FIG Bites

September 2026: Sanguine

Welcome to September!

This month's theme is "Sanguine" (yeah, I had to look it up too - hahaha).

Sanguine is one of those words you read in a book and maybe keep going or stop to look it up. The definition of Sanguine is: being cheerful, hopeful, or confident, especially in a bad or hard times.

Sometimes it can be a challenge to feel cheerful when things aren't going well in life. So those times are a good opportunity to stop and be curious - what is going well in your life? It's also a time to fully feel your feels - cry if you need to cry, journal or talk to someone if you need to get frustration or anger out of your system. Whatever you decide, it's better for your tissues and health to get your emotions out of your system and not bottle them up inside.

The Fall season is right around the corner. Take the time to enjoy the sunshine and feel whatever you need to feel, wherever you are <3

Healthy Habit

Something I added to my weekly routine over a year ago has been an eye wash. Not only did it replace the regular eye drops I was using (recommended by my eye doctor), but it made a difference in how my eyes felt.

During my last eye doctor appointment, my doctor commented that my eyes were looking much better and she didn't notice any redness. I told her it was the Ayurvedic eye wash I had been using.

Seasonal Support: Eye Wash

Once a week, on Sundays, I perform an eye wash ritual using Paavani's floral water for skin and eyes (you can use my coupon code FIG10 if you decide to try it out - eye wash ritual link or eye wash link).

How To Use An Eye Wash Cup*

Choose High-Quality Rose Water

Ensure you select a high-quality rose water product made from organic roses or make your own at home by soaking fresh rose petals in distilled water. Look for rose water WITHOUT any added chemicals or preservatives.

Cleanse Your Face

Before starting the eye wash, gently cleanse your face to remove any dirt or makeup residue. Use a mild cleanser suitable for your skin type and rinse thoroughly with water.

Prepare the Eye Wash Solution

Pour a small amount of rose water into a clean and sterilized eye cup. Make sure the eye cup is properly washed and dried to maintain hygiene.

Find a Comfortable Position

Sit or stand comfortably in a well-lit area. It’s best to perform this ritual in the morning or evening when you can relax and focus on self-care.

Begin the Eye Wash

Tilt your head slightly back, allowing your eyes to face upward. Gently place the eye cup against your eye socket, making sure it creates a seal to prevent leakage.

Blink and Rotate

With the eyecup in place, blink your eyes a few times to ensure the rose water covers the entire eye surface. Slowly rotate your eyeballs in all directions, allowing the rose water to cleanse and soothe your eyes.

Repeat for the Other Eye

After a minute or so (I count to 30), remove the eye cup and repeat the process for your other eye, following the same steps as before.

Rest and Enjoy
Once both eyes have been washed, keep your eyes closed and rest for a few minutes. This allows the rose water’s soothing properties to take effect and rejuvenate your tired eyes.

Benefits**

✔️ Gently rinses away dust, pollen & environmental irritants such as smokey air
✔️ Soothes dryness, redness, & seasonal discomfort
✔️ Refreshes tired eyes for greater clarity & comfort
✔️ Supports healthy vision & eye lubrication
✔️ Balances pitta dosha in the eyes to reduce heat & irritation

Sources:

*California College of Ayurveda

** Paavani Eye Wash Ritual product page

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Something cool I learned about years ago was the Happiness Equation. So many times I've seen people get disappointed about things in life because they had high expectations when they went into a new situation or before a vacation or before trying a new restaurant, et cetera, et cetera. So when I read about and saw this equation, it made sense to me.

Happiness Equation

Here's the Happiness Equation. In order to feel maximum happiness, reduce your expectations OR even better, be in the present moment and have absolutely NO expectations.

Happiness = Reality - Expectations

Regardless of whatever Reality you are faced with, remove your Expectations from the situation and see how things turn out for you.

Remove your Expectations and Be present in every moment.

Breathwork Technique: Savithri Pranayama

Measure and carve

Beautiful like a box

Confine the breath

Master the art of control

Savithri Pranayama (Rectangular Breathing) is a good breath to practice control on your key breathing parts - the ribs, the intercostal muscles (rib muscles), and the diaphragm - all three are important for maintaining our breathing capacity as we age.

I've been learning a lot about these key body parts and how important they are to our pelvic floor as I've been going through pelvic floor therapy to address discomfort I've been feeling if I run 5+ miles.

Everything is connected, so as we age it's good to keep all our parts moving and working well together AND pranayama is a great tool to have in your toolbox.

Here's a short video for How to Practice Savithri Pranayama >> (Rectangular Breathing)

Benefits of Rectangular Breath (similar to Square Breath benefits)

Lowers your heart rate and blood pressure
Reduces your cortisol levels
Tones your Vagus Nerve
Alleviates acute anxiety
Enhances your concentration
Improves your sleep quality

Cautions & Contraindications (you may not want to hold your breath if you have any of the following conditions)

Severe cardiovascular conditions
Pregnancy
History of seizures or epilepsy
Eye conditions such as glaucoma or a high risk of retinal detachment

Source: Mind Your Breathing by Sundar Balasubramanian PH.D, C-IAYT

Book of the Month!

I've heard A LOT about "The Four Agreements" and when I picked it up at the bookstore, the woman said, "This is a REALLY good book." My mind has been blown so far. Based on Toltec wisdom, it starts out with talking about how our perceptions have been shaped in life and we are blind to who we are and who others are. By practicing the Four Agreements, we return to our true selves. Let me know if you've read this book, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

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Join Me at my Upcoming Events!

Ayurveda 101 + Create Your Own Dinacharya Workshop @ The Portal: Saturday, October 10 at 1:30pm, $30. Sign-Up Here

Join our workshop to explore Ayurveda, featuring the history of doshas, gunas, daily routines, and self-awareness.

Discover your primary dosha and build a balanced morning and evening self-care routine.

Event Details & Topics

• History & Background: Learn the roots of this ancient healing system from India.

• The Three Doshas: Understand the qualities of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

• Gunas & The Ayurveda Clock: Explore natural forces and daily/seasonal time cycles.

• Dosha Self-Awareness: Find out your unique mind-body type.

• Self-Care Routines: Design easy morning and evening habits for better health.

Yin & Sound @ The Portal: Mondays at 7pm

We'll move through a gentle Yin practice, holding poses long enough to release deep layers of tension and give your body time to truly soften. After our slow movement, you'll be guided into a long, restful savasana with a sound bath. I've had students fall asleep during this portion of the class.

Reiki Healing Yin @ True North: Tuesdays at 7:30pm

This class weaves in breathwork, slow movement, and meditation. Reiki healing is a Japanese energy healing found in alternative medicine. Crystal Moore leads this class and I provide hands-on Reiki healing assistance, that encourages one's natural healing through the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual body.

See you next month!

Angela