Tag-Archive for » energy «

May
25

An Afternoon Nap… My Guilty Little Secret

It’s certainly not something I let my neighbors in on.  I think my sister knows…. My dad occasionally drops in at ‘inopportune’ times in the afternoon and discovered my secret…. My friends?  I think I may have referenced the occasional Saturday afternoon indiscretion.  The inlaws?  NOT!

But, in considering outing myself publicly here, I figured, “what the hell… I’m tired of the sneaking around, the secrecy… the SHAME!

I am a napper.  If I can swing it… I’ll do it.  At about one in the afternoon, after a morning of school with the kids and lunch… I’ve about had it.  If I’ve no demands or plans for that time in the afternoon, my body, in no uncertain terms, makes clear its needs… and I search out my favourite chair… my favourite blankie… and, if they’re in the mood, a kitten or two to snuggle with… sometimes even my youngest child… and I embrace a short date with dreamland.

It is nothing short of heaven.  I lay back my head onto the cool inviting leather, curl the blanket more securely around my shoulders… and in moments, I there I am… the sweet spot:  that delicious space where you can actually feel your mind and body falling into the soft, welcome reprieve of suspended consciousness.  I often think at that moment I must be smiling.

more »

Category: health  Leave a Comment
Feb
23

Yoga: If Not For the Economy… Then, For You!

from the darknessIt’s a swirl of bad news pretty much every where you look.  Whether it’s fear mongering on the part of cable news to grab viewers or actually accurately portrayed, there are a couple of ways in which we can deal with the onslaught.

1.  Bury your head in the sand.  Ignore or deny it while developing an increasingly unhealthy dependence on your call display.

2.  Buy into the endless flow of negative and allow fear to determine your decisions and the direction of your life.

3. Take steps toward taking back, or maintaining, your sense of control and empowerment over your own circumstances… your self-determination.

In choosing number three, there are a number of steps you can take to promote and propagate a sense of control and empowerment, and you can find the list just about anywhere and everywhere right now, such as: manage and prioritize your spending, don’t spend more than you earn; pay down your debt as soon as possible; scale back, live simply and more frugally; make sure you’re saving; and then maintain that status quo… no sliding back into bad habits with signs of a little money in the bank.

These are the practical ways of covering your butt and without a doubt, they’re essential.  But along with these important, conventional steps you also need to consider the more esoteric, mental and spiritual requirements of feeling in control, empowered and proactive.  This is where developing a regular practice of mindful meditation and yoga comes in.  In times of stress such as these, one’s mental and physical health are paramount to dealing effectively.

The beauty of yoga is that it addresses the spiritual and physical at once, focusing and freeing the mind while strengthening the body.  A regular practice during times of immense stress can offer a refuge from the storm of negativity and fear.  It can make space for clarity in decision making; offer support in relaxation; and open up the creative mind and heart to the multitude of possibilities, perhaps even opportunities, that exist outside our typical concentration on daily practicalities.

Category: Practice, Spirit  Leave a Comment