My friend De Dee is an 85 year old "hug therapist". If you need a squeeze she'll jump out of her chair and give you a full embrace without hesitation. Just a few seconds in her presence can lift anyone's heart because she is truly living from her center and acting out of love. The other day she told me that on the last full moon every wish she'd ever had came true. Don't we all wish we could make that statement? In her case, it seems that her wishes are grounded in a reality that she is able to create every versus pie in the sky wistful thinking.
How does De Dee manage to keep such a sparkling attitude toward her life. It might be that she stands on her head for several minutes every morning or that she makes a point to go out dancing regularly. Having a full garden of beautiful Gerber daisies and graciously sharing them might be another reason. It's hard to say for sure but I couldn't resist asking her to share 3 pieces of wisdom about life. Without hesitation, De Dee said: "When you've got the energy get up and MOVE"!
And so, as you travel through your day, see if there are moments where you can use your energy to help you move in some new fashion. Besides the literal interpretation of moving your butt and getting some exercise, this might mean moving an attitude toward a co-worker, moving a nagging thought you've been having, shifting the energy in your home, donating some cash, etc. Whatever it is, I'd love for you to let me know what you did with your energy today!
In case you're wondering what De Dee's other bits advice are, stay tuned!
Have a great day-
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Take a breath
Breathing in, I calm body & mind. Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is the only moment.
-Thich Nhat Hanh
Two weeks ago I ran over a nail and had to replace my back tires. Last Thursday, while rushing home from work, I hit the car in front of me and was hit by the car behind me. Time to take a breath. It took two pretty messages from the universe before I remembered to slow down, stay in the present moment and focus on my breath.
My fabulous yoga teacher Anne, www.abreathofyoga.net , drove the point home further by including alternate nostril breathing at the end of class the other day. I'd like to share this exercise with you and would love to hear your comments.
Find a comfortable seated position with the spine long and face relaxed. Close your eyes.
Place your index and middle finger on your forehead.
Use your ring finger to close your left nostril.
Exhale through your right nostril. Inhale through your right nostril.
Lift your ring finger from the left nostril and close off the right nostril with your thumb.
Exhale through your left nostril. Inhale through the left.
Close the left with the ring finger and
exhale through your right nostril. Inhale through your right.
Repeat the process on the right side and continue alternating nostrils until you have done ten rounds on each side.
Namaste
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Prenatal Yoga Workshop August 2
Prenatal Yoga Workshop with Julie Hanson, RYT
at A Breath of Yoga
Saturday, August 2,
2-4 p.m.
$25
Taking care of yourself is the first step toward taking care of your baby!
Enjoy a relaxing 2 hour introduction to prenatal yoga suitable
for all months of gestation with Julie Hanson, a compassionate and mindful yoga teacher who is also a mom.
Meet other new moms during this 90 minute session.
The focus will focus on:
building strength
increasing flexibility
relief for pregnancy aches & pains
relaxation & stress management
Please have your doctor’s permission prior to attending.
Pre-Registration is required.
To register call 214-683-5686 or email hanson.julie@gmail.com
A Breath of Yoga
1101 S. Broadway Street, Suite 120
Carrollton, TX 75006
www.abreathofyoga.net
at A Breath of Yoga
Saturday, August 2,
2-4 p.m.
$25
Taking care of yourself is the first step toward taking care of your baby!
Enjoy a relaxing 2 hour introduction to prenatal yoga suitable
for all months of gestation with Julie Hanson, a compassionate and mindful yoga teacher who is also a mom.
Meet other new moms during this 90 minute session.
The focus will focus on:
building strength
increasing flexibility
relief for pregnancy aches & pains
relaxation & stress management
Please have your doctor’s permission prior to attending.
Pre-Registration is required.
To register call 214-683-5686 or email hanson.julie@gmail.com
A Breath of Yoga
1101 S. Broadway Street, Suite 120
Carrollton, TX 75006
www.abreathofyoga.net
Friday, June 13, 2008
Yoga and the Chakras -The Root
First a brief summary of the chakra system. According to Indian tradition, there are 7 energy centers that are arranged vertically from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Each one is related to a function in the body and is influenced by certain life experiences. Ideally each chakra is open with energy flowing in and out, but oftentimes, the energy flow becomes blocked and deficiencies and excesses result. The imbalance can be temporary or, in the case of childhood trauma or past stress become hard wired into our habits and behavior.
Yoga is one path to balancing out the chakras. By becoming familiar with the traits of each chakra and the corresponding yoga poses, it is possible to open and unblock areas in need of release. With release comes a more open body and mind.
The first chakra is the root or Muladhara and is related to the base of the spine, legs, feet and intestine. Think survival needs. In order for the root chakra to be open, the body and its physical needs must be cared for. It's also important to feel grounded and safe. Our foundation can be shaken by any number of events. Moving to a new town, changes in the body, family or finances can all impact the root. Plenty of people may struggle with feeling ungrounded a good share of the time for no obvious reason.
Basic attention on the feet can greatly impact the root chakra. Yoga can help by directing focus on how we stand. Is your weight evenly distributed between the front and backs of your feet or are you leaning forward or backward? How are you moving through your world? Stretching the feet stimulates the toes and prepares the feet for an active yoga practice.
The muscles in the legs are another great place to work on to address the root chakra because the goal is to feel grounded. Tight muscles are like a spring board ready to take off at a moment's notice. By gently stretching calf muscles, the brain relaxes and sends the message that it's ok to calm down, stay still and allow the openness.
Try standing with your weight evenly distributed on your feet and just rock from front to back. Pay attention to your feet and legs. Notice how you are standing. Inhale fully from the bottom of your lungs at your diaphragm. Make your exhalations as slow and deep as you can. Try this for ten deep breaths. Then stretch your feet, fronts and back. Hold the stretch. Send your breath to your feet. Notice the energy you feel moving through as you practice.
Let me know how it goes!
Namaste,
Julie
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Wishful thinking be gone
It seems like there's a book around every corner promising the reader the answers to the big questions. How can I live the life I'm truly meant to? What do I need to do to make my relationships more fulfilling? Who am I? The list goes on and on. As authors try to take their best shot at writing the guidebook for personal fulfillment, people continue to struggle.
Why? Knowing WHAT to do is only the first step. The next step is knowing HOW to do what needs to be done. This is where it's easy to come up short, standing by the sidelines stuck in old habits. So, how can we drop wishful thinking by the wayside and replace it with intentional effort that leads where you want to be headed?
Here are four steps to start the process:
1. Envision what you want.
We've all heard the adage that you can't hit the bulls eye if you can't see the target. What exactly do you want? Less anxiety? More cash? A better job? A healthier lifestyle?
Set your intention. Intention is your attitude toward life. What will your life look like when you're in alignment with your dream? Do an inventory of your life- mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, social, etc. How will each aspect of your life look when you have reached your goal.
2. Write down what you want.
Personal, positive and in the present tense. Affirmations! Write down a phrase that describes exactly what you want as if you already have it.
"I am happy, healthy, and have plenty of money", " I enjoy my work and the people in my life", "I approach challenges with a relaxed and confident attitude" or "I live a healthy lifestyle and enjoy taking care of myself each day". Get the idea? Good. Now go get yourself some post its and start slapping your affirmations anywhere you spend your time. Car, computer, bathroom, etc. Read them and think about them for 60 seconds 3 x per day.
3. Set a deadline.
Figure out what is realistic for you and write down your long term plan for realizing your true intention toward life. Think about road trips. They require planning and for the most part a map or some sort of directions. It's a lot easier to set out on a long drive if you know how many miles you'll be driving and are able to set daily goals for how far you'll travel each day. Think about your big goal. Maybe you want to lose 10 pounds. What is a realistic plan? How can you do a little bit each day to bring you closer to the goal? What is your deadline?
4. The kitchen sink.
Make a list of absolutely everything you can think of that will help you achieve your goal. Find others who have done it. Join forces with like minded folk. Read articles, take a class, or consider hiring a coach. This is your one life and it's worth the investment. Think about all the time you've felt bad because your anxious or frustrated that you can't seem to hold on to a relationship. Maybe job satisfaction or money management leave you struggling. Whatever it is, it's time to get busy. Make your list and find help to take the steps to reach your goal.
A word of caution- Keep your intention big, your affirmations clear and your goals small. There's no sense piling on ten things that will surely overwhelm you when you can easily accomplish one small goal at a time. For instance, if you do struggle with anxiety, start with a goal that is situationally based, such as heavy traffic. Affirm that you handle traffic jams in a relaxed manner and practice when the situation arises. Let your goal be very simple- "When I am stuck in traffic, I will take ten deep breaths".
So, there you go, some inspiration to get you moving. Build on these small changes in habit and you will soon see a ripple effect.
Good luck!
Why? Knowing WHAT to do is only the first step. The next step is knowing HOW to do what needs to be done. This is where it's easy to come up short, standing by the sidelines stuck in old habits. So, how can we drop wishful thinking by the wayside and replace it with intentional effort that leads where you want to be headed?
Here are four steps to start the process:
1. Envision what you want.
We've all heard the adage that you can't hit the bulls eye if you can't see the target. What exactly do you want? Less anxiety? More cash? A better job? A healthier lifestyle?
Set your intention. Intention is your attitude toward life. What will your life look like when you're in alignment with your dream? Do an inventory of your life- mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, social, etc. How will each aspect of your life look when you have reached your goal.
2. Write down what you want.
Personal, positive and in the present tense. Affirmations! Write down a phrase that describes exactly what you want as if you already have it.
"I am happy, healthy, and have plenty of money", " I enjoy my work and the people in my life", "I approach challenges with a relaxed and confident attitude" or "I live a healthy lifestyle and enjoy taking care of myself each day". Get the idea? Good. Now go get yourself some post its and start slapping your affirmations anywhere you spend your time. Car, computer, bathroom, etc. Read them and think about them for 60 seconds 3 x per day.
3. Set a deadline.
Figure out what is realistic for you and write down your long term plan for realizing your true intention toward life. Think about road trips. They require planning and for the most part a map or some sort of directions. It's a lot easier to set out on a long drive if you know how many miles you'll be driving and are able to set daily goals for how far you'll travel each day. Think about your big goal. Maybe you want to lose 10 pounds. What is a realistic plan? How can you do a little bit each day to bring you closer to the goal? What is your deadline?
4. The kitchen sink.
Make a list of absolutely everything you can think of that will help you achieve your goal. Find others who have done it. Join forces with like minded folk. Read articles, take a class, or consider hiring a coach. This is your one life and it's worth the investment. Think about all the time you've felt bad because your anxious or frustrated that you can't seem to hold on to a relationship. Maybe job satisfaction or money management leave you struggling. Whatever it is, it's time to get busy. Make your list and find help to take the steps to reach your goal.
A word of caution- Keep your intention big, your affirmations clear and your goals small. There's no sense piling on ten things that will surely overwhelm you when you can easily accomplish one small goal at a time. For instance, if you do struggle with anxiety, start with a goal that is situationally based, such as heavy traffic. Affirm that you handle traffic jams in a relaxed manner and practice when the situation arises. Let your goal be very simple- "When I am stuck in traffic, I will take ten deep breaths".
So, there you go, some inspiration to get you moving. Build on these small changes in habit and you will soon see a ripple effect.
Good luck!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
What's the difference between coaching and therapy?
People have problems, challenges and unmet needs/goals. That's reality. The difference lies in the path one takes to stepping up to the plate and making the decision to invest in tools for lasting change. Coaching and therapy can both offer a means for creating a better life but they are not interchangeable.
One way to distinguish between the two is to imagine yourself sitting in a car. Therapy can be compared to looking through the rear view mirror of the car. It's important to understand where you've come from, the obstacles you've faced and how to overcome the challenges that might interfere with your success. These challenges generally take the form of emotional pain and can manifest as depression, anxiety, relationship issues or anger to name a few. They are big and oftentimes persistent struggles that interfere with your success, health and and overall quality of life. Traveling through the back roads, potholes and stormy weather alone can be frustrating and lonely. Healing usually means getting help. Therapy can provide a safe space to unravel your "stuff", keep what is useful and successfully release what you don't need.
Coaching, on the other hand, is like looking through the windshield. You are taking hold of the future and deciding on your destination. You've already been down the roads of the past, paid your dues and overcome emotional issues that may have stood in your way. Now it's time for the good stuff. You're ready to claim your prize. But something is stuck. There's a bug on the windshield, you can't find the right map, it's raining or whatever. A coach can help you sort through these challenges so that you can focus on driving! Coaching is all about helping you stick to your agenda. Decide on a goal, set an intention, and a coach can help you to the finish line. There's nothing like having your own personal, objective cheerleader just a phone call or email away. You might have a dream but it takes more than wishful thinking to turn ideas into reality Coaching helps you tap into your own resources and most importantly, how to use them!
If you've got a little voice telling you to take the next step (whether it's therapy or coaching) why not open up and listen? The investment is small compared to the return.
One way to distinguish between the two is to imagine yourself sitting in a car. Therapy can be compared to looking through the rear view mirror of the car. It's important to understand where you've come from, the obstacles you've faced and how to overcome the challenges that might interfere with your success. These challenges generally take the form of emotional pain and can manifest as depression, anxiety, relationship issues or anger to name a few. They are big and oftentimes persistent struggles that interfere with your success, health and and overall quality of life. Traveling through the back roads, potholes and stormy weather alone can be frustrating and lonely. Healing usually means getting help. Therapy can provide a safe space to unravel your "stuff", keep what is useful and successfully release what you don't need.
Coaching, on the other hand, is like looking through the windshield. You are taking hold of the future and deciding on your destination. You've already been down the roads of the past, paid your dues and overcome emotional issues that may have stood in your way. Now it's time for the good stuff. You're ready to claim your prize. But something is stuck. There's a bug on the windshield, you can't find the right map, it's raining or whatever. A coach can help you sort through these challenges so that you can focus on driving! Coaching is all about helping you stick to your agenda. Decide on a goal, set an intention, and a coach can help you to the finish line. There's nothing like having your own personal, objective cheerleader just a phone call or email away. You might have a dream but it takes more than wishful thinking to turn ideas into reality Coaching helps you tap into your own resources and most importantly, how to use them!
If you've got a little voice telling you to take the next step (whether it's therapy or coaching) why not open up and listen? The investment is small compared to the return.
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