I love Thai Massage. I love Thai food, Thai people, but most of all, I love Thai massage. I love it so much I traveled all the way to Thailand just to learn Thai Massage. As a therapist, it's easier on the body with proper alignment, and as a receiver, it gives my body a whole other experience. 

Michael and I have decided to take all of the things we love, put them together, and take our passion to the next level by facilitating workshops and opening up with cacao to open the heart and kundalini yoga to warm up the body. This trio is such a perfect combination for connecting to yourself and to a partner. So far we've done these workshops in L.A. and San Francisco and loving the experience! 

Benefits of Cacao: 

• Increases blood circulation by 30-40% which carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the whole body
• 40x the antioxidants of blueberries, which neutralizes free radicals and protects brain cells, improves memory and concentration
• Highest plant-based source of iron, a component of red blood cells which carries oxygen from the lungs to the body.
• Great source of calcium and magnesium, which is a important for bone, muscle, and cell health
• Naturally boosts the happy hormones, such as serotonin and dopamine.

Benefits of Kundalini Yoga:

• Increases blood circulation and spinal fluid movement
• Supports a healthy parasympathetic nervous system
• Balances the chakras, our energy centers
• Brings awareness to the mind, body, and spirit

Benefits of Thai Massage:

• Reduces stress and anxiety by decreasing cortisol levels which is known as the stress hormone and increasing serotonin and dopamine, the happy hormones
• Improves flexibility with stretching postures
• Boosts energy by increasing blood circulation and strengthens the immune system
• Reduces pain and tension on the body by relaxing the muscles
• Promotes self awareness and improves vitality

My first memory in yoga school at Himalayan Yoga Academy in Rishikesh, India was our well known yoga instructor Ashish's wise words. After tuning in, he immediately took us into Tadasana, mountain pose, which is one of the most simplest and yet challenging standing poses. As he walked around giving us a grim nonverbal assessment, he asks the question, "What is yoga?" Everyone gave the typical answer, "Yoga is union" or "yoga is bringing balance to the masculine and feminine", etc. etc. etc. Not being satisfied with any of our answers, he finally states clearly and confidently, "yoga is space". 

Fast forward two years, I'm sitting in my meditation wondering how I can tap more into feeling my body, I begin to bring my focus on my breath. Inhaling slowly, sustaining the breath, exhaling fully. The longer I go, the more I began to feel sensations in my body, the more I became aware of tension in places I hadn't even realized.

I remember Ashish's words and began to focus on how the breath creates space inside myself, how every time I inhale, my diaphragm lowers creating more space for my lungs to expand, as with each exhale, the contraction is a precursor to creating that space. My greatest challenge has been finding space for myself in my relationship, especially considering I work side by side with my partner. Knowing that I am in a situation that I cannot change, I find the breath a highly effective tool when used. When used is the key to it being effective. As I create space within myself, I am making room for patience, love, compassion, courage, understanding, trust, gratitude and acceptance. I create a home for all of these things to live, and it's something as simple as the breath that opens up this space.

​What's the challenge? Take on a 7, 21, or 90 day pranayama practice...even if it's just 3 minutes a day and see how you feel! One of my favorite breathing techniques is the alternate nostril breathing. Instructions can be found at https://www.3ho.org/files/pdfs/alternate-nostril-breathing.pdf

Breathe on!