Hi Reader,

​
Have you ever seen the film “Defending Your Life”?

It’s an old 90’s film by comic Albert Brooks and it’s something of a cult classic.

​
​I watch it every single year.

​
Let me explain -

​
Yesterday was the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Unlike what we usually might envision when it comes to holidays, Yom Kippur is a solemn and spiritual day. It’s meant to be a day of reflection and meditation, a day to reflect on the past year and to determine the kind of person that you want to be in the year to come.

​
I am Jewish and although not religious, I am spiritual and I do keep Jewish cultural traditions. I always observe Yom Kippur and I do fast all day, as is traditional (however I do it Intermittent Fasting style - with water and a little black coffee!).

​
I consider Yom Kippur to be a beautiful opportunity to reflect on my life and intentions. And - I watch “Defending Your Life” every year!

​
Why do I watch this somewhat cheesy and yet endearing movie (and it was already looking dated when I was first introduced to it as a teenager 😂) every year?

​
​Because it’s incredibly profound.

“Defending Your Life” tells the story of Daniel, a middle-aged man who dies unexpectedly.

He is immediately sent to “Judgement City”, a lovely waiting space where humans enjoy all-you-can-eat buffets and Disney-style attractions as they await the trial that will determine whether they will ascend to a higher realm - or be returned to Earth for reincarnation.

Even their trials are entertaining! There is a prosecuting lawyer and a defending lawyer - both angels - and they each show movie clips of “scenes” from the person’s life to make the argument as to whether they should ascend or return to Earth.

As Daniel’s defending angel tells him, “There is no hell. The whole purpose of this whole journey is to get smarter.”

I love this so much.

Another beautiful insight that the film shares is the importance of humans learning to overcome their fears and self-imposed limitations.

As Daniel’s angel tells him, “Fear is like a giant fog. It sits on your brain and blocks everything - real feelings, true happiness, real joy. They can't get through that fog. But you lift it and buddy, you're in for the ride of your life!"

So why does this film resonate with me so much?

Perhaps it is because I spent much of my 20’s struggling with anxiety and depression. I limited myself so very much during those years and it remains my biggest regret. Once I began to heal and overcome these feelings, I promised myself to never let fear and self-imposed limitations hold me back, ever again.

Does this mean that I don’t feel fear anymore?

Hell no!

I feel fear all the time.

I just don’t let it hold me back anymore!

My motto (stolen from a book that I’ve never read 😂) is - feel the fear and do it anyway!

Now of course there’s healthy fear, which can protect from making dangerous or questionable choices. But we usually know the difference as to whether we are stopping ourselves out of genuinely protecting our safety or whether it is choosing not to take a risk out of a fear of looking silly!

Anxiety and depression are very real and debilitating and can be a huge stopper from those suffering from it.

I am currently in the middle of writing a book that chronicles my journey out of anxiety and depression and how I did it using only holistic methods. (And this is not at all to diminish those who take medication for it, it just wasn’t my path!).

The waitlist for the book is here if you would like to be notified when it becomes available.

One key modality that I used was yoga, and not only the asanas (the physical poses)!

Yoga encompasses not only the poses but also also the meditation, the breathing techniques (Pranayama) and the philosophy as a whole.

In this video below, I demonstrate a lovely and ancient breathing technique called Nadi Shodhana, that is very effective at alleviating anxiety. Give it a try the next time you feel anxious or unsettled.

​

I hope that this technique serves you well! 💗

​
And - if you’re looking for your next movie to watch, consider giving “Defending Your Life” a try and let me know what you think! 😉

​
​

Wishing you good health and high vibes,

​
​

Amalia

P.S. - When you're ready, here's three ways that I can help you feel your best: 1) Reply to this email or click here to set up a free discovery call with me. We'll chat about your wellness goals and I'll tell you how I can help! 2) Grab my Gluten-Free Goodness guide! This is the guide that I wish I had had when I first started eating gluten-free 9 years ago. It’s full of my favorite gluten-free recipes, products, tips & hacks! You can grab it here ​ 3) Subscribe here to my YouTube channel and learn more about my favorite wellness tips and travel adventures. Don't see a video on the topic you're interested in? Reply to this email to request a specific topic for a future video! ​www.yogabyamalia.com​

​​