Yoga.Climb.Listen.Love

[ambernikel]

The moment right before you give in..

The moment right before you give in..

Just to remember the amazing rewards of pushing yourself.

It’s the moment when your legs are shaking, your core is screaming, sweat is stinging your eyes and you just can’t hang on any longer.  I don’t have a name for this, but it is the moment right before you give in.  The moment of pure focus and endurance when you have completely devoted yourself to this one task. This is the moment right…

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

Treat yo' Self! To lose weight. (Yes, I'm serious)

Treat yo’ Self! To lose weight. (Yes, I’m serious)

This is a post I recently wrote for our fitness group’s daily post.  Our fitness support group is fantastic, with daily posts, challenges, and information. Not to mention accountability and support! If you are wanting to make changes in your life and are interested in joining our group, reach out and contact me. I’m so glad I’ve gone down this road in my life. Treat Yo’ Self Saturday When…

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

A change for Summit Sutras

A change for Summit Sutras

After a long absence, and much thought, I have decided to restructure the concept of Summit Sutras from an outdoor yoga blog, to a health focused company fused with nature. This site will focus on healthy eating, work outs that fit your lifestyle, and of course, nature! I’m excited to see what this new phase brings and how it opens up opportunities for this site.

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

Next time...

Next time…

  View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

Yoga for the exhausted

http://wp.me/p4Nygv-1JEnergy is much like money, you must spend some to get a return. Yoga, exercise, meditation are all investments in energy and in your overall wellbeing. It requires effort, but then you reap rewards. If you're exhausted for any reason, be it work, family obligations, poor sleep, life stress, etc.... this soft restorative practice could benefit you.

And, I’m back…

I apologize for my long absence from blogging.  During the past 6 months I have lived in a haze of working long hours and rushing to get everything completed.

It’s been difficult transitioning into a new career. I’ve been in ‘survival mode’ and this has led me to its final endpoint: exhaustion and burnout.

Energy is much like money, you must spend some to get a return.  Yoga,…

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

Quick thoughts on Physician depression and suicide. Re: Why Do Doctors Commit Suicide?

400 doctors suicide every year. That's a little more than one doctor a day. Doctors are also TWICE as likely to suicide than non-physicians. In addition, new studies have shown that doctors with poor work-life balance and burnout have poorer patient outcomes. All fingers point towards an overhaul of the culture. Yet we continue to hide our feelings of inadequacy, we hold ourselves to an unattainable level, and then expect these things from the students/residents under us perpetuating the cycle. Posting this now, I still feel like I'm a bad doctor for saying these things (I'm not lazy, I swear. I work a whole bunch of hours more than most all careers and am studying in my spare time, just like everyone else). I know that the doctor guilt I feel for talking about these issues won't go away anytime soon, but I accept it and I'm posting this anyway. Why? Because I truly believe that we need to talk about it and that the current medical culture is not healthy for doctors or the patients they serve. There, I said it.

I read a blog post this weekend: Why Do Doctors Commit Suicide?  Anytime I see another physician talking about physician depression and suicide I have mixed feelings. I am sad to see this situation effecting so many others.  However, talking about it also brings us one step closer to finding a real solution for a positive culture that allows great physicians to flourish and best serve their…

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

Yoga and Depression

Yoga and Depression What role can yoga play for people dealing with suffering and even depression? Check out my blog to learn more and for some simple poses that can release stress and ease stored tension.

The recent news of Robin Williams death has hit us many of us hard. Most of my lifetime favorite movies showcased his brilliance and I’m sad that we lost his talent. In particular though, I feel a deep sorrow that it was depression that took him away from us too soon.  I don’t know his exact level of suffering, but it was obviously great.

As a mental health professional I feel a punch to the gut,…

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

Meditation Minute: Flexibility Meditation

This meditation is not about being able to touch your toes or do the splits. It is about being flexible in other areas of your life.  If you ever find that you get upset when your day doesn’t go as planned or if something unexpected arises, this meditation may benefit you.

In honor of starting a new career this week, I am implementing this meditation back into my daily life.

I wrote this…

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

Epic Road Trip 2014: Yosemite National Park

Epic Road Trip 2014: Yosemite National Park.

“We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us.” ― John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra

At some point, often when you are young, you may experience nature in a way that moves you and fills you with pure joy and comfort.  This moment revisits throughout your life and will bring a sense of home.

For many people…

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

The Epic Road Trip of 2014: So it begins.

The trip has begun! Join us as we travel on our road trip from California to Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. This first post outlines our plans and intentions.

In the midst of a move and career switch, my boyfriend and I decided to use this change as an opportunity to take a road trip.

Here’s the road trip plan:

Start: Southern California.  We will be leaving our beautiful beach bungalow in Solana Beach to move north.

→ Yosemite National Park → Tahoe, CA & Reno, NV → Bend, OR → City of Rocks, Idaho → Yellowstone National Park. → Bozeman, Montana →…

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

A Moment For Yourself Challenge

Join me in a challenge to do one thing to nurture yourself each day of May. Then share with hashtag #amomentforyourself. May is National Mental Health Awareness month and the perfect time to take nurture ourselves and better the world around us.

In honor of National Mental Health Awareness month, I offer a challenge to do one thing for yourself once a day during the month of May.  Share your progress on your favorite social media with the hashtags #amomentforyourself.

It’s easy!  These are not grand gestures, expensive, or time-consuming.

1) What is something you enjoy or need? Maybe you just need to take a breath and check in with…

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

Saturday Short: 3 Simple Ways to Be Present.

Check in by putting down the phone

I have a challenge to myself and anyone else willing to accept.

How many times do you check out of your surroundings by looking at your phone?  Take a moment to notice when you jump on your phone while walking/driving.  Even if you don’t make any changes, at least make a point of noticing.

Are you on your phone when you are walking in and out of buildings to your transportation, sitting at a red…

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

Why I teach yoga.

Why Yoga?

I first felt drawn to yoga because I wanted to increase my flexibility and reach my hands below my shins.  Never truly believing that even I, the least flexible person on the planet, could touch my toes, I tried anyway.  It took about two weeks until I suddenly had a breakthrough and I could touch my toes.  I began to notice many other benefits I never imagined.  After awhile, my chronic back and…

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

A Sunday Snippet: What is your life story?

A Sunday Snippet: Our life sotry

Every person has a life story.  The tale of where we were and where we went. The things we did, the people we knew, and the adventures we had.

Some are legends and remembered forever in history, others faded from existence with little longterm impact.  From kings whose lives ended with festivals and ornate decorations, to the homeless people whose bodies overfill the morgue with no place to…

View On WordPress

[ambernikel]

awaiting change It set out to be a sonnet, but it happened like this instead.

View Post

[ambernikel]

Age, Weight & Motivation: #5 Deciding to Change.

View Post

[ambernikel]

Age, Weight & Motivation: #5 Deciding to Change.

View Post