For example, when we have a joint replacement, movement helps to keep scar tissue from forming. But that movement is sometimes very painful. If scar tissue is allowed to form, then movement is not only painful, but also limited. The fear of feeling pain or of reinjuring the affected area is actually keeping us from allowing it to heal to its full potential.

Sometimes the best thing we can do for our physical healing is to let go of that fear and feel the pain. If we don’t do it now, it will just hang around and limit our potential for years to come.

Well, this got me to thinking. The same principle applies not only to our physical bodies, but our emotional bodies, too.

When we have an emotional injury, we sometimes ignore the pain it creates. In a sense, we allow it to form emotional scar tissue in the form of resentment, anger, bitterness, or depression. These can manifest not only as weird quirks and rifts in our relationships, but as illnesses in our bodies. Most people think that they’ve “gotten over” or otherwise dealt with emotional injuries. If we take an honest look at ourselves, we often find that we’ve just buried them beneath protective behaviors. These behaviors can even appear to be “good behaviors.” Maybe we start to work too much or exercise too much. Sometimes, we take bad habits to the extreme. We eat too much, drink too much, etc.

So why not just acknowledge the original emotional injury? Because we’re afraid of feeling pain or of reinjuring the affected area. So these feelings hang around and limit our potential for years to come. This becomes the story by which we live our lives. It becomes so much a part of how we think that we don’t even realize how much we’re limiting ourselves!

And here’s the thing. All feelings really need to is to be acknoweldged and felt. No need for a huge confrontation. No need for drama. Just you and the feeling. So how do you do that? Here are some suggestions.

Find it.
You’ll have to ask yourself some hard questions. When was I hurt? Who or what hurt me? What are the feelings that the hurt created? It doesn’t matter that the hurt wasn’t inflicted on purpose. It probably wasn’t. It may have been an event, rather than the actions of one particular person that hurt you. The point is that you were hurt and didn’t “treat” the wound by fully feeling it or expressing it.

Sit with it.
Find a quiet place and time to just “be” with the intention of exploring your emotional vault. You can sit in a comfortable chair or sit in your garden. Whatever feels right and safe for you.

Acknowledge it.
First, articulate your feelings on paper. I was hurt by…. I was angry when…. I was sad because…. It can be on a scrap that you ultimately intend to burn or bury or put through your home shredder. The point is to get it out of you and to capture it on paper. Then, say the words out loud.

Feel it.
You might cry. Your heart might race. Your body may shake. That’s OK. Just feel it. Until it goes away. And that’s the good news. Once you feel it for a couple of minutes, it will begins to fade or feel less intense. Remember, it’s a process. And know that if these feelings are long-held and established, this process may take more than one sitting.

If the feelings don’t begin to subside, if they become more intense through this process, or if this process sounds too big to go through on your own, you may want to ask a trained professional to help you. That’s what people like me are for. As a coach, I have experience with guiding people through this type of process with positive and liberating results.

You owe it to yourself to heal ALL your past injuries, physical as well as emotional. Then, and only then, can you truly reach your full potential.

April is my favorite month in Texas, friends. The sun is close enough to warm us gently, the rain is usually generous, and bluebonnets have popped up everywhere to create that classic Texas landscape of rolling hills covered in soft blue waves. And of course, it’s my birthday month.

I turn 42 next week, friends. I’m cool with that. I share my husband’s belief that he repeats every time someone ribs him about his age: the older I get, the better my life gets.

When I look at the self I was at 40, 38, 25, and (gack) 16, I see “myself,” but in draft format. By the time I turned 25, I had begun to tweak away many of the teenage insecurities that caused me to seek approval outside of myself. I had just graduated from college, and was ready for the next step.

By 38, I’d been married a few years. I had also tried out several body shapes and sizes, due to eating issues that caused me to be both too big and too small, but had finally found a way of feeding myself that was “just right.” I also had figured out what I wanted to do when I grew up.

And by 40, I had arrived in a place where I was secure in my own skin, able to make my way through this world with compassion, confidently sharing my energy and gifts. Now I ask myself, “What will I see in a few years when I look back at 42?”

How have you become more clearly yourself as you’ve grown older? Choose a few ages and take an honestlook at yourself those times. What do you see? Ask yourself these questions:

1. What did I do during that year that helped make me who I am today?
   A brilliant saying to keep in mind is, “Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” Go back and thank your past self.
2. What do I see that has remained a constant?
   No matter how we grow and evolve, the essence of us stays the same. Identify your essence.
3. What do I want my future self to look like?
   One of my favorite teachings of the Vedic Conservatory is that of “casting your seeds into the future.” This is the conscious act of visualizing the future as complete, whole, and perfect. Choose a future age, and see yourself living there with plenty of time for what you think is important, nurturing the relationships that will enhance that time, with the right amount of money to support you, and having truly integrated the lessons that have been taught to you up to that time.

Make sure that you use this process as a way to check in and move forward, rather than as a new method of judging yourself! Send yourself some love. Forward and back.
Have a great April, friends, and I’ll see you soon at Gratitude or Urban, or maybe the Y!

 I had an amazing experience, and I’m sure that the longer I’m home, the more I’ll understand just how transformational the experience was and how much it altered my thinking, my perceptions, and my own personal history.

 
People want to know what my “biggest lesson” has been. It’s hard to say at this point, but one of the lessons that became clear early in the trip was that of “more flow, less resitance.”

Each evening, as we walked through the busy streets on our way to dinner, there  was a constant and persistent rush of movement all around. You share the street with cars, bicycles, motorbikes, cows, dogs, goats, and oh, so many people. I came to realize that it’s like a meditation. You can’t be successful at it and be in your thinking mind. If you think, you’ll second-guess, you’ll judge. And when you second-guess or judge, you’ll step in front of a motorbike carrying a small family for sure.

If you get a rock in your shoe, you live with it until the next doorway you can duck into, all the while watching for piles of garbage, sleeping dogs, sleeping cows, and cow pies. You go by feel. And you don’t slow down, you just feel and go. But it’s not in a frantic way; in an alert, present, intuitive way.

It’s inspiring to step into the organic flow of cars and people and animals, moving so fast in a sea of what seems at first like chaos. I didn’t feel fearful at all. I had an unnameable trust about the whole process, which reminded me to have the same trust about the greater Universe, not just about moving  through the wild streets of India.

How much do you really trust the Universe? I thought I did until my India experience. I realized how much I had been resisting, which is just another way of saying “fearing,” “trying to control.” It took witnessing a different life to help me really see that everything is truly divinely guided.

I invite you to notice the places in your life that flow and the places where you’re resisting. How can you soften those areas of resistance?

Maybe it’s as simple as allowing the dishes to remain undone for a couple of days and just being OK with it. Maybe it’s as big as trusting that the money for the car payment will come by the end of the month.

Keep in mind, of course, that you have to keep up your end of the deal. You have to keep moving. Keep taking steps in the right direction, stay focused, and keep doing your work. Yes, even when you get a “rock in your shoe.”

I guarantee that once you identify those areas of resistance and apply the practice of trust to them, they will begin to flow effortlessly and organically.

Come practice with me, won’t you? Check my schedule and find time to do yoga with me. I have a new class in Mansfield on Monday morning. Or set up a time to enjoy a session or two of Vedic Thai Yoga with me. I’ll tell you some stories.

The education I’ll receive and the once-in-a-lifetime experiences I’ll have on this beautiful pilgramage will give me new wisdom and insights that will help me serve you better when I return. My traveling companions are 9 other adventurous yogis.

(My classes will be covered while I’m gone, so don’t think you have to miss Yoga or Barre just because I’m traveling!)

This trip is the biggest adventure I’ve ever set out on. The 14-hour flight alone seems amazing enough, but then 10 days in a holy city full of ghats and temples and sacred cows? This is the stuff of photography books and the Travel Channel. And with 9 traveling companions I don’t even know that well? The thought of it all sometimes leaves me breathless.

So how do you cope and prepare when a new situation, even a great one, feels both awesome and stressful? It could be driving to a new place, leading a project at work, buying a house, or going on the trip of a lifetime.

1. Be honest with yourself.
   Admit that you’re having feelings of stress, anxiety, fear, etc. Determine exactly what they’re signaling so you can deal with the issues behind the feelings.
   For example, once I examined it, part of my anxiety was
   about an old set of issues that had to do with people liking me and fitting in. Once I knew that, I could have compassion for my 13-year-old self and let my grown up self start running the show again.
   
2. Talk to someone who’s done it.
   This step is infinitely valuable. People who have gone before you on the path have the best information for you.I’ve talked to several friends who have been to India and elsewhere. Their honesty about their own experiences has help me decide how to prepare.
   
3. Prepare and strategize.
   Do everything you reasonably can to prepare for your new situation.
   I’ve gotten my vaccinations, followed my packing list, made copies of my passport and visa, etc. I’ve done everything I possibly can to prepare. The rest is up to the flow of the Universe.
   
4. Trust.
   Trust yourself, trust the Universe, trust the process. Things will “go wonky” along the way. Trust that you’ll know what to do, or will find out what to do. You know yourself and you’ve prepared.

An important thing to remember is that physically, excitment and anxiety feel the same. It’s the energy behind them that’s different. If you can focus on the physical feeling and shift the energy from anxiety to excitement, then the stress begins to dissipate.

Yes, I am working until the day before I leave, so  come see me for Vedic Thai Yoga (at a 25% savings!) or call me if you have any questions about coaching. Looking forward to seeing you before I embark on this adventure!

He is always a mad scientist in the kitchen.

Sometimes these two characteristics intersect and wonderful things happen.

Recently, he made us a dessert that, try as we might, we can’t get a photo of for you. Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been eating the subject before we can take a picture. This chocolate-cherry toast is a sweet and chocolately treat that doesn’t break the bank in calories or sugar. Keep in mind, though, it is a treat and should be treated as such. No chocolate-cherry sandwiches for lunch, please.

It’s not so much a recipe as a “thing to do.” So here it is.

1. Toast a slice of your favorite bread. Ours is my homemade gluten-free flax bread.

2. Spread a thin layer of your favorite chocolate-hazelnut spread. There are a few brands out there, so use what you like.

3. Top with a bit of your favorite cherry preserves (you could also use strawberry).

This is lovely with coffee or tea, and would make a super Valentine’s Day snack.

Surprise someone you love with this sweet treat tonight!

January is always a pivotal time in our process of intention-setting. Some people make resolutions at 11:59 on New Year’s Eve and they’re over at 12:01. Other people can set powerful intentions that take hold, grow roots, and become integrated into their daily lives forever.

What’s the big difference? Acceptance and action. A resolution without acceptance and action is only a wish. Additionally, when you hire a Coach, your chances of success increase even more. You have someone on your side to help you:

• understand where your strengths are
• build contingency plans, and
• develop a set of strategies that work. 

If you want some support in turning your wishes into powerful intentions, I’ve included information here about 3 coaching packages I’m offering at a discounted fee during January. Also, start your year by treating yourself kindly with some Vedic Thai Yoga in Fort Worth at Urban Yoga or in Mansfield at Gratitude Yoga.

Wondering how you turn your wishes into powerful intentions that become part of who you are? 

First, you must become aware of what needs to change. (Usually easy.) That cute dress no longer fits. The job’s not as fun any more. This relationship’s not working in a way that’s mutually fulfilling.

Second, you have to accept things they way they are. (Not quite as easy.) You have to love yourself even though you’re 40 pounds overweight. You have to accept yourself even though you smoke a pack of Marlboro Lights a day. You have to love your life even though your yard’s gone to seed and you can’t grow a decent weed to save your own life. You have to stop putting conditions on your own happiness.

Third, you have to start consistently applying actions that will make your desired change happen. (Hardest of all.) What makes it so hard is the word, consistently. In order to make lasting changes, you must find the smallest most do-able step and take it. And keep taking it until it’s second-nature. Until you’ve taken it so many times you can look back and say, “Wow, I’ve come quite a ways.” And of course, you add more and more actions along the way until you become the You that you really know You are.

So the process of making change happen in your life is just that, a process, and one in which the steps become increasingly harder. No wonder so many people are carrying around handfuls of wishes. 

And here’s the thing. You can do it. I did it, and that’s how I know you can. I lost 95 pounds 7 years ago. It took 3 years, but I did it. I also quit smoking 11 years ago. You can become what you want, too.

Join me in having the best 2012 we can by living it as our best selves.  

Do you ever feel like you’re “spinning your wheels?”  Like you’re trying as hard as you can to lose weight, save money, spend more time with friends, etc., but still nothing changes? Chances are you just need to redirect your energy.

On Day 1 of my Learning to Be the Change workshop, you’ll learn where your energy is going and where you can redirect it for more positive results.

You’ll spend the next 4 sessions practicing yoga, visualization exercises, guided journaling, and some very targeted discovery processes that are designed to help you find your best self. 

AND as a bonus, you’ll get a one-on-one session with me to ensure you retain the momentum you create during your time in the workshop.

It all starts this Saturday, January 7, at Urban Yoga. Are you ready to make 2012 the year you become your true self?

In this workshop, you will:

You’ll experience a number of discovery processes that utilize meditation, yoga, and guided journaling (journals provided).

You’ll also receive a bonus one-on-one session with me to help ensure you keep the momentum you create during the workshop.

Saturdays, 1:30-3:00pm

5-week series

Jan. 7-Feb. 11

(no meeting Jan. 21)

$125 before Jan. 1, $135 after

What do past participants say?

“This workshop series helped me understand the areas where I need work and helped me discover what my passion is. I made several big decisions during the 5 weeks! The discovery processes are excellent.” -DM

Contact me to register at 817-925-4913 or register at Urban Yoga.
(Click the Workshop tab.)

The week between Christmas and New Years Day is always a powerful one for me. It’s a time when I reflect on the months behind me and look toward a new year full of possibilities. Are you starting to think about your intentions for 2012?  

I have two exciting announcements that will help you have your most empowered and healthiest year. The first is about my empowerment workshop series, Learning to Be the Change (formerly Flowing Through Change), which I’m offering January 7 through February 11 at Urban Yoga. And the second is about a new partnership I’m happy to be cultivating. Beginning on January 9, I’ll begin sharing the healing art of Vedic Thai Yoga with my friends in Mansfield at Gratitude Yoga, 2771 E. Broad Street.

 Begin 2012 by finding your strength and setting clear intentions. Most of us have a general idea of what we “want to do,” but are  held back by real and perceived obstacles, shaky plans, and our own fears.

 If you feel stuck in old patterns or feel like you don’t know what to do next, this workshop series is for you.

In this workshop, you will:

You’ll experience a number of discovery processes that utilize meditation, yoga, and guided journaling (journals provided).

You’ll also receive a bonus one-on-one session with me to help ensure you keep the momentum you create during the workshop.

Saturdays, 1:30-3:00pm

5-week series

Jan. 7-Feb. 11

(no meeting Jan. 21)

$125 before Jan. 1, $135 after

As the bones of the land around us are exposed by the changing of the seasons and the return of colder weather, we return to the rituals that have been celebrated and practiced for many thousands of years. These rituals, like the trimming of the Christmas tree, the hanging of the greens, and the exchanging of gifts, bind us as families and communities.

In addition to these big, macro-rituals, we all have rituals that exist within our own household. For Weldon and me, one of those is our Christmas morning breakfast. Before we open our gifts to each other and move on to the bigger celebration with family, we share a small meal together, just the two of us. One of our favorites is my quick and easy Christmas Morning Oatmeal. We’re happy to share it with you here.

Have a beautiful, restful, and peaceful holiday season. May it be filled with friends, family, and love.

This tasty oatmeal is also full of good nutrients:

 Isn’t it lovely how our hearts just seem to get bigger and warmer, even with the longest night of the year approaching? We light our ovens, open our homes, and partake in the joys of giving.

As you plan your holiday season this year, remember that giving and receiving are both part of the same cycle. And that it’s OK–actually, it’s necessary–for you to take care of yourself, even before you take care of others. It only makes sense. If you’re not well, you can’t serve others.

Here are three simple ways to take care of yourself during this busy time of year:

1. Eat breakfast. Start your day by replenishing your energy with a nice balance of protein and carbohydrate. Have an apple with peanut butter, a fruit smoothie with your choice of milk, or a piece of toast and a slice of ham.

2.  Get enough sleep as often as you can. Most adults need 5 90-minute sleep cycles to feel refreshed. Life happens, though, and we can’t always do that. Pay attention to your sleep habits and adjust your bedtime or waketime a few days a week if needed.

3. Breathe. It sounds silly simple, but how many of us pay attention to our breath during the day? Try it now. Breathe deeply into your belly, then completely empty your lungs. You can do this any time, anywhere: at a stoplight, in a meeting, in front of the microwave, in line at the mall. And remember, even one conscious breath is a meditation.

What do YOU do to take care of yourself during busy times? Share your wisdom in the comments below!