Meditation…Breathe, Stretch, and Smile…Before you Think!

There is a nice little slice of quite in your waking hour that should not be taken for granted!

I woke this am twice…once from a sweet kiss my hubby left as he went out to work…and then again about 15 minutes later when my dog started to nudge me out of bed to walk him”)

That lil space in between was a perfect opportunity for meditation!

 

15 mins of uninterrupted breathing, lite stretching and reflecting can be just what ya need to start a good day.  I like to envision how happy, and productive I’ll get to be.

 

Today I’m testing out my new newton’s, doing some work from home, having my ac cleaned and enjoying a cozy dinner with a good friend later(lots to look forward to)…

Each new day presents us with possibilities: lessons, adventures, accomplishments, and So much more if we allow the calm in.

 

We often are taught think before you speak(good one)

Today I invite you to breathe, stretch and smile before ya think! Notice  how much sweeter those thoughts become.  Feel the calm and plan your day mentally with an open mind and heart.

 

Namaste’

 

Skinny with a Bump

A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

 

This morning baby Rafer and I ran 3 miles at our best pace yet! I was so proud of us both! I felt accomplished and happy.

…Continuing at my regular pace isn’t an option in my current state, but having the right frame of mind on any run can be the difference between a good pace and having to slow to a walk.  No, there is nothing wrong with walking…if your legs need to. If your mind needs to…try to suck it up…we are all so much mentally stronger then we know!!!

Which brings me to today’s topic:

With a strong mind you can achieve anything… You can make it through a challenge like a run, you can talk yourself into a positive state, you can even over come cravings…I truly believe with mind control our individual possibilities are endless!!!

I read a story this am about Bride’s using feeding tubes to lose weight before weddings??? Really?? Now I have heard it all!!!

Have we really as a society become this weak, vain, and well Fu**ing Lazy?!? And are there really MDs so money hunger that they will forsake their oaths??? It’s Scary!

Stories like this are SO sad to me…if these same people would work towards a goal they would not only achieve it, but reap the benefits and pride of that hard work! And that is something that no one can take from you.  Not to mention stay away from the numerous dangers I could list that are associated with all these get skinny quick (we can’t call them fixes?) schemes.

When I think back on my 3 year journey from 205lbs to 125ish lbs I am filled with a sense of power, love of self and drive that I wouldn’t trade for all the schemes in the world.

Set goals, go at your own pace, OWN your body and all it’s little or not so little challenges…believe you can meet them with a strong mind! You Can!

Keep at it and you’ll be keeping skinny!

Xoxo

Skinny with a Bump

Refuge or Isolation? You Choose!

When I read Sally Kempton of Yoga Journal pose the question…”Where Do You Go For Refuge?” this month my 1st thought was St.Augustine”) but then I thought do people understand refuge is not isolation but mental vacation, Shelter, SAFETY even?

My time spent teaching yoga to special populations patients has opened my eyes to reading these texts differently…through new/fresh eyes…

I think so many times refuge is not viewed as shelter in these populations, but as a hide out.  Because so often people take refuge in alcohol, drugs, food and other harmful vices.

When you feel down or overwhelmed where does your mind guide your physical body?

Is it someplace of refuge like yoga/meditation or the ocean where you can recharge your batteries and find balance within? Positive Refuge”) I like to call it.

 Is it deep isolation with a bottle of wine/tub of Ben and Jerry’s or in bed with the covers pulled over your head? Negative Refuge! This is a false sense of safe…fleeting.

Learning to take positive refuge daily can keep us from isolating in times of woes.  Nurturing oneself at these calm times adds to our tolerance of negatives and gives us a lasting sense of calm

And balance.  A regular exercise or yoga routine, a laugh with a good friend,

even social simplifying as we discussed yesterday can be your positive refuges. Taking as little as 5 minutes a day to breathe, giggle, have peace of mind, or just sit without worry can change your days…all of them for the better!

Where is your place of refuge? (mine is the ocean)

Who is your person of refuge? (mine is usually my hubby, sometimes Marietta,my sis)

What Inner State brings you refuge?

(mine is exercise)

Try to add to these lists regularly…we are constantly finding my positive refuge in fun places, trusting friends and with greater consciousness of the present!

Xo

Ursula

Downsizing Your Social Circle for 30 Days??

Keep it Simple!!! Downsizing our social groups… Juggling becomes an act of sanity for most moms. I would not consider this exercise though”) lol The past few weeks I’ve been cleaning and down sizing in our home…ah refreshing! Now I think it’s time I down size in other areas too…for Sanity! “How about your social circle??” Natural Health Magazine suggests. No this does not mean you are ditching friends.   I have LOTS of amazing friends, but sometimes it seems hard to make time for everyone…SO… Let’s just take 30 days to really connect with 3-5 people…send less random texts, social media posts, in short quit balancing(juggling) 20-30 people daily…and develop a really lasting 30 days with these specific people. Use the phone for calls, make plans to meet face to face…grew these relationships the old fashion authentic way! Don’t get me wrong I love my facebook connections, texting my buddies happies at work, and even enjoy an email chain once in a while; but true friendships take nurturing and funny remember when stories. So take a minute or two today and meditate on who and how ya want to spend more time with this month…And Why? Xoxo Ursula

Daily Meditation: Make a Difference!

Daily Meditation:

Think “1″ run(“1″ class, “1″ swim, etc)

Won’t make a difference?

You won’t make any difference doing nothing!!!

12 weeks pregnant and I pulled off a 4 mile run.  Last week I would of beat myself up over how short that was(for me), but I’m learning to be grateful for what my body will do…excepting in 6 months I’ll be back running 10+…And for once I’m

Starting to believe I can wait! (Thanks Judy!)

Sometime we just have to let go and do the best we can for now! So carpe diem people run a mile, swim 5 laps, spend 10 mins stretching…

I know for sure 1 anything will make a difference in your mood, body and over all health!

Xo

Ursula

Daily Meditation

One positive thought can change the whole day…What is good in your life this morning? How can you share that good with others?

If you are lacking balance…take a minute breathe in this GOOD thing…embrace the joy it gives you.  Remind yourself throughout the day of this positive thought.

Run Baby Run! Day 4…importance of Cardio!

12 weeks in and all I can say is true for every woman is pregnancy is a UNIQUE experience.  Everyone ya know will share well intended advice, stories and tell ya how great the end is, but each of us will have our own UNIQUE journey.

So while I’d love to preach that running out 2.2 and walking 2.2 home will change your pregnant life and make ya feel awesome…in good conscious…I can’t! Each of us feels different at different points along this journey. 

If ya are in fact low risk and have been working out before…odds are the above is true for ya. After my cardio today I felt one step closer to ME! And for the 1st time since Wednesday HAPPY/PRODUCTIVE it’s only natural as cardio effects our brain chemistry…for the better!

  

Now if your not pregnant…well then…earth shattering/life changing/mood fixing is what a great cardio workout will do for u!!!

We’d all love to make excuses…and Pregnant is a good one…but tired…(nope!) it cures that! Sad(nope!) cardio fixes that too! What’s your excuse?? 

Get out there then walk, run, swim…whatever ya can do…DO IT!!!

Bottom line…a good workout can make a rough start to any day better! Heck, it can save the day!

I’ve been keeping up with my yoga…but there is a feeling ya can only get from cardio…that can’t really be explained(only felt) kind of like being preggers”p

I’m gonna run every chance I get for me and baby Rafer! It’s your turn…do it for u! 

Do your own personal best, keep trying and y’all keep skinny mind and body!

Day 3…Build Self Confidence…to improve your world!

Today I must start with SHOUT OUTS! I really have the BEST Friends! This has been a rough few weeks and without all of y’all I might not of made it!

Patzi and Aline thanks for feeding me when I am able to eat…and for letting me vent! Claudia thanks for inspiring me to walk on the mill when I want to cry because I can’t run! Jessica P…seriously no words…your love and support has been SAVING GRACE! And Tasha if not for you my dear…I’d just be lying here feeling bored…thanks for reminding me to be who I am today!!! Really all my friends and my amazing lil sis have helped me keep my sanity and confidence over the last few weeks!

Self Confidence(Self Love) is an essential part of a happy healthy life.

It seems for most of us it is easy to compliment others. To see the amazing qualities of a teacher, mentor or friend…but to live an improved life we must cheer ourselves on in this same way.

Here are 10 great tips for building better Self Worth!

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/10-ways-to-instantly-build-self-confidence/

So today give yourself a well done, a great job and keep up the good work…I’m sure it is deserved in one way or another.

Look for the positives, and feel pride just for being u!

Namaste

Ursula

Day 2…Surround Yourself in Progress

100 days of improved living: Day 2

Surround yourself with progress…this is a toughie! Which is why I’m a day late. “p 

Pregnancy makes everything harder…I’m thankful I had an authentic friend or two who admitted this! Although I admire those of ya who claim to have forgotten the SUCK fest after seeing your lil ones…I’m a keep it real kind of girl…so i appreciate those who recognize where I’m at…Any-who…let’s get improving!

My body is progressing…as it is constructing another human…lol…the rest is in the works: a move, a new work schedule, a new workout routine, a new eat what I can diet??

“I’m going through Changes…” how did Eminem know about this?? Lol

Our tour guide for these 100 days suggests lists to achieve small goals, each easy and attainable to make us feel IMPROVED! And reviewing relationships(often scary), but necessary!!!

How have i progressed??

I have come to love and need Cascadian Farms Honey Nut Os…my small goal was to keep a lil bowl by my bed to eat 1st thing to prevent nausea and allow me to prepare for a lil walk, run or yoga ses each am…WIN! Ok, enough with the preggo…

This progress we are supposed to surround ourselves in it!!! Look at those ya are closest to…do they help move ya forward?? Encourage ya? Improve themselves??

If yes…Great…make sure ya do the same for them!

If not, really evaluate what that relationship adds to your world?!

Just because we leave people behind…doesn’t make us selfish…makes us survivors! 

Spend today setting 2 small goals with action steps(otherwise just a wish) to surround yourself with progress!

I’d love to hear how it goes for each of ya! After all y’all are the progress I chose to be around!

Namaste

Ursula

100 Days of Productive Living Day 1…Inner Serenity

 

And so it begins again…I was never one to blog just because…that to me is for diaries.  My quest for another 100 days of fun brought me to my current journey(becoming a mommy)…And I want to help us all learn simple ways to improve our life.

I searched high and low…the end result:

http://the99percent.com/tips/5591/100-Tips-to-Improve-Your-Life

Day 1: Find your inner serenity…by making it easier to locate your keys…lol

I’m not messy…but I’m creative which equals clutter!  Today is all about making lil tasks stress less.

I really do hate digging in the bottom of my bag looking for keys with my arms full of bags, yoga mats, Starbucks…

This 1st activity is a needed one. I’m adding a clip to my keys…and finally down sizing my purse! (no really a smaller one)

Additionally, I hired a wonderful office assistant to finally get my files in order! It is so nice to know where important client info is for once!

So, if ya missed out on 100 days of positive activities…or just love a good guided list…join me today!!!

Keep moving forward…Keep improving…Keep Skinny!

Namaste

Ursula