Articles written by Elle
Stress Friend or Foe?
When my children were young I played a silly game with them. Before I could see them, I would hear them coming from around a corner or up the stairs and I would call out, “Who goes there, friend or foe?” They would always laugh and answer, “Friend!” Yes, I was always glad to see their familiar faces even though at times the stress of parenting felt like the answer might be “foe!”....
Big Anxiety, Small World
During my meditation this morning a thought floated by about the world getting smaller. Of course, the world is not getting smaller but how is that illusion created? How often do you hear yourself say it’s a small world when you recognize a connection to a person you were not aware of having before. A client of mine will say, “Your husband is my foot doctor”, or a neighbor will share that the very place I’m planning to go on vacation is the city she grew up in. “Small world”, we say when we recognize less and less degrees of separation. >>Read More
Your Own Yoga Mat
Jean (not her real name) lost her husband suddenly when he died in a car crash only minutes from their home. With two small children and a mortgage to pay off, Jean needed to get back to working full time only two weeks after the funeral. Friends and family were in awe of how much calm and grace she displayed in the face of the grief and loss she felt on a daily basis. When asked how she was coping with the grief and the additional stress in her life she thought of her yoga/breath practice. Every morning, in the quiet moments she had before her children woke up Jean would roll out her yoga mat and come into child’s pose where she would begin to sob until it was time to get ready for work. The safety she felt within the boundaries of the mat allowed her to be with those uncomfortable feelings so she could allow her grief, even if only for a short time daily. Eventually her practice shifted and changed allowing her to tap into an underlying stream of joy. Even when the circumstances of her life didn’t allow her feelings her yoga mat did.
Yoga Talk: The Power of the Spoken Word to Transform Dark Feelings
Shhh…. Yoga class has started. You’re a little late so you tip toe in, carefully rolling out your mat so you don’t disturb anyone. As you find your comfortable seat you glance from side to side to see your neighbors sitting tall with their eyes close. So you close your eyes too. Next you hear the teacher’s instruction to deepen your breath. You know the teacher will let you know what to do next. There is no need to ask any questions or comment on what you are experiencing. So starts the journey that is a typical Hatha yoga class.