How can we more energy, stay healthy, and feel more peace and joy?

This unique, creative yoga workshop begins with gentle yoga asanas, which emphasize breathing and body awareness to allow the body to relax. After preparing the body physically, we will practice the balancing art of mandala coloring. Mandalas create patterns the mind can understand, thus bringing order and harmony. Techniques of self-reflection through prompted journaling exercises will be followed by a deep guided relaxation to end the session with clear intention. No previous yoga experience required.

Date: Saturday, August 25th, 2012 10am-1pm

$65.00 ($55.00 Jung Center members)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

My friend and colleague, Renee Trudeau is offering a fabulous mother’s day, “Yummy Mummy Self-Care Package” (valued at $2700) which includes one of my semi-precious gemstone serenity beads.

All YOU have to do is tell me: What does self-care mean to you? I will select a winner who will be entered into Renee’s drawing. What fun!

The minute we “let go”, we experience neutral space and inner healing begins.

In this “space” we can truly be the best of who we are– and then offer that to all around us.

Try it now. Let go of a current worry, frustration or irritating thought. How do you feel in this new and “free” space? Let this lighter feeling ripple through you.

Take a minute to read why I believe in A Mother’s Intuition

Do you want to feel more peace, joy and love this holiday season? CREATE IT FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

One of my favorite spiritual mystics Eknath Easwaren talks about “dwelling on oneself” as the root cause of most personal problems. He says the more preoccupied we become with our own fears, cravings, memories, the more power they have over our attention.

The source is within us
With practice, we can learn to pay more and more attention to the needs of others. The source is within us. My mood or judgment is projected onto someone else and it reflects what I am feeling.

A touchstone I come back to everyday? If I want to feel more peace and joy and love? I need to create more peace and joy and love for someone else. Join me. Today, I will act with more compassion. I will choose more peace, more joy and more love in what I do. Now watch this space!

Be with your body and your breath

Simply lie flat with your hands at your sides, and relax. Bring all of your awareness to your body. Just think about what you can feel. Feel your feet touching the ground. Feel your bottom sitting in your chair, your head and neck in line with your spine. Now bring your attention to your breath. Notice that you are breathing. Begin to feel your breath moving in and out. Watch your breath, watch it move deeply, slowly, and gently, in and out as your body begins to relax and let go.

If your mind wanders

If your mind wanders off, gently and firmly bring your attention back to your breathing and body awareness practice. Relax and be fully present for fifteen minutes (or even just a few minutes). You will be amazed how this simple practice can make a big difference. Do it now!

Excerpt from A Moment’s Peace: A Mom’s Guide to Creating Calm Amidst Chaos now available in e-book!

SHE GETS IT Elizabeth Irvine’s words speak to me because she just “gets it”. She understands how chaos can destruct our bodies and our relationships and our souls. She understands because she has lived it and her realness comes out through the pages of this book.

SECRETS SHARED This book spoke to me, in the soft and soothing tones of its author. The entire message of this book whispers encouraging words about moving towards living in the present moment and working and planning towards surrounding ourselves with peace and calm.

BOOK LOVER Through this book I learned to catch myself and be in the moment when I had time to just Be. It’s an easy read, with beautiful images, and ideas and suggestions that I Can Do. Very worth the read.

EASY TO IMPLEMENT, THOUGHTFUL READ This beautiful book offers simple, yet profound ways to connect with goodness and peace in your life. Any woman who has ever felt the push and pull of day’s fast paced society needs this book.

 PURCHASE A MOMENT’S PEACE E-BOOK

Recently I lead a retreat in Michigan. The women who came together at this retreat created an experience that we all felt was nothing short of magic– nourishing body and soul.  Happy but tired, I looked forward to seeing my family and my own bed again. Somehow the angels must have known that I needed some comfort along the way.

Earth Angels

My journey back to Houston felt “sprinkled” with Earth angels, guiding me home. It started with my ride to the airport. My cab driver had a long white beard and was wearing a biker hat that proudly displayed his name, Father Time. As we drove along he explained how he was a 25 year alcohol-free, Harley-riding lover of nature who had just purchased a mobile home. He planned to set off across America in this traveling home, as he had absolutely everything he would ever need. I felt the excitement for his adventure. It was truly contagious. At that moment everything in life felt simplified. Not that I aspire to travel across the USA in a mobile home– but his enthusiasm was so genuine, so simple and fresh, I could taste it.

Next, I find my  airplane seat where a lovely 87 year-old woman named Betty is sitting next to me. One of my dear friends uses the name “betty” as a nickname for me, so this new airplane seat companion already felt like a comfortable travel friend. As the plane was gaining speed almost ready to lift into the air over lake Michigan, Betty leans over and says,

Even though I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the utter most part of the sea– even there your hand will guide me and your right hand will hold me fast.

I said, “Excuse me Betty, could you repeat that for me?”   She repeated these words and I began to well-up with tears. She said, “I think it’s Psalm 139 verse 10- it always bring me comfort when I travel, do you like it?”  I told her yes, I liked it very much. I also told her I felt she was an Earth angel who just gave me a beautiful gift. My new friend Betty and I held hands and enjoyed the freedom that you feel as the airplane made it’s ascent into the air.

Signposts 

When we choose to notice and acknowledge serendipitous occurrences—I feel it taps us into a whole new kind of guiding tracking device, a tool to bring comfort when we least expect it, or at minimum at least keep life  in perspective. The development of events beyond my control can feel like magic. When they happen, I notice and  listen to the message they bring.

Everyday Magic

A mystical occurrence can appear like a flash of lightening or as a quiet whisper in my ear—whichever way it appears, I am instantly transported from an ordinary moment into something extraordinary. These experiences appear extra-ordinary or highly unlikely—and then again—as ordinary as a knock on my door. And, you don’t have to believe in magic in order to recognize and let serendipity or Earth angels in.  Just be open to the the possibility. Why not allow yourself to be open to the possibility that an Earth angel or serendipitous event may be planted right next to you? How many Bettys or Father Times have you let slip away?

Can you dedicate 15 minutes? I am super excited to now be offering an online class-  Just b guided relaxations

Me and Big Picture Classes

Big Picture Classes is a worldwide community of creatively minded people teaching, learning and supporting each other to find, unleash and nurture their potential. The owners of Big Picture Classes are tons of fun. Being invited to join them is kind of like  becoming part of a family. When we were introduced they wanted to know more about me than my resume qualifications. They wanted to feel comfortable and see the real “me”.  And so I thought it would be fun to share the answers to the questions they asked me. This is what I shared with them:

i was … always curiously interested in discovery! Whether that place of finding was as a little girl growing up in the mid west, living abroad in England, or learning how to get more in touch with my own true nature.

i am … in love with my family (a husband, twin nineteen year old daughters and a fifteen year old son), my work, and anything outdoors. I love just hanging out with my nearest and dearest. My writing and teaching fills me up like nothing else. And, living in Houston – out of doors means reading or writing on my patio, digging in my garden, walking the trails at the arboretum, or eating at an outside cafe.

i think … every woman has the ability to reclaim the healing wisdom in her own body and I believe that when a woman changes her life for the better, her entire family benefits.

i wonder … if our children will write with pens and paper and read from books that sit on a shelf?

i wish … to continue to teach and inspire others.

i save … anything that can be recycled. I can’t remember not recycling. My dad had us rolling newspapers logs for the fire and crushing aluminum cans for the boy scouts fund drive long before recycling became fashionable.

i always … know that the answer lies within me. I just have to remember to become quiet and still, and listen.

i can’t imagine … a life without love.

i believe … as women we can create a healthier, happier way of being from the inside out and raise families who care—about themselves, about each other, and about the world around them.

i promise … to do my best.

i love … good healthy fresh food. Something like a toasted piece of apple bread with a creamy cappuccino or maybe a grilled piece of sea bass, tons of veggies and a glass of Chardonnay.

i scrap … in my Mandala meditation journal everyday!

Check out all of the really cool classes Big Picture offers, including my new online class, Just B guided relaxations.

Watching this video clip gave me goose bumps all over–random acts of genuine kindness, hope and community do exist in our world! Happy 4th of July!