Misc Musings Archives - Page 10 of 12

Find a Human Sunrise

May 29, 2012 by Julie Lusk

FIND A HUMAN SUNRISE ~ Alice Walker

When it all seems too much,
when the news is so bad that meditation itself feels useless,
and a single life feels too small a stone to offer on the altar of peace,

find a human sunrise.

Find those people who are committed to changing our scary reality.
Human sunrises are happening all over the earth, at every moment.

People gathering, working to change the intolerable.
People coming in robes and sandals.
People coming in rags and bare feet.
And they are singing, or not, and they are chanting, or not.

But they are working to bring peace, light, and compassion for humankind and to the world.

There is nothing too small any of us can learn to do to help us out of our predicament. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the Human Sunrise, brightest when we shine together.

Here are the ‘human sunrises’ in my life:

First, my husband is at the top of my list. My sister is right up there too – not only did she teach 7th grade for for eons, she also taught 3rd – even though she lives with chronic pain from having had cancer – and this is only the tip of who she is. More human sunrises are the folks who come to yoga through the good times and the trying times, each has such a special life story. My friends are right up there too. All my teachers. I also appreciate all those people who are doing their best, no matter what that might be.

Who are the ‘human sunrises’ in your life?
Please let us know by adding a comment.

Mother’s Day Quotes, Women’s Retreat, Special Sale

May 9, 2012 by Julie Lusk

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

A mother is not a person to lean upon, but a person to make leaning unnecessary. ~ Dorothy Canfield
There is no influence so powerful as that of a mother. ~ Josepha Hale
All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. ~Abraham Lincoln

Every one of us has a mother and each of us has a unique relationship with her. Sometimes it is strong. Sometimes it is weak. Sometimes it is loving. Sometimes it is less so. No matter what, it is a special bond and it runs deep.

Many of us are mothers to children. Some of us are grandmothers, even great-grandmothers. Others of us know mothering in other ways and through our other relationships with people and pets.

Please take a moment to recall the qualities of mothering you admire and share them below in the comments.

I encourage you to practice a special quality that means something to you as a meditation and throughout the day.

Begin by quieting yourself. Next, magnify the power of the mind-body connection with the following meditation by using the breath and an affirmation for as long as you like.

Breathing in. I am .. (state the mothering quality)

Breathing out. I am .. (state the mothering quality)

Infuse your day with this quality.

Be loving.

Be patient.

Be kind.

Be encouraging.

Happy Mothers Day to one and all!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Celebrate Womanhood at a Retreat – You deserve it!

There’s nothing like a gathering of women on retreat. It’s the perfect get-away to share our laughter, our longings, and to learn from one another. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to activate your dreams and desires and have fun.

Find out more about your opportunities in Cincinnati, OH, Kripalu in MA, Integral Yoga in VA, Sivananda on Paradise Island, Bahamas, and more by clicking here now.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Yoga Sun Salutation to the CAT

January 4, 2012 by Julie Lusk

When the student is ready – the teacher arrives – meowing

Holiday Energizers

December 19, 2011 by Julie Lusk

Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, St. Nicholas, Kwanza, Winter or Summer Solstice, Navidades, Hanukkah, St. Lucia Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s, the holidays can be stressful.

Decide now whether this year will be full of the season’s stressful traps or fulfilling with plenty of treasures to be thankful for. Take some time to set priorities and make the necessary changes so the holidays are inspiring and energizing instead of a drain. Pay attention to what your needs and wishes are for your body, mind, and heart while finding the balance with sharing with others. I hope these Holiday Energizers from Whole Person Associates help you as much as they help me.

Cheers!

Know what goodies will fill you. What kind of contact will be fulfilling for you? What kind of gift exchange will be meaningful to you? What do you need to help your heart and soul feel refreshed? If you know clearly what you want, it’s easier to choose activities that are likely to satisfy your desires.

Ask for what you want. Don’t hint. Don’t wait for someone to read your mind. Don’t expect others to guess what will satisfy you. Speak up. If you’re lonely, ask someone to share your celebration – or ask to share in someone else’s. If you love surprises, let people know. If you need time alone in the midst of togetherness, say so. If you can’t get what you want, want what you get, it’s much more satisfying than wishing for the impossible.

[Read more…]

Good to the Core: Yoga to strengthen & flatten abdominals, tone back, legs, hips, and more.

August 6, 2011 by Julie Lusk

This yoga sequence helps with abdominal core strength and tones the back while also lengthening the psoas muscles.

The psoas, deep and large, runs from the lumbar spine, stretches over the hip joint and under the abs, and attaches to inner thigh bone.

Traditional leg lifts, “crunches” and sit-ups are often done to strengthen and flatten the abdominal muscles. The problem is that they also tighten and shorten the psoas tipping the pelvis forward, pushing your belly out (yuk) and misalignment of the back.

A tight psoas contributes to back, hip and knee problems, indigestion, dysfunctional breathing, instability, and other problems.

This particular yoga sequence activates the psoas muscle in a progressive manner: first facing forward, to the side, and then turning.

Other beneficial yoga postures are the forearm plank and side plank (creates core stability and strength with a neutral psoas) and pigeon (stretches and releases the psoas).

Consult a qualified yoga professional for instructions and contraindications. As with all exercise, practice for your own benefits and at your own risk.