Monday, February 3, 2014

Speak it. Feel it. Believe it.


It seems simple enough...right?  I promise you it's worth a try. So I thought I would share a few of my favorite affirmations with the hope of inspiring you. Here goes:



3. I am beautiful.  
Yup! I said it.

4. The world is full of love and opportunity.

5. I am exactly where I am supposed to be.  
You are on the path. Nothing is a mistake.

6. Anything is possible for myself and my life.


Friday, November 1, 2013

Yoga for Cancer Survivors

As a yoga teacher and daughter of a cancer survivor, I collaborated with my mother to create a yoga class that could provide an accessible and uplifting experience for any stage of cancer; for those newly diagnosed, receiving treatment, or in remission. Available online so it is easily accessible to all, my Yoga for Cancer Survivors class is a healing combination of yoga postures, deep breathing, and meditation designed to support all stages of cancer coping and recovery. 

Here are some of the benefits of yoga for cancer survivors:

Yoga can strengthen the immune system by reducing stress.
Practicing yoga can ease the stress and strain associated with the struggle of cancer by inviting you to quiet your mind, release negative emotions, and find rest. Research has shown that deep breathing can significantly decrease stress by subconsciously tapping into the parasympathetic nervous system to help you relax. Reducing stress can strengthen your immune system to promote healing on the path of recovery. During the Yoga for Cancer Survivors class, participants will be guided through deep breathing exercises as they hold each yoga posture in order to achieve a state of deep relaxation.

Yoga can alleviate muscle soreness and strengthen bones.
The stress of cancer can cause musculoskeletal weakness, which contributes to overall soreness and pain. Practicing yoga postures helps gently restore strength and length to weak muscles while helping to increase bone density through weight bearing and balancing. Specifically, postures in this Yoga for Cancer Survivors class such as Spinal Balance and Cat/Cow Breathing serve to strengthen your innermost spinal muscles to help alleviate back pain. In addition, postures such as Half Moon Pose and Supported Back Bend help to lengthen tight spinal and frontal muscle groups to promote better posture and an increased sense of well-being.  

Yoga can help decrease nausea and pain.
Clinical research continues to show that yoga can help decrease nausea and help manage fatigue during and after cancer treatment. Deep breathing can decrease nausea by bringing more oxygen to your brain and shifting the focus away from the nausea and in into the conscious act of breathing. As you practice a yoga posture, you release natural endorphins and progressively relax your muscles, which can help you cope with nausea and discomfort.  

The goal of my Yoga for Cancer Survivors class is to provide an opportunity for all cancer survivors to feel a sense of power and strength. Once you learn the correct alignment of each posture, you can practice any posture in the series at any time based on your needs. Repeated yoga practice will yield the greatest benefits and catapult you into a space of peace, healing, and empowerment.

You can download or stream this class at  Proceeds from this class go to the American Cancer Society. 

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Homemade Pumpkin Face Mask

Treat yourself to a pumpkin facial this Fall! Every year I save the fresh pumpkin after carving our Jack O' Lantern and make myself this special treat. It's so fresh and fabulous! Whether it's fresh or canned pumpkin that you use, you will feel renewed as your skin soaks up all the many nutrients of this seasonal squash.

Pumpkins are full of vitamin C and vitamin E, as well as other antioxidants and minerals that will brighten and soften your skin. You can make this mask in no time at all. Here's how: 

• 1 cup of pureed and cooked or canned pumpkin
• 1/2 teaspoon of Coconut Oil
• 1 teaspoon milk or yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon honey

How to
1. Mix together ingredients in a bowl.  
2. Apply generously to clean face.
3. Leave on for 10-15 minutes while you rest and relax (avoid putting on eyes).
4. Remove with a warm washcloth.  

Now feel and enjoy your super soft and revitalized skin! Make it a tradition to repeat this every Fall if not more often. 

- Jackie Casal Mahrou

Thursday, November 15, 2012

12 Ways to Live a Healthier Life

Living a healthy life is very simple, inexpensive, and accessible. While you may have heard all 12 of these ways before, you may or may not be actually practicing them. Allow this list to serve as a call to action to carve time out of your day or week for your own health and wellness.

1. Breathe deep.  Try it right now.  Just inhale completely until you are full of breath. Pause. Now exhale all the way until you are empty of breath. Do that two more times. It is really simple, but challenging nonetheless, as our thoughts often interrupt the process of conscious breathing. Deep breathing calms your nervous system, reduces stress, and catapults you into a state of relaxation. Take at least three deep conscious breaths every day, and experience a sense of calm.

2. Be conscious of what you eat and drink, and why you are choosing it.   A little awareness goes a long way. Just be aware of what you put in your body every time you consume something and ask yourself, "Is this going to feed my body with nutrients?"  If your answer is "no," and you eat it anyway, then ask yourself why you choose to feed your body with anything less than the best.

3. Drink Water.  I promise you that you will feel better on the days that you drink water (at least 8 glasses) than on the days that you don't.  You will be more awake, more aware, less hungry, and more energized when you are hydrated. Try it!

4. Move Your Body. Whether it is walking, going to the gym, or practicing yoga, make time to move your body in a conscious way at least three times per week. Move your body with the intention of health instead of vanity. 

5. Meditate. Take at least five minutes per day to STOP what you are doing, and sit down on a chair, against a wall, or on a cushion to clear your mind. You do not need to be by the ocean or somewhere pretty to find calm. You can meditate anywhere. Set a timer if you need and just allow your mind be clear. Five minutes is hardly any time at all, and we have all wasted more time doing something less meaningful. Meditation will clear your mind, help you put things in perspective, decrease perceived stress, and improve focus.

6. Go outside. Take time to get to nature at least once per week whether it is in your backyard, at a park, or in the mountains. Look around you at the trees, rocks, plants, and grass, and stars, and take nature in.  Nature can invigorate your spirits and remind you of the beauty in the world.

7. Practice yoga and stretch. As we age we lose elasticity in our muscles. One of the best things we can do for our physical body is stretch.  At least once per week practice yoga or stretch at a local studio or gym, or download online yoga classes at (20 minute classes are free).

8. Read. Stimulate your mind as much as you can by taking time away from television or work to read a book. Reading can help you escape from your regular thought patterns and inspire you. Challenge yourself to read a book or magazine at least 2 times per week.

9. Pray. Connect with something bigger than yourself each day with gratitude, service and intention. This can take under a minute, or more if you feel devoted.

10. Give and receive touch.  Whether it is a hug, a massage, or a pat on the back, allow yourself to give and receive touch every day.  If your budget allows, schedule a massage every 1-3 months.

11. Think happy thoughts.  You might not fly from thinking happy thoughts, but you will eliminate the stress that negativity can cause. You do not have to be unrealistic in your thinking, but become aware of negative thoughts and words you might be accustomed to.  This can help you change your perspective, reduce stress, and connect to the joy in your own life.

12. Actually practice everything on this list. While you may have read or seen all the above ways to be healthy before, and even know them to be true, are you actually practicing them? Knowing and doing are two different things. Let go of any excuses or limiting beliefs around health like lack of time or money. I invite you to put forth the effort that it takes to add all of the above components to your day or week to create health and vitality in your life.

Feel free to add to this list or share your experience and challenges in the comments box below.

- By Jackie Casal Mahrou

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

What Are You Really Committed To?

Recently I attended a commitment seminar (Landmark Forum), and we were asked to make a list of what we are committed to in our lives. "Easy enough," I thought, so I wrote down things like, health, yoga, teaching, being a good wife, love, contentment, learning, saving money, and a few others.  

Next, we were asked to reflect upon our moment-to-moment and day-to-day actions to see how they corresponded with our declared commitments. Then came the wakeup call.  My day-to-day actions revealed that I was instead committed and addicted to being busy, working, watching reruns on tv, sipping on Starbucks and wine, spending money,  and lots of other things that did not exactly line up with my desires.

It takes a moment of authenticity and awareness to admit that we might be devoting our time and energy into actions that may not be in alignment with our intentions, and therefore chasing our own tails. Simply pausing to examine our day-to-day actions will reveal to us what we are really dedicated to in our lives, and allow us the awareness we need to redirect our life should we find any misalignments.  

I invite you to take a moment and reflect on your own life.  You can journal or meditate on the following questions:

1.  What are your desires, commitments, and intentions for yourself and your life?  

2.  What do you spend your time doing each day?  What are you devoting your energy to?

3.  Are your daily actions in service of your desires, commitments, and dreams, or are there areas of misalignment?

If your actions are in alignment with your commitments then celebrate.  If you find areas where you are misaligned then you can now begin the process of redirecting your life.  Having awareness of what you desire, and what you are directing your energy towards will catapult you into a space of growth and possibility.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Start Yoga Young - How Kids Can Benefit from Yoga







By - Jackie Casal Mahrou

Download a yoga class just for kids here!

YogaKids the highest quality kids yoga supplies and many other treasures

Learn to Love Hanumanasana

If there is one yoga posture that tests our patience, flexibility, and dedication, it is Hanumanasana, or the forward splits. Unless you are a dancer or gymnast, it can seem ridiculous to even attempt such a huge stretch that can take years to achieve, but therein lies the magic of the pose.  While I doubt Hanumanasana is anyone’s favorite pose, we cannot ignore the physical, mental, and spiritual power that this posture can evoke. 

The story behind the posture
No matter what our spiritual beliefs are, the stories derived from ancient Indian texts can inspire us as we journey through each posture. The posture, Hanumanasana, was named after Hanuman, a devotee of Rama, the king of India in the ancient Sanskrit text, the Ramayana. According to the story, a demon king abducted King Rama’s wife, Sita, and a huge battle began. During this battle, Hanuman was asked to help find Sita, and to find an herb that was needed to save King Rama’s brother who was wounded in battle.  Hanuman was asked to do the impossible, and he questioned whether he could accomplish this task.  The moment before his journey he remembered his own power and devotion, and was then able to take a gigantic leap across the Indian Ocean to rescue Sita.  When he learned of Rama’s brother being wounded, he took another giant leap from India to the Himalayas, and picked up an entire mountain that the sacred herb was growing on, and carried it over his head as he leaped back to India to save Rama’s brother. 

This story of courage and dedication can inspire us to stay committed as we practice this posture that resembles a giant leap. We might think such an opening is unachievable, but if we pause and connect to the power and devotion we have within ourselves, we can find the courage to try.  After all, the postures that are the most challenging are always the ones that yield the greatest rewards. 

Since Hanumanasana is an asymmetrical posture, it can be a tricky one to warm up to.  It requires not only an opening on the hamstring of your front leg, but also a lengthening on the quadriceps of your back leg.  The posture tests our will and patience, while accessing one of the tightest areas in our bodies, our groin and hips.  The beauty of Hanumanasana as with any pose, is that as we continuously practice, we become more flexible, patient, and devoted people. 

By- Jackie Casal Mahrou

This has also been posted on's blog.  If you are interested in taking a video or audio version of a  Hanumanasana Yoga Class visit here.