Restorative Yoga Workshop

I just spent 5 days last week in Vancouver taking the Relax and Renew Restorative Yoga workshop taught by Judith Hanson Lasater.

 

Judith is a wonderful master teacher who passes on not only all her experience in Yoga but speaks to us about how to live with grace, kindness, compassion, and how to listen and pay attention to others as everyone is important.  In this workshop we had homework such as not rushing, and no waiting.  We talked about how our thoughts and emotions can either lead us to anxiety, anger, and frustration, or go the other way to find time to do something else, find compassion, or just move quickly without adding in the stress or worry.  

 

Several ladies reported back at how one small change they did that one night made such a difference in their interactions with others, or how they found a few minutes to do something else they needed to do.

 

I love it when you go to a workshop on one thing and come away with much more to think about.  It is always these small simple things that if we can bring them into our lives on a regular basis they add up, and teach us to  live and connect to our life from a more peaceful, calm, and understanding place. 

One Rose Wellness Card

The message I picked today says -

" As you rest, think only of wonderful things,
wish with your heart and dream with your soul..."

One Rose Wellness Card

The message I picked today says -

 

"In this moment, say to yourself,

my breath brings me back to stillness,

to silence, to a feeling of being free..."

Telling our Stories!

One Year Later – A dog story!

Adjustments and changes are always part of life, some are easy while others take some time. 

Last September we said good bye to our lovely Scottie dog girl, Tilly.  It was very unexpected so that added even more to the feelings of love, sadness, and loss. 

Yes, we still have our Westie dog girl Chloe, and even she went through her own period of loss and missing her sister.

In the days that followed we learned that Chloe’s nightly not eating was just a game to tease Tilly, and we all fell for it. We had rushed to save her food from Tilly when she walked away from it almost every night for the previous seven years.  

We found out that when we go for our morning walks the person who doesn’t have a leash to hold on to feels left out, so we share the one back and forth.  

We found out how Tilly taught us about trusting, loving, and being kind even when you don’t feel well.  And, we found out we all have our own memories and unique ways we love and remember others in our heart.

This past summer was full of memories of Tilly who loved eating all the fallen cherries, raiding the garden for peas and green beans, playing with and then trying to bury the fallen apples in the garden or her various beds, and loving to be in the ocean trying to catch the little fishes. (Yes, she was a food lover!)

Below are a few lines from one of my new writings that seems to fit here.  It’s about telling our story, and helping to pass on stories of others so they can be remembered in the future as well. (I wasn’t thinking about pets when I wrote it but sharing their stories is important as well)

“Maybe when you write your stories, you can also dedicate a few chapters to others you can remember so they don’t get forgotten … you can speak about them, tell a few of their stories and experiences so they can go along with you into the future … they may not even know they are remembered, loved, or admired for their struggles, strengths, courage, and for being like you, the best they could be.”

A dear friend recently wrote and shared a beautiful story about her lovely little dog Sadie. It was inspiring to read how so many people and experiences are connected to one tiny dog, and to know that Sadie will also live on through the hearts and stories of others!

Now I really need another tissue!

Earlier story 

Supersize or Downsize?

What do you think?

I'm leaning towards downsizing

Roots to Breath, Dona Anderson

I’ve been thinking about how we shop with all these stores and the other services we get.  What’s with all this more or bigger is better and unlimited or limited this and that, and then there’s the super sizing and the bundling. 

They say they’re adding more, giving us a deal, more time or access, but doesn’t all this feed our mind to want more, and a lot of the times it’s not needed, wanted, or even used.  We fall into the idea that we need it or will use it, it’s a good deal, so we get more for less or lots for just a bit more.

I’m all for saving money wherever I can but lots of times we get the unlimited this and that, and after a while do we even appreciate it anymore?  We buy the bigger meal because it is only a bit more or we buy more of something on sale then eat or waste more.  We buy the box of six when we really only want one and then can’t even find the others when we run out.  We buy this or that just because we can, we see it, or it’s the new model.  We sign up for a long membership and then only go a few times.

Do we really need or even want what we’re getting, using, or paying for?  Are we really appreciating what we get or is it just a lot more things filling our lives, homes, heads, and stomachs.  Are we living with excess clutter, pounds, services, and creating more and more waste just to make our heads feel happier to think we got a good deal? 

Does this make any sense?

Downsizing is starting to mean so much more!

Buddha said...

Island Gals Magazine

The second issue for 2012 is now out. 

My article is on page 34!  This is the second story in a series of four for the year and is titled, I'm the new manager of me!

The series is about my surprises and activities in retirement. 

This second story ends with the thought that whenever I want, I can give myself permission to rest or do nothing while knowing that is perfectly OK!


http://www.islandgals.ca/index.html

Wellness, Relaxation, Meditation...and much more!

Training, Resource, Wellness!

September is fast approaching and a lot of us are busy planning and scheduling our fall activities.

Simply, One Breath At a Time, can be part of your training and resource tools.  It offers 65 guided relaxations to refresh your body and soul. It’s full of different titles to ease you into wellness, relaxation, meditation, gratitude, stillness, or just being with the breath.

Just think of yoga teacher training and the students taking this book away to use in their classes, or for any yoga class and home practice.   

Reiki Level One training focuses on self healing and sharing with others.  Reflexology also promotes self healing. This book was written for that purpose, and it would be a wonderful addition to any training package.

The book uses simple words and thoughts to help reduce stress and encourage presence and awareness.  It can go anywhere and be used by anyone interested in bringing wellness into their own lives, or the lives of others.

Namaste.

More information on Simply, here!

"Simply One Breath At a Time offers us such simple truths of how to live this life with presence and ease.  This book is both practical and beautiful in its expression.  Author Dona Anderson writes with clarity about a subject she loves, the power of breath and relaxation.  Open it anywhere and begin to feel happier and healthier in your skin.  Recommended for everyone."

Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D., PT, has taught yoga since 1971 and is the author of eight books, including the latest, What We Say Matters.

Rumi Quote

Rumi quote

I have posted a few of Rumi's quotes this last year, and the first one was even before I had the winter course.  I had even put one in the new book I'm working on.

After I did the previous posts with Rumi poems I decided I'd let the next few find me.  Anyway, I got the new book  by Dr. Wayne Dyer, Wishes Fulfilled, and on page 197 he shares this poem.

You were born with potential.

You were born with goodness and trust.

You were born with ideals and dreams.

Your were born with greatness.

You were born with wings.

You are not meant for crawling, so don't.

You have wings.

Learn to use them and fly.

                    ~Rumi~

The other Rumi quotes I've shared so far are on posts dated

June 26, 2011

March 22, 2012

April 11, 2012


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