The Yoga Formula

We all, to some extent, live in an illusory world…

In childhood, our psyche simply cannot cope with certain situations, so it has no choice but to come up with a defence mechanism. Unfortunately, as we adulting, these mechanisms start working against us.

But facing reality is painful, and a person can live in illusion for a very long time…If the illusion wasn’t too profound, coming back would probably feel like realising Santa Claus doesn’t exist. But if the illusion was complex and deep, then breaking free from it would feel more like being pushed off a cliff….

The soul came to experience reality, and avoiding it is cheating, so life will hint and push you towards reality in various ways 👁️

It’s good if you can hear the nudge while it’s gentle, because if not, life will still push you, only each time the push will be harder.

How many stories have you heard of people changing their lives only when they hit rock bottom, got sick or lost something or someone dear?

There’s no point in waiting; go where the fear is, because beyond fear lies freedom.

Freedom from illusion.

And the greatest illusion of all is that illusion is better than reality.

So, I ran a marathon... how was it? Well, bet you expected a story about how I overcame the biggest challenge in my life, conquered my fears, and returned a new human being. Well, not to upset you, but that’s not my story. I had to think a lot about why it wasn’t hard and why it felt… normal? And we’re gonna skip the topic of self-underappreciation here and move straight to how the mind works.

I didn’t know how it feels to run 42km; I didn’t train a lot and didn’t read a lot. Thus, I had no expectations, no deep contemplation about its meaning – my mind was just not wired for such things. I tried to follow my friend’s advice to ponder why I am doing it and hit a dead end; there was no profound reason. I simply wanted to run, and I wanted it to be easy because, let’s be honest, I don’t like hard things. No, I don’t believe in hard things.

So, at 5:45 am, I woke up, got ready, and just went…
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Dad 🤍

Inversions are tricky! Not only do they require a significant amount of balance and strength, but they are also simply scary! I mean, how natural is it for us to be upside down? I get it! And on top of that, you need to breathe and get the alignment right! But one thing I love about yoga is that you can start small, and then you won't even notice how fast your body adapts to doing things that seemed so scary just a moment ago. Here are the tips on how to overcome the fear of inversions:

1. Strengthen core, shoulders, arms, and back first
2. Practice balancing poses
3. Use props and wall support
4. Listen to your body
5. Practice regularly

I've always believed that in a world with so many options, you need to return to the basics, to the origins. That's why yoga, that’s why raw diet.

Yoga, originating in ancient India over 5,000 years ago, represents for me the essence of spiritual and ascetic practices. The same principle applies to food: what did we eat when there was nothing else? What is the most natural diet for us? Fruits, leaves, roots, nuts - these are the basics I focus on.

So, let me introduce myself...
I'm Kristina, and for as long as I can remember, I've been into eating healthier, boosting my brain's performance, and staying fit. Believe me, I've tried nearly everything out there. Not all of it was healthy, though... but that's a story for another post…

Soooo... who am I? I'm a holistic wellness instructor who firmly believes that being healthy is both easy and fun and I am here to show you how. It's not just a passing trend; it's a way to respect yourself, look awesome, and stay sane in this insane world. So, here I am, finally deciding to share all the knowledge I've gathered through more than 15 years of self-trials.

With my regulars, I often teach meditations/mindfulness sessions in a state of flow, so the direction can be unpredictable.

At times, it's sparked by the client's words, sometimes by events in my life. Yet, there are instances when the subject emerges so spontaneously that even I have to ask myself how did we get there…Funny enough, the client often has the answer.

You see, meditation is your way to get the answers, and the instructor is merely a conduit. So even if I might not understand why a particular piece of information arises, it's usually clear to the client.

The Yoga Formula updated their information in their About section.

The Yoga Formula updated their address.

The Yoga Formula updated their website address.

One of my clients raised an interesting concern today regarding the apprehension of sharing personal experiences and being vulnerable during yoga or meditation classes, especially when the teacher also instructs individuals from the same workplace.

That made me think and kind of sad as this concern likely stems from past experiences where trust may have been broken. 💔

So, let's get one thing crystal clear: Privacy and intimacy in 1-1 yoga or meditation sessions are ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL! Your journey of self-discovery deserves a space where you can be completely free, without the shadow of apprehension. Your journey of self-discovery deserves a space where you can be completely free, without the shadow of apprehension. The sessions are a sanctuary for personal growth and healing. It's the job of a teacher to create an environment that nurtures your personal journey. And it’s your right to expect confidentiality.

Sometimes, as teachers, it becomes necessary to reiterate certain fundamental rights to our clients, particularly beginners. This not only ensures they receive the treatment they deserve in our sessions but also empowers them to know what to expect should they choose to attend other sessions elsewhere.

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I like how Kabbalah explains the ego as a constant battle between our higher spiritual aspirations and the ego's negative inclinations.

It's a profound reminder of the inner journey towards self-awareness and spiritual growth.

Embracing the Divine Image within us allows us to transcend the ego's limitations, opening doors to a deeper connection with the divine and a greater sense of unity with the world around us.

I ASSUME TOO MUCH 🤯

This is my new mantra.

🤷🏼‍♀️ You see, our mind needs it! It seeks closure and coherence in the face of uncertainty. Assumptions provide a quick way to fill in gaps and make sense of incomplete information. It's our brain's way of creating a cohesive narrative.

▫️Our brains are wired to take mental shortcuts, leading to cognitive biases. These biases can influence our perceptions and interpretations, causing us to jump to conclusions based on preconceived notions or stereotypes.

Control your mind, control your limitations-> 🧘🏼‍♀️

I stopped eating red meat when I was 14 y.o.

I remember that day clearly: I was at my friend’s and we came across a video of animals being slaughtered at meat processing plants. It was before YouTube time, so watching videos online was somewhat special and they made a completely different impression.

I loved animals and just couldn’t believe that somewhere out there people treat them that way. Nothing of what I saw felt right…it made me angry, I guess.

So we decided that we would no longer eat red meat. Yeah, just like that 🤷🏼‍♀️

I remember coming to school the next day and one of my friends saying we wouldn't last a month....Well...if before this commment my will was based solely on compassion for animals, then after my decision was fully reinforced by youthful maximalism 💪🏼 Never underestimate a teenager's willingness to prove something…

So that was it - the end of my meat consumption history and the beginning of years of research into human nutrition, social stigma, and the active interest in human health 🌱

LEARN TO SEE YOUR GROWTH

I meet so many people who fail to see their growth even when their progress is obvious. I also see many people whose progress is minimal but when you talk to them you will be left with the impression that they are about to reach the start.

Who do you think will stay happier and get more at the end?

The growth comes in tiny things and you have to challenge yourself to broaden your perspective to see it. There is always another angle through which you can see that you are sooo amazing!

Yoga is not just about perfecting a pose, it's about training your muscles to remember the right alignment with patience.

With each practice, your body becomes more familiar with the movements, and the muscles start to remember.

So if you can't do a pose perfectly today, don't fret, because with consistent practice comes progress.

Just remember to be patient with yourself, trust the process, and let your muscle memory take over.

If I had to choose a superpower I would have chosen to have a recording of my life to be able to watch it as a tv show. You see, when you watch a movie, you see the life of characters in 3D and all the motives, interactions, feelings are clear. How often you were like “noooo it’s a mistake, walk away” or “you are so lucky, you just don’t see it”. But 🤷🏼‍♀️

All we can do is learn, learn from as many sources as you can. The more perspectives you gain, the more feedback you get the closer to a 3D movie you will get.

I try my best and so besides tons of yoga/meditation courses, I decided to do one from (Лидер Мнений 2.0). So far, so good 😊 2 weeks of awesome insights and great support. Can’t wait to see what we will learn next!

I am not searching anymore. I am rediscovering. Not judging but finding new angles and new perspectives. Not missing but collecting the pieces I’ve lost over the years and would still love to have in my life.

Have you ever wondered what happens in our body when we’re anxious?

▫️The amygdala, a small almond-shaped structure in our brain, sends a signal to the hypothalamus that triggers the release of adrenaline and cortisol.

▫️Adrenaline increases our heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure, preparing us for action.

▫️Cortisol, the stress hormone, increases glucose in the bloodstream, providing energy to our muscles.

▫️This response can also suppress our immune system, making us more vulnerable to illness.

Chronic anxiety can lead to long-term health problems. That's why it's important to take care of ourselves and learn how to control your body reaction!

How often do you feel suddenly happy? How often do you catch this wave of peace that cascades over you, makes you smile bringing up warm memories yet keeping you present allowing appreciate every second? Isn't it the best feeling we can ask for?

This happens because our brain catches familiar sounds, smells, and visuals that it has already connected to something positive. Good for us, we can trick our brains into doing it more often.

Make a playlist of songs that make you happy, buy a perfume that smells like someone you love or just has a strong positive association, and find visuals that remind you of happy memories. Our brain is lazy so it always searches for ways to use the already created paths.

The more positive associations you have the easier it is for the brain to constantly keep you happy. So, spend time creating more and more happy memories.

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If you don’t know what to do, do yoga 🧘🏼‍♀️

Authenticity is something that God has given us as a present on the day we were born. This gift is the key to our happiness, our purpose, our Tikkun.

God’s given us intuition to guide towards this present but it would come with a little challenge to it - our ego. The challenge is tricky and hard, it questions your faith, your belief in yourself. It tells you that you are unworthy of the gift, it makes you listen to voices around and seeds the doubt in your mind.

What kind of present is that, you would ask?

Well, you see, by nature, we tend to care very little for things that are just simply given to us. So, for us to truly cafe for the gift God had to be creative and hide it from us whenever we are getting lazy and giving in to the ego.

But the present is ours and can never be taken away. All you need to do is keep overcoming the challenge.

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I often struggle with intrusive thoughts and a wandering mind. It can be really hard and truly exchasting. So finding ways how to get back to ‘normal’ is my hobby 🤪

People who struggle with this know that it's not so easy to just stop and see the world from a different angle at these moments.

What I found works for me is changing the environment. The goal here is to cha he the energy around you. So if you were in a hectic atmosphere, try going to a park or quiter place. While if you were home alone, call friends or go to a mall, seek more dynamic.

It's not a permanent solution but it does help to break the matrix and not to get sucked in deeper.

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Our brain is a complex well-designed structure but even it has a loophole. You see, it doesn't really understand the difference between reality and imagination. So, it blindly believes whatever you tell it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Let's say day after day you say, I am tired, bored, poor, you brain takes this command and activates the responsible functioning areas, which make you actually feel more tired, bored or being poor.

How can my brain makes me be poor, you would ask? Well, while brain itself can't make you poor but it can activate the feelings and neuro paths that will promote this state like laziness or even fear.

💫Good news! It works other way around. Let's sayinstead you decided to start saying: I am rich!

It may feel sillystand unnatural at first but let your brain time to adjust! It will create a new set of emotions which will prepare you to act towards achieving this goal.

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