Yoga Instructor, Coach, and Lifestyle guru Hope Knosher
Journal
Choose Your Own Adventure...
All Journal Entries
Once upon a time, humans needed the energy generated by stress to survive. We were hunting, farming, or fighting the elements. The body’s stress response would switch to “on” and provide a spike of “fight or flight” cortisol and adrenaline to complete the task at hand.
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Taking care of ourselves and maintaining our health has never been more critical, and moving our bodies can help. A recent survey by the American Psychological Association found that 42% of the U.S. adult population reported undesired weight gain due to COVID-19. The average increase in weight was 29 pounds! Make Moving A Priority As we re-enter …
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As the New Year begins, you may be thinking about how this year will be different. You may set goals and make plans for change. This is also a good time to practice mindfulness. Taking time to get present can help us in knowing where we want to go and how best to get there. …
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When was the last time you really took the time to listen to your body? Not just when you’re feeling pain from a headache or an injury. Just noticing how your body is feeling in this moment right now. What about noticing how your body is feeling during an extended rush hour drive, before a …
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The sunrise was glowing as we drove across the bridge onto Hilton Head Island. As we crossed over, we could see both sides of the island. On one side, it was a fiery red and orange as the sunset rested behind the landscape. On the other, it was beautiful shades of pastel that I had …
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Your nervous system guides almost everything you feel, think, do, and say. Your nervous system controls complicated processes like thought, movement, and memory. It is also essential in things your body does without thinking, like breathing, blushing, and blinking. Balance your nervous system and increase your health and wellbeing and the functioning of your body …
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Understanding Stress & The Vagus Nerve Emotional and Physical wellbeing are intimately linked. If we are in chronic pain, it can be hard to be joyful, happy, and interested in connecting with others. Conversely, if we are well-rested, well-fed, and in good physical shape, we feel good and want to be socially active. It …
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If you are new to yoga and you’re concerned about learning in a group setting, try these ten yoga poses for beginners to get started on your own! Once you build your confidence and experience you can begin to try out a group setting. Developing a home practice is important. It’s helpful to keep a …
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10 Practices To Cultivate Hope We are entering a space between stories. A space where it is important to practice cultivating hope. Something hurts in there. Can you feel it? We are one earth, one tribe, one people, and we are all in this together. We all go through times in life that challenge …
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4 Practices To Create Calm During The Coronavirus Pandemic We are being forced to hit the “pause” button as the unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic is unfolding. The situation is inconvenient, and it is scary. Uncertainty about finances and health is causing stress levels to rise. In the long run, the unknown can take a toll on …
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As the world’s scientists and leaders work to contain this new Coronavirus strain, develop a vaccine, and discover other treatments and measures, the Coronavirus outbreak is likely to continue to spread. There is a lot that is unknown at this point. More people are feeling unsafe and experiencing a heightened stress level. As a health …
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Yoga is about being present in the moment and being part of all that is. Being in nature helps us to make that connection. The benefits of practicing yoga outdoors are many. Whether in the mountains, at the beach, or even your backyard, the benefits of practicing yoga outdoors include bringing new elements and …
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Let’s face it ~ we all fall off the mat from time to time and we need to revive our yoga practice. Maybe a break occurs due to travel, sickness, holidays, injury, a disruption in our usual routine, or just the busyness of life. We step off our mat and have a hard time getting …
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As the New Year and New Decade begin, you may be thinking about how this year will be different. You may set resolutions and make plans for change. This is also a good time to practice mindfulness. Taking time to get present can help us in knowing where we want to go and how best …
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As a yoga teacher and wellness coach, I hear about balance issues quite frequently, especially in those who are over 50. It is essential as we age to stay active. In my own journey I learned that the emphasis of a health and wellness program begins to change as we get older.
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I just finished this video testimonial from the last Awakening Hope Retreat! Listening to Yolanda talk about her experience brought tears and a deep knowing of why I created this journey. I didn’t know until Yolanda and I sat down to film her journey in her words that she had never been hiking before – ever!
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In my last journal post (link to post), we covered how to cultivate positivity and gain more resilience in our lives. Now let us turn our attention on how to counteract negativity. We know that we cannot entirely escape negativity in our lives. We also know from the research that “faking it” is just as bad (if not worse) than negativity. So what can we do to counteract negativity?
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It is no secret that people who are more positive are also more resilient – they can “bounce back” more quickly when bad things do happen. But there are proven ways you can take action to cultivate positivity and counter a downward spiral? The answer is “Yes!”,according to Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D. and, author of the book Positivity.
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I was awakened in the early spring of 2009 by a sharp pain in my right breast. As I shifted around trying to relieve the pain, I had a piercing thought seemingly out of nowhere: “could this be breast cancer”?
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Yoga is a science that has been around for thousands of years. It consists of observations and principles about the mind and body connection. The science of yoga is now being proven through modern scientific study. Research is being conducted by many healthcare providers, including MD Anderson, to look at the health benefits of yoga for those dealing with cancer.
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