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Myyogajoy

8 hours ago

Yoga Off the Mat: finding your inner peace😌…. I’m grateful to experience this place and space where I find peace and strength and grounding. Paddling (SUP) to a little island before sunset, I noticed the rhythmicity with each pass through and over the water. It was a chance to practice a meditative Hawaiian healing prayer (“I’m sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you”) over and over like a mantra. You can practice meditative forgiveness for yourself and others by repeating this silently or aloud, whether you are paddling on a lake, walking in your neighborhood, or driving in your car. Where and how do you access your inner peace?🤔😌 ... See MoreSee Less

Myyogajoy

1 week ago

Yoga Off the Mat: No, I’ve not taken up sheep shearing. My labradoodle Naya was just very overdue to have her hair combed. So on a lovely summer afternoon, I sat on the deck and combed her hair until it was fluffy and smooth💗 And it dawned on me that this was Meditation. 😌 In fact, anything done with mindfulness and presence can be meditative: enjoying a warm mug of coffee or tea, washing dishes, rubbing your partner’s shoulders, folding laundry, or trimming your 93 year old mother’s toenails 🙄. Notice when and where you are mindfully present, and then notice how that feels in your body…. Is it tight and constricted, or relaxed and at ease? Are your thoughts racing and scattered, or do you feel focused and centered? ANY thing can be approached with mindfulness and presence. Where have you found Meditation lately?🤔 ... See MoreSee Less

Myyogajoy

2 weeks ago

Yoga Off the Mat: for centuries, yogis have meditated on the lotus flower. When these tulips blossomed a few weeks ago, they looked like mini-kaleidoscopes that mesmerized. You can zoom in for a meditative Dristi (focal point), or choose your own flower and engage all your senses—not only sight, but also how it feels to the touch, how it smells, perhaps how it tastes (careful here—not all flowers are edible or palatable!) and even how it sounds when air passes through….🪷😌🌷 ... See MoreSee Less

Myyogajoy

3 weeks ago

Yoga Off the Mat: Earlier this week I was teaching about healthy sleep as part of the Aging Mastery series at the Windsor Senior Center. The participants were completely engaged and asked thoughtful questions, which was completely energizing! As I prepared to leave, one gentleman gifted me with this colorful origami box😊 He explained how much he enjoyed creating origami without any tape or glue. Then he went on to share that sometimes, when he’s not feeling his best, he gives away one of his creations. Usually the recipient reacts with joy and tells him how he made their day!🤗 And bringing others joy, he said, makes him feel happier ☺️ ….

What skills or talents can you share with others to spread more joy and positivity? Do you like to bake treats and bring them to work? Do you help your neighbors with a project? Do you tell corny jokes🤪? Do you smile, make eye contact and thank those who serve you (think cashiers, servers, health care providers…)? Simple, ELEMENTAL gestures can create huge ripples🙌😌 ... See MoreSee Less

Myyogajoy

1 month ago

Yoga Off the Mat: I went for a walk with the dogs the other day, hoping to settle my busy mind, and we came upon the tiniest painted turtle!🐢 Different references say that turtles are symbolic of longevity, perseverance, steadfastness, protection, retreat, healing, tranquility…connecting with this little guy and with the earth felt really sweet and grounding, which was exactly what I needed. Turtles are good reminders that we need to make time for self-care, for healing, for rest and retreat from time to time, to promote tranquility and well being.😌 Where have you found peace and grounding lately?🤔 ... See MoreSee Less

Myyogajoy

2 months ago

Yoga Off the Mat: this was my foot about 6 weeks ago, having sutures removed after surgery. Throughout the healing process, I have worn various bandages/splints/boots and used scooters/crutches/etc—all physical signs that there was something that wasn’t quite whole, something that needed healing. For the most part, people could see my situation and they offered sympathy, concern and consideration. No one judged me as being weak, even though the reason I needed surgery stemmed from having a weak arch in my foot.…
If someone has high blood pressure and has tried to regulate it with diet and exercise but still needs medication to control it, do we consider them to be weak? 🤔 No, we acknowledge that they have something physical that isn’t quite right and requires medication so they can be well….
If someone struggles with mental illness—Depression, Anxiety, Disordered Eating, etc—are they considered weak or defective? Just because we can’t “see” the challenge or imbalance doesn’t make it less real and valid. Perhaps they’ve tried to regulate their mental health with exercise or supplements or meditation. Perhaps they benefit from talk therapy or medication to regulate their mood. Does that mean they are weak or should be ashamed or that their challenge is less real than an obvious physical illness? Am I ashamed that my foot needed surgery? Should anyone be ashamed that they need medication to regulate their blood pressure? We can talk about these things openly without much drama or judgment. So why don’t we talk about mental health??? We need to have more conversations. We need to break down stigma. We need to heighten awareness. We need to learn proactive/preventive habits for mental health and wellness. We need to have conversations NOW. Mental health is part of Whole Health, and we are suffering as a society. And we can change things….
We can have open and honest conversations—there’s a good chance that someone else needs to hear about your struggles in order to realize that they’re not alone. If you are struggling, ask for help. If someone you care about is struggling, lend them an ear and guide them to get help. If a stranger is struggling, be compassionate. It’s no different from having a broken bone or stitches or crutches or any other physical condition. We can make a positive difference NOW💜☮️ ... See MoreSee Less

Myyogajoy

2 months ago

Yoga Off the Mat: today’s offering is a simple intention/affirmation (you can repeat it out loud 😉): “I live and love in the present moment, trusting the flow of the Universe” {or insert “God”, “nature”, “my higher power” or any other word or phrase that is meaningful to you} 😌 ... See MoreSee Less