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| Vasisthasana in super soul sunshine |
Summer isn't only about sunkissed cheeks, pedicured feet, and sangria mixes. Step outside, look up at the sun, and say cheers to natural light. Commit to making this summer your best yet by nourishing your mind, body, spirit.
Super-Soul-Summah: Mind
June is perfect for a mental detox and the remedy is meditation. Now, I'm guessing sitting crossed legged, with your eyes closed, listening to birds chirping, isn't for you. So before you click off this page, allow me to enlighten you on meditating. If you never thought you could meditate, than you're in for a surprise with "Marisa's Mindful Method". Summer is the best season for juicy fruits. Disconnect from technology, grab an orange, sit outside, and get ready to be mindful. Close your eyes and smell your orange. Touch it. Feel its texture. Is it smooth? Soft? Does it have any noticeable scars? With your eyes still closed, begin to peel it. As you peel away the skin, reflect on the life path of this orange. The journey began on a tree somewhere down south. Someone nourished the tree to ensure it grew to be healthy. Consider all the love this orange was given as it travelled across the globe, eventually landing in the aisle of a grocery store. You then walked in and selected the very orange you're peeling. Now you may open your eyes. With the peel removed, you can see its core. Just like us, our exterior might be flawed, but the best part is the inside. Close your eyes again. Take a bite and chew your orange with mindfulness. Pay attention to its taste. Notice if it's sour, sweet, juicy, or even cold. Now as your body is being nourished, send love and gratitude to all the people who contributed to the journey of this orange. Be grateful to this delightful fruit for all the nutrients it's providing your body, as well as your mind. Open your eyes. You just experienced a visualize meditation.
Super-Soul-Summah: Body
Though being in the dark about half the year has its pros (trying to be positive), nothing beats the blues like the sun. Sunlight is the best form for obtaining Vitamin D, which is created by the skin when exposed to UV rays from the sun. Not only is Vitamin D beneficial for bone health, but it's been proven to be an immune system booster. So before you lather on tons of sunscreen, give your skin 15 minutes (for thousands of units of vitamin D) of natural sunlight. While your skin is feasting on Vitamin D, go pick some dandelions! Walking barefoot on these weeds is very therapeutic, but consuming them is even better. Dandelions are a fabulous relief for water retention, so before you start blaming the heat for your swollen feet, drink up some dandelion tea. If they're pesticide free, you can literally pick 'em and toss them in hot water. Voila, a dandelion tea party!
Super-Soul-Summah: Spirit
No one likes to be left in the dark. Summer is the ultimate time to honour light. It stimulates the organs of sight, allowing things to be visible. I do appreciate the dark because that's when the body rests. However, light awakens us, not only literally, but spiritually as well. From a metaphysical perspective, light represents faith. It serves as the bright side of things, the light at the end of the tunnel, optimism, reliance, security. On our darkest days, we rely on that crack of light to remind us that we're OK. No matter what hardship you're living, know this: "Darkness cannot drive out light; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that" - Martin Luther King Jr. Let this summer calm your mind, nourish your body, brighten your spirit.
Love&Light
