Bliss Blog
BY TAMMY LYONS
The Familiar Smell of Inner Bliss
I think the faint scent of incense, the smell of deep breathing and the floods of love that come out of all of us as we practice. To me, it smells like Bliss.
Walking up the stairs in Rocky River, there is the familiar smell of Inner Bliss.
It's like a coming home smell. I am the owner and I am not even exactly sure what the smell comes from.
Available starting May 2 at Rocky River & Westlake studios, $25. Limited supply!
I think it's the faint scent of incense, the smell of deep breathing and the floods of love that come out of all of us as we practice. To me, it smells like Bliss.
I am a very scent oriented person. If you know me well, you know that I can smell like a hound dog. I love beautifully scented lotions, oils, candles, soaps.
Together with a scent maker, Katy Boscia, we created a new oil we are trying out at IBY, called Bliss. We feel the smell is like taking Inner Bliss home with you.
Come in and give it a test smell, and let me know what you think!
The Journal of All Journals
Out of the millions of journals out there to choose from, how do we decide the one that will actually draw us in enough to actually practice journaling on a regular basis?
Emily Ley's The Simplified Journal
Out of the millions of journals out there to choose from, how do we decide the one that will actually draw us in enough to actually practice journaling on a regular basis?
I was given Emily Ley's The Simplified Journal as a gift from my friend Cassie Cooper and it has been instrumental in cultivating a regular journalling practice.
The book itself is beautiful and calls to me when I see it laying on my desk. On the cover mine says I will hold myself to a standard of grace, not perfection.
She invites you into your journal with prompts, like brain dump and little messages like Today I feel... as well as perfectly laid out pages that offer a way to organize your thoughts and feelings.
Find this Awesomeness here.
Vira Sun Sunglasses
Recently a good friend sent me these AWESOME new sunnies!
Recently a good friend sent me these AWESOME new sunnies!
They are my new favorite way to keep the glare out but the skies looking bright! They are lightweight, comfortable and super functional! We are going to be carrying them at IBY this winter! Perfect for skiing, boating, practicing yoga outside, running or just looking fly!
VIRA SUN
www.virasun.com
#NamasteAndPlay
Fika: A New Practice of Connection from Sweden
My new friend from Sweden, Anna Hultman, introduced me to a new, beautiful practice of connecting with others.
Fika is one of those things that must find it way into our lives!
Wanna fika with me?
This past April I had the crazy cool opportunity to represent Cleveland at the Lululemon Ambassador Summit in Whistler, British Columbia. It was a magical 4 days that I will never forget.
One of the best parts to the summit was the new friends I met from all over the world. On a chilly run through the woods, I connected on a run with another yoga teacher, Anna Hultman from Sweden. Over the course of our run she shared the most beautiful practice with me that is habitual in her native Sweden. In Anna's words...
Fika is the habit of two (or sometimes more) friends (or acquaintances) get together over coffee or tea to talk about what’s going on in their lives. A fika is casual and can happen at home as in “why don’t you come over so we can have a fika" or “one of these days, you should come over for a fika”. Or, perhaps more often these days, in a café or a coffee shop. If you have a fika with a casual acquaintance, it’s often to find out if there’s more to this relationship (perhaps you’re going to do a project together - you would very likely start with a fika) and then you would meet outside of home.
A fika always involves catching up; a fika can start light and depending on the circumstances turn into a deep, meaningful talk. A fika may sound superficial (just having coffee together) but it often involves a heart-to-heart talk. A fika is not a place to talk business although you may talk about what makes you happy or not about your job.
In this health conscious world fika could be a smoothie but more often it’s a hot beverage (this is Sweden, after all) and something sweet like a cinnamon bun, a cookie, a slice of pie or possibly something like a sandwich. Fika is only very rarely cooked food and then only taken in a café or coffee shop. Fika can NOT happen in a restaurant.
In Sweden, I have fika with friends or my mom several times a week so it can be quick, 20-30 minutes - or the ultimate luxury longer than that. Sometimes we bring the kids so they can play while we catch up.
Often, fika is also associated with other activities like “let’s go to yoga and then we can go for a fika afterwards”.
Also interesting to know may be that a “fika break" is a “workers right” in Sweden. Many blue collar jobs (and although not enforced by law to the same extent, also white collar jobs) have “morning fika” and “afternoon fika,” a time where colleagues (and often the boss) gather for 10-15 minutes to talk about what’s going on, rejuvenating, clearing their heads and bonding among colleagues over coffee and sweets. Often, someone has brought a homemade cake or cookies for all to share. If someone has their birthday , people will sing, there will be cake etc. The thinking here is that people will be more efficient if they:
- Get a break to clear their heads, to think in new ways
- Know their colleagues - both professionally and personally - better
- Get an informal opportunity to share knowledge across departments and projects
I left our run feeling uplifted by Anna's warm, contagious energy and for her willingness to share this beautiful practice with me. I reached out to her later and and asked if she could share with me her practice. Connect, share, give. Nothing better!
About Anna:
I am originally from Sweden but Has had the blessing of living in France, Spain, the US (Miami and NY) and right now I am in Singapore with my family (husband and two kids). I teach yoga full time and is fortunate enough to travel the world doing it. My favourite way to relax and kick back is a fika (mine is always a green tea - or a decaf oat milk cappuccino) with close friends, catching up, sharing both the most superficial as well as the most intimate details of our busy lives.
Follow her on IG: @annahultman_yoga
Energizing Poses
Even one of these poses, just once a day, helps keep your energy awake!
If you are inviting more energy into your life, try these poses!
Even one pose a day helps keep your energy awake!
Sometimes we give up on our yoga because we can't get to class or we don't have a full hour to dedicate. Know that your practice is there for you, even if you only have time for one pose!
Try one of these at the office, waiting in line somewhere, or in shower in the morning:
- Mountain Pose with arms overhead: This simple pose allows us to feel our feet on the ground, connected to something bigger than our thoughts while extending our arms over the head reaching for all that is possible. It is a beautiful symmetry of grounded but enlivened and awake!
- Bridge Pose: This beautiful heart opener also invigorates our nervous system in a non-taxing way. It releases tension in the shoulder and upper back from sitting at a desk all day and perks up our energy better than a Starbucks! All you need is a little clean floor space and no shoes to practice this heart opening gem of a pose.
You don't always need a mat to practice your yoga!
The Power of a Pose
Child's pose is a favorite for many. The turning inward toward our own nest of ease while opening our hips and releasing the low back all at the same time.
A class usually is made up of many poses, strung together on the breath.
Sometimes we can fit a whole class or even a longer practice into our day. One pose has the power to change our state. To take us from agitated to ease. From freaking out to blissing out.
Child's pose is a favorite for many. The turning inward toward our own nest of ease while opening our hips and releasing the low back all at the same time.
The turning inward and bowing forward, calm our nervous system. Child's pose encourages a moment of softness in our belly and face.
We always have a moment for child's pose.
Yellow Cake Fun!
I was incredibly grateful to be invited to be part of the #YCWoman photoshoot project a few weeks ago!
I was incredibly grateful to be invited to be part of the #YCWoman photoshoot project a few weeks ago!
The mission of the project was to illustrate the diversity of the YC woman: young, mature, short, tall, fair skinned, dark skinned, athletic, feminine, loud, quiet, working mom, single mom, single lady, etc... The Everyday Woman!
And to celebrate womanhood and fashion! It was so encouraging and exciting to see all kinds of women wearing the beautiful items Valerie Mayan has created right here in the CLE!
#YCWoman
@yellowcakeshop
@suzuranphotography
Hair & MUA:
@misscoiffeur
@daniellepavan
@shanalohr
Health-Ade Organic Kombucha, Cayenne Cleanse, 16 Fl Oz
This beverage is delicious and satisfying in the afternoon instead of grabbing for another coffee.
I love a good Kombucha during the day!
Health-Ade Organic Kombucha, Cayenne Cleanse, 16 Fl Oz
It aids in digestion; who doesn't need that? And it is delicious and satisfying in the afternoon instead of grabbing for another coffee. This flavor has a "hot"quality to it as it goes down and is very low in sugar.
It wakes up my senses and makes my belly feel at ease! Try it!
Write With Flair
I have been experimenting with different writing instruments to make the valuable practice of writing more fun and creative.
I have been doing tons of writing lately; journaling ideas, writing down my visions and jotting down insights as they occur.
Flairs by Paper Mate
I read an article a few months ago stating that the actual act of writing versus typing is more effective in long term memory retention and the act of actually learning about what you are writing.
I have been experimenting with different writing instruments to make this practice more fun and creative. I have tested no. 2 pencils, ballpoint pens and even the expensive fountain pens and have decided that writing with colored Flairs is the way to go! The huge variety of colors and the smooth feeling of the marker gliding along the page adds a whole new joy to the art of writing.
Give Flairs a whirl!
lululemon backpack
If you need your hands free this bag offers the versatility of being carried on your back and still looking super cute and feminine.
Check out this new mini backpack from Lululemon.
The Go Lightly Backpack Mini by lululemon: $98
13.5" x 9"x 5"
It is the perfect size to carry your wallet, some lip gloss and your favorite book or journal. It doubles as a purse; a carry-all that we could call a pursepack or bagpack. If you need your hands free it offers the versatility of being carried on your back and still looking super cute and feminine.
Join me beginning May 1st on Instagram for 365 days of CLE Fun!
#365daysofCLEfun - this project is my commitment to find some fun in every day, in tons of ways, all over CLE!
Would love you to come along and share with me your fun in our city!
Follow me on Instagram! @tammyatinnerblissyoga
Candles and Hygge
Candles are so powerful for creating ease and warmth in any space.
If you are not already burning them in your home, workspace and practice space, go grab some candles.
I have always loved the feeling and smell that a burning candle elicits when you walk into a room aglow with candlelight.
Recently, via my sister in law, I came to investigate a practice called “hygge,” a Danish term defined as “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” Pronounced “hoo-guh,” the word is said to have no direct translation in English, though “cozy” comes close. It derives from a sixteenth-century Norwegian term, hugga, meaning “to comfort” or “to console,” which is related to the English word “hug.”
Associated with relaxation and gratitude, hygge also elicits a "state of mindfulness: how to make essential and mundane tasks dignified, joyful, and beautiful, how to live a life connected with loved ones". A significant part of practicing "hygge" is burning candles. If this all sounds really inviting to you, check out this great article to learn even more about HYGGE! BTW, the Danes are known to be the happiest people in the world!
If you are unsure where to start in your candle search, I like Sweet Dish & Darling (made locally & we happen to sell those at IBY) and I also love Voluspa Candles sold locally at Sacred Hour.
Get burning!
You'll Love This Patchouli Lotion
I have been searching for the ultimate patchouli lotion forever!
Patchouli doesn't have to be overwhelming as it actually is a relaxation scent.
On Etsy I found THE best stuff! It's by SkinFoodByAB - PATCHOULI Organic Body Butter + Lotion and it is very high quality and a fantastic moisturizer!
It smells intoxicating - unless you hate patchouli. Just smell me!
