Just a friendly reminder about saving our planet. Did you know that every single time I go to the beach I see hundreds of colorful plastic pieces lining the edges of the tide marks on the sand? It almost brings me to tears to see all that plastic waste polluting our beautiful beaches and causing injuries to the innocent sea life. Seals, whales, dolphins, sea turles, and fish get entangled, deformed, suffocated, and slowly poisoned by all the plastic marine debris. Glass breaks down and becomes beautiful sea glass. Paper is dissolves so quickly in nature. Metal rusts and adds iron to the environment and can be melted and easily recycled.  However, plastic fishing nets, bottles, lighters, bottle caps, buoys, and plastic bags litter the waters and take basically FOREVER to break down. Recycling plastic adds more toxins to the air and continuously outgases, and it sticks around for many lifetimes.  I don't know which plastics break down slower than others, but all I know is I see it everywhere... and it's disgusting. I urge you to use natural fibers, glass or metal alternatives, and help clean up this plastic disaster we have created!!

Sometimes the things we do day in and day out take a toll on our bodies.  Even yoga instructors can get injuries from overstretching or from trying to pose on some out-of-the-ordinary location for that perfect Instagram shot. (haha. I am guilty of this.) So, I was checking out the website for the physical therapy center I go to, and I wanted to share this link with you regarding work-related injuries.    It has helpful tips and advice for prevention and maintenance of our most commonly injured joints and muscles at work. I hope you find this helpful, and have a great day! 

Image & Content Source: Oahu Spine and Rehab.

SUNDAYS at 4:15pm I will be teaching Yoga Basics at Mindful Matters Wellness Center in Kailua.  This hour long class will focus on the introductory postures (asanas) of yoga in a beginner vinyasa style, breath work, postural alignment, and relaxation techniques.  This is an all levels class catering to all shapes and sizes. If you have any questions before attending your first class, please feel free to contact me here. 

$15.00
*First time student discount is $10 for your first class.  

Live everyday like you are at the beach!

Love. Gratitude. Respect. Joy. Compassion. These are the things that make life a lot easier.

So today I decided to skip the greens in my smoothie and do an all fruit one. As usual, it was so good I had to share the recipe! So here ya have it:

»2 bananas
»1 cup frozen dark cherries
»1/2 cup strawberries
»2 kiwis
»1/2 cup frozen mangoes
»2 tblsp flaxseeds
»1 dash cinnamon

All mixed in blender with water. Frozen/fresh ingredients may vary. I just like to have frozen fruits to make it cold. Enjoy! ~Lorel

This week I have been extremely under the weather. Contrary to the image showing me getting eaten by a shark, I just contracted some respiratory virus.   Being the considerate yogi that I am, I have opted for an at home practice instead of my usual stops.  Sometimes it is nice to also try something new after feeling a bit blah all week, so I turned to youtube. I have heard a lot of interesting things about Kundalini yoga classes, but have yet to actually try one.  Well, youtube made it happen and I was presently surprised. LOTS of breath work (pranayama) in this video with minimal postures, yet somehow I got very sweaty. Despite the occasional cough here and there, my body tolerated the activity pretty well and helped energize my sickly self. Anyway, I enjoyed it so much that I've decided to share the video with you.   

Hopefully this practice helps ignite your day. Enjoy! 

A very wise quote from my yogi tea today.

We just had an exciting two weeks filled with adventure and family! We saw lots of creatures in the ocean, ate a bunch of local fruit, drove around the island, and finally got my husband to like paddle boarding. Hoping to buy one soon. Anyway, it has been a great couple of weeks and I thought I would share this turtle with you. :)

Hoping your weekend was filled with laughter and fun! Hasta luego! -Lorel