'm also going to update my website with the latest information. If you would like to take a look at my website now, please click on the "Do Right Website" link at the right side of the header.
- I'm going to setup a page on Facebook. This is going to take time and will not be a top priority at the moment. I'm just putting it out into the universe so that I can get it started (and hopefully, you can keep me to it).
I'm still working on the other one. 
Stay strong, stay healthy, and fight dis-ease!
Today is my 34th Birthday! I feel so great and healthy and amazed with the universe. I became a Certified Yoga Teacher on Saturday.
So what else is new?
I still have my lecture on Yoga going on at the Gay Men's Health Crisis (weather permitting). I'm on vacation from my jobs this week to celebrate my birthday. OOH! I also got invited to teach at the Integral Yoga Institute! I'm so happy about that. Why? Even though I will be subbing for a while, it will be a great way for me to get more experience so that I can move out into the world.
Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely going to have my own classes. But now, knowing that I will have a place to teach, I can properly get my schedule together so that I can better serve those who need Yoga and Health - YOU!
The blog will definitely continue as planned. I'm going to take a break for my birthday but there will be more new and exciting posts from me before the week is out.
I'm so happy that you're able to share my birthday with me. I'm thankful that you have another day to appreciate life, love and the liberties that you have right now.
Freedom is a state of mind. Let's get free this year. Starting today.
Until next time....
stay strong, stay healthy, and fight dis-ease!
I'm stuck at work until around 4pm, but that's okay because I get to talk about one of my favorite things to do!
Before I get into Karma Yoga and what that entails, let's take a look at what karma is:
- kar·ma
- Pronunciation:
- \ˈkär-mə also ˈkər-\
- Function:
- noun
- Etymology:
- Sanskrit karma fate, work
- Date:
- 1827
1often capitalized : the force generated by a person's actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person's next existence2: vibration 4— kar·mic\-mik\ adjective
Many Yogis will use the word "Seva" instead of "Karma Yoga." Seva means "service" in sanskrit. To me, there is really no difference between the two words, save the extended application of "karma."
At Integral Yoga, Karma Yoga means doing everything in service to the greater good. It doesn't matter what you do. As long as you do it with the purpose of the greater good, then you're a Karma Yogi. Bhakti Yoga, which is based on devotion, is along the same lines but differs in that your "service" and "devotion" will be to a figure, object, or concept (I'm referring to Jesus or Buddha). Karma Yoga is done for the greater good, which can be yourself or a group of people in a certain situation (like the elderly).
Well what's so good about Karma Yoga?
Karma Yoga helps to keep the mind focused and calm and selfless. When you do something for others, there is no feeling like that. Accomplishment is bettering your fellow man is most times better than finding $100 on the ground. Being of service to someone in need is priceless. Being selfless is being closer to the Most High (in whatever form you choose).
Let's face it. There is a recession in this country. Everyone - those with jobs and those without - are struggling to make ends meet. People are losing their houses, cars, you name it, they either lost it or are going to lose it. This makes people depressed, angry, lost, and hopeless.
One of the ways to combat it is through Karma Yoga (volunteering). Regardless of your situation, there is always someone worse than you. Focusing the mind on someone else's good will can take your mind off your negative thoughts and make you feel better as a human being.
Besides, what else can you do when you're broke, down and out but help your fellow man who is worse off so that both of you can feel better, accomplished, more than enough.
I have no time to volunteer. Would charity work?
Yes, giving to a charity is considered Karma Yoga. However, if you don't have the money to give, what else can you do? Donate your time. Donate your resources.
I give to charities. However, it's a daunting task to figure out which charities are really out to help people and which ones are out to help their own pockets. Then there is the annoyance of junk mail that these charities send out every other day. Jeez.
For me, it's just easier to donate your time.Let me also point out that time does not mean you're whole life. You can do Karma Yoga once a year for 30 minutes. There are people who do Karma Yoga over the phone or even online. It doesn't have to be everyday at all. It also doesn't have to be something super huge. OK...the Red Cross isn't taking volunteers right now. There is always a YMCA, Homeless Shelter, Church, or Yoga/Fitness Place (other than those commercial gyms) that provide internships and karma yoga type jobs.
OK See...I'm ready to help out my fellow man/woman/child/animal. Where do I start?
Start at home. I don't mean "clean your house." That isn't Karma Yoga (even though I believed it was for a long time). If you have a child, start at their school. If you go to school, start at your school. Go to church? Look there. A member of a Yoga Studio or Wellness Center? There you go. Join a Food Co-op! That's a great start to get healthy AND do some Karma Yoga.
A lot of us want to save people on a grand scale. We want to help domestic violence victims (like I do), or single mothers, or victims of Hurricane Katrina. There's nothing wrong with that at all...but why don't you start with a local chapter of an organization? Think about it.
Seva and Karma Yoga shouldn't be something you just jump into. It's good to do research and make sure it's something that you WANT to be a part of and not out of obligation. Intention is very important in everything you do.
Here are a couple of links to help you get started:
- Idealist.org - a great website to find volunteer/internships (paid and otherwise)
- If you are in the NYC area, then take a look at these sites and contact the persons in charge to find out more:
- Embora Wellness and Movement Studio - they are always looking for interns to help out at the front desk. You can get free classes in return (Brooklyn).
- Integral Yoga Institute - their Work Exchange Program is excellent. I was a Karma Yogi there for 6 months. When I did Karma Yoga again recently, I missed it so much that after Yoga Teacher Training, I'm going to make it a point to do it again, at least once a week (like I don't practically live at this place already!). IYI is located in Manhattan.
- The Mayor's Volunteer Center - a great site for New Yorker's to find volunteer work in different areas, within many areas of interest.
So until next time...stay strong, stay healthy, and fight dis-ease! (UK and Canada, I see you)
A number of things have occurred since I last posted on this blog.
- A friend of mine died of brain cancer.
- A couple of friends of mine are going through a really tough time.
- As I am progressing in Yoga Teacher Training, I still feel like I am not making enough of an effort.
- As I go through the process of my busy life, a lot of things are still being neglected, this blog being one of them.
America has already shifted by voting for Barack Obama to be their new President - the 44th President, the first biracial (yeah, black) President. It's time for me to shift once more and make a transformation.
So I'm going to start with this blog (once again). But this time, it's not about the look of the blog. I'm going to start posting more often. Shorter tidbits and include other topics. I had a schedule of things I wanted to talk about before the end of the year and I'm not even half way through with that schedule as yet. There are other topics that emerge that are just as important to discuss but since I wanted to be on a rigid schedule, I didn't deliver in my promise to keep you strong, healthy, and fighting dis-ease.
This does not mean that I'm not going to keep up with my schedule. I will. I will go along as planned. However, I won't be afraid to include something else in the meantime.
I have found a new editor and I can't wait to work with her. I just gotta get the ball rolling.
As I go through Yoga Teacher Training, I have been on a "no chicken" elimination fast. It has been almost 3 weeks. Sadness is wanting me to get some chicken but something else inside is holding me back. I think it's this "calm" feeling all my friends have been seeing. This "calm" is slowing me down and helping me to curb my craving. I still need to get on the ball with chocolate (dark, no longer milk...I'm definitely making progress) but I'm making breakthroughs in that as well....more on the later! (I can't get off topic...HAH
)I'm going to expand on the Random Thoughts part of this blog to accommodate the shorter posts.
I also want to include a new part of the blog called Karma Yogi. This part of the blog will talk about charities and good causes for you to volunteer for or donate to as well as fund raising events that are legitimate and local. This will be in a weekly format. If there is enough support for this part of the blog, I will expand on it to submissions from people outside of my circle of family and friends.
There is something that I have shunned away from doing on this blog - that is, recommending products. I wanted to shy away from being a "snake oil salesman." I'm happy that Google Ads have found a place for the alternative health and wellness industry but I working in the Apothecary has really increased my awareness for body and mind care. I will start speaking from this frame of mind...more so than before. This means that I will include specific products to further explain my blogs. This way, you can get out there and take care of yourself immediately and not wait for me to put out the next thing...which would be months at a time (I'm so sorry!
)Yoga talk will always be included. Right now, with Yoga Teacher Training, I neither have the time nor the money to venture into other realms of alternative medicine for myself. Don't worry, I will continue to include articles from great sources that will provide you with the necessary information needed to make informed decisions.
OK...now my talk is about over. I have to get in touch with my Mentor for YTT and I have to schedule my practice Yoga session with the rest of my homies. I need to get started to creating this workshop...in January, my leadership team, LT46, will start the 3rd part of our Legacy Project - doing a workshop once a month for the shelter we raised funds for. We have already completed redecorating the rooms and I aided in providing laptops from Lenovo.
There is so much more to talk about...but much better to be said in consistent pieces, with effort and for a long time.
In the meantime, Barack says:
stay strong, stay healthy, and fight dis-ease!
It's been a while, hasn't it? 
(ooh wee...I haven't been on here in so long that I just realized that Blogger now has it's own set of smileys - or that can just be from my Firefox plug-in. LOL either way, I'm a happy girl )
It's been 3 months since I did my last draft...on meditation, that still has not been put up yet. I want to thank you for putting up with...what's left of me!
I haven't neglected you and this blog because I am busy (even though I am). I have neglected you and this blog because I am scared. Right now, I'm scared of what the future holds. This is not a negative fear. This is more along the lines of positive terrifying excitement...
There has been no Yoga in the Parks as of late but the weather is still nice and I'm making time to "make time." I am in Yoga Teacher Training right now, which is the most exciting thing for me, as of late.
Another exciting thing I'm dealing with is this fundraiser I'm doing with my Leadership Team. I am proud of be a part of this project to create an "Empowerment Center" in a Domestic Violence Shelter in Brooklyn. Our After Work Benefit is on Oct. 17 (hey better late than never) and for more information (or to donate or buy a raffle ticket) please go to www.LT46for WIN.org
Because I have found the courage to put this blog up, I'm going to do my best to put up that blog on Meditation and continue with my year schedule. This meditation blog is highly important because since going to YTT (at Integral Yoga), I have become more of a fan of meditation.
I am also in the process of changing up my blog - templates, widgets, all that. That also takes a while. Moving things around, prioritizing, and actually getting things done makes me hunger for dark chocolate. I'm still praying that these smileys stay in my blog and I don't have to do the cut/paste thing anymore.
Happy times, happy times!! Your girl is back and smarter than ever!
Can't wait for you to
stay strong, stay healthy, and fight dis-ease!
Yes folks. I'm back again. I have thought about you and my blog everyday, however, thinking isn't the same as DOING! So without further "to do" (you know I gotta put my own spin on words)...here it is:
I hope it's big enough for you to see...I'm doing another Yoga in the Park!! This time, it will be in Brooklyn and there is a $10 suggested donation.
I have so much going on (this is not an excuse, merely a fact) and I have to prioritize. Between this blog, my book, my job(s), my mom, volunteer work, and cleaning my house...well, you get the idea. The blackberry is not enough. I need the Jesus phone to be able to keep up (or at least a long vacation). The vacation won't happen anytime soon (I'm working on that too) but I have been meditating and it helps a lot. You like the segue, don't you? 
I went to Summer Spa Day at Integral Yoga yesterday. It was a fantastic event. I did 90 minutes of Yoga, 20 minutes of Meditation, had a great vegetarian lunch, got a facial/body scrub, did some Qi Gong, Reiki, Thai Yoga Massage, and enjoyed a lecture by Dr. Naina Marballi on Ayurveda Beauty and Wellness. It was truly amazing to share and celebrate our "Sacred Feminine Aspect." The rain didn't dampen our spirits...it actually made us more aware and alive because we knew that it washes away the past and the dirt to make way for the new and the present to shine.
It's just too damn bad that my hips are super sore! 
I need to work on my right hip more (making it open up) but it's my left hip that is the sorest! It's weird but interesting because it shows me how one side will work to compensate for the other. The left hip is taking all of the soreness for the right hip. I did a lot of work on my right hip yesterday!
Another good thing about yesterday was when I was doing Yoga. Sumatri is the name of our instructor and guide for yesterday's events. She is an amazing teacher. We had a multi-level class and I loved the way she was able to take the simplest poses and "build up" in complexity so even first timers had confidence to do more than they thought they could do.
Now most of you know that I only have time to do Yoga at home (right now). 5 minutes of Sun Salutations and I'm a happy camper! If I can get in a pigeon pose and savasana (corpse pose), then I'm golden. This is no more than 10 minutes, tops. Being that this was my first "class" in months, I decided to try to take the mediocre route. If I could advance in a pose, I would. If I didn't think I could, then I wouldn't.
Sumatri wasn't trying to hear any of that. "Why don't you try it this way?," she would ask me. My mind would say, "hell to the no lady! This is supposed to be an easy day!" but my breath would lead my body to do the poses with ease. I was amazed...at myself and the class. As I would do a pose, the person next to me would follow my lead. The person on the other side of me would get a little bit bolder in doing the pose. The person across from me would smile and continue to focus on her breath. It was as if I was inspiring them and they were inspiring me and this energy was building up throughout the day. The energy built up but didn't burst. It bloomed and blossomed, like a lotus flower. Did you know I love lotus flowers?
Oh yeah...I forgot one thing to add to my to-do list...RUNNING! I said that by 9/7, I'll be able to run 5K in under 30 minutes. I haven't started practicing yet.
But all of that will change as of next week. Today is the first day (of that time...yeah, it's really 'Sacred Feminine' time 
) so I'm going to take a break. However, I am going to make it a point to run at least twice a week so I can get my time down. Right now, I run 5K in 34 minutes and I haven't ran in a month.One more thing...I finished the Master Cleanser a couple of days ago. I lost 8lbs and in 5 days, have only gained back 3lbs. It's tough to gain weight when you don't have time to exercise (yeah my metabolism/weight is funny like that) and your stomach seems to have shrunken because you only took in liquids for 10 days! LOL In the end, I made a lot of silly mistakes that I didn't need to make. I can't be upset though...it will only serve to help you when my book comes out. I don't want you to make the same dipsh*t mistakes I did!
OK, that's it for now. I'm tired of talking about me, me, me and nothing about breathe, breath, breathing! Mediation anyone?
Let me babble on some more before letting you go:
when there is something I need to do that is very important, I have this tendency to avoid it until the last second. This is not a good thing. I need to act with urgency and not desperation. Most human beings are living in "fright or flight" mode (more on this at another time)...with that comes desperation. Everything is in a hurry...not an urgency - knowing that you need to do something soon but pacing yourself to make sure it happens at that time and not a second later but waiting until the last minute and then rushing to get something done half-assed. Don't look at me like I'm crazy. I know you do it too. Especially if you live in NYC? Oh yeah, that's you!
My friend that did my Reiki treatment yesterday (hey Louisya!) told me that my body screamed to her that I needed to rest. She wasn't lying. The Thai Yoga Massage lady said something similar to me, in regards to my right hip being so tight. "You're still holding on to something that the rest of you wants to let go...you need to get some rest so that this last bit of tightness can be finally released." In typical NYC fashion, I told them both to wait until after Sept. 7. Well sorry ladies, we're going to have to wait until Jan. 1. I start Yoga Teacher Training at Integral Yoga Institute on September 8.
Even though I have all this stuff to do, I will take their advice and relax for a couple of days. I'm in another period of transitition (did I mention I also need to clean my house? LMAO) so I think I can fit some relaxation in. I don't want to crash and burn out, like I have done in the past (I am a Pitta-Vata...I burn out easily) and I don't want you to either (regardless of what Ayurvedic constitution you are).
I'm going to meditate for a little bit and then face my fear and type up this blog on Meditation. I still have a schedule to keep and people who like to read....so until next time true believers (yeah Stan Lee...sue me later when I have $)...
stay strong, stay healthy, and fight dis-ease!
