Welcome Spring

Well spring certainly has sprung here in our part of the world! This year it felt like it took an especially long time to thaw out. Just as soon as the thermometer reached that comfortable place the trees burst into blossom as if they too had been greatly anticipating the warmth and light of the sun. For as long as it took for the trees to blossom, it seems a shame how fast the first act of the show is over. Before you know it, we find ourselves amidst a shower of petals under a golden-green canopy.

The other evening as I walked amongst a parade of blooms, I found myself contemplating on just how fast the showy blossoming is in comparison to how long the trees and plants thrive throughout the spring and summer. While the blossoms are a wonder to look at with their beauty and flash, it is the mature foilage that feeds the trees and purifies our air. If you're around me or read my writings enough, you'll hear me talk over and again about how important I think it is that we, as a society,  overcome the negative connotations and judgements about aging. Perhaps we do lose the look of "freshness" and "smoothness," but hopefully with our years we also gain the ability to enjoy who we are as individuals and recognize more fully how we contribute and make a positive impact on the world around us. My wishes for you this spring season are peace, love and hope.

An Inspiration: Ann Segal

To flourish and survive in life one must have perspective, a sense of humor, a sense of self, a strong connection to something larger than oneself, the ability to be in the world but not totally of it, a strong sense of personal boundaries, trust, tenacity, and a deep love of life.

Ann Segal creates gorgeous photographic images but it is her calm strength that is most inspiring to me. Last month as I was struggling to stay healthy Ann appeared in several places for me and inspired me to start this “Spotlight” on remarkable individuals. I met Ann in Yoga class. Two converging paths brought me to Yoga. One was that I was asked to teach it at the gym I worked at and the other is that I was looking for pain relief from a back and neck injury. I came into Yoga expecting not to like it. I remembered my mom doing a few moves on the floor with Lilias on TV and I thought yoga was for “old people” (sorry mom). It’s true that most of the people in my first Yoga classes were older in years than me but in no way were they old in their bodies and minds. I couldn’t believe how strong and kind everyone was that I met through Yoga.  Ann was one of those individuals. At the time she taught Restorative Yoga which is a gentle and rejuvenating form of the practice. I thought it suited her perfectly because of her calm voice and steady presence.

I got to know Ann better when she took pictures of my baby girl. Even though I knew that Ann had a calming presence I was amazed to see it in action as she took photographs of Bela. Bela has always been a feisty girl and never seemed to settle for even a moment. But, she did for Ann. I was thrilled when the photos came back. You see, Bela was born  without the muscles that lift our eyelids up. So, while most photographs focus on the look of the face this concept would not do justice for our beautiful baby. Somehow Ann captures the essence of a person or a scene that she photographs. She used a perfect tag line at the time, “Seeing with the Heart.”

Along the way I found out that Ann had moved through Cancer. I wondered if surviving and then thriving after a life threatening illness didn’t make her appreciate life even more fully. Ann is one of those people who surprises me every time I see her because even though a year may have passed she always looks even more vibrant than the last time I saw her. As I worked through my illness, Ann posed the idea that perhaps being sick is the body’s natural way of detoxifying. Having overcome illness in such a positive way, I felt like she deserved great respect for her advice on health and wellness and I wondered what other insight Ann might have to share about thriving so fully in life. So, I asked her if she would share a little bit on her view of flourishing and thriving in life.

Here is Ann's response....

I am honored and flattered to be written about and somewhat amused to be called an ‘older woman’ (but that is the truth).

To flourish and survive in life one must have perspective, a sense of humor, a sense of self, a strong connection to something larger than oneself, the ability to be in the world but not totally of it, a strong sense of personal boundaries, trust, tenacity, and a deep love of life.

Taking care of myself is a big part of my life!  I have learned to identify, understand and consider my own needs first.  I try to manage my time in a way that supports my well-being.  I know how important moving/breathing is particularly for me so that is one of my priorities.  Yoga, tai chi, qigong, pilates, gyrotonics, walking are consistent practices in my life.  I practice yoga (have studied and practiced for 40 years!) daily at home in the early morning, usually walk daily where I live and most days of the week participate in the other activities mentioned. I know I feel better eating lighter/organic food and I try not to be rigid about that. I receive a massage every other week, see a chiropractor regularly and get acupuncture seasonally.  I have been doing a two week cleanse in the Fall and Spring online with Dr. John Douillard, an Ayurvedic practitioner in Boulder.  I meditate and do a restorative yoga pose daily.  I read (a wide range of) books and articles that interest me/am a gatherer of information. I have two wonderful dogs and I am in a happy/supportive long term relationship/marriage. We travel quite a bit which is always creatively inspiring/part of why I travel is to discover magic and photograph it.  I enjoy gardening/grow mostly greens, herbs and some flowers/I enjoy being connected to the earth and elements that way.

What keeps me motivated and inspired is really quite endless!  Right now the change of seasons is inspiring: the honeysuckle and trees leafing out, the daffodils and magnolias blooming/the ability of nature to renew itself

never ceases to amaze me.  Watching my dog grow from being a puppy…witnessing other artists’ creative expression…when we travel observing new landscapes, different cultures…a great film/many forms of music/great contemporary architecture/great writing…I am inspired by the organic/green movement/by people who speak truth to power…

Resources:  Since my cancer experience 12 years ago I have been studying/practicing Ayurveda which is a very individually based system of health.  One of the things I like is its exuberance for life. I get alot of info from John Douillard’s website, lifespa.com but also read/listen to Deepak Chopra.  For politics I like Rachel Maddow,  Bill Maher, truthout.com and the Daily Beast.  I highly recommend checking out gyrotonics/gyrokinesis at Body Mind Balance/it is all about spinal fluidity and I find it very therapeutic/I call it ‘goddess work.’  Great Pilates there too. I study tai chi and qigong with Alan Hundley at Shine and highly recommend his classes and massage.  I have done panchakarmas (week long Ayurvedic cleansing including daily massage) at the Raj, Rasayana Cove and The Chopra Center and would recommend all. There are many good acupuncturists these days in Cincinnati/I have been going to the Alliance Institute for Integrative Medicine for many years/pioneers in alternative healthcare.  Some of my photographs are on the walls there.

People who have inspired/touched/resonated with me and/or raised my vibration are:  Swami Satchidananda, BKS Iyengar,  Michio Kushi, Sally Kempton, Howard Zinn, James Baldwin, MLK, Malcom X,  Phillip Glass, John and Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Barack Obama, Queen Noor, Deepak Chopra and my uncle Dilly Segal.

I have some upcoming shows of my photography:  May/Skytop Starbucks (Mt. Washington) and June/Harper’s Point Starbucks and Awakenings Café.

A Breath of Fresh Air (& Allergies!)

Yesterday was the first day it felt warm and dry enough for me to open the windows and doors to let the fresh spring air rush through our home. (Although by the time this posts, I'm sure it will be raining again!) Wow! That fresh air felt so good blowing through the house. I could feel parts inside of me that had been hibernating spring back to life in an instant. Having an energy surge like that is vital because at the same time that the spring breezes and blosoms offer a lift to my mood they also carry allergic reactions.

As the trees burst into bloom, my body like many others, feels overwhelmed from all the pollen in the air. Though we didn't know it at the time, I have suffered from allergies for most of my life. I missed many days of school when I was little because for me the allergy reactions had always gone beyond just sneezing and runny eyes, at times I feel really sick. Allegra got me through my 20's and then finally near the age of 30, I saw an allergist only to find out that I'm allergic to almost anything that grows! Fat chance that I'll be avoiding nature because walking in the woods is one of my favorite activities. After several months of allergy shots, I gave up on them because they just made me feel worse.

So, after resigning to just deal with the symptoms, I was a little surprised to find my allergies easing up. I give credit to my yoga practice. It might be that the breath training that happens during a yoga practice has helped me keep myself more clear of the pollen, but I think more than anything, it's the way that yoga helps me alleviate my stress response. Knowing that allergies are said to be the immune systems OVER-reaction to blocking elements that it deems harmful to the body (aka pollen and ragweed), I've come to the conclusion that learning to be more proactive rather than reactive in my thoughts and actions has helped me calm my immune system and other body systems as well.

Then again maybe I should trust my body. Maybe this sudden onslaught of pollen isn't good for me. Maybe I should be glad that all this sneezing and watering is keeping me more pure and clear inside. (There I go looking on the bright side. Although it might be "annoying" to some, thinking like that does help me get through some rougher times.) The truth is I prefer not to feel sick during my favorite times of year. I think yoga is the biggest help to alleviate my allergy symptoms and I've stumbled on a few other good holistic ways to manage them throughout the years that I'll share with you here.

I eat local honey throughout the year. It must be LOCAL because the idea is that the honey contains elements of the pollen you'll be exposed to in the spring. Little doses throughout the year help get your resistance up in a gentle way. I put a drop in my morning tea so itt's yummy and comforting to boot.

First thing in the morning, gently blow your nose and use a Neti Pot. Personally I've never had much luck with the Neti Pot but I do have friends that swear by them.

The last couple of posts have been about Ayurveda. Ayurveda has lots to say about allergies. My friend Liz Stites, Ayurveda practitioner is offering a workshop this weekend and does one-on-one consulting. Her contact info is listed on the "What the Heck is Ayurveda" post.

Last and certainly not least. Check out a good yoga class that includes mindfulness, breath work and relaxation.Here's a link to my schedule. If you want help finding a good class in your area always feel free to contact me. www.flourishunlimited.com

Aaahhh-choo! and God Bless You

Yoga and Ayurveda for the Spring Season

Last weekend I presented a workshop with my friend and Ayurveda practitioner Liz Stites, called "Yoga and Ayurveda for the Spring Season." If you don't know what Ayurveda is, check out last week's blog, "What the Heck is Ayurveda?" Much like my view of Yoga, I see one of Ayurveda's great attributes as the focus on cultivating greater awareness of oneself and respect for one's relationships with everything. With increased self-awareness and with respect for our community and environments, we can tip the scales toward the sides of greater vitality, harmony and joy.

Ayurveda suggests shifting our diets and lifestyle choices such as exercise and work habits throughout the seasons and cycles of our lives to keep greater balance and health. Ayurveda uses the "three dosha's" to classify different variations of life energy. Kapha Dosha shares qualities with earth and water. Pitta Dosha is like fire and water and Vata Dosha is linked with air and ether (space). Kapha is prevalent in youth and in the seasons of late winter and early spring.  It is the energy that supports life and love. Liz tells her students and clients that, "Kapha creates a container for life to grow." Kapha is nurturing in nature and is the energy of acceptance, love, and protection. Kapha is cool, calm and collected. Kapha is stable and strong. Liz points out that all we need to do is to look outside to experience Kapha at work. The animals are all a flutter with love, babies are being born, the trees are budding and the plants are blooming. As the rains pour down, water brings life back to the earth. Water penetrates the ground making it receptive to plant life rooting and blossoming. The water and wind help to clear away the debris that has accumulated over the winter months.

Because Kapha dosha does have a tendency to accumulate and because Kapha is so easy going, if we accumulate too much Kapha dosha we can begin to feel heavy, thick and lethargic. Too much Kapha energy can present itself as colds, allergies with excess mucas in the body, sluggishness and unhealthy attachment to relationships or possessions.

While the first few months of the New Year are the perfect time for reflection and germination, the Spring presents us with a perfect opportunity to let go of the old and to look closely for the new life that is just beginning to blossom. It's time to clean up, renew and get growing again. An excellent spring yoga practice includes warming vinyasa, invigorating standing poses, inversions and arm-balances, purifying twists and heart-opening backbends. Feel free to hop on over to my website to print out a copy of the handout from this weekend workshop which includes my "Greet the Day" sun salute. This is a super easy and gentle yoga sequence designed to help you feel the sweet, easy, grounding energy of Kapha. While its a perfect "first thing in the morning or last thing in the day" practice, you will likely benefit from a more vigorous and energizing practice throughout the rest of the day. In the workshop, I encouraged participants to add poses into sun salutes during home practice. If you've never taken a yoga class before, there is no time like now to start something new. Check out my schedule at www.flourishunlimited.com or contact me if you need help finding a class in a location near you. At any rate, I hope you find some ways to get energy flowing so you never stop growing. Happy Spring!