a cleanse.
When I found yoga, it was medicine for my soul that healed me in ways I never thought possible.
I never thought I would be anything other than trapped in my eating disorder. I never thought I could feel at ease and powerful in my body. I never thought I could be best friends with a body that wasn’t what I wanted for over 15 years.
But yoga taught me I was wrong. Yoga showed me the way. In all of these years since, I’ve tried to share yoga so that others could have that inexplicable, curative experience of feeling at home in their bodies. To begin to see their bodies as a miracle instead of curse and to appreciate their bodies as their soul’s chance to be here, in this moment.
As I breathed and moved on my mat over 25 years ago and listened to my body so closely, I began to get clear on ways to feel better that were complimentary to yoga, extensions of yoga, but off the mat. I began to see food as medicine and water as the greatest elixir of life. I began to understand the profound value of listening to my body with the intent to understand it’s messages that sometimes came in the form of a headache, a tight muscle, a stomach ache - telling me to look more closely at what I was putting in, what I was consuming. And also listening to the messages of high energy and a relaxed stomach as an indication from body that what was going in, was working for me! And those were the beginning threads that would eventually be woven together as The Experience.
I understand The Experience as a title is a bit elusive and maybe you have even wondered what it is as you see it being offered. In essence, it is a cleanse or a period of time dedicated to clearing out habits that are not in service of our best selves and moving towards habits that allow us to feel light in heart, mind and body. It is a chance to return to yourself. As Dr. Mark Hyman says, “in just 10 days of eating whole foods, cutting out processed food and practicing simple habits, you can reduce chronic disease symptoms by up to 70%.” He reminds us this includes “sinus issues, allergies, IBS, migraines, even depression.”
The Experience is rooted in yoga, body listening and eating unprocessed food. But it is enhanced through encouragement to give each day - because giving is energizing for both the giver and receiver. When you give, positive chemical hormones are released into your body! Oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins are all released into your body when you give a gift - the gift can be as simple and free as a compliment! This is one reason I believe we all love Christmas! (See reference for this below)
The Experience in its essence is about giving back to your body that gives you so much! And in return feeling great! As you fixate on yoga, eating nourishing foods, getting plenty of water, giving something each day, listening to your body, sitting in stillness a few minutes each day and speaking with love to yourself - miraculous changes occur! Truly! You sleep better, you have more energy, you feel lighter and brighter!
As Dr. Mark Hyman says, “focus on foods that heal, sleep that restores and habits that energize. Transformation begins now.” While I am not a doctor like Mark Hyman, I am inspired by his incredible work in the realm of functional medicine! His work and research continues to inspire me to share The Experience!
Join me this January 12 for a transformational cleanse, The Inner Bliss Experience!
Practices listed here:
Practice Yoga Daily (Take 8 classes in studio or on zoom and 2 short practices on demand)
Body Listening - tune in and pay attention to your bodily feedback - we will help you learn how to do this!
Meditation - sit still and concentrate on your breath for 5-10 minutes
Giving Practice - simply find a way to give each day! It feels great!
Clean eating (unprocessed food) with the help of our Recipe Library and Grocery Shopping Guide!
Drinking lots of Water - a simple yet power adjustment to your habits with incredible benefits!
Practicing Mantras - using positive inner messaging to feel great - we will teach you how to do this!
Warmly,
Tammy
Research published in Psychological Science by Elizabeth Dunn
