What is it about summer and books? Like kale and quinoa, they just go together. Dreamy weather plus slowing down equals perfect conditions for lazy afternoons spent reading on a beach or by a lake, or lounging in a favorite chair while the sun casts leafy shadows across the room. Ahhh. To accompany you along [...]
Posted on June 17th, 2013 by Valerie Reiss in Yoga
Summer Yoga Reading: 8 Books to Inspire Your Brain, Practice, and Smile
Posted on May 9th, 2013 by Valerie Reiss in Conscious Living
Knocked Up with Joy: One Woman’s Pregnancy Journey
When I was 17 I was obsessed with the idea of being pregnant. I sketched women round and bursting with child—over and over. I traced pregnant photos from coffee table books. I imagined, yearned, and fantasized about becoming a giant human peach. I didn’t actually want to be a teen mom, but I loved the [...]
Posted on April 27th, 2013 by Valerie Reiss in Healthy Living
A Gentler, Kinder Spring Detox
Spring has sprung! Kind of, sort of—well, just enough to get me in the mood to clear out the old, stale, winter energy and usher in some fresh air. This means combing through closets, the pantry, and recirculating stuff that no longer serves. It also means cleaning out me. Winter is an inherently stiller time—that [...]
Posted on April 22nd, 2013 by Valerie Reiss in Healthy Living
The Joy of Eating
Almost right away, our teacher asks us to draw a “memorable food experience.” Nothing gets adults past their fear of anything, even drawing, faster than food. Gripping crayons passed around in paper cups, we sketch elaborate Thanksgiving tables, giant pots of comforting stew, and quite a few lobsters. When our teacher, Kripalu nutritionist Kathie Madonna [...]
Posted on March 26th, 2013 by Valerie Reiss in Conscious Living
Making Peace with TV: 6 Tips for Healthier Watching
Most of us know that watching TV isn’t exactly the kale of activities but rather the physical equivalent of eating deep-fried Spam. One recent Harvard study found that excessive TV watching (20 hours a week) can lower men’s sperm count by 50 percent. An Australian study revealed that every hour those 25 and older spend [...]
Posted on March 2nd, 2013 by Valerie Reiss in Meditation
Meditating for Sleep: Beditation 101
When I did a nine-day vipassana meditation retreat a few years ago, as you might guess, we pretty much meditated all day. We either sat on cushions, all 60 of us in a hall, or we sat in our rooms—on our beds or floors, observing our breath, thoughts, and sensations. About 13 hours of meditation [...]
Communication 101: Talking and Listening, for Real
My man, Brad, and I have been practicing the Imago Dialogue since nearly the beginning of our relationship. Though the name sounds like a drama class exercise, it’s actually a simple map for communicating consciously that helps us each feel heard. About four months into dating Brad, I was covering a wellness conference and had full [...]
Posted on January 17th, 2013 by Valerie Reiss in Healthy Living
Managing the Migraine Monster
It’s said by many spiritual folks that we choose everything in our lives, from relationships to accidents to riches to illnesses. Depending whom you ask, we choose things for reasons unconscious (we’re trying to heal a childhood wound); metaphysical (we’re working out a past-life issue); psychological (we’re looking for power/safety/validation/etc.); or all of the above. [...]
Posted on December 25th, 2012 by Valerie Reiss in Yoga
Ways to Slow Down and Make Life a Yoga Class
Think about the word fast. Close your eyes. What do you see? I see a blur of cars, the color red, an e-mail inbox filling faster than I can click. Now what’s happening in your body? I get a little panicky, scared, overwhelmed, worried that I can’t keep up, that I’m missing out, that the [...]
How to Give Like a Yogi
You may be well along in your holiday gift shopping. But if you’re like me, buying gifts because the calendar says so feels a bit hollow—and you have therefore been dragging your heels. Here are some ways to make giving more meaningful.
Meaning kicks in when you give in a way that’s aligned with your values like, say: stepping lightly on the planet; supporting local and/or small businesses (a.k.a. people following their passions); helping those in need; giving experiences over stuff; tapping your creative juices instead of Amazon.com’s; and more. But it’s also important to stay mindful of the receiver: Just because you think your mom should do yoga, giving her a mat might read as unwelcome pressure.
That said, here are some conscious ways to give:
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