How to Get High

Thankfully, somewhere along the way, I've learned the true meaning of "high."  As cliche and cheesy as it might sound, it's true:  the natural high is, by far, the best high.

So how does one get this so-called "natural high"?  What is it?

One of the definitions on Urban Dictionary reads:  "Something that getz u really happy or feel like ur high without using drugz."

I personally like the phrase: Blissed Out.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, or it's just been a long, long time since you've felt this way, chances are you've been going about things the wrong way just a tad.

Let me help.  Here's what works for me:

Secrets to a Natural High
by Katie Rogers  

Source

1.  Eat well.  I consume smoothies and salads almost daily.  In fact, I'd say that, when I'm donig my best, my diet is about 75% raw, organic, fresh food (some days way less, and some days, I eat all raw!)

YUM! (source with recipe)

The rest of my diet mostly consists of "whole" or "real" food.   Basically, I stay away from meat entirely and processed stuff that passes for food.  Bottom line: when I'm eating extra-well, it sends me soaring!  I've also been taking some B vitamins, iodine drops (for a healthy thyroid), and adding spirulina and chia seeds to my smoothies lately -- definitely extra zing!

Source

2.  Exercise.  If you're not getting the oxygen flowing through your blood, it's going to be difficult to get high.  My personal favorite high-inducer:  YOGA!!!!!  Yoga, yoga, and more yoga.  Seriously, this is where I shoot out the roof! (Not always during the class, I admit -- sometimes!-- but afterwards, YES!)

Source

I'm obsessed.  It's absolutely a mind, body, spirit exercise.  If you've done yoga and didn't like it, try, try again until you've found the right teacher for you.  If you are a beginner, I recommend you go to a beginner's class, as you'll get the foundational elements to last you a lifetime.   If ever I'm resistant to going (which is rare these days, because who doesn't want to feel high?), I have a mantra:  "It's always a good idea to go to yoga."

Besides yoga, a good, long bike ride, a nice invigorating swim, the occasional jog, and a great hike are my other favorite ways to get the O2.  Options for exercise are endless:  find one or two you like, and do it as much as possible.

3.  Get enough sleep.  Finally!  I saw the Dalai Lama in 2005 and then I saw him again in May 2013.  Both times, he sang the praises of sleep as a key to happiness.  I'm finally taking this seriously.

Sleeping Beauty (source)

To promote the best sleep possible, my bedroom is feng shui'd with very little electronics (i.e. just my lights!).  I have a headboard for support.  There is nothing under my bed.  And I try my best not to get on the computer (or look at any sort of screen for that matter) past 8:30 or 9, as it's harder to fall asleep that way.  And I go to bed early!  Also, I've been taking more breaks -- naps are great -- throughout the day.

4.  Get outside.  I call nature the Great Healer.  Seriously.  Humans are designed to be in very tight relationship with nature.  I believe that trees and rivers and oceans are literally healing us as we "commune" with them.  Horticulture and pet therapy are VERY real things!

exercise, nature, time with friends and daughter = awesome

5.  Living MY Life.   I'm doing feng shui and I'm making a movie and I'm a mom to the best little girl in the whole world.

I love my job -- a client's floor plan + bagua 

In other words, I'm living my life's passions.  I have found my dream careers, and I am doing them!

CarLess in LA, the movie!  

And I tell my daughter I love her at least 15 times a day.  (I sort of made a vow to myself when she was born that I would do this.)  Reiki, art, writing, and trees are all part of my career path too, and it all ties together, but right now, I'm fully editing my film, and my feng shui career is flourishing...and so much fun.  And no, my life is not picture-perfect -- whose is?! -- but it's uniquely and beautifully mine.

6.  Fun, rest, & play.  I admire flowers on walks.  I go to the movies.  I pet the neighbor's dog.  I love my friends so I make time to hang out with them.  I spend as much quality time with my daughter as possible (key word being "quality").  I take the day off, and I take vacations.  I have a drink or two now or then.  I have my cake and eat it too, if I want it.  I laugh.  Look, if we didn't find pleasure in things, what would be the point of all the other stuff we do in life anyway?  HAVE FUN!  Chill out.  Right?

Not photoshopped one bit -- gorgeous, right?!

Now for the definite buzz kills:
1.  Hanging out with the wrong crowd.  (You really can get new friends.)
2.  Ignoring your soul's callings.  (You are alive on this planet for a reason -- find out what it is and do it.  We will thank you for it.)
3.  Being judgmental or worrying about being judged.  (So middle school.)
4. Caffeine.  (You're just going to crash and want #5 or a sleeping pill at night.)
5. Alcohol.  (You're just going to want caffeine, bad food, and Advil in the morning.)
6.  Sugar.  (Really is a drug.)
7.  Meat.  (Takes a lot of energy to digest, and that energy could be going to other things.  Plus, poor Wilbur.)
8.  Too much dairy.  (Slows us down.)
9.  Hating your life.  (If this last one applies to you, take the day off, make a vow to be really honest with yourself as you assess your life, and make the decision to move in a new direction.  Because hate is strong word and nobody's going to change your life for you, except for you.  Be bold!  Be courageous! Say some prayers, and make the leap.  Trust me -- many, many of us have been there too --- face the fear and see what happens.)

The point is:  we can use our own energy to fuel ourselves.  With the right mix of the good stuff, we can all be as high and happy as the Dalai Lama himself.  Okay, maybe not all the time, maybe not every day, BUT don't you WANT to feel good -- like, really, truly good?  (Just don't try too hard to get high-- that's a buzz kill too.)

a new painting I did for fun

After all, the only HAPPILY ever after is the one you're going to give to yourself.

No peer pressure though.

I Heart Yoga

This beautiful video inspired me.  Entirely.  I adore this guy, and I love that he had the insight to document his process.

Then it inspired me to post a blog I wrote a year ago and never put up.  (I have a few of these that are waiting in the wings for the right time.)

Here it is:

I love yoga.  Yoga has saved my life (slight exaggeration, but only slight).  It’s my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balm.  It’s my community, my medicine, my thing-that-keeps-me-balanced.  In the past, when I’ve written gratitude lists, having access to good yoga definitely makes the top five.  If you have tried yoga, and you didn’t like it, try another teacher.  If you have never tried it, well, I guess you don’t know what you are missing out on.

 

Because I want to write about things that inspire me for The Sparklit, I must write about my friend, Heather “Radja” Duplex, who recently posted a video about being committed to yoga, mostly because, while what she said in the video was great, what had the most impact was how lovely and happy she seemed.  I haven’t seen Heather face to face in probably five years. 

Heather and I met in Los Angeles in 2002 through a mutual friend, an artist (hi Todd!), and the times I remember with Heather were full of laughter, girl talk, and a little bit of curiosity on my end.  After all, she was SO dedicated to yoga like nothing I’ve ever seen, and she cooked and ate things like kale and quinoa as if those foods were the most natural things to grab for in the grocery store, and she was a Reiki master, but really didn’t talk about that much.  At the time, I was still in the early years of being a yoga student (5 years in approximately, and I now know that is nothing), and I had recently taken my Reiki I training, and although I had been a vegetarian for a while, I had never made kale in my life. 

Heather and I would lose touch from time to time (I moved to Idaho, she was traveling a lot), but whenever we would see each other again, it was with joy and interest.  I watched as her life evolved beautifully – taking the yoga further and falling in love with Prem and eventually moving to Kauai (a favorite place of mine), and now Bali (where I am so wanting to go one day, soon please?).  She is truly an example of a person who walks her walk, talks her talk, and has followed her passion for yoga and her desire to live authentically to a place that few of us dare to tread. 

I was so happy to see the videos that she and Prem have posted for several reasons.  (Go to their website, www.ashtangaworld.com for those and more.)  First of all, I am excited for their dedication to yoga and to the yoga community.  Second, Heather looks gorgeous as usual, and I just have to say, I can guarantee this woman has never had botox!  (She would laugh heartily at that suggestion!) Her appearance is a result of clean living, my friends – dedication to yogic practice, including what she eats (and drinks).  That’s not to say she won’t have a piece of chocolate cake or a beer from time to time, but seriously, this woman keeps her system clean.  And it shows.  Look at her eyes!  Shimmery clear gorgeous.  A mermaid on land, I like to call her.  (I dare you to guess her age.)

So, if you are inclined to go to Bali, or take your yoga practice to new heights, these are the people to call.  I have never met Prem myself, but I trust Heather’s judgement.  Ha! And so should you. 

Looking forward to the next time our paths cross, Heather!  xoxo

Heather and Guruji back in the day

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I encourage y'all to do/try yoga.  It will better your life in every way!  If you are a beginner and you're nervous about not being flexible or falling down or anything, just chill out.  Stop with the excuses; you're only cheating yourself.  We were all beginners at some time.  Trust me, we have all looked and felt dumb, and I think it's probably part of the process of getting out of the ego!  Since yoga is so new to the West, I guarantee that many people in the class started as adults and know exactly where you are.  More than that, no one really cares what you look like.  Plus, you get as much benefit from being stiff as a board and MOVING than the gumby next to you.   Yoga has nothing to do about how "good" you are at it.  I know this is shocking to our Western brains, but it's true.  A good teacher will make you feel welcome in class.  Please try several teachers as there is a ton of variety in yoga and the teacher affects your experience entirely!  My first yoga was Kundalini.  I have since added Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Sivananda, among others to the mix. 

If you need names of teachers in Birmingham, AL; Los Angeles, CA; Sun Valley, ID, I have personal experience in all places, and I'd be happy to recommend!  (Austin, TX and NYC and Mobile too!)

Doreen Virtue claims that the ancient yogis infused prayers into the poses.  I believe it.  And after watching the video at the top of the page, don't you believe it too?  

BEST HOLIDAY GIFT:  Give someone a gift certificate to yoga!  

I found this floating around FaceBook.  This woman is 83 years old!!!