Inspiration

Inspiration...where does it come from?  And where can we find it?
Yesterday I was blessed to part of the 2011 Bemidji Women's Expo as an exhibitor for Yoga Bemidji. I met a woman who said she had been reading my blog, and also mentioned I haven't been keeping up with it since having my baby. This along with the hundreds of faces I saw, and many people I connected with, having a passion for yoga in our community was an inspiration to me and a rekindling of getting back to teaching and getting back to writing.

In perusing the paper this morning on the 10th anniversary of tragedies of September 11th, 2001, I was inspired by the stories of those who had the courage to deal with their grief and move on to do meaningful things.  One woman started a charity in her husband's honor to help disadvantaged kids through flight training.

I was blessed to meet a woman this morning that had 5 foster girls with her, all sisters.  The youngest was 5 weeks old.  She could tell by the puzzled look on my face I had questions.  I didn’t ask, but she offered up that there was a drug problem with the mother and the new baby tested positive for drugs at the hospital and was put into foster care at just 4 days old.  Despite watching this helpless little baby go through detox, she still has love and compassion in her heart for the mother and hopes the children will be able to go back with her one day.  Wow, I say!  Perhaps I’m too primal, too much of a protective mommy; but I found this foster mom so moving because the level of selflessness she shows is truly inspiring.

My kids, everyday inspire me.  Their innocence, their ability to forgive and forget almost immediately, their amazing honesty and their never ending love for me makes me strive to not only be a better parent, but a better human being.

If you are lacking inspiration lately, look around you.  Make a connection, start a conversation with a stranger.  Listen to the words of a meaningful song.  Read or watch something poignant, it just may put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.

Namaste (the joy in me, honors the joy in you),

~Julie

Practicing Patience is certainly not perfect

After having my second child recently, my patience has certainly been tested lately...dealing with the crying, the pains and trials of nursing, keeping up with my very spirited 2 year old, letting my body heal, and somehow trying to love this body.  All of these stressors are out of my control, learning how to deal with them without creating stress to my body, mind and spirit is my choice.  This is where I try to come back to my breath.  Learning to breathe fully and slow down my constantly spinning, hamster wheel of a mind is such a blessing!  I recently discovered closing off my ears while doing Ujjayi or oceanic breathing is such an amazing relaxer.

Ujjayi is a diaphragmatic breath, which first fills the lower belly (activating the first and second chakras), rises to the lower rib cage (the third and fourth chakras), and finally moves into the upper chest and throat.  Inhalation and exhalation are both done through the nose. The "ocean sound" is created by closing off the back of the throat with the mouth closed as air passes in and out. As the throat passage is narrowed so, too, is the airway, the passage of air through which creates a "rushing" sound. The length and speed of the breath is controlled by the diaphragm, the strengthening of which is, in part, the purpose of ujjayi. The inhalations and exhalations are equal in duration, and are controlled in a manner that causes no distress to the practitioner.  Don't try this if you're having cold or sinus symptoms as it may aggitate the situation.

I hope this helps you slow down for a moment and Breathe! 

May you be Happy, may you be Healthy, may you know Peace!

Namaste,
Julie