Healing Your Back & Neck Pain

Breathing In This Life will be silent for a few days while I travel to Juneau, Alaska to teach a great group of therapists about lumbopelvic and spinal yoga therapy.

In other words, if you have back or neck pain - then find a graduate of this program I'll be teaching at the link below. It will definitely help get you on the road to health!

For those of you still getting to know me, I travel often to teach therapeutic yoga to health care professionals who want to blend yoga with their medical practices.

You can learn more about my history and the development of Professional Yoga Therapy here.

PYT is a hybrid of western medicine and rehabilitation blended with yoga and Ayurveda, which hundreds of professionals, mostly physical and occupational therapists, teach across the United States.

Insurance usually covers this type of treatment, it is just finding a therapist or physician who knows PYT can be difficult. However, we've done the work for you! Click below to find a therapist who has graduated from my program:

FIND A PROFESSIONAL YOGA THERAPIST in the UNITED STATES HERE.

See you next Wednesday, September 2nd!

Part 2, Afghan Women Get A Fighting (Taking Multi-Vitamins)

I was thinking yesterday, that I should post the talk I gave to the Afghan women. After all, ALL women should be taking multi-vitamins on a daily basis.

So here it is, in brief, the top 12 reasons you should be taking a multi-vitamin!

Part 2, Afghan Women Get A Fighting Chance (and So can you!)

Giving Tree Found

The wisdom gleaned from motherhood, and parenthood, truly permeates the soul and holds eternal value.

Now as Friday's go, people are usually relieved to reach a week's end. Last Friday was no different, as the week had been particularly stressful as week's go.

So last Friday my 3.5 year old son was sharing a moment with me while I was doing a quick "hat" change (going from work day to evening play). I was mentally reviewing the week's stress and previewing the upcoming week's tasks when, in an attempt to gain my attention, he pointed to a painting of a tree, one I've had for ages that hangs in our bathroom.

He said, "look mom, it's the giffing twee! (no typo - this is what he said, but what he actually meant was "look mom, it's the Giving Tree")." I had checked out "The Giving Tree" at our local library a week earlier, and it has since become my son's favorite book. Clearly, he has been affected by Shel's book.

More wisdom from the mouth of babes. I knew that I was failing to see priorities clearly in that moment, and was too caught up in the remains of the day (and those of future days) to consider what (who) was in front of me, and what was passing me by as a result of my own self-centered interests.

I was convicted in my tracks. I stopped all my thoughts, everything I was doing, knelt down beside him and put my arm around him so we could look up at the big tree painting together.

"Yes," I said, "that IS the giving tree. How amazing! Thank you Michael for reminding me. I never want to forget this moment. Ever." He glowed with contentment.

I knew who my giving tree was that day.

Who is your giving tree today?


*The Giving Tree, written by Shel Silverstein in 1964, is a book about a tree who loves a little boy, so much that she does a very surprising thing for the little boy.

Citing My Weaknesses

Conjoining motherhood with being a business owner is hard. I would maybe insert an expletive adjective prior to "hard" - truth be known. However, this site is rated "G."

Yesterday morning I could have preempted disaster if I could have thwarted my usual weaknesses.

However, here is how the morning unfolded:

Before 7 AM:

The morning started as usual, which means I was rudely awakened and to great surprise. This morning's surprise was hearing my younger son being fed an impromptu breakfast of "veggie straws (chips)" by his older brother while still in his crib, each of them in their respective sagging, soaking diaper and underwear, nonetheless. After cleaning up crushed chips and urine soaked sheets (which makes a nice paste), our contractor knocked on the door (our house has been under construction for renovations since August 2008) and pointed at a typical scene on the front porch - a big pile of poo, lovingly left by my older toddler while he was watching the trash truck this morning (which loudly clamors up the hill to our home no later than 7 am three times a week). Of course by then the "gift" had been out for an hour on our eastern facing deck (based on the trash truck schedule), working itself into a nice baked aroma - unmatched by any other.

The easiest way to clean that up was with a plastic bag and the water hose, I thought - which at that point I just drug (hose) through the house from the side door to the front door. Meanwhile, my younger son managed to get into black magic marker, and I wondered about the endless cycle of cleaning non-washable "washable" magic marker off the tables and walls since I put their "art tub" within their grasp in an attempt to foster their creativity. Hmm.
Maybe I'll rethink that one.

During the cleaning of that mess, the contractor knocked on the door again to poke his head in and announce that our dog had been found. I was not aware that our dog was missing, actually. So I went outside, this was about 8:20, which tells you I had barely even gotten dressed yet. There was a very nice elderly man, a dog lover, who kindly brought our dog home when he could not reach my on my cell phone (from our dog's collar identifier) and said he found him down at the public pier - and he looked awfully tired. His wife agreed, and so after profuse thanks and apology I took our 14 year old chocolate labrador retriever inside - who was happy to get into the A/C and drink fresh water.

During that time, I realized it was no less than 90 degrees outside and I needed sunglasses on secondary to having sensitive eyes (I had to get the boys outside to play. soon.) - so I went upstairs to put my contacts in (a must if I want to see my hand in front of my face). I realized the boys had gotten into their leftover eggs and milk from breakfast while I was talking to the nice man and woman who returned our dog, and so I needed to get them out of the house fast - to get some of their energy out.

While I was putting my contacts in the boys decided to start a door slamming race through their bedrooms and bathroom. With my finger in my eye I could not get downstairs to stop them from torturing our house (especially the sheetrock). As the slamming of doors got more violent, I rushed harder to put my contacts in - which of course - were revolting being put into my eyes. Door slams, door slams again, now an even louder slam, shrieking, somebody starts to cry, more door slams....sawing noises, hammer noises (oh yea - the contractors on the new roof out front)

By the time I got downstairs - there were perfect "door lock" sized dents in all the sheetrock behind each of the slammed doors. I believe steam was coming out of my ears at this point, so I decided at least 5 minutes in their rooms, understood as unequivocally not coming out of their rooms - was needed before my head exploded. And of course, so I could do a little pranayama (breathing) damage control.

It was 9:45 AM.

Of course, none of what I mentioned so far included completing my corporate duties as a CEO, clinical practice as a therapist, or my volunteer responsibilities with 2 not for profits. I did manage to get in 4 hours of work on those items and still manage to help my husband hang sheet rock on the ceiling of our new (almost completed) garage.

That carried me through to a workday which ended at 8 PM.

So what in this story exposes my weaknesses? Well, the story is real, and it happens each day I am with my boys, give or take a few accidental eye jabs (I got two of those I forgot to mention) or paint on the floors or rugs (that was today), and always with at least one aching head from the high pitched squeals of delight & persistent whining. Being a mother - always serves to humble me, to remind me of what is most important, and of course, give me a thoroughly exhausting cardiovascular and strength workout and a real reason (as if there aren't 100) to follow through and have daily yoga practice and prayer/meditation. My corporate and clinical jobs are wonderful, but do little to shape my character and fortitude the way being a mother has. As many moms say - being a mother is the toughest job you'll ever love (and sometimes it feels like you are actually in boot camp or combat too).

It is said in Christian texts that "in your weakness you are made strong." In the yoga sutras it is written that we should be aware of our weaknesses, because it is precisely when we think we have conquered them that they will rise and overtake us. I believe that.
In my weakness, I am reminded I always can use:

• more patience
• a better sense of humor
• a lighter heart and less serious countenance
• a real sense of prioritizing work and family knowing how fast my children will grow
• a continuous unending dose of prayer and yoga
• a flexible schedule which can actually flex (within limits) to adapt for family needs

If you have not tried listing the things which you consider to be your weaknesses - you should give it a try. The reason is not to be judgmental or critical or harsh - because mothers and women - we are too hard on ourselves already. The reason is to liberate yourself -

Liberate Yourself (from fear of failure & encourage priority driven actions)

I am not perfect & no one is perfect that dwells on this earth. My short "confession" through story telling is my way of helping others through their difficult times. My difficult or meek moments can help others through inspiration or comraderie - a sharing of humanity and its burdens with one another.

1. Make the list of things you know you need a "little" reminder about - taking deep breaths BEFORE you speak, not letting the "sun go down" on your anger, getting your daily multi-vitamin in -
   
2. Let it be a list to help you be better, not bitter. Email it to yourself or post it inside your medicine cabinet - somewhere you look everyday.
   
3. Let it help you keep your top three most important things in your life (for me they are unshakably & eternally ordered) - in their proper top three places.
4. We all need a little reminder of the things we already know. What good is a high powered high paying job if you do not have your health? What good is wealth amassed on earth if you have lost your soul and stepped on others backs while climbing the corporate ladder? What good is belittling those who sacrifice much to raise and care for children - when it is precisely those people who have the GREATEST influence on the future of our country, and in the world? Value yourself, and value others - everyone has Worth.

*photo taken of the Bogue sound in 2004, off the shore of the same pier which my dog was found yesterday morning

Afghan Women getting a Fighting Chance

Last week I was able to go and speak with The Initiative to Educate Afghan Women (IEAW) 2009-10 class of incoming freshmen. If you have not been reading my blog, or have not heard of IEAW, then you are in for Great News.
Since Breathing In This Life is for me, a kind of good news network - in addition to a platform for positive change in our world, this Great News is something special to share in light of the continuing plight of Afghan women in the recent news. IEAW is an organization dedicated to do just what it says, bring young women from Afghanistan to the US to provide them with an education wherein they can then return to their country and be advocates for change.

How am I involved you say?
As a health care provider my concern is health care. The young women may be getting an education, but they need to be in good health in order to complete that education. Conditions in Afghanistan are widely variable, and most citizens, much less women, have access to any health care - much less fresh food. This situation can wreak havoc on a young woman's body and mind., leaving short and long term damage to her health. My activist work for IEAW is simple - to have every young woman that arrives in the US to complete her University education supplied with multi-vitamins formulated for women - year round for the four years of her study. What I may be able to do to enact change after that - is part of a Greater Plan which is also part of my vision.

The Afghan young women just arrived in the United States a few short weeks ago, and in the next few weeks they will begin their first year at University. In case you live in a hole, Afghan women have been denied the right to education, among many other injustices. So for a young girl to not only leave her family, but to come here to the United States to receive a fully funded education (through private donors of IEAW) via scholarship, and to earn a Bachelor's degree - is a feat that will, one woman at a time, change the future of Afghanistan in an infinitely positive way.

So last week, I was able to speak to the young women about the many benefits of taking a multi-vitamin, especially for women. I consider the alliance formed with New Chapter one of the many beginnings which will give Afghan women, especially these young girls studying in the United States, a fighting chance as they proudly return to their homeland of Afghanistan during each summer break and terminally at the end of their 4 year education.

More Good News to come....

Women! Own Your Tough Mind & Tender Heart

Just this past week Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in her 7 country trip to Africa, has made statements which suggest she will make women's rights one of her signature platforms. I am joyous about this move, as women all over the globe, and right here in America, suffer horrendously and unjustly. Click here for the full story: www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=4105

In an excerpt from Martin Luther King's book, "Strength To Love", published in 1963, he wrote:

"A French philosopher once said, No man is strong unless he bears within his character antitheses strongly marked." the strong man or woman holds in a living blend strongly marked opposites. The idealists are usually not realistic, and the realistic are usually not idealistic... Seldom are the humble self-assertive, or the self-assertive humble. But life at its best is a creative synthesis of opposites in fruitful harmony. The philosopher Hegel said that truth is found neither in the thesis nor the antithesis, but in an emergent synthesis which reconciles the two. He goes on to say that Jesus often spoke of needing to be as wise as a serpent but as gentle as a dove."

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, as a woman and a leader of our country, could be said to exemplify having a "tough mind and a tender heart", especially as she brings much needed attention to the horrible conditions, violence, and wrongs perpetrated against women in the Congo, for example. She has stood her ground, risen to one of the highest leadership positions in our country, and is not forgetting that fellow women desperately need help, education, adequate health care, and most importantly, a voice.

Women are often berated for being "tough", as Hillary as been along her journey upward, yet men are exemplified for doing so. I believe women are ideally suited for high positions of leadership BECAUSE and not in spite of the fact that they are women, BECAUSE and not in spite of their backgrounds in multiple areas, including their trained profession, childbearing and rearing, and management of the home. Our unique backgrounds should not be a hindrance in rising to positions of importance in the business and political world, they should be a benefit. Women possess a unique ability to own a "tough mind and a tender heart", even more so than men.

Martin Luther King, Jr. used the word "softminded" as an opposite of the "tough minded" person, and describes that person as someone who "thinks", does not fear change, and is not swayed by "superstition, traditionalism, and the media." He says a "tender heart" is also necessary, because without it, a person comes to be a "cold, detached, crass utilitarian" who views people as "cogs in a perpetual turning wheel."

Women across the globe are joining together now, in what King called "nonviolent resistance", on their quest for freedom. King calls "nonviolent resistance" the ultimate combining of "toughmindedness and tenderheartedness" which will work to oppose injustice and at the same time "love the perpetrators of the system."

To support organizations who support and report about women's freedom, rights, and health, visit the following links:

The Initiative to Educate Afghan Women
Womens News
Mothers Center
Peace X Peace

Women can join arms, and act to claim their own freedom with King's "nonviolent resistance", which he used with success in his "walk for freedom" in Montgomery, Alabama, which resulted in desegregation of buses. Women everywhere must do this, to stand up against any and all injustice which is being perpetuated against women in our world today.

*image is a yoga session for young Afghan women I taught in December 2008; these women had suffered immensely under the Taliban rule, and for many of them, this was their first introduction to yoga. Many of the young ladies did not want to be photographed for security fears, so our photo was taken of only a few of the women. the founder of IEAW (see above link), Paula Nirschel, is also included in the front row of this photograph

Direct Hit

Therapeutic yoga classes are a regular occurrence for me, whether I am teaching students or training therapists. I usually share inspirational readings or song when I teach, but last Monday's lesson came packaged in a personal experience.

Sunday, August 2, I penned on my facebook profile, "shutting down the computers, here comes the rain....nothing like a good thunderstorm." My son woke from his nap and so my husband, my son, and I went upstairs to the sun room to enjoy the view of the incoming storm. We love a rainy day as much as a sunny one (think of a beautifully dreary day with a little Miles Davis in the background and your hand wrapped around a cup of jasmine pearl green tea with local honey). My older son had awaken with the preliminary thunder, which he is petrified of, so he was sitting in my lap when it happened.

The most painfully loud, frying electrical sound I've ever heard, we could not peer out of the windows in our house, because of the hard rain against the screens, to see where the direct hit had been. Lightening, we knew it was, but it still took a minute (after our collective reflexive shriek) for the reality to register. We knew the proximity of the flash of light and deafening noise meant it was very very close. Too close.

I went downstairs to peer through the doors with windows to try and see what I could see, and that is when I saw the flood of water rushing down the hill next to our yard. After the storm had subsided, we surveyed the damage quickly and waited on the water company (whom we had phoned immediately) to show up and shut down the lines. Less than 10 minutes past before the water was shut down, but by then the place where our whole family had been standing had caved in, more than 6 feet deep into the ground.

Fortunately no one was hurt, and as this week passes we are still tallying the damage to the contents of our home. However, I see my story as one filled with gratitude.

You see, yesterday was the first day I had internet again. We no longer have tv or movies to watch, or music to listen to (what is most greatly missed by our family), or computers to distract us. The loss of material wealth has been quickly appreciated in our home. Our family has spent more family time together, and through this storm our deep sense of appreciation for each other has been reignited, as we are poignantly reminded of the blessings of our safety and for what we do have. And most importantly, my husband and I have most definitely spent less than time working (a much needed phenomenon).

Although we have more work loaded on our family in order to repair, fix, and replace what was damaged, my story if filled with immense gratitude. For every experience we have, good or bad, should cause us to lift up our heads to the sky and glean the beauty in it.

In a country that has a heavier workload than any other country, including Japan, sometimes it takes a lightening strike, a storm, an accident, an illness - to force us to slow down and appreciate the bounty of our blessings and the immense wealth we possess (which has nothing to do with our flatscreen tv's, laptops, or iPods).

In our frail and attention deficit ridden country, sometimes (too often), to get our attention, it takes a direct hit.

The lesson in this is not to expect a direct hit, loss, or tragedy, but this: No matter that my family is digging out from a direct hit to our tangible wealth, I still love a good storm. For pain and pleasure are separable by only a thin, sometimes invisible line. Find the Good in both.

*photo by Dr. Steven Horsburgh

The Price of Breathing In This Life (thanks to Ann Crittenden)

If you are reading this blog and know of The Price Of Motherhood, then I am most certainly preaching to the choir.

However, if you do not not know Ann Crittenden, then as a mother, I believe you should.

I will say no more, other than, women should always stand strong, together, united. There have been too many points in recent (and distant) history that have taken (or prevented us from having) our voice, our freedoms, & our basic rights to do what I write about each week, breathe in this life.

Please join what I believe is one of the Good Fights, to secure equal rights for women and mothers all over this globe, and to protect our future generations.

Here are a few websites I recommend to all women, mothers or not (and a Good News! bulletin for moms)

www.anncrittenden.com
www.peacexpeace.org
www.ieaw.org
www.motherscenter.org
Baby Friendly Hospitals On the Rise!

To my constant friend and brave companion, Alaha, stay strong, your country Afghanistan needs you now more than ever! And to the new incoming class of Afghan women at IEAW, welcome to America! I look forward to meeting you in a few days!

*Suffragists picketing in front of the White House. Harris & Ewing. 1917.