Month: October 2018

Right Thoughts. Positive Changes.

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I am a firm believer that you must explore within yourself, embrace yourself, get to know yourself, and most of all, LOVE yourself!

I know that our own self at times can be our own worst critic, but you must learn to know and to feel that you are enough and that you are actually quite perfectly imperfect AND you do have the power to change and manifest!  Wow, a powerful statement, but so true.  Let me see if I can break it down some and give an example.

As we travel through this journey of life we yearn to explore, grow and love.  However, sometimes, along the way we can talk ourselves down.  We can feed ourselves such negativity; becoming caught in our thought processes that we are not enough or do not have the power to make the changes we desire.  Comparing ourselves to others, desiring more than we need, feeling lost and in despair… These are all low vibration feelings.  These feelings are definitely ok to have, for we are only human.
But, I’m here to gently remind you that there is no need for that. Negativity will always 20181019_152603_0001.pngfeed negativity and you will become stuck in the ferocious cycle, for you become your thoughts.
Instead, I encourage you to move yourself into higher frequency thought patterns and feelings of contentment, acceptance, accomplishment, joy, etc.  Because positivity will always feed  positivity.
There is an Ayurvedic saying that I learned years ago while studying yoga philosophy that goes something like this:
“If you want to know what your mind was like 10 years ago, take a look at your body now.  If you want to know what your body will look like in 10 years, take a look at your mind now.”

You have to change your mindset to make the changes you desire.

This past year I turned 40 and nine months prior to this birthday, I decided I wanted to be in the best shape of my life!  I knew that what I was currently doing wasn’t going to get me there.  I have never been a morning person (well super early that is) and I am definitely someone who would never even consider working out in the morning.  I much preferred my afternoon workouts.  I would use my lunch hour and burn my calories at the gym lifting weights and getting on the elliptical.  But then one random Monday morning, I decided “I AM A MORNING PERSON!”  I kept telling myself this and within three weeks, I had formed a new habit of getting up early, before work, to get a solid 30+ minute workout in at home, crushing it and setting goals in my workouts.  I was consistent with my thought processes and dedicated to that routine and obtaining results (which I still am) and I would just like to add, I ROCKED by 40th birthday!  I am rocking my 40’s and I am in the best shape of my life and I am now a morning person, waking up at 4:50am to workout!  Crazy right?!  But I now love it.
“You are what you think.

          Think it Today.
                      Become it Tomorrow.
Nothing can help you or hurt you as much as the thoughts you carry in your head.”
~Daniel Levin, Zen Card
It’s so true.  We become our thoughts.  So knowing this, next time you catch yourself in a negative thought pattern, I encourage you to love yourself enough to pause, take a deep, nurturing breath and turn it around to create powerful, positive intentions.
Create your happy, zen tomorrows by thinking positive today!
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
The mind is everything.
What we think we become.”   ~Buddha
What are you Thinking?  What will you become?
Zenfully Yours,
Jyll

Trying Patience

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It’s said patience is a virtue and though I completely agree, it just may be a contributing factor to happiness and health.

We all, at times, could stand to have a little more patience.

I’m going to let you in on a little experiment I have been conducting.
First let me fill you in. My husband works from home several days a week. I currently, travel daily to work at my company’s head office. Generally when I get home from work and enter the kitchen to unload my lunch bag and wash my dishes, there sits my husband’s lunch dishes on the counter next to the sink, or in the sink. First I think this is rude and inconsiderate for the next person that needs to use the kitchen, because now that person has to work around the previous person’s mess. This would frustrate me to no end. I would get mad and give him attitude and my reaction would set a negative tone. Then I would feel guilty about my reaction. Granted, he will do his dishes, but on his own timeline. I have played the game to see how long they sit there and that would just frustrate me more.

Hence, I decided I would try another tactic. My new experiment is I come home, see said dirty dishes on the counter, and instead of reacting negatively, I take a deep breath, find patience and acceptance of the situation (maybe even find a silver lining; I have a husband that loves me and has a job that is providing for us) then I would wash my dishes and since I am right there at the sink doing dishes, I simply just wash his as well.
I have been doing this now for several weeks. My findings you ask?. There are no more negative feelings, anger or unpleasant moments in the evening. I feel more peaceful… and I have even noticed that he now does dishes a little bit more.

Our patience is tried by many people in our lives on a daily basis. And it’s generally because a person is not living to your timeline or behaving how you deem appropriate.
There are many examples of this:

  • When we are frazzled waiting in line at the grocery store because our to do list is waiting.
  • When a child is holding you up due to their shenanigans
  • When a significant other is not acting in accordance to what you deem is correct
  • When you are stuck in a traffic jam

The list can go on and on.
The lessons I am learning from my little experiment and also by incorporating patience in other areas of my day are:

  • Taking a few deep breaths before reacting definitely helps
  • Finding a little silver lining in the situation makes you feel gratitude (which vibrates much higher than feelings of anger, frustration, and resentment)
  • It makes you happier, more accepting and definitely more pleasurable for others to be around you
  • It helps release resentment and or anger that may build up over time due to lack of patience
  • And simply put; it makes you a better person: for those in your lives but also to yourself

So wow!! How amazing is that?! I’m not saying you cannot be annoyed, or have pangs of pain or misfortune, but practicing patience is perhaps experiencing the annoyance or provocation without complaining, frustration, and anger. Everyday we are put in situations that try our patience. The question is, “How do you respond?
Many of my girlfriends have told me that I am an extremely patient woman. Perhaps my man was put in my life for me to learn to build such patience. I mean, I patiently waited to marry the love of my life for 10 years! But in retrospect, I wouldn’t change a thing. I love our love story.
Patience truly is an action of love.

Zenfully yours,

Jyll

Equinozio Spa: Roswell, GA

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I’m so excited to be writing my first spa review.  This is something I have always wanted to do!!

Though I have visited many spas, from solo practitioners to 5-star destination resort spas, I now have my blog officially started, so my first review will be of the day spa I visited this past weekend with two very dear girlfriends of mine.
My girlfriend who lives in GA, had booked the three of us ladies treatments for Saturday afternoon at Equinozio Day Spa; 2 facials and 1 massage.  We arrived about 10 minutes before our appointments and upon entrance, we were greeted by name by a very sweet receptionist.  The main entrance was clean, simple, bright with two tables set up with their product lines, but no big propaganda displays, just a simple presentation, which was inviting.
After checking us in, the receptionist guided us through a curtained doorway leading us into a dimmed lit, twilight blue colored room, inducing a state of calm.  Again, it was very appeasing to the eyes.  There was no clutter, clean lines and modern looking.  A small unit of lockers for those spending the day was located in the center of the room as well as a comfy couch along the wall with the treatments rooms along the perimeter.  We were then led through another curtained doorway into a relaxation room/waiting area, where the receptionist directed us to fill out the health waiver and also offered us water and/or tea as well as the option for a warm compress to put around our necks.  The three of us chose to enjoy the compresses.  I took a  moment to fill out the form, then I sat back to 20181002_1222172relax in the comfy chair to enjoy the heat around my neck melting my tension away.  As I put my head back my eyes drifted up to the ceiling where there was a twinkling star-cape above.  Quite lovely.
Rachel, the esthetician, picked me up from the waiting room and escorted me back to her treatment room.  She was very sweet as we talked briefly about my concerns.  She handed me a body wrap, informed me she would step out of the room as I took my time to get comfortable on the table.
She was back in a few minutes, the lights were dimmed, the soft, soothing music played and the warm mist from the steamer began to fall upon my face as she gently performed the facial.  We chatted through the session, but she professionally took my cue as we became silent as she gave me a great head massage while the  mask on my face was deeply hydrating my skin.
Side note: I think it is the client on the table who should set the tone of the session if there is to be talking or not during the session and the therapist should follow client’s lead.
She talked about the product when I asked questions and gave me suggestions.  She was never pushy about buying the product.  I did ask for extractions during my facial, and she was very diligent about doing so.  After the session was over, she gave me a few minutes to enjoy and slowly gather myself.  After dressing I looked in the mirror and my face looked well hydrated (one of my concerns) and plumped and felt amazing.  My nose was a little red from the extractions but that is completely expected.
I opened the door to leave the room and Rachel was there with fruit water for me and she escorted me back out to the main room where she pointed out some of the products we discussed, but again, there was no pressure.  I actually did end up buying the eye cream.
My other two girlfriends met me back out in the reception area with smiles on their faces.  Our friend that had the massage, wanted to stay and get a facial too!!  The staff was able to accommodate her and she too had Rachel and was very pleased with her facial she experienced.  The three of us ladies thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon here and set the tone for the rest of our perfect day.
My girlfriend that is local, actually frequents there and has always been very happy with the services provided.  I’m already excited for my next visit!  Both to see my girlfriend and a trip to Equinozio.
Overall, for what this spa is, a small personable day spa, I give this day spa experience 5 out of 5 stars!  I’m left with this: “There is eloquence in simplicity.”