Enjoy the Simple Moments November 10, 2012

It’s Tuesday-teach Yoga and go home.  That is what I do.  But this Tuesday, I decided to take myself out to lunch.  I don’t remember the last time I did, so must mean it’s been a while.  One of my favorite places to go is The General Store downtown.   If the first thing that comes to your mind is there is no food there, think again.  Yes, it is a store with over 500 different beers, candy from the good old days ( Neco, sky bars), they have more, but now I have lost my memory.   They also have incense, Saki, homemade soaps, Jamaican seasoning, green tea, you get the idea.  It is not only nostalgic, but the owners are like family.   Not to mention that the food is outstanding.    I had a veggie Panini and a cup of chicken turnip soup.   You can sit inside or outside, doesn’t matter which you chose, every time you go, something catches your eye that you didn’t see the previous visit.   When you are there, you go back to when life was simple and easy.  A little get away without spending a lot of money.

So, as I was enjoying my lunch, a magazine called “Charm” got my attention.  It is a small publication for the Treasure Coast, filled with short stories, local businesses and upcoming events.  There was one story that I liked the most and want to share it with you.

PUT ON A HAPPY FACE….AND YOUR BODY WILL FOLLOW

“I heard a definition once.  Happiness is health and a short memory!  I wish I’d invented it, because it is very true.” -Audrey Hepburn

This statement is true because when you are in good health, life is much happier.  There are fewer things to worry about when you feel good.  Even the common cold can play on you.  ”How am I going to take care of my family?”  ”How does the house get cleaned?”  Workouts, etc.?  

The short memory comes into play as it relates to stressful situations.  Sometimes, the less we remember about things, the better off we are.  I definitely have friends who are in denial or who have selective memory and seem much happier throughout their day.  But we all can’t go through life fluttering around from place to place and person to person.  We make commitments that have to be fulfilled.  The key is “how do we find happiness”  that allows our bodies and minds to keep moving?  For me, happiness stems from seeing my husband sleeping next to me, and then how I physically feel each morning as the alarm goes off.  When I wake up and get out of bed, am I moving slowly as I set off to wake my other happiness up for school, my daughter.  Am I sore from working out?  Did I get enough sleep the night before?  I look forward to my coffee and meditating until my daughter comes flying down the stairs.  That is my morning happy.  

Once my daughter is off to school and the dog is walked and my husband is off to work, I turn the focus to my next happy.  Working out…no matter what else is going on or how I feel, a workout enhances my good mood or can turn a bad one into happy.  In the words of Elle Woods, “Exercise makes people happy, happy people don’t kill their husbands.”  And why don’t happy people kill their husbands?  Happy people laugh a lot.  And laughter, according to Norman Cousins, “is a form of internal jogging.  It moves your internal organs around.  It enhances respiration.”

Vanderbilt University did a study that found that adults burn an average of 1.3 calories per minute of laughing.  Or laughing a 100 times is equal to 15 minutes on an exercise bike.  By the way, children laugh on average about 400 times per day, while adults laugh about 15 times.

From an anatomical standpoint, the anatomy of a laugh is as follows:

There are 12 facial, jaw, and throat muscles involved in the laugh/smile.  Zygomatic, risorious and ocular muscles of the face contract; mandibular muscles also may rhythmically contract.  While laughing, the abdominal muscles and diaphragm contract and the vocal cords uncontrollably vibrate.

Gelotology is the study of laughter and its effects on the body, from a psychological and physiological perspective, specifically to the cause and effect of laughter and stress on the body.  Laughter counteracts stress by accelerating heart rate, increasing blood pressure, and releasing dopamine into the brain(all similar to exercise).  These hormones restore balance.  Exercise and laughter have several other things in common.  They improve cholesterol and blood pressure, decrease stress hormones, strengthen the immune system and increase appetite.

Laughter Yoga, developed by Dr. Madan Kataria, found that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter.  Therefore, a person gets the same physiological and psychological benefits from both.  Through a series of childlike play, breathing techniques and the mind-body/body-mind connection, laughter is generated to increase overall well being.  A perfect example of putting on a happy face…And the body following.  through Laughter Yoga, you teach yourself to laugh even if you are not “in the mood” or you do not see something funny.  Dr. Kataria has said that, “You don’t see anyone dying of laughter, they die because they are not laughing.”  Laughter creates a happy state and  a person’s physiology can reflect that.  For more information, go to http://www.laughteryoga.org.  

Lord Byron said, “Laugh whenever you can; it’s cheap exercise.”  And now we know why.  Take the time to find your happiness.  Laugh as much as you can during each day, and like Eleanor Roosevelt said, you will find that your “happiness and well-being will be a by-product of a life well lived.”

If your mind and body will believe whatever you tell them to, then by all means, tell them to be happy.  Do the things you need to do to induce happiness.  And remember, if you put on a happy face, your body will follow.

Article by Nancy Matican Bock

April 18, 2012

Reblogged from kind living blog:

Hello World, I wanted to share with you the Power of Kindness class, Assignment 2 for those who are participating. If you would like to participate, you are welcome to join! May you have a happy and peaceful day!

Seasonal Allergies-Natural Remedies April 14, 2012

For many, spring brings joy via outdoor activities amid blossoming flowers and blooming trees, as they visit parks, hike through meadows and jog along roads in the warming air.  For millions of allergy sufferers, however, the attendant airborne pollen brings bedevilled sneezes, congestion, teary eyes and runny noses.  Hay fever alone, which affects 35 million Americans, shuts many of us indoors.  Before resorting to such an extreme measure, try controlling allergic reactions using some of these simple suggestions.

The Mayo Clinic recommends that we begin by reducing exposure to allergy triggers:

*Stay indoors on dry, windy days and early mornings, when pollen counts are high.  The best time to be outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.

*Remove clothes previously worn outside.  Immediately after coming inside, shower thoroughly to rinse off pollen.

*Don’t hang laundry outside, because pollen may stick to it, especially sheets and towels.

*Keep indoor air as clean as possible by turning on the air conditioner in both the house and car, and use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, especially in the bedroom;most cost less than $100.00.  Make sure the vacuüm cleaner has a HEPA filter, too.  Keep indoor air comfortably dry with a dehumidifier.

For those that love being outdoors, several natural remedies can help.  Dr. Roger Morrison, a holistic physician in Point Richmond, California, likes targeted, widely available, over-the-counter homeopathic medicines.  Carefully read labels to match specific symptoms with those noted on each remedy.

For example, for a badly dripping nose, Allium cepa may be the most helpful remedy.  It helps lessen nasal discharge, plus reduce sneezing and congestive headaches that can accompany allergies.

If allergy symptoms center around the eyes, causing itching, burning, redness and tears, then homeopathic Euphrasia is a better choice.  If night-time post-nasal drainage leads to coughing upon waking, Euphrasia can help, as well.

Pulsatilla helps people whose allergies are worse when they enter a warm room or feel congested when they lie down at night.

Homeopathic remedies generally are available for less than $10.  If symptoms don’t improve in three days, stop and try a different homeopathic remedy.

Homeopathic practitioner Dr. Greg Meyer, in Phoenix, Arizona, says that many of his patients benefit from taking herbs and other natural supplements, and one of the most effective for hay fever is Urtica dioica(stinging nettles).  Studies reported in Planta Medica: Journal of Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research, showed that after one week, nearly two-thirds of the participants taking two 300 milligram (mg) capsules of freeze-dried nettles experienced decreased sneezing and itching.  Dr. Andrew Weil, of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, in Tuscon, recommends taking 250 mg of freeze-dried nettles extract every two to four hours until symptoms subside.

Quercitin is another useful herb.  By preventing release of histamine, it also works to lessen the sneezing and itching that accompany allergies.  Take 400 mg twice a day before meals.

Diana Danna, an integrative nurse practitioner in Staten Island, New York, suggests the age-old remedy of a neti pot to relieve congested nasal passageways.

For those who don’t have a neti pot, you should get one, they really work!  It’s like breathing with a new nose! Tammy

It may take a bit of practice, but she’s seen how rinsing the sinuses with a warm saltwater solution can reduce congestion and make breathing easier.  An over-the-counter squeeze bottle can substitute for a neti pot, as can NeilMed Sinus Rinse.  Danna suggests rinsing twice a day for best results.

Simple dietary changes often yield promising results, as well.  Stick to non-mucous-producing foods and eat more foods that give a boost to the body’s natural immune system.  Whole grains, fruits and vegetables and raw nuts and seeds fit both categories, as do lean proteins like fresh fish and organic meats.  Drinking plenty of clean water flushes the system and thins secretions.  Foods that tend to cause the most problems for allergy sufferers include dairy products, fried and processed foods and refined sugars and flours.

Adding essential fatty acids to a diet has benefits beyond allergy relief.  In my practice, I’ve seen how patients that take one to two tablespoons of flaxseed oil or three grams of fish oil during the spring months breathe more easily when outdoors.  They also delight in healthier looking skin, shinier hair and harder nails.

Trying these approaches may well turn spring into a favorite time of year for everyone.

This article provided by Lauri Grossman, a doctor of chiropractic and certified classical homeopath, practices in Manhattan, NY.  She also chairs the American Medical College of Homeopathy’s department of humanism, in Phoenix, AZ.  Learn more at amcofh.org and HomeopathyCafe.com.

May you all have much peace, love and joy this weekend.  Hope these natural remedies help you to breathe in all the goodness and beauty of life!

 

Excuse Me-Can you please help…. April 13, 2012

As I was driving home from work, I decided to visit Redbox for my evening entertainment.  For the movie buffs out there, I am sure you are well aware that Redbox is the cheapest way to rent a movie.  I mean you can’t even walk into the movie theater for $1.00.  Let’s think about the comparison:  one movie for $20 or more versus twenty movies for twenty dollars!  Which one would you pick?

Anyway, the Redbox location that I happened to be drawn to was at Walgreen’s (and the site is outside).  This particular Walgreen’s occasionally has people hanging out around the building (mostly men) that are either waiting for their wives, some may need a helping hand, and then those that are looking for more.  So, being a single lady you have to be cautious and aware of your environment.

It seemed like forever until I could find a movie that stoked my interest.  I surfed for a little while and finally just picked one “New Dawn.”

I did not notice (or was not paying attention) to see if there was anyone behind or beside me.  Sometimes I do that forgetting that I am alone.  I still have that little trust bug inside that all people are good and nothing bad will happen.  I believe in hearts because that is where the truth lies.  After I swiped the card, I took the movie and walked to my car.

I barely closed the door when this man suddenly appeared in front of my vehicle saying: “Excuse me, can you please help me?”

Even though I was alone, this man did not give me an anxiety feeling or that he was looking to harm me in any way.

He had a piece of paper in his hand, which he explained to me was a prescription for medication to relieve pain from surgery he had on his mouth.  The man seemed to be in distress and was trying to get the money to fill the prescription and he just needed a few more dollars.  I listened to his plea, told him to wait a few minutes as I closed the door.  He waited on the sidewalk in front of my vehicle.

As I opened the door to give the man the little he was asking, he said “God Bless You” and was on his way.

Now, I don’t know why the man decided to come to me, because there were others walking into Walgreens.  Although at that moment, it seemed like it was only us two.    The particular connection is not for me to explain or to figure out why it was supposed to be, only that it happened.

The opportunity to give comes to us in many forms and does not discriminate.  Opening your heart can present us with the chance to love everyone. regardless of the situation.

Peace and love to you all!

Tammy

Trying to Fit In May Cause Self-Disconnection April 11, 2012

Sunday April 8th was the beginning of the Power of Kindness Class created by Andy Smallman which is online for anyone who wants to take part.  The first assignment/module is The Practice of Kindness which you are to read the first chapter of the book and complete one of the choices in the assignment.  One is about the ‘transparent self’, meaning to do something kind for another without their knowledge or a problem within yourself that you may not realize is really a problem.  That does not mean that there is something wrong or you have to change yourself.  Example:  Being honest with someone who you might otherwise not say anything.

Everyone will interpret this first assignment in their own way, and there is no right or wrong.  (If you want to join, you can go to www.kindliving.net for more information).

So, after reading what the first assignment entailed, I realized something about myself that I partly was aware but never admitted (at least not to anyone outside myself).

I work in a restaurant and the majority of the staff are men.  I have worked there for a few years and more often than I like, my mood changes from sunshine to darkness once I walk through those doors.  If you have never worked in a restaurant environment, here is a brief picture of what it is like:  Mentality is disrespectful, the men are the only ones that know how to do anything and the language most of the time is rude.  Now I just would like to say that I am not perfect, and I am not intending to offend anyone.  There are thoughts that go through my head ( talking to myself), wondering if I should say anything.  Then there is the other side letting me know that you can not change people.

To try to ignore the uncomfortable feeling, I found myself acting a different role.  I guess you could say I was conforming so I they would like me and stop being disrespectful and rude.  That did not help and I felt worse and that little voice was saying: “why do you think you have to be someone else?”  So, I made up my mind that day to stay who I am and I don’t have to change for anyone.

When I was playing that role, I lost me and it took a little while to figure it out.  I also asked myself: “why was I doing that?” “who is this person?”  I was not liking the person I was becoming and once I snapped back into me again, the darkness was lifted( at least for me).

So now when I go to work, I sing, I block out any negativity in my space and make my best effort to pump up the staff if they are miserable or depressed.

I like happy faces!  Life is too short to stress yourself and worry about the small stuff.  Live every moment like you had a precious gem and treasure the experiences.

Peace and love,

Tammy

The 26th Day: Sharing the Benefits of Yoga has Grown Into a Universal Friendship February 1, 2012

I started teaching Yoga in September of 2011 and I am so blessed and thankful that I can help others with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.   The style that I offer is Hatha, which is gentle and designed for all who are either a beginner or have been practicing for some time.

As the months have passed, I have had the pleasure of meeting and developing a friendship with all who have entered the doors leading into our sacred space where we gather  for an hour to calm our mind, release stress and rejuvinate our body.

There is only one class that I instruct which is on Mondays, and this day is difficult for some, but there are ones who it is just what they need to start their week.  There is a class at 11:00 a.m. and then one in the evening at 7:00.  Depending on everyone’s schedule, most of the time the evening class is more convenient.

A couple of Mondays ago, there were three new Yogis that just came to class.  This was so exciting and brought warmth to my heart that they had come to join  the Yoga family.   There were two ladies and one gentleman.  Now I was glad to see a man interested because there has only been one class that was co-ed.

There was Loranda, Vicki and Bob.  Loranda had told me that she was looking for a Yoga class for three weeks because she was trying to start a healthy way of living.  There has been a sign for Yoga classes at the Community Center, but she said everytime she went, there was no teacher.  So, I told her that I am here every week and if I wasn’t I would let her know.  Then we have Vicki, a free spirit and such a loving individual who is living life as a happy soul.

Now there is Bob, a young man from New York who was only visiting for a few weeks and then had to return to the cold weather.  ( I was born in New York, so I was not envious).  He had explained a few of his limitations and I informed him that this class would not involve anything that would bring pain or restriction.  Also let him see that there were props available to him  any time that he needed assistance.    His face lit up with a smile, which I saw as a relief that he could relax, without feeling any pressure.

As we had finished the second class that Bob had attended, ( which was Loranda, Bob and myself), we sat and shared some thoughts.  Loranda was telling us how she moved here to be with her brother and had found her biological parents.  Bob’s thoughts were of how he has studied Hinduism for ten years and has grown spiritually.

I was really enjoying this time of discussion and glad that I had the opportunity to get a little preview of what Hinduism can offer.  As well as the joy I felt when Loranda shared her story about family, which is  a gift to always be treasured.

Around 9:00 p.m. we started to clean up and get ready to head home.  Bob went to his car for a moment and came back with CD’s for me and Loranda.  These were not just regular music CD’s, they were a CD of Bob’s musical talent.  I felt so special at that moment, ( almost too happy, like a little groupie!)

Not only did I give a gift of Yoga that night, I received more than words could ever express.

13th Day of 29: Healing Help for Back Pain January 10, 2012

It is about 6:30 p.m. and I am getting ready to start teaching Yoga.  I love to share this ancient form of exercise with as many as possible.  Yoga is a union between mind, body and soul.  For an hour you can relax your mind and be in tune with your body and soul.  This little period to devote to yourself and refresh your whole body for the week ahead.

Between 6:45 and 6:50, the students start to walk in and settle into their sacred space where they will practice for the next hour.  I love the time before class begins because we all get to communicate and ask how each other is doing and what exciting things took place over the weekend.

This specific class consisted of three and all of them had a little hardship that was interrupting their usual state of happiness.  One student was tired from restless sleep, another was not feeling well and the third had pulled her back and I could tell was in much pain. 

I have to give them all a generous amount of applause because even though they had these troubles, they still attended class knowing that Yoga is beneficial.

Today’s class was focused on stretching and strengthening the body.  Before I begin I always instruct the students that if at any time they are not able to do the postures, rest and come back when you feel ready. 

The student with the back pain was trying to keep up because she had said that maybe if she performs some of the postures, her muscles will loosen up and she will be able to move more comfortably. 

We made it through the class, and I noticed that she still had pain.  I asked her if she had any thing at home to rub on her muscles for pain and she said “no, I will be okay.”  Well I know how back pain is sometimes when you move your back just the wrong way can cause pain. 

I wanted to help her, so I gave her the Zim’s  Freeze that I had ( it is a topical gel for pain).  I told her it does not smell that great, but it will work. 

So, I am going to check how she is doing.  Hopefully she is better, because I hate to see people in pain.

Peace, love and light to everyone!

Enjoyable Vibrations: Healing Sounds for the Soul December 16, 2011

Several sounds associated with the holidays tend to cheer us up, but why? Naturally, we respond to sounds because everything in the Universe is comprised of vibration- or also known as a resonance. When we are exposed to healing sounds, our bodies and minds begin to resonate in harmony with them, supporting our well-being.

Fortunately, avenues of sound healing are readily accessible in our everyday lives. Engaging in activities such as singing, drumming or chanting often help us quickly reestablish a sense of balance in the midst of our multitasking lives. Attending an uplifting musical event can render a similar effect.

Sound Healing Therapy

Psychotherapist Meredith McFadden, a sound healing therapist in Medford, Oregon, observes that, “Receiving or creating intentional, healing sound vibrations is proving to be one of the most direct, most relevant healing modalities available today.”

McFadden appreciates sound for its immediate effect. She takes individual clients on sound journeys with the help of voices, crystal singing bowls, buffalo drums and other instruments. “When we bathe ourselves in healing sound waves,” she observes, “we open up a direct line of communication with our soul.” At the culmination of each session, she allows what she terms the “big music of silence” to envelope the one being healed.

McFadden notes that not all healing sounds need to be calming. “Activating music can be just as healing as soft and slow sounds,” she says. Whether we prefer listening to Lady Gaga, Native American flutes or the sound of a heavy rainstorm, the key is to discover what especially resonates with us.

Crystal Singing Bowls

Master crystal singing bowl artist Ashana, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, couples angelic vocals with her massive collection of bowls for a musical healing alchemy recognized worldwide. “Listening to the bowls can have a profound impact ona person’s well-being.” says Ashana.

Made from pure, crushed quartz, infused with precious gemstones, minerals and metals, “The bowls vibrate at a very high, pure frequency,” she explains. “As we come into resonance with the bowls, mental chatter slows or stops and the mind quiets. Within minutes, our nervous system starts to unwind. In a state of peaceful stillness, the ‘dial up’ to our higher self becomes accessible. This is the optimum state for healing to occur.”

Ashana emphasizes that we are all interconnected, so any healing work we do on ourselves affects all of humanity. “As we raise our personal frequency, we can become conscious tuning forks for divine energies to pour through us,” she believes. “We’re all holding a piece of the web.”

Healing Through Song

“Since the dawn of time, humans have been sharing song in their tribe,” says Zurich, Switzerland, recording artist, educator and filmmaker Michael Stillwater. “Pop songs are modern tribal songs, although we have mostly become a culture of consumers and spectators, rather than participants.”

The founder of Inner Harmony Music and Song Without Borders, Stillwater’s is a strong voice in an emerging grassroots global movement devoted to helping people reclaim their inner song. “As a vocal art, singing is unique,” he advises. “It’s deeply connected to our sense of self.” He also notes that if our voice or singing is criticized in our developmental years, we may shut down our creative expression. “We then become like cave dwellers, hiding our voice; there are millions of vocal cave dwellers in our world,” he says.

Finding your song-or chant or mantra-almost inevitably becomes integrated with a pathway for rediscovering one’s authentic self. “It’s about letting your voice become part of your own healing medicine,” says Stillwater. His film documentary, In Search of the Great Song, celebrates the use of creative vocal expression for healing and transformation.

Experience Kirtan

Kitzie Stern, producer of the New World Kirtan podcast, notes that kirtan, or sacred chanting, is known for bonding everyone in the moment of co-creation between audience and artists, followed by quiet meditation in community. Originating in India, kirtan is one of the oldest musical traditions in the world.

The mantras used in kirtan open the listener to the experience of peace. Stern explains, “The music that accompanies kirtan also helps our minds to turn off. As wallah(chant leader) Dave Stringer puts it, ‘The chant is the medicine, but the music is what helps it go down.’”

One does not have to attend a live kirtan performance to reap its benefits. Stern’s podcast plays a variety of chants to help listeners tune into tranquility. She observes that, “Being able to access the quiet magnificence that exists within each one of us and live within it for some portion of the day helps us to stay sane in the turmoil of the modern world.”

Learn more at SoundMovesWonder.com, AshanaMusic.com, InnerHarmony.com and NewWorldKirtan.com.

Article provided by Erin Floresca, a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon. Connect at ErinLehnFloresca.com

Hope you enjoy this information. Peace, love and light to everyone.