The Awakened Moon

Madison, 26 year old. Free spirited yogi and yoga teacher, but most importantly, lover of life and the universe.

[theawakenedmoon]

[theawakenedmoon]

It's a wet Sunday out there, perfect for staying in and being cozy. Perhaps also taking a moment to watch my latest video?

This year has been full of ups and downs for me, so I thought I would take a moment to share a mental health update. I've been focusing a lot on myself and have managed to find a few techniques that have helped me immensely. If you're struggling, I hope they can help you too. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

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A pranayama practice has many benefits, including helping you go deeper into meditation. My latest video is about Nadi Shodhana, or alternate nostril breathing. It is all about balance, and coming off the Autumnal Equinox seemed like a perfect to post this.

Check out the video for more benefits, step-by-step instruction, and a short practice to get you started. Namaste, my friends

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We are almost in full Fall mode. I've been spending my time clearing out my physical spaces, but we can also use a good cleaning ourselves.

There's a 20 minute yoga class up on my channel all about twisting. Like the trees losing their leaves to make space for new growth, twist it out to make space within yourself for new ideas, thoughts, and opportunities. Trust me, it works! Make the space and things will come.

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After conversations with dear friends, I'm always reminded how much I love books. They teach me about life, what it means to be a human, and the power of words. That's why today's new video is all about life changing books - ones that left me wondering, questioning, and embracing.

These are the books I always recommend to others. There's a good array of books, fiction and non-fiction, so be sure to check them out!

Hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day tomorrow!

[theawakenedmoon]

Virabhadrasana III, Warrior III Pose

Over this past weekend I gave a lot of thought about what it means to be a warrior. I went to a panel discussion with Cultivate Union, a local non-profit that aims to grow the impact of yoga and meditation on the community.

Virabhadrasana III, or Warrior III, is a pose I will always find difficult. And that's why I continue to practice it.

My new blog post breaks down one way of getting into Vira III, but I also talk about being a warrior - continuing on despite conflict and struggle.

"That is my life some days. I face internal conflict, but I get up, I roll out my mat, and do this thing called yoga. I have never regretted this path and I wouldn’t want it any other way."

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Time is Precious

I have never liked the feeling of being bored. And I’m not talking about when you’re sitting in a lecture or in class and don’t find the topic interesting. Or when you’re at a party or event and not having a good time. I mean those times when you’re sitting at home, have nothing to do, but also have no clue what to do. Nothing sounds interesting or exciting. Nothing can hold your attention. I’ve had this feeling a few times recently. I have Friday afternoons off and I usually have a short list of errands to run or chores to do around the house. But typically, I’m done earlier than I think and have a couple of hours until dinner. I love reading but sometimes I’m just not in the mood. And then there’s nothing on TV. So I end up mindlessly scrolling through social media and that’s not fulfilling. To me, time is precious. I put a lot of thought and value into where and with whom I spend my time. Especially when it comes to people and relationships, time is almost like a currency. We exchange our time with each other. We also exchange our energy. It’s […]

My new blog post is about time, its fragility, and how I'm trying to stop wasting it.

"To me, time is precious. I put a lot of thought and value into where and with whom I spend my time. Especially when it comes to people and relationships, time is almost like a currency. We exchange our time with each other."

Follow the link for more.

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As I mentioned in my blog post on Wednesday, I find knitting to be very meditative. I know it's August now, but Fall is just around the corner, the perfect time to rock some handmade knitwear.

In today's video I'm talking you through how I got into knitting, ways you can get started, and my current project from Wool and the Gang. There are so many amazing resources out there, whether you're an absolute beginner or a seasoned knitter. If you live in the area and want help, let me know and perhaps we can start a knitting circle!

Happy Sunday all :

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Alternative Methods of Meditation

Over the weekend I came across an article on MindBodyGreen about art being a great alternative to meditation. I haven’t been very open about it on here, but meditation is actually very difficult for me. Now that I know I have OCD and anxiety, I think that might be a contributing factor. I have tried visualization, mantras, pranayama, and more. No matter how hard I try, I still go down thought spirals. Sometimes I do find myself more relaxed after a 10, 15, 20 minute session, but the effects only last maybe another 10 minutes before the thoughts rush back in and take control. And truthfully, some of the techniques just don’t work at all. Visualization is extremely frustrating for me as I get caught up thinking about all the details of the river or the waterfall or the cars driving by that I’m asked to imagine. Some pranayama techniques are great, but some leave me feeling panicked or stressed, especially any ones that ask you to pause on empty after your exhale. I feel my body tense up and it revolts and takes a couple quick breaths before the next instructed inhale. Also, let’s face it, I can sit still […]

After reading a mindbodygreen article I posted on Facebook a few days ago about art as meditation, I've been thinking a lot about alternative methods of meditation. So of course I wrote a blog post about it and my personal struggles with meditation.

Ultimately, find what works for you. In my post I have a list of ideas to get you started. I hope it can help you find a technique to destress and slip into that meditative state we all wish for. Because I know I sure need it lately.

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Because of a change in schedule, Sundays are my new video upload day! Wednesdays will be for new blog posts.

For today's new video, I break down Urdhva Dhanurasana, one of my favorite backbends that opens the door to many others. It can be very difficult on the wrists, so I show you 3 variations that change the degree of flexion of your wrist. Hope you enjoy, and if you want any other tutorials on poses, please let me know!

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There's a new video up on my channel talking about something very near and dear to me - journaling. I have been doing it off and on almost my entire life. It has helped me get through some tough times, and has allowed me to learn more about myself after the fact.

This video is specifically about how and why I journal, plus I flip through a few of my old ones and maybe read a sentence or two (intriguing stuff!). Happy weekend and happy journaling!

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Hunger by Roxane Gay

I first found out about this book just over a month ago via Twitter. And immediately thereafter I discovered that Roxane Gay was going to be in Atlanta on her book tour later that same week. Unfortunately I couldn’t go because of my teaching schedule but I quickly ran out to the nearest bookstore and bought Hunger. I was already in the middle of reading It by Stephen King (and still am), but when I went to LA I decided to bring this book along for the ride. On the way there, I made it halfway through and decided to take a break for the rest of the flight so I could sit with it and the powerful quotes I had already read. The first quote that struck me, that I had to write down, was on page 13. This is what most girls are taught – that we should be slender and small. We should not take up space. We should be seen and not heard, and if we are seen, we should be pleasing to men, acceptable to society. And most women know this, that we are suppose to disappear, but it’s something that needs to be said loudly, […]

Every once in a while you read a book that resonates with you, that you want to read so quickly yet you don't want it to end. For me, that was Hunger by Roxane Gay.

I have a new blog post up about this book including some beautiful, powerful quotes. If you haven't heard of this book, check out for more information and then go pick it up yourself!

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It's time for another Tea Talk, featuring my dear friend Becca from Bexster's Blog! We sat down and chatted about crushes, including the story of our very first crush. Mine is a bit more embarrassing than hers!

Becca is awesome and one of the coolest chicks I know, so grab yourself a cup of tea (hot or iced!), watch, and be sure to check out her blog! I'm jetting off to LA tomorrow, but hoping to have some new content for you next week

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I have been amazed at my skin lately, something that I've always struggled with between sensitivities and allergies. But thanks to some amazing natural skincare products, I'm finally finding what works for me. Catch my newest video for my favorites that have been making a difference, including products from FIG+YARROW and Lush Cosmetics North America!

Happy weekend! And P.S. No new blog post next week because of July 4th, but stay tuned for a new video Friday!

[theawakenedmoon]

Always Looking for the Good

I have been a bit up and down lately. For various reasons, I’ve often been left feeling self-critical, nervous, stressed, angry at times, and just about everything in between. That said, I’ve also had some really happy moments over the past month. I stayed up late Friday hanging out with a friend and just chatting. I went out and did something new with someone new. I started reading a book that one of my oldest friends is reading too so we can talk about it. I had a couple delicious lunches with fellow yogis. And most importantly, I have danced all around my house, my neighborhood, in the car, and even in a couple of classes. I know in the past when I was in a bad mood, it was hard to get out of, especially back when I was a moody teenager. The best you could hope for was going to bed and waking up feeling better the next day. But as an adult, and a yogi, things have changed (I can still act like a moody teenager sometimes, but I’m not perfect). I don’t try to ignore my feelings, because that is a whole other issue, but I […]

Balance is a struggle for me and I admit to being a bit unbalanced lately. I let fear and doubt in get my way. I allowed them to control me, resulting in not being my authentic self. I've been all over the place.

But I'm changing my perspective, which is why today's blog post is about always looking for the good and not getting too caught up in the instances of life. Because this too shall pass.

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I am getting back in the groove with a new video today! I've been working on building my own arm strength in yoga so I thought I would share some of the drills and poses I've been doing.

Depending on your starting point, you can do this loop once, or as many times as you like. The video is two full rounds to get you started. Always modify as you need to, and if you want more arm strength building work, find me at one of my public classes!

Happy weekend!