|
|
|
|
Posts Tagged ‘stress mgmt and yoga’
Sunday, October 18th, 2009
In the adult world, play is often frowned down upon — it is expected that we grow up, get a job and be serious. But most adults are just kids trapped in a big bodies wishing they could go out and play. Isn’t that why we all countdown the days to our yearly vacations? And who hasn’t had the Sunday night blues, while thinking about the upcoming workweek? Perhaps the epidemic of depression amongst adults is due to lack of fun and play. So much joy is felt when you become present to the moment and lose yourself in play. You become ageless, fearless and childlike. 
So in the Spirit of Play, I set up a playdate for myself. I attended a beginners Acroyoga workshop. What is Acroyoga?! It is a unique practice that blends the spiritual wisdom of Yoga, the loving kindness of Thai Massage and the dynamic power of Acrobatics. The combination of these elements cultivate trust, connection and playfulness. And it was sooooo much fun. Mind you, I do practice yoga on a weekly basis, but never have I done gymnastics, acrobatics or “flown”.
The instructor, Arianne, assured us we would be safe and have a blast. I was game. The class started out with some trust exercises, where the group of 20 of us had to close our eyes and run around the room guided by partners, who we had just met 5 minutes prior. Then we did some partner stretching to warm up. Then onto the lifting each other into the air, balancing on our partners feet and backs, flying and tumbling, and ending the class with well-earned Thai massage. The 3 hour workshop flew by — time does fly when you are having fun! I felt like a kid again.
Tags: acroyoga, fun, Play, stress management, stress mgmt and yoga
Posted in Happiness & Play, Health, Fitness & Yoga | 3 Comments »
Thursday, April 30th, 2009
Owww!!! S&%T! Were the words that came out of my mouth when my back went out on Monday, on top of that I was already sick with flu symptoms (thankfully not the swine). So I had a Do NOTHING Day on Monday. While it wasn’t by choice, it was desperately needed. My body was taking over since my mind has been in overdrive lately. Thank God the kids were at school.
I must say at first I felt guilty. How sad is that? Feeling guilty for being sick. My mind raced over all the things I wasn’t going to get done. You know how miserable being unproductive can feel.
But I realized self-flogging wasn’t really helping the situation, so I stopped. Just like that. Cold turkey. Gave up the beatings, the guilt and surrendered. Being a recovering control freak, that was hard to do. Bottomline: fighting the sickness took more energy than just being sick. And giving in just felt gooooood. In fact, it felt delicious. So I relished my sickness-imposed laziness and went limp to the world.
On Tuesday, I had boundless energy, at least it felt that way in comparison to Monday. And I hit the ground running, accomplished a ton, and felt revitalized.
I realized the value of doing nothing. It gave me that much needed fresh perspective and time out from this frenzied world. So I got proactive and went ahead and scheduled a Do NOTHING Day for next month.
What will I do? Nothing. Or maybe just whatever I FEEL like doing that day, not what I HAVE to do. Can’t wait! How about you? When was the last time you did nothing?
Tags: stress mgmt and yoga
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, November 24th, 2008
This is a post of mine from last year that is just too good to not share again. Just in time for Thanksgiving...
I love games – board games, car trip games, guessing games… I recently learned a new game from an amazing life coach and my colleague, Martha Beck. This is a version of BINGO just in time for the holidays.
INDICATIONS: For relief of boredom, frustration, cringing, revulsion, childhood regression, and surges of violence due to holiday celebration.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Before any gathering you dread attending, repare your Bingo card (make a 5 X 5 grid on a piece of paper, the table feature in Word works well and block out the middle square as a FREE SPACE). Get at least one other player to create his/her own Bingo card, to provide competition.
- Begin by listing 24 dysfunctional events that are likely to happen at the gathering of your choice (for example, “Mom begs Morris to stop gambling,” “Jim gets drunk,” “Little Bobby Sue sets a fire,” etc.).
- Write one event into each of the blank squares on the Bingo card.
- Take your Bingo card to the gathering. When the specified event actually occurs, mark off the corresponding square on your card.
- When you have marked off one entire line of five squares, horizontal, diagonal, or vertical (the middle square is a freebie), sneak away from the dysfunctional gathering, call your competitor(s), and whisper “BINGO” into your cell phone.
Losers must buy winner a free lunch.
DOSAGE: Create and fill out one (1) bingo card per dysfunctional group interaction.
WARNING: May cause explosive laughter and family discord if discovered by hostile relatives. Do not use in combination with hallucinogens.
Tags: stress mgmt and yoga
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
 “When you are aware that you are the force that is Life, anything is possible. Miracles happen all the time, because those miracles are performed by the heart. The heart is in direct communion with the human soul, and when the heart speaks, even with the resistance of the head, something inside you changes; your heart opens another heart, and true love is possible.”
– Don Miguel Ruiz
Now there is new meaning and relevanct to “FOLLOW YOUR HEART” – it may be the best advice. In my coaching practice, I teach my clients how to use their heart as a compass to guide their life. Read on to understand the science and glean a few tips on getting started in letting your heart be your “brain”.
Recently, scientists have found that the heart has its own independent nervous system – a complex system referred to as “the brain in the heart.” There are at least forty thousand neurons (nerve cells) in the heart – as many as are found in various subcortical centers of the brain.
The heart communicates with the brain and the rest of the body in three ways documented by solid scientific evidence: neurologically (through transmissions of nerve impulses), biochemically (through hormones and neurotransmitters), and biophysically (through pressure waves). In addition, growing scientific evidence suggests that the heart may communicate with the brain and body in a fourth way – energetically (through electromagnetic field interactions). Through these biological communication systems, the heart has a significant influence on the function of our brains and all our Systems.
This new scientific evidence shows that the heart uses these methods to send our brain extensive emotional and intuitive signals. Along with this understanding that the heart is in constant communication with the brain, scientists are discovering that our hearts may actually be the “intelligent force” behind the intuitive thoughts and feelings we all experience.
Thanks to the discovery of heart intelligence, with its premise of the heart as a primary source of emotions, we have a new paradigm for understanding our emotions. With the strong scientific tie established between our wellness factor through emotional management. The more we learn to listen to and follow our heart intelligence, the more educated, balanced, and coherent our emotions become. And it naturally follows that the more balanced and coherent our emotions become, the less likely we will be to experience sickness and disease.
Because of the ever growing scientific research on heart intelligence, it may be time we developed a new personal attitude about following our hearts.”
Tips for learning to recognize our heart’s intelligence:
1. Think positive thoughts throughout the day to increase your personal energy.
Our internal power, or the amount of physical, mental, and emotional energy we have, is a determining factor in the quality of our lives. Internal power translates into vitality and resiliency. Positive thoughts and feelings add energy to our system. Negative thoughts and feelings deplete our personal energy.
2. Encourage your deepest heart feelings.
There are many positive heart feelings including love, compassion, nonjudgment, courage, patience, sincerity, forgiveness, appreciation, gratitude, and care. Experiencing these feelings increases synchronization and coherence in our heart’s rhythmic patterns. Each of these heart feelings has a powerful, beneficial effect on how we relate to life.
3. Reduce your stress.
The less stress we feel, the less internal confusion we will experience, and the easier it will be to hear our heart’s intelligence. When we are relaxed, we don’t need to strain our body to stay focused and productive.
4. Focus on recognizing your heart’s intelligence and realize the importance of listening to it before making choices.
The brain operates in a linear, logical manner that works great for many problems but can limit us in others. Often we need more than logic to solve a problem, especially if it is an emotional one.
Heart intelligence provides us with an intuitive awareness that is expanded beyond linear, logical thinking. As a result, our perspective usually becomes more flexible, creative, and comprehensive.
5. Use meditation or calm, quiet moments to reflect on your heart’s intelligence and listen for intuitive thoughts.
Make time each day to sit quietly and focus on your heart. Imagine you are breathing through your heart. Calm your mind. Try to not think of anything but breathing through your heart. When your mind is clear, you will begin to receive impressions and ideas. These are coming from your heart. Pay attention.
Excerpted from Your Heart Has a “Brain!”
Tags: inspiration and journaling, purpose, Spirituality, stress mgmt and yoga
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, July 17th, 2008
 I’m always singing the praises of yoga. Personally, I have reaped the benefits of
- a more peaceful mindset
- a stronger core (tighter abs)
- greater flexibility, and more…
Not that I need more reasons to do yoga, but here are 77 more surprising incentives to do yoga.
Once you are convinced you want to do yoga, you will want to read the ultimate guide to yoga: 100 blogs, tutorials and resources.
Then if you really want to get on the bandwagon of good health, check out:
57 Reasons to Go Vegan
Painless ways to detoxify your mind, body and home
Tags: preventative medicine, stress management, stress mgmt and yoga, yoga
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, June 27th, 2008
The message out there is that meditation is so good for us and is a key to peace and happiness. It calms the mind, reduces stress which in turn aids in weightloss, and it brings clarity.
The question is where do you begin? To some mediation seems very mysterious… they think it requires an hour a day, special clothing, an ashram and a guru guide. Not so. You can keep it simple by beginning with 5 minutes and follow the 14 points below. You can’t do it wrong. You only fail by never trying.
- Regularity of time, place and practice are important. Regularity conditions the mind to slow down its activities with a minimum of delay.
- The most effective times are early dawn and dusk, when the atmosphere is charged with special spiritual force. If it is not feasible to sit for meditation at these times, choose an hour when you are not involved with daily activities, and a time when the mind is apt to be calm.
- Try to have a separate room for meditation. As meditation is repeated, the powerful vibrations set up will be lodged in the area; an atmosphere of peace and purity will be felt.
- When sitting, face North or East in order to take advantage of favorable magnetic vibrations. Sit in a steady, comfortable, cross-legged position with spine and neck erect but not tense.
- Before beginning, command the mind to be quiet for a specific length of time. Forget the past, present and future.
- Consciously regulate the breath. Begin with five minutes of deep abdominal breathing to bring oxygen to the brain. Then slow it down to an imperceptible rate.
- Keep the breathing, rhythmic, inhale for three seconds and exhale for three seconds. Regulation of breath also regulates the flow of prana, the vital energy.
- Allow the mind to wander at first. It will jump around, but will eventually become concentrated, along with the concentration of prana.
- Don’t force the mind to be still, as this will set in motion additional brain waves, hindering meditation.
- Select a focal point on which the mind may rest. For people who are intellectual by nature, this may be the Ajna Chakra., the point between the eyebrows. For more emotional people, use the Anahata or Heart Chakra. Never change this focal point.
- Focus on a neutral or uplifting object, holding the image in the place of concentration. If using a Mantra, repeat it mentally, and co-ordinate repetition with the breath. If you dont have a personalized Manta, use Om. Although mental repetition is stronger, the mantra may be repeated aloud if one becomes drowsy. Never change the Mantra.
- Repetition will lead to pure thought, in which sound vibration merges with thought vibration, without awareness of meaning. Vocal repetition progresses through mental repetition to telepathic language, and from there to pure thought.
- With practice, duality disappears and Samadhi, or the superconscious state, is reached. Do not become impatient, as this takes a long time.
- In Samadhi one rests in the state of bliss in which the Knower, the Knowledge, and the Known become one. This is the superconcious state reached by mystics of all faiths and persuasions.
- these 14 points are from Sivananda – more here…
I’ve noticed if I meditate for even just 10 minutes a day, my mind is more calm and steady.
Tags: health and weightloss, inspiration and journaling, stress mgmt and yoga
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Monday, May 5th, 2008
Whenever life is in transition or undergoing major change, it can become very overwhelming! The To Do list multiplies and brain power is zapped just as it is needed the most.
Major life change such as death, divorce, career shift, a newborn baby or even a wedding can send any highly capable person in to a tizzy and left wanting to crumple into a ball on the bathroom floor for few weeks.
Knowing techniques to cope with change can make all the difference in avoiding a major breakdown or feeling like a miserable failure. The first thing to remember is this is normal, life is always changing. And secondly, you are not the only person who has gone through this type of situation and the majority of them came out just fine in the end.
The strategy is to GET BACK TO THE BASICS or K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple Silly – I hate calling anyone stupid…)
- Don’t start any new projects! Temporarily take anything off your plate that isn’t vital.
- Avoid buying anything unnecessary that requires more of your time (like setting up a new stereo/speaker system or figuring out how to use your new digital camera).
- Make healthy eating exercise, yoga and breathing a priority. Don’t start a new type of exercise, it will just frustrate you if you can’t keep up. Just walk if that is all you know how to do. Practice these instant stress management tips.
- Begin with the end in mind. Write out a description of the ideal situation you are working towards. Then work backwards through the steps to get where you need to be. Make a list of the absolute things you must do to get through this phase of your life and make those actions a priority with due dates. You are going to feel much better about getting those done than escaping to the couch to watch reality tv.
- Break your action steps into tiny manageable to dos that can be done with small doses of energy — that way you don’t burn out.
- Ask for help. Communicate your needs and expectations to others. Many people are willing to lend an extra hand in a time of need or will cut you some slack if they understand your situation. You just need to tell them! To keep your sanity, consider hiring a cleaning person or getting take out more than you usually would.
- Repeat this mantra over and over: This Too Shall Pass…
Before you know it, your current situation will have passed and it will just be a page in your diary.
Tags: organization and time management, stress mgmt and yoga
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Sunday, April 27th, 2008
Recently, I had coffee with a 50-something friend of mine — she shared how lately she had been feeling anxious, drinking more, and had the urge to run away. She was really stumped as to why that would be. She said her life was great, comfortable and no big stresses. Ah…. but she was overlooking a BIG change coming her way.
Her daughter is about to leave the nest and go off to college. Now my friend will not have the role of “mother” to consume her… Her time will be freed up to think about herself, a career and more time with her husband. She felt like she might be in midlife crisis — but she has a choice — she can choose midlife transformation instead. This is her chance to stop playing roles that consume her and become more authentic.
In our modern-quick-fix-instant gratification society, we have very little tolerance or context for dealing with pain and change. This leads to the overuse of anti-depressants, alcohol, shopping and any other addiction to avoid feeling uncomfortable. But PAIN is a good thing. It is an indicator that you need to press the reset button on your life. But so many people opt to just avoid and check out. Checking out means you don’t learn the necessary lesson required for evolution. Skipping the lesson destines you to relive it until you learn.
Here are some steps to help avoid CRISIS.
- Live consciously – slow down and process your feelings instead of avoiding them. Notice when you are over eating, drinking or doing more of something than is not healthy.
- Let go of the baggage. You can’t change the past. Thoughts of what should of, could of and would of don’t serve you — they just stress you. The weight of the baggage is unresolved stuff. Who would you be without your “story”? Byron Katie has a great turnaround process for limiting beliefs.
- Move past fear and stop worrying about the future. A presence of fear is a sure sign you are trusting in your own strength. Remove the fear by connecting with your spirituality and trust that this too shall pass. In each thought, you are either “Host to God” or “Hostage to the Ego”. Which do you choose?
- Choose love. Only love is real. Feeling and having loving thoughts means you are connected to something other than yourself. It is never too late to choose love and begin creating miracles in your life.
- Meditate or pray daily. This is how you create miracles. Focus on the solution, not the problem. Your thoughts create your reality.
My friend has a choice: she can accept the normal cycle of life changes that she is facing, feel some necessary pain, and undergo a beautiful transformation into the next phase of her life. Or not. But the path of denial is much more painful in the long run. It is her choice.
Tags: inspiration and journaling, purpose, stress mgmt and yoga
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
One of my clients recently said “I give up! I’m done. I’m so overwhelmed I just want to end it. Just a quick hard left over a bridge and it would be over.” Well, that’s just a bright cheery thought now, isn’t it?! I think/hope she is just kidding! So you may ask…What is going on with her? — She is dealing with incredible fear. Now I could side, agree with her, and keep her stuck– afterall, she is going through difficult times… Or I can offer her a solution.
One solution to calm FEAR in the moment (this is quoted from Become Fearless): “Before you’re about to do something scary (confront a friend, start a new job, ask for a date), imagine someone who would be proud or grateful if you took this risk. It could be a relative, a mentor, your inner child, or a historic or fictional character. Before you step into your scary situation, visualize this person by your side, holding your hand, or in your arms. Let yourself really feel their presence—and take them in with you. You’re not alone, and there is strength in numbers!”
I do this exercise on a regular basis. I imagine my special someone with me all the time. In my mind, he holds me, whispers he loves me, kisses me on the shoulder and I even imagine him teasing me and saying “why don’t you just cry about it!!” when I am really feeling the fear! Then I laugh at myself and step into my fear.
Tags: inspiration and journaling, Life Balance, perfectionism, stress mgmt and yoga
Posted in Life Balance | 1 Comment »
Monday, December 31st, 2007
Something we were withholding made us weak, until we found it was ourselves.
- Robert Frost
When you think of what keeps you from living your dreams, it’s easy to overlook your own responsibility. Procrastination, disorganization, pessimism, focusing on weaknesses while ignoring strengths, not being honest with yourself, severe self-criticism, downplaying achievements, demanding perfection, giving up after a small setback–these are all ways you can make it difficult to be and do your best.
Developing good systems, the right attitude, and a promise to never give up can make all the difference!
Tags: goals and habits, Life Balance, perfectionism, stress mgmt and yoga
Posted in Life Balance | No Comments »
|
|
Join My Mailing List
