Studies have shown that meditating as little as 12 minutes a day over an eight week period can produce noticeable changes in the brain. These changes include decreased levels of anxiety, increased immune function and an overall boost in happiness and well-being.

One of the best ways to reduce inflammation lies in optimum nutrition, not at the pharmacy! By following an anti-inflammatory diet you can fight off inflammation for good.

Over the past few months I have been working on really leaning into my discomfort, and sitting with emotions that are not so pleasant. Allowing them to breathe; to simply be. Allowing them to exist without judging or personalizing any of it. Being one of those "bury the negative deep down inside" kind of people, allowing pain, suffering and anger to "just be" doesn’t come naturally to me in the least. This is why I need to continue doing the work. This is why I need to push myself into those uncomfortable places. So that I can learn to experience that discomfort, yet still maintain my peace and joy.

All my life I have struggled to feel at home in my own body. As far back as I can remember I have always felt that it was less than. Less than what a real and complete person should be. The first time I starved myself I was around 11 years old. That went on for almost a full year. Stealing my mother’s Slim Fast, hiding uneaten food, throwing out school lunches to make it look like I ate. This is just what girls did to their bodies. They starved themselves, mind and body, to shrink down far enough that they could reach the ideal: the unhealthy and unattainable Perfect Woman.

When there is imbalance in one area of life, it is bound to start showing up in other places as well. Sometimes it presents as a lack of self-compassion or self love. Sometimes it's a loss of interest in hobbies or passions. Other times we may stop seeing friends and family. Sometimes we don't even notice what we're loosing to the imbalance.

Over the past few days I have noticed that the yoga community at large has kept up with the status quo of “love & light”, and has refrained from engaging in the current conversation about the systematic oppression of black, indigenous and POC peoples. We have kept silent while racial profiling and police brutality run rampant; as our brothers and sisters are wrongfully arrested, beaten and murdered. Good vibes only, right?

Today marks three years without a drink.

Three years without benders, blackouts or waking up to feel that sinking pit of regret in my stomach.

Three years of facing all the demons that I buried so deep beneath layers of self medication and distraction.