Apache Blessing

May the sun bring you new energy by day.
May the moon softly restore you by night.
May the rain wash away your worries.
May the breeze blow new strength into your being.
May you walk gently though the world and know
it's beauty all the days of your life.

Computer Twist

Twist Don’t Shout
Relieve back tension
Sit near the edge of your chair with your feet firmly planted on the floor.  Stretch up from the base of your spine to the top of your head as if a string is pulling you up and relax your shoulders.  Place one hand on the edge of your desk or the opposite knee and the other on the back of your chair.  As you lengthen the spine twist toward the hand on your chair.  Use your arms to leverage the rotation gently through your back.  Hold and breathe deeply, focusing on releasing tension in your back.  Repeat on the other side. Do this whenever you feel your back tighten or need a quick pick me up. 
The other benefits of twisting the trunk are it tones the liver, spleen, intestines, etc. facilitating their work of releasing toxins and processing nutrients.

Born from the Ashes

This past week I was with my husband’s family mourning the loss of their mother, wife, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend.  Wanda’s death broke our hearts wide open revealing emotions that are all too often buried under past grievances, or just the busy-ness of life. Love, tears, compassion, support, laughter, stories, old pictures, plans and promises for the future were shared in heartfelt conversations and embraces.  The sadness and loss stripped us of our guard and grudges long enough to remember that we are all connected, that we all belong somewhere in the web of this family and the web of humanity.  Like a phoenix, familial bonds were reborn from the ashes of her remains. 
This is the place where I want to live.  This place where love, compassion, unity, truth, acceptance, and laughter are the norm and judgment, suspicion, or disinterest are rare.
I don’t want to have to be reminded by a tragic event to live from this place of love and appreciation more of the time than not.  I know how tenuous my dwelling here is already with the constant barrage of insidious negativity in the forms of media, gossip, judgment, etc. Right now, I am clinging to the practice of listening carefully to my thoughts and words to purge them of unconstructive, negative critical thinking or expression.  So far this practice is keeping me busy, honest, and humble.  I am hoping, with practice, it will just become the norm.

Office Abs

Strengthen Abs At Your Desk- It's Easy

Straighten up.  Engage your core and lift one foot off the floor.  Make sure you are pulling your abs in.  That's all.

If this is easy enough, extend the leg out.  You can either hold, or bend and extend 5-10 times.  If you want more core work, lift both feet off the floor. 

The key is to keep your belly pulled in toward the spine.  When you are done, notice the feeling of being connected to your physical core.  

FYI: Sitting on one of those exercise balls at your desk really does work your core.  You don't have to use it all day, switch it up with your office chair.

Moment of Silence

Start with one minute at a time- then 5 minutes, then 15....

Do it right now.  Close your eyes, tune in to your breath and find silence.

In this moment of silence, you can return to yourself, find a space to regain positivity and revitalize your energy.

Inspired by Judith Orloff, M.D. from her book Positive Energy.

Balancing Act

This month in my yoga classes we are focusing on balance.  Balance in the body and balance in life.  Balance is not a static experience.  We don't just arrive at balance and hope to stay here.  Balance is an ever changing, fluctuating, fluid experience.  Being in balance can seem as precarious as being on the head of a pin ever teetering or more stable as having two feet firmly on the ground.  Maintaining balance in a yoga posture and in life requires being conscious of the constant feedback received through direct experience.  It requires concentration, paying attention to details and especially being connected to the core of our beings, physically and spiritually.

Physical balance originates and is maintained by utilizing the core muscles of the body.  A strong physical core and a strong connection to it allows our movements to have stability and integrity.  A reliable mental/emotional balance is sustained by a strong connection to our spiritual core.  Having a strong connection to our spiritual core allows our being in the world to have purpose and integrity.  

Experiment with the two exercises above- Strengthen Abs at Your Desk and the Moment of Silence- to help restore balance to your mind and body.

Let me know how it works. :)

Celebrating Wanda Lou

My mother in law, Wanda Lou Ewald, passed away yesterday unexpectedly. She was a friend to everyone, loved to laugh, was a wonderful cook, a "crafty old lady" and loved her husband dearly for 50 years. Here she is with our daughter Mimi who carries on her fun loving spirit, creativity, and sense of humor. 
Wanda will be deeply missed.

"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight." Kahlil Gibran