New Favorite Ad

I recently ran across a new ad campaign from Whole Foods. The ad states: "Treat your body like it belongs to someone you love." Wow! How's that going for ya?? I'll be the first to admit that I use the "holiday season" as an excuse to eat treats and snacks that I typically avoid otherwise. I stay up late at parties, drink more wine, and generally get stressed about stuff that just is not that important. In other words, I'm not paying much attention to treating my physical self well. At this point, with Christmas come and gone and a new year coming in fast, I feel more than ready to use this ad campaign as my new slogan and words to really try to live by.

I hate the idea of dieting....it feels so restrictive. Changing the narrative to 'feeding my body well' and treating myself with deep kindness and respect feels optimistic and full of potential. As the New Year unfolds, I'll be trying to focus on all of the ways that I can treat my whole self with deep love....eating really nourishing food, getting plenty of rest, doing yoga, and finding time for laughter, reflection, and spending time really being present with family and friends. It's not a selfish enterprise....when we are healthy and whole, we bring that to our relationships and into a world that deeply needs examples of living in peace and good health.

I hope to see many of you back on the mat in 2015....let's make this the year that we treat our bodies like they belong to someone we love!

Present Posture

Maybe you are reading this blog sitting in a chair. Consider your current posture. Are you slumped a bit in your chair with your shoulders rolling forward? Are your feet propped up so that you are reclining? If you are in "less than optimal" posture...take a moment to sit up tall. Place both feet on the ground and take your back away from the back of the chair. Take a breath....and then notice what has happened. By bringing your awareness to your body and by activating some muscles to sit up tall, you likely feel a bit more awake and are noticing a change in your body energy. You may feel less sluggish and simply more "present." This is the basis of yoga practice.....to start to be tuned in to the here and now by attending to breath and body sensation.

It's not wrong to relax or melt into a comfy chair from time to time. Rest and relaxation are important.   Being active is also important. Using our bodies and asking them to move and stand tall keeps us alert, grounded, and strong. Our bodies were built for movement. If we don't "use it" we "lose it", so make a commitment now to be more active and more aware of how you are using your body to be at your best each day.

Last week of classes for 2014!

This week (December 8-11) is the last week of yoga for all 3 of my yoga class locations. Lets enjoy one more practice together this week before we take a couple of weeks off over the holidays. See the sidebar for the dates and times for classes in January 2015.

December!

I love summer time....but a close second is the Christmas season! I love lighting candles, sitting by a fire, going to holiday parties, listening to Christmas music, and taking some time for  quiet reflection during the dark days of December. Have you noticed that the sunrise is especially gorgeous when it is cold and snowy out? (Plus...I am usually not awake early enough to enjoy a sunrise in the summer months!!!)

I love both the reflective quiet AND the hullaballoo and hectic nature of December. What keeps me grounded and healthy through it all is my yoga practice! If nothing else, yoga is a practice that works on me to stay grounded and to stay present in the here and now.  I can be still and quiet, or energetic and warm on my yoga mat. I get to practice and enjoy feeling strong, stable and deeply connected to all of creation. Talk about some wonder!

Have a lovely December.....if the crowds and hectic atmosphere of the season start to feel overwhelming...take a walk outside. Make a snow angel. Get up in the middle of the night and enjoy the fact that with the winter snow and some amount of moonlight, you can look out a window to a world that is alight, and quiet and still. May a spirit of peace and wonder be yours this holiday season!