I am Celebration (revisited)

So I wrote the entry below in October of 2009.  Its contents visited me yesterday morning as I was driving to teach my Sunday morning yoga class.  In fact, it was the main theme for the day, and I shared it with my students.  I talked about celebration. That it's not just for the big things, but the little things as well.  I found this old post I wrote and how I was celebrating the fact that I completed clinic hours in just one of my modules for massage school. 

It's the little things that really matter.  Those things that we may oversee or take for granted.  I see how celebrating gets you closer to what you want. I want to celebrate the Human Resources dept at my work for giving me the support I needed recently.  I had many dates of un-reimbursed medical claims (money that I paid out of my pocket) that I'm getting back! For whatever reason, the insurance company wasn't reimbursing me, and kept saying they needed to resubmit this or that claim again, and it was going to take up to 30 days to process! I cried over this twice; and finally, I decided I'm not going to worry about this anymore. I'm not going to put my energy (my vibration and attention) to this anymore.  Instead, I sought help from HR/Benefits at my job, and within a few weeks, mission accomplished! I trusted that it would all work out, and conveyed my patience in the most constructive way possible.  I "kept my cool." My intentions and goals were to receive more understanding, consideration and respect out of this.  I wanted to be heard, and I was. I received all of the above.

I know I should celebrate my proactivity in contacting HR, but I'm so grateful for having the person I had.  HR depts really get a bad rep sometimes and, yes, I have definitely contributed to that bashing in the past. But I honestly am so grateful for them right now and I want to CELEBRATE!  I told HR how much I appreciated their help and support through this, as it was so confusing and frustrating.  I want to celebrate my job for providing the health care plans.  

 I am gratitude and celebration! Now, it's time to get that pedicure I've been talking about....

 From October 2009

I am celebration!

I have to celebrate that I completed my massage clinic hours for one of my modules! Yaayyy! It gives me a sense of accomplishment and validity, that, Wow! I can really get through this program! Yes I have had mind chatter and negative self-talk about completing the massage program I'm enrolled in, but seeing results is so invigorating to my whole being! Bodywork is connection. Connection to everything in the body, mind, spirit and soul. During my holistic health program last year, we had to write our life's purpose. My life purpose was (is) "I am love and acceptance". I want to expand on that, "I am love, acceptance and celebration". I want to put the energy out into the universe that I will receive, love and accept everything in my path, regardless of positive or negative. Wow, this feels great in my belly right now!

I've realized that you can celebrate anything--waking up in the morning, getting out of bed, eating a meal, tying your shoe, etc. It doesn't have to be this huge thing. Whatever it is to you is what matters.

What do you want to celebrate?

One of my 2010 Declarations

I will leverage my debt in a healthy way.

I need to remind myself and say this to myself as much as possible.  That I AM doing it. It IS happening.  What does a "healthy way" look like?  I will trust in my myself that money is always coming my way.  I will be compassionate towards myself no matter what.  I will appreciate myself even when times are tough, and be gentle with myself and say, "I am doing the best I can, and I am doing a great job." I want to create more abundance in clientele for my yoga and massage practice. 

I am love, acceptance and compassion. 

Down with Downward Facing Dog

It's one of those poses that they start every yoga class with, and you lose count as to how many you do in class and in your own practice.  It does so much for the body. It not only stretches the WHOLE body at once, but it relieves a lot of different ailments, improves digestion and helps a woman, wherever she may be in her cycle of life.  If I can't get my practice in one day, I always make time for downward dog.  Read more about this pose below from Yoga Journal Daily Insight.  

Namaste!

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Because It's Good for You

Downward-Facing Dog—a pose performed by standing on the hands and feet with the hips lifted to the sky—is one of the most popular yoga postures today. It is taught in many classes and is part of many styles of yoga. But why is it such an important posture? The simple answer is that it's great for your health!

Down Dog calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression; it helps relieve the symptoms of menopause; it relieves menstrual discomfort when done with the head supported; it helps prevent osteoporosis; it improves digestion; it relieves headaches, insomnia, back pain, and fatigue; and it is therapeutic for high blood pressure, asthma, flat feet, sciatica, and sinusitis.

Read the full articles:

• Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose)
• Get Down Dog

Scream it out...literally!

I wanted to share this article about letting your anger out.  In our society, we're taught to hold back our emotions in most situations.  But don't forget that you're ALLOWED to release it.  It's healthy to shout and scream your anger and frustrations.  Sometimes I do it in the shower or into a pillow.  It's great when you're alone, but if you're not, just let whoever know that you need to blow off some steam. It may seem like they're put off by it, but it's totally okay to scream it out, and who knows, maybe they could too.  So, express it. Release it from your body because that's usually where it gets stored and ends up causing blockage in places of the body.  Read more in the article(s) below where it talks about a yoga pose dedicated to this concept.  Try Lion Pose! 


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Roar Out Stress

Ever feel so stressed that you wanted to scream? A good shout can literally help you blow off steam, releasing pent-up frustrations and leaving you spent, relaxed, and calm. We are often taught, in our society, to hold all our emotions in and to betray no trace of frustration or exhaustion. But it can be much healthier just to let it out!

In yoga we sometimes mimic the roar of a lion in particular, but any roar or shout will help you reduce stress throughout the day. Some good places to try this include the shower, in traffic, or in the privacy of your bedroom. If others are around, it's helpful to alert them first—because it can sound alarming! And if you're driving, of course, make sure to watch the road as you sound your lungs.

Read the full articles:

• Unmasking Anger
• Lion Pose

A VERY Happy Birthday to me!

June 16 was my birthday and it was very happy.  I took the day off from work, which was very necessary.  I think everyone should have their birthday off to do whatever they want to do for themselves.  I mean it is probably one of the most important days of your life!  You were born! Celebrate it!

I decided for my birthday I was going to pamper and nurture myself.  I started my day having a relaxing, quiet morning with my husband (who also took the day off! I love you, Joe!) drinking tea and eating breakfast.  Then I had a massage at 11:15 a.m. It was originally at 11:00 a.m. and scheduled for 90 min, but, due to some last minute schedule conflicts, they could only give me an hour. Instead of getting huffy about it, I was understanding to the spa receptionist, explained it was my birthday, and ended up getting $10 off. So everyone won!  The massage was EXACTLY what I needed.  I literally melted into the table.

Then Joe picked me up and we went to Best Buy.  I received some birthday money from family, so I bought the Nintendo Wii.  I can't remember the last time I bought a "toy" for myself. Something really fun.  After the pampering I got from the massage, it was time to nurture my inner child and buying the Wii was a great start.  We met up with my friend, Sarah at the SF Giants County Fair, a mini carnival with rides, games and carnival food.  We went on the swings, which is always fun because it lets you be that little kid and start yelling things like ,"Weeeeeeee! and Yaaaayyyy!" We viewed the petting zoo, which was a  little depressing so I won't go into that.  The best part was the Bumper Cars.  I was laughing so hard I couldn't control that car for the life of me.  Then you look at your friends and they're laughing so hysterically, you just do the same.  Lastly, we ended with a sno cone, which, for some reason I couldn't keep off of me. Then again, I was wearing a white shirt; maybe not the best idea. 

Now on a sugar-water high, we walked along the bay looking out at AT&T Park.  It was a gorgeous day.  What more could I ask for!

Something definitely shifted inside me after this day.  It's as though my inner child had been screaming for attention for a long time, and I finally let everything else go to acknowledge and nurture it.  For the past few years, a lot of shifting has occurred in my life, and sometimes we forget those simple, little things that are so big.  Even though, we're a certain age, it shouldn't stop us from showing our inner child.  I turned 32, but I allowed myself to be 12 and even younger.  Yes, things have happened to us in our childhood that may have left scars behind, or wounds that may have been left opened.  I know I've reopened some of those wounds in order to heal from certain events from my childhood, but the most healing was I got to be fun, playful, giddy, excited, surprised and child-like again.  I didn't once worry about anything "grown-up." Why not do this more often. 

LAAA LA LA LA LA

changing the blog design for the hell of it....

FWD: How Accepting and Loving of Yourself Are You?

(click for this post) How Accepting and Loving of Yourself Are You?

There's a meditation in this post called "Accepting and Love Myself! meditation". I just read it and now want to try it. Acceptance and love for myself is something I've been practicing in my life with pretty much everything I do and say. This is especially big with me when it comes to making decisions and choices. Once I accept and love where I'm at, I become more clear with what I want and what I want to create for myself. It's a hard practice, but it definitely works!

Thanks, Catherine Hidalgo for sharing this post!