NEW BLOG SITE

Greetings Everyone!!!

I'd like to introduce to you my new and revised website!!!

www.awakeningyogi.com

Also my NEW BLOG will be attached to my new website

Here is the page:

awakeningyogi.com/blog/

I hope this finds you well!!!

Thank you!
Jennyogini

Belly Henna Blessings by Jenny Ahn

                                                                             

When I was younger, It seemed as if when a women were pregnant, that is was forever! Now that I have seen many friends go through the experience, it seems to happen so quickly. Before you know it, a baby is born!!

It's not like it happens all the time, right?! Nowadays its very common to have only one child, so maybe once, twice, possibly more that a women is pregnant in her lifetime.

It's a very special time in a women's life and celebration is necessary!

We celebrate and create ritual all the time without even realizing it. We commemorate transitions and new journeys with bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties, etc. Shouldn't there be one to celebrate a women's growing belly?! 

There's a lovely energy that surrounds a women when she is pregnant. Something so feminine and sweet...

I have been blessed to teach prenatal yoga classes and to decorate momma's belly with Henna goodness! I almost feel like I can live vicariously through them! Maybe some day? 

Lately I've been getting myself more into decorating momma's pregnant belly with Henna designs. This is part of what I do for a living, and I love it!! 

Henna Blessings are like sacraments, or similar to setting an intention for the person receiving the blessing. That could be anything from pregnancy to finding love, or an intention to be more open with oneself or another being, etc. Personally, giving a Henna tattoo signifies more than just body art. It's an honor to be a part of someone's process towards growth and living. And to help make that journey that much more real or alive, is so beautiful!

To finish off, Ill share a closing story.

One night, I was hired to do henna for a gathering of women and friends. Everyone took turns getting a henna tattoo, when one of the gals mentioned something I hadn't heard before. She said that when a person is receiving henna, all of a sudden she becomes the Goddess. She can't move much so she has an advantage to being served and accommodated to. One gal had another friend spoon feed her because her arms and hands were covered in henna. My friend has a baby so when it was her turn, all the ladies in the room took turns taking care of her child.

And it's so true, when its your turn to get henna, all the attention is on you. And all the good energy is being poured from that bottle of henna into your being to send blessings, protection, good luck, etc. Some people think that beautifying your self is vain, but when we beautify our self, we are acknowledging and expressing the inner beauty that resides within.

To read my bio and find out more information, go to by website at www.awakeningyogi.com

                                                                       

Reusable menstrual pads

                                                                       
Last Saturday I was at the Long Beach Green festival and it was a lot of fun! Joy and I were really comfortable in our gypsy style tent, so I didn't get to venture out much. I still got to see a lot of familiar faces and had the opportunity to connect more with my community.

Along with my henna tattoos, I was selling reusable menstrual pads that I have been making with my friend Renee. I had them out for sale and what an interesting experience that was! Witnessing the reactions of men and women once they figured out what I was selling, gave me great insight into how families, culture, and society play a huge role in how we view "that time of the month".

Some men were very mature and understanding, many were uncomfortable and walked away with a strange look on their face. Some women were truly interested but didn't want to make the commitment. It's time consuming I'll admit, but the reality of it is that our moon cycle teaches us to slow down. With all the convenient products out there on the market now, looks like we won't have to, right?

 There were also many young girls at the festival and it was nice to talk to them. I was able to educate some of them on the environmental burden and  long terms effects of using chemical ridden tampons and pads. Many of them were unaware, I was not surprised. If anything, commercial tampons and pads are encouraged and reinforced by school programs and television. There is no education on helping young girls in understanding their bodies and biorhythms better. At least that is what I remember about school and sex education.

 I realized more than ever how important it is for parents, especially mothers in educating not only their daughters, but sons on respecting a women's moon cycle. You can tell that if a mother was uncomfortable with her menses, then her children are also affected. They might also feel ashamed and want to isolate themselves from the topic.

Some interesting questions to ask yourself:
How do you view that time of the month? Where do those ideas come from? Was your mother comfortable with it or was she ashamed?

 Reusable pads were what my mother used as a youth. I wonder why she didn't teach me that? It wasn't until after i started using them that she expressed her knowledge of them.

Our culture definitely doesn't make it any easier on us. There is an incessant need to be clean and sanitary in this nation. I could understand how people would view the idea of washing their own pads, as horrendous and barbaric.

So I wanted to share some testimonials with you by different women who have been using natural cloth pads and diva cups( which I will be selling soon!!!)  And to help break some of the old taboos you might've heard or thought of when you think of natural menstruating products.

                                                                       
                                         Testimonials


"Jenny's reusable moon pads are comfortable, durable and comforting to wear. They feel nurturing to wear during my vulnerable cycle time, much better than regular disposable pads. I was impressed by how absorbent they are and how easy they are to clean." Joy

"I've been using a diva cup and reusable cloth pads for about six years. I started using them for environmental reasons and continue to use them because they are just so much better. The cloth pads i particular are a lot more comfortable than disposable pads and I actually feel cleaner using them. Both the Diva Cup and cloth pads take a bit more time than non -reusable methods because they require a little planning and need to be cleaned. However, I tend to have an active lifestyle and travel frequently , but have found it east enough to integrate these reusable methods. They've also made me be more mindful of my period( i've been tracking it for several years now) and slow down ( just a tad). The Diva Cup and reusable pads do cost some money upfront, but overall I've saved money and hassle buying regular pads and tampons  throughout the years.

Also Jenny picks out the cutest and most comfortable fabrics for the pads she makes. It makes having my period that much more fun!" Christine

"I prefer my cloth menstrual pads to any other period option. I find it to be comfortable during the night as well as the daytime. Its breathable, flexible, and cozy. I find it easy to wash and reuse. On light days I just throw them in the wash with my regular clothing. They last for years and make me feel connected to my cycle." Lorena

"I use a Diva Cup for simplicity sake. I used to use cotton pads/tampons and I feel so much better about not having to waste my money and the earth's resources on something that is going to just end up in a landfill. You can use it for a long period of time. You don't have to carry extra around either-just dump, rinse, and reinsert.
It is leak proof and can be used if you want to be active-run, yoga, swim.
It feels like a good compromise between cloth pads and disposables. I would love to use cloth but since I have used tampons most of my menstruating life, I am not used to the feel of wearing a pad.
And it saves me from exposing my body to chemical -laden tampons and pads. Even the organic ones still have a small amount of chemical gel that absorbs and I prefer not to wear paper in my underwear! I would recommend it to anyone." Renee

" I have been using cloth pads for the past 15 years and I love them! I have definitely saved a lot of $$$ through the years, and feel so much more connected with my body and environment. I knew that menstrual blood was rich in minerals, but didn't realize that they were also rich in stem cells!! After I soak the blood out of cloth, I feed my plants with the nutrient rich water. This is a very healing process for me and it makes me feel like I am doing something food for the earth and my body. They are also way more comfortable and breathable than regular ol' pads. I highly recommend at least trying them out before saying no." Jenny

 I trust that this will find you well!
With Love,
The Awakening Yoni's

June Loving, Loving Me

                                                                              

Who doesn't love June! It's Summer and its time to enjoy it! I am also really excited about it because it happens to be birthday month!

Most people don't seem to look forward to their birthday, as it has an association with aging. Unfortunately our society doesn't emphasize the beauty that comes with aging, rather it focuses on many of the negative qualities.

I've worked through some of those taboos, and in the last couple years, I look forward to birthdays, and aging with grace!

Although I have to admit, the journey to self love and happiness doesn't come easy. Like a tree or plant, one has to cultivate loving and caring energy ( water and sunlight) constantly, for the plant to grow to its fullest potential. Humans and animals are no different. We require a lot of attention and love. Not only do we have physical needs, but we have to take care of our mental, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Many of us might even feel like if we emphasize too much energy on ourselves, that we are selfish. That is not true. Even Ghandi has said that if we want to see a change in the world , we must first see the changes within ourselves. If we want more peace and love between warring countries and people, then we have to find that love within ourselves first. That requires work and effort. 

Here are some of the things that have helped me to cultivate more love for myself. Some of these things I have learned from some of my wiser and older friends, Yogic and Ayurvedic Philosophy, and from experiencing and making mistakes:

*First, and most importantly acknowledge that you deserve to be happy! You come first!

* Treat your body well! It's our only vehicle on this earth, unlike cars when they get old, we can't just get a new one!!! When we see our bodies as sacred, we treat it with respect. 

Eat healthy and cook your self home cooked meals, get a massage, do what you love to do without feeling guilty and indulge ( mindfully)!!

*Positive affirmations!!! Louise Hayes has been a great inspiration in that aspect of my life. Post affirmations on the fridge, in a pot and pick one each day, and they will enliven and inspire you! I've also learned that sometimes you gotta fake it, till you make it!!! ( and it works!)

*Take care of your mind!!! Sometimes we get so caught "up" in there that we forget our true nature that isn't defined by all the trauma and drama in our lives.  Yogic practices are great to Self-Realization, and so is seeing a therapist if you need to. So what resonates with you, and do it now! Our mental and emotional health is just as important as our physical health. Nowadays there are many studies being done that link the physiological and metaphysical connections with body and mind.

*MEDITATION!!! Is medicine for the mind!! It gets us to step out of all the drama and trauma that we live through, and to become the "witness". It helps us to see the bigger picture and not to get so caught up in the self(ego) and to remember that we are something far greater! 

*Accepting that change is a major theme in our lives and that it's the only thing that doesn't ever really change. When we can do that, this helps to ease our life and helps us to love and accept ourselves and life situations for what they are and not for what they can be.

I hope that some of these things can guide you through your journey to self love, as much as it has for me.

I will be 30 this year, and I am ready to face any challenges or fears that may come across my path, with love, courage, and unwaivering faith!!!

See you all soon!!!!

Tips on How to Stay Stress Free!

This weekend I taught my Restorative Yoga Workshop and it was great! Many of the students came out of the class wondering why there aren't regular classes like these. Most of the classes offered and the ones most people want to take are the fast paced yoga classes. Why is it that we are attracted to the things that may keep us out of balance?

Well, it seems that most of our present day society is revolved around doing, doing, doing, and associate being busy with meaningful. On top of that, the continuous flow of stimulus that we deal with day to day, can drive us to continue doing more. We may not realize that we are possibly tired until we have a moment to really stop and rest.


In a Nutshell: What happens when we are stressed?

Physiologically, adrenaline and cortisol trigger our fight or flight mode in response to a real or perceived threat to our well being and survival. (Meaning that even a stressful thought could trigger our fight or flight mode.) These hormones play and important role in our body in these "stressful" situations because they cause our body to pump more blood and to the bigger muscle groups in our body to become more alert and get us out of a potentially dangerous situation.

Adrenaline and Cortisol


These are two very important hormones and  are closely related. Adrenaline provides a very shorty term response to stress and releases quickly from the body. On the other hand, cortisol is increased in the body when adrenaline is increased and stays very active even after a stressful situation has subsided. Cortisol has many benefits, but too much of any good thing even, can become a poison.

When we are constantly in that fight or fight mode and not getting the rest and nourishment we need. That means that these hormones are streaming through our bodies 24/7. What does that mean? When there is increased cortisol in the body, it relegates our bodies resources to our extremities, thus starving our vital organs of the energy and nourishment that it needs to heal, restore and renew ourselves.

Results of too much stress and cortisol in our bodies:


Premature aging, dis-ease, more sensitive to stressful situations, overall hormonal resistance, adrenal burnout, weight gain, weak immunity, memory loss, insomnia, poor digestion, high cholesterol levels, the list goes on...

Tips on how to stay stress free!

So how do we reverse or keep ourselves at bay from stress, and get the rest we need to stay healthy and happy? Here are some tips that may help you out!

* Make sure you are getting enough sleep Sleep is vital , and rejuvenates our body and mind. Ayurveda states that it is one of the 3 Pillars to good health. When we sleep, our organs and bodily system is cleansed and re nourished. If we are not getting the sleep that we need and not listening to our internal clock, our body is starved of the essentials and ultimately has to continue working even harder to stay alive.


*Eat when you are hungry It's as simple as that! When we overeat, or eat when we are not hungry. we disturb agni (aka metabolism. Yoga and Ayurveda recognize it as our internal fire that regulates the digestion of foods as well as the impressions that we take in through our sense organs and mind.) hindering its ability to digest properly. This can create disturbances in our digestive functions leading to indigestion, constipation, bloating, gas, water retention, etc) and down the line can lead to further dis-ease.


*Rest!!! It is essential! Nobody ever taught us how to relax, it is a skill to be learned, so keep practicing! Restorative yoga, take a vacation, take a moment out of your day to just sit there and rest, or meditate...


*Expose yourself to sunlight and moonlight. It feels good, and some studies show that by doing that, it can help restore hormonal balance.

*Be in nature It will clear your mind and remind you of how beauty-full our planet is. It's also a great way to connect not only to your environment, but nature has a way of reminding us of our intrinsic connection to the divine within.


* Laugh and be in good company This is a guaranteed path to releasing stress and it will definitely lift your spirits!


*Treat yourself! You deserve it!! We're so much harder on ourselves than we deserve. Taking the time to treat ourselves nice ( eat yummy meal or go to your favorite restaurant, receive a massage, taking the day off for yourself, indulging in a warm bath, take a vacation) ultimately makes us feel good. This is important! When we take care of ourselves we contribute to the peace and happiness for all beings!

Restorative Yoga

                                                                       

Whenever I am giving a workshop, the week of I tend to have my life revolve around whatever theme it is that I am working with. This week its Restorative Yoga!

Finding Judith Hanson Lasater's Restore and Renew Restorative Yoga Training a couple years ago,  changed my life forever. I mean the way that I practice, and the way that I teach now has completely shifted.

Prior to taking her training I realized that the way that I had been practicing Yoga was not only detrimental to the health of my already debilitated and broken body ( bio) but it was creating more pain and suffering in all aspects of my life. The cycle of pain and practicing with out awareness of what was happening to my body, was destroying me. I thought that I would never practice Yoga again. After coming to some pretty deep realizations and acceptance of what already was, I realized that I could practice, just differently.

Through my experience with pain, injury and recovering slowly but surely, I realized that I wanted to help my students through their difficulties. For the first time I felt like I could really understand what other's could be going through when dealing with pain.

After going through Judith's training and healing myself, I realized that bringing the mind and nervous system to a state of relaxation the way that restorative yoga allows one to, was the way to healing.

Let me say that studying with Judith has been such a blessing! She has been teaching for 30 plus years and has studied with B.K.S.Iyengar extensively, she has a doctorate in Eastern and Western Psychology and is a physical therapist. Besides all that, if you've ever studied with her, you know that she teaches from a place of deep understanding and experience of the human body, especially through injury and pain. She is a vast source of wisdom and is a living embodiment of what Yoga represents. If you'd like more information on Judith, click here for more information.

 So as I am preparing for my Restorative Yoga Workshop this Sunday, I decided to browse through some writing that might help people get a better idea of what restorative yoga is, and how it can help you. Here's an article from Yoga Journal that might help if you are a newbie to all of this  click here

And remember that its not WHAT we do, but HOW we do it!

~REMINDER~

*Restorative Workshop this Sunday April 29th from 2-430 pm at Free Spirit Yoga Studio in Bixby Knolls Long Beach. sign up here. Live music with harpist Joy Shannon. She is amazing!!! Check her out at www.joyshannon.com We are limiting the workshop to 10 people and we've got 8 signed up already! So if you miss this one, join my mailing list or stay posted for the next restorative!!!

With Love and Light
Jennyogini

Take birthing and our bodies into our own hands!!!

Im really looking forward to my bellydancing workshop this Sunday! I've taught regular belly dancing classes in the past and they are so much fun. When I took my doula training, we learned a lot of movements to teach wombyn during pregnancy and while in labor, that were quite similar to belly dancing. Many movements were performed sitting and rotating the hips on those huge inflatable balls, to slow dancing with your partner moving the hips side to side.

Its not surprising that the hip opening and strengthening movements are great for strengthening all the muscles in our pelvic floor and uterus ( yes, your uterus is a muscle!) that are used during labor. The movements mimic birthing, and is essentially a dance of the feminine, fertilty and birth.

If you are pregnant or know anyone that is, send them to this class!!! Its really accessible and easy for anyone and everyone!! You don't have to be a dancer to come to this class. If you're also interested in increasing fertility or expecting to get pregnant, this is a great class for you!!! The movements are great for opening and loosening up old debris and tension that wombyn tend to hold in the hips. This creates more freedom in our hips and sexual organs so that we are more open and the organs are functioning at their optimal. It's very important to get blood flow into those areas that are so essential for fertility, pregnancy, increasing our sensuality and body awareness.

If you are interested and want to sign up, click here Or just show up!!! its a $10 drop in class!!!

This Sunday, April 22nd

Where: Free Spirit Yoga Studio
            Bixby Knolls Long Beach, Ca

Time: 4 to 5pm

Cost: $10

I look forward to seeing you there!!!

With Love
Jennyogini

New Yoga classes!

Greetings Everyone!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have 2 new classes on the schedule! Monday I will be teaching over at Free Spirit Yoga Studios in Bixby Knolls. Its a gentle yoga class from 430-545. 

I am also teaching a class for the next 3 months over at the downtown Yoga World location from 530-645,FLOW.

Friday morning at the East West Ice Palace in Cerritos at 9am, Flow/All levels.

Also a couple workshops coming up this month, check out the events page for more information!!!

I look forward to seeing you there!!!

Blessed Love

Jennyogini

ZINE!!!

As usual I have many projects going on at once!! Which is always fun!!! Right now I have been working on creating a zine to go along with my moon pads and monthly full moon hikes. This zine was created with the intention to raise awareness about wombyn's bodies and how they are intimately connected with the different cycles of the moon. At the very end of the zine you will find a chart where you can follow your own menstrual cycle in relation to the moon.

Earlier this evening, Renee Tello Spencer ( who I've been collaborating with on the moon pads project) and I made little packages of eye pillows and Reusable pads stuffed in cute little boxes to sell for our upcoming events. This would be a great zine to go along with your kit!!! Especially for young girls coming into their moon cycle! They need this kind of education!!! Especially in schools!! I'm pretty sure they're not teaching this kinda stuff to young girls in middle school. The only thing they are learning is to stuff their bodies with birth control pills! There is another way!!!

We're also going to be selling kits and pads at the Everyday Zen Relaxation Studio in Bixby Knolls Long Beach. We're also planning to carry some at Native Sol in Downtown Long Beach. We need to start making more pads!!!

We've also started making Lactation pads for mama's who are breastfeeding. We are selling a pair for $5.

A special shout out to my little sister Kathie Ahn for making the cover page for the zine.Thank You!!! Tomorrow I will go to Kinko's and put the whole zine together for printing and packaging. I  love it when I can finish my projects! It is so full-filling! And I wouldn't have been able to do it all if it wasn't for all the help that I get! Thanks Ladies! And thank you again for all the womb-moon for the inspiration to continue doing what I love doing!!!

If you want a zine, contact me!!! Or find me at my next event and I will have one on me!!!

Much Love to you all!!!
Jennyoni

HelloGiggles

Check this out everybody!

A Yoga student who takes my classes over at The Belmont Athletic, wrote a blog over at HelloGiggles, a popular pop culture blogging site. Its got all kinds of blogs/info from trendy shopping tips to reviews of the Real Hollywood Desperate Housewives.

Edward is a great writer and an aspiring Yogi, and I was more than happy to be a part of his "project" He's also a great writer, creative, and I love the way that he expresses his passion for Yoga! Its so enthusiastic and inspiring!

Here is the blog, its fun to read too!
Check it out!!!

http://hellogiggles.com/my-yoga-my-self

Until soon,
Jennyogini

Moon Time!

My friend just shared with me a great website/forum where womyn can find support, inspiration, and resources about our menstrual cycles! Here is the site!

http://redmoon13.ning.com/

You can also find ways to create more ritual around your cycle, such as the act of going into the "red tent" without actually going into a tent.

This is really inspiring for me because I feel that there has been lost knowledge and/or misinterpreted ideals and taboos that surround our moon times. Its really sad, not only are men completely disconnected from it, but the womyn themselves who bleed do as well. As usual, mainstream culture only seems to perpetuate a negative feeling about "that time of the month" instead of empowering or educating womyn on whats really happening to a womyn when she is bleeding ( physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually).

For example, bleeding and the new moon represent a time of darkness and no-thingness when we have the ability to go deeper into the self, and really listen. Its a time when we are able have visions for what it is that we really want to create for ourselves and our planet. A time to shed out with the old, and create space for something new. We really are given an opportunity to "slow down" for a reason! And we should take advantage of it!!

When we are connected to our bodily rhythms and the cycles with nature, we realize that we really are just ONE cycle. With the demands of life and our concrete environment,  sometimes its not as easy to stay connected. But there are tools and rituals you can create to keep the sacred alive in all things.

That is why I am happy to have found this forum!
It's inspiring, supportive of who and where I am going on this path as a womyn, and I feel that I am not alone. That there are other warrioress's that are also sharing and holding space for other womyn to find the womb-moon within. We cannot rely on others to do the work, if we want to see change, we womyn have to do the work!!