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Category Archives: Knowledge
Image“My Poses Are My Prayers” – B.K.S. Iyengar
“A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Begins With A Single Step” — The Way Of Lao-Tzu
February 11, 2013 in Balance, Knowledge, Life, Photos, Quotes, Self, Spirituality, Wisdom
Tagged Inner Wisdom, Jennifer Miller, Journeys, Lao Tzu, Life, Pictures, Quotes, Wisdom
Reflections On My Daughter “Standing Up Against Bullying And Cruelty In High School”
By Jennifer Miller
My daughter told me last night about a girl she knew at school who was being bullied. She was visibly upset and showed me a horrific text that had been sent by the boy who had been verbally “attacking” this young lady.
I too had been bullied by neighborhood boys, one of which, later in life, ended up in jail. My daughter had been bullied the prior week, and stood up to the boys (and girls). She showed incredible courage in standing up for herself, while making a stand for justice and what is right.
She posted a statement on her Facebook page regarding the injustice. Some kids rallied around her, while others attacked her because she choose to say speak her mind. We talked further about what could be done to help the girl, and it was decided to bring the actions (and text) to the attention of the school. She felt that it was important to support her classmate. Dangerous and cruel actions have consequences in life.
As I watch my daughter navigate life, and stand for ethics, morals and values, I know in my heart that she will make a difference in the world.
Being kind unlocks so many doors in this harsh world. I truly believe that if every single person in America operated out of love and not out of fear and hatred, all problems would be solved. Selfishness, killings, oppression, drugs, healthcare, unemployment, war, religion, poverty, bullying… Think about it. What if people operated out of love, and treated YOU with kindness? Would you be a happier person? Would you be kinder to others?
People who are victims of these problems often need your help more than any one else. Empathize with them. Everyone has a story to tell, and sometimes words aren’t the only way of crying out for help. BE KIND. I guarantee your life will change, and so will the those who are the beneficiaries of your love and empathy. If not for anyone else, do it for yourself. Savannah Robison
Namaste
Posted in Bullying, Cruelty, Daughters, Knowledge, Life, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Bullying, Daughters, Jennifer Miller, Pain, Reflections, Savannah Robison, Strength, Values
“To Be Able To Stay In Our Heart…Takes Openness, Expansion And Learning To Be Vulnerable”
By Jennifer Miller
To be able to stay in our heart as we navigate life is truly beautiful. It takes openness, expansion and learning to be vulnerable. My heart is like my inner guidance system, giving signals energetically. If something feels right, it sings with happiness; negative energy is sensed as well.
“When we complete the journey to our own heart, we will find ourselves in the hearts of everyone else.”
Father Thomas Keating, in Be The Change
I have realized what a gift my journey has been, with the most difficult times opening my heart even more. I now feel a connectedness, a oneness with all.
Namaste
Posted in Awareness, Feelings, Freedom, Happiness, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Mindfulness, Reflections, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Balance, Heart, Heart-Based Healing, Inner Wisdom, Jennifer Miller, Life, Wisdom
Reflections On Raising Daughters To Call On Their Own Masculine While Maintaining Their Feminine
By Jennifer Miller
Witnessing my daughters Navigating life and
Concerned they do not haveA father around.They have learned to callOn their own masculineWhile maintaining their feminine.Transforming their painInto strength.Sorrow into wisdom.Broken hearts into kindness and compassion.Their wit and humor is always present.So many gifts come out of the struggles andJourney of life when we look close enoughTo see all the beauty and blessings.
Namaste
The Advantages Of Doing Yoga: “You Will No Longer Be A Slave To Your Body…The Greatest Gift You Can Receive.” – Vanda Scaravelli
“Your everyday activities will improve and become more efficient. You will have less time for useless occupations that are constantly in the way, preventing your contact with more essential things;
You are going to have a better digestion if you do some poses before eating when you are tired;
You will need to sleep fewer hours, as your body will be more relaxed during the night;
You will gain a few inches, eliminating that curve along the back of the spine, and therefore you are going to be a little taller;
You will be able to stand for hours without getting tired, if you gravitate properly on your heels with the knees straight;
You will be able to improve the poses, as there is no end in progress;
You are going to straighten yourself if one part of the body is weaker than the other, by paying a lot of attention while doing your poses, and by continuing this attention throughout the day you will reach a better balance;
You will no longer be a slave to your body, as the independence from it is the greatest gift your can receive.”
From: “Awakening the Spine: The Stress-free New Yoga That Works with the Body to Restore Health, Vitality and Energy” by Vanda Scaravelli
Posted in Asanas, Freedom, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Mindfulness, Quotes, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Asanas, Freedom, Health Benefits, Jennifer Miller, Poses, Postures, Vanda Scaravelli, Yoga
“When You Are Steadfast In Your Abstention Of Thoughts Of Harm…” – Patanjali
“When you are steadfast in your abstention of thoughts of harm directed toward yourself and others, all living creatures will cease to feel fear in your presence.”
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
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Posted in Awareness, Freedom, Knowledge, Life, Meditation, Mind, Mindfulness, Quotes, Self, Wisdom
Tagged Abstention, Fear, Harm, Patanjali, Quotes, Yoga Sutras
“Awareness Is Not The Same As Thought…More Like A Vessel Which Can Hold And Contain Our Thinking” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
” Awareness is not the same as thought. It lies beyond thinking, although it makes use of thinking, honoring its value and its power. Awareness is more like a vessel which can hold and contain our thinking, helping us to see and know our thoughts rather than getting caught up in them as reality”
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From “Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life” By Jon Kabat-Zinn
Posted in Awareness, Balance, Breathing, Detachment, Knowledge, Life, Meditation, Mind, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Soul
Tagged Awareness, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Mind, Mindfulness, Quotes, Thoughts
“Possibilities Are The Gifts Of Living For A Higher Purpose”
By Jennifer Miller
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Possibilities areThe gifts of living
For a higher purpose.
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Survival into courage.
Loss created openness
As deception turned to trust.
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Heartache into strength.
Click on book to purchase and benefit Heart Based Healing Foundation.
Knowledge grew to wisdom.
Near-death to greater Life as
Hope found freedom.
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Sorrow into oneness with
Dreams fulfilling vision.
Heart Based Healing.
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I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold, service was joy.Rabindranath Tagore, Indian Poet and Playwright, as quoted in “Be The Change”, by Ed and Deb Shapiro
Namaste, Jennifer
Posted in Forgiveness, Freedom, Gifts, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Hope, Knowledge, Life, Love, Quotes, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Freedom, Gifts, Heart-Based Healing, Jennifer Miller, Life, Poems, Possiblities
A Time When The Future Can Be “Hope In The Moment” For Women At The Recovery House
By Jennifer Miller
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Greeted with open arms andTaken into their tribe.
Trust, yet so many new young
Women at the Recovery House.
I am here to give hope.
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One girl with a love for yoga is low;
I give her a gentle kiss on the cheek.
Inner thoughts: “we are one”.
Hard life of addiction.
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Glancing around at all the growing
Bellies with babies inside.
Talk of jail, probation, and the
Reality of where they have been.
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They must climb a mountain to
Gain their lives back.
Finding something special
In each girl’s practice.
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Connecting Mind, Body, and Spirit
Will be transformational.
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One girl can’t practice so
She sits in lotus, like a yogi.
Arms not moving as they hang
Alongside a stomach holding a new life.
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Kneeling down to bring my face near
Her face, so that we are heart to heart.
No words, just open hearts.
Click on book to purchase and benefit the Heart Based Healing Foundation.
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Our class and time together end as
Young children rush into mother’s arms.
I see the future.
Today they are clean.
HOPE in the moment.
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“Your primary purpose is now to enableconsciousness to flow into what you do.”
Eckhart Tolle, from “A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose”
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Namaste, Jennifer
Contact Jennifer Miller at yogagoddesslaguna@yahoo.com
Posted in Addiction, Asanas, Child, Daughters, Heart-Based Healing, Hope, Knowledge, Life, Mothers, Pain, Quotes, Trust, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Addictions, Addicts, Jennifer Miller, Pregnant Women, Recovery, Recovery House, Women, Yoga, Young Women
Eyes Forever Opened: Is A Young Man’s Recovery Just Down The Road?
By Jennifer Miller
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Beautiful morning to wake upAnd fill the senses with sounds of nature.
Off to spin class for a good sweat.
Gratitude fills my body as
I am alive and healthy.
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Getting ready with my daughter.
Sharing moments and the mirror,
While putting our make-up on.
Gazing at her face, so similar to mine.
Proud of her and the woman she is becoming.
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Heading out to see my son in recovery.
Have been down this road before.
Eyes forever opened, innocence gone.
Strength, courage, wisdom and hope prevail.
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My beautiful boy has 30 days.
Will this be it?
Will he ever know the emotions that
Only a mother could feel?
The sorrow and loss, the heartache?
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Mother and sister will be there to support him.
A young man at 6’3″, but truly just a boy.
We laugh, we share, and feel the pain.
But healing only comes through feeling.
My love for him remains strong, as do the
Memories of joy and laughter through the years.
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Life is life, but how do we respond?
Do we flow with what is?
Are we prepared for the unknown?
Yes, I choose yes!
Just let go and welcome the ride.
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Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Addiction, Detachment, Family, Heart-Based Healing, Hope, Knowledge, Life, Love, Men, Mothers, Pain, Recovery, Reflections, Self, Suffering, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Addictions, Jennifer Miller, Life, Recovery, Sons, Wisdom
“Lighting Candles, Hanging Lights And Letting Things Be With Words By Paul Ferrini”
By Jennifer Miller
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Fire up the Pavoni.Morning coffee, so good.
Lighting candles and incense as
I start my morning yoga practice.
Arriving on the mat is like coming home again.
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Beautiful morning walking the dogs, aka “the babies”.
Breathing in the coves of Laguna ahhh!!
Breakfast at the local cafe; cool people, artist types.
Walking out, a homeless woman under a blanket.
All I can see is one foot.
My heart sinks and I want to ask her what she needs?
I know she is probably an addict.
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Back home to make homemade granola.
A yum yum Christmas tradition.
Looking through the mail and
a child support check arrives.
It’s been a while.
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My mind goes to the last 5 years.
No father in these kid’s lives.
No anger… only hope.
Could this man possibly change?
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I let it go to the Spirit and check my heart.
It’s in a good place.
Forgiveness is there.
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My beloved hangs Christmas lights.
So many years without lights.
They symbolize healing for my family.
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I look around….
No lights in the small neighborhood.
We have been judged here.
A single mom and trouble with her son.
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Interesting.
We are the ones with lights.
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A big lesson in my journey: do not judge by the outside.
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Open up a new book.
Click on book to purchase and benefit the Heart Based Healing Foundation.
A favorite thing to do.
Reading, deep reflections come to me.
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The poetic words of Paul Ferrini:
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Life is constantly asking us to make adjustments,to give up our agenda.It is asking us to give up the conceit that we know the way things are supposed to be.Letting things be is a way of saying to God“I’m willing to dance with you.”From “Dancing With The Beloved”.
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Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Contact Jennifer Miller at yogagoddesslaguna@yahoo.com
Posted in Balance, Family, Forgiveness, Freedom, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Hope, Knowledge, Life, Light, Mothers, Pain, Poems, Quotes, Recovery, Reflections, Soul, Spirituality, Trust, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Candles, Dogs, Jennifer Miller, Life, Light, Lights, Paul Ferrini, Quotes, Yoga, Yoga Mat, Yoga Practice
The Importance Of Always Listening For The Inner Voice Of Guidance Within Ourselves
By Jennifer Miller
Its seems so simple to always listen to Divine Guidance. We hear it as a small whisper, and it sounds different from our normal brain chatter. But, in truth, this voice is always with us, as Caroline Myss states below:
“Do not assume that divine guidance flows only when you are in need of help. Guidance continues to flow whether or not you have problems…Whether guidance comes during times of tranquility or trauma, however, it is up to you to have the courage to acknowledge it”
It could be just a word, for example, while grocery shopping, as to what I need. I will often ignore it and when I get home, sure enough, that is something I needed. It’s happened so often that I know it’s “TRUE”.
Before getting married, there were warning signs, all of which I ignored. When we are young and innocent, we don’t listen much to anyone. I remember, as a small girl, hearing the voice that I now know as guidance. Entering the teen years, I no longer listened to its counsel. Now, as a mother and wiser woman, I not only hear, but feel this guidance with my body. When something is truly right, my body sings with joy. I breathe freely and my heart feels alive while my spirit sores.
I now listen to my heart, which is like having your best friend inside of you. It knows me like no one else, offering unconditional love while wanting the best for me and my family. As I navigate life, I am now constantly listening for that small voice within. Like a soft caress, it has a smooth and loving feeling.
Click on the book to purchase and benefit the Heart Based Healing Foundation.
A great way to complete this connection is through controlled breathing, which helps to circulate the positive benefits throughout our body. Breathing in, I feel a soothing calm that is pulled upward from my feet until it reaches my head. Tensions melt as I close my eyes. Breathing out, negative thoughts and worries are expelled, leaving a feeling of contentment that comes with releasing, letting go, and not remaining attached to things and events.
So many good things happen when we maintain a healthy mind-body-spirit connection…
Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Balance, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Mothers, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Soul, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Body, Caroline Myss, Divine Guidance, Guidance, Inner Wisdom, Jennifer Miller, Mind, Quotes, Spirituality, Wisdom
No Easy Day With Addictions: “A Donut…Really?”
By Jennifer Miller
The term “tough love” is often used when dealing with loved ones who are battling addictions, and it is often “tough” to know when to detach and let them go. My youngest son has been in and out rehabs as a minor and, now, as an adult at 19, reached out to me for help in getting into a recovery program.
“There are no decisions; there is only interaction with what is in front of you. Decisions come because you have attachments, desires, and fears. The only thing that will help you is to let go…”
Michael Singer, from “The Untethered Soul”
Ultimately, letting them go will help them “save themselves”. Fixing and constantly rescuing will only enable. Letting go is the hardest thing a parent can do. But an honest request for help must be listened to. So I got him into a 30-day detox and recovery program and prayed that he would welcome sobriety.
I have learned to expect the unexpected with addicts, and, sure enough, after just a few days, his father arrived with a donut… The man has not been a part of his children’s lives for years, and now suddenly appears AFTER his son goes into recovery and brings him a donut.
Contact Jennifer Miller at yogagoddesslaguna@yahoo.com
I felt anger but knew I had to take the higher road. I used breath control to calm my mind and soothe the wound that reopened in my heart. As I bring food to my son later that week, I thought how humorous it would be to bring a dozen donuts. But healthy granola bars, fruit, nuts, toiletries, clothes and books will have to do.
An addicts journey is ultimately their own, but if burdens loved ones with its ups and downs and…craziness. I pray that I can remain strong for my family, and hopefully give others the courage to remain hopeful and make the right choices during times of struggle.
Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Addiction, Child, Detachment, Family, Hope, Knowledge, Life, Mindfulness, Mothers, Quotes, Soul, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Addictions, Addicts, Drug Addiction, Jennifer Miller, Michael Singer, Mothers, Quotes, Sons
Sadness And Reflection On The Ravages Of Addiction At The Recovery House
By Jennifer Miller
I walked in and immediately noticed that there were several girls missing at the Recovery Home. When I was told that they had used and left the program, a wave of sadness and reality washed over me. One of them had been in the last trimester of her pregnancy, and was on bed rest due to early labor. She loved the meditation portion of our sessions and would lay on a couch and hold one of the newborn children. Everything about her convinced me she would be a nurturing mother.
Rational minds will never understand the impossible draw of the disease of addiction. This woman was excited about the future and the birth of her child while in recovery. I never saw signs that she would use. With some of the girls, I felt an increase in negative energy and knew that they were losing their battle to stay clean. Now she was on the street.
It is so difficult to remain detached and unemotionally involved. These girls have opened up their hearts and their world to me.
One of the new girls remarked that the last time she was in rehab, the yoga teacher didn’t allow talking. But healing can only come about by opening up. Meditation is the time to be silent.
yogagoddesslaguna@yahoo.com
From the first day of teaching and mentoring these young women, I came in with an open mind and heart. They felt accepted and were not judged by me. It is my Dharma to support these women and their families through these devastating times of addiction. I have been there and felt how alone you can feel as my ex-husband and two sons battled addictions.
If you need support through a time of transition and struggle, know that I can be on your team. You are not alone.
Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Addiction, Darkness, Detachment, Knowledge, Life, Recovery, Reflections, Women, Yoga
Tagged Addictions, Addicts, Drug Addiction, Jennifer Miller, Pregnant Women, Recovery, Recovery House, Women
“A Life Of Dharma Is Exactly Like A Great Yoga Posture…An Experience So Far Beyond Any Pleasure You’ve Ever Had…” – Stephen Cope
Dharma: Knowledge of or duty to undertake conduct set forth by the Buddha as a way to enlightenment.
“…A Life of dharma is exactly like a great yoga posture. Everything must be aligned around the spine. The dharma is a strict taskmaster. It will require you to reach — to work at your maximum potential.
In order to do this, you will have to learn to take better care of yourself. You will have to sleep and eat properly…You will probably have to create a regular schedule. And one day you’ll realize you’re in training like an Olympic athlete. But not any old training– a particular kind of training, the particular kind of training that will support your dharma and no one else’s.
The dharma itself will prescribe this training, and you will know it when you stumble onto it through trial and error. You’ll know it by its results, because in moments when you’re in proper training, you will feel yourself a channel…You will have stepped aside somehow (and let it come through you)…And this is an experience so far beyond any pleasure you’ve ever had that you will most definitely want more of it. And so you will henceforth be increasingly careful about your training regimen…You want to be clear…”
From: “The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling” By Stephen Cope
Posted in Asanas, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Mindfulness, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Asanas, Dharma, Jennifer Miller, Life, Stephen Cope, Training, Yoga
Quieting The Mind: Deepak Chopra Offers “21-Day Meditation Challenge” Starting November 5
CLICK “REGISTER” TO SIGN UP
Posted in Balance, Freedom, Knowledge, Life, Meditation, Men, Mindfulness, Self, Silence, Soul, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Deepak Chopra, Meditation, Mindfulness, Quieting the Mind
