Here are some fun pics from our day!!

"The gift of your classes really gives me time to reflect on my self, body/mind and practice.."

Danielle M.

Gilbert, AZ

"Like most men who reguraly go to a gym I looked at doing Yoga with some skepticism. After hearing from many people about the potential benefits a friend of mine had me go with her. That was four months ago and I haven’t looked back since. Flexibility is one of the tenets of overall fitness and is often the most overlooked. Since I started my flexibility has increased dramatically. My recovery time has shortened and rarely am I even sore. On weekends I hike usually 20 or more miles. For days after I would feel run down and in pain. Now I feel ready for more by Tuesday! I’ve also noticed an increase in strength and definition.

The other great part I’ve noticed is my mental awareness. I am much more positive and my outlook on life has improved. Being around others with a positive mental attitude really does help! My experience so far has been nothing less than awesome. I can’t recommend Lauren enough for her expertise and great teaching! She keeps the class positive, uplifting, and challenging at the same time. If given the opportunity you should jump at the possibility to attend!"

Bob Wajszczuk

University of Phoenix

Military Enrollment Advisor

Lauren is a dedicated and knowledgeable yoga instructor. Her passion & respect for yoga is contagious. I have found that she is attentive to all the student's needs and is attuned to the different levels in class, always providing variations in poses and adjusting her classes in accordance to those in attendance. Lauren incorporates a meditative approach focusing on encouraging and uplifting ideas. This spiritual component is both therapeutic and motivational and I leave her classes feeling more centered and balanced.. Lauren is a very positive, caring and patient instructor and I can’t say enough wonderful things about her. She is one of my favorite yoga instructors and I look forward to her classes every week.

-Lena Jacome

Professional Flamenco Dancer

Lauren was my Yoga instructor while I worked for University of Phoenix, and she was an instructor at the Apollo Fitness Center. I've been doing yoga off and on for years, so I have had many teaching styles in my day. I would recommend Lauren Adelson above and beyond all others.

While attending her classes, I thought I would inform her of my previous injury to my shoulder, and right away she took it upon herself to adjust and modify each pose for me and additionally gave me things to try at home. My problem instantaneously became hers, and from day one she created a plan and stayed late after class to further her suggestions that extended beyond yoga.

She has a lot of insight into how the body works and holistically how we can help the healing process by strengthening and stretching it. She also keeps the tone and environment in the studio very friendly and open, while appropriating the music to the balance and flow of the class. Her choice of ambiance music is perfect.
She is by far the best yoga instructor I've ever had, primarly because of her professionalism, knowledge of technique, and investment into my well-being.
-Hope Davis

Peace Through Yoga

Lauren,

 I really enjoyed the difference that practicing yoga with you made in my life today. I woke up feeling down and decided yoga could make a help today. I had no idea that you were going to play the inspirational tape that we listened to while relaxing with our legs up against the wall. This is a very creative use of yoga and the exercises and stretches that followed changed my whole perspective of this day. I felt mellow and relaxed when I left and inspired by the tape.
 I have tried to explain this to friends of mine who vary in age from their 20's to people like me in their 60's. They were surprised when I showed them the flexibility and strength that I have achieved practicing yoga when I did a Sun Salutation for them. Today was the first day that I achieved the balance in Warrior 3 to hold that pose. It may not seem like a major accomplishment for most people, but I have survived 40 years of high speed car and motorcycle wrecks and my body has paid the price with all of my injuries over the years. It took me 10 months after surgery to repair my right shoulder to do a pushup, so that I can now do the plank position. It took me 2 more months working with Heather, a yoga therapist to gain the strength to control the plank so that I can hold the pose or slowly drop to the ground while breathing in a timed cadence while doing a Sun Salutation. You helped me further today doing the standing Cobra pose and other stretches since I have chronic back pain.
  My doctors even said that yoga was probably the best way to rehabilitate my body since I have arthritis in my spine, right wrist and left knee. Despite all of the broken bones and hard hits I have survived flipping and rolling down the highway, hitting cars and flying off of a cliff 3 years ago, there is still hope that I can achieve a higher quality of life through yoga, pilates and weigh lifting.

 Thank you for making a difference in my life.

Peace & Love
Morgan Cottrell

 Mondays:           Desert Fitness-             Gilbert, AZ                        7:15pm

Wednesdays:     Desert Fitness              Gilbert, AZ                        10:20am

                         LA Fitness                    Queen Creek, AZ               8:00pm

   Thursdays:     LA Fitness                     Queen Creek, AZ              4:30pm

Fridays:            Desert Fitness               Gilbert, AZ                       10:20am 

Sundays:          Desert Fitness  *Pilates      Gilbert, AZ              8:30am

                        Joyful Yoga Studio               Chandler, AZ         5:45pm

 Please contact me if you are interested in attending class as my complimentary guest!  Private Yoga Sessions always available.  Perfect to customize your practice with individual attention, focusing on yoga therapy to heal from injuries, trauma, and mental and bodily stress.  Contact Lauren for pricing-  LaurenYogaBeauty@aol.com.

   In the ancient and sacred Yoga Sutras, Patanjali discusses the things in life that may block us on our path to yoga.  These obstacles are called kleshas in Sanskrit.  One important and relevant klesha that we can all relate to is physical pain and illness.  It is common to experience muscle pain, bodily aches, headaches, toothaches, and soreness.  One complaint I hear all the time is back pain.  Many of us try to do too much, without giving our bodies the proper time to rest, recover, and prevent pain.  Just sitting in the car driving to work can cause the spine to misalign.  Stresses of our day cause most of the pain we experience.  Have you ever been on the phone with a nagging client, a creditor, or a negative family member and physically FELT a headache coming on?  It sounds funny, but it is no joke.  It is real.  The mind-body connection is so evident in these moments in our lives. 

   How do we correct it?  Firstly, we must steer away from the typical over-the-counter drugs that claim to be "pain-killers".  For many years, I depended on extra strength over the counter, store bought medication to get rid of headaches.  I noticed that it would get rid of the headache, yet, it made me feel buzzed (from all of the caffeine).  In addition, the headaches never stopped.  It would help the pain go away in that moment, but then a few days later, the headaches would come back on.  This is a vicious cycle.  The medication was not getting to the root cause of the headaches.  Only covering up the symptoms and distracting me for the time being.

    I thought my headaches would never fully go away.  I saw a general physician about it, and went for brain MRI's.  The general physician spent approximately 3 minutes with me and proceeded to give me 2 prescriptions- one for an anti-inflammatory drug, and another for a muscle relaxer.  I knew this was not the path I needed to take.  Intuitively, I knew in my heart that this wasn't right.  Morally and scientifically speaking, I knew this wasn't going to cure me.  I needed to get to the bottom of it and really dig to get rid of my pain once and for all. 

    Next stop: my chiropractor. Dr. Craig Rubenstein, one of the best Chiropractors in New York, and also a dear family friend, took the time to really analyze my condition.  He sought to find the cause and treat me, the patient, as a whole being.. not a sum of the parts.  After doing some applied Kineseology, allergy testing, and spinal adjustments, Dr. Rubenstein pointed out that the foods I am eating may be contributing and/or causing my severe headaches. He recommended I cut out High Fructose Corn Syrup and Partially Hydrogenated Oils.  I was intrigued by this, and decided to try it.  I began to read the labels of all of my food items, this time focusing on ingredients, not just fat and calories.  Go ahead and try it yourself, you will be shocked at how many foods contain these chemicals! 

   I immediately tried Dr. Rubenstein's advice, and saw results right away!  I was so happy!!!  What I was eating was causing tension in my muscles around my head, eyes, back, and neck leading to constant brutal headaches and numbness in my arms and hands.  From that moment on, I was forever changed.  I felt like a new woman.  I didn't have to live with the pain anymore! 

   And at the same time, I was seeing a personal trainer and holistic nutritionist, Ray Florio (www.holisticselfregenesis.com).  He introduced me to the world of eating naturally and taught me what qualities to look for and those to avoid in my food choices. Ray showed me that I can feel increased energy and get my skin glowing just through eating!  He recommended some great books and DVDs and told me about the power of Yoga and it's benefits.  I researched and followed his lead.  Within weeks, I lost 1 pants size.  My acne went away.  My nails and hair were stronger and healthier looking.  My immune system was augmented and my energy was through the roof.  I was teaching young children at the time and would come home so tired and sick all the time.  So, when I implemented all of Ray's recommendations, I noticed a difference immediately.  Now, I was completely hooked!!!  I wish I had known about this years ago!!

   Cut to 5 years later.  Time for me to get my wisdom teeth pulled!!!  Ouch!!!  This was really horrendous pain, once the anaesthetic wore off.  The oral surgeon gave me a prescription for an extra strength very commonly used pain killer.  You have all heard of it, and maybe even used it, and I'll refrain from saying the name of it.  Again, I knew this wasn't aligned with what I knew to be true.  I knew that putting that drug in my system would affect me in the long run, and I wasn't willing to take that chance, because it was not an emergency situation.  Ray suggested I try an herbal naturaceutical called Bioprin.  It is an anti-inflammatory, and works like a pain-killer.  It works on an energetic level, so it gets to the root cause.  I took a bunch (they come in capsule form) with water, and soon after that, the pain dissipated.  This is truly remarkable.  Bioprin is the most effective pain-killer I've ever tried.  It works to relieve any sort of pain- even headaches!  The beauty of it is, there are no side-effects!!!  Check it out here: http://www.holisticselfregenesis.com/?page_id=19.

   It is extremely important to take a look at the obstacles in your life that are preventing you from experiencing inner peace.  Illness and physical pain and injury make the body so uncomfortable, that it is extremely challenging for your mind to relax.  The mind and body are connected.  The good news is, we are all equipped with the information now on how to help your body heal itself, just as it was built to do.  Give your body the nourishment it needs, so you can transcend beyond the senses and maintain balance in your life. 

      Since ancient times, yoga has been highly regarded as an exercise for the body and mind. It is an amazing tool to take care of yourself from the inside, out. On the surface level, yoga is seen as a series of poses, twisting and turning the body in all sorts of fun ways. But, what we don't see, is the beautiful effects the practice of yoga has in our lives. We cannot see it with the naked eye, it can only be felt and experienced. Using the principles of yoga, we can learn to quiet the rumblings in our minds. Once we have reached this inner stillness, we then get to witness a change in our surroundings. Those around us begin to feel at ease. Doubts, judgements, and frustrations melt away. Our pets are no exception. When we feel chaotic, we create a chaotic space in our homes. Our families, which of course, include our precious pets, will sense our tension. Thoughts are energy. Yoga teaches us that we are all connected. We are more alike, than not. This yogic principle helps us to realize that our thoughts and words have a direct impact on those around us. Our pets can sense how we are feeling. When we use yogic techniques to harness our energy, we come back to a place of manifesting joy and balance for not only ourselves, but our family and pets as well. We must take care of ourselves before we can care for those we love. It is our dharma, or life's purpose, to share, to co-create our world, and to give generously by serving others. We must cultivate compassion for ourselves first. This means, shifting our consciousness to a place of self-love and acceptance.

      One yoga exercise to try is to observe your thoughts throughout the day- witness how many times you are telling yourself or others negative things about yourself. We may notice that we are using self-defeating and self-sabotaging words and limiting beliefs multiple times. You wouldn't take this sort of emotional abuse from another human being, so why allow it coming from yourself? As you notice each time you are beating yourself up, criticizing, judging, doubting, or fearing, you have the choice to flip the switch. In that next moment, you can shift your thoughts to something that makes you feel good. Something that excites you. In a flash, your whole world can look and feel better. It is your choice. Our pets react to our chaos, sadness, and anger. You may see a change in their demeanor, energy level, and/or appetite. Animals have an extremely superior sensory ability, and vibrate at high frequencies. Some can sense when a rainstorm is about to hit. Many of our animals know when we are about to come home when we are five miles away from the house. We all accept this to be common knowledge, right? So therefore, wouldn't it hold true that they can also sense when their friend/companion/caregiver is frantic? It is our job as pet owners to create a loving and nurturing environment for our pets. Our goal is to contribute to their ultimate health and happiness. We cannot ignore the holistic paradigm when caring for them. They experience emotions, just as their human friends do.

      Emotional and mental wellness IS and will always BE connected to physical wellness. If you want your pet to enjoy vitality and longevity, it is important to support that by creating an environment of peace, harmony, balance, joy, abundance, and laughter. Start with you. Take the time out to be kind to yourself. Treat yourself the way you want your pets and children to be treated. There is no separation- that is an illusion. On this plane of existence, we fulfill our dharma through taking the path of our highest excitement and service to others. All external stressors and obstacles exist to push us to our highest potential and joy. They act as a metaphorical "push" in the direction of our bliss. As we stumble and fall, we gain momentum, power, and strength. They are all building blocks for a sturdy foundation. We came from bliss, and at the end of our lives, we return to bliss. The gap in between, called life, is filled by us. We can fill it with sweetness and light or darkness and struggle.

      Accept yourself today for where you are at now. Not what you wish you could look like, not the house you wish you had- those are all thoughts vibrating on a level of "lack". The universe returns to you more of what you think about. Being grateful for the beautiful body you are in today and the life you have created is an essential step on your path to fulfillment. To create love and give love to our families of humans and animals, we must first embody love. Patanjali writes about Ahimsa, in his famous Yoga Sutra. Ahimsa is the sanskrit word for non-violence. It is a prominent and necessary principle of yoga to practice personal and inter-personal non-harmful words and actions. We can practice ahimsa by showing ourselves compassion. As an extension of that, our family, pets, and friends will experience compassion from us, and a supportive and loving space will envelope and flow through all.

           In today's Western world, we often times look at concepts on a surface level.  Eastern Hindu and Buddhist ancient traditions have included yoga as an integral part of their daily lives.  Teachers like Iyengar and Yogananda have brought yoga practices to the west, and for that, we are eternally grateful.  Now that we have been handed this golden gift from our ancestors, the question remains :"what do we do with it?"  We must not ignore the realm of possibilities that yogic principles offer.  Yoga tends to be seen as another form of group fitness.  Athletes and gym-buffs alike use yoga as physical exercise to gain strength, build stamina, increase flexibility, and maintain toned muscles.  Yoga has been scientifically and medically proven to be an awesome workout for the body and it's vast inner systems.  Yoga practitioners enjoy healthy organs, augmented immune systems, improved circulation, and balanced nervous systems.  We ought to consider taking this beautiful gift of yoga one step further and examining it's potential benefits to our lives.

            The term yoga is translated as "to yoke" or "to unite".  Yoga is the ultimate uniting of mind and body.  It is with the physical practice of asanas that we can bring the mind into stillness.  In the ancient yogic language of Sanskrit, asana means "seat".  Asanas are the poses we use throughout our practice.  These postures are more than just their graceful outer appearance.  Asanas prepare the practitioner for a restful meditative seat.  With the careful and deliberate integration of deep breathing, our bodies become fluid and balanced.  We use these static and dynamic physical stretches to condition the body to be comfortable.  The poses are meant to be challenging, yet have an element of ease.  Once you have brought yourself to your body's natural threshold, you hold it there, and breathe.  It is in this moment that your breath is your life saver.  It is your lifeforce.  Your prana.  The very thing that gives you your every next moment. 

            With each inhale, nutrient-rich oxygen is carried into every cell of your body creating spaciousness and openness.  On the exhale we are given the opportunity to truly release all bodily and mental tensions.  Smooth and consistent breathing helps you move deeper into the pose by softening the tissue and fascia surrounding the muscles.  The physical practice of asana and pranayama breathing work is all a preparatory dance to move us into meditation.  Asanas force us to focus on our alignment and our breathing.  If we lose this pointed concentration, we risk losing our balance and possible injury.  On the yoga mat, the constant mind chatter dissolves.  It melts away as we consciously choose thoughts that are beneficial to our practice.  It is in this sweet spot that we have found yoga's true purpose.

            Yoga Citta Vrtti Nirodahah.  Patanjali's yoga sutra translated to mean "yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind".  We can all relate to the feeling of having "monkey-brain".  The constant movement from thought to thought to thought, like a monkey climbing through a vast forest of tree branches.  Yoga is a tool to unite mind and body.  Since form follows thought,  yoga poses are a manifestation of your thoughts.  If you are thinking "I am not flexible enough to put my leg there!", it is safe to say that your leg will not get there.  It is important to look at our thoughts as another gift given to us at birth.  We can use our thoughts to consciously create our outward world and experiences.  Every moment is a fresh start.  Consider molding your thoughts into what you want your life to be. 

            We can manually move our thoughts around, the way we would move furniture around in a home to create warmth, function, and aesthetic.  With every breath, we consciously choose our focus.  In yoga, we call this our dristi.  It is a one-pointed focus.  This focus can be an internal thought or an external object.  Yoga gives us an opportunity to shift our consciousness continually for about 60 minutes on the mat.  On every inhale, rebirth happens.  On every exhale we surrender our old self.  Can we give ourselves this time in our day to consciously shift the storm of our minds to a calm and peaceful state of joy?  We are the master of our minds.  WE teach our minds how to behave.  In raising a child or a pet, it is accepted common knowledge that you must train and condition them.  Without guidance, a baby would probably not have the capacity to potty train his or herself.   Our minds are no exception to this rule.  The brain is made up of neural networks.  We can adjust these energetic pathways through intentional living.  By choosing our thoughts, we can rest easy with the certainty that all is well.... 

What will you choose?

    In Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, the word Ahimsa refers to non-harming, non-violent actions, words, and thoughts.  It is the yogic path to practice kind and healthy choices with yourself and others.  Some things in life are meant to make your life better.  Clothing is one of them.  Coco Chanel was quoted saying, "Adornment is never anything except a reflection of the heart".  As a young child, I remember always being obsessed with fashion.  I prided myself on picking out different outfits for each day of the week for school.  Now, with that same passion for style and aesthetic, I look for quality and durability with my clothing.  As a yoga instructor and eternal student of yoga, my focus has more recently shifted to the comfort factor.  I need clothes that allow range of motion and breathe-ability.  Each day, as I open my closet to pick out clothes for my yoga practice, I tend to pick items that have a great fit, yet, are easy breezy.  Just like the practice of yoga maintains the qualities of yin and yang, your clothing can mirror the same principles.  They should exude comfort and ease yet durability and security and hold. 

    What are some of the cautionary tales of woe when it comes to workout/yoga clothing?  I'll share with you some annoying little things I've experienced in my practice.  I personally cannot stand sports bras that are so tight that they dig into my shoulders and ribcage.  They tend to constrict my breathing, making my breath short and shallow.  The most important aspect of yoga is deep and smooth breathing.  If anything is coming in your way of breathing fluidly, you must modify that hinderance.  These extremely tight sports bras also dig into the skin to the point where you are left with deep red marks upon removing it.  This is a physical manifestation of the blood circulation being cut off.  This is the opposite affect that we are looking for in our yoga practice.  Yoga seeks to stimulate energetic balance and movement throughout the body.  Stopping the blood from flowing is never a smart idea.  Oxygenated blood is carried from the organs and distributed all over the body to keep our hearts pumping.  The body must be in a state of relaxation and balance to experience health.  It is our bodies' natural propencity to move in the direction of health.  In choosing our clothing, remember that it can either augment your physical and mental health, or deter it. 

Ladies, did you ever notice that some leggings are see-through?  The last thing we need as yoginis is see-through pants.  When we are practicing wide-legged hip opening asanas, the last thing we need is to be able to see through to the thighs and groin region.  Alot of cheap leggings may seem comfortable and stretchy, but they are made of super thin material.  We don't need to run the risk of inner thigh rips, tears, and peek-a-boo materials.  Yet another thing I don't want to be thinking about when I am focusing on my practice. 

  Another fun thing that designers are exploring these days is extremely low-cut bottoms.  This is a hot trend when it comes to going out in a pair of jeans, or running errands in a velour jumpsuit.  But, we all know that yoga integrates a wide range of motion including twists, bends, and inversions.  The last thing we want is to experience, for lack of a better term, "plumber butt".  I don't want to be the one rocking it, and I don't want to be the one to see it either!!  All joking aside, we must remember that to practice yoga takes focus.  When you are constantly pulling your pants up out of discomfort and paranoia, your concentration is out the window.  The key is to create as ideal an environment to practice in as possible.  This includes your clothing choices.  We want to choose clothing that is not a distraction to us.  When we are spending time constantly pulling, tugging, adjusting, and looking to check the status of our clothes on us, we are taking away from our practice within.  It is another sensory distraction that can keep you from enjoying the full benefits of your practice. 

    Upon further investigation, I have found a few lines of workout/yoga clothes that fit my needs.  They are comfortable, yet stylish.  If clothing is an extension of you, why not choose ones that make you feel and look beautiful?  Clothes that fit well and accentuate the body parts you work so hard to tone?  Lucy brand is one of my faves- the fit is insane, and the materials are very soft and comfy!  Lucy offers a huge selection of styles, designs, and colors, perfect for any season and climate.  I wear my pieces for teaching, practicing, and even to the gym!  Check it out and let me know what you think!!!

    In pondering how to start this blog, I thought it would make sense to share some foundational information.  Building blocks to understand the connection of our mind, body, spirit, and the nature and animals around us.  It is essential that in taking care of ourselves, we think critically.  As young children growing up, we are mostly taught to follow, and not to question.  That paradigm has shifted.  It is time to think critically and question the so called accepted ways of the past.  We must take care of the environment, to let the environment take care of us. It is important to know your sources when it comes to your food choices. 

    Hippocrates wrote "Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food".  It is a myth that you must take a prescription pill to heal your ailments.  Nature provides us with all we need to let our bodies do what they are built to do.  We have innate complex systems in our bodies that are built to heal the self.  In Western society, we tend to look to outside sources to get the help we need.  I have learned that all we need is inside of us.  It is our job to maintain our inner workings.  Sickness is nothing but a deficiency.  It is your body's way of alerting you to what it needs.  Through natural whole foods, yoga, and meditation, we can enhance our lives and body's radiance. 

Here are the DVD's that changed my life and my entire perspective on our inner-connectedness:

 Food Matters DVD

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QJCyd4Mkbc

Simply Raw- Reversing Diabetes In 30 Days 

 Earthlings DVD- Shaun Monson's Mind Blowing Documentary narrated by Joaquin Phoenix