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Sunday Night Santosha

8 Aug

I’ve been drafting posts in my head for the past few weeks but have been too busy living to actually write them.  I won’t bore you with details, let’s just say this summer has been full of ups and downs (more ups than downs, thankfully) and I’ve been doing a lot of reflection. I’m at an amazing time in my life where big life changes and growth are all around me. It’s exciting and can be pretty scary, but this is life – what can you do but go with the flow?

After my grandfather’s funeral a couple of weeks ago, my mom and I talked about how my grandmother would do now that she’s alone. The last few years of her life have revolved around my grandfather, just as most of her adult life revolved around her family. There’s a wonderful support system around her and while I’m sure there’ll be lonely times, Mom and I both agreed that she’d be fine. She has an incredible ability to live in the present and it’s kept her young and strong. Sure she tells stories and has many fond memories of the past, but she’s completely content with who and where she is right now. It’s powerful.

And so amid all the action and reflection of summer 2011, I’ve taken a cue from my kick-ass grandmother and once again found my santosha. Despite wanting some things in my life to progress faster and others to coast a bit more, I know I’m just where I need to be on my journey. There will always be ups and downs and things will never be as we planned (how boring would that be, anyway?!), so we might as well enjoy each day!

Dedicated to my grandfather, Victor Cloots (1/24/23 – 7/17/11). Go hug your loved ones!

 

Sunday Night Santosha

31 May

It’s not technically Sunday (although it is the end of the long weekend so I’ll allow it) and I wanted to share a little love with you.  I’ve decided to start a weekly blog sharing simple life inspirations and/or happenings I’m grateful for, and hopefully create positive, peaceful energy to start the new week.

Why “Sunday Night Santosha?” Santosha (सन्तोष) means contentment or a “peaceful kind of happiness in which one rests without desires;” it’s one of the five niyamas, or personal observances, in yoga. (Niyama is the second of the eight limbs of yoga.)  Practicing contentment allows us to be present and grateful for each moment – one of the best ways to be truly happy.  Take a look around and for at least a moment, realize you have everything you need right now and that you are fine. It’s that simple.

Fresh flowers always make me happy!  Thanks to A for the beautiful flowers and G for the lovely vase. 

Tonight’s santosha has been inspired by good friends and simple beauty. I can only be content when I stop and take in the love and beauty that surrounds me: visits from dear friends, yummy food enjoyed over laughter and lively conversation, the amazing scenery of La Jolla, and outdoor yoga – the earth directly below us, the sun beaming down on us, and maybe a sprinkler shower (I mentioned laughter, right?). Life is good.

I hope you all took some time to recharge and be content. Happy Memorial Day! Here’s to a new week!

sensible yogi says…

10 May

I found this flow chart on the Yogis Anonymous Facebook page and wanted to share.  It’s a great reminder to let go and not stress about things we have no control over, as hard as that may be sometimes.

 

4 steps to sustain peak performance

18 Jan

I’m borrowing these from Keith Ferrazzi’s blog and because they’re so right on, they don’t need much commentary.  These tips come from Scott Peltin, author of Sink, Float, or Swim.  They’re great for both personal and organizational wellness programs.

 

1.    Mindset: You have over 60,000 thoughts a day. Reframe thoughts that drag you down. Instead of thinking “I’m overwhelmed, “ think “I am present.”

  

2.    Nutrition: FORTY PERCENT of how you feel right now is due to your last meal. Did you eat a meal that set you up for success? Make sure that every meal you eat fuels you properly for your activities of the next three to four hours.

(more…)

how much do you know about healthcare reform?

15 Jan

A colleague shared this video with me months ago, but I just got around to watching it this weekend.  It’s a great summary of the how the health reform law passed in 2010 really works, what’s already changed, and what’s coming in 2014. 

Health Reform Hits Main Street – Kaiser Health Reform.

Written and produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Narrated by Cokie Roberts, a news commentator for ABC News and NPR and a member of Kaiser’s Board of Trustees. Creative production and animation by Free Range Studios.

as one year ends, another begins

27 Dec

I love the New Year.  I think the New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day combo is probably my favorite holiday of the year!  Between the fun parties with friends, countdowns, sparkles, and the feeling of fresh newness that January 1st brings, it’s the perfect end to the holiday season.

2010 was an exciting and busy year for me.  I finished my nutritional consultant and yoga teacher certification programs, started a new job, got a new car, and traveled quite a bit (throughout the US for work and in Europe to vacation and visit family).  I wouldn’t change a thing, but I have to admit that the year left me exhausted!  I’m hoping that 2011 will get me even further on my journey toward balance.

I don’t really make resolutions for the new year, but I do like to set goals and write them down somewhere to hold myself accountable and this year you can help!  In 2011, I plan to… (more…)

my first yoga class (as the teacher)

15 May

I taught my first yoga class on Thursday!  Even though I’m only 1/3 of the way done with my teacher training, I wanted to start teaching as soon as possible.  I knew I’d get a lot more out of the rest of the training with a little bit more experience, plus I was super excited to share all the cool things I’ve learned so far.

My boss and coworkers have been extremely supportive of my teacher training, allowing me extra time off this year and getting excited about my progress. And in return, they get their own private yoga teacher! (Kind of fitting for a department of wellness consultants, no?!) Five of them joined me Thursday afternoon in a park downtown by our office for my first class. I was a little bit nervous the night before and the morning of, but after a long and crazy day, all I wanted to do was get out and get practicing.

It was an amazing feeling to be sharing my yoga world with these people I spend so much time with and have come to love as family.  And it definitely proved to me what my guru told us: that teaching beginners can be more difficult than teaching an advanced class.  I was ready to share with them my newfound favorite tips on going deeper, binding, balancing and maybe trying some inversions, but with two yoga virgins and several stiff-from-sitting-at-a-computer-everyday bodies, I had to explain each movement carefully and find modifications that worked for them.  I had forgotten how tiring some of the basics (such as adho mukha svanasana, downward dog) can be on the upper body, and I suppose it’s a testament to how strong I’ve become since really dedicating to my practice.

Yesterday at work I got some great feedback on what they liked, what was difficult, and what parts were sore, so I have a better idea of how to structure next week’s class.  They all had really positive things to say and I think they genuinely enjoyed the class and saw yoga in a whole new light – which totally boosted my confidence and passion to share more with them.  I can see how this can get addicting!

I want to try and put together some sequences and stretches specifically targeted to office workers like us, so I’ll be sure to share that when it’s ready. More updates to come!

bad news can bring good opportunities

27 Feb

I’m often torn about whether or not to share personal stories on my blog. While it’s relatively anonymous, there are readers who know who I am and I always feel a little bit vulnerable sharing things that are close to my heart.  But after thinking about this post for the past week or so, I decided that it was important to me and others who might be going through something similar to share – so here goes.

I got one of those phone calls you never really like to get from my health insurance company last week- my bi-annual Pap smear came back irregular.  The reason I get bi-annual exams is because I’ve been through this before (and I thought I beat it) and my doctor wants to watch to make sure my irregular cells don’t progress to cervical cancer.  Last time we watched it for 2 years, and when it progressed to CIN3, one step below cervical cancer, I had a LEEP procedure and cleared the offending cells. It’s been just over a year and one clear Pap since then, and here we are again.

And while the news isn’t that bad (in fact, many cases regress on their own or are stopped well before they become cervical cancer and there are so many people with such worse health problems that I feel very lucky), it’s still not fun.  Perhaps one of the most annoying aspects is the fact that there are things I can be doing to keep the cells from progressing to a worse state.  But having not done enough research and not been told about preventive practices by my physician (don’t get me started on our current American state of “health” care – it’s really sick care run by pharmaceutical companies, but that’s another post for another day), I’ve been sitting and waiting – letting things get worse. The good news is that all that is changing – I’m doing my research and I’m using my lifestyle choices to make this go away.  As Hippocrates said, “Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food.”

Our bodies are amazingly powerful, especially when given the right fuel – and I’m determined to do just that. I’ll post more specifics on my diets and experience as I go, but the changes involve juicing; raw, organic veggies at each meal; folic acid, vitamin E, and green tea catechin supplements; multivitamins; aloe juice; lots of water; no coffee but extra white and green teas; dedicated yoga practice; fresh air; less stress and more love!

And the timing couldn’t be better -  I’ll finish my clinical nutrition certificate program in June and get my yoga certification by October, and we have some fun vacations with family and friends planned.  Here we go!

guest post – gluten free sis

25 Feb

I’m a proud big sis.  My little sister has an awesome blog, youaregolden.wordpress.com, and you all should check it out!  She shares a lot of the same passions as me – happiness, food, fitness, health, etc – and today’s post on her experience going gluten-free is one I just have to share.  I’m posting it in its entirety, but you should definitely go read her other posts!  Enjoy!

A glutton for gluten

I suddenly have a new respect for people who have severe allergies. Or really just any allergies at all. Everytime I go to a doctor, they do their routine questioning. Do you smoke? Do you drink?  Do you have any allergies? No, yes, and then I respond with my mom’s canned response. “Not that we are aware of.” I was always a little bitter about this. I mean a cool allergy could be something unique to tell people. “My throat swells up when I eat eggplant.” Or, “I get insane hives up and down my arms when I get within 4 feet of licorice.” I guess it really would only be fun if it was something I adequately disliked as well. (hence the eggplant and licorice) I couldn’t even imagine being allergic to peanuts. Seriously. How do you do that? I love peanut butter with all my heart. That is one of those things on my potential mate’s list that isn’t negotiable. That sounds ridiculous. But you must have heard those stories of someone with severe peanut allergies dying from kissing someone who ate something contaminated with a peanut. That would happen constantly. And I suppose feeling like you can’t breathe or swelling up isn’t that fun for a future hubby, at least not on a daily basis. I mean I know love takes some sacrifices. But peanut butter is not one I’m willing to make. And I can’t really ask someone to risk their life just to be with me. Right?

Anywho, after years of doctors telling me I might be gluten-intolerant, and that going g-free might be an improvement in my health and diet; I’ve finally done it. Well, I’ve done it for 7 days. But hey, you have to embrace small victories in life, right? I have a co-worker who has been g-free for over 20 years, so I know it’s possible, even though right now I keep thinking how I’ll never have a Reese’s again in my life? (AHH. What? Surely I can take little exceptions.) (more…)

tinybuddha

11 Feb

I’m a huge fan of tinybuddha. I’m a follower on Twitter (@tinybuddha) and email subscriber and I just love the little moments of peace and wisdom the updates give me during my busy and sometimes stressful days.

Today’s quote was perfect for me.  We’re pretty busy at work right now and one of my biggest frustrations is the fact that I feel like I’m constantly reacting – responding to client issues, requests, and emails all day, all very similar to each other, without really focusing on one client or project for a long period of time. I much prefer being proactive – planning, strategizing and reaching out with helpful insight and ideas.  And even though I can’t do much to slow the pace (our department is hiring and restructuring, I just need to be a little patient!), today’s quote reminded me that changing my outlook might make a world of difference.

“Wisdom consists not so much in seeing as in foreseeing.” -Hosea Ballou

One of the reasons the company I work for has been so successful has been its ability to innovate, to foresee client needs and design programs that grow with them. And while I’m far from lead of product development and definitely always want to live in the present, I want to be more appreciative of all the little lessons I learn and not just see them as daily tasks, but as a way to glimpse into the future.  If we’re dealing with the same things over and over again then we’re not progressing, we’re only seeing, and that’s not how I want to live my life.  (And I’m sure my clients wouldn’t want the same wellness program and issues year after year, after year!)  Attitude adjustments are always easier said than done for me, but I might just print out this quote and put it on my computer to remind me :)

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