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Yoga Therapy Lifestyle Blog.

 

Yoga Training, Mental Health Education, Community Organizing, Mentorship, Queer Poetry, Philosophy & Yogic Lifestyle, Spiritual Counseling & Meditation

Spiritual Emergence, Spiritual Emergency, Intentional Peer Support Groups and Shades of Awakening mental health spiritual emergence spirituality Apr 11, 2016

“Thou are the essence of everything.”

- Paramhansa Yogananda


 

I spent the weekend in Ojai, California with Emma Bragdon, PhD, and nine other beautiful people, completing my training as a Spiritual Emergency Support Group Coach.

Please let me know if you are interested in...

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Yoga Bharati – Global Movement for Peace Mar 17, 2016

Yoga Bharati‘s Director of Yoga Therapy, Savita Joshi, and I met at IAYT SYTAR in June last year. We admired each other right away.

I attended the Fifth Annual International Kriya Yoga Congress this weekend, hosted by the The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment in San Jose. Spiritual...

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Chandra Bheda Pranayama: Moon Breath pranayama Dec 02, 2015

Anxious lately? Me, too.

Decrease heart rate, reduce systolic pressure and pulse pressure with this simple breathing technique which cools and calms the nervous system, reduces bile and digestive heat. The qualities of the moon and of this breathing technique correspond to the introspective,...

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#ALTCON15 Memphis, Two Weeks Later conferences Nov 01, 2015

I have returned as a presenter at The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency Alternatives Conference in Memphis, TN. I led an evening caucus, taught a morning Restorative yoga, nidra and meditation class and led a ninety-minute workshop...

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Accepted Application Essay for Spiritual Emergence Coach Training Oct 25, 2015

While I integrate the powerful experience of attending the Alternatives Conference in Memphis, visiting the National Civil Rights Museum and confronting my own internalized stigma and trauma as a peer in recovery from mental distress (whew!), I continue to pursue continuing education in my chosen...

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Legs-Up-The-Wall: Remedy for Jet Lag yoga therapy Oct 07, 2015

Legs-Up-The-Wall is called “A Royal Pose” because of it’s holistic benefits and immediate relaxation to the cardiovascular system. It is a variation of Sarvangasana. This is a heart-relaxer and not a hamstring stretch. Restorative poses, if done correctly, are safe and...

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In Light of the Massive Oregon Tragedy, et al. Oct 01, 2015

 

 

I woke this morning thinking of the genius of this meme, and then, my next thought was

Please, PLEASE, BE RESPONSIBLE about weapon access.

When I came out of the hospital the second and last time, ten years ago, before my consistent and synergistic Yoga, medication and...

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“Wow! what a class!” – Healthy Lymph Workshop Feedback and Afterthoughts Aug 22, 2015

lymph (lĭmf) n.

  1. Archaic A spring or stream of pure, clear water.

[Latin lympha, water nymph, from Greek numphē, young bride, water nymph.]

brook

a small stream.

 

Healthy Lymph Workshop Feedback:

“Wow! what a class! Brooke, that was an amazing workshop… I left feeling that I...

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“Gratitude for you…this is the most profound medicine I have ever experienced.” testimonials Aug 11, 2015

Hi Brooke,

Thanks for today’s session.  And thanks for taking such good care of JT, he felt really nurtured and safe.  We both needed that.

I’m bummed that I will be missing meditation tomorrow night.

I’ve been wanting to share with you how profoundly restorative yoga...

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National Presentation Campaign at ALTCON2015: Bringing Trauma-Informed Yoga-Based Practices to the Top conferences Aug 08, 2015

People with mental and/or substance use disorders typically die years earlier than the general population.

My sister, D’Arcy, died at the age of thirty.

I believe that, because I practice Yoga and meditation, I survived.

I have been accepted as a presenter at the Alternatives...

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Going National Jul 26, 2015

I have been featured in The Rivard Report, an online hyper-local magazine serving San Antonio’s urban core: http://www.therivardreport.com/veterans-and-yoga-the-perfect-mix/

Deborah Charnes from The Namaste Counsel and The Write Counsel was in the audience at SYTAR and heard my story. She...

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Yoga, Mental Illness and Summertime Fun Jul 06, 2015

“Mental illness” is not my favorite term to use as a Yoga therapist or as a peer in recovery. I prefer “behavioral health,” “mental health issues,” “mental health” or “mental wellness.” Affirmations are powerful medicine, and a...

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