Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Do your chores.

You can abuse your body up to age 35. After that, it abuses you.
Chinese proverb

Being Healthy is a culmination of the myriad of choices you make every single day. In America, making good choices daily is a chore. It's a chore because we have a McDonalds on every corner. It's a chore because of the availability of processed food. It's a chore because our mother's forgot to teach us how to cook, Finally, it's a chore because the meat industry, the dairy industry, the chemical industry and the tobacco industry have very very powerful voices and deep wallets that bombard us with misinformation.

This weekend I was struck by what a chore it is to be healthy just because life is so busy. Saturday I worked half the day and ran to get my daughter from a birthday party to run to my son's lacrosse tournament. She had eaten pizza and cake the night before and donuts for breakfast. It was lunch time and we went through Wendy's. There, she downed some masticated chicken things. Seven hours of lacrosse in the rain later she had eaten skittles and a mountain dew...or was that me? Driving home late from lacrosse, son starving, we ordered pizza. All this was easily preventable. All I needed to do was plan a little better.

Laying in bed Saturday night, I was horrified by our day. I envisioned my daughter going off to college where I will have no say, input or control over her food choices....the dreaded freshman 15. Worse yet, my mind reeled over the chemicals she had consumed. What were they doing to her as she slept? My mind turned to obesity, diabetes and cancer. Finally, I drifted to sleep to dream of swimming in a tortured ocean with my daughter surrounded by sharks.

On Sunday I asked my daughter what she wanted for breakfast. She looked at me straight in the eye and said, "an orange". From the mouth of babes.....

Make good choices every day. Do your chores.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Mother

I was talking to my mother the other night about the state of the world. My mom is a gorgeous woman of 66. She LOVES Oprah. I love Oprah too, but I find I am short of time and attention for TV so I get my Oprah updates from my mother. Oprah has had all kinds of holistic health things on lately...nutrition, meditation, saving the planet and yoga.

I have been "preaching" the benefits of all this stuff to my mom for years. It took Oprah, however, to get my mom to a yoga class. My mother, 66, has become a yogi. She's also become an environmental activist and I now receive updates weekly. "We shouldn't use plastic bags. Stop drinking out of plastic bottles. Buy only organic vegetables and fruits. Don't eat meat, it's disgusting what they do to those poor animals. Switch your lightbulbs out to those enviro guys. Don't turn the air conditioner on. Consolidate your trips. Stop shopping...buy used and refurbished. You never know what someone is going through...be more kind. Try listening better, it will improve your relationships. Stop spoiling your kids, they don't need all that junk. It ends up in the landfill anyway. Do you realize it takes a McDonald's toy 1000 years to disintegrate? Nuclear energy is not "clean" energy because they don't know what to do with the waste. Did you know that almost every fortune 500 company has been convicted of some crime? You realize that non-organic food is less expensive because we are subsidizing the clean up of pesticides with our tax payer dollars. Go to bed on time. Eat three meals a day, it's better for digestion. Make nice friends and look both ways before you cross the street. "


I sound just like my mother......

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Do you need Spirituality?

I went and saw a Spiritual Master named Panache Desei last Friday. I thought it was a lecture, but it ended up a lecture with an energetic healing at the end. To be honest, I didn’t want to stay because (1) I didn’t know what I was getting into, (2) I don’t like people in my energy that I don’t know and (3) I’m quite sick of being healed....I’m done...cooked.

I stayed though. Panache was quite worked up. I can’t tell you why, but something must have happened the evening before in Kentucky that left him fired up. His message was simple and clear, “You don’t need spirituality. You have everything you ever need inside of you. You are perfect just the way you are. Please go home and be happy and know that you are perfect and never attend a spiritual function ever again. You don’t need healed. There is nothing to heal. Go home.” Wow or Ouch. I don’t know.

I liked what he had to say because I frequently have those same thoughts. I look at my yogis and see how marvelous they are and I wish that they could just embrace what they are suffering through and move forward. It is true that if you put your attention on your suffering, your suffering will go away. I always recommend that you put all of your attention for a long period of time on only that suffering to make it go away faster. My theory is that you will become bored by it and move on. The problem with what Panache was saying is that he is missing the critical step of KNOWING to put your attention on your suffering. You must be given tools to grow and that is why you need spirituality. The tools I give are meditation, yoga, present moment awareness and mindfulness. You can get other tools at church, at temple, through books and at other groups. You need tools because you don’t know. You need spirituality. You are perfect just the way you are. Everything is as it is meant to be, but sometimes you need someone to tell you or remind you.

This led me to ask myself the question of why I ended up at that event on Friday night. I ended up there because I need to refill my cup sometimes. I have the tools. I’ve been doing this for awhile. While I still suffer just like everyone, I have tools that allow me to quickly move through it and to quite honestly, avoid a lot of it. I simply need to sit in the presence of a Master or Holy person and soak them up sometimes. It motivates me to continue on this path. It’s like going to a support group or something.

I didn’t get motivated by Panache. I kind of got sad. I started wondering what I am doing all of this for. I could sense his frustration that people weren’t doing their work and people weren’t changing or growing. I know that feeling because I get it sometimes too. He seemed defeated and that left me soaking up his defeatedness...is that a word? My thoughts turned to how easy it would be to just move back to the corporate world. I’d make tons of money, have a secure job and actually have a retirement plan. I sent out a few life lines to my support circle and they tethered me back to my purpose. I’m doing this because I have to. It’s my life’s purpose. It’s my love and my joy. This little building in Lebanon Ohio is my heart, my soul and my temple. Is that spirituality?

I’ve always had a thing for cardinals. When I see one, I feel that it is a communication from spirit. I picked a cardinal well because they are abundant, easy to see and stay around all year. That means that I can believe that spirit is always talking to me through those little guys. I see them in my yard daily. Today, as I drove to the studio, I saw a cardinal sitting in the middle of the road. That little guy wasn’t moving out of my way either. I slammed on my breaks, everything in my car flew forward and my daughter and I got out. He just sat there. I picked him up to move him to the field. He was so soft and sweet. His wings flapped fine and his tail feathers were intact. I couldn’t see anything wrong with him. He seemed small, so perhaps he was a baby just learning to fly....I don’t know. I set him down and he chirped. I got back in my car.

As I drove away, it occurred to me that that little representation of spirit needed me. Spirit needs me. I don’t need spirituality, spirituality needs me. It needs me to be some beacon of light, hope and motivation in this crazy world where we have to be reminded that we are perfect just the way we are. We are the eyes and ears of spirit and we are needed. Spirit needs you to be a beacon of light as well.

Now get your buddhi to yoga because I need you too!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Reading List

Below are some of my favorite books, favorite websites for inspiration and favorite poets, people and authors. Find something that inspires you. Find a hero.


There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle
. ~ Albert Einstein



We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are. ~ The Talmud

Recommended Reading List:

Eat, Taste, Heal: Ayurveda, Thomas Yarema
Perfect Health: Ayurveda, Deepak Chopra
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: Deepak Chopra
True Love: Thich Nat Hahn
Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul: Deepak Chopra
Words I Wish I Wrote, Robert Fulghum
The Untethered Soul, Michael Singer
Conversations with God, Neale Walsh


GO TO THESE WEBSITES FOR FREE DOWNLOADS AND INSPIRATION

http://www.iamplify.com/eckhart-tolle/
http://www.chopra.com/
http://deepakchopra.com/ (TAKE THE PLEDGE FOR NONVIOLENCE)
http://www.myss.com/
http://www.marianne.com/
http://www.drwaynedyer.com/
http://www.louisehay.com/
http://www.amma.org/
http://www.ascensiongateway.com/ (FOR INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES)
http://www.ramdass.org/
http://www.osho.com/

Others who may inspire you:

Buddha
Confucius
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Mahatma Gandhi
Billy Graham
Jesus
Marin Luther King
Dalai Lama
Ramana Maharshi
Bob Marley
Muhammad
Pat Robertson
Rumi
Kahlil Gibran
Rabindranath Tagore
Hafiz
Cat Stevens
Mother Teresa
Lao Tzu
Malcolm X
Jerry Garcia
Albert Camus
Dylan Thomas
Franz Kafka
Marcel Proust
Beatrix Potter
Ranier Maria Rilke
Albert Einstein
Paramahansa Yogananda
David Hawkins
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
Pema Chodron
Carlos Casteneda
St. Francis of Assisi
Thomas Merton
Peace Pilgrim
Gary Zukav
Byron Katie
Tao Te Ching
Norman Vincent Peale
Richard Rose
Victor Frankl
William blake
Walt Whitman

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Meditation

Meditation

Learn to Meditate

Follow the link to this amazing one hour workshop on Meditation with Jon Kabat Zinn. John Kabit Zinn is a Professor of Medicine Emeritus and founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He teaches mindfulness meditation as a technique to help people cope with stress, anxiety, pain and illness.

The Heath & Wellness Clinic began this week. The focus of this first of six weeks is to establish a meditation practice. Why do we meditate? It is the basis for good health, good thoughts and connection to spirit. It is a powerful practice that destroys stress in your life, facilitates clear and intentioned thinking and allows access to the universal field of silence where you know your soul.

Try it for a week. Simply set aside 10 minutes each morning to sit in silence with your breath, your thoughts, or a mantra. At EOM, we like to use the "So Hum" mantra. "So" means "I" and "Hum" means "Am". Simply breath in and think "So", breath out and think "Am". Notice your thoughts, let them go and go back to your mantra.

If you need a little push to get you adjusted to sitting for 10 minutes with your eyes closed,

CLICK HERE

Friday, April 9, 2010

Union

Yoga is a Sanskrit word. It means "union". It is often simply explained as the unification of your body, your mind and your spirit. Yoga is way more than that though. Yoga is the realization of the self. Yoga is realizing that you are at the center of the world co-creating your existence with all other beings and non-beings. Yoga is realizing that through your thoughts (conscious and unconscious) you are creating your reality. Yoga is realizing that through your choices, you are determining the path of your life.

This is how yoga works. Through living a socially morale acceptable life (this will vary by culture and upbringing although the basics are the same), we diminish social drama. Through living a personally morale life, we diminish personal drama. Through movement, we heal our bodies and begin to line up our energy body or chakras. Through breath, we begin to appreciate life, pause and relax. Through meditation, we become aware of our thoughts and aware that we can control our thoughts. Through service to mankind, we find our life's purpose. At the end of this, is a happy person who has had a happy life.

Choose Happiness!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

I've never met a problem I can't fix

My son, Elliott, turned 13 today. For his birthday he wanted to go see the new IMAX movie, IMAX Under the Sea. It's playing at the Museum Center here in Cincinnati. The movie was beautiful. It was all about sea life and gorgeously filmed. About 3/4 of the way into the movie they started talking about the devastating effect global warming is having on our seas and our sea life.

The reefs are dying and so are thousands of species of animals. Did you know that there are only 10,000 sea lions native to the Australian Reef left? As I was hearing this bad news and seeing the destruction, huge tears welled up in my eyes. It's just so sad. I looked over to my 13 year old son and saw that he too had huge tears in his eyes. That gorgeous little creature that I brought into this planet was crying on his 13th birthday because our generation and the generations before us have destroyed his playground.

That's when I really started crying. We left the theater with Mama in tears and everyone else choking them back. I don't understand why I was the only one in such a state of grief. I don't know why everyone wasn't crying. I cried all the way home.

As I drove home, I went back to my personal mantra which is "I've never met a problem I can't fix". I never have. I'm going to fix this for my son and my daughter. I am going to consume less. I'm not turning my air conditioner on. I'm planting a garden that flourishes. I will make full use of my rain barrel and by compost bin. I will consolidate trips and do less. I will spread the word.

I've started a new group on Facebook. You can find it if you search "Consuming less...one day at a time." Please join the group. It's simply about embracing the challenge to consume only used, recycled, reclaimed and refurbished goods. It's about making a choice daily and awakening that part of you that wants to nourish the planet. The rules are simple. Just get up every day and choose to not consume. If you must have something new, buy it from a Company that has best practices, choose organic, sustainable, fair trade and free trade. I can fix this problem. I need your help.

All our kids deserve a playground.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

why?

Our meditation clinic met last night for the first time. We had a bit of discussion about the benefits of meditation, established a practice and then practiced a bit. I was very curious as to why people showed up. Where did they hear about meditation? What was driving them on this journey? These are the questions that, as the instructor, I don't really get to ask and if I do, I'm sure I don't really get the personal answer that I desire. I'm just curious.

For me, I established a meditation practice after reading Dr. Chopra's book "The Book of Secrets". The real question to ask me is why did I chose to read that book. I honestly don't remember. I know that I was desperately searching for some answer to get me through chronic pain and a not so happy marriage. I know that I felt my life was lacking purpose and I wasn't sure where I was supposed to be going or what I was supposed to be doing with my life. Dr. Chopra's book seemed magical in some way, but so practical too that it didn't alienate me from all this spiritual/metaphysical stuff.

I found a Chopra Certified Primordial Sound Instructor in Columbus and took her course. I then signed up for a meditation retreat through the Chopra Center. The rest is history. I've been meditating pretty much everyday ever since...that was six years ago. It has profoundly changed my life. I'm much happier than I used to be. I'm much more positive too. I'm way less grumpy, much more empowered, kinder, more compassionate, less judgmental and to be honest, simply nicer than I used to be. I've learned to accept things as they are. I've learned to change the things I don't like. I've found quiet, stillness, self-confidence and independence of spirit that I didn't know existed. These are the things that I hope for my yogis. These are the things I hope for humanity.

How do you establish a practice? You simply must have discipline. Find silence everyday for 10 minutes. You can sit by a window and simply gaze out. You can sit with your eyes closed. You can use mantra if you choose. Just start the practice of setting aside 10 minutes each day as a nourishing time to heal, to destress and to calm. If you can't find 10 minutes in your day to focus on yourself, you really need to ask yourself the larger questions of life.

So many people tell me they simply don't have time to meditate. I always wonder if they have time to be sad, to be sick or to be unfulfilled. I don't. God gave me so many breaths to breathe and each one is going to be amazing.

Now, turn off the radio, the TV, the Cell-Phone and your computer! Go sit in silence and enjoy your mind.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Meditation...the foundation for dialogue

Tonight starts our Meditation Clinic. If you have fallen off your practice or would like to develop a practice, please plan to come on Tuesdays to EOM from 6:30 - 7:00 pm to be led through a simple and easy practice. We will have some instruction, a 20 minute guided meditation and more discussion. This is a FREE clinic. It will go through April 27th when the Elemental Immersion begins. (Feel welcome to stay for New to Yoga afterwards...its $13).

Meditation has been studied since the 1920s in both the US and especially in India and China where it is more a part of their culture. The findings are remarkable. It is widely accepted that meditation helps in the treatment of stress which is of particular importance to psychosomatic illnesses. Psychosomatic illness are illnesses that have a mental component associated with the stress of everyday life. These illness include high blood pressure, lower back pain, neck pain, IBS, ulcers, headaches, dizziness, aches and pains, anxiety, phobias and hypochondria. It is unclear that meditation is effective in the treatment of addictions and depressions, however, I believe with the combination of yoga, gentle movement and emotional clearing exercises, meditation can be effective.

FINDINGS:
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Feb2003, Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine:

  • Meditation strengthens the ability to ward off illness.
  • Mediation has clear effects on the parts of the brain which focus on emotion (left and frontal regions which respond to anxiety).

Dr. Herbert Benson, Cardiologist, Mind/Body Medical Institute of Harvard:

  • Stress management can benefit 60% to 90% of people who see doctors for illness. It is increasingly being added to traditional therapies for the treatment of patients with life-threatening illnesses like cancer and AIDS.

"The relaxation response helps decrease metabolism, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and slows breathing and brain waves," he says. "Just about any condition that is either caused or made worse by stress can be helped with meditation."

For more findings, visit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.


Begin your practice by simply setting aside time. I personally prefer transcendental meditation, but you can grow into that practice. Below is a link to some beautiful music that will guide you for 10 minutes. Let you mind simply relax and go with the music. The important thing, at this point, is to take the time each day to perform the 10 minute practice:


I don't think people fully understand how powerful meditation can be. It is truly life-changing. Through meditation, we process all of our negative thoughts, emotions and beliefs. We are able to change our brainwaves so that they naturally lead us to choose the more nourishing choice. I believe that through meditation we begin the practice of nourishing and loving ourselves. I used to think that meditation was all about connecting to Spirit. I now see that meditation is simply my homework so that I can be with Spirit in every moment of my day. Shanti, Pamela