Everything is just as it should be...

Recently after 25 years of employment, I lost my job. The company I worked for decided it was time to close down, for a host of reasons. At first I was really scared... what would I do for money? How would I make up the shortage? My husband is working, but we also depend on my income. I felt, in a way, that I was letting my family down. After a while, I realized that as much as I loved the ability to work and the ability to have money to help support my family (not to mention the awesome health insurance benefits), that really, I didn't like my job! I would have quit my job, but who the heck does that when they have a nice income and benefits? I mean, even if you don't like what you're doing, do you really throw it away just because you don't like it? And just because you don't like your job about 15 years into it... aren't you supposed to stay? Who cares if you're following your life dream or if your life dream changes?

Well, apparently it does matter. I have come to the conclusion that I never would have quit my job. I never would have left on my own. I was not following my life's dream - I wasn't following my own path and now that I have been forced to do so, it's really great! I am able to pursue ideas I have had and never pursued. I have been able to spend some time with my son who is still young enough to want me to spend time with him. I have been able to study yoga and get my certification to teach it. I have been able to start some other studies that will enable me (once certified) to teach those topics to others. If I hadn't lost my job, I would not have met all the wonderful people I have met in the past few months nor would I have learned all the fascinating things they have taught me. I would not have been available to offer assistance to my aging parents who need that attention from time-to-time.

They say things happen for a reason - that all of our life is planned out for us when we are born. Sometimes when you are living your life, you forget these ideas that things do happen for a reason. Sometimes when we are going through some rough times we think "why me?" Because of my job loss, I have been able to follow some dreams I have had but wasn't able to before. I feel like this is exactly what was suppose to happen for me. I feel like this path I am on right now is just what I need in my life right now. Even though I have been walking along this path for many, many years, now I am walking on the path because I should be. Maybe I was preparing for this path all those years and now I am better able to understand or accept the ideas that have been within me for years. All I know is that this is the right place for me at this time. Everything is just as it should be...

What I Love About Yoga!

I have always been a fan of yoga and it's benefits and recently I was certified to teach it. Although I am not as young as I used to be (who is?), I think this is the time in my life when I should be practicing yoga.

What I love about yoga the most is the fact that it takes me inside. I connect so well with my body, mind and breath and that connection stays with me longer and longer throughout my day as I continue my practice day after day. My yoga teacher says even if you practice yoga for a few minutes a day... you are still practicing yoga. I try to remember that if I am only able to squeeze in a few Sun Salutations in the morning upon rising.

I also love that yoga is strengthening, lengthening and toning my muscles; it improves my flexibility; it helps with my posture and keeps my spine flexible (a young spine is a younger body!). I love how yoga keeps my joints and tendons lubricated; that it massages my internal organs; that it helps to rid toxins from my body; I love how it increases my energy and blood circulation; how it helps with my balance; it helps every system in my body including the endocrine, digestive and circulatory. I love how yoga calms my breath and helps me to practice mindfulness (have you ever tried to do a balance pose while not focusing on what your doing along with your breathing... no time to think about other stuff!) I love yoga because it helps me to be more conscious of me and what I am doing - not just during my practice, but throughout my day! I love yoga because it is so pure, it is what I make of it, it is my practice and it has no judgment. And I really love yoga because it has really helped me to love myself more.

Be well and Namaste....

If you are interested in taking a yoga class, please contact me at jasmindoula@aol.com for times and locations of classes I am teaching or go to Yogafinder.com

Mindful Eating

When we aren't paying attention to ourselves or to what we are doing, we can easily sit down to watch TV, open up some salsa and chips and before you know it, you've plowed through the whole jar of salsa! It's easy to munch down a whole sandwich while you're opening the mail on the way in from work, and not even realize you did!

We're so busy doing, doing, doing but we're really not always paying attention to what we are doing! We're doing too much and all at one time! When we don't pay attention to what we are eating, it can lead to many negative results including...

• We can eat too fast which is bad for our digestion
• We can eat too much, not listening to our signals to stop
• We can make bad food choices which can lead us to eat junk foods

You can end up sabotaging your good intentions to eat better. this is why we need to learn how to eat mindfully. Mindful eating can have positive results such as...

• Better health
• Better chance of losing weight
• Improve your body image
• Improve your self-esteem
• You'll learn how to listen to your internal cues
• You'll learn to enjoy the food your are eating

When you start to eat mindfully, you will start to make better food choices. You will notice the texture of the food you are eating. You will notice your hunger level. You will notice the smell of the food on your plate. You will actually enjoy your meals more. You will be paying attention to the food you are eating and notice all the wonderful things about your meal. And really, isn't enjoying what you eat part of the benefits of eating?

Practicing mindfulness is very important for all of us and mindful eating is an excellent way to start.

40th Anniversary of Earth Day

HAPPY EARTH DAY! (almost)

We had an ecology flag when I was in elementary school which was created in 1967 by the Paramount Flag Company in San Francisco. It was just like the American flag but all the blue was replaced by dark green and all the red was replaced with light green. The flag pictured here is the ecology flag that was created in 1969 by Ron Cobb and is the one we recognize today. The graphic within the flag is a combination of the letters "E" and "O" taken from the words "Environment" and "Organism".

Now, 40 years later, it's so nice to see that Earth Day is still celebrated and each year with more fanfare. My wish, however, would be that people would get this excited about the Earth every day! My family and I don't live a perfect "Earth Worshiping" life each and every day, but each and every day, we try harder.

What can we do to help our Mother Earth? Well, of course there's the basic, simple things we can do: Use reusable water and coffee containers; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Turn the water off when we are brushing our teeth; Use a low-flow shower head; Use cloth napkins at each meal (and real plates); Composte food scraps and yard waste; Turn the lights off; Change up the lightbulbs; Unplug items when not in use (no vampires in our house!), etc. But isn't there more??

• Well, you may not be in the market for a new hybrid or electric car, but you can cut down on your driving, use you bike or your legs - better yet, talk your boss into letting you work from home.

• You may not be able to get off the electric grid, but maybe you can start with reducing the amount of electricity you use. Dry your clothes outside during the summer, turn everything off when not in-use or better yet unplug it.

• Insulate your home so it's not wasting energy and buy a programable thermostat. These two things will not only save energy, but save you $$

• When you update your home, keep natural products in mind, like bamboo or cork flooring, countertops made from recycled wastepaper and be sure to use low VOC paints. (check out GreenHomeGuide.com)

• Pay your bills on line.

• Use the window and fresh air instead of air conditioning.

• Check the labels of everything you purchase.

• Go Vegetarian (or at least 1 - 2 meatless meals per week). It takes a lot of resources for that 1/4 pounder!

• Carry your reusable bags with you EVERYWHERE! Not just the grocery store (although that's a good start) but any kind of shopping you do.

• Shop at Farmers Markets or a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) find one near you OR grow your own fruits and veggies! Local and organic is best! http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Michigan.html also check this out http://www.csafarms.org/

• Check the tires on your car.

• Pay attention to the packaging of products you buy - if there's a lot of waste don't buy it or at least recycle it.

• Consume less... share more... live simply.

So - this isn't the most overwhelming list - it's all doable and you can do more and more each day. Start small and build and if each of us do, our children will be able to celebrate Earth Day with their children! To quote a Native American Proverb " We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children".

Be well and Namaste...

Old Ideas are Good Ideas

Are any of you old enough to remember Jack LaLanne? My mother watched him and exercised with him in the morning when I was growing up. That was many, many decades ago.

He is the "Godfather of Fitness". He really helped to empower women (see the video in the link) and is still impacting people's lives today with his juicers, etc.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Jack-LaLanne-The-Godfather-of-Fitness

Mr. LaLanne had a list of "10 Things To Do To Have a Happier and Healthier Life". Guess what? These 10 things are being "discovered" by people today! He's been telling people about this list for decades and people are just now discovering the power of these 10 things.... crazy.

Well - here is what Jack recommends.....

1) Exercise

2) Good Nutrition

3) Positive Thinking

4) Good Habits

5) Good Grooming

6) Smile (to everyone)

7) Watch your posture

8) Help Others

9) Relax (as in meditate....)

10) Have Faith

So, if you're looking to have a happier, healthier life, you may want to look at some of these "old ideas" that people are just now discovering!

Namaste and be well....

My 10 Wonder foods (and why)

Does anyone have 10 Wonder Foods they think you should eat and if so why? Here's the list we have at Pathway Partner....

1) Whole Grains - They are an inexpensive way to enjoy protein, minerals fiber and B vitamins.
2) Legumes - They are rich in folic acid, calcium, iron, potassium, zinc and antioxidents.
3) Quinoa - Is high in protein and a good source of iron.
4) Organic Vegetables - A rainbow of colors is best. Red offers you lycopene to help fight cancer and promote hearth health. Green is also an anti cancer compound.
5) Berries - They are high in fiber and vitamins.
6) Nuts & Seeds - They are rich in protein. Some offer omega 3, vitamin E, calcium and promote a healthy heart.
7) Salmon - All fish offers protein, however, cold water fish including herring and mackerel are some of the best sources of omega 3.
8) Citrus Fruit - They contain flavonoids that lowers production of cholesterol. These fruits also contain vitamin C.
9) Olive Oil - This is an excellent heart healthy fat that will help lower bad cholesterol and raise the good one.
10) Tea - Black, green, white or oolong are all great antioxidents and help protect against heart disease, strokes and certain cancers.

Eating Well for Living Well

We all know that the old line "you are what you eat" is true, so why can't we apply it to our everyday lives? I myself have a hard time, from time-to-time, to live this motto and I am a holistic nutrition consultant!

We all have many outside influences that can be negative or positive that will effect our food decisions daily. It's important to try and do the best that we can to eat well every day. I think one thing we can all try to do is to keep fresh, organic and hopefully locally grown food in our homes. As soon as I get home from the store or farmer's market, I try to wash my produce so it's available for anyone in the house to eat right away. I make a big salad and keep it in the fridge so I will eat it for 2 meals per day. It can be very time consuming to do this each time I shop, but the end results are really worth it.

This year my family joined a local CSA (community serviced agriculture) in the Metro-Detroit area called Maple Creek Farm. I indirectly know the owner from some very good friends of mine who have participated with the farm for years. I am so excited to get my weekly pick-up which starts in June! This year they will offer two sizes of harvest.... a 3/4 bushel and a 1/2 bushel. My family has decided to start with the small harvest and we are going to try to grow some of our own produce as well. Check out their website at www.maplecreekfarm.com for more information.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can conquer your own nutritional challenges, contact me at jasmindoula@aol.com for your own nutritional evaluation.

Be well.....