African Americans and Yoga

When I look around me, I see many people embarking on the journey of yoga.  Yoga is a great way to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and stay fit.  In the back of mind however, always remains the thought "how come more African Americans do not practice yoga"?  In our African American culture many times we confuse yoga with religion, and indeed yoga can be a spiritual experience practiced by some religions, but yoga in and of itself is not a religion.  The work yoga comes from the Sankrit meaning to yoke, to unite, to join. 

Yoga truly helps the individual to unite the mind, body and spirit together in ways that increase overall mindfulness and well being.  When many people think of yoga, they think of India, but actually yoga was practiced in Ancient  Egypt, North East Africa  as well, it was called Kemetic yoga and was practiced for about 10,000 years. Kemet means black, or black land and was called this because of the early inundation of the Nile River which caused the rich silt to overflow its banks.

  According to the Kemetic yoga association:  There is universal consciousness that is beyond the scope of the normal realm of consciousness, or individual reality of people. Hence, the practice of yoga is a personality integration method that allows human beings to bind their individual transitory reality with the universal consciousness. The universal consciousness is stable and unchanging, unmoving, therefore, it is the substantial reality while human beings are existing in transitory phenomenon. When this process is accomplished one can say that they have experienced the way things really are or have experienced reality; universal consciousness.

Yoga is the practice of binding individual consciousness with universal consciousness. This individual reality that you are experiencing is actually only a small reflection of your true nature and yoga is the practice of how to achieve the knowledge of one's abiding and immortal aspect.

 

I enjoy teaching yoga, and sharing it with others.  I hope that everyone who reads this post, will at least explore yoga in some detail and allow it to bring peace, clarity and healing.  Watch my short yoga video below!  Enjoy.

 

 

 

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRvBt-IYoVU

Morning Elixir

Try this powerful juice combination for a great morning elixir!
I use my Nutri Bullet. I chop up a whole carrot, add fresh Watercress leaves and fill will fresh apple juice (not from concentrate) Watercress health benefits arise from its potent mix of essential nutrients such as proteins, folates, panthothenic acid, and minerals such as copper, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. Additionally, watercress provides ample traces of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K, along with vitamin B complex such as thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and so on.

 Health benefits of watercress greens to individuals on a weight loss diet become even more important when you consider that this is a low sodium, low fat option. Carrots are perhaps best known for their rich supply of the antioxidant nutrient that was actually named for them: beta-carotene. However, these delicious root vegetables are the source not only of beta-carotene, but also of a wide variety of antioxidants and other health-supporting nutrients. The areas of antioxidant benefits, cardiovascular benefits, and anti-cancer benefits are the best-researched areas of health research with respect to dietary intake of carrots. mixed with apple juice you have a super drink to start your day! Enjoy

Change Your Atmosphere

It is my conclusion that healing really does start from the inside and works its way out. 

I have only met a few people in life that did not want to truly change.  I want to encourage every person reading this post to envision the progress you want to make with your health and wellness.  Often we complain about circumstances instead of taking self-responsibility and just changing the circumstances as much as is within our power to do.  The health of the body, mind and spirit, derives from not only proper food, exercise, and correct living but good thoughts as well. The way that our thoughts affect our wellness is often overlooked.

Our thoughts can be our ally, encouraging us to press on, eat healthy, resist negativity and to seek out solutions to health challenges instead of  accepting a grim diagnosis as the final decree.  On the other hand our thoughts can become our enemy, poisoning us with doubt, fear and dead stopping us dead in our tracks, causing us to not push forward towards heal and healing. 
The good news is that you really can change the atmosphere, internally and externally.  Our thoughts, whether positive or negative grow stronger when fertilized with constant repetition.  That explains why many people who are negative, gloomy, always sick, stay that way, and others who are positive, upbeat, and enthusiastic even in the midst of trying circumstances fare much better and seem to come out on top. 

Science validates what the good books have been saying for centuries, fix your thoughts on things that are good, cheerful heart is good medicine, and the good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart.  Internally, our cells are affected by our thoughts and emotions, according to new research by Dr. Bruce Lipton a Biologist at the University of Wisconsin. Cells are intelligent; they respond to our emotional and environmental stimuli, DNA is controlled by the signals outside of the cells including the energetic messages emanating from our positive and negative thoughts.  I want to encourage you as Dr. Lipton stated, “change the thought environment and the cells, and you change the behavior.  Ask yourself today; what is the greatest source for your thoughts? What label will you use to describe your recurring negative thoughts? What is the plan that you will use to challenge your thoughts? In what ways do your thoughts affect your health and wellness now?
Fateria Johnson ND, CNHP   

21 Weeks To a New You

Get ready for my 21 weeks to a new you lessons! Right here on my page. Each week will will cover a spiritual principle for weight loss and overall wellness. Many people are going through the motions of life but their souls are screaming out for help, the time is now for grounding principles that will bring one back to the center.

lesson one: getting ready for the journey. When we take trips to far away destinations, we plan for them. Now, you can be that person who wings it, but preparation brings more peace of mind. This is the same concept as it relates to eating, and planning your meals and your day will ensure that you will not only be prepared, but have healthy snacks to tide you over. Understand this principle, moderation in all things is needed, anything in excess can bring harm. Take the time to reflect on why it may be that you eat so much? Or why is it that you choose comfort foods more than healthy foods? Is there something you are compensating for? Are there unresolved issues in your life? Taking the time to introspect is your first lesson on the spiritual journey. A healthy relationship with food must begin and the strongholds that hold you captive must come down...tune in next week for lesson two...tearing down the strongholds in our mind for wellness and weight loss.

I Am Back!

Greetings everyone!  What a pleasure to be writing here again.  I have had two pretty busy semesters and have been traveling through the summer, and in my travels I had the opportunity to uncover some pretty interesting education and information to share.  Life is truly a journey, and sometimes you must take a step back to really appreciate all that it has to offer. One of my trips this summer took me to a natural products expo where I was able to meet with people who are passionate about healthy living, pure and natural products and sustainable lifestyles.  I met cancer survivors, and people who have overcome various diseases, by making a personal change to their lifestyle in a positive way.

 I have come to the conclusion that we are in control of our wellness, and it is up to every individual to make healthy choices that will facilitate the process of health and healing.  Many times we turn our energies outward, looking for someone to fix us after the damage has been done, when the focus should be on self responsibility and prevention with a holistic approach.  As I continue the process of writing this blog, my passion will be directed towards motivating others to a wellness revolution!  Health and wellness is something everyone should enjoy, and it can be accomplished as we become more mindful to the activities and process that bring about a life of vitality.  Stay tuned, get ready, I have so much to share and share I will freely!  Namaste