Reflections from Brenna Kramer on wholeness and well-being through simple, seasonal fare, expressive movement, and curious, thoughtful living.
//Self-Compassion: Dr. Kristin Neff, a pioneer in the research of self-compassion, describes it as “being kind and understanding toward oneself in instances of pain or failure, rather than being harshly self-critical; perceiving one’s experiences as part of the larger human experience, rather than seeing them as isolating; and holding painful thoughts and feelings in mindful awareness, rather than over-identifying with them.”
Read More// On those dark stormy nights, whip up this bright salad and cure those winter blues.
Read More// Adho Mukha Svanasana: Downward Facing Dog
I am. I am. I am. Being, I am being. Here I am being in twenty seventeen. More than ever my mind is on being, on that which is, rather than the what should be or what should not be. In the quiet of the now, I am finding great peace in resting in what already exist in me and around me. Paradoxically, I am more motivated than ever to become, to live into all of the other traits and truths that have existed in my spirit and in this world since the beginning of time that I have yet to discover.
The featured pose for this month is one of the most iconic poses in Yoga. People who have never practiced before can usually name this pose. It’s fame is for good reason, it’s dynamic, rejuvenating, and allows for a healthy pause in a flowing practice to just be.
Read More// Ancient grains are unchanged by time or hands. They offer a glimpse into the past while filling our bellies with a whole lot of nutrients and fiber. Coupled with the fullness of the squash, the brightness of the lemony swiss chard, and topped with a poached egg, this breakfast is sure to nourish and sustain. A great way to start the day!
Read More//Sankalpa: a vow, a resolve, and a commitment we call upon to nourish our highest self.
The year is new. In the moments following the countdown, and the clinking of glasses, resolutions are made to be different and to live differently. These goals, ranging from weight loss to finances to relationships, typically start with a haunting sensation of our shortcomings and imperfections. Thus, we build goals from the shaky foundation that we are not enough as we are, with the egocentric expectation that we will be happy once we get what we want from the universe. Thus begin the days of forcing ourselves to do something and then feeling guilty when we don’t. I, like many others that I work with as a health coach, have failed at this way of existing and changing because its roots are shallow and they do not connect to what we truly desire and who we really are. It is a conditioning, a system, and an industry built upon acquiring, rather than upon being and becoming, to find true joy. Oftentimes this leads to an empty wallet, more stuff, and less peace.
Now we are days into twenty-seventeen, and if you find yourself already failing at manifesting the statements of “I will,” “I’ll try,” or “I hope,” Yoga offers you another way with sankalpa. Sankalpa is a vow, resolve, and commitment we call upon to nourish our highest self. It is built on the fact that you already are good enough, and that you have everything you need to fulfill your life purpose. Recognizing and proclaiming our true nature in its deepest and most mysterious form as an integrated human - mind, body and spirit - will connect us to the divine that lives within us and all around us. Ultimately, it will guide us to our divine purpose in this crazy world without force, but with ease and certainty.
Read More
Borboleta's journal is a series of reflections about being where you are, when you are there. Discovering wholeness and well-being through simple seasonal fare, expressive movement, and thoughtful living.
