5 reasons gratitude is so important for your body, mind and soul.

It connects you with your soul.

It connects you with the universe. The ancient root of the word GRATITUDE, that means “to praise, to celebrate; to be in contact with the Divine.” In other words, being grateful is equivalent to feeling the presence of the Divine in our lives. It is the same as being in a state of bliss. It allows us to see value, virtue and blessings in everything. 

Experiencing gratitude is one of the most effective ways of getting in touch with your soul. When you’re in touch with your soul, you are in your heart, when your heart is open - feeling abundance and generosity come easy. You feel connected to everything in creation. You embrace the wisdom of uncertainty and you sense yourself as a field of infinite possibilities. You are one with the universe. 

It gets you out of your own way.

The feeling of gratitude involves two stages. First we are grateful for something. Second, we are grateful to something/somebody. One can be grateful to other people, to animals, and to the world, but not to oneself. We are reminded that a lot in our lives depends on others, that we are not the centre of the universe:-) So we get out of our own way here.

It challenges our ego.

Gratitude is a fullness of heart that moves you from limitation and fear (EGO) to expansion and love(SOUL). When you’re appreciating something, your ego moves out of the way. You can’t have your attention on ego and gratitude at the same time.

Present moment. 

Gratitude brings your attention into the present time, which is the moment in which miracles can unfold. We spend so much of our time in the past or in the future, creating a lot of anxiety and depression as a result. Gratitude helps us to stay present, and avoid a lot of unnecessary suffering. 

Gratitude is good for your health and science proofs that. 

Research performed in 2015 showed that patients with heart failure who completed gratitude journals showed reduced inflammation, improved sleep, and better moods; this reduced their symptoms of heart failure after only 8 weeks.

In these and other studies, science has been providing clinical proof supporting what many religions and spiritual traditions have been saying for millennia: gratitude does good.

If you would like to learn more about gratitude join high on yoga membership where you will find the full programme with yoga mediation and yogic teachings.

The link is here.

7 ideas to be kinder to yourself

Love is the easiest and works best when expressed as self-compassion. If we are not compassionate towards ourselves, we can't truly love another person, we can’t understand them fully. The flight attendants always remind us to put on our own mask first before assisting others. Self-compassion is a gate to happiness. 

Self-love awakens your soul, self-love invites your soul to be more present in your physical body. The more you love and appreciate yourself, the more peace, love and light your body and nervous system can hold. And this is how you become the light, radiating the energy of peace, love and stillness.   

This all sounds lovely, but most of us still struggle with self-love. So here are some ideas for you on how to be lovelier and kinder to yourself. 

1. Go on a MIND DETOX.

   On a regular detox, we stop eating junk food, unhealthy stuff, and tons of sugar. On a mind detox, we leave out complaining, trashing ourselves, being mean to ourselves, calling ourselves names, etc. You get the point. Never done it before? I invite you to a 7-day mind detox, where you will be kind to yourself, where you will appreciate yourself and give yourself the recognition and love you deserve. Your self-critic or self-victim will most likely try to sneak in, but you will catch them every time and say, "Thank you, but we are on themind detox."Try it, it’s fun and very rewarding! And you will build positive habits that may stay with you forever.

2. Practice AFFIRMATIONS.

   I know affirmations are very worn off but they are great and work. Create your own affirmation in the form of ‘I AM ….’ for example ‘I am loveable’, ‘I am loving’, ‘I am enough’, ‘I am beautiful,’ ‘I am peace’, ‘I am loved and supported by the Universe’. These are just ideas, it’s best to create your own affirmations that resonate uniquely with you. What to do with your affirmations? Write them down 100 times a day in your journal, meditate on repeating them mentally, walk mentally repeating them, create a screensaver or drawing with them. Possibilities are endless.

3. Protect your energy.

   Are you always making sure that other people’s needs are met first? Are you trying to be helpful to others while forgetting about yourself? It’s time to start valuing you and making yourself important to you. It’s time to start blessing yourself and connecting with the infinite qualities in you. Time to rely on your sacred space. The more you protect your energy and nurture your sacred space, the more your sacred space will protect and nurture you. Crete small habits where you protect your energy, value yourself and connect with your inner sacred space. I know I’m biassed, but I think the best way to connect with your sacred space is through yoga and meditation.

4. JOY in your heart.

   Connect with your heart, see what comes to you when you think of joy and inspiration, find the answer and do that regularly. Do the things that bring you genuine joy more often. This is an easy way back to your heart, where compassion and love live.

5. Be kind and generous to others.

   When we think badly of others or hate them, - we are filling up our being with that negative energy first. When we are kind and generous to others, we get to experience that energy too. So love yourself first and then love others. Not because they are your family members or friends, love all - a shopkeeper, a bus driver, anybody you meet.

6. STAY HUMAN.

   We can’t be happy non stop, it’s difficult to be kind and loving all the time, so when you slip, don’t beat yourself up. Love yourself, both your good and bad sides, your cheerleader and your critic.The whole of you. Love and accept yourselves as you are, and you will feel the peace and happiness you never thought was possible.

At the end, I will leave you with something that inspired me years ago and it keeps inspiring me… If you don’t value yourself, nobody will value you…  

Oh and a bit of Kundalini yoga to open your heart to yourself. Try it on YouTube.

How does it sound? Are you going to try on of those ideas? Please let me know in the comments below.

Digestion and why it matters so much?

Digestion is a very fascinating subject. You may be surprised, but the quality of your digestion is directly related to the quality of your life. We digest food, emotions, ideas, thoughts, experiences, etc. The better we are able to digest, the more balance and peace we have in our daily life. Good digestion helps us create a strong body, a clear mind and live a life full of purpose and meaning. Poor digestion contributes to ill health, mental cloudiness, and an inability to focus on things that really matter in our lives. 

A lot of people come to yoga because they have problems with digestion (food intolerances, IBS, absorption problems and more). That was my story too...

My story with digestion. 

When I was in my early twenties, I had a typical student lifestyle, I was drinking, partying and eating whatever was at hand. Luckily, my body didn’t like it and started breaking down. I was ill all the time, didn’t have any energy and everyday life became difficult. Everything in my life was toxic, my food, all the other ‘things’ I was putting into my body and my environment (I was working and pretty much living in a bar). I wanted at least one healthy thing in my life, and this is how I found myself in a yoga class. The rest is history:-). Needless to say, my digestion improved, and my life transformed on so many levels in the last 17 years too. So there are many life lessons to be learned when we examine our digestion.    

Your digestion will teach you a lot about yourself.

I believe problems with digestion can be symptoms of deeper issues in our body and mind. Often, indigestion is caused by stress, worries, unresolved trauma, anger, inability to give and receive love and more… I say that because I see a lot of people at yoga who are intolerant to gluten, lactose, or have other problems with digestion but after some time of regular practice their condition improves. Side effects of regular yoga and meditation practice are: peace, acceptance, healing, opening of the heart and ability to deal with challenges  of every day life. This is why I think your body is trying to tell you something through indigestion. When the digestive system is functioning well we are able to have a balanced life, taking in as much as we need to and letting go of as much as it’s necessary too.  

However, if this is a bit too deep and spiritual for you, don’t worry. You don’t need to think of any emotional or mental matters and just focus on improving your digestion and eating a more healthy and balanced diet and you will see other aspects of your life improving too.

This is why I have created the Digestion Programme in the High On Yoga membership. It contains daily meditations, short yoga practice to circulate energy in your digestive system and make it function better, and a big yoga class to help you master your digestion, learn to let go of toxins and impurities, and it’s a great anti-aging set too. 

P.S. Here is the link to join High On Yoga Online Community

Pre-spring meditation challenge to achieve strong mind

Daily practice is an important part of Kundalini Yoga. When we start doing daily practice this is when we transform and heal quickly, this is when the magic happens. Let’s face it, with busy lives it’s not always easy to stay committed and motivated to do daily yoga or meditation but this is exactly why every few months, I invite yogis to join a practice together. We can support each other, it keeps us accountable and we are connected through that practice. 

Here is my new invitation to you! Join us for a daily meditation practice to create strong mind and reach excellence in life. The meditation lasts only 11 minutes but it’s a strong practice that will create powerful results. 

Here are the benefits of the meditation:

• Strengthen your mind and your nervous system.

• Reach excellence in life.

• Find new stability and self-trust.

• Improve your breathing.

• Increased energy.

• Challenge yourself and renew yourself physically, mentally and spiritually.

• Connect with others doing the same practice globally.

Does it sound appealing?

There are 2 ways to join the challenge. You can join the live meditation on Zoom everyday at 6.45am GMT to see other people doing it live, in the same time, 

or you can do it with a YouTube video in your own time.

We are starting the challenge on 10th of February and continue till the 21st of March so we can enter the Spring with this new energy, strong mind, strong nervous system and enhanced sense of self-trust. 

If you are willing to join us, please sign up here.  And comment below letting us know you are joining!

22 Ideas for Yogic New Year's Resolution in 2022

New Year’s

Resolution Ideas.

Be more healthy, happy and fulfilled in 2022 .

1. UPGRADE YOUR YOGA OR MEDITATION PRACTICE.

   If you are doing yoga only once a week start doing it twice a week, If you are attending regular classes - maybe start daily practice. Think how could you practice more yoga..?

2. FOCUS ON ONE THING.

   One yoga pose, one meditation technique, one chakra, one trouble area(i.e. anxiety, self-love, etc..) Focus on one theme in your practice and go deep into it. You will become an expert in that area.

3. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH MANTRAS.

   Play mantras at home, while cooking, in your car etc.. Playing mantras in daily life is such a beautiful and effortless way to raise your vibration and energy of your environment. And you will learn those difficult mantra words as a side effect.

4. READ ONE BOOK A MONTH.

   Every month, pick a book about yoga, meditation, self-development or spirituality. Read the book and if it resonates embody the teachings, don’t just jump to the next book, practice what you have learnt. Next month choose another book.

5. PRACTICE KINDNESS.

   There is yoga on the mat and yoga off the mat. Yoga off the mat is love, kindness, service, patience and so on… Pick one thing and practice it daily for a week or a month if you are liking it.

6. STOP EATING MEAT.

   Vegetarian diet is a part of the yogic lifestyle. If you are still eating meat see if you can reduce it or try going vegetarian for a month. It’s much easier, tastier and more enjoyable than it seems.

7. STOP DRINKING ALCOHOL.

   Often yogis and yogis give up alcohol and it helps to keep body and mind pure. Stop drinking alcohol for a month and see how it works for your body and mind.

8. TAKE UP COLD SHOWERS.

   The benefits of cold showers are fantastic, it strengthens your immune and nervous system, makes you more resistant to cold weather and helps you deal with stress.

9. LEARN TO RELAX DAILY.

   In our high paced living relaxation is no longer luxury, it’s a necessity. Learn to sit quietly for 10 minutes without any distractions, start 10 minutes long naps or go for a mindful walk. Learn your own way of relaxing your body and mind.

10. PRACTICE POWER OF NOW.

    If you are new to the idea of power of now I recommend the book ‘Power of now’ by Eckhart Tolle or you can simply bring more awareness into every single moment. Wherever you go, there you are. Are you having dinner - be immersed in having dinner, are you with your family - be fully present with them, are you at the queue in a supermarket - enjoy that queue.. Be here now!

11. GO TO YOGA OR MEDITATION RETREAT THIS YEAR.

    Plan a yoga or meditation retreat this year. It’s the most nourishing, connecting and fulfilling type of holiday you can do. You will have a great time, learn a lot and meet like-minded people.

12. START PRIVATE CLASSES.

    If there is a specific theme you want to work on start working privately with a yoga teacher. You will progress much faster than in group classes as the teacher focus is on your needs, challenges and goals.

13. CREATE ALTAR AT HOME.

    Altar can be a scary word, but it’s simply your sacred space where you connect with yourself and the Universe. Of course, you can do it anywhere but when you have an altar it reminds you that this is the space for your higher self. Creating an altar can be a beautiful and creative process. It can contain pictures of your loved ones or people who inside you, you can place some candles, crystals or flowers there. Whatever raises your vibration.

14. START USING MANTRA ON DAILY BASIS.

    Mantras are not supposed to be used only in your yoga practice, you can use them while walking, running, falling asleep or in many situations in your daily life. They work on a deeper level then. You can mentally chant ‘Sat nam’ ‘Let go and let God’ ‘I am peace, peace is in me’ ‘I’m loved and supported by the Universe’ etc.. the list is endless… Get into the habit of using mantras off the mat and see your energy changing, levels of wellbeing raising and you transforming quickly.

15. BREATHE DEEPLY.

    Start breathing deeper this year. “If you want things to be done for you so you don’t have to do anything, then you must breathe from one to five or six breaths per minute. If you can practice that, then you can attract the universe to you. It is no secret. It’s a simple thing. The longer and deeper your breath is, the more your psyche attracts everything to you—it’s a way to prosperity.” Yogi Bhajan

16. USE MALA FOR MEDITATION.

    Mala is a great tool for practicing mantra in your meditation. With each repetition of the mantra you touch one bead, and then the next… and keep going for 108 times or however many beads your male has. Then you can wear it on your chest, which not only makes for a beautiful jewellery but a reminder of that mantra.

17. PRACTICE KARMA YOGA.

    Karma yoga is yoga in action. It’s a selfless action performed for the benefit of others. The person performing the act of service is only benefiting by joyfully giving to others. Maybe you could try volunteering or helping a vulnerable neighbour. It’s very fulfilling and one of the best remedies for depression.

18. PRAY.

    Prayer is simply conversation with the universe. When we pray we talk to the universe, and we meditate universe talks to us.

19. START A GRATITUDE JOURNAL.

    Everyday write 3 things you are grateful for. Get into habit appreciating what you have instead of focusing on what you don’t have.

20. DRINK MORE WATER.

    This is simple, track your water intake to drink minimum of 2 liters of water everyday.

21. GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

    Try something new, try something you are scared of. Slowly move out of your comfort zone and see how amazing it makes you feel.

22. VISION BOARD.

    Create a vision board with your dreams, aspirations and inspiration for 2022. It’s a magical reminder what’s important to you and what you want to create in 2022.

I hope this inspires you.

Wishing you a year full of growth, joy, happiness and prosperity.

Light to all, peace to all, love to all. Daria x