Take a pause, pour yourself a cup of tea, light a candle and enjoy this rich issue of BRAVE BEAUTY. ​
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What does it mean to be BRAVE?
This Spring I had the honor of sharing a yoga, meditation and relaxation workshop within the Air Force just outside of Savannah, Georgia and wow, did I walk away with thoughts of bravery.  While there, I had the opportunity to speak with people about times when they felt they had to dig deep into bravery and I was inspired to bring that into a theme for end of Spring and to begin to take Brave steps in my life.  The definition of Brave is to face fear or pain, however, I feel the meaning of Brave goes way beyond.  We have all been in those spots in our life where we have to allow a voice of integrity and step into a role that isn't known, whether it be parenthood or loss or realizing you will not be a parent in the traditional sense, or a new promotion, career shift all together, or admitting to yourself or allowing yourself to see that it is a time to be brave within the new path that has been presented. Perhaps we could even say by speaking up for someone (maybe yourself) in new way that's truthful and taking time to listen more deeply or maybe just simply trying a new menu item at your fave restaurant.  I recently have been asking myself these questions more and more and am trying my best daily to make choices that honor my integrity, support my joy, and my unique voice and would love to hear your stories, if you would you'd like to share! So, my feelings on Brave for our current world... stepping into the unknown, much like surrender, and trusting that even if it's not celebrated, popular or receiving 100's of INSTAGRAM likes or even supported by your peers, that taking heartfelt action towards the support of your soul breathing life and thriving, a basic human right, is a way for blossoming the BRAVE BEAUTY in all of us.

In this issue Brave Beauty you will find fun inspirations for the last remaining days of Spring with recipe, yoga movement, essential oils that are just divine and a brave step for me in sharing some of my artwork, which I usually keep private...Introducing my new shop, Petal Feather featuring original art from my heART!  

Let's allow these last days of Spring to stretch our wings to boldly soar where we have not before!

~Inspiration is everywhere!  Look around, dance, connect with your senses, feel within, and spring  from Spring with richly nourished roots.
                                                       BRAVE BEAUTY

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Yes, that is a heart shaped leaf! Why, because, who doesn't love a heart shaped leaf, especially one that is edible!  What!?!  Yes, this little leaf is from the Violet plant and pops up in the Spring each year.  Why share a picture of a heart shaped and edible leaf?!? Well, even though we are in the tail end of Spring, Spring is still offering it's bounty of  intelligence and awakening that can bring many flowers into bloom and bring you that little burst of energy you may need to birth that new project or to even bravely open the doorway to a new one, Spring is still offering it's fragrant bouquet.  Green is also the color associated with the heart chakra and then as the energy vibrates at higher frequencies to the higher chakras, it's violet! The flowers of the violet plant can be cleaned and mixed into a fresh salad for sugared for decorating a cake and the leaves can be used for a tea that is rich in vitamin A and C.  Now that's one SUPER Spring Brave Beauty plant full of intelligence and inspiration.   

So, what is this Brave Beauty anyway? I'd like to introduce you to this little first issue of BISUE (bee-sue) , of a 5 part series that is part of my opening to a new pathway and I feel excitement fizzing in and around my body like butterfly kisses dancing across my cheeks and hope that you enjoy and find a seed or two in this Bisue issue "BRAVE BEAUTY" that will open a flower or two or hey, maybe even a full bouquet or just offer you a little lift as we spring from Spring to Summer.  ~In Joy, Jessica

This hydrating and detoxifying recipe from my beautiful friend, fellow yogini, register dietician, and BRAVE BEAUTY,  ​Julia Hollenberg, ​is a great way to nourish your body and soul. 

Detox Bowl with Sesame Miso Dressing

Bring on the internal Spring cleaning!  The digestive tract is one of the major organs that facilitates detoxification and elimination.  This dish supports detoxification and healthy digestive function in numerous ways.  First, it enhances your liver’s natural detoxification capacity; few foods pack the nutritional punch of kale and cabbage – they’re detox superstars.  Second,  it promotes healthy gut flora thanks to the probiotics in the miso and the high fiber content of the entire dish.  Finally, cooking the rice in bone broth provides an extra boost of protein with a high content of specific amino acids – glycine and proline – that serve to reinforce the lining of your gut.  Oh, and the flavors are simply out of this world.  The dressing is adapted from a recipe by Rebecca Katz- the goddess of combining flavors that make your taste buds sing.

Clarity: In clean glass spritz bottle, mix about 2TBS of Witch Hazel
10 drops of Clarity
and the rest water
Mix it and Spritz it!
Durado Azul:Mix 3 drops with a carrier oil or diffuse in room.Can be helpful for allergies, hormones, and respiratory system.
Joy: Place a few drops of an organic oil (coconut, grapeseed are two of my faves) in palm and about three drops of Joy rub palms in circular motion and them rub on center of chest.

* a note on essential oils.  Essential oils are highly concentrated so be sure to read every label, mindful of allergies, and if unsure, dilute dilute dilute.  If you are interested in these oils feel free to email me at jessicadmajka@icloud.com and I will be happy help you get your order in!

1. Malansana:  Squat with hips below knees.  Great for digestion.  
     Affirmation:  "I joyfully release that which no longer serves me and know that I am supported from    all the parts of the universe."
2. Warrior 3:  Both legs parallel, palms at the chest and breathe! Great for, legs, core and focus.
     Affirmation:  "I stand on my beautiful, strong, steady legs and can see clearly with soft focus. 

                                      Late Spring Class Schedule in NYC/NJ/GA:                                          
Mondays
                                                                        OPEN                                                                           
Tuesdays
1:00pm HBO
6:00pm Time Warner
Wednesdays:
5:30pm HBO
8:00 PM Manhattan Physio Group 
Thursdays, 1:00pm HBO
Fridays:
YogaWorks Upper Westside 
(Beginning June 30th)
6:15-7:15 Vinyasa 2 ( in candlelight)
7:30-8:30 Restorative (in candlelight)
​ 
*June 3, 2017 Airforce ASOS Savannah, Georgia 

Weekly Wish!!  

My feeling on surrender is...

Throw you heART in and the rest will follow. -Harry DeLeyer 
Heart + Purpose = Unimaginable. Un-Imagine-able LOVE, POTENTIAL and POSSIBILITIES. A LOVE and reverence so powerful, you are not able to imagine the potential.  Beyond the mind. 

Well now that’s a Monday folks!  Hope you enjoy this guided stress release and the rest of your week.

​
Till next time,
Jessica

  Beginning again is not always easy.  As a matter of fact, it can be quite gut wrenching, heart breaking, terrifying, and full of questions of worthiness.  I have been a dancer since the day I was born into this world and probably long before that.  It's my way of telling a story, of balancing the Earthly life, the Ethereal, and the    indescribable forces of Grace behind everything propelling us through life. So when I decided years ago to put that on hold you can imagine the pain that inflicted upon my soul.  Starting and stopping, starting and stopping out of fear of not being enough, fear of being enough, or even fear of being more than I could imagine, I stunted myself, my worthiness, and my abilities.  I questioned the very core of my being and began to starve from deep within.  As, this life is hopefully long and full, it was my time of realizing.  I studied yoga and meditation and channeled my soul into classes, teaching, sharing downloads of inspiration that would flood my soul for individuals, for groups, and for myself and then found the true meaning for me of the dance as a means of channeling, balancing the energetic forces within and surrounding while weaving the divine and the earthly, all one. Then just   as I started to dance again, a little over a year ago, my father and I were on a road trip and were rear ended on the highway by a tractor trailer truck. We were unbelievably "lucky" to walk away.  I in shock and worried about my father, wanted to make sure he was ok so we went to the hospital where he was checked out.  I totally forgot to place my air mask on first just focusing on him and not thinking to even begin to nurture myself, big learning time!!! We must put on our air masks first otherwise how are we to serve others to our fullest potential.  The process of healing and accepting all of the the gifts so far in life and even the ones that did not feel like gifts began  for myself and for my Father was ignited in a new way. Suddenly the body that had always felt so fluid began to contract deeper and deeper with my neck feeling stuck, base of skull constantly locking and popping and a pelvis that became more rigid by the day, I felt more stuck and more emotional than ever, my heart felt broken a s sense of deep despair, loneliness, confusion,  all mixed with a sense of gratitude for having an emotional experience of this nature. As the months passed by of trying everything to free up my body, I was, with the help of some amazing PT's (you know who you are) along with very light yoga and meditation able to release, reclaim and begin to relearn how to use these newly stuck yet unstuck parts of me.  We discovered that my tailbone, along with my sacrum, had been knocked out of place and was placing strain on the back of my skull, hips, legs you name it. For the first time, I was truly uncomfortable in my own skin, exhausted and irritated from constant pain and discomfort.  Months went by of sacrum adjustments, tailbone adjustments, and release work for my neck, yoga and meditation each day in some way and  I slowly began to trust my legs a bit more each day with only 2 random falls during the time of adjustments after all, I was  getting all new legs and a whole new alignment and was in some ways learning to walk all over again.    So Hum.....Today, I celebrate! It was yet again a super emotional day but I entered a studio to explore on my own, for myself, my new alignment for the first time since and am now learning just how important the ground is!  And while my practice is different than before, I feel like it's just the beginning of a new world of sensations, explorations and discoveries.    Even when things seem like you are yet again walking or even crawling to the starting line remember that showing up/beginning is the most important step. Showing up for yourself to acknowledge that you hear the voice within and that you are listening and to surrender any results.  By taking these moments to listen, to hear, to feel and to pacify your soul you are opening a doorway to richness and depth that is an experience that is given to you, unique you.  The experience belongs to you and cannot be taken away if you decide to continually show up for yourself and your experience.  Beauty.  
You are not expected to know where it will take you or even where you would like to end up and no one knows how to do this life thing,  just begin where you are,  trust the Earth to support you, trust yourself to show up with a Universe of curiosity.

Till next time, We got this.
 
xo,
​Jess

P.S.  a little clip from today's warm up.

  “A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?”
Unknown

I feel we could all use a little Owl medicine and inspiration. There is a time to listen and a time to speak, which is not the same as shouting, name calling from whatever side you are on. Stop picking sides, why do we have to pick sides? We are at the awakening tipping point  of our world and we must "FEEL IT TO HEAL IT" to unite in our similarities and let the rest take care of itself. When it is time to speak you will speak with such unwavering clarity and that sound will be felt & heard for generations and remembered as the voice that brought the response of love.

May we move fearlessly inward to listen and to reflect, so we may take actions outwardly toward our inspired purpose.
~jess

Today inspiration comes through from a blade of grass and Whitman.
I loafe and invite my soul,
I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.
-Whitman
The Wild Side,
​JDM

The day was made for you!  May we release the "need" to understand but preserve the desire harmonize. 
-JDM

Yes, that's right.  YOUR BRAIN ON PAUSE.  This whole download/write up began from and article my friend Nicole posted called, (link to article below);

Well OK!!!  Sounds interesting.  Let me have a go at this.  I read through the simply and beautifully written article and poof, an inspiration flooded through.  Now, we have all heard and have been told about the importance of a pause, a good night sleep and happy thoughts, BLAH,BLAH, BLAHDEE BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.  PAUSE...Insert sparkling winged fairies holding hands flying in a golden circle, leaping unicorns, vibrant rainbows, flipping dolphins and singing angels. Oh! Excuse me. Ok, back to being super serious now.  So, yogis, great teachers, sages, shamans, doctors, spiritual/religious leaders and many others often speak about the importance of a pause, a prayer, a meditation however you would phrase it for yourself and science is backing up this information with a simple explanation and scientific understanding of, what comes to my mind, the Gandhi quote, " Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny."  MMM, Love that one!! Anyhow, the article  makes the analogy of your brain being a garden and then goes on to explain that cells called, microglial cells are the pruners! The thoughts that we feed, grow and the thoughts that are less frequently fed,  get pruned. Yes!  They get the boot!!! What you are watering? So, lets work backwards Gandhi.  Your destiny comes from your values, your values come from your habits, your habits come from your actions, your actions come from you words, your words come from your thoughts, and your thoughts come from your beliefs.  Now that hit home.  If at the core, there is a feeling of not being worthy, not being enough, not having enough, one day I'll be good enough, I should be doing this or should be doing that, why me, she did this, he did that, whoa..then that is the foundation upon which we are building and actively creating our destiny.  Now, I prefer the destiny of JOY so, I PAUSED.....Realizing JOY is one part of a whole and sometimes we need more awareness around those stagnating, paralyzing, festering thoughts so we can take ACTION to create new HABITS to create a new and a clear VALUES system, to LIVE our destiny and the PAUSE is where that happens.  So putting this into practice is oh so important.  Even in writing this, i had to PAUSE and turn a thought around. " Who are you to write this?" "Does your voice really matter?"  ABSOLUTELY!!!  My voice comes from my experience and we all can become more conscious through sharing and living from our inspired experience.  Weed pulled!! The next time you find yourself in that quagmire of fear based thought, PAUSE...turn it around by asking yourself (borrowed from my friend Claire), "is it useful, is it truthful, is it necessary".  Does this thought support my values that create my destiny and make a choice to see with clear eyes, a soothed heart and pure intention and live from your inspired experience.

In ACTION:
Find somewhere today that soothes you, that allows you to PAUSE without the smartphone, without interruption, without talking, and listen for a few minutes to the sounds around you and within you!!!  1,2,3...minutes, ever how long you can dedicate today. If you would like you can even close your eyes!  Coming back, take a moment to jot down a value that you would like to create your destiny from and place it somewhere you go or look everyday!  Perhaps the back of your handy dandy smarty pants phone, that's where mine is,  and connect to it on a daily basis.

A TECHNIQUE to soothe, reconnect, balance, energize and find the PAUSE:

​I would love to hear what your experiences are with pausing or a way that you pause in your day.  Maybe you would even like to share a VALUE of yours in the comments!  We ALL have an important piece of this collective to offer and i look forward to your sharing your unique spark! 

Collectively Conscious,
Jess

When we first begin to learn it is through play and exploration that we develop and understand the world within us and around us.  They are not separate.  We see, touch, hear, taste and smell things that give us a new sensation and feeling in the body; they are connected to one another.  Seeing a smiling face as a baby we feel a sense of joy in the body and an association with the "good" feelings.  Falling while exploring how to walk and bumping our head, we make an association with discomfort, the "bad" feelings.  Yet we tirelessly continue to explore, play and express fearlessly without the out of tune vibration of worry distracting us, freezing us, or numbing us.  What if there was no good and what if there was no bad?  What if we placed as much energy to cultivating positive thoughts, JOY, PLAY and WISDOM from exploration as we do on obsessively needing to know everything, to be right about everything, to be perfect at everything and linear minded in all things?  Just what if we value creativity as equally as we value the linear process, what would we find?  Why do we think that being linear and serious is a sign of being grown up?   I hope to never grow up in that sense. I hope to always find JOY and FUN especially in learning.  If we know everything and how everything will turn out how boring and tasteless life would be as there is nothing else to learn or to explore or create!  Why do we not value play, creativity, and art in schools?  Why?  Is there not math in music or dance is there not science in moving your body or Newton's laws present in playing a game or history is painting your version of the Mona Lisa? I believe there is all of those things.  Even problem solving skills, communication skills, and the skill to understand that YES sometimes things are uncomfortable for a moment until when adjust to a new way of thinking, feeling, being and that you will be ok.  You will be ok. You are not wrong.  You are not going to explode and be thrown from the planet.  You are ok and have now developed a way to soothe yourself that is priceless and nurturing not only to yourself but to all of us.   Isn't it a blast when you have that special teacher that gets you on your feet to learn something or that creates a rhythmic jingle to remember the planets or even just takes you outside to teach the next lesson to hear the sounds that surround?  Learning without knowing just how deeply you really are learning.  Don't you remember those lessons and teachings most or a least have a moment occasionally where you were so grateful that the person valued another way?   Is it really less important to develop a creative outlet for oneself to reconnect to what they feel and express in a healthy way whatever that feeling is?  Whether your initial love was for movement, music, painting, digging in the dirt, kicking a ball around, reading a fantasy book or biography or just being with loved ones, take time to play and explore the lightness, the creative grounding that can occur when we allow all parts of ourselves to be of value and of service. It is priceless. It is your JOY.  Maybe today you will notice the play, the dance of the wind over skin, the shimmers of light that effortlessly make it through the trees and connect to the feeling of JOY all around you.  There are so many ways.

So the WEEKLY WISH!  May we equally value creative play, exploration and expression in all levels  and all stages of life.

Joyfully,
Jess

~special thanks to my awesome nephew and nieces for reminding me to play.  I hope you never stop!