YOGA by Brittney

Being true to you, authentically you, the loudest you - is the greatest gift you can offer the world. I suppose since my pregnancy and delivery was magical even with eh hum,  hemorrhoids , and two tears, it’s only natural my post-birth plan would go awry... (I intentionally mention  hemorrhoids at this point in the post so you can stop reading now if you think it's TMI ;) God, grant me the serenity. I gave birth Thursday, May 23rd at 6:26pm. Within the hour, baby had a successful latch and our lactation consultants were pleased w/ the outlook for little man. We were released from the hospital Saturday afternoon. I’d visited w/ lactation each day, and everything looked good (Except my bleeding, cracked nipples and the toe curling, take-your-breath-away pain that accompanied feeding times). By Sunday afternoon at home, little guy was frustrated, unusually fussy, no longer latching and had very little urine output and no bowel movements. Then he spiked a fever o...

1. It's a disease classified by The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.  The definition of disease is as follows: a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location* and is not simply a direct result of physical injury. *The location in this instance being the brain. 2. It can be considered an allergy.  Definitions of allergy : A) altered bodily reactivity (such as hypersensitivity) to an antigen in response to a first exposure. B) exaggerated or pathological immunological reaction to substances, situations, or physical states that are without comparable effect on the average individual. According to William D. Silkworth, M.D. a prominent physician who specialized in the treatment of alcoholism, the action of alcohol in alcoholics is the manifestation of an allergy; the phenomenon of craving that develops is limited to this class...

“When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.” ~Ancient Ayurvedic Proverb  Every 35 days, your skin replaces itself and your body makes new cells from the food you eat. What you eat literally becomes YOU. This is my why -- This is why Juice Plus is so important to me. I'm among the 75% of Americans who fall short of 5-13 servings of fruits and veggies a day - even when I try my best! Juice Plus bridges the gap between what I should be eating and what I actually eat; it's whole food based nutrition, including juice powder concentrates from 30 different fruits, vegetables and grains. Plus soil erosion has lead to nutrient depletion, so today's grocery store tomato isn't exactly the same as the tomato farmed for Juice Plus, but that's a whole other blog. Shred 10 was new for me, but as a part of the Juice Plus family, I saw the value. I didn't lose any weight, but I noticed an increase in my energy, especiall...

No Sugar, No Gluten, No Dairy... My 10 Day "Shred" Begins... Throughout my teenage years I struggled with bulimia - I started modeling when I was 10, and my obsession with food, restricting and purging became a big problem. My face was always bloated. Blood vessels in and around my eyes were burst. I was in NYC for an event with my agency, and in my hotel room, my mom heard me throwing up after I turned the shower on. It wasn't long after, by the grace of God, I managed to stop the cycle of binging and purging. In college, counting calories, diet pills and exercising 3 hours a day became my obsession. When my drinking and partying escalated from 2011 -2014 I lost a lot of weight. I liked that, plus how alcohol made me feel. I began my sober journey in 2014 . (This was 2012-ish, I weighed a little over 100lbs, at 5'6") Controlling food was considered an "old way of thinking" - so since 2014, I really haven't made any attempts...

I'm nervous...  What I've learned and experienced of self-reflection and spiritual growth thus far: It can be painful. But to gain self awareness, enlightenment and to awaken is powerful and what I believe we've all essentially incarnated for. So, from an internal perspective, I'm excited, trusting, albeit apprehensive about my trip to India. The facilities of the Arhanta Yoga Ashram are simple, offering the possibility of immersion in traditional Indian culture and lifestyle, free from western luxury and comfort. The idea is to minimize materialistic influences and attachments, renounce material dependencies and to bring the focus within. Situated outside the historical city of Khajuraho amidst 17 acres of green land,  beautiful lush nature, surrounded by hills, forests and seemingly endless fields - the environment is a serene place for yoga, meditation and focus on spiritual growth. It is quiet and secluded promoting a deep connection with creation. I g...

It would be really nice to have a glass of wine with dinner. I miss having cocktails with friends, and holidays, like Halloween, make me miss letting loose and "having fun." Those are no longer privileges of mine though, unfortunately. You see, I am bodily and mentally different from others. I have a genetic predisposition (nature), plus my environment throughout life has contributed (nurture) - whatever, it's who I am.  I respond to alcohol different from my fellows; I'm essentially allergic, except instead of it being like an allergy to strawberries, for instance, I'm judged harshly for it - and it can wreck havoc on not only my life, but my families as well when/if I choose to consume it. Also - I have a mind that prioritizes alcohol over basic living needs for survival, and a body that craves it. Do people who are allergic to strawberries have strong cravings and a mental obsession for them? I'm not sure, but I doubt when people who are allergic to stra...

A regular silent meditation practice has powerfully transformed my life. It's the time I take to listen to God. In those still, quiet moments, I often receive creative insight or divine inspiration. About 6 months ago, I felt as if I was walking hand in hand with the spirit of the universe. After a long period of meditation, a flame was lit within and a fire began to burn, fueling me to write "My Truth" and reveal "What's Under My Yoga Pants" - believing that my willingness to be vulnerable might help or encourage someone also struggling with addiction, alcoholism, anxiety or depression to not be ashamed. To get help. Have hope. That things can change... I shared the blogs on my personal social media pages in a humble, brave and courageous effort put myself out there, somehow for a greater good.  And despite my intended message - that no one is perfect, mistakes are a part of life, and the world needs more acceptance, compassion, togetherness...