Monthly Archives: April 2017
Thank You Thursday
Thank You Thursday was inspired by motivational speaker Jon Gordon. It is meant to be a day to practice thankfulness for people in your life and expressing gratitude to others. Whenever you think about it today, take a moment to pause and think about the things in life you are grateful for and ways that you can make someone else’s day brighter, even with just a smile.
Thank you for reading,
Debra
National Pretzel Day
National Pretzel Day is a great day to get free pretzels, but it also makes me think of the number of times that people tell me they’ve never done yoga because they “aren’t flexible enough” or they “can’t do those pretzel poses.” I usually have two responses to that: 1) saying you’re not flexible enough to do yoga is like saying you’re too dirty to take a bath, and 2) I’m not flexible either.
Yoga can be about doing incredible looking poses, if that’s what you’re into. It can also be about learning what your body and mind are capable of. It can be about whatever you want it to be. Just get on your mat and see what you find.
Peace,
Debra
National Gardening Month: Yoga for Gardeners, Part 3
During this National Gardening Day, we’ve looked at poses to do before and during gardening. After a long day of bending, lifting, and working against gravity in the garden, a few poses to counteract the day’s activities are in order. Reclined poses allow gravity to work with the body rather than against, twists help tone the spine and loosen up the back, and elevating the feet helps release the stress of the day.
May all your flowers bloom,
Debra
Earth Day
On this beautiful Earth Day, I enjoyed a workshop with the wonderful Alie McManus. During our closing meditation, part of what we focused on was planting a seed for what we want to grow. Today is a perfect day to plant a seed for our future, both literally and metaphorically.
Take a moment today and imagine what you would most like to see happen in your life, in your world. Incorporate it into your meditation. Live like it is already a reality. See what happens.
With love and light,
Debra
Fun Friday: The Queen’s Birthday
Although her official birthday is celebrated on a weekend in June, April 21 is the actual birth date of Queen Elizabeth II. So here’s a little post in tribute to Queen…
Oops. I meant the Queen. Since she, too, loves corgis, here’s a message from my sweet Minnie (and her pal, Mickey).
And to one of my best pals, Melissa: A super happy birthday to you, too! May you always be at the front of the conga line!
Have a fantastic day, everyone!
xoxo,
Debra
National Frog Month
April is National Frog Month. Frogs are an important bellwether species for our planet — when frogs are healthy and abundant, an ecosystem is healthy. There a number of actions that both children and adults can do to help build awareness and improve the environment.
In honor of National Frog Month, I wanted to share one of my favorite yin yoga poses (second only to dragon pose for me). Here is more information about frog pose.
Frog (hold 3 to 5 minutes)
Contraindications
- Bad back: use support
- If there is any tingling in the fingers, take hands wider or extend one arm at a time
Getting into the Pose:
- From all fours, spread the knees as wide as possible and sit back to heels
- Arms can be at your side or stretched overhead
- Rest chin or forehead on floor
Modifications
- Can separate the feet as wide as the knees
- Hips can come up and forward if the stretch is too intense
- Support chest on bolster
Benefits:
- Stretches groin, hamstrings and back
- Aids digestion and eases cramps
Meridians & Organs Affected:
- Liver, kidney, spleen, urinary bladder
Joints Affected:
- Hips, lower back, shoulders
Chakras Affected:
- First (muladhara)
- Second (svadhistana)
- Third (manipura)
Coming Out:
- Come to child’s pose or slide forward onto belly, bringing legs together
Counterposes
- Child’s pose
- Apanasana
With joy,
Debra
National Hanging Out Day
From en.wiki: Washing Line in Iceland. Taken by drw25 (talk) 16:20, 29 September 2006 (UTC)
Every April 19 is National Hanging Out Day. Established by Project Laundry List, the day is meant to call attention to the amount of energy we use to dry our clothes. According to their estimates, between 6 and 10 percent of residential energy use is spent on drying clothes. A simple way to save money, help the environment, and spend some time outside is to line dry your laundry. Make sure to check your local ordinances before you use a clothesline; it’s may actually be banned where you live. If you can’t dry outside, you can always use a laundry rack inside.
May we all live a little greener,
Debra
National Gardening Month: Yoga for Gardeners, Part 2
As National Gardening Month continues and gardeners get outside more and more, it’s important to remember to honor the body. Moving the body before going to work is important. So, too, is taking breaks to stretch out the spine and legs. Occasional breaks will, in the long run, allow for more time to be spent gardening.
Here are some suggestions for some simple yoga poses that can be done in the garden.
Enjoy your time outside!
Debra
Haiku Poetry Day
While February was National Haiku Writing Month, April 17 is haiku writing day. After being shocked to learn that 5-7-5 does not make a haiku a haiku, I thought I would try again at one of the other meters. I make no claims to have any poetic talent but I’m intrigued by this form.
Early Meditation
yellow
light expands
to white
Enjoy your day!
Debra
National Gardening Month: Yoga for Gardeners, Part 1
Yoga and gardening, aside from being two activities I enjoy, have a lot in common.
- A garden only thrives when we tend to it. The same can be said for our health. A yoga practice can help us maintain our physical and mental well-being.
- In gardening, you quickly learn that there is a connection between all systems. A plant only does well in the right soil, with the right amount of water, with the right sun exposure, and so on. Our bodies are the same way. An injury or imbalance in the hips may lead to back and/or knee pain. Stress can show up as tension in our shoulders, shortness of breath, and headaches. You have to work with more than one system to find balance.
- Yoga and gardening can reveal something new every day. Each day in the garden brings changes to plants, both good and bad. You might have plants suddenly budding out or you might have weeds suddenly popping up everywhere. In our yoga practice, you can do the same pose every day and every day there will be something different about it; some days it may be easy and some days it may be hard. I love that.
- If you’re a gardener, you likely know to prep your soil before starting. But do you prep your body for the physical exertion you’re about to do? A little yoga before, during, and after gardening won’t keep all aches and pains away, but it will likely help them go away faster. Click here for some gentle before-gardening poses (and watch this site for some during and after poses later this month).
Meet you in the garden,
Debra
