Finding Balance and Joy

Monday, April 20, 2020

Give Yourself Grace

"You are good, no matter how you are managing this completely new experience."

Image from https://twitter.com/lisaoliveramft/status/1244418556587986946/photo/1

Monday, April 13, 2020

You Will Have Bad Times, BUT…

What aren't you paying attention to today?

As seen at https://www.instagram.com/p/B-nFFZUDG_X/

Monday, April 6, 2020

No-Sew 5-Minute Face Mask

Greetings all!

Image shared by a friend, source unknown

Here is a quick and easy way to make a no-sew mask with fabric and hair ties. You will need a square piece of fabric (e.g., a bandana) and slightly worn hair ties or just regular elastic bands. At the end of the post, I also provide a good resource for those who know how/want to sew! Remember to wash after each wear.

Instructions and images below from: https://nypost.com/2020/04/03/how-to-make-a-diy-no-sew-face-mask-with-fabric-and-hair-elastics/

MY NOTE: If you fold the edges into each other, then the part over your face is not as bulky.

Place the scarf or handkerchief facedown on a flat surface.
Fold the top half down to the midline of the scarf, then fold the bottom half up to the midline.
Flip it over so that the seam faces down.
Fold the new top half down to the midline, and the bottom half up.
Flip it over again so that the seam faces up.
Loop a hair tie over each end of the folded rectangle.
Fold the free sides of the rectangle in toward the middle, layering one side over the other. MY NOTE: If you fold the edges into each other, then the part over your face is not as bulky.
Flip it over! Loop the elastics over each ear to wear, making sure the mask covers your mouth and nose.

Sources:

[no sewing required] https://nypost.com/2020/04/03/how-to-make-a-diy-no-sew-face-mask-with-fabric-and-hair-elastics/
[sewing required] https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/04/health/how-to-make-your-own-mask-wellness-trnd/index.html

Stay safe and healthy!

Monday, March 30, 2020

Yoga with Helene [Neck, Hips, and Hamstrings]

Greetings all!

#helenehectoryoga

Many of us are staying home, and some of us are probably struggling to find discipline and motivation to exercise (looking in the mirror and nodding). We work remotely – and how many of us can boast an ergonomic workstation at home? Your kitchen table does not count!! We probably also spend a lot of our non-working time on phones/computers/TVs. End result? Tight muscles, kinks in the neck, and all sorts of creaking sounds.

Just because we cannot go to live classes doesn’t mean we should stop moving. There are a lot of resources available and I loved reading about them, without actually exercising. What finally made me roll off my couch and stretch was one of my favorite yoga instructors, Helene, posting free yoga videos. They are short, easy to follow, and you feel great at the end of the practice!

Helene’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%23helenehectoryoga
Hamstrings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_MLFKhm5pU&t=616s
Cervical Spine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXRN6Q6Fvn4
Hips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKm09nrB1OE&t=43s

Helene is funny, caring, and very down-to-earth in both her live classes and in her videos. She makes sure you are safe and is great at breaking down the poses. Some of her advice is applicable outside of a yoga practice:

Feel what your body is telling you to do!
Unclench!
Your teeth will not help you with this pose!
And SMILE!

Helene shared her yoga philosophy with me:

“Yoga is medicine. Through consistent practice, Yoga can restore balance and flexibility which is so important for maintaining the quality of life. My personal philosophy is that Yoga is for everyone. My goal as an instructor is to bring Yoga to everyone and to have all practice safely. For this reason, I choose to teach my classes from the ground up emphasizing foundation and then alignment with a full emphasis on having the correct form before moving deeper into the postures or form before depth.”

So take half an hour and stretch. Your body and your mind will thank you! Stay safe and healthy!

Monday, March 23, 2020

What to Do? What to Do? PLENTY!!!

Greetings all!

Whether you are practicing social distancing, are bored, or just looking for new ways to spend your time, there is plenty to do!

Here are just some ideas in no particular order:

Stay connected
Sleep
Meditate
Exercise
Clean your house
Fix stuff
Organize (your finances, paperwork, computer files, etc.)
Do your taxes (yes, the deadline in the U.S. has been extended but…)
Read a book
Do a puzzle
Write in your journal or blog
Make art
Write real letters to your family and friends
Go for a run, take a walk or a hike
Spend a day at the beach
Go bird-watching
Take a virtual walk through the U.S. National Parks
Take an online class
Go on a virtual museum tour
Watch a movie
Watch a sports game
Watch a comedy show
Attend a virtual opera, ballet, or musical
Listen to a podcast or a lecture
Practice a musical instrument
Learn a language
Take a cooking class
Try a new recipe
Watch funny videos and share with everyone
AND – stay healthy, safe, and calm!

SOME RESOURCES:

What did you think? Drop me a line!

Monday, March 16, 2020

Center Yourself [Breathing Technique]

Greetings all!

I hope you and your loved are staying healthy and keeping calm in these uncertain and alarming times. Here is a technique that might help you center yourself from Margaret Townsend (as read in the June-2019 issue of Real Simple magazine):

It’s easier to respond to whatever the day may bring in a more balanced and open-minded way if you spend a moment centering yourself. Let your belly soften and take three gentle breaths into it. Then put your hands on the center of your chest. Inhale slowly and imagine breathing in from the bottom of your feet through the top of your head and into your heart. Exhale and feel your ribs soften downward under your hands.

After a few repetitions, ask yourself, “How do I want to respond to people and situations today?” Keep breathing this way for one to three minutes and notice a feeling of centeredness, clarity, or ease.

Take care!