Ah … Summer.  The days are long and the living is easy!  For kiddos, it’s a time when school ends, alarm clocks turn off and a sense of freedom is in the air.  Summer is a time for growth, for trying new things and for self-development.  And, summer can also mean sunburns, physically overheating, and more frequent feelings of anger and frustration when we find ourselves out of balance.  If you hate the heat (like I do!), summer may not be the most relaxing time of year for you.  But the good news is that you can do something to manage it!  Here’s how to better manage your health during the heat of summer with clarity and ease by applying Ayurvedic principles to your daily life.  

The summer is in full swing, and hopefully you’ll have a chance to enjoy some down-time and take a vacation! Whether you’re traveling or planning to stay more local, there are some great ways to enjoy your yoga practice even when you’re out of your normal daily routine. Steve shares some thoughts in today’s blog on how you can plan to bring your yoga practice with you on vacation!

The internet and social media would have you believe that yoga is all about tall, thin, hyper-flexible women putting their body in very awkward positions. Although we have begun to shift this perspective as an industry, it still irks me to no end that most people are still turned off by yoga because they just can’t relate to these images. And these people could most likely benefit the most from yoga! The number one response I get when I say to someone, “Oh you should try yoga!” is, “I’m not flexible enough to do that.” My response? “Exactly. That’s why you should do it.”

For a beginner, yoga can be intimidating and a bit scary. In fact, along with “I’m not flexible enough”, I also hear, “Oh I don’t know what I’m doing so I’d rather not take class.” I get it - I was once a beginner too! Today I’m going to break down exactly what you need to know so you can confidently sign up for your first class and begin to experience the health benefits of yoga.

If you have experience with panic attacks you know how debilitating, overwhelming and extremely terrifying they can be. A sudden, short-term abrupt surge of intense fear floods your body and you feel like everything is completely out of control.

You feel like you are dying.

If you’ve never experienced this yourself, chances are you know someone or you will meet someone who might be going through this very intense experience. It can be very difficult to manage a panic attack while you are in it, or help someone through one, but the good news is that mindfulness techniques can help. Today I’m going to share how you can better manage a panic attack for yourself or for others so that you can feel more in control, reduce the symptoms quicker and find a greater sense of ease.

When I first started practicing yoga in 2000, I can remember my teacher suggesting that we come to the mat with a “Beginner’s Mind” and thinking, “what the heck does that mean?” I wasn’t sure about anyone else, but I was there to master the poses and “win” at doing yoga.

Can you relate?

It took a few years, but I finally realized that the point of yoga was not to perfect the poses and get a gold medal. The point is to explore and enjoy the journey as it unfolds, and embracing a beginner’s mind is a key first step to achieving that. If that seems confusing, don’t worry! Today I’m going to share exactly what it means to have a beginner’s mind both on and off the mat so you can open the doors to all sorts of possibilities in your life and the lives of others.

As humans we are not meant to live in isolation - we are hardwired to participate in communities. Back in our cave-person days, your tribe was your survival. If you separated from your tribe, there was a good chance you’d be eaten. And although we have evolved beyond our cave-people days, the importance of community is still very much part of our DNA. Communities help us feel a stronger sense of personal identity as well as offer a sense of connection, empathy and mutuality. Here are some reasons why we think Our Serenity Community is so important!

I don’t know about you, but I tend to think in absolutes, especially when I am afraid to make a big decision in my life.  I use words like “always” and “never” and think it’s either A or B and there are no options in between. And of course this “all-or-nothing” thinking causes my mind to ruminate, making me feel more anxious. In this blog I walk you through a cognitive technique called “Fear Planning” from Tim Ferris that will help you think through your fears and anxieties in a way that will reduce your anxiety and give you the confidence you need to make better decisions for your life.

“They” say that every human being experiences a “calling”. It could be toward a career path, a way of life or even where you should go for vacation. Merriam-Webster defines a calling as, “A strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence”. My personal translation? To be in alignment with your higher purpose.

I’m sure I’ve experienced many callings in my life, but today I want to share what I consider to be my biggest calling - my journey to leave Corporate America and become a full-time entrepreneur. You’ll learn a little more about me and how I got clear on my calling so that you might be inspired to follow your own heart and intuition as well.

Unfortunately, there is a double standard in our society when it comes to mental health. If you break your leg, have diabetes or high blood pressure, you go to the doctor to get help. But, if you have anxiety or other mental health disorders, you may be judged or called “crazy” because of the negative attitudes and beliefs people have toward mental illness. Although more people are accepting of mental health issues, the stigma associated with it continues to be a problem. Today I’m breaking down the social stigma around anxiety and what you can do right now to overcome this stigma to get the help you deserve when it comes to managing your own anxiety.

As I write this blog in June 2021, 41.4% of Americans are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. States are reopening and life seems to be getting back to some sort of “Post-Covid Normal”. Whatever that means. Some people can’t WAIT to get together with friends and hug strangers on the street while other people feel more comfortable staying put in isolation. As the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be shining, you might be wondering why you aren’t as excited to go back to the “way things were.” You miss being around other people in your community, but you just don’t feel ready. I get it! In this blog I share exactly why you might be feeling this way and how you can use mindfulness techniques to figure out how to best take care of yourself during this post-pandemic transition.

I was a cyclist long before I ever tried yoga. When I found my way to the mat, I thought yoga was just going to be an occasional “stretching” activity to help improve my cycling performance. Although I quickly developed a passion for the philosophy and broader practices of yoga, I did find that certain physical yoga postures (or asanas) were just what I needed after long hours in the saddle. In today’s article, I’d like to focus on one particular area where I experienced this benefit: my back.

If you are an avid runner, or even just go out for a run on occasion, you know how tough running can be on your body. Your leg muscles are tight and you might even struggle with tension and joint pain. And if you are training for a race or trying to improve your performance, you might find that these issues are preventing you from reaching your goals.

Although I am not a runner myself, I have helped many runners loosen tight muscles, increase mobility and prevent injury through yoga. In fact, I would argue that yoga is the perfect exercise to recover from a run. The best part is that you can do just 10 minutes of yoga after your run to feel the benefits. Here’s how to stay out of pain and improve your running experience with yoga.

“You can’t pour from an empty cup”, is a widely used saying that basically means you can’t take care of other people until you take care of yourself first. Self-care is important. You know that.  So why isn’t it a priority? I get it - you’re busy!  There’s not enough time in the day to get it all done.  Besides, you’re strong and can just push through feeling depleted.  But what if I told you that eventually you can’t?  That eventually your happiness in life will depend on slowing down and doing activities that promote self-care? Here’s a closer look at how depletion impacts your overall health and how self-care gives you the energy and balance you need to make better decisions, have healthier relationships and be happier in life. 

Almost everyone is thrilled that nice weather has finally arrived. Everyone, it seems, except for our knees. As we get out and get moving, many people find knee pain common. If your knees hurt more getting off your bike, descending from a hike, or simply coming down stairs, you’ll be interested to learn how gentle thigh stretching can take the pressure off of your knees.

When it comes to playing golf, you probably have three main goals:

1. Eliminate strokes and improve your overall game

2. Stay out of pain and away from injury

3. Be able to play this crazy game you love for many, many more years

Want to know the best way to achieve all three of those goals? You guessed it - yoga. Although I’m not playing birdie golf, I know my yoga practice has helped to improve my game and keep me out of pain. And I want the same for you! Here’s how practicing yoga for 20 minutes a day can keep you out of pain and improve your overall game so you can have more fun experiences than frustrating ones on the course.

Did you know only 36.9% of people diagnosed with anxiety ask for help!  Unfortunately, I see so many people taking fiction as facts that they talk themselves out of taking steps to conquer their anxiety before they even start!  Can you relate? I can.  It took me years to seek help because of the beliefs I had about my anxiety. Which - come to find out - were all myths!  Don’t believe me?  Check out below how I uncover the truth behind three of the biggest anxiety myths, so you can see past your beliefs and take action toward overcoming your anxiety in order to live the life you want.  

Have you ever read a book that just stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page?  I definitely have.  Some of the most memorable books I have read are the ones that taught me how to better manage my anxiety.  I definitely have a lot of favorites… but the one that had the biggest impact is, “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times” by Pema Chödrön. 

Pema is an American Buddhist Teacher, author and nun who is best known for her down-to-earth interpretation of Buddhist meditations and how they can be applied to everyday life.  In this book, she offers life-changing tools that help us transform suffering and negative patterns into ease and joy.  Here is my interpretation of how this incredible book relates to anxiety in order to help you better navigate your own anxiety with clarity and confidence.

Have you ever read a book that just sticks with you long after you finished reading it? Sometimes it’s a short story or a character novel that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. And sometimes the books you read can truly transform your perspective and your life. Whether you are new to yoga or have been practicing for years, maybe you already have a yoga book or two that has transformed your experience. These types of books can influence how you think about your practice each time you get on your mat and maybe even give you a new way to think about life off the mat as well.

For the teachers at Serenity, we probably each have at least two or three (or more!) specific yoga books that have dramatically shaped our practice and our teachings. And today, in honor of World Book Day, we want to share our favorites with you!

You already know yoga is good for you. You may have even tried it a few times and felt the benefits! Maybe you got excited and told yourself this is going to be your new healthy routine! You may have even said, “I’ll definitely practice tomorrow!” And then...life happens. You have so many things on your to-do list that you never seem to get on your mat.

You are not alone - every single person that practices yoga has gone through this exact thing. In this blog Michele shares her tried and tested steps to start a consistent yoga practice with confidence and excitement so you can better experience the benefits of yoga in order to live a more balanced and happy life.

There are days that my anxiety is so high that I can’t get a hold of it. I feel hopeless, lost and overwhelmed. Can you relate? When I first started practicing yoga and mindfulness to help manage my anxiety, I thought I could actually make it “go away” by staying “present” all the time. Maybe you share the same hope that one day your anxiety will vanish into thin air! Here’s a closer look at why anxiety doesn’t just disappear and how you can better manage high anxiety days with confidence and compassion until you are able to return back to a clear mind and a balanced heart.