Do you control your breath or does it control you? The answer is: both. Breath is a unique biological function in that it occurs involuntarily, but can be manipulated through conscious effort. As part of my decade-long pursuit of greater peace of mind, I have engaged in mindfulness meditation exercises focusing on the breath. This … Continue reading The Secret to Peace of Mind: The Breath
Tag: health and wellness
Stress Management Tips
Stress needs to be managed moment to moment, as well as daily, so it doesn't build up to the point of lashing out. Practicing healthy coping mechanisms for stress throughout the day (e.g. breathing, light stretching, positive affirmations) helps diffuse the stress so it doesn't build up. Doing a mindfulness practice for a few minutes … Continue reading Stress Management Tips
Relearning Meditation at Life’s Transitions
I trained to become a yoga instructor in 2009 and 2010. I was practicing yoga, breathing exercises, and mindfulness meditation on an almost daily basis. Then I got injured at the end of 2011, and all that basically went out the window. Who wants to slow down and be in their body just so they … Continue reading Relearning Meditation at Life’s Transitions
I Am My Yoga Client Too
I had found the perfect playlist for teaching my weekly yoga sessions. That meant that I didn't want to listen to it for my own yoga practice anymore—I didn't want it to get stale. I enjoyed other songs by the same artist, but I missed listening to those songs. Then I reminded myself a few … Continue reading I Am My Yoga Client Too
Injury Makes Me Be with My Thoughts
Recently I started having some pain in the ball of my foot. This was a few weeks after I had restarted teaching Pilates and yoga. This followed my previous trajectory of starting to teach exercise and then psyching myself out to the point where I feel a bit overzealous in my own exercising and get … Continue reading Injury Makes Me Be with My Thoughts
Healing Powers of Nature; Put Your Phone Down and Go Outside!
I spent more time outdoors than usual today since the weather was sunny and warm. At the end of the day I felt much lighter than usual. Almost giddy. And I had the following thought: It used to be that people spent A LOT more time outdoors. Now we are often cramped up indoors, add … Continue reading Healing Powers of Nature; Put Your Phone Down and Go Outside!
15 Seconds for Your Health
Having worked in a hospital setting for 7 years, I am very conscientious about hand-washing—I make sure to rub my soapy hands together for 15 seconds! Whenever I go to the school bathroom, I am reminded about this procedure by the sign posted about the sink. That is to be expected. What's unique is when … Continue reading 15 Seconds for Your Health
Cool as a Cucumber: Bringing Healthy Snacks to School
Some people assume that if they give their child a healthy snack, they will stand out from their peers in a bad way; the other students will think they are weird, or more likely, their kid will feel bad for having to eat carrot sticks while their friends have gushers, or the like. But that … Continue reading Cool as a Cucumber: Bringing Healthy Snacks to School
Mindful Nuggets 