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Lookin for Yoga Nidra? Try Bonnie Tomeoni's Class

Yoga Nidra Meditation by Bonnie Tomeoni Mondays 6:30-7:30 & Wednesdays 12:30-1:30pm hosted at A Gentle Way Yoga https://agentleway.com/yoga-events/yoga-nidra/ Yoga Nidra  is an ancient form of body-mind meditation that is typically done in a lying down position. It is the art, science of conscious, deep relaxation that balances the body and mind. Yoga Nidra consists of gentle stretching, breathing exercises (pranayama) and guided meditation to put you in the deepest possible state of relaxation while still maintaining full consciousness. This state of consciousness (yoga nidra) is different from meditation in which concentration on a single focus is required. In yoga nidra the practitioner remains in a state of light withdrawal of the 5 senses (pratyahara) with four senses internalised, that is, withdrawn, and only the hearing still connects to the instructions. Benefits Include: Relief from Chronic Stress Decreases Inflammation Reduces blood pressure Physical and mental b...

Sarcasm can be demotivating

Edited from a Facebook meme (cursing removed): My thoughts: choose your words wisely if you like good company, good behavior, good friends. Few things are as demotivating being darned if you do, and darned if you don't. This rang so true for me as a parent, as reflecting back as a child, and in a family where some members cannot resist being snarky, either as an attempt to be funny, offer back-handed insults, or even be passive-aggressive (or all). My armchair psychologist stood up sharply and said "Oh my, I never thought of this way! It makes so much sense!"  Do no harm, the yogis say - to oneself, and to others. Do we not see ourselves in others? Can we not forgive small transgressions? Can we be uplifting instead of destructive? Must we always tear down to release our own frustrations, or can we (use yoga) to dissipate that built up tension in other ways (more about that in another post). I am guilty of being party to participation in this activity, and also been victi...

United National Committee for IDOY - Light on Light Magazine

Jo-San Arnold and I are so proud to have been asked by the International Day of Yoga Committee at the U.N. to contribute to the special world-wide edition of their Light-on-Light magazine about sharing Accessible Yoga with the community, and the International of Day of Yoga. Click this link https://tinyurl.com/y72pjwhd to read both articles (the images below might not show clearly) (NOTE: There is an error in my article. My class is not at Casa de Oro, it is at El Cajon Library; click here for details ) Here is a link to the entire magazine for your reading pleasure: https://issuu.com/unityearth/docs/lightonlight_un_idy I want to extend special personal thanks to the following people for inspiring me to learn about yoga and share the knowledge: Jivana Heyman Karen O'Donnell Clarke, Judith Hanson Lasater Shelby Lafrinere Kaitlyn Asken Melissa Anne Booker Matthew W. Sanford Jivana Heyman Leslie Kazadi Steffany Moonaz Anne Joseph Gretchen Mallios Amy Wheeler Yoga Rachel Krentzman Shaw...

Is Silver Sneakers Yoga only for, like, um, Seniors?

The easy answer is OF COURSE NOT!  It's a fusion of Vinyasa yoga, where movement is matched with breath, Iyangar yoga with deliberate (and liberal) use of props for pose accessibility and enhanced alignment, and Viniyoga, a therapeutic style of yoga that is designed to move the body and use the breath to help manage conditions and injuries. Slide from the Tivity Silver Sneakers Yoga Training Program This combination of styles can be both progressed (intensity increased) and regressed (intensity decreased) like every other format to work with each student's abilities as best as possible. Like every yoga practice, we learn how to breathe not just in and out, but to coordinate movements to breath, and consciously control the breath cycles to both decrease stress and improve concentration. We also work on functional movement practices like balance, muscular flexibility, skeletal range of motion, endurance, coordination, and cognitive health. The three yoga practices fused together...

Yoga Can Create Change

A few articles about yoga! Adaptive Yoga Changes Lives By Rear Adm. Tom Steffens (Ret.), former Navy SEAL and founder, Exalted Warrior Foundation http://navymedicine.navylive.dodlive.mil/archives/4329 New Study Shows Yoga Has Healing Powers By Susan Brink, for National Geographic https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140207-yoga-cancer-inflammation-stress/

Embracing Our Bodies - reprinted with permission from Shayna Gothard Kaufmann, Ph.D.

Clnical Psychologist and empowered woman Dr. Shayna Kaufman has a website entitled Embracing the Middle: Empower Women in Their 40'S, 50'S & 60'S - Discover and Apply Your Innate Wisdom, Awareness, and Courage. She leads short, day, and series workshops (formal and informal gatherings) on " an empowering approach to the second half of your life that invokes excitement rather than a mindset of "midlife crisis" or stagnation." She describes her program as one that  ...teaches how to examine outdated beliefs and behaviors and gracefully accept what is, even if that means embracing your growing "mid" section. My programs are educational and experiential and are best suited for women in midlife (approximately 40-60) who are open to examining aspects of their lives through the midlife lens of wisdom, maturity, awareness, and emotional bandwidth. I want to share with you an email she just sent, that has to do with body acceptance. If this resonate...

Compassion ROCKS

Today I led a children's yoga class with the theme of compassion. no, we didn't talk about the school shooting - these are just 8-10 year olds and discussing that tragedy is best left to parental discretion. In fact they didn't even bring it up. What we did talk about is what compassion means to them. They danced around the idea a bit until one child said "kindness, right?" and the ball rolled from there about being respectful, caring, not thinking just of yourself, helping someone, charity, listening, etc. usually with respect to someone who had something bad happen to them. I reminded them compassion is also sharing GOOD moments with people, letting them share theirs with you, and just taking the time to notice someone else, like make new friend. This being a group of jewish students I decided to take it one step further. With Purim holiday coming up, I brought up the name of the notorious bad guy (Haman) that hated the Jewish people and tried to advise the king...

Getting Political - about the value of human life

A wise friend, a lawyer no less, wrote this the day after a tragic event. She compassionately brings up a cultural lack of compassion, anger, disenfranchisement and dismissiveness, and in the face of the natural urge to place blame, speaks of trying to make a difference to help us move forward. I quote her directly, and with honor. I will tell you with 100% certainty that our schools are not equipped to deal sufficiently with the mental health well-being of our children and their classmates. And, early intervention is crucial. How about instead of funding a wall and more weapons of mass destruction, we prioritize our schools - the place our children reside 35+ hours per week - the place that is very often the only surrogate for a child's missing stable home? How about instead of pumping money and energy into our prison system, arming guards, and adjudicating criminal behavior post-event, we pump money and energy into bolstering compassionate care for troubled children and their fam...

Podcast Roundup

It occurred to me that I should assemble a list of the podcasts that I've appeared on. Here's as complete a list as I can produce. If I've omitted one, I sincerely apologize. Please let me know and I'll add it. Thank you to all the hosts who asked me to be a part of your programs! Here's the first part of a conversation I had with Jimmy on his Inner Fire Podcast (Jan 3, 2018) - http://innerfirepodcast.com/grassbasedhealth Thanks, Jimmy! Here's the "sequel" http://innerfirepodcast.com/grass-based-sequel/ Ketovangelist Episode 135 – Dr. Peter Ballerstedt discusses sustainable keto. By Brian Williamson https://www.ketovangelist.com/episode-135-dr-peter-ballerstedt-discusses-sustainable-keto/ Future of Ag (Tim Hammerich) Future of Agriculture – A Ruminant Revolution with Dr. Peter Ballerstedt 11/1/2017 http://www.farmruralag.com/future-of-agriculture-a-ruminant-revolution-with-dr-peter-ballerstedt/ My Sugar Free Journey with Aaron Farmer, September 2...

Sometimes I Dream I'm Trying To Rescue Drowning Hummingbirds

Please know that I very much appreciate people approaching me directly with comments and feedback. Sure, yea, I'm a yoga instructor, but that is not the whole of who I am. We are all just HUMAN BEINGS, and we are all working on self-awareness. Life gets tough - there's a lot of distraction in this world and a lot with which to get frustrated. If you know me, you know that I just want to make this world a better place. I want to help educate and energize, uplift and help us all be connected to one another. We may not agree, but if we respect each other we can make this work.

Inspiration

You are a much better person than you think you are...Don't be so hard on yourself...You have done some good, you have done some bad...You are human...Learn to love yourself, be patient.. - Jeffrey Zlotnick The practice of meditation is not just for your own peace but because with a peaceful mind you can go out into the world and serve well. With that very idea you can meditate. So even your Yogic meditation becomes a selfless action. - Swami Satchidananda You.Are.Amazing. As. you. are. Stronger than you know. More beautiful than you think. Worthier than you believe. More loved than you can ever imagine. Passionate about making a difference. Fiery when protecting those you love. Learning. Growing. Not alone. Warm. Giving. Generous. Quirky. Sexy. Funny. Smart. Flawed. Whole. Scared. Brave. And so, so, so.much.more. - Tia Sparkles Singh, 2011

Death of a Hummingbird

My son and I found a deceased hummingbird in our yard yesterday. I almost didn't see it, at first. Without my glasses, the bright green feathers and grayish wings fooled me into thinking it was a dead fig beetle in the leaf litter. When I bent down and saw this tiny bird, I was at first overjoyed! I picked it up delicately, cradling it in my hands hoping to see or feel a little bit of breath or movement. When I realized the bird was not going revive I started to examine it like tiny treasure. The opportunity to just hold a hummingbird was a rarity, but to be able to actually do a bit of manipulation, knowing I'd be causing no harm excited the nerdy nature kid and adult in me. I passed my fingertips over the smooth head feathers and into the "ruff" that were both that glistening ruby color when in direct sunlight. This identified this specimen as a male Anna's hummingbird, common in our area. We hear them whizzing past our porch every day, on the way to our neighbo...

Giving Thanks, Our Way

For Eli and Craig and me, our extended families live at least 90 minutes by plane (and at this time of year, $1000 minimum) and further. Due to school and work schedules, and familial obligations, seldom do we get time for just the three of us to enjoy time together, guilt-free, without feeling like we have to either, a) run to one relatives house for a large holiday (Jewish, Christian, Secular); or b) do chores/fix up the house/do laundry/run errands that don’t get done on normal days. Eli’s first Thanksgiving was one of sleepless drama (the child was anti-slumber until he was four and even now can do zombie-inspired four-hour anti-sleep binges worthy of the worst of college drunken study habits and expect one of us to joyfully participate with him. Years two and three we hazily remember as having my mom come out and some friends visit but we aren’t really sure and can’t find any documented proof. So in 2012, we decided that Turkey Day weekend was just for US, for short trips just the...

Want to relax. heal and REMEMBER? Try deep breaths (in AND out)

"'Vagusstoff' [the substance released from your vagus nerve] (acetylcholine) is like a tranquilizer that you can self-administer simply by taking a few deep breaths with long exhales. Consciously tapping into the power of your vagus nerve can create a state of inner-calm while taming your inflammation reflex." Simply put, taking some slow inhales and even slower exhales will at the very least calm you down, and at best, help reduce the body's biological markers for inflammation response. Which means, less pain, less stress, less illness. "Healthy vagal tone is indicated by a slight increase of heart rate when you inhale, and a decrease of heart rate when you exhale. Deep diaphragmatic breathing—with a long, slow exhale—is key to stimulating the vagus nerve and slowing heart rate and blood pressure, especially in times of performance anxiety." Breathing with focused aware (mindful) inhales and consciously slowed exhales will help realign your mind body c...

Positive Mental Attitude

Every Cell in my body vibrates with energy and health. Loving myself heals my life. I nourish my mind, body and soul. My body heals quickly and easily.

Wear PINK on 10/30 in SD to support the fight against Breast Cancer

The Family and Community Engagement team in collaboration with San Diego Unified Police Services are wearing pink on t o show support for those affected by Breast Cancer.  Join us in showing community support and posting your photos to social media.

State of California retirees can be eligible for Silver Sneakers

Many retired State of California employees with PERScare and over 65 may now be eligible to opt in to the Tivity Silver Sneakers program on their Medicare insurance. That means free admission to 24 Hour Fitness, LA Fitness, Crunch and more gyms that have Silver Sneakers classes and low or no cost community Flex exercise classes. You should have received a new brochure in the mail about opting-in to this program. Check your insurance website for info, and sign up if you can!

Two Events Especially for the Golden Years - Del Mar 10/7 and La Mesa 10/13

This year's Successful Aging Expo in Del Mar is Saturday, October 7 from 9 AM to 4 PM, and is FREE (parking is $13 per car). Present by Sharp Healthcare! Presented by Rides for Neighbors in the City of La Mesa, it's the Transportation and Fitness Expo on Friday, October 13 from 8:30 to 11:30 AM at the La Mesa Community Center at 4975 Memorial Drive.

Gratitude, perspective shifts, and afterschool programs

On a previous life track (before kids, and with full time professional employment) I would shop. a lot. For baubles and clothing and life embellishments... and more food than I needed. Wasteful to be certain. With the current austerity program initiated with the birth of our son and my work taken to part time, and most recently the recent gentle belt tightening of hubby being between jobs, my cravings for "more" have greatly dissipated. Perhaps the yoga practice helped hone the skill and tune in to non-grasping, but admittedly the reality of avoiding debt and waste played a big part. Truthfully don't want an overstocked refrigerator (to clean or to organize). I don't want more clothes to put away or things to dust on shelves, or collectibles about which Ill just forget. Having mindfully "not-shopped" for a bit, we found ourselves positioned to utilize funds (that would otherwise be squandered on a few dinners out and theater movies and maybe some more price...