‘Living, Loving & Unlearning’ has been released! My hope is that this book will assist you in becoming the truth of who you are, lighting a path for you to travel your journey with comfort and ease as you move through the ups, the downs, and all the in-betweens.
Love & Blessings,
Cynthia
Click here to order your personal copy of ‘Living, Loving & Unlearning’. ~Namaste
To learn Dr. Vice Lujan’s very informative answers to his Health Quiz, click on “Exercise, Nutrition, Beauty Products & Overall Wellness” link under the category, “AM-WWLZ 820 Talk Radio”.
As much as I enjoyed my vacation last week in the cold, sunny winds of Florida, I realized last night how much I missed the girls at dance class! It truly is my weekly dose of fun, laughter and exercise. I highly recommend searching for a form of exercise that brings you joy and lifts your spirits through the day. Marnie never lets us down with her comedic comments. We laugh and talk while we continue to move through the steps of our routine, and believe it or not, we are looking pretty “put together” through the dance. It must be the flow of energy in that room and the camaraderie we feel with one another. As we sway into our African dance circle, feeling the beat of the drum, I look over at Annie, her shirt is half way up and her belly is talking to Marnie’s belly! No, I’m not kidding, the belly buttons are out and talking to each other across the circle! And yes, the talking tummies gave me a belly laugh! Laughter truly is one of nature’s best medicines. We are all medicine women in that room and we feel it when we walk out of those doors at the end of the night. I float home, singing all the way, with a smile on my face. My family benefits from this joy, especially as I tuck my girls in along with a mini back massage.
Find what moves you in mind, body, spirit and emotion. Surround yourself with laughter and those that make you laugh. An apple a day provides health in your diet, laughter is the cinnamon on top!
*names have been changed to protect the bellies:)
A dose of humor many times a day is one of the best remedies for an ailing heart and mind. When you laugh, your whole attitude changes and you are suddenly catapulted to a different place in time. So search out those activities that bring a smile to your face and a laugh to your belly!
For those of you who read my recent post, “Joie de Vivre”, you may recall my dance class and the joy it brings me. Not only does dance bring a smile to my face but the connection with the women in my class often brings big laughs. This week, we’re dancing along and concentrating on our deep earthy African moves, and all of a sudden my friend yells out, “my ovary hurts”! I’m still laughing as I write this… how does she come up with this stuff? I’m just grateful that she does, comic relief is a beautiful thing. Anyway, the saga continued, my other friend pulls out this little heat packet she had, hands it to my “ovary” friend who placed it over her ovary area and continued to dance! For those of you picturing this scene, I hope you are laughing right now, and enjoying one of your daily doses, because mine is repeating on me!
So laugh, laugh, laugh, and sing, sing, sing, otherwise, none of it means a thing, thing, thing!
I often tell my clients that exercise is the best natural anti-depressant I know. How do I know this? Because I experience it in my own life. It has become such a routine for me that if I miss a day, my head and my body know it! A couple of months ago, I was having a “grouchy mom” day and my 10-year-old daughter came to me and said, “have you exercised today mom?” I had to laugh as I looked her in the eyes and said, “no, I haven’t honey, you are so right on!” Out of the mouths of babes…they certainly do teach us, if we listen.
So, when you exercise what do you ENJOY doing? Don’t make it a struggle for yourself. Do you enjoy walking, running, aerobics, hiking, biking, spinning, yoga, dance, kettlebells, swimming, riding your horse, skiing, or a combination of it all? Exercise shouldn’t be painful, it can be challenging at times, but you should include it in your life as something that feels good. After a good walk, dance class or aerobic workout, my mind is clear and my mood improves! If you would rather stay home than go to the gym or go outside (sometimes it is weather permitting, although walks in snow storms are pretty cool!), there are plenty of DVD workouts you can choose from. Here is a list of some of my favorites…
*Yoga; Energy Balance Yoga with Rodney Yee (Gaiam), Power Yoga with Bryan Kest (WB), Iron Yoga with Anthony Carillo (Goodtimes).
*Pilates; Hit the Spot Pilates with Denise Austin (Lions Gate)
*Tae Bo; Fat Blasting Cardio with Billy Blanks (Goodtimes)
*Hip Hop; Hip Hop Abs with Shaun T. (Beachbody)…and my most recent fav!
Happy day everyone, and move da body! Your head will thank you:)
What is it that brings true joy to your life? Sit with this question, close your eyes, breathe into it and think and feel what brings you happiness. It’s okay if nothing comes to you right now, many of my clients have difficulty answering this question, especially those who have focused on making others happy throughout their lives. If you practice this exercise daily it will come. Pay attention, when you laugh, smile, and feel the warmth inside during an activity or event, that might be something you choose to incorporate into your life.
One of the things that brings me joy is dance! It’s a fun movement of the body, great music that allows you to feel and connection with friends. And believe me, there are plenty of laughs in a room full of women ages 18-60 with different levels of dance experience. Last week, one of my friends yelled out in the middle of a dance that she was hungry for a hamburger! Needless to say, there was a lot of laughter in the room, especially when the dancers daughter is the teacher! It did get me craving a strawberry milkshake though and I promptly got one on my way home! Anyway, the point is, how you feel after exercising your mind, body, spirit and emotion is beyond any high an outer substance can bring you. And the only side effect? Joie!!!
Cynthia Brennen, LMSW 