Glow Living

Author: Chandra Lynn

  • The #1 Google Search for New Years Is…

    The #1 Google Search for New Years Is…

    Guess what New Year’s resolution was the most searched on Google (per data company Quanti)? “Get Healthy” with over 62 million searches. 

    Whether it’s New Years or not, its always a good time to decide to “get healthy”. But what does that really mean? Most people think of it as losing weight. I invite you to consider that its much more.

    Here is a video that I recorded on how I define a healthy lifestyle in an integrated way that positively effects your body, mind and spirit through every day choices. If you want more, watch and then read on.

    To me, getting healthy is really about choosing to make health — mind, body and spirit — a priority in your lifestyle. I run two companies, have a young child, and am challenged with many of the same demands that people put in front of achieving their healthy lifestyle goals. The only difference between me and someone who isn’t healthy and wants to “get healthy” as a resolution is that I started my journey a long time ago with a simple decision to “just do it”…not with a diet or exercise program, but as the center to my entire lifestyle.

    I believe that I can not accomplish all that I do (and want to do) without the energy that can only be cultivated through daily behaviors that support my health. Its at the core of every decision I make…what I put in my mouth, how I exercise that day, what I buy for my home, what products I use on my body, what books I read, what people I hang around, what career goals I make, etc. If its not healthy for me in that moment or for my future self, the answer is likely NO (with the exception of some bubbles with friends to celebrate special life events).

    I want to live a long, happy fulfilled life, and age gracefully. I don’t want to be live with pain. And pain is exactly what I’ve seen in people that have not taken care of themselves. Pain comes in the form of cancer and other diseases or medical issues. It also comes in the form of mental and emotional anguish and suffering. One of my friends who is a hospice nurse told me that not living a healthy life is one of the leading regrets that people have in their final days.

    When I think back to times when I was a bit overweight or feeling sick, it scares me to think of going through that again. There have been times when I’ve beat myself up over being overweight and its damaged my self-esteem. It’s attracted the wrong people and held me back from reaching my full potential. Now, I focus on health and cultivating energy. My body is in balance so I can tackle difficult challenges and I’m less likely to feel depressed or suffer from body image problems. 

    No one wants to suffer, and having suffered in the past, I know it can be a big motivator for making changes. If you have the goal of getting healthy, I invite you to consider what life-long choices you can make for a healthier lifestyle…not just to look better, but to create balance; cultivate energy for tackling your bucket list;  contribute beyond yourself; and focus on other New Year’s Resolution search terms such as:

    • “Get Organized” – over 33 million searches
    • “Live Life to the Fullest” – nearly 19 million searches
    • “Learn New Hobbies” – over 17 million searches
    • “Spend Less/Save More” – nearly 16 million searches
    • “Travel” – nearly 6 million searches
    • “Read More” – over 4 million searches

    These resolutions sound so much better to me than going on some stupid diet! So, if you’re with me but not sure what to do, I can offer you some ideas based on what works for me. There are also a ton of coaches, trainers and pros in this field that you can hire to develop a starting point (I have a few I can recommend). I think there is probably more information on the internet and in the library on this topic than just about anything else. So the info is out there. The next step is trying something and then course correcting. I’ve tried all kinds of things and am constantly dialing in what works for me. Make a commitment to try new things and see what works, even if some things fail. Failure is just an opportunity to learn, so its okay to fail as long as you course correct and focus on perseverance and grit. You’re choosing this for the rest of your life, not just a 12-week “transformation challenge” so be patient and compassionate with yourself.

    In a nutshell, I’m currently following the IIFYM macros calculator by tracking my food on MyFitnessPal, not eating flour or sugar (including alcohol), and working out 5x/week by combining weights, yoga and HIIT training. That can sound severe to some people but I’ve worked up to doing this after years of training. Start with something you can succeed with.

    To learn more about the tools that work for me, check out these articles:

    Health & Fitness Tools – Part 1: Bodybuilding.com & BodySpace
    Health & Fitness Tools – Part 2: Calories & Macros

    Another piece of advice is to NEVER apologize for self-care and prioritizing health over other things. I’ve had friends who have been given a hard time by their partners for “working out too much” or “always being on a diet”. This is unacceptable to me in a partnership because taking care of yourself is like putting your life mask on before putting i on someone else. You have to be in good health to have the energy to help others. Its that simple. If your partner wants more of your time and energy, that’s important to look at and prioritize them by giving them more quality time, but don’t cut off your lifeline to the very thing that makes you attractive…your vitality! You deserve to prioritize yourself first, and that means managing stress and other physical and emotional challenges in a productive and healthy way. 

    Can you see I’m passionate about this subject? I am and that’s why more and more of the content I develop is going to be around defining and living a healthy lifestyle. If you have questions, ideas or topics you’d like me to explore, please let me know. What works works for you? Please share any tips.

    I want the best for you and to see you grow old in a healthy, happy way with me, and for the ones you love!!

  • Is it time to rethink weight loss?

    Is it time to rethink weight loss?

    We have this one precious, miraculous body to fuel us each day to do the things we deem are important and vital to our personal life. I know it can be complicated, and may at times seem impossible to create a body and life you love. I am not here to talk you into believing that achieving your ideal weight is simple. However, this is no reason to give up or continue to be frustrated with the situation, as I believe that success and getting there is more than feasible.

    Believe it or not, I get it. I have struggled with low self-esteem, binge eating, and depression. No matter how well I ate, exercised, and enjoyed the process,  I was never able to feel “happy” or “good enough” in my own skin.  I had no reason to feel negative but being fit, and lean in my mind was not “good enough”.

    My ideal self-image was never “good enough” – Comparison drowned me

    I constantly was comparing myself to others. My unhappiness and feeling of lack had nothing to do with my physical body, I created a sense of self-loathing by always trying to look better, and the moment I decided to act more from a place of self-care and nurturing, I stopped the comparison game and focused on being healthy and happy.

    I have worked with many clients who go through the same struggles with their bodies, who have “tried” everything from giving up sugar, to changing their exercise routine, to drinking plenty of water and they still can’t seem to make any lasting or significant changes they are pleased with. Why? With the demands of family, work, friends, volunteer activities, events and more the overwhelm and pressure which equals stress place an impact on the physical body and our weight.

    Let’s look at things a bit differently.

    Here a few simple strategies you can implement, and rethink how you look at weight loss and a healthy body.

    What’s healthiest and best for one person doesn’t mean it is for you.

    We all know there is no “magic pill”, and that the latest and greatest trend in “diets” is not the perfect fit for everyone. There is no one thing in nutrition and fitness that works for everyone. It is wise to educate yourself on healthy living and I recommend you see what feels right for you, and encourage you to “try” out different ideas for you own health. Be open minded about seeing what will work for you outside the walls of what is the most popular weight-loss and fitness advice.

    Your body has innate wisdom, can you hear it?

    This is really one of my favorite anecdotes for getting in tune with what is best for our own body. Think about how miraculous your body is, how it manages and handles thousand of intricate process by the milliseconds.  For almost 10 years I had horrific stomach problems, and anemia most of my life, my digestive system was trying to tell me something. Then in early 2002, I was diagnosed with Celiac Sprue. Of course, not everyone will have an autoimmune disorder, but it took me almost 10 years to get diagnosed. Had I been a bit more in tune I could have saved myself years of agony. Listen to your body and how it responds to certain foods, drinks, your breath, and your thoughts, I can almost guarantee it will give you clues.

    Your relationship with food and your body impacts your health and body more powerfully than the food you eat.

    This is a powerful concept to grasp. When someone truly understands this all of a sudden their entire struggle with their weight and body changes, the stress and anxiety are released and they are able to seek what they desire for their health with much more ease.

    When we feel anger, resentment and/or stress our physical body is “fighting” to do its job. This stress can affect our ability to digest food and it’s nutrients properly, decrease nutrient absorption, increase cortisol production (therefore belly fat), decrease gut flora, which leads to immune problems, decrease nutrient absorption, decreased gut flora which can lead to immune problems, decrease in thyroid hormone which can lead to a slower metabolism, and a decrease in thermic efficiency (calorie burn is diminished).  When the relationship with food and body shifts to positive and empowering beliefs the body can work to the greatest potential.

    What these few strategies offer is a unique way to stress less, eat healthily, and quit the constant battle of trying to lose weight. These may be part of the perfect solution to achieve those physical, emotional, mental and lifestyle goals you have had for years.

    Believe in your innate ability and strength. What if you could trust yourself to make the best choices for your body, mind, and soul? Imagine you are living and feeling the way you desire. I believe in you.

    Written by Deb Gutierrez
    Follow her blog Solful Life

  • The 51% Rule

    The 51% Rule

    The 51% Rule – Boundaries are Your Friend

    By Chandra Lynn

    A friend reminded me today of my 51% rule. Have you ever felt like you are doing more to help your partner then they are to help themselves? Sometimes it just seems easier to take control and get things done on your own than ask your partner to do their part. And they may be completely happy with having you take care of business. But after all while, you may find that you lead in all ways in the relationship, and start feeling overwhelmed and tired of being the one to handle everything.

    To prevent this from happening, I recommend each partner agree to carry A MINIMUM OF 51% of the work load on their end. When someone is doing AT LEAST 51% of the work for their own life, things will stay more balanced. Helping somebody with 49% of their work is still a lot when it comes to managing someone else’s stuff. I could even argue that is too high of a percentage. However, if someone needs you to help them with an area of their life, and you are feeling happy to do it, consider making sure they understand that you will only take on a maximum of 49% of the tasks that need to be accomplished.

    I learned this the hard way. I saw a former partner struggling with his career, so I jumped into immediate action. Being a fledgling marketing consultant, I was actually excited to put my skills to work for him. Without him asking me, I built him all the marketing materials that he needed to present himself in a more professional way. At the end of it, he was grateful but didn’t really leverage it to the extent that I had hoped. I could see that the struggles in his career had more to do with his ambition then it had to do with his ability to present him self in a professional way. As a result, even with the new materials, he did not apply himself, and I felt like all the work I did to support him was for nothing. I distinctly remember going to a diner and telling him that I needed to see him doing at least 51% of the work to reach his goals for his life. And, I would be happy to do whatever I could to support him, but I needed to see him applying himself more than I was putting in to help him.

    Jumping in to help a partner is a noble thing, but I can also enable bad behavior in your partner. There is nothing wrong with being supportive, but you have to be careful with behaviors that lead them to where you think is best for them before they have even asked for help.

    The friend who reminded me of this was looking back at her life and realizing that she has always done the majority of the work in the relationship, and her partner was happy to have her do it. However, he started taking advantage of the fact that she provided so much with little appreciation or awareness of the effort involved.

    If you feel overwhelmed with all that you have to do for yourself, your partner, your kids and other people in your life, ask yourself whether you feel your partner is stepping up to their full potential and supporting you in the way that you need them to. If they’re not and you’re enabling them to kick back, please consider that your standards are not high enough for yourself in terms of expecting a partner to do their share. Ask specifically for what you need from them, and make sure you get their agreement before creating new expectations that they will deliver.

    Everyone needs to feel useful, needed, purposeful and that they bring value to a relationship. This post is to remind you that you can do this by supporting your partner and those around you, as long as you set healthy boundaries and set reasonable expectations with your partner to do a minimum of 51% of the work in their own life.

  • Updating Your Intimacy Ladder

    Updating Your Intimacy Ladder

    Where Are Your Friends on Your Intimacy Ladder?
    By Chandra Lynn

    Have you ever had a bestie that you talked to you almost every day and now you’re not as close to as you used to be? That disconnection can cause you pain and make you question the relationship and what you mean to them now (and vice versa). There are lots of reasons why our relationships with our friends change over time. Sometimes we come together when we’re single and have lots of time to invest in each other, and then one gets into a relationship that soaks up their available time. Sometimes it’s hard to invest while juggling a job, kids, romantic relationship and more, leaving less time for friends.

    This is all understandable, but the problem lies in not communicating the change of expectations in the relationship. We can take friends for granted, thinking that they’ll just be there when we have time. But actually, it can be hurtful to friends when we’re there one minute and disappear the next. Some friends are casual about it and it feels like no time has passed after not seeing each other for a long period of time. Other friends get really hurt by our lack of availability and can feel abandoned. You may have felt this way too and can relate.

    This happens a lot when two single people spend a lot of time together and one gets into a relationship and is no longer available. The single friend is still as available as (s)he always was though and needs to be reassured that your need for change doesn’t diminish what they mean to you.

    It’s totally natural for a relationship to go through changes, but it really helps when you lead a discussion about the change and seek to create a renewed agreement about the basis of the friendship and what each of you can offer, including time commitments. How possible is it to check in every day, week, month or year?

    There are a couple of things that you can do to prevent degradation in the relationship. The first thing is to communicate verbally or in writing what that person truly means to you and what they’ve given to your life. That provides them reassurance that they are valuable to you and you don’t want them to disappear from your life and you don’t plan to event abandon them in any way, shape, or form.

    The second thing that you can do is consider changing their status on your relationship ladder. For years, you could have thought of them as your number one friend and placed them on the very top of your relationship ladder. Then, all of a sudden, they are no longer available to you the way they were due to life circumstances, and you feel hurt. What can you do? You can consider changing their status on your ladder. Moving a friend down a couple of rungs on the ladder does not mean that you don’t care about them anymore. It means that you change the expectations for that friendship and adjust them to meet the current status based on what’s going on in life. When you feel hurt, it’s easy to think of just throwing a friend off the ladder entirely, but it’s really not necessary in most cases. Unless a friend has intentionally hurt you or intended you harm, all you really need to do is lower them a couple of rungs on the ladder while both of you are doing your own thing, and check-in with them from time to time to see if they want to update the blueprint for the relationship.

    Sometimes, you have to jockey more than one friend’s position on your ladder. There are occasions in life where you reach a point that older friendships are outdated and just not serving you to lift your highest potential. There is nothing wrong with this, and it should actually be embraced as a healthy part of evaluating the value of your relationships, and how much you’ve grown and evolved.

    One of my very best friends from high school has moved around on my ladder to the point where she’s probably touched every rung. There were times that we were inseparable and there were years that we never talked at all. I’m happy to say that we see each other on a regular basis now. What kept us connected all these years is consistent communication of a mutual desire to stay connected even when time goes by and we can’t see each other.

    I have another bestie that I’ve known since the sixth grade and she lives in another state. We’ve spent more time apart then together. We managed to stay connected and now consider ourselves to become full-fledge sisters. We flew across the country to see each other during crisis times and for major celebrations like graduation. We sent cards when snail mail became practically obsolete. We are even connected on a psychic level now.

    If a relationship with a friend isn’t working, consider changing their status on your relationship ladder instead of throwing them off entirely. You connected with them for some reason initially, and you may find them valuable in your friend circle once your expectations are adjusted. With that said, there are times when a relationship is not healthy and should be let go. Consider the most graceful exit you can under those circumstances and always take the high road.

    My friends have meant everything to me and I fostered those relationships over many many years. Although I don’t actively seek friends, I am open to new connections that resonate on a higher vibration and they are being attracted. I love my friends and will do everything to protect and preserve these precious connections, starting with communicating what I want out of the relationship and seeking agreements about what to expect from one another which informs where we are on each other’s ladder. I also invite them to let me know if my expectations need to change, and I make sure they know what’s in my heart.

    Who is on your ladder and is the current status working for you, or does it need a little adjusting?

  • Leading During Difficult Times

    Leading During Difficult Times

    Leading During Difficult Times 
    By Chandra Lynn 

    Are world events weighing heavy on you? From senseless killings and celebrity deaths to political shenanigans around the globe, its hard to feel light-hearted these days. Even though things are going well in my own life, I feel negative emotions in response to the news. 

    leadershipMarianne Williamson reminded me that we are not the first generation to have to deal with what feels like unsurmountable challenges. But we do have access to information like never before which can lead to the feeling of overwhelm and hopelessness.

    So how did generations past overcome things like slavery, oppression of women, religious persecution, genocide and terrorist attacks? My theory is that it was through leadership. Lots of people found peaceful ways to stand up for what they believed in and inspire others to do the same. The list is long…Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, Malcolm X, Susan B. Anthony, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and many, many more. Being someone of this significance is not necessary to make an impact. I invite you to find ways that you can lead and inspire within your sphere of influence. Our world needs leaders and no effort is too small because collectively it all makes a difference. 

    I recently watched two impactful videos led by Marie Forleo on this topic, and I invite you to check them out.

    The first was an on how to reconcile feeling deeply sad, empty or depressed — especially when everything in your life is “technically” going fine. She describes how these feelings may be linked to negative world events, and what to do about it.

    The second is an interview with Simon Sinek about how to be a great leader and inspire others to do remarkable things. He shares his personal story in the first half and then gives some great insights into leadership in the second half. 

    There are some Glow Circles members that have demonstrated amazing leadership and I am working on interviews with them to share with you soon. Stay tuned!

  • Not Patient? Learn How “Abhyasa” Will Help You!

    Not Patient? Learn How “Abhyasa” Will Help You!

    I’ve found myself in a weird in-between period that is requiring a lot of patience, and I realized how hard it is to find it at times.

    My goals are not coming easily, and I have felt frustrated and flooded with questions.
    Am I meant to do this? Am I good enough? What more do I have to do to get there? What am I not understanding about my situation that I need to learn?

    It inspired me to write this post as a way to remind myself, and hopefully inspire you, on what to focus on…and it’s perseverance, not patience.

    I can’t force myself to be patient but I can focus on making consistent, steady effort towards my goals. Related to this, Lauren introduced me to a new term in Hindu philosophy that we both love:

    Abhyasa अभ्यास
    Persistent practice to attain and maintain a state of physical, mental and spiritual tranquility.

    Taking advantage of this week’s full moon in Taurus, I’m going to charge forward on my To Do List in hopes that my persistent effort pays off soon. It may not bring tranquility, but I know it will bring me closer to my goals. I can breathe into that and let go of frustrations, limiting beliefs, and negative self talk.

    What persistent effort can you give today to get closer to your goals?

    Love Life,

    Chandra

    #perseverance #persistence #abhyasa #patience #tranquility #consistenteffort #goals #inspire #fullmoon #taurus #roottorise #lovelife

  • Music Emerging Blog Interview with Chandra Lynn

    Music Emerging Blog Interview with Chandra Lynn

    Music Emerging Blog’s founder Cynthia Brando writes…

    In my quest to find resources out there to help me stay focused and positive-I met Chandra Lynn. She was conducting a live interview at NAMM-a major music convention in Anaheim, California. It was for her “Lessons Learned” series, an inspiring interview series with folks discussing often difficult topics and how they overcame them and included interviews with people in the music industry. As a musician struggling in this tough business, I found them very inspiring and checked out her website, Glow Living, for more. Besides the “Lessons Learned” series, I found all sorts of inspiration, and have linked Chandra’s blog on health and wellness to our Music Emerging database of inspirational websites. I talked with Chandra about Glow Living, specific supports for those in the music industry, and her new program, “Root-to-Rise.”

    Read the full article on Music Emerging Blog here.

  • Lessons Learned Interview with Omar & Rachel Hakim is Now Live!

    Lessons Learned Interview with Omar & Rachel Hakim is Now Live!

    Legendary Drummer Omar Hakim & Keyboardist Rachel Z

    Every musician experiences ups and downs on the road of life, but you can avoid big pitfalls by taking other people’s advice to heart. In this session, Chandra Lynn takes her “Lessons Learned” video interview series to the NAMM Idea Center’s live stage for hard-won wisdom from legendary drummer Omar Hakim (Sting, David Bowie, Journey and Madonna) and keyboardist Rachel Z (Peter Gabriel, Vertu with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White, and Pino Daniele). This interview explores their experience with auditioning for gigs, leveraging endorsements, honing technical chops, and staying healthy and balanced on the road.

  • Glow Living’s Lessons Learned Goes Live with Omar Hakim & Rachel Z

    Glow Living’s Lessons Learned Goes Live with Omar Hakim & Rachel Z

    Glow Living (www.glowliving.com) is excited to announce the expansion of its Lessons Learned series to provide a first-ever live interview at The NAMM Show 2017 featuring elite drummer Omar Hakim (Sting, David Bowie, Journey, Madonna) and pianist extraordinaire Rachel Z (Peter Gabriel, Wayne Shorter, Steps Ahead, Vertu). Glow Living’s host Chandra Lynn, an MI marketing veteran and certified coach (Tony Robbins – Cloe Madanes Center for Strategic Intervention), will moderate the interview to share their hard-won wisdom on Sunday, January 22 from 11 am – 12 pm from the NAMM Idea Center stage inside the Anaheim Convention Center. This interview will explore their experience with auditioning for gigs, leveraging endorsements, honing technical chops, and staying healthy and balanced on the road and as partners in life.

    “Every musician experiences ups and downs on the road of life,” states Lynn. “Now, people can avoid big pitfalls by learning from them and taking their advice to heart. I’m fortunate to have built trusting relationships with many influential and dynamic people throughout my career in the music industry, and I’m calling on them now to give everyone insider access to their experience and insights through Glow Living’s Lessons Learned Series.”

    “Hosting Chandra’s ‘Lessons Learned’ series live at the NAMM Idea Center brings an exciting addition to the last day of The 2017 NAMM Show,” said Zach Phillips, NAMM’s director of professional development. “With Omar Hakim and Rachel Z joining her, you can expect insight, hard-earned wisdom and inspiration from this not-to-miss hour.”

    Currently, Lessons Learned interviews are available online from guitar great Steve Vai, Reggae legends Pato Banton and Antoinette Rootsdawtah, Grammy-mixer/producer Dave Isaac, Infected Mushroom drummer Rogerio Jardim, and more.

    “Glow Living’s Lessons Learned Interview Series is my way of bridging over 20 years in the music business with my passion for personal growth and healthy living,” explains Lynn. “I hope this series will help inspire people to love life, and let them see that everyone struggles with issues that they can overcome by learning from others on how to break through.”

    Follow the series at glowliving.com/lessons-learned or subscribe to Glow Living’s YouTube Channel at youtube.com/c/glowliving.

    For more information including media resources and sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://glowliving.com/media-resources/ or contact us at info@glowliving.com.

    About Omar Hakim

    Widely-acclaimed for his versatility, technological prowess and groove, Omar Hakim is one of the most successful drummers and session men of the past 40 years. Omar has collaborated with dozens of prominent artists including David Bowie, Sting, Miles Davis, Kate Bush, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Jewel, J-Lo, Dire Straits, Mariah Carey, and Madonna to name a few, and has left his imprint on hundreds of recordings, including several under his own name.
    www.omarhakim.com

     

    About Rachel Z

    Rachel Nicolazzo, better known as Rachel Z, is a jazz and rock keyboardist. Her first solo album, Trust the Universe (Columbia, 1993) yielded the smooth jazz hit “Nardis”. The next year, she provided keyboards and orchestration on Wayne Shorter’s album High Life, which won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. She then joined jazz fusion veterans Stanley Clarke and Lenny White in the band Vertú. In 2002, she recorded Moon at the Window, a tribute to Joni Mitchell, and went on to form the rock group Peacebox, work with Italian pop singer Pino Daniele, and tour with Peter Gabriel. In 2010, she and drummer/husband Omar Hakim formed the group Trio of OZ and the label OZmosis Records.
    www.rachelz.com

    Tags: personal growth, personal development, healthy living, self-help, self-improvement, coaching, psychology, mindfulness, spirituality, mental health, music industry, well-being, physical well-being, health, fitness, nutrition, beauty, relationships, yoga, meditation, lifestyle, start up, entrepreneur, empowerment, happiness, music, motivation, inspiration, drums, piano, keyboards, lessons learned, glow living, chandra lynn, omar hakim, rachel z

  • Glow Circles Member Josh Hart Stopped Heroin and Started yogaffordable.com

    Glow Circles Member Josh Hart Stopped Heroin and Started yogaffordable.com

    Glow Circles Member Josh Hart Stopped Heroin and Started yogaffordable.com

    Read Josh’s Journey and Check Out This Beautiful Resource for Recovering Souls Who Need a Bit of Light

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    Josh’s Journey

    As an adopted child growing up I always felt out of place, never fully in my skin. I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when I was born and for the first 5 years of my life I spent it in physical therapy. I became stronger and more flexible and unlike the doctors told my mother I did not end up in a wheelchair.

    I became interested in music and dance and joined various theater programs which provided an outlet for self expression. I was molested when I was 14 by a backstage worker in one of my shows. It lasted for about 8 months until I finally found a way to speak up.

    Over the next 10 years I struggled with heroin addiction to numb myself from the outside world. Slowly friends disappeared, Jobs let me go, and my bank account was reduced to zero. I sold my body for drugs and a place to sleep. For months I lived out of a backpack on the streets.

    Then one night I met someone. Someone who didn’t want to use me like all the other men I tried to find safety in. This one didn’t want to hurt but wanted to help me. The love felt unconditional and soon I was left with a choice. I found myself having to choose between my old life style and new way, an honest way of life. This beautiful soul supported me through extreme withdrawal from the drugs cold turkey. But ultimately it was my willpower to change that got my through those very dark months.

    It took about a solid year of 12 step meetings, weekly therapy, and exercise until I began to feel like myself again. I was able to address my pain and trauma that I had buried for so long. After working my 12th step I craved a better understanding of who I was. I wanted to go deeper, get connected to soul self that I had run away from. That’s when I found yoga.

    I remember going to my first yoga class. Stepping on to my matt and creating an energy field of safety, protection, determination and most of all forgiveness. Yoga taught me how to surrender into the pain. To not be afraid of all the parts of my dark and light. That each part of me served a purpose. I learned how to fully accept myself as I am.

    The philosophy of yoga teaches its practitioner to live by a set of principles, similar to the principles of the 12 steps. I began to adapt with these covenants of honestly, transparency, vulnerably, and the importance of service to others. The practice of this beautiful philosophy taught me that I can not keep what I have without giving it away.

    My trauma had a purpose, my pain could be turned into love and support for another in need. Like my beautiful partner who should be unconditional love, who was able to see through my addicted self, the light that was always inside burning, yearning to be let free. I have been on this recovery journey for 5 years now, evolving every day into my true spiritual self.

    It has not been a easy road, and I have fallen here and there. But the yoga always leads me back to center. The practice only teaches me acceptance and non judgment towards all parts good and bad. Yoga teaches self exploration, self awareness, and most of all that you have a choice. I learned through practice that I am not my mind or the thoughts, that I am the observer of the thoughts. That I can not control the feed that goes on but I can control my reaction to the thoughts.

    Yoga taught me about the importance of intention, and the willingness to stay grounded in the chaos of life. That nothing stays the same forever only the deepest parts of you remain consistent. I believe in law of attraction, the power of energy, our thoughts and words creating our future one moment at time. I know that I am meant to share this practice to others.

    Support Josh’s Go Fund Me Campaign

    gofundme

     

     

    Follow Josh on Instagram:

    We are all one #omshanti #omshantiom #yogaffordable #yogaismylife #yoga #yogaeverydamnday #headwig #lululemon

    A photo posted by Josh Hart (@yogaffordable_) on

     

  • My Big Takeaways from Brendon Burchard’s Experts Academy

    My Big Takeaways from Brendon Burchard’s Experts Academy

    By Chandra Lynn

    Eight hundred entrepreneurs packed a ballroom for four extremely long days, and I not only was one of them, but I was one of the ones that played full out! The timing was perfect because I launched glowliving.com on the first day of the Academy and was ready to learn everything I could on how to best serve my new community.

    IMG_4810As I sat in the uncomfortable, tightly-packed seats, I buzzed with excitement for all that I was learning but also from seeing the new member signups to Glow Circles rolling in! I was doing exactly what Brendon was encouraging.

    In my heart, I launched the site knowing I was on the right track but I still had fear about whether I was able to attract an audience, deliver a depth of content that served to the highest of my abilities, and find a way to monetize so I can continue doing this as my purpose-filled life’s work.

    Driving home from the conference, however, I became overwhelmed with emotions of hope and complete confidence for what’s coming next. Listen here:

    My 5 Takeaways:

    1. I have the authenticity, heart, and deep knowledge necessary to attract the right people to my work, and ultimately help people transform their lives.
    2. I need dedicated focus on creating valuable products that deliver an effective framework that people can use to put my knowledge to work for real results. It’s going to be hard as Hell but I can do it!
    3. Though there is a learning curve with the technology necessary to create a platform to support my huge vision, there is no better time because the solutions are available and affordable like never before.
    4. In the next 18 months, there is going to be a HUGE wave of new people getting on to the internet through home computers and mobile devices, and it will continue to grow exponentially over the next five years which means now is the right time to get established and attain a significant audience!
    5. I have to practice speaking and getting comfortable in front of the camera, and push through the discomfort, to give you the opportunity to really know me and have access to my knowledge base. As a result, this will be the year of video production so get ready to get sick of seeing my talking head!

    Needless to say, I’m here! I’m doing this! And you’re here too…thank you and stay tuned!

  • The 5 Disciplines of Love

    The 5 Disciplines of Love

    How To Create Your Ultimate Relationship

    From TonyRobbins.com

    Valentine’s Day might be over, but cultivating passion in your relationship should be an ongoing adventure. A sexy, exciting partnership takes focus and dedication to create — and it will light up every part of your life.

    Whether you’re single or committed, these 5 Disciplines of Love will help you create a relationship full of earth-shaking excitement, joy and passion.

    1. The Discipline of Unconditional Love & Compassion
    Always put your lover first—it’s not about you! When you fully develop the skill of heartfelt understanding, you become conscious of your partner’s inner life. Rather than being an observer and critic, you feel what they feel and you will discover the deepest pleasure in your relationship—sexual and otherwise.

    2. The Discipline of Absolute Courage & Vulnerability
    Love no matter what and commit to absolute truth. Be present for your lover even during the most painful situations. Don’t just be physically present, be fully present– giving your lover your undivided focus. Any time you lose trust, interest or commitment, you drift closer to behaviors of criticism and rejection. Stay connected! Cultivate your commitment the way you would a precious flower. Your relationship will flourish no matter what your life circumstances may be.

    3. The Discipline of Knowing the Truth
    Here’s the truth: It’s a no-blame game. There’s an art to expressing mild upset without creating bigger problems. When you let something bother you, your partner will feel blamed. However, when something goes wrong, you must express yourself spontaneously, and from the heart. It’s crucial you set the context carefully for anything you share. Remember to use phrases that avoid blame.

    4. The Discipline of Telling Yourself the Truth
    Commit to moment-to-moment awareness of the impact of your state. If the basis of trust is confidence in your partner, then you must begin with confidence in yourself. Without it, you cannot induce lasting trust in others. When you can be yourself, others will perceive that and build trust in you. Hold true to the generosity of your highest intentions.

    5. The Discipline of Giving Freedom
    The power of forgiving, forgetting and flooding. Why drag along the baggage of past mistakes? Whenever we have painful experiences, we can learn from them or use them to punish ourselves or others. People often blame their partners for past misdeeds. If you want passion, set your partner free. See their mistake from their perspective. Consciously harness the good in life to bring greater pleasure and intimacy.