Friday, December 20, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Breath - Breathe - In - Out
Breathe -
In
Out
Today is about breath
Yoga takes a cleansing breath to start, a
deep inhale in, count to 4, and then exhale count to 4
Do it again
After about 10 of these - you start to
focus on the breath
Appreciate the senses that awaken from a
single breath, the sound of air rushing into through your nose
reaches the ear, the taste of clean as the breath reaches the throat, the feeling as a single inhale expands the lungs
and starts lifting the diaphragm. The amazing feeling of starting to be buoyant
as if the air could lift the body off the ground and defy gravity,lifting us higher and higher. Holding the weightless feeling for a few seconds before letting go,
exhaling the stale and leaving the new.
Spend a few minutes today focusing on
breath, notice it, enjoy it, and give thanks for it.
Breathe -
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Why did this bad thing Happen Today
There was bad news today. There is never a good time for bad news, ever notice that? No one ever wants to bear sorrow, feel the pain of a loss in their family. Whether knowing ahead of time or a shocking end of time,when one who is loved leaves us there is loss to the living and they become the bearers of mourning.
Like snowflakes we are all different but built uniquely strong,humans do not come with directions as to how they are supposed to behave or act when they are mourning a loved one. Disbelief, wailing, silence,tears that won't end, holes in hearts and wondering how the next day is going to be possible is what happens.
Yet ,the strength of ourselves is truly amazing our inner being recognizes this and puts things on auto pilot when we need it the most allowing one to sleep, eat and continue, the stuff of living, merely functioning on the base level until we can produce a glimmer of something that makes sense to all that is happening around us.
No medicine or potions, beliefs or prayers will heal the hurt inside today or make things right again tomorrow but it hurts because there was love in your life and along with that love were memories of some very good things that happened along the way, so now is a good time to think of one of those memories that helped to create that love and for a second enjoy that picture.
We can not explain why, it just happens but getting through and going on is the journey for now, keeping love close to the surface for strength..
Like snowflakes we are all different but built uniquely strong,humans do not come with directions as to how they are supposed to behave or act when they are mourning a loved one. Disbelief, wailing, silence,tears that won't end, holes in hearts and wondering how the next day is going to be possible is what happens.
Yet ,the strength of ourselves is truly amazing our inner being recognizes this and puts things on auto pilot when we need it the most allowing one to sleep, eat and continue, the stuff of living, merely functioning on the base level until we can produce a glimmer of something that makes sense to all that is happening around us.
No medicine or potions, beliefs or prayers will heal the hurt inside today or make things right again tomorrow but it hurts because there was love in your life and along with that love were memories of some very good things that happened along the way, so now is a good time to think of one of those memories that helped to create that love and for a second enjoy that picture.
We can not explain why, it just happens but getting through and going on is the journey for now, keeping love close to the surface for strength..
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Today is Planking Yoga day - Tanks
Alright this is going to be the last blog about planking until I am through the 30 days, then my core will be as strong as an oak and looking good, I may not be able to bend but strength will be there and yes I am thankful that I can plank.
During yoga there is something your supposed to do, it is called an intention, a small thought that pulls you back to center and what it is you want to consider today.
Usually I sit for a moment in the truck before class starts (if you don't remember I like to go to "Yoga on the beach" www.lovinglightyoga.com ) and think of an intention,it is easy to be grateful for something or wanting to let go of something but today I was stuck, there were a swirl of thoughts in my brain but nothing that popped out
I walked to the beach and spread my cloth on the sand still puzzling and wondering how it would be with no words or phrase to keep me centered during the hour of stretching and breathing. I sat and inhaled then exhaled and left the intention space empty. As we progressed into different poses something very unique happened. The space usually filled with "Thank you for my life", for the special people I know", "love","family""today", etc was a void that I noticed but it was not a bad thing, it was just there.
Then as we started "Sun Pose"and reached for the stars the empty space filled with light, a bright silvery shimmer of light that fit into the place of intention perfectly. I felt centered and balanced but noticed this light as being different from anything I had ever known. No rockets went off or trumpets sounded it was just a tiny light inside my head that took the place of words for the moment.
It stayed with me for the rest of the class, not growing just shimmering and every time I tried to change it with a thought or put a word there it just didn't happen. My light stayed with me and I noticed that it felt calming and good.
That's the story today, the light went away after class and I haven't been able to meditate it back to my inner self (yet). The whole point of this is that we are amazing aren't we? Our selves keep coming up with stuff to keep us balanced and grounded and centered if only we are open to new things.
During yoga there is something your supposed to do, it is called an intention, a small thought that pulls you back to center and what it is you want to consider today.
Usually I sit for a moment in the truck before class starts (if you don't remember I like to go to "Yoga on the beach" www.lovinglightyoga.com ) and think of an intention,it is easy to be grateful for something or wanting to let go of something but today I was stuck, there were a swirl of thoughts in my brain but nothing that popped out
I walked to the beach and spread my cloth on the sand still puzzling and wondering how it would be with no words or phrase to keep me centered during the hour of stretching and breathing. I sat and inhaled then exhaled and left the intention space empty. As we progressed into different poses something very unique happened. The space usually filled with "Thank you for my life", for the special people I know", "love","family""today", etc was a void that I noticed but it was not a bad thing, it was just there.
Then as we started "Sun Pose"and reached for the stars the empty space filled with light, a bright silvery shimmer of light that fit into the place of intention perfectly. I felt centered and balanced but noticed this light as being different from anything I had ever known. No rockets went off or trumpets sounded it was just a tiny light inside my head that took the place of words for the moment.
It stayed with me for the rest of the class, not growing just shimmering and every time I tried to change it with a thought or put a word there it just didn't happen. My light stayed with me and I noticed that it felt calming and good.
That's the story today, the light went away after class and I haven't been able to meditate it back to my inner self (yet). The whole point of this is that we are amazing aren't we? Our selves keep coming up with stuff to keep us balanced and grounded and centered if only we are open to new things.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Today and my planking exercised thighs
Today is day 5 of my Planking challenge, well "yippee skipee" for me your thinking right? I fell victim to a well meaning child who thought I should try to be healthy and happy and start a grueling workout challenge right at the start of feasting holiday season.
You Know the time of year when all well meaning family and friends break out the most delicious most fattening recipes they have and try to pass them off as something healthy. We have all seen the magazines that offer 42 new cookie recipes that are good for you. Yes they are probably all good and I try to sample a lot, they are not good for my thighs. So I figured what could it hurt to accept the Planking thing and act like a board for a little bit each day. I am up to 40 sec today and still being stiff from yesterday's routine I thought piece of cake (or cookies). In fact so sure of myself I put a little plate of cookies in front of me as I lowered into plank position for a less than a minute plank. http://www.wikihow.com/Perform-the-Plank-Exercise. Using my phone stop watch I put a smug expression on my face and settled in, I was good for 10 seconds, then my arms started twanging like rubber bands<yes twanging was the inner sound I heard, then my tummy seized into a permanent clench sending scorching wires of pain to my thighs, they were making their own noise in my head as a 1000 voices screaming, "aaaaaarggggghhhhhh" very loud and much twangier than my arms. It was 20 seconds in and the sweat was running into my eyes as I tried to focus on my prize in front of me and the slowest moving stop watch I ever saw in my life. 30,35,40! I had done it, but now 45, 50 as I discovered my arms,tummy and thighs were not unplanking. With all my determination I managed to disengage my elbows and rolled exhausted onto the floor, gasping I realized I had done a 1:10 plank (way over todays goal)and with all extremities shaking but pleased with my efforts I reached for the prize, only to realize my dog had mistaken them for his treat and helped himself to those lowfat sugar cookies. No "Yippee skipee" today but tomorrow is only 50 seconds, heck I am already past that might as well keep going.
You Know the time of year when all well meaning family and friends break out the most delicious most fattening recipes they have and try to pass them off as something healthy. We have all seen the magazines that offer 42 new cookie recipes that are good for you. Yes they are probably all good and I try to sample a lot, they are not good for my thighs. So I figured what could it hurt to accept the Planking thing and act like a board for a little bit each day. I am up to 40 sec today and still being stiff from yesterday's routine I thought piece of cake (or cookies). In fact so sure of myself I put a little plate of cookies in front of me as I lowered into plank position for a less than a minute plank. http://www.wikihow.com/Perform-the-Plank-Exercise. Using my phone stop watch I put a smug expression on my face and settled in, I was good for 10 seconds, then my arms started twanging like rubber bands<yes twanging was the inner sound I heard, then my tummy seized into a permanent clench sending scorching wires of pain to my thighs, they were making their own noise in my head as a 1000 voices screaming, "aaaaaarggggghhhhhh" very loud and much twangier than my arms. It was 20 seconds in and the sweat was running into my eyes as I tried to focus on my prize in front of me and the slowest moving stop watch I ever saw in my life. 30,35,40! I had done it, but now 45, 50 as I discovered my arms,tummy and thighs were not unplanking. With all my determination I managed to disengage my elbows and rolled exhausted onto the floor, gasping I realized I had done a 1:10 plank (way over todays goal)and with all extremities shaking but pleased with my efforts I reached for the prize, only to realize my dog had mistaken them for his treat and helped himself to those lowfat sugar cookies. No "Yippee skipee" today but tomorrow is only 50 seconds, heck I am already past that might as well keep going.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Today And Thank You Blog : Today I am Planking
Today And Thank You Blog : Today I am Planking: Today I started the planking challenge issued by my children, I do believe they might think I may be too old to do this. A good reason to sh...
Today I am Planking
Today I started the planking challenge issued by my children, I do believe they might think I may be too old to do this. A good reason to show them I not as creaky as I sound, lol.
Let me explain how this works:
First here is the professional version : http://30dayfitnesschallenges.com/classes/30-day-plank-challenge/
and here is how to do a correct plank: Get down on the floor,on your stomach, put your toes into the floor and your arms bent at elbow under your shoulders, hands pressing into floor. Now do a 1/2 a push up (that is the up part) and stay there for the amount of time indicated on the calendar.
No this is not me, husband couldn't stop laughing and the pictures were all blurry, this is how I look in my head tho.
The challenge starts at 20 seconds and works up from there. I would like to tell you that the first 3 seconds were a piece of cake today,by 20 seconds I was quite content to fall on my face and lie there resting longer then I held the pose. I do accept this challenge and there had better be some major changes to me as this is supposed to strengthen my core and work everything. Not quite sure how day number two is going to go but I am very excited to "plank" into it.
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