Introduction

  Welcome to my blog!  Maybe some of you are visiting this site because you know me and are familiar with who I am and what I am about.  While others might be visiting the sight because the idea of Slow and Flow is intriguing to you and you want to find out more. Whatever the case may be I am thrilled and honored to have you. My name is Marnie and I have created Slow and Flow as a means of exploring and teaching the art and science of slowing down and flowing with the currents of life.  As a yoga instructor, licensed Acupuncturist, soon to be certified yoga therapist, and recovering stress junkie I have learned a thing or two about the effects that an overly hectic stressed out life-style can have on a person.  I have also learned a thing or two about how to replace that stress with peace,  love, and contentment.

   Sounds pretty awesome right? Well the one thing I know for sure is that those are just pretty sounding words until you are the one to have actual personal experiences with peace, with love, and with contentment.  Without personal experience, you will never know what the truth of these words really means.  Without actual experience, it is only a story line lived out by other people.  My goal is to share with you all I know and continue to learn about slowing down and finding the flow in life.  This means moving beyond the storyline and into the experience.

   It is my belief that stress is the root cause of most dis-ease, illness, and overall discontent in the world. We have all this technology but where is the happiness?  There are so many ways to stay connected but what has happened to authentic connections?  We have all kinds of gadgets to "make life easier" but where is the ease?  True happiness, connection, and ease can never be attained from the outside world but can only be cultivated from within. Here's the kicker, in order for that to happen one needs to slow down, be quiet, and experience stillness.  Ultimately this is a major part of the journey that will lead to getting to know your Highest Self.

    So what is Slow and Flow and what does it mean to you?  Slow and Flow is balance. It is yin and yang. It is learning to find balance in all things. Maybe you are like many people who only have two speeds, high- gear and off.   Don't worry, if you don't want to slow down or don't know how to slow down life has a way of doing that for you.  An injury, illness, accident, or breakdown are really just the bodies ways of coming back to balance.  Sounds crazy, but those are ways of self regulating.  Both slowness and activity, or flow, are needed for balance in life.  Creating balance in your life can either be a conscious effort or be left to consequence. Maybe you like the adventures of being tossed around by the rough currents of an undirected life. Or maybe you choose another way. Either way the choice is yours. I once went white water rafting and they told us if we got thrown out of the boat to throw or feet out in front of us, sit back, keep your head above water,  relax in the life jacket and go with the flow of the river. Once past the rapids we got to jump out of the boat and do exactly that in calmer waters.  Either in calm or rough waters the action was the same.  It was a great experience.  In the calm or rough waters of life, being in balance means that you have learned to sit back, throw your feet up, keep your head above water and relax in the life jacket that has been cultivated by making a choice of investing in you- how you eat, your daily practices, and attitude.

    I intend to use this blog as a means of going into more detail of how to slow down, why to slow down, what happens to us when we do slow down, what happens to us when we get stuck, and how to get your life, health, body, spirit and mind back into it's natural flow.  Restorative, yin and slow flow yoga forms are where I am going to start.  Over the next few weeks I will go into greater detail about each of these forms and how they can benefit you.  From there I will also expand into other aspects of yoga including, but not limited to, the eight limbs of yoga, the Spiritual Science of Yoga, foundations, methods and techniques, diet, and  really all things yoga.  Add some Traditional Chinese Medicine wisdom, a handful of recipes, plenty of photos, a hint of humor and voila there's my blog. Welcome and enjoy!