Balanced

I am blessed to live in one of the most beautiful areas on earth. Travelers from all over build up their savings to take that trip of a lifetime to Yosemite National Park, just a short drive for me. When I’m in particular need of healing, the woods is where I go. The sounds of the breeze blowing through the treetops, water tumbling over rocks, the sights and smells of all that surrounds me is soothing. And it is more than that, something that is unseen, unheard that reaches into my soul. When I’m out in the forest, I can just stop thinking, quieting my mind and bringing me peace. As naturalist John Burroughs so aptly said, “I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order.” The nurturing effect of nature spans both physical and emotional healing. Numerous studies reveal that within minutes of being outdoors, surrounded by nature, you experience less stress as measured by muscle tension, blood pressure and brain activity. Memory performance and attention span i...

Disclaimer: The photo you are now seeing is not me, only a lithe, more graceful me that appears in my dreams from time to time. Last month, I challenged my self to try a new type of movement every month for three months. March was to be Tai Chi, something I always wanted to try. I’ll let you know how it went in a minute, but first I wanted to share a little about myself. I was a good student. I loved to read, always did well in the spelling bee and hung out with other nerds.  In high school, I was always competing against two other students for top honors in algebra. But, there’s one thing I sucked at:  PE. Want proof? I was de-cluttering the other day and found this: It’s an copy of one of my actual report cards from Hickory Elementary School in Torrance, California.  Pay particular attention to the forth quarter. All A’s and B’s except one stinking C in … Physical Education. And what’s with the C in effort? I must have conveniently forgotten that music wasn’...

A few months back, I wrote about the importance of moving regularly, everyday of your life. It’s what the happiest, healthiest cultures practice, and they build it in to their everyday lives. I also mentioned that we get bored easy, and suggested that you try new things until you find a few that you love. Recently, I find that I’m not following my own advice. I’m a walker, and my three dogs keep me going, but I’m not a cold weather person, so this winter weather we’ve been getting recently has made me, well, lazy. There, I said it. Something else to note, is that exercise is a keystone habit, meaning it leads to other healthy habits like healthy eating and drinking more water. Exercise also keeps the blues away. So, in my laziness, I’m finding I’m snacking too much and not as happy as I usually am. So, in an effort to hold myself accountable, I’m going to take you on a little journey with me. My goal is to try a new type of movement every month for the next three months and the...

We’ve all heard the reports, too much sitting during the day is bad for you. It’s been called the “new smoking” for it’s detrimental effects on your health. It increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol to name a few. Now they’ve actually figured out how much it too much. I’m a little skeptical about blanket statements like this, knowing we’re all different, but I also err on the side of caution, and it certainly can’t hurt to move more. So what are the experts saying? First of all, understand that the average office worker sits for about 10 hours each day, between work and home. Researchers are now saying that we should begin to stand, move and take breaks for at least two (and four is better) of every eight hours. Don’t just lump that time all together, spread it throughout your day. And as much of that time as possible should be in movement, not just standing still. The stillness is what’s killing us. So, how in the world d...

Throughout history, people have naturally moved. It’s only been in the last hundred years or so that has changed. With the advent of the combustible engine and later the movement of technology into our everyday lives, that has changed and we have become more and more sedentary. The healthiest happiest cultures today have movement built in to their everyday lives. They garden, they walk their dogs, and they have other ways that nudge them into moving every 20 minutes or so.  In the United States, the happiest populations live in cities that are safe, walkable, bikeable, have plenty of green space and have access to fresh produce. Most of us know that exercise is one facet of a well-rounded program for better health. Many of us know that a lifestyle that incorporates intentional movement leads to greater happiness. So we sign up for that gym membership in January, and then by May we find we haven’t been in months. Or we buy a treadmill or exercise bike and now we’re using it as...

On the Go Flow This can be done with or without a mat, it can take ten minutes or 20 depending on how long you want to stay in each pose. Enjoy Your Day! Remember - Inhale to lengthen Exhale to deepen! Begin with standing position lift arms high above your head and stretch with a big inhale then forward bend, exhale Place right foot forward and bend knee Repeat on the left side, hold for one minutes, exhale back to standing Inhale, exhale to downward dog, peddle feet to stretch the calves Walk your feet to your hands, lift your left leg and your left arm Repeat on your right side Release both legs, squat down and place your elbows on the inside of your knees and push outward to stretch the inner thighs Sit down, lay on your back, lift both legs in the air, reaching for your inner feet with both hands for your happy baby. Rock gently back and forth massaging your lower back. Lower legs down and come to seated position, one leg over th...

Seven Minute Open Chakra Flow The seven chakras are the centers in our bodies in which energy flows through. Blocked energy in our seven chakras can often lead to illness, so it's important to understand what each chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely. The image above is a good representation of the name, location, color and function of each chakra. To keep the energy flowing, hold each of these poses for One Minute: Opening the first Chakra, the Root Chakra located at the base of your spine.  Lie on your mat, place your feet in the air, connect the soles of your feet, lower your heals down, let the knees fall out to the sides. Second Chakra, the Sacral Chakra , located just below the belly button.  Place the soles of your feet flat on the mat, hip distance apart, raise your hips up, shoulders on the mat, chin tucked. Third Chakra, the Solar Plexus , located just above the belly button. Supine Twist, lay flat on the mat, bring both ...