The Solar Plexus – Add strength to your axis of creation

Stay connected to your axis of creation. Remember, everything has a core or center. The next chakra or energy center that moves up our spine is the solar plexus located around your naval area. It is the seat of your power and an important reservoir for the energy of life. This chakra is associated with feelings of anger, joy, laughter, and personal power. It is the area that contains your ambition, sensitivity, and general ability. Its color is yellow. Blocking the solar plexus may lead to a lack of direction, frustration, anger, or a sense of victimization. When freely flowing, we are focused and fearless. We have a strong will that moves us in a positive direction. When the energy is blocked, a person tends to exploit others or is easily exploited. Yoga poses that help us to open and balance this chakra are cobra, boat downward dog triangle, plank, and warrior one. All of these build strength - Let’s get started END: The three chakras', root, sacral, and solar duplex, are known as the “lower triangle.” Together, they relate to the mind, our patterns and habits, and our beliefs and attitudes. Ideally, this lower triangle base gives us the strength to work towards higher levels of consciousness, as we will find when we work on the remaining chakras. Just remember, a strong base is needed for the support of your axis of creation. Stay strong, stay centered. EGO: Flip your palm up and extend out the index finger – the symbol of the ego. The Solar Plexus is said to be the core of our ego, identity, and personality. It is situated between the navel and solar plexus, making it the center of our willpower. When out of balance, it produces anxiety and fear. Pull your index finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. While the Sacral chakra seeks enjoyment and pleasure, this chakra also gives us the perception of who we are. This chakra is closely linked to our thoughts, which are often dependent on our feelings and, therefore, easily get out of balance. When harmonious and balanced, the solar plexus is connected to the soul, where we find the source of our supreme energy and focus. Stay centered, balanced and strong. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn http://www.doctorlynn.com

Three Actionable Tips for Managing Turkey Day Stress

The one thing that accelerates aging and often causes us to put on weight, eat unhealthily, and stop exercising is…STRESS! And what happens during the Holidays? …STRESS! Here are three actionable steps you can take to reduce stress and stay healthy anywhere and anytime. Yoga Breath Not only can the meditative effects of yoga help you manage stress and sleep better, but practicing yoga breath has a slew of other cognitive and social benefits. Cultivating a yoga practice can improve your memory and focus, as well as give you the peace of mind needed to face all the stress of the holidays. The breath is one of the best actionable ways to let go of stress. Letting go requires a connection with the present. Most likely, the stress you are hanging onto happened in the past, and when we are focused on the present moment, the past loses its grip. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, say to yourself, “Let go,” and then count from one to ten as you exhale. The ten count allows the body and the mind to focus on being present and in the moment. I always remind my students that breathing in is cleansing, and exhaling is removing debris. Do this five times. Take a Turkey Trot Walk The turkey trot is a dance, but it is also a brisk walk after your Thanksgiving meal. Not only will you burn calories, but it will also aid your digestion. Walking is easy and stress-free, and anyone can do it. When we walk, we circulate blood and oxygen throughout the body, and that includes the brain. The mind is free from distractions, and we are getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine. Vitamin D, which we get from the sun (which is the best source), is essential for overall health, including brain health. Scientists know that low levels of D affect cognitive functioning. Positive cognitive functioning while taking a turkey trot is a great way to reduce stress and stay healthy. Talk Talk to yourself; ask yourself this: is it worth hanging onto? Most likely, it is not. What might seem insurmountable today might be nothing tomorrow. It’s the things we identify with that create stress. It’s what yoga calls all the “citta” or useless mind stuff that keeps us caught in the illusion of life. Everything is fleeting. Nothing lasts forever. So, to de-stress and bring harmony and happiness to your world, change the way you look at things, and the way you look at things will change. Just let go and let be. END: We put so much pressure on ourselves to be happy and to fit in, especially during the holidays. Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all the good things in your life. You don’t need a family gathering, a turkey, or a party to practice gratitude. What you do need is the ability to take a breather, move your body, and let go. Take time to relax and focus on the most essential things in life: your health, body, mind, and soul. If you are healthy enough to celebrate Turkey Day, be grateful for that. Take a brisk turkey trot, and remember, without your health, everything else is meaningless. Happy gratitude-giving! Doctor Lynn FOR CLASSES AND MORE http://www.doctorlynn.com

How to Strengthen and Support Your Creative Expression.

Nature has given us an “axis of creation” that, if properly used, will bring balance and harmony to our lives. It begins at the root or the base of your spine, known as the root chakra, and then moves to the sacral located between the pelvic bones. The sacral chakra is the second chakra in the human body. It's believed that it governs how you experience sexuality, creative expression, emotions, and more. According to most traditions, it can become blocked and unbalanced, as can the other chakras in the body. When it is out of alignment, we can experience lower back pain, urinary tract issues, as well as an obsession with negative thoughts and patterns that cause blockages that can have a negative effect on our emotional and mental well-being. In order to send energy, or to open the sacral chakra, the best healing practice is movement. When we move, the body releases the tension caused by stress and negative emotions. The bones of the pelvis are a critical part of the central portion of the skeleton. They serve as a transition from the axial skeleton and the skeleton of the lower body, serving as an attachment point for some of the strongest muscles in the human body while withstanding the forces generated by them. Two poses that open the sacral are the half pigeon and the bound angle. Let’s get to work on opening the sacral with a focus on strength and flexibility. END: The sacral physically supports our movements. Emotionally, when open and robust, it supports creative expression and positive emotions. When the energy of the sacral is in balance, we are transformative. If you are connected to this energy, you will have greater control over your body, your mind, and your soul. Stay open, strong, and connected. EGO: Flip your hands up and extend out the index finger – the symbol of the ego. Feel it pull you away from your axis of creation. The ego is the part of you that sometimes likes to deny and bury feelings and emotions. We are here on earth as humans to experience all the feelings and emotions of human life. It is what we do with these feelings that determines our karma. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top, the symbol of the soul. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. It is not feelings that we should block. But we should be consciously aware of how we express them. When unblocked and free-flowing, we experience strength, creative expression, happier relationships, and a personal sense of flair and individuality. Stay grounded and open, and you will begin to feel the power of a balanced and robust axis of creation; body, mind, soul. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace Doctor Lynn http://www.doctorlynn.com

How to find your grounding in a chaotic world

Nature has given us an “axis of creation” that if properly used will bring balance and harmony to our lives. It begins at the root or the base of your spine known as the root chakra. The chakras are energy wheels that ancient yogis believed ran up and down the spine. There are eight of them. The first is the root at the base of the spine. It reminds us that unless we can ground ourselves at our base it is impossible to move up the charkas. If you are stressed, unbalanced, and disconnected from your base it is impossible to maintain your health and to find happiness and peace. The spinal cord is a column of nerves that connects your brain with the rest of your body, allowing you to control your movements. Without a spinal cord, you could not move any part of your body, and your organs could not function. This is why keeping your spine healthy is vital if you want to live an active life. So, we begin at the root chakra. Its frequency responds to the color red and its quality is the earth element. It connects us to our daily lives through our instincts, survival mechanisms, and habits. When energy is flowing freely through the root chakra we are grounded, dependable, realistic, and secure. If the energy is stuck there is a tendency to be clingy, overly stubborn, and exhibit signs of addictive behavior. Our goal today is to ground and balance ourselves so the energy flowing through us is strong and secure. END: Pay attention to your “axis of creation” beginning at the base of your spine also known as the root chakra. Take time this week to ground yourself especially if you need to make decisions, solve problems, and deal with stress. Remember: You must be grounded and stable if you wish to fly. So, whatever you attempt to do this week, stop take a moment, ground yourself, and begin to work from your root upward into becoming the most grounded, stable, and best of who you can be. In this, you will fly! EGO: Flip up your hands – palms up and extend out your index finger. This is the symbol of the ego. Feel it pull you away from your center. The ego connects to the root chakra in that it always seeks survival and uses its instincts and habits to ensure its needs are met. But sometimes it forgets that staying grounded means being realistic which means being practical and realistic. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a deep breath and surrender to the soul. The soul is always grounded because it knows that life is constantly changing, and if you don’t want to lose your balance in an ever-changing world stay connected to your root chakra and let the energy of life flow freely with realistic expectations: Nothing is permanent except that which you create within. Be grounded, be balanced, and stay strong, and in this, you will fly. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn COMING SOON! HOW TO MASTER YOUR KARMA SO YOU MASTER YOUR LIFE Book on Amazon New Karma online class beginning 2024 – join and make this the year you make positive changes in your life. http://www.doctorlynn.com

A Recipe that reduces inflammation, improves heart heat, helps to maintain a healthy weight, builds strong bones and improves your workouts!

Brussel Sprout Hazelnut Slaw ¾ lb. of shredded brussels sprouts 2 medium carrots shredded 1 pear thinly sliced 2 scallions thinly sliced 3 oz prosciutto chopped ½ cup of pomegranate seeds or diced cherries 3 T olive oil Juice of ½ orange 2 T Maple syrup ¼ cup hazelnuts 2 t Dijon mustard 1 clove of garlic minced In large bowl, toss together Brussel sprouts, carrots, pear, scallion, prosciutto, and pomegranates. Place olive oil, orange juice, maple syrup, hazelnuts, mustard, garlic and a couple of pinches of salt and pepper in a blender and blend until slightly chunky. Toss dressing with slaw and serve. Research tells us that especially for women Brussel sprouts support your immune system, blood and bone health, and because they are very filling and low in calories, are a great choice to help maintain a healthy weight. Hazelnuts, in addition to their omega-3 content, are also packed with antioxidants that protect the body from oxidative stress that can contribute to hypertension, inflammation, heart issues and cancer. Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants, fiber and, vitamin C. Because of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects they enhance endurance, strength and post workout recovery, Pears are a good source of boron which is needed for bone strength. Bon appetite to healthy, happy and peace! Doctor Lynn http://www.dotorlynn.com END: Take time to enjoy the food you prepare, the food your serve, and the food you eat. Eating healthy whole foods is not only good for your physical health, but its also good for your mental and soulful health. Just remember that the most important thing in your life is your health; without it everything else is meaningless; so, honor it each day with a healthy diet, exercise and restful sleep. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace Doctor Lynn http://www.doctorlynn.com

A Recipe that reduces inflammation, improves heart heat, helps to maintain a healthy weight, builds strong bones and improves your workouts!

Brussel Sprout Hazelnut Slaw ¾ lb. of shredded brussels sprouts 2 medium carrots shredded 1 pear thinly sliced 2 scallions thinly sliced 3 oz prosciutto chopped ½ cup of pomegranate seeds or diced cherries 3 T olive oil Juice of ½ orange 2 T Maple syrup ¼ cup hazelnuts 2 t Dijon mustard 1 clove of garlic minced In large bowl, toss together Brussel sprouts, carrots, pear, scallion, prosciutto, and pomegranates. Place olive oil, orange juice, maple syrup, hazelnuts, mustard, garlic and a couple of pinches of salt and pepper in a blender and blend until slightly chunky. Toss dressing with slaw and serve. Research tells us that especially for women Brussel sprouts support your immune system, blood and bone health, and because they are very filling and low in calories, are a great choice to help maintain a healthy weight. Hazelnuts, in addition to their omega-3 content, are also packed with antioxidants that protect the body from oxidative stress that can contribute to hypertension, inflammation, heart issues and cancer. Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants, fiber and, vitamin C. Because of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects they enhance endurance, strength and post workout recovery, Pears are a good source of boron which is needed for bone strength. Bon appetite to healthy, happy and peace! Doctor Lynn http://www.dotorlynn.com END: Take time to enjoy the food you prepare, the food your serve, and the food you eat. Eating healthy whole foods is not only good for your physical health, but its also good for your mental and soulful health. Just remember that the most important thing in your life is your health; without it everything else is meaningless; so, honor it each day with a healthy diet, exercise and restful sleep. Namaste~ may you walk the apth of life with healht, ahppiness and peace Doctor Lynn http://www.doctorlynn.com

Obstacles As you think so you become

Whatever we repeat over and over to ourselves is what we become. To overcome the obstacle of life, not only do we need to take action, but we also need to think and repeat words that keep us focused and aligned, which means to create balance. There are nine major obstacles: ill health, boredom and apathy, self-doubt, distractions and carelessness, feeling heavy and burnt-out, doubting one’s progress, getting caught in the illusion of life and an inability to a maintain a practice. To over comes these requires alignment with life, focusing the mind and remembering to take a breath and let go. As you think so you become; so, to overcome the nine obstacles think; health, enthusiasm, self-worth, focus, lightness, progress, reality, and dedication. Let us get started END: Cravings, desires, distractions, and carelessness. When it comes to balancing your lives, alignment and focus are needed. This means to align yourself with the positive side of life. Keep your focus on the things that are important because what you align yourself with and what you focus on is what you become. Just remember; as you think so you become Many obstacles are put in our way purposely to make us understand and express our own capacities. We all have the strength to over comes them, but we do not always seem to know it. We need to be challenged and tested to know our own capacity. That is the natural law of life. Like a river if it flows with out any obstructions it has no power. But once we put an obstacle in it flow by constructing a dam it finds the strength to produce power. Be like the river. As you think so you become. EGO: Flip your palm up and extend the index finger – the symbol of the ego. Unawareness which yoga calls ignorance creates egoism. This creates a clinging to obstacles. That is why we need to continually practice letting go and finding balance in our lives. Life will always present us with obstacles. How we think, act, and speak determines whether we succumb to them or overcome them. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a moment to surrender to the soul. The soul is the I that sits atop the me and it reminds us of our true nature; we all have the inner strength to overcome life’s obstacles. In life there will always be obstacle. Connect to your soul and you will master them. Remember; as you think so you become; think health, enthusiasm, self-worth, focus, lightness, progress, reality and dedication. Next week we will begin to work on the qualities or characteristics needed to overcome life’s obstacles. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace Doctor Lynn For books, classes, courses and consultations http://www.doctorlynn.com

WHAT IS AN OBSTACLE?

What is an obstacle? An obstacle is something that impeded your progress. Karma yoga presents us with nine obstacles to overcome if we are to live a healthy, wealthy, happy and peaceful life. They are Ill health, boredom and apathy, self-doubt, distractions, and carelessness, feeling heavy and burnout, having cravings and desires, doubting one’s progress, getting caught in the illusion of life and an inability to maintain a continual practice. All of these can distract us from living a healthy, happy, and peaceful life. Karma yoga reminds us that obstacles will always be present in life. In fact, that is why we are here on earth; to solve problems and make decisions that allow us to overcome life’s obstacles. If we wish to overcome obstacles, whatever your level of practice, there are three aspects that we need to keep an eye on and always care for. These are alignment, focus and breathing. Let us get started. END: Alignment means to be in harmony and balance with life, Focus means to be present and aware and breathing means to relax, let go and appreciate the rhythm of life. The goal of yoga is to quiet the mind and to live healthy, happy, and peaceful life body, mind, and soul. Just remember you take none of the stress dramas and problems with you when you depart this word. What you do take is the Punja (good merits) you have made, and the love and kindness you have given and received. This requires a healthy alignment and focus with what is important in life; health, happiness, and peace EGO: Flip your palm up and extend out your index finger; the symbol of the ego. It is the ego that gets caught in the illusion of life. It believes that it is here to elevates its importance. In today’s world we are constantly bombarded with messages that cause us to question our self-worth and progress. This can cause us to become misaligned, unfocused, and confused as to why we are here on earth. Pull your finger in and place the thumb on top and surrender to the symbol of the soul. We are here to assist the soul on its mission which is to see life as it really is; an opportunity to learn, know and master health, happiness, and peace. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn For classes, course, consultations and more http://www.doctorlyn.com

OBSTACLE NINE

Karma Yoga gives us nine obstacles to overcome, so that we might have in our lives, vitality, happiness, and peace. The first is ill health. The second is boredom. The third is self-doubt. The fourth is distractions and carelessness. The fifth is feeling heavy and burnt-out. The sixth is having cravings and desires. The seventh is doubting one’s progress. The eighth obstacle is getting caught in the illusion of life. It means to have a false impression of life as being a certain way, a false sense of security and a false sense of importance. The ninth obstacle is an inability to maintain continual practice. This means to remain steadfast and committed to something. If you want to succeed, or master anything you must practice, practice, and continue to practice. Without practice nothing can be achieved. If you wish to achieve a state of vitality, happiness, and peace you will need to focus on your health, your self-worth and seeing life for what it really is; an opportunity to learn This requires constant practice, otherwise we get careless and get distracted by cravings and desires. Everyday life will present you with obstacles to overcome. That is why you need to practice finding your balance, strength, flexibility, and peace. Takes work; that’s karma; let us get started. END: Even after you have succeeded and mastered something you must continue to practice. Karma yoga is a lifelong practice because it is about how you choose to live your life. You make choices every moment you live. The most important thing in your life is your healthy, followed by happiness and peace. Each of these takes continual practice. So practice every day taking care of the most important thing in life; your health, body, mind and soul. EGO: Flip up your palm and extend out your index finger the symbol of the soul. The ego thinks itself the master. Forgetting that it is the reflection of the true self filtered through the mind. Karma teaches that the true self is selfless. But when filtered through the perceptions and attitudes of the mind it has a tenancy to become selfish. It often gets caught in the illusion of life boosting its own importance. Pull your index finger in and place your thumb on top; surrender to the symbol of the soul. At the core we are our selfless essence, or our true self which is pure, simple and unique. Its independent of the body and the mind, and yet depends upon the body-mind for its existence here of earth. Life will present us with many obstacle. Takes practice to overcome life’s obstacles Many times, we climb up hills only to slide down, or we climb to the top of the mountain only to realize we climbed the wrong mountain for the wrong reason. So, we must come down and being a new climb. Takes continual practice to navigate life. Do it with health, enthusiasm, self-worth, focus, lightness, satisfaction, faith, and clarity, and you will prosper with a purpose. Namaste~ May you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace. Doctor Lynn For books, classes, courses and consultations http://www.doctorlynn.com

OBSTACLE 8

Karma Yoga gives us nine obstacles to overcome, so that we might have in our lives, vitality, happiness and peace. The first is ill health. The second is boredom. The third is self-doubt. The fourth is distractions and carelessness. The fifth is feeling heavy and burnt-out. The sixth is having cravings and desires. The seventh is doubting one’s progress. The eighth obstacle is getting caught in the illusion of life. It means to have a false impression of life as being a certain way, a false sense of security and a false sense of importance. Everything in the world is real. It is all here for our growth and evolution, but we forget and believe that acquiring things of the world is why we are here. The material world is not what defines us. It is what we do with the material world and how we let it, or let it not build character, values and virtues. The only thing that is permanent is what you cultivate within. Money, health, happiness possessions and relationships, come and go, but the virtues you build within last lifetimes. The world is real – how we perceive the world is the illusion. So, work to develop virtues within. Know the world is real and then use it as a great opportunity to build a balanced, strong, flexible and peaceful character and you will overcome the obstacle of illusion. Takes work to separate yourself and see the world for what it is– an opportunity - that’s karma let’s get to work. END: Know the world for what it is. Everything in it is real and ever changing. Nothing in life is permanent except that which you cultivate, hold onto, and feed within. Wealth, material things, world peace, technology are all constantly changing. It is up to us to see the world as a great opportunity to make both our lives and the world at large a better place. When you can do this, you overcome the obstacle of illusion. EGO: Flip your palm up and extend the index finger – the symbol of the ego. The ego is the part of us that identifies with the world. The maya, or the illusion is in the mind. The mind gets scattered and cluttered with citta (mind stuff). This drags us into believing the illusion - to have a false impression of life as being a certain way, a false sense of security and a false sense of importance. Pull your finger in and place the thumb on top. Surrender to your soul. The whole point of life is to bring together in perfect harmony the material world and the soulful world. We are here to work the mission of the soul, which basically is to overcome the four great passions and the nine obstacles, and then find peace. The world is not an illusion. It is real and it is here for us to experience and gain knowledge of our true being. Truth is not something we can intellectualize. It must be live, experienced and understood. The truth is the world is not an illusion. The illusion is in our perceptions. Overcoming this and all of the nine obstacles will bring prosperity to your life. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace. Doctor Lynn For books, classes, course and private consultations http://www.doctorlynn.com

OBSTACLE 7

Karma Yoga gives us nine obstacles to overcome, so that we might have in our lives, vitality, happiness and peace. The first is ill health. The second is boredom. The third is self-doubt. The fourth is distractions and carelessness. The fifth is feeling heavy and burnt-out. The sixth is having cravings and desires. The seventh is doubting one’s progress. This means to question, or compare our lives to others. Here we might question whether someone is more successful, smarter, or more soulfully evolved; have they made more progress in life than we have? We live in a world where it can appear that others are more successful and moving down life’s path at a faster pace. We doubt our progress. Have you ever questions where you are, or what you are doing with your life and wondered if you were on the right path? This is a biproduct of the obstacle of self-doubt. When you doubt yourself, you doubt the progress you’ve made. Karma however teaches us that we are all on our own individual paths and the markers of the material world are not an indicator of how far we have progressed soulfully. The soul is here to turn deceit, greed, anger and pride into truth, generosity, kindness and humility. Awareness of this and taking this direction puts you farther down the path than someone who is ignorant, or unaware of what progress really means. This does not mean that you cannot be wealthy and powerful. Its’ what you do with your energy that is the true marker of progress. Regardless of where you are if you are honest, generous, kind and humble you are making progress in life. Takes work – that’s karma - Let’s get started. END: Everyone faces doubt in varying intensities—from a subtle whisper to a loud emotional shout. Doubt however, can remind us to go back to our most basic truth—love. Where there is true love, there is no doubt. Doubt can teach us a thing or two about ourselves and the world. We have an opportunity to see where we lack trust and, as such, can make a different choice. When we become aware of doubt, we connect to a deeper part of our being—a place of stillness and peace. Here we connect with the soul or our essence and it is here that we truly discover our progress along life’ path. Trust and love yourself, be honest, generous, kind and humble and you will make tremendous progress in life. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend the index fingers – the symbol of the ego. Doubt at its core is a fearful emotion. It is the ego shouting at us to take charge, as it fears not being accepted or being rejected, and not being loved. It doubts its own self-worth and questions its progress. Pull your index finger in and place your thumb on top the symbol of the soul. When we surrender to the essence of our being, our soul, we discover that each path is unique. Comparison and competition do not fit into the soul’s mission. The soul is here to help us quiet the mind and to see the world for what it really is- an opportunity to discover trust in ourselves, generosity, kindness and humility, and when we discover this we have no need to doubt ourselves, or our progress. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with healthy happiness and peace. Doctor Lynn For books, classes and consultations: http://www.doctorlynn.com

OBSTACLE 6

Karma Yoga gives us nine obstacles to overcome, so that we might have in our lives, vitality, happiness and peace. The first is ill health. The second is boredom. The third is self-doubt. The fourth is distractions and carelessness. The fifth is feeling heavy and burnt-out. The sixth is having cravings and desires. To begin with there is nothing wrong with having desires. We are hardwired to seek pleasure. Without this we could not survive. We all desire to live a better and healthier life. But when desires become obsessive and lead to cravings that distract us from our karmic work, they become an obstacle in the way to living a successful life, which means to have health, happiness and peace; body, mind and soul. When we have cravings and desires, they bind us and drive us to satisfy them. Once satisfied we become somewhat peaceful until the next craving, or desire arises. This keeps us in the perpetual cycle of discontentment. Karma teaches us to work on disciplining the subconscious mind so we might draw into it the thoughts found in the conscious mind. Here we are able to produce genuine contentment and peace. How? Quiet the mind and observe. The whole point of karma is to learn to be content and at peace with what comes into your life and what goes out of your life; while observing and learning life’s lessons. When you have genuine happiness that is not attached to anything you control cravings and desires, and this allows you to control your life. Nothing in the world binds you. Yoga reminds us control the citta in your mind and you control everything. Let’s get started… END: Desires and cravings distract us from doing our karmic work which is to learn to be content and at peace with what comes into your life and what goes out of your life; while observing and learning life’s lessons. Be content with who you are; body, mind and soul. Contentment is an inner peace independent of any external force. It means to be independently happy and satisfied no matter what enters, or exits your life. When content you are at peace with yourself. When at peace with yourself and the world it’s easy to find satisfaction. EGO: Flip your hands up and extend out your index finger the symbol of your ego. The ego wants acceptance and importance. It sees those who have powerful titles and expensive cars and house as more important than it and so it craves these things. It believes that these things symbolize acceptance, happiness and success. And although power and wealth can make it appear that one’s life is more important and easier in the end, we take none of this with us. Pull your index finger in and place your thumb on top- surrender to your soul. When you have true contentment and happiness within you have connected with your soul. Here it matters not what comes into your life or what leaves your life. The soul finds joy in experiencing all of life for it knows that if you can be content and at peace with your life, as it is, you will find the joy that comes living a satisfying and successful life. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace Doctor Lynn For more classes, books and consultations http://www.doctorlynn.com

OBSTACLE 5

Karma Yoga gives us nine obstacles to overcome, so that we might have in our lives, vitality, happiness and peace. The first is ill health. The second is boredom. The third is self-doubt. None of these leads to happiness, fulfillment and success. The fourth is distractions and carelessness. When we are distracted, we are often careless and both of these leads to mistakes, injuries and poor judgement. The fifth is feeling heavy and burnt-out. We all have these feelings of exhaustion, stress and overload from time to time so karma reminds us to pay attention to these feelings; slow down, bring some balanced peace and tranquility back into your life so you can avoid the obstacle of becoming burnt-out. It’s hard to be energetic, enthusiastic, happy and focused when faced with obstacle of feeling heavy and exhausted. So, lets’ take some time and work on being present, balanced, tranquil and peaceful. END: the basis of life is energy and it is what we do with our energy that determines whether we survive or perish. To overcome heaviness and becoming burnt-out we need to balance our energy body, mind and soul and that means to find harmony. It is so easy to get caught up in the dramas and stressors of life and let them lead us to exhaustion. But the irony of life is that for all our outward strivings and all the dramas, in the end, the sum total always adds up to zero. We take none of the dramas, problems and stressors with us when we depart this world. What we do take is the compassion, understanding and ability to observe and let go, remembering that life is all about experiences and how we use our energy in each of these experiences determines whether we live a life of harmony, or one strife with the heaviness and dramas that lead to becoming burnt-out-out. Being burnt-out is truly an obstacle when it comes to being healthy and finding, peace, and harmony. Let go, observe and find harmony. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out your index finger; the symbol of your ego. The ego is constantly striving to excel, to be important and to consume. It wants acceptance and love. All of this comes from the citta, or the perceptions we hold in our mind. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top and take a moment to surrender to your soul. Take a deep breath – let it go. The soul sits back and watches the basic mind, the ego, or the “I” with its feelings of wanting to be important and being right. Once you begin to control the “I” and see it for what it really is; desire, cravings, distractions, worry and self-doubt you can begin to take control over your thoughts knowing you can change them as you will; you are not bound by the dictates of the outside world. There is nothing wrong with the world. It is there for you to use it. You can make it a peaceful harmonious place, or a heavy, dramatic and exhausting place, depending upon your approach. If you can control your mind, you can control your energy and when you control and direct your energy you can create a world of harmony and balance – that is the antidote to being heavy and burnt-out; a obstacle worth overcoming. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace Doctor Lynn For more classes, books and private consultations http://www.doctorlynn.com

Karma - Obstacles -4

Karma Yoga gives us nine obstacles to overcome, so that we might have in our lives, vitality, happiness and peace. The first is ill health. The second is boredom. The third is self-doubt. None of these leads to happiness, fulfillment and success. The fourth is distractions and carelessness. When we are distracted, we are often careless and both of these leads to mistakes, injuries and poor judgement. If we truly want to succeed in life, it requires focused effort and a careful approach. Without focus the mind becomes scattered and a scattered mind is exactly what karma yoga teaches us needs to be tamed. If you are trying to master something you must give it your focused attention otherwise nothing is ever completed. We must also be careful with what we do with our energy, otherwise we waste time and effort; nothing gets accomplished, and this can be detrimental to the health of the body, mind and soul. Yoga reminds us to be present and aware, always being careful as to what we think, say and do. This requires conscious awareness and that is what it means to work your karma. If you are aware of the things that distract you and scatter your energy you will be more careful about how you use your energy. Use it for the right purpose, at the right time, with the right amount of focus and you will succeed. Emotion’s, feelings, desires and cravings scatter the life force, and when the life force is scattered it is difficult to find peace and tranquility. This of course takes work and that is what it means to work your karma – let’s get started. END: Life will always present us with obstacles to overcome. Awareness of these obstacles and the valuable lessons they teach us is working your karma. It is easy in today’s world to get distracted by all that is happenings in the world around and outside of you. That is why karma reminds us to still the mind and then to focus on the things that are important; your health, joy and enthusiasm, self-knowledge and self-worth. Master these and be like the warrior; focus on your energy and then carefully use it at the right time, with the right amount of force, for the right purpose, and you will succeed. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend the index finger – your ego. The ego is always looking here and there at the outside world for its worth, validation and enthusiasm. The ego is constantly being distracted in its quest to both survive and to thrive. It forgets that to survive in the world we need focus and caution. Distractions and carelessness can lead to stress and ill health, lack of enthusiasm and self-doubt. Pull you index finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a moment and surrender to the calmness of your soul. The soul reminds us to stop and think before we speak and before we act. When the mind is focused, we can direct our energy to create a more carefully directed life for ourselves and for the world at large To do this remove distractions, stay focused on what is important and be careful where and how you direct your energy. In this you will prosper. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health happiness and peace Doctor Lynn For books, classes, consultations and more http://www.doctorlynn.com

Overcoming the Nine Obstacles – Leads to Success

Karma Yoga gives us nine obstacles to overcome, in order to have in our life, vitality, happiness and peace. The first is ill health. Just remember to practice prevention over cure because the most important thing in your life is your health. Without it everything else is meaningless. The second obstacle is boredom. Boredom is an emotion, or signal that lets you know that you are doing something that doesn’t give you satisfaction. Boredom can appear in two ways: being lethargic (feeling tired), or agitation (feeling irritated). And none of this leads to happiness, fulfillment and success. The third obstacle is doubting your self-worth. One of the greatest obstacles to living an authentic, beautiful and happy life is self-doubt. When we doubt our capacity to love, to say the right thing, to do good, and to be our authentic self, we live in fear of not being good enough. This binds us to the three basic fears in life; being rejected; being unloved; dying. Karma teaches us to observe life and part of that observing is how you think of yourself. We all have moments when we doubt ourselves. That usually happens when we look externally for validation rather than look within. We let social media, family, coworkers, and those around us define what we wear, the behaviors we should adopt, and the beliefs we should uphold. That’s why karma keeps reminding us that our work here is not about the material world, but about working on ourselves. According to Karma you chose this body and this life to discover, even in mist of life’s chaos and moments of self-doubt, the beautiful, unique individual inside of you. To overcome self-doubt takes self-love and that take work – that’s karma – let’s get started: END: The next time you’re feeling inadequate, take a few minutes to quiet the world around you and take a breath. Loving yourself is the key to loving others and being the best, you can be. Self-doubt can ruin so many of the beautiful things in life. It causes us to miss out on new work opportunities, giving back to others, and living freely. Taking a few small steps today to increase your self-love will banish doubt and help you grow in confidence. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend your index finger – the symbol of your ego. Remember your ego want to protect you from getting hurt. This can be a good thing when faced with danger, but its deeper fears of not being accepted, fear of not being loved and fear of dying comes from a place of self-doubt. It forgets that the universe at its purest is a living, accepting, and loving place. Comparing yourself to others, or questioning your abilities feeds into the egos fear. Pull your index finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a moment and surrender to your soul. The soul knows that we are all unique and on our own journey, while at the same time interconnected with everything and everyone in the world for the sole purpose of working our karma, and part of working your karma is to overcome the obstacle of self-doubt. When it arises, and it will, just remember you are a live, so live fully, love yourself, and honor your self- worth. Overcome the obstacles of ill health, boredom and self-doubt and you are on the road to health happiness and peace and that is what it means to live a successful life. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace. Doctor Lynn For more books, courses and consultations http://www.doctorlynn.com

Karma Yoga presents us with nine obstacles to overcome = success and happiness

The first is physical illness – practice prevention over cure because without good health everything else is meaningless. The second obstacle is what the Buddhist and Yogis call Styan’a which means to have apathy, boredom and gloominess. Boredom can show itself in many ways, but these are a few common experiences: • Lack of interest in activities • Unable to stay interested for more than brief periods • Unable to rest or relax • No feeling of excitement • Difficulty staying motivated When we experience any, or all of these, we feel unfulfilled and not able to feel a connection to our surroundings. Boredom can appear in two ways: being lethargic (feeling tired), or agitation (feeling irritated). And none of this leads to happiness, fulfillment and success. Boredom is an emotion, or signal that lets you know that you are doing something that doesn’t give you satisfaction. Boredom could tell you two things: that you are not fully present and engaged in your current task, or that your task is not meaningful to you. Quite prevalent in our modern world is the constant stimulation and searching for the next big thing and new experiences, which often gets replaced with dull ambivalence. We get tired with the pursuit of our goals as they fall into over stimulation, or become routine. In yoga Tamas are mind energy that arise from ignorance and prevent a person from finding their soulful path. Tamasic qualities are laziness, anger, attachment, depression, dependency, self-doubt, guilt, boredom, irritation, addiction, apathy, confusion, grief, ignorance. When we replace them with enthusiasm and joy we find satisfaction, happiness and success This is why yoga makes it the first order of business to tame the mind of its chitta and find peace. There are three pillars that help us to train the mind to stay enthusiastic; focused attention, open awareness and kind intentions. A you move to the mat today try to stay focused, be open to the feelings in your body and the thoughts that enter your mind, and intentionally be kind to yourself. Let’s get started END: The first two obstacles to overcome on the pathway to soulful happiness and success are ill health and boredom. Neither of these will give you the vitality and enthusiasm for life. We are here to work our karma and part of that work is to work at overcoming the obstacles of life. It is impossible to work your karma if you are ill and apathetic about life. But if you are healthy, energetic and enthusiastic about your life you will find that success and happiness are with you always – appreciate life and you will live a satisfying and enriched life, and that is why we are here; to find happiness and joy. EGO: The ego wants satisfaction. But the ego is never satisfied. It always wants more. When you give the ego what it wants, it’s only satisfied for a fraction of time, before it starts to want more again. This causes us to get bored and apathetic. There is no right or wrong way to take your power back from the ego. Find what works for you. When you find what works, the key is consistency. Pull your index finger in and place your thumb on top. The more you connect with your heart, your soul, your inner being, your spirit, the source within you – however you relate to it, the more you take away the power from the ego and move towards a greater sense of inner happiness, peace and contentment. To overcome the obstacles of life, be healthy and be enthusiastic. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with heath happiness and peace Doctor Lynn For more books, classes, consultations http://www.doctorlynn.com

#Karma ~ Overcoming #Obstacles

No doubt in 2022 we all had obstacles in our lives we needed to overcome, and no doubt as we live out this new year, we will also have obstacles to overcome. Karma means work. The nature of life is to work through life’s obstacles until we find peace and harmony. That’s what it means to work your karma. To overcome life’s obstacles, we first need to understand the nature of life – it is continually changing, and is simply the result of cause and effect; put simply; life becomes what life does; If you want to change the effect you must change the cause. But we must also take time to reflect and accurately find the cause without blaming others, or falling into becoming a victim of life. This takes some self-realization for we are, at the core of our being, the cause of all that happens in our lives simply by our actions and reactions to it. If someone hurts you it’s easy to get angry and blame that person. However, if we step back and observe we may find that the real cause of our hurt is our lack of self-worth, or inability to release ourselves from toxic people and situations. Yoga presents us with nine obstacles to overcome; today we are going to focus on the first which is physical illness. You probably didn’t get up this morning and think about how grateful you are to have the good health and ability to come to class and practice yoga. We take good health for granted until we lose it. Yoga teaches us that the first thing we should do every day is attend to our good health for without it everything else is meaningless. Each day pay attention to the three pillars of health; diet, exercise and sleep. These are the foundation of a healthy body – mind. Attitude and gratitude for the wonderful things the body can do is what we need to stay healthy and fit. Remember the soul is here to do its earthly work and it needs a healthy body and healthy mind to do the job. Let’s get started with a focus on our health. END: END: Yoga presents us with nine obstacles to overcome; physical illness, is the first. It means to consciously do what you can to prevent illness rather than take health for granted. Karma yoga is about being consciously aware of all the things that you think, say and do, and then acting in a way that creates the greatest good. Nothing in this world could be better than a healthy body and a healthy mind assisting the soul in completing its earthly mission; awareness of and then overcoming the obstacles of life from a peaceful healthy perspective. EGO: flip your hands up and rest them on your knees. Extend out the index finger – the symbol of the ego. The ego fights for your survival. It strives to maintain its strength but often confused strength for power. In its power struggle to excel it often takes on stress and anxiety leading to ill health. The ego fights to maintain its importance. Do not seek to extinguish the ego. It is for your self-preservation and self-identity. Simply seek to temper it by drawing your index finger in and placing your thumb on top which is the symbol of our soul; and remember from the soul’s perspective we are here on earth to overcome the obstacles of life. To overcome life’s obstacle, continue to practice karma and focus on the three pillars of health; diet, exercise and sleep. Practicing karma yoga, you have made such great progress this past year. Through continual practice you will achieve and maintain all things that you desire; health, happiness and peace. Namaste ~ may you go with health, happiness and peace Happy New Year Doctor Lynn For classes, private sessions and books http://www.doctorlynn.com

#Resolutions to make into habits – what will you do with your #time?

When we celebrate the New Year, we find ourselves caught in time. We look backward to the past year and forward to the upcoming year. We are caught between the going and coming. Some of us have regrets for the past and many of us have hope for the future. In our modern-day world, we get lost in time. That’s because time becomes a commodity that we use, hoard, trade and exploit. We waste time, keep time, give time, find time, lose time, make time and on and on…. But remember time is really the only thing we have. When it is gone our time on earth will end. So, what you do with your time, says so much about you and the life you live. Ask yourself what do I do with my time and what can I do to make good use of it? I would suggest this year that you take time every day to practice these five resolutions and to make them into habits: gratitude, generosity, kindness, joy and peace. If you incorporate each of these into your goals and your everyday life you will find that your time is wisely spent. You will be working your karma in positive ways. This will bring you prosperity. It only takes moments to practice each of these. This would be a good use of your time – and so would practicing our yoga class – so let’s get started. END: Time flies – time really, really flies; and here we are another year about to end and new year to begin. We can’t slow down time, but we can use time to create quality of life, and isn’t that what we all want; a life that is full of gratitude, generosity, kindness, joy and peace. What you do with your time says so much about the life you live. Live it fully and remember, what you do with your time is the only thing you take with you when you depart this world. Make your time count. EGO: flip up your palm and extend out your index finger – The ego feels it never has enough time to express itself. It fears its own demise and looks upon time as the enemy. It frantically runs after work and life experiences always trying to beat time. But time cannot be beaten. We cannot stop it or control it because time does not stand still and our experiences rarely fulfill us. Bring your index finger in and place your thumb on top. When we surrender our ego the demands of life subside and we experience being in the present moment. The soul then realizes that we are here on earth to build virtues and remove vices. That’s why we all make resolution. We want to do better and live a better life. Letting go of the ego allows us to participate in life as a grateful, generous, kind, joyful and peaceful soul. These would be good resolution to make into habits. Happy New Year May you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace Doctor Lynn For more books, classes course and consultations http://www.doctorlynn.com

Resolution Five -a good habit that will bring you serenity and calmness.

When we do something repeatedly it becomes a habit. If we continue with this habit, it becomes part of our character. So how can we resolve to develop healthy habits to enhance our character? Awareness and practice. Without these nothing can be achieved. The four resolution we worked on over the last few weeks was to develop the habits of gratitude, generosity, kindness and joy. This week we will work on peace. Peace means to be serene and calm. The whole goal of yoga is to be able to restrain and balance the chaos that often goes on inside your head and then create calmness; body, mind and soul; which leads to peace. We live in a material world. Karma yoga does not discourage us from creating wealth and acquiring things. But it does encourage us to stay detached from these things and not to let them own us or bind us. We should be grateful for what comes into our lives, but not obsessed with hanging onto things. Obsession creates greed, chaos, fear and none to these things can create peace. We are here to find joy and to enjoy our lives. If you have beautiful home enjoy it but do not fear letting it go. In this you find peace. So, karma teaches us to find and maintain peace in our heart while keeping our mind working within the material world. The whole goal of yoga is to be able to detach and then see and use the whole world for what it is – opportunities to learn and work through your karma. It is an opportunity to discover gratitude, generosity, kindness, joy and peace. Takes awareness and practice. let’s get started… END: The goal of yoga is to maintain a peaceful mind while living in a very chaotic material world. Karma teaches us that there are four types of people in the word that can disturb our sense of peace. The happy, the unhappy, the virtuous and the wicked. Yoga gives us four keys to use when we encounter each. Friendliness for the happy; enjoy being around them; compassion and generosity for the unhappy; wish them peace; be gladness for the virtuous; admire their gratitude and kindness; and for the wicked do not judge simply observe be indifference and find peace. Do not try to advise them. Wicked people seldom take advice. If you try you will lose your peace; be indifferent. Use these keys friendliness, compassion, admiration and indifference at every encounter in your life and you will discover peace of mind, and that is the goal of yoga. Ego: Flip your palm up and extend out your index finger the symbol of your soul. Your body and your mind must continue to fulfill the job for which they were created. Housed within is the ego and it is the ego that needs you to work your karma. Once you learn how to let the ego remove the citta and disturbances in the mind you will find peace. Pull your index finger in, place your thumb on top and surrender to your soul. Simply learn to be selfless. Give more than you take and be grateful, generous, kind, joyful and indifferent, and you will find peace. These are all good habits to practice! Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace Doctor Lynn For more classes, course, books and consultations http://www.doctorlynn.com

Five Resolutions - Four -a good habit that will bring you great pleasure and happiness.

When we do something repeatedly it becomes a habit. If we continue with this habit, it becomes part of our character. So how can we resolve to develop healthy habits to enhance our character? Awareness and practice. Without these nothing can be achieved. The three resolution we worked on over the last few weeks was to develop the habits of gratitude, generosity and kindness. Resolution four to make into a habit is joy. To truly experience joy is to feel pleasure and happiness. Next to health most people would say that happiness and joy are the most important. And yet karma teaches us that the greatest amount of negative karma goes into prohibiting the expression of joy. If joy is so wonderful, why do we try to destroy it? • Comparing and competing • Lack of gratitude for what you have. ... • Letting D-GAP control you. ... • Focusing on the past or the future. ... • Trying to control what you can't. ... • Caught in being a victim - blaming others • Obsessed with your possessions. Chinese proverb – although you may amass a million gold coins; when you depart this earth you cannot take with you even one copper penny. Any one of the four great passions or the trouble some four will prohibit the expression of joy. Joy connects the hidden dimensions that unite the body and the mind. We experience joy both from a biochemical point (dopamine) and from a mental point of happiness and pleasure. When people tune in to the feeling of joy, what often emerges is an awareness that this joy is somehow always with us. Joy is quietly, invisibly ever-present. It is not “out there,” and it is not “in here”; rather, it is simply everywhere and it is a choice we make whether to experience it or not. Let’s see if we can find it today END: Joy is the soul of happiness. Like pleasure, it can express itself through the body, but it is not of the body. Like satisfaction, it can be felt emotionally and appreciated mentally, but it is so much more than just an emotion or a state of mind. It means to stand outside yourself finding happiness and joy in the moment. True joy is limitless and always available to us. It requires awareness and practice and like gratitude, generosity and kindness, finding joy everyday would be a good habit to choose. EGO: Flip your palm up and extend out the index finger. Feel the pull away from your center. When we turn inward and face ourselves, our issues take center stage and the spotlight prevents us from seeing what is going on around us. In other words, the ego has its grip on us. Joy feels somehow beyond space and time. Joy does not come and go; what comes and goes is our awareness of joy. Ironically, we often feel the presence of joy the most when we stop chasing pleasure and we stop trying to satisfy our ego. Pull the finger in and place the thumb on top; true joy means to find happiness and bliss while standing outside of yourself experiencing the pure joy of life. It can be as simple as the joy of feeling the warmth of the sun on your face. Look to find joy in each day. It will remind you of how precious life can be. Joy is necessary for our survival. A world without joy would be a dismal place. Joy is a choice you make, and if you let it, you will find that Joy is bigger than your ego. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace Doctor Lynn For more classes, corpses, books and consultation http://www.doctorlynn.com

Five Resolutions to Make into good Habits – in this you will prosper

When we do something repeatedly it becomes a habit. If we continue with this habit, it becomes part of our character. So how can we resolve to develop healthy habits to enhance our character? Awareness and practice. Without these nothing can be achieved. The two resolution we worked on the last two weeks was to develop habits of gratitude and generosity. The third resolution to make a habit is kindness. Kindness is inherent in all human beings, and essential for survival. It means to show consideration to others, as opposed to being insensitive, harmful or apathetic. Our most basic motivation is to strive for survival, well-being and happiness. Being treated by others with cruelty, indifference or insensitivity goes directly against this basic wish. So, we want others to treat us with kindness and this is common to all humans. Naturally, kindness is also supported by compassion. If you are inclined to wish another person to be happy, protected and relieved of suffering you are practicing compassion. However, in order to fully practice kindness, you must first learn to be kind to yourself. When we are not emotionally aware, or are unkind towards ourselves, it is very difficult to be kind to others. Kindness is supported by forgiveness, empathy, compassion and discernment. Further, to develop kindness for the greatest number of people, these practices should rest on a foundation of impartiality, where we learn to see our common humanity. In other words, we must realize that what all human beings have in common vastly outweighs our differences, and that all human beings naturally seek survival, well-being and happiness. Kindness, therefore, would be a good resolution to make into a daily habit. END: This week as well as gratitude and generosity practice kindness; first towards yourself and then towards others. Remember that it is basic to the survival of all of life. Kindness creates sharing, caring and protection. ‘The World Happiness Report’, a project undertaken by the United Nations, has shown that even more than economic factors, happiness and life satisfaction is even more important than wealth. Kinder people are happier people and kinder people create happier societies. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out your index finger – the symbol of your ego. Feel the pull away from your center. The ego seeks its own survival often seeing itself at the center of the universe, alone and caught in its own projection of reality. It seeks kindness for its own survival, but sometime forgets that it is connected to all living things and all living things need kindness to survive. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top to surrender to your soul. The soul reminds us that we are all interconnected in this vast web of life and if we are to survive, we must remember that what all human beings have in common vastly outweighs our differences. Always seek to do the greatest good for the greatest many. Be kind and resolve to make kindness a daily habit. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace Doctor Lynn For more courses, books and consultations http://www.doctorlynn.com

Five Resolutions to Make into good Habits – in this you will prosper

When we do something repeatedly it becomes a habit. If we continue with this habit, it becomes part of our character. So how can we resolve to develop healthy habits to enhance our character? Awareness and practice. Without these nothing can be achieved. The resolution we worked on last week was to develop a habit of gratitude. Take a moment each day to be grateful for something. Make it your default habit even in tough and stressful times. The second resolution to make into a habit is generosity; it’s a quality that's a lot like unselfishness, or as yoga calls it being selfless. There are seven ways to practice generosity; our thoughts, words, money, time, material things, influence and attention. Karma yoga reminds us to pay careful attention to our thoughts, words and deeds. We create generosity through all three. Remember that greed is one of the four great passions. It must be removed if you are to master your karma. The opposite of greed is generosity. This would be a good habit to develop. Generosity creates good punja and good punja is the good merits we gain from living a soulful life. Karma teaches us to do unselfish work without expecting anything in return. It also means to give more than you take. Acts of generosity, such as giving your time, talent or resources, and expecting nothing in return, have been proven to be good for your health. Generous individuals are personally more fulfilled, happier and more peaceful within themselves, not to mention more productive at home and in the workplace. Takes conscious work to be generous especially in stressful and trying times. That’s karma – it takes work – let’s get started. END: generosity is not so difficult to practice and something we can all do every day no matter what life hands us. Be kind, be sincere and always give more than you take. Here are some free gifts to give every day that will create generosity. To your enemy give forgiveness, to an opponent give tolerance, to a friend give a helping hand, to those you love give an open heart, to a customer give good service, be charitable and give your time, to every child give a good example of what it means to be a good person, and to yourself give respect. Ego: The ego is the part of you that says I want it all. It is the part that inserts itself at the center of existence and in this becomes selfish and greedy. Karma reminds us to conduct ourselves in ways of self-surrender meaning to ask ourselves who is really the author of our lives? The self-centered one, or the one who observes and acts selflessly? Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Surrender to your soul and then take actions that allow you to act unselfishly. When you give do not look for something in return. If you give from a selfless place, you will always prosper. When you make others happy you are also happy. Be aware of your thoughts, words and deeds, and then act in ways that create generosity. Soon the habit of being generous will be with you every day. Remember generosity can be as simple as being kind, giving a helping hand, or a smile to cheer someone up. This week make gratitude and generosity a part of your daily habits. Take the time to become aware of our thoughts, words and deeds and then practice giving more than you take, and in this you will develop the habits of generosity and gratitude. Without awareness and practice nothing can be achieved. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace Doctor Lynn For more classes, course and consultations http://www.doctorlynn.com

HEALTH RECIPE for the HOLIDAYS Sugar Plums Dancing in my Head

HEALTH TIP for the HOLIDAYS Sugar Plums Dancing in My Head Did you know that plums are the second most cultivated fruit in the world? Plums date back to Confucius who listed plums as one of the popular foods in China. In 65 BC, Pompey the Great introduced plums to the orchards in Rome and Alexander the Great eventually brought them to the Mediterranean region. But, what about those sugar plums dancing around in children’s head at Christmas time? Well sugar plums also mean any dried fruit that is dipped in honey and then rolled in aromatic spices and served as a treat. Now if your take a dried plum (prune that it) and dip it in honey and then roll it in anise or cardamom you would in fact end up with a healthy snack. Honey is a complete food and a powerhouse of nutrients. Anise and cardamom are two spices that were widely used in Europe and throughout the Middle East. Anise is a calmative spice while cardamom is used as a stimulant and as a digestive aid. So, whether it’s a fresh picked plum, a dried prune or sugar plums dancing in your head, the plum is a great choice when it comes to your health. • DRIED FRUIT antioxidants Vitamin A • Walnuts – protein, prebiotics • Honey – a complete food • Anise - calmative • Cardamon – stimulant digestive aid RECIPE SUGAR PLUMBS • • ½ cup California Prunes about 3.25 oz • ½ cup walnuts toasted & coarsely chopped (about 2 oz) • ¼ cup dates pitted & chopped (just over 1 oz, about 5) or dried figs • ¼ cup dried cranberries about 1.25 oz • ¼ cup hazelnut meal or almond meal* toasted (or hazelnut or almond flour) (see note to use whole nuts) • 2 Tablespoons apricot preserves or honey • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon • ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom or anise • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves • 1 pinch fine sea salt • ½ cup sugar I use coarse sugar for crunch INSTRUCTIONS To toast the walnuts and hazelnut or almond meal: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 F 2. Spread the nuts out in a single layer on one side of a sheet pan, and pour the nut meal in a pile on the other side, and flatten with you hand or a spatula so it's an even layer, about ¼ inch thick. Place the sheet pan in the oven for 8 minutes, then remove and allow to cool. To make the Sugarplums: 1. Put the chopped prunes, walnuts, dates and cranberries in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the ingredients are chopped into small, even pieces. Stop before the mixture becomes a ball. 2. Add the toasted nut meal, apricot preserves, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and salt. Pulse several times (you may need to stop to scrape down the sides) until the ingredients are fully combined and the mixture will hold itself together when rolled into a ball. (You should still see some texture from the fruit & nuts.) 3. Line a tray or container with wax or parchment paper. Scoop the mixture into heaping 1 tablespoon portions and roll into 1 inch balls, and place on the paper. 4. Roll the sugarplums in the sugar just before serving. You can store the sugarplums before they are rolled in sugar. Store at room temperature in a covered container (but not airtight/sealed) for up to 1 week. Or, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Allow the sugarplums to come to room temperature before coating in sugar. *If you'd like to use whole almonds or hazelnuts instead of flour/meal, use the same toasting and chopping method as the walnuts. 1. NUTRITION 2. Calories: 87kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 4mgPotassium: 39mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 7IU http://www.Doctorlynn.com

Five Resolution that will Bring to You -Health, Happiness and Success

We all resolve to give something up; to eat better, live better, exercise more and make more money in the upcoming year. 95% of resolutions fail because with a resolution we are attempting to change something, or resolve a conflict. This take motivation and self-control which can be difficult in stressful times. That is why it is suggested that we make our resolutions into habits because habits are what we tend to default to when stressed. So, let’s resolve over the next six weeks to develop habits that we can carry into the new year and all the years to come that will make a tremendous different in our lives. The first resolution for us to make into a habit is gratitude. It simply means to stop, each day, take a moment and appreciate something about your life. It also means to be grateful to others and to be thankful for even the smallest of things. Sounds simple and yet gratitude has a way of eluding us. We often get caught up in the things that make us unhappy leaving little room to be grateful. We fall back on the habit of being unhappy and sometimes resentful. We have desires and when those desire are not met, we become unhappy and therefore lack the ability to be grateful for the beauty that comes to us each day. Studies show that those who practice gratitude are happier and healthier. Positive psychology research indicates that thinking three to five grateful thoughts a day improves the immune response and boost the neural chemicals in your brain that boost happiness. Gratitude is truly healthy for the body, the mind, and the soul. So, let’s begin our karma yoga practice today with the habit of gratitude END: To keep a resolution, you need to make it a habit. It should be something you truly want and what more could you want than to be healthy, happy and at peace? Gratitude is good for the body, the mind and soul. It keeps us healthy, boost happiness and brings a sense of peace to our soul. So, lets’ make our first resolution a habit to stop for a moment each day and be grateful for something Make this a habit you default to in stressful and troubled time and you will discover the beauty that is found in every day of your life. Let’s work on the habit of gratitude. Each day this week stop and take a moment to be grateful for something. Before you know it, gratitude will become a daily habit! EGO: Flip your palm up and extend out your index finger; the symbol of your ego. The ego is that part of you that wants to control and when things don’t go its way it becomes unhappy. The soul looks at life as simply an opportunity to experience all of life. What you do with these experiences determines your karma and the path of our life. Pull your ego in; place your thumb on top and surrender to your soul. From the center of your soul resolve to develop the habit of gratitude. Each day take a moment to stop and be grateful for something – it’s a good habit for the body, the mind and the soul and will surely make your new year and all the years to come successful, happier, healthier and peaceful. Namaste ~ may you walk with health happiness and peace For courses, consultations and more http://www.doctorlynn.com

Three Actionable Tips for Managing Stress Turkey Day and the Holidays!

The one thing that accelerates aging and often causes us to put on weight, eat unhealthily and stop exercising is…STRESS! And what happens during the Holidays? …STRESS! Here are three actionable steps you can take to reduce stress and stay healthy anywhere and anytime. Yoga Breath Not only can the meditative effects of yoga help you manage stress and sleep better, but practicing yoga breath has a slew of other cognitive and social benefits. Cultivating a yoga practice can improve your memory and focus, as well as give you the peace of mind needed to face all the stress of the holidays. The breath is one of the best actionable ways to let go of stress. Letting go requires a connection with the present. Most likely the stress you are hanging onto happened in the past, and when we are focused in the present moment, the past loses its grip. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, say to yourself “let go” and then count from one to ten as you exhale. The ten count allows the body and the mind to focus on being present and in the moment. I always remind my students that breathing in is cleansing and exhaling is removing debris. Do this five times. Walk Take a walk, dance and do yoga. Exercise has been shown to be very effective in reducing stress and helping us to let go of whatever is disturbing our sense of balance and peace. Just remember “don’t sweat the small stuff, and in the big scheme of life; it’s all small stuff.” Did you know that creativity reduces stress! There is nothing like a nice walk to get the creative juices brewing. Walking is easy, stress free, and anyone can do it. When we walk, we are circulating blood and oxygen throughout the body and that includes the brain. The mind is free from distractions and we are getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine. Vitamin D which we get from the sun (which is the best source) is important for overall health including brain health. Scientist know that low levels of D effect cognitive functioning. Think about this; we evolved under natural sunlight and part of the process of evolution is survival; the ability to manage stress and be creative. Talk Talk to yourself; ask yourself this; is it worth hanging onto? Most likely it is not. What might seem insurmountable today might be nothing tomorrow. It’s the things we identify with that create stress. It’s what yoga calls all the “citta” or useless mind stuff that keeps us in the illusion of life. Everything is fleeting. Nothing last forever. So, to de-stress and bring harmony and happiness to your world; change the way you look at things and the way you look at things will change. Just let go and let be. We put so much pressure on ourselves to be happy and to fit in, especially during the holidays. Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all the good things in your life. You don’t need a family gathering, a turkey, or a party to practice gratitude. What you do need is the ability to take a breather, move your body, and let go. Take time to relax and focus on the most important thing in life; your health; body, mind and soul. If you are healthy enough to celebrate Turkey Day – give thanks for that! Just remember without your health everything else is meaningless. Doctor Lynn http://www.doctorlynn.com Join me Thursday Dec 1 at 10 AM PST 1PM EST for a FREE WEBINAR How to Survive the Holidays without… Stress- Burnout- Weight Gain – Neglecting Exercise – not getting Adequate Sleep? Why is it so difficult to stay on the health track during the holidays? Learn the three thing that sabotage our health, happiness sand balance and how to master them Learn the foods to eat to insure you stay healthy and manage your weight Learn simple exercises that will help you manage stress and stay balanced Learn simple techniques for improving sleep Get a Holiday Recipe that is healthy, delicious and full of happiness! FREE 30-minute WEBINAR – Thursday Dec 1 @ 10AM PST - 1PM EST Join Doctor Lynn a Naturopath and Yoga therapist as she shares with you not only how to survive the holidays but how to sail into the New year with vim, vigor and vitality. http://www.doctorlynn.com CAN’T ATTEND? Sign up and get access to the FREE RECORDING!

Compassion creates Prosperity

🧚‍♀️SOUL WALKING🚶‍♀️ ~🎁 Compassion requires an understanding of human nature. Understand it and you will prosper doctorlynn.com By lifting your thoughts to a higher level of consciousness you open the heart chakra allowing your self to invoke noble thoughts, and by continuing to invoke these thoughts you purify the mind, which in turn allows you to practice compassion leading to a state of peacefulness. In practical terms compassion means - suppose someone says something that is upsetting to you. This person is caught in one of the four great passions. Let’s say it is anger. You have a decision to make. You can react with an equal force of anger, or you can find your balance, tap into your inner strength, stay flexible and open and remain peaceful. When you see the situation for what it really is; an expression of human emotion; you will realize we all experience these emotions. We have all felt and expressed anger. Who doesn’t know what it feels like to be angry? You then have a moment to catch yourself, connect from the heart and practice compassion. By observing, you learn the purpose for practicing yoga. In its purest form we work on balance, strength, flexibility and peacefulness. Find it in your body and you will find it in your mind and your soul. Takes work – that’s karma - let’s get started. END: As we become more aware of the nature of life, we become more self-ware and with this we gain a greater sense of balance, strength, flexibility and peacefulness. We become more aware of how we live and how we interact with all of life. We move from insanity to sanity. It is simply the movement from a passionate reaction to the compassionate realization that we are all interconnected and that at any given time we are all doing the best we can with where we are in our own evolution. To forgive and practice compassion is to practice yoga. The purpose of the yoga poses is to achieve a state of pure balance, ultimate strength, fluid flexibility and peacefulness. This brings us wisdom and prosperity; so, keep practicing. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out your index finger the symbol of the soul. Feel it pull you away from your center. The ego protects us and as such is always ready to fight, deny and be righteous. Be aware of when the ego arises and then try to be quiet and calm. Pull your index finger in (your ego) and place your thumb on top, which is the symbol of the soul. Remember we are all interconnected. We all share the same feelings and emotions. How we react is simply a reflection of our balance, strength, flexibility and peacefulness. Practice compassion and live from your soul. To understand all is to forgive all. We can facilitate our own and each other’s’ release from suffering by practicing compassion. Look into your own heart and start by being compassionate with yourself and then from your heart reach out and extend compassion to all those in need. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace Doctor Lynn http://www.doctorlynn.com