Blogging for Roots to Breath after 3 years!

How I Found New Ways to Express Myself!

Wow, I can't believe its been just over three years since I started this blog.  I initially started it to coincide with the launch of the 100 books I sent out on a travelling wellness journey (see post dated October 13, 2011).

It is interesting that writing my book felt different than this form of communication.  I remember my fears at writing something that anyone could instantly read, and the thought of my words and thoughts travelling around the world was terrifying,  This new way to communicate offered the words click here to get started which wasn't bad but the publish tab was very hard to do.  Well I got over that as you can see and this last year the page visitors have more than doubled.  And, I am especially excited to have now had visitors from 62 countries.
 

Absolutely Fabulous!  Thank You! Thank You!

As with all the things I seem to be getting myself into these past 10 years I owe it all to yoga and how yoga taught me to take my time, that it was Ok to just do what I could that day, and how I could move slowly to improve over time.  My teaching yoga also gently challenges me to keep learning and improving especially my weaker areas not only on the mat but also off the mat in my life.

All this has become my retirement to do's, and before retirement my list of things I thought I wanted to do had none of these things except yoga.  I guess it's better to say the old list was ripped up and the only thing I did take from it was yoga teacher that I put on the list during my second last week of work.   I am so glad I tossed out the old as my time now revolves around new thinking, new ideas, new learning, new dreams, new people and hopefully it will continue that way for as long as I'm able.

It's interesting how when we enter this change/not working/retirement phase we sometimes forget about how efficient we were and we may forget about how to make new contacts and find new resources.  We sometimes forget about planning for the future and how to organize and prioritize the day.  I remember how we usually got less done on the long weekends because we sat too much and sometimes we had to give ourselves that friendly kick in the butt. 

Even though I still do sit too long it is now always at the computer working on something because my life has new uses for my time, new uses for my creativity, it has new problems to solve, new ways to express myself, and it has many new magic moments to reflect upon.

This last year I also got to sit here and listen to some wonderful wellness related free online conferences.  I got to learn about Tapping, I did meditations with Oprah and Deepak Chopra,  heard lots of the great interviews from the Hay House World Summit, and just finished listening to most of the Recovery 2.0 conference.
 

We all have our lists to work with and I hope the small contribution I make here through my blog will also help send a few seeds of wellness out to blossom!
 

Thanks so much for your visit!

Namaste.

Catch up with me on Facebook & Twitter

You can sign up to Follow by Email and 

below you can share or comment. 

Much thanks!

Sharing a photo message

Wellness secrets can be this simple!

Roots to Breath, Dona Anderson

A One Rose Wellness message guides you down the path!

Remember to Breathe!

Dona Anderson

Photo by Dona Anderson
Message from Simply, One Breath At a Time

My DREAM

My Dream

Roots to Breath, Dona Anderson
 
It all started with a dream, a dream that I could send out into the world.  Simply, One Breath At a Time began from the dream to help others relax, breathe, soften and let go of their stress.  A book you can take anywhere and use as a tool and resource for yourself or to share with others.  It was my way to be a giver of care.

And, like the healing energy that travels through the hands and words of so many practioners, parents, teachers, and caregivers the simple, gentle and positive words in this book can help bring a person back to balance, and encourage ongoing healing through breath, reducing stress, and body and mind relaxation.

Dona Anderson

You can change your thoughts,

You can reduce your stresses, and

You can bring more wellness into your life.

I hope my dream can be a part of 

your better results!

Online sales for Simply, ... at Amazon

Other ebook formats at online booksellers

Please sign up to follow by email and

share or comment below!

Thoughts on the relaxation, Shifting Down

Dona Anderson

Shifting Down

Roots to Breath, Dona Anderson

How are you at visualization?

Thoughts on the relaxation Shifting Down that starts on page 76, in my book Simply, One Breath At a Time.

I like the title shifting down as it immediately signals you to think about making a change to something slower, and here you are asked to release, find stillness, and move your body from the outside world to a place of quiet, rest, possibilities....

Then you are asked to picture a beautiful place you'd like to be.  I am getting better at this technique but I do need a bit more concentration and practice ... I sometimes can't complete the picture in detail but I do get the feelings and this visualization requests a place that is restful and comfortable so that is pretty easy.

This type of imagery/visualization is great for calming emotions, reducing stress and improving our mood.  Each time you can create something unique to you and if you want you can even bring all your senses into the details.  Imagine adding in the smells of a bakery, the sounds of birds or the ocean, the taste of something you love and so on, the possibilities are endless ...

The relaxation continues on with breath awareness, relaxing areas throughout the body, and then at the end asks you to return to that beautiful place so you can rest there a little longer and take care of  yourself.

Whenever I do this combination of imagery and guided relaxation I find my whole body feels heavy and is deeply resting while at the same time the mind is free to travel somewhere beautiful so it is not focusing on other things.  What a wonderful way to free the mind and rest while you experience the journey into your image for a period of silent meditation.

And, I'm hoping for a beautiful smile on your face when you return to your day!

I also wanted to share this information Dr David Hamilton 


Link to Amazon e-Book also available
Other formats at online booksellers

Sign up to follow by email

Enter your email address:

Celebrating and Remembering an old Friend

Friends through the seasons of life. 

 

Roots to Breath, Dona Anderson

Celebrating and Remembering an old Friend

I don’t mean old in age necessarily, you know those friends that are still there through all the ups and downs, changes, and years of our lives.   

This one was over 43 years to be exact. 

I recently learned of the passing of an old friend. I’ll call her Princess as that was what her husband said he still called her to the end!  I met her at a time of change and uncertainty in our lives.  My husband and I had recently lost our home in a fire, we had a 10 month old daughter and were pregnant again.  My husband had met her first because he could speak a bit of French and her husband was going away on a course and needed someone to check on his family and bring her the mail. 

A few weeks later we all met as we headed out to see a parade, it was the May long weekend in 1970. I couldn’t speak French, she only knew a few words in English but it didn’t matter.  It's funny how sometimes you connect with others when you can’t really communicate well or it seems you don’t have anything in common but there is something, something there that luckily ties you together and creates a bond.

We had some great times together as the children all grew and later on, there were gourmet meals, family outings, bowling nights, campfire nights and story nights.  It’s funny now how I just realized that it has been about 35 years since we haven’t lived in the same place so our friendship even though it has been very distant has remained.

Princess inspired me with her smile, her Vogue style, her friendship, her home that looked like a magazine article for country living,  all her hard work, and especially her ongoing optimism and hope.  It was a privilege for us to support her creativity and art when we could.  We get to see and admire it every day as we walk through our home and we even passed some on to our family.

I am so glad that when we last got together about 3 years ago we called ahead to plan a cheese fondue lunch where we lingered over wine while we got caught up, and told some old and new stories.  We then went for a walk in their yard to see and admire the gardens and to find and enjoy all the yard art.  Later we checked out her new passion for quilting, and we ended up staying for a wonderful supper before heading out.  The visit as always was inspiring, uplifting, and full of courage and hope just like she was right up until the final day.

In my next book that I’m still working on I have a writing about sharing your stories and sharing the stories of others.   Just like compliments that should be given out, I believe we have to speak about the wonderful things others do and pass them on in some way.  We are all affected in some way by those that we connect with and those that support us in our lives and I know for certain that I am definitely a much better person because of how this wonderful friend filled parts of my life, and she will always hold a very special place in my heart!

   I celebrate our friendship and her life!

What are Orbs?

What are Orbs?

This is my question that I send out!  It has only been recently that I have found out about orbs.  I never previously  had anyone mention them nor know of anyone with a photo of one. Years and years of taking pictures, so what is happening now?

I used a digital camera and had numerous pictures right before and after, and only a couple on different days showed Orbs.  So far in the pictures they seem to just be mingling around as they never line up or look like they want to pose for that Kodak moment!  My photo of the tree on post dated June 24, 2013, shows my first orb. The couple of others that I took later showed multiple orbs, and it was then that I found out they had a name, orb.

A few weeks ago I pulled out some books for summer reading and I found in Dr. Wayne Dyer's book, Wishes Fulfilled, he included several pages of photos showing Orbs present in the room while he was doing his lectures or meeting people, so I am hoping this is a good thing.  I'm personally relating to them as special gifts. 

I hope to see more over time so I can figure out what they are there to teach me.  Is it to just learn more about how to use my camera, is it to learn more about what can only be heard if I really listen  and pay attention, or is it about all there is to see if I am willing and able to look through other filters, lenses, or eyes?  Whether they are dust, moisture,  hold messages or are guests visiting that day, they seem to peacefully remind me that I do have support and love around me even though I can't always see it.

Anyway, I am excited to keep taking pictures and trying to figure it out.  And, I am so happy that I did not use the delete button when I wondered what the heck happened to my photo! 

Great Canadian Craft Fall Show

I'll be an exhibitor at the Great Canadian Craft fall show in Surrey BC, September 14 and 15.

It is my first time at this show and it looks like it is full of all kinds of wonderful products. 

Check out the list on their link I've included. http://greatcanadiancraft.com/fall-exhibitorslist.php


Update  - Sep 25. Thanks to the organizers/helpers for the show.  It was fun and I enjoyed it as well as meeting other exhibitors and the customers.

Is it Guided Relaxation or Guided Meditation?

How can I Relax and get rid of stress?

Is it Guided Relaxation or Guided Meditation?

When I wrote Simply, One Breath At a Time, I used relaxation as this is what I was used to and I felt the book was more about.  For me, meditation is more a quiet time which I do at the end of the relaxation during a period of silence.

Meditation is the most popular word so I thought I’d provide a brief and simple explanation of each as I know and experience them for a beginning practice. 

Relaxation isn't really watching TV, reading a book, or just sitting.  These things may take us away from our work, or give us something to do, or not do, but it often isn't real relaxation. Some of these down times can create even more stress, worry, and anxiety.

Guided Relaxation is a process of consciously learning to relax different areas of the body and quieting the mind which may seem difficult at first. A guided relaxation communicates with your mind, body, and breath using techniques such as positive soothing words, stories, visualizations, breath awareness and exercises, body scanning etc. 

While following along you are invited and encouraged to breathe, soften, become calm and quiet, to let go of tension and stress, and to bring yourself to a nurturing place where you feel deep relaxation and where your body responds to the difference.  It is a time to remove obstacles, open the body, and clear the mind to move into the present moment.  

Meditation is simple but not easy and it takes time and practice.  You can do it anywhere you feel comfortable and it may start with you consciously relaxing your body but the main purpose is training the mind to be still, present, and aware.  This is a personal time to let things pass through your mind by only observing what arises and not reaching for it.

As you become aware of self talk, thoughts, or the things you may be clinging to or resisting, you let it go and then come back to the silence of the moment. Meditators may use various techniques to focus on for this such as affirmations, wellness messages, visualizations, colors, breathing, or mantras. 

Both relaxation and meditation provides us with a few moments to be calm, present, allow our bodies to move toward balance, and to find comfort with who we are.  They offer us a time to be at peace and they help us to learn more about ourselves.  They also offer us tools and ways to manage and release stress which significantly improves all aspects of our daily lives and health management. 

As we commit to our practice it deepens and becomes a place where we can learn about acceptance, kindness, and compassion for ourselves and others, and it can also be a place that reveals our own true beauty, strengths, and potential. 

Whatever you choose, it starts with a breath and a few minutes –

You’ll know when you feel, hear, and see the difference!

Published in Island Gals Magazine, 2013 Volume 3 Issue 2

Visit me on Facebook  & Twitter

Don't miss future posts - sign up now to
Follow by Email.

You can share or comment below, thanks!

Nautical Days 2013

I'll be at Nautical Days next weekend for another year of fun and meeting lots of people.

Come and check out my book, Cd, cards if you attend, I'll be at space #83.

Saturday Aug 3 to Monday Aug 5.  Comox, BC

It is a great weekend of entertainment for the whole family, and Shopping!

*August 5, thanks to all those who came by and especially those who let me know they had bought something previously that they were still enjoying.  One lady came to tell me that they played my CD for an upset and anxious grandchild who couldn't go to sleep and it worked, and the child asked for it to be played the next night.  Wow! How nice it is to share these things.

I asked for no rain and not as hot as last year and I got my wish, it was a wonderful weekend!