5  Keys to Be More Present and Have Way More Joy in Your Life

Do you have the courage to really be in the non-predictable present moment? Are you shaping your own life or are you just rolling with the punches? Let's practice!

Here's my top 5  keys to being present so that you have way more joy in life. It's a practice, like any practice. And it will lead you into an awesome reality of synchronistic connections, louder heart messages, and a self-designed life that you love. 1. Breathe deeply. When you notice anxiety, headiness, or irritation picking up start to deepen your breath - inhaaaaale and exhaaaaale. Many times. Bound-up anxious energy is depleting and exhausting and a total downer to joy and presence. Breath will energize you, brings things back into perspective, and calms our nervous system. You'll get back into your body and out of your head, inviting in the richness of now. 2. When someone is speaking to you, really listen. Try to listen without an agenda of what you think they're trying to say or with words at the tip of your tongue. This is a biggie for me and something I really have to practice. Not only will they feel and appreciate your listening skills but you're fine-tuning your overall ability to be present. You may even catch a deeper message or insight meant just for you. 3. Practice doing the small things with deliberate awareness. Making your bed, brushing your teeth, eating a meal, walking around the city - take in the colors, the sounds, the vibe, your feelings in this moment. Be precise in the actions needed to complete a simple task like a pro. Acting like a pro in simple moments adds up and makes it way easier to be present and kick-ass in bigger tasks. 4. Move. Get to a yoga class, the gym, ride your bike, take a 20 minute break and stretch, walk to your next destination, or whatever you love to do - daily. It doesn't have to be a marathon, but get into your body every day. Moving gets the blood and lymph system moving. When we stagnate, our energy and mental awareness drops. Our body thrives when we move. We feel more alive, connected, and we can better navigate our emotions. All of this helps us to stay present rather than sticky. 5. When you're overwhelmed with a task at hand and procrastinating, stop what you're doing. Take a walk, have a cup of tea, sit outside, whatever. Just get a way for a few minutes so that you can return with a clear mind. When we learn to listen to the moment and how our body communicates with us we produce a quality life. "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein

LATEST MUSIC UPDATE!

I get approached a lot about the music I play in my yoga classes.  So as my gift to you here's some of my favorite songs you've been hearing lately! Come back and visit often for updates :)

Some of you may already know of Gabrielle Roth. She's an outstanding woman and the founder of 5Rhythms! Check out some of 'Gabrielle Roth & The Mirros' tribal, heart beat, percussive music. Both of these albums are great! And likely anything else you find on ITunes of theirs.
'Music for Slow Flow Yoga' Vol.2
'Bones'

And I'm loving these songs:

 Maneesh De Moor - "Silent Ganges"

Cat Power - "Love & Communication"

Wax Tailor - "Sometimes"

Abyssinia Infinite - "Gole"

DJ Krush - "Song 1"

Manish Vyas - "Meera"

Jane Winther - "Jawharp & Voices"