I looked at the calendar today, and lo and behold, the 2-day Avon Walks’ for Breast Cancer are right around the corner!
As a survivor, I have to do my part and put this reminder out there.  The first weekend event is scheduled for April 4-5 in Houston, Texas.  There are nine events scheduled across the nation, including: Washington, DC; Boston; Chicago; Rocky Mountains; San Francisco; Los Angeles; New York and Charlotte.
The money raised goes to breast cancer research, and helping under-insured women and men receive the care they need.
To learn more and sign-up (please!), go to Avon’s Walk for Breast …read more

“Bellyfit: Strong Women, Strong World.”  I love it!  I am sad to say that this fitness phenom is not available in the U.S. (girls, can you send it south?). 
According to the website, “Bellyfit is the fusion fitness experience for women that blends the power and wisdom of ancient cultures, with the research, technology and trends of the modern world.” 
During the first half hour of a Bellyfit class, instructors mix belly dance, Bollywood, Bhangra and African dance. The second half of class focuses on Pilates moves, yoga stretches and Mudra meditation.  How awesome is that?
Bellyfit is based on the principle of diversity, and …read more

Want a great stretch that focuses on the feet?
It’s easy, quick and effective, and if you run or walk a lot, it’s a wonderful way to stretch your heels.
Downward Facing Dog–Heels Down
-With your back facing the wall, bend from the Downward Facing Dog, bringing your heels up against the wall
-Adjust your feet so your heels press into the wall, and your toes remain on the floor
-Don’t worry if your feet don’t completely touch the floor at first, they will get there over time
-Press your pelvis and tailbone up into the air and towards the wall
-Make sure your weight is evenly distributed between …read more

I’m getting ready to run a half-marathon in May, and even though I am not going all the way this year, I am finding that running and yoga are not only a great fitness combo for health, but some of the stretching and yoga poses really come in handy during training.
Even to this day, my legs tend to get stiff after a long run.  I thought that after a few years of this, the stiffness would go away, but it hasn’t totally.
One of my favorite stretches for my legs is a Standing Hamstring Stretch.  Here’s the run-through (sorry, bad pun):
-Place …read more

Do you experience tenderness or pain along your sciatic nerve?  It’s not an uncommon pain.  The longest nerves in our bodies, there are two sciatic nerves, one in each of our legs.
These nerves originate from several nerve roots that exit the spinal cord.  Whether you’re active or not, at some point along the way you might feel the discomfort that comes from these nerves being aggravated in some way.
Here’s a post that can help.  It’s the Simple Seated Spinal Twist:
-Sit on the floor cross-legged
-Keep your right knee pointed forward and on the floor
-Bring your left leg up, bending at the knee 
-Lean slightly to the …read more

It makes sense, but this I did not know.  The most productive time for us to try and detox our bodies is during a full moon.
Why?  Because the full moon pulls not only at the waters in our oceans, but also those within our bodies, which makes this an easier time for us to release toxins.
The full moon is also believed to be the best time for us to begin a spiritual practice.
To see a calendar of the full moons through 2010, click here.  You’ll find the dates and the specific times of day when the moon enters this phase.  …read more

Ever wonder why you feel bloated, have acid reflux or indigestion?  Well, to a certain extent it’s because you’re not digesting your food properly.
Here’s a little yogic tip that might help you ease some of these symptoms before you eat.
Breathe.  That’s right, breathe.  We’re all rushing around most days before we sit down and eat, which pushes our nervous systems into the “fight or flight” mode.  Unfortunately, for a lot of us, actually sitting down and eating a meal is a luxury. That’s just not healthy, and can leave you feeling quite uncomfortable.
But when we feel safe and relaxed, we’re better able to …read more

I am constantly in a battle with myself, over myself.  Seriously.  One minute, I am feeling strong and confident, but the next–after listening to someone else’s negative interpretation of a situation–I find myself slipping right back into the negativity.
I know I shouldn’t, I know it is a lot of noise I should just tune out, but It can be challenging to do so.  I can attribute this bad habit to a small extent to being single and living alone–at least that’s part of it. I often sink into deep thought about work, my life, etc., because I lead a quiet, thought-filled life.  …read more

It’s human nature to bristle against change.  Whether you’re facing a job loss, illness, or the death of a close friend or family member, change can be tough.
But meditation and focusing on the present can really help.  Helping yourself adjust to change can be as easy as making a list.  Think about what has changed in your life over the past six months or even days.  You can probably come up with a number of things.  They can be as simple as losing a few pounds, changing your hairstyle or a new friend that you’ve made. Life changes, and we …read more

We all know our lives can be stressful.  We all realize activities like yoga, meditation, exercise and pursuing hobbies help us reduce our stress.
But in some areas of our lives, stress is inescapable.  Mindfulness and awareness aside, we all need a little help recognizing these stessors so we can cope with them in a healthy way.
I’ve talked about journaling here from time to time.  And because I try not to think about work 24/7 (though it is not working lately), I didn’t make the connection to my journaling about it and focusing on it in my practice so clearly until …read more