do I need an exorcism or does your medicine need changed?

A Clockwork Orange at 50?! – are we desensitized to this?  Are these “ultra-violent” times? the Rolling Stones connection?  Listen to On Point with Tom Ashbrook.

Mochi things – iPhone case and wallet.  How many of these cute things can actually exist?  Enter Crown Smartphone Pouch v2

My kindergartener rocks.  She is so intelligent and such a joy to be around.  Well, most of the time . . .

An exercise class is fun.  Here are some cool songs:  Too Close by Alex Clare (have you seen this video?), Hot Chelle Rae’s Tonight Tonight, Rihanna‘s Where Have You Been, Adele’s Rumour Has It, and Deadly Handsome Man by Marcy Playground

Do I need an exorcism or does YOUR medicine just need changed?  Why does it seem like the people on medication really need everyone else to be on more medication just to make sense?

Taming your inner tantrum

Bridge pose

Perhaps this is a normal day for you.  You do all the things you ordinarily do and feel – nothing’s different.  You feel no better.  You feel no worse.  I wonder why?  Living without living is no way to live your life.  I have what I like to call my “inner tantrum”.  When things aren’t going my way and they usually aren’t, my inner tantrum comes out and sometimes I can’t get out of it.  It’s a stuck place where nothing seems to go right and things keep getting worse and worse.  Need I say this is an anxious time for me.

I just finished reading an article in September’s Yoga Journal that is entitled “Untangling Anxiety”.  Of course, I was intrigued to see what a Yoga expert would say about my inner tantrum (anxiety). My anxiety is like a security blanket for me.  I’m so used to it, I believe it has become a comfort.  So, if self-talk won’t help, what do you do?  Perhaps you’ve heard of the “tighten/release” soother for anxiety.  You breathe in as you tighten and squeeze all your muscles and exhale and release the contractions.  This works for some, but not for me so much.  Other ways are dancing or taking a bath to soothe yourself.  These methods also do not work for me.  I carry tension in my shoulders, particularly my right shoulder blade.  What can I do to soothe those muscles and tame that inner tantrum?

What is the difference between anxiety and diligence?  Doesn’t anxiety keep us on our toes and help us not to forget those important things we must do?  Since the “inner tantrum” has become a ritual we cannot seem to get away from we must first admit we have this anxiety and we want to rid ourselves of it.

One day, perhaps, you might notice that what you have perceived as anxiety is, at its core, just pure energy.

Good news!  We have the choice to experience the anxiety as an inner tantrum or excitement such as a feeling of being ready for action.  This energy could begin the growth we so desperately seek.

So to recap:

1. Locate where anxiety is exhibiting in the body;
2. Breathe and center in the heart;
3. What is contributing to the anxiety?;
4. Become aware of the thoughts – Can you let this go?;
5. Tune into the feeling.  Can this feeling also be let go?;
6. Find a feeling of warmth and pleasure – counter the negative with a positive

This practice takes practice and you have to give yourself over to this new way of thinking for the method to possibly work.  I, for one, think I will give it a try.

If you’d like to read the article it is in the September issue of Yoga Journal and written by Sally Kempton, an internationally recognized teacher of meditation and yoga philosophy.  She is also the author of Meditation for the Love of It. Visit her at sallykempton.com.

Why I love football and other female confessions

Tom Brady

I stand in my living room and yell for Tim Tebow, Tom Brady, Wes Welker and Mark Sanchez.  I wear the shirts with their numbers and think they play incredible football, but that’s not the only reason I’m watching.  I’m watching for my heath and well-being as well.

My definition of fantasy football:  Choosing players who look great and also play well is the secret to my fantasy football team.  Yes, my team may be entirely made out of Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers, but what is a girl to do?  In short fantasy football is choosing a team that’s not only good, but looks good.  I didn’t say it was mature.

I really do love the game in all seriousness but studies show watching guys half your age run up and down a field in tight pants takes away depression.  I believe that because it happens to me every football season.  So football season begins September 5th.  What will you be doing?  De-stress your life and have depression take a hike while you cheer for your favorite players.

Sites to See Potpourri

Some cool things I have found on my travels . . .

Miniature Artists Books – I love miniatures and books

Elephant with books

Making paper with seeds – good Spring gift

Yoga sleep pose – from the Yoga Journal

Stereomode site – for whatever mood ails you

Tile Coaster DIY from The Cottage Home

The 99% – not the 1%, but the 99%

feel more better – If you want to feel better go here

the jealous curator – speaks for itself

Lists of Note – lists from all walks of life

Let me know what your favorite “go to” site is right now!

Who?, What?, When?, Where?, Why? and How?

Who? – Me

What? – Things I want to do

Where? – Everywhere

When? – ASAP

Why? – Because I think it would make me happy

How? – Pull the trigger and do them

1.  Want to hike on the Appalachian Trail

2.  Want to rock climb or begin rock climbing

3.  Want to skydive out of an airplane

4.  Want to do Pilates with a real Pilates instructor on a Reformer

5.  Want to attend church and Sunday school regularly

6.  Want to join a Contemplative Prayer group

7.  Want to travel everywhere

8.  Get a good attitude full time

9.  Want to become certified fitness trainer or Pilates instructor

10.  Want to own my own book store/art gallery

Here’a my Want list.  What’s are your wants? and why?  I’m sure there are more, but these are what come to mind right now.

lovely lower back

We all want strong back muscles.  They make us healthy and make our clothes fit better.  I found some lower back exercises in a 2010 Real Simple article.  I did them today for the first time and they are tough!  I have been through a lot of different workouts, weights and exercises, but I am really impressed with these.  One reason I’m really impressed is I felt them in all the right places and they weren’t straining.  I think I would alternate days, but move at your own pace. Start out with 8-10 reps of each move and work up to 3 sets of 10 of each.  I like this because it seems different.  You need a 5 lb. dumbbell (adjust for your fitness level) and an empty waste basket.  Warm up for 8-10 minutes on the elliptical, running or walking first.  I just implemented these into my cardio/weight workout.  Use your best judgment.  Try all 6  or try one a day.  Let me know how it goes.

Move 1:  Lunge, Lift and Turn

Lunge, Lift and Turn

Start with feet in a staggered position with the right foot forward and place a dumbbell on the ground to the left of the right foot. With your abs contracted, bend both knees into a lunge and, keeping your back flat, pick up the dumbbell with your left hand (top).

Return to a standing position (center). Switch the dumbbell to your right hand as you turn on your toes to face the opposite direction.

With a flat back, lunge with the left leg forward and bend down to place the dumbbell on the right side of the left foot (bottom). Stand up and repeat the action in the other direction for one rep.

Targets:  Deep-Back muscles and Obliques, plus leg and hip muscles

Move 2:  Twist Squat and Lift

Twist, Squat and Lift

Stand with feet about hip distance apart and place a wastebasket, with a five-pound dumbbell inside it, behind the right foot (top). Twist to the right as you squat down and pick up the wastebasket.

Pushing through your heels, stand up straight and bring the basket to waist level (center).

Twist and squat to place the basket behind the left foot (bottom). Stand back up for one rep.

Targets: Deep-back muscles and obliques, plus quadriceps and glutes.

Move 3:  Tiger Push-up

Tiger Push-Up

Start with hands and knees on the ground. Sit back on your heels and extend your arms forward into child’s pose (top).

Raise your head and slide your torso forward along the ground, arching your spine and straightening your arms so that they are supporting your weight (bottom). Hold for one to four seconds. Reverse the motion by lowering your chest to the ground, bending your knees and raising your hips, and sliding back into child’s pose.

Targets: Lower-back muscles, plus shoulders and chest.

Move 4:  Crunch, Reach and Roll

Crunch, Reach and Roll

Lie on your back with legs in the air and knees bent. Lift your head and shoulders into a crunch position, and raise and extend your arms forward (top).

Move your arms straight back, so they are next to your ears, and extend your legs (center).

Roll to the right onto your stomach so you end up in a Superman pose, with shoulders off the floor and legs extended and raised slightly (bottom). Squeeze your shoulder blades together and contract your abs and glutes as you hold for one to four seconds. In a controlled motion, roll back to the starting position, trying not to touch the floor with your hands or feet. Repeat on the left for one rep.

Targets: All major core muscles and glutes.

Move 5:  Scorpion Stretch

Scorpion Stretch

Lie flat on your stomach with feet together, arms extended outward to form a T, palms facing down, and forehead on the ground (top)

Squeeze your right glute, bend your right knee, and lift your right leg as high as you can (center).

Twist your hips and reach your right foot over to touch the ground on the outside of your left leg (bottom). Try to keep your arms and chest on the floor. Reverse the movement to come to the starting position, then repeat with the left leg for one rep.

Targets: Lower-back muscles, plue abdominals, hamstrings, and glutes.

Move 6:  Rotating Plough

Rotating Plough

Beginning on your back, pull your legs, with knees slightly bent, into your chest. For support, place your hands low on your back near your hips (top).

Gently rock your legs from side to side (bottom). Return to the starting position for one rep.

Targets: Deep-back muscles, plus hamstrings and abs.

On Staying Healthy – Backing Up Your Back

I find as I get older my back needs to be super strong to stay active.  I find myself icing my back and neck after exertion all the more in my 40s.  The exercises at the link below help keep it strong.

4 Steps to a Stronger Back – Health.com.

There are also several Yoga poses I like to do regularly.  One is Downward Facing Dog.

Active.com lists some of the benefits to the pose:

Downward Facing Dog

• Stronger hands, wrists, low-back, hamstrings, calves and Achilles tendon
• Decrease in back pain by strengthening the entire back and shoulder girdle
• Elongated shoulders and shoulder-blade area
• Decrease in tension and headaches by elongating the cervical spine and neck and relaxing the head
• Deepened respiration
• Decreased anxiety
• Increased full-body circulation

Upward Facing Dog

• Strengthen the spine, arms and wrists
• Stimulate the organs of the abdomen
• Improve posture, by stretching anterior spine and strengthening posterior spine
• Stretch chest and lungs, shoulders and abdomen
• Help to relieve depression, fatigue and pain of sciatica
• Increase lung capacity to relieve the symptoms of asthma

I know you all know more yoga poses such as Sun Salutation, etc. that help with stretching, breathing and strengthening our bodies.  Obviously don’t overdo and if you feel pain ease off.  Good luck and keep me “posted” on what you do to keep your back and body strong.

Happy Workout Everyone!