Personal Growth Cafe

February 16, 2019February 28, 2018

Getting Started with Yoga

Getting started with Yoga can be fun, and it’s not as hard as you might expect!

You can start with the basics and progress to different types of Yoga to discover which style fits your needs the best.

How do you get started with Yoga?

What are the various forms of Yoga?

In this article, you’ll learn the answers to these questions so that you can start enjoying the benefits of Yoga in your life.

Here are five things to consider before jumping in:

1. Buy a good Yoga mat.

If you’re unsure which mat is a good one, ask your local sports equipment store for help.

You may also need some other supplies, like Yoga straps or blocks, as your routine grows more intense.

2. Do you prefer to exercise alone or do you enjoy group interaction?

Think about whether you prefer a group environment or if you feel more comfortable buying a DVD to work out at home.

3. Check what’s available in your area.

If you decide to seek out a Yoga class, call your local fitness and community centers.

Many such places include Yoga classes that are perfect for beginners.

4. Wear the proper clothing.

Wear comfortable and loose fitting clothes, but steer clear of overly baggy ones.

Leggings and a T-shirt are good for women.

Men can wear sporty, jogging-type pants.

5. Be open-minded about Yoga.

Yoga is not only about exercising your body but also helping your mind become in tune with your body.

It also focuses on using every muscle and joint to improve flexibility and awareness.

Types of Yoga

There are several types of Yoga.

Let’s take a look at just a few of them and what they entail.

You can learn more about the different types by doing some research on the ones you feel you’d most enjoy.

1. Hatha classes will teach you the basics of Yoga.

2. Vinyasa includes the basics, but follows a more vigorous routine.

3. Ashtanga and Power Yoga are faster paced variants.

4. Iyengar is more focused on body alignment and specific areas of the body.

5. Kundalini – While all Yoga includes good breathing techniques, Kundalini focuses a lot on breathing with movement.

6. Bikram (Hot) Yoga is practiced in a 95-100 degree room so you can sweat and loosen tight muscles.

Keys to Starting Yoga Successfully

1. Don’t push yourself too hard. Your instructor should tell you this, so pay attention to their message.

You shouldn’t feel pain when doing Yoga. Take caution to avoid overdoing it.

2. Focus, focus, focus! Breathing is an integral part of any Yoga workout.

Although it might be hard at first, focus your efforts on the breathing techniques.

Eventually these will become a habit and you won’t need to think about how to breathe correctly, but until you get to that point, make a concerted effort to breathe properly.

3. Intimidation isn’t a factor. Don’t feel intimidated if you can’t do all the poses correctly.

In time, you’ll begin to strengthen the muscles you need. Just like anything else, it takes practice to master Yoga.

4. Keep a regular routine. Yoga works best when performed at regular intervals.

Keep up with your workouts to reap the benefits.

Consistency is the key when it comes to Yoga or any workout.

5. Use a buddy system. If you find it hard to stick to a good Yoga plan, enlist the help of a friend who may be looking at Yoga as well.

Having a buddy join you at your Yoga classes can be much more fun.

When you decide it’s time to get started with Yoga, stick to the basics, start slowly and don’t fret if you can’t do everything correctly from the get-go.

Yoga is a rewarding and helpful way to turn your body, mind, and spirit into one healthy and happy unit.

How easy is it for you to start working on something you like?

How can this help bring you peace of mind?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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February 15, 2019February 28, 2018

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it. – Jean De La Bruyere

February 15, 2019February 28, 2018

Get More Out of Life: Five Tips to Focus on You

Do you feel like something is missing in your life?

Learning to focus on you, instead of others, may be the key you’ve been seeking!

If you find that you’re comparing yourself to others and coming up short, it’s time to stop that destructive habit.

Comparisons get you nowhere.

Rather than leading to positive improvements, they only cause you pain and discontent.

A better choice is to focus on your own personal needs and wants.

You’re a unique individual who requires a personal approach!

This helps you boost your self-image because you’re focused on improving yourself and not trying to beat someone else in some uncharted race.

Learning to focus on you rather than everyone else around you can be a difficult task.

Too often, we’re so used to focusing on our families and friends that we don’t even know how to begin the process of focusing on our own choices and decisions that determine our lives.

Follow these five tips to help you focus on fully enjoying your life:

1. Devote one hour a day to “me time.”

During this time, focus completely on yourself and the things you need or desire to feel strong, lovable and important.

Reflect on what’s important to you. Dream big dreams and figure out small steps you can take to achieve them.

Your “me-time” can be anything you like it to be: take a relaxing bubble bath, go for a walk, take a nap, get a manicure, read a novel, or do something else.

Anything that brings you pleasure simply for the sake of pleasure qualifies as me-time.

2. Take care of your own physical, spiritual and health needs.

Relying on someone else to meet your needs only leads to dependence and resentment.

Don’t wait for someone else to do these things for you.

You have the power within you to meet your own needs and the only way you can be truly whole is to do just that.

3. Feed you mind and body good healthy fuels.

You cannot expect your mind and body to function at their best if you don’t provide them with the fuels they need to work at full capacity.

Feed your body good foods: fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Drink plenty of water to keep your body fully hydrated.

Feed your mind by reading informative, well-written books, newspapers, and magazines.

Choose recreational reading that builds your mind and spirit.

Limit your TV watching and spend your time pursuing things that stimulate your thinking instead.

Play board games rather than video games. Listen to music designed to stimulate your brain waves with binary beats.

4. Spend time each day doing something you love. No matter what your hobby is, it’s healthy to indulge in a creative pastime.

Gardening, painting, woodcarving and pottery are all hobbies that encourage your creativity while you use your hands to create something beautiful.

5. Start a gratitude journal. Begin and end each day by listing five unique things you’re grateful for in your life.

Before long, you’ll find that you spend more of your time dwelling on all the good things you have in the world rather than negative obstacles you might face.

Focusing on you helps you take the best possible care of yourself.

It allows you to replenish your batteries and regain your strength so you can be fully present and engaged in the rest of your day.

Use these tips to start changing your focus today, and have many happy tomorrows!

What distractions do you have in life?

How can you move away from them and keep your focus on what’s important?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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February 14, 2019February 28, 2018

Five Ways to Make More Money Now

No matter what you do for a living, there’s always an incentive to make more money.

Maybe you’re trying to pay off credit card bills, save up for something special, or have a little cushion should something unexpected happen in your life.

It used to be that if you needed to make a bit of extra cash, you needed to pick up a second job, like bussing tables a few weekends a month or showing up early at the bakery to help with the ovens.

Now, thanks to the doors opened by the internet, and the ease of starting your own business, it’s gotten easier than ever to bring in some extra money without working yourself to death in the process.

Here are five ways you can make some extra cash in a pinch:

1. Sell your unused items. Do you have books you’ll never read again collecting dust on your bookshelf?

Is your closet full of outgrown or embarrassing clothes?

Are your old computers taking up too much space? Sell them!

Have a yard sale.

Sell your things to specialty shops like second hand clothing shops, used bookstores, used furniture stores, or even repair shops that need parts from what you have.

Use eBay. Lots of things without local markets have a national or global market, and there are people who’ll buy the oddest things on eBay.

In particular, if you’ve got some sort of fairly obscure electronic hardware, try selling it on eBay first.

Chances are someone wants it and is willing to pay a premium for it.

2. Ask for a raise at your current job.

There’s no doubt that asking for more money is difficult, especially during a recession, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Most people are too scared to ask for a raise, so you can use this to your advantage.

Assemble a list of the things you’ve accomplished at your work in the last nine months and make your case.

Another way you may be able to make more cash at your job is to ask your boss if there’s extra work you can do to gain more hours or get paid more for increased responsibilities.

3. Trade skills for cash.

Are you a skilled seamstress, writer, or graphic designer?

There are countless websites where you can use your expertise to earn extra money.

If you’re not sure how to get started, take a few minutes to do an Internet search.

Resources abound on the ‘net that can help you find buyers for your skills.

4. Get a work from home job.

There are lots of telephone based customer service jobs that you can do with just a computer and an Internet connection.

Some of them pay remarkably well and all of them have relaxed dress codes to boot!

5. Start your own part-time business.

Transform one of your hobbies or skills into a second business.

There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as turning your love for something into a business and making it profitable.

Many of these money-making ideas will work fairly quickly with little effort.

You can take it one step further and significantly boost your income by creating a business you can run from the comfort of home.

Take action and you can make more money!

What skills do you have that can be used to make some money?

What resources do you need to start that today?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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February 14, 2019February 28, 2018

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. – Albert Einstein

February 13, 2019February 28, 2018

Finding Your True Soul Mate

Imagine what it could be like if you found your soul mate: walking hand in hand with someone who understands your every thought and mood, perfect days melting into passionate nights, a true love that lasts forever!

Could this happen to you?

Yes, it can!

With a little effort, you can be on the road to finding that special person made just for you.

Many people seem to be under the assumption that their soul mate is suddenly going to fall out of the sky.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the way it works. If you’re yearning to find your soul mate, plan to be ready, prepared, and in the right place at the right time.

Here are some important things to keep in mind in your quest for your soul mate:

1. Figure out what you truly want.

When you’re looking for your one and only, you first need to discover what it is you want from the person you’re looking for, your relationship, and life as a whole.

It’s important to know what’s significant to you and the values you hold dear before you leap into a relationship.

If you don’t know what you’re looking for, how will you ever be able to find it?

This includes knowing yourself well enough to feel confident in your goals, values, and other ideas that are important to you.

Once you clarify your values to yourself, you’ll soon start to notice other people who have the same ideals.

2. Spend time in places your soul mate can be found.

When looking for that special person, be sure to spend time in places where you’re likely to find them.

If you’re involved in a particular hobby you’d like your soul mate to share, consider joining a class or club you’d enjoy.

If you love sports, get active in them.

You can also join your local recreation center and get active in the community.

If you enjoy the great outdoors, be sure you’re spending time walking, hiking, or camping.

3. Skip the nightclubs and bars.

Unless a bar is really where you want to find your soul mate, it’s probably not the best place to be looking for one.

People who spend time in bars and nightclubs aren’t typically looking for a soul mate.

Instead, they’re more likely interested in short-term relationships.

Commitment may not even be part of their vocabulary.

Bar patrons usually haven’t made a commitment to themselves regarding a relationship, let alone thought about someone to spend the rest of their life with!

While you may have the idea your soul mate will find you, it’s important to take action and start looking in the right places.

Sitting at home waiting for Prince Charming or Princess Lovely to knock on your door is not going to get you very far!

Know what you desire from a relationship first and foremost, then spend time getting active in your community doing the things you love to do.

After all, you just never know when that true love magically appears before your eyes!

What qualities are you looking for in a relationship?

What activities are you doing to help meet more people?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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February 13, 2019February 28, 2018

Talent wins games but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. – Michael Jordan

February 12, 2019February 28, 2018

Discovering the Hidden Secrets of the Law of Attraction

There’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard something about the Law of Attraction in the past few years.

For a while it was pretty big news and lots of people who wanted better lives jumped on the bandwagon.

While you’re not hearing as much about it in the media these days, the Law of Attraction still holds true.

Just what is the Law of Attraction, and how can it work to help you be happier and more successful?

The basic rule of the Law of Attraction is that like attracts like.

When you’re in a healthy, successful mindset, you’ll be healthier and more successful.

Positive thinking is a powerful tool as long as you use it correctly.

So how do you do it?

Here are some ways you can use the Law of Attraction to make your life more fulfilling and achieve your goals:

1. Visualize what you desire.

You need to have a clear idea of what you want out of life, not just a general or vague picture.

By envisioning every detail of your desire, you’ll eventually receive it!

Know exactly what your goal is and outline the path for getting there.

Then track your progress. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference this makes!

2. Allow yourself to succeed.

You may think this sounds silly. After all, you’re not the one holding yourself back – or are you?

Many of us keep ourselves from the success we hope for, whether it’s because we feel like we don’t deserve it or we’re just not paying attention.

Take a look at your life and ask yourself if you have behavior patterns or attitudes that keep you from taking advantage of opportunities that can help you succeed.

Recognizing and being aware of these self-sabotaging attitudes is a big step toward change.

Do you consistently do something that sets you back every time you’re on the verge of achieving a goal?

Forming a mindset that will allow you to be a success can make a huge difference.

3. Have focus.

It’s easy to have many desires at once.

For your best results, work on one or two things at a time and give them your full attention.

Without the ability to focus your energy and thoughts on your goal, the chances of failure and distraction go up.

So if you find yourself pursuing multiple goals but never get near any of them, it’s time to focus.

The Law of Attraction tells us that in order to achieve, we have to be in a clear, focused mindset, with a strong picture of a single goal.

Once you’ve focused on a single goal and achieved it, you can turn your focus to your next goal.

This way, one by one, you are realizing success.

4. Be willing to receive the bounty the universe offers you.

The world is constantly giving you chances to make things better.

If you maintain the right mindset, stay focused, and know what you want and how to get there, you’ll reap the benefits of those opportunities.

5. Every day there are opportunities that could lift you out of the rut and put you on the road to a better tomorrow.

You just have to be willing to take advantage of them.

The Law of Attraction principles have helped many people change their lives for the better.

Keeping a positive mindset and taking action to accomplish your goals will help you achieve the life you’ve always dreamed of.

How often do your surround yourself with positive people?

How can this help you focus more on achieving your goals?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

February 12, 2019February 28, 2018

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. – Beverly Sills

February 11, 2019February 28, 2018

Posts

Getting Started with Yoga

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it. – Jean De La Bruyere

Get More Out of Life: Five Tips to Focus on You

Five Ways to Make More Money Now

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. – Albert Einstein

Finding Your True Soul Mate

Talent wins games but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. – Michael Jordan

Discovering the Hidden Secrets of the Law of Attraction

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. – Beverly Sills

Within your heart, keep one secret spot where dreams may go. – Louise Driscoll