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Roots to Breath, Dona Anderson

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 Dove Beauty Sketches


Sharing a video from Dove Real Beauty Sketches
I hope you watch it! 

http://youtu.be/XpaOjMXyJGk

Invite Spring In!

Invite Spring In!
By Dona Anderson

 

Published in Island Gals, 2013 Volume 3 Issue 1

 

Spring is my new favorite time of year to observe and celebrate each new beginning. 

I love spring on Vancouver Island as it offers us such a long and gradual season of change that fills me with feelings of freshness and rejuvenation, and even invites us to put a little spring into our steps.  We get lots of time to connect to open spaces and to look forward to the pleasures and rewards of a new year.

 

I thought the best way for me to share this with you is through a short meditation that welcomes a few of my treasures of spring and I hope you’ll like them as well.  It begins by simply connecting you with your breath by noticing your next few inhales followed by your exhales … get comfortable, soften your eyes, and take a few minutes to ease into noticing each part of the breath.

Become aware that the inhalation is to receive, the exhalation is to release and let go … slowly soften throughout your body and gently begin to lengthen each part of the breath slightly as you breathe … can you also start to notice where you feel the breath expanding and then releasing within your body …

As you become more relaxed and comfortable bring to focus your next few inhales only and invite into each one the freshness and rejuvenation of spring.

 

 Let your warm spring breaths also bring in feelings of peace, kindness, and compassion …

 

Slowly move your focus now to your exhales … notice and celebrate where you start to let go of the breath, where you let go of any stress or tension you may be holding, and where you come back to feelings of open spaces being left behind.

 

Let the focus on your breath go now and give yourself permission to just rest and become even more comfortable … can you feel your body both receiving and releasing … can you feel your body and mind both softly letting go … can you feel spaces starting to open up to invite spring in …

 

This spring, smile as you wake up to the sun rises filling your home with soft morning light.

 

As new flowers begin to bloom absorb all their beauty, colors, and soothing fragrances.

 

Listen to the birds joyful songs of celebration as they return to begin again.

 

Embrace the blossoms of the trees as their gifts to you and the world.

 

Feel the freshness of soft drops of warm rain on your face.

 

Notice your smiles are gifts that connect you with the present moment.

 

Breathe in and let gratitude fill your whole body with inner peace.

 

And this spring, maybe you can release a few layers of old thoughts and habits and create space to invite in simplicity, ease, calm, and softness.

 

Now close your eyes and simply rest for a few more minutes.

 

                                            Namaste.

Red Tuque Spring Catalogue

Spring has arrived and the new spring catalogue for 2013 is out and full of great books by Canadian authors.

www.redtuquebooks.ca

Reason Season Lifetime

Something to think about

Dona Anderson

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Reason Season Lifetime

This is a great poem I want to share it with you.  Author unknown

People always come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
It is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
Or to provide you with guidance and support,
To aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
This person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die. Sometimes they just walk away.

Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON,
It is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.

They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.
And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall,
The season eventually ends.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
Those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person anyway;
And put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
Thank you for being part of my life,
Whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

Author - Unknown

A quote from Wayne Dyer

Wayne Dyer wrote -
"Most people are searching for happiness outside of themselves. 
That's a fundamental mistake.
Happiness is something that you are, and it comes from the way that you think."

One Rose Wellness Message

 

"Allow yourself to rest inside

your own breathing space,

a space for dreams, a space

for pauses, a space to be ..."

 

Dona Anderson, a message from Simply, One Breath At a Time

What Am I Suppose To Do

What Am I Suppose To Do

What a great title for this relaxation in Simply, One Breath At a Time on page 24.

When I first started yoga and listened to the guided relaxations I didn't know much about them and I usually felt more like sleeping than being aware of what was actually being said.  I  wondered what this was all about and how to do it.

Dona Anderson

This relaxation comes from that place of not knowing, not being sure that day of just what to do or how to do it.  It first asks you to find stillness and breathe softly.  Then it says "Sometimes when you hear this you may ask yourself, what am I suppose to do, how do I do that ..."

I asked those same questions so it continues on to say "If this happens, just relax and let your breath take you there, let it be your guide as you soften and breathe..."

We forget how simple this can be.  Sometimes we get so wrapped up in other things we can't seem to let go or we want to make it difficult for some reason.  Sometimes we struggle with just letting ourselves take a well deserved few minutes to care for and notice our own self.

The relaxation goes on to bring awareness to and relax different parts of the body, bring awareness to and notice your surroundings, and it continues to guide you to bring awareness to and notice your breath.

What I didn't know at the time I started all this was that even hearing the same relaxation multiple times can bring up different things because each day is different and I am in a different place.  These guided relaxations have given me wonderful gifts and the knowing that the breath is our guide to the rest of our life ... 

Thanks - Simply, One Breath At a Time!


More book information available here

Is it in Your Library?

eBook now available

                     Simply, One Breath At a Time 

Is it in your Library? Simply, One Breath At a Time is a wonderful book to bring into your local library or to donate to a wellness centre library or facility to help others.

The gentle and encouraging words within the 65 guided relaxations meditations quickly bring calmness and awareness to your mind, body, and breath.

65 reasons to read, reread, and share with others!
See what others had to say.

More information at http://rootstobreath.blogspot.ca/ or at the sales links below.

Online sales at Amazon , Balboa Press and 
at other booksellers in e-Book formats.

Pages for you just to be you...

Published in Island Gals, 2012 Volume 2, issue 4

Pages for you just to be you...

Dona Anderson

My previous stories spoke about retirement being a special time to do things that feed your soul and brings you health and happiness. For me, this included challenges and things that both excited and surprised me.  It will continue to be an evolving process to work through while adding that sprinkle of courage on top.

Last issue, I referenced my imaginary life book and filling its pages with lots of good things.   I’d like to share a few lines from a meditation I wrote last year.   I think it sums up how each new day gives us more opportunities, pages to write, and lets us know we’re not done yet.

“There are pages left for love, family, and friendship …

             There are pages for learning, listening, and being still …

There are pages to show your compassion, patience, strength, and courage …

           

There are pages to fill with gratitude, adventures, hopes, and dreams …

 

There are pages for you just to be you …

            And, there are pages for you to tell us all the things that make your heart light up and sing! “

As I was writing this series of stories I thought about how others I know are using this time, and I thought about those who left us way too early.  I thought about how many of our conversations change to health related topics, pensions, finances, downsizing, or senior centres.  And, then there are those other conversations that are full of excitement about doing things they’ve always wanted to do or at least try, travelling, buying a new boat or vacation home, having fun, and finally spending the savings.  It is also a time to catch up with relatives and old friends, and for meeting and making new friends or relationships.

In yoga we talk about awareness, being present, and how this benefits our lives.  I’d like to introduce you to Tadasana, a pose to honor the mountain.  It is a pose we return to between standing postures that brings us back to creating a strong foundation.  It brings us back into balance with our breath and to feelings of awareness and confidence.

In Tadasana, we stand tall with all our beauty, strength, and power.  We establish a place to let go of what comes at us each day, a place to be grounded, and to connect with our breath while we remain alert and strong.  It’s a place to connect the mind and body as we open up to feel the aliveness within ourselves.  It is a place that reminds us we can always pause between things to find stillness and peace.

Like the mountain, we to have survived what’s come at us through the seasons of our life, and we are always changing.

And like the mountain, we will continue to stand tall with all our beauty, strength, and power … and let our observers,

Wonder, Watch, and Admire!         

Namaste.