Excerpt from 'How to touch a Monk - Finding our Sacred Space within'

By SOPHIA S. PAUL, ND, Cert. Yoga Instructor, Author

How many times have you had to start over and really didn't want to? How many times did you not have another option or choice? How many times, a long time after whatever the event was did you realize that this once so dreaded change was the best thing that could have happened to you?

Having to start over is essentially being in the flow of life and embracing...

Yoga is not just about being able to put your foot behind your ear, although the physical aspect of flexibility is important-just recently I fell off the kitchen counter onto the tile floor, and my flexibility, strength and quick reaction probably saved me from a broken hip. But there is so much more to yoga than just the poses that we all know and see.
The most important part of yoga is to learn the ability to stay centered and focused-no matter what-to allow our minds to remain calm and at peace in the midst of tumult, chaos and challenges. Being connected to our body and mind through the breath is one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves.

Yoga is a lifestyle; not just an exercise. Yoga is to be practiced on and off the mat during our daily lives. Through yoga we can learn to act as the observer, to stay detached from the situation, or challenge...

It's the day before Thanksgiving 2011. The weather is more like Spring than November, mild, sunny, calm. A perfect day for a hike.

Along the edge of a forest, crossing a stream, up the hill I go. The air is warm and fragrant with the scent of ponderosa pine. There is no wind, no sound, perfect quietude except the crunching gravel underneath my hiking boots. The silence around me is so profound, almost sacred, that even my footsteps seem to disturb this moment for me. After about a mile or so I step off the path and climb up a steep grassy hill. Big granite boulders are strewn across the slope. Meandering higher and higher the distant snowcapped mountains reveal themselves to me and the more I climb the more this spectacular vista opens up.

Sitting down on a small ledge on this sunny slope I hear the gurgling stream below at the bottom of the canyon...

Why are we holding back? Is it because we are afraid of failure or rejection? Fear of our own possible success? Because we may feel unworthy? Is it the 'Cinderella complex'? Well, it's time for Cinderella to crawl out of the ashes and SHINE.

Who am I to dream of success? Were you raised to just be average? Who told you to not stand out? Many of these limiting beliefs are deeply rooted in us as they were instilled during our childhood by family, society, friends. What if we let go of the fear of failure, rejection or the jealousy of others? What if the outcome of your endeavor doesn't even matter? What if the journey matters, the attempt to be the best you can be, just for yourself not anyone else? Would you become the fashion designer you always wanted to be? Or the opera singer? Would you dare to embark on the expedition to climb the world's highest mou...

How do we deal with death? Some of us believe in life after death, some don't. I had a sad conversation with a dear friend yesterday. He told me that he is severely ill and per his doctors he has a maximum of two years to live. The illness is very aggressive, there is no known cure currently available. My friend told me that he is at peace and that he accepts what is happening and he lives his life day by day. What matters to him, he said, is that he has something to look forward to tomorrow and that is all. Starting over every day. He was happy that we were spending time together sitting on his deck sipping wine, having a simple wholesome dinner and a loving conversation, watching the creek below, a pair of coyotes resting in the meadow. He is looking forward to tomorrow to see his dogs being happy and taken care of. But he also spoke about not believing in an afterlife. Our opinions...

While watching and filming the fox, this 'Mindful Breathing Meditation' just happened

Breathing in the fresh crisp mountain air
Breathing out I am happy
Breathing in gazing upon the distant snow capped mountains
Breathing out I feel gratitude
Breathing in I know we all are breathing the same air
Breathing out I know you are my friend.
SSP

(if you cannot watch the video here please go to http://www.royalyogabailey.com/living-an-inspired-life.html )

Yoga is a discipline that is suited for almost everyone at almost any age to enhance one's health and well-being. It can be anything you want and need, calming, energizing, invigorating, relaxing. Yoga will make you feel better on all levels, physically, emotionally, mentally, even spiritually if you wish. The key to reaping the benefits of yoga is of course proper instruction.

If you are a total novice to yoga it is not advised to start your practice by watching a video or TV show nor by simply 'popping' into any established yoga class. You WILL need a good, experienced, qualified personal instructor who will take the time to address your personal needs with a class that is geared towards beginners. Following this advise your success is almost guaranteed, provided once you started you will keep your practice up.

The reason I am writing this short ar...

....my most cherished moments are spending the night in the wilderness, curled up in my small backpacking tent or even just sleeping under the stars. I call it my 'wilderness therapy'. There is a sacred silence to be experienced that does not exist anywhere else, that makes me drink in the oneness with all, the interconnectedness of all beings, trees, mountains, air, water, space. Here it is where I find my happiness, where nothing else matters, where all worries simply vanish.....

excerpt from Living an Inspired Life/A personal journey of transformation through yoga

Living an Inspired Life

A personal journey of transformation through yoga

Sophia S Paul, Cert. Yoga Instructor, RMT, ND, Writer

Drawing from a rich colorful tapestry of life experiences there is an urgency to share my story with the reader. This book is about dispelling the myths about yoga being only for the young, fit and flexible as well as that one has to become a Buddhist/Hindu or that one will be converted into a different belief systems in order to benefit from yoga. I want to encourage and inspire other people, to step out of their comfort zone and try something new -that weird thing called yoga - then see for themselves how their lives will almost miraculously change. This is my personal inspiring story how it all started, how it helped me through some of the most difficult times in my life, leading me to taking ...

Warming up before a yoga session is as important as the warm up before any physical activity - I created this short video clip for you with my Royal Yoga Yoginis. We are demonstrating Angel's breath, Robin's Breath, Kundalini circles and Stirring the Corn.

All of us are also wearing OmShanti Yoga Wear, so as an extra bonus you can watch our fabulously comfy all organic (bamboo/cotton/soy) yoga wear in action.

www.omshantiyogawear.com