Dear Friends and Students of Lifefit,
I hope you are well on your way to a great summertime filled with rest, relaxation and renewal! Summer is filled with more opportunities to be spontaneous, to connect with nature, to enjoy more fresh air,... I hope you take advantage of all these things and keep moving forward with awareness and appreciation of life. And, if you choose to slow down to take in all the beauty of this season, there are great words from the Bible that we need to echo and use to remember our need to slow down: "Be still, and know that I am God! - Psalm 46 , and "For God alone my soul waits in silence." -Psalm 62:1 (NRSV)
Please note the attachments: the summerworkshop schedule (see attachment, first two this Sunday June 14: 1:00 Hip Openers and 3:30 - How to Build Your Own Practice - still space in each) and the class I was asked to teach at Green Valley pool (starts Tues June 9th - see attachment ). Also know to look to the website for updated time slots for "group and circuit classes." Look on the page and at the end, click on the icon and a chart will pop up to show "open" slots wether they are for private or someone already having reserved for a group...but wanting others to join in so the rate will be divided by each person participating. Once you see something that fits your schedule, please let me know by email and I will continue to adjust the chart. We have had a few groups meet already and all have enjoyed the workout regiments. The interesting advantage is,....the more you try a group circuit class, the more you will build knowledge of possible exercises on the equipment (the yoga walls, the Pilates reformer and the Pilates Arc) and when you find yourself having completed repititions at a certain station and others have not gotten to their finish point, you can reach into your memory bank and pull up more to do and make more of the time spent (if I am busy at another station and not right there to make more suggestions and, if that is what you want). Or you can savor the work, repeat once more slowly and really feel where you are. You can build awareness of how certain exercises/poses lend themselves to your needs and tweak your practice and/or ask for specific work. Once I have a group together, I will always ask for requests so as to meet needs/expectations. Also, the more I know my students, the more I can adequately plan for them. Most of you realize that. I have great goals for all of my group classes. I really do anticipate and plan for you all and, I truly see us on a journey together!
Words from one of my teacher's, Aadil Palkhivala:
| Asana |
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When you think of all that is accomplished when you are doing inversions, it seems like a miracle! You may already know that you become more peaceful, centered, still, and relaxed. But did you know why that happens, and what else occurs to contribute to the benefits? During inversions, the pelvic bones widen, the sacral bone descends and spinal tension releases, the cranial bones mobilize, and the two hemispheres of the brain widen, thus relaxing the entire nervous system and increasing cerebro spinal fluid. The heart descends toward the throat, creating space between the heart and the lungs, diaphragm and stomach. The energy of the pelvis (the place of ego) moves toward the Heart Center (the place of the Divine). You become more aware of your Heart Center, and the Pillar of Light is more distinct as the "thinking" brain relaxes. The body receives light from above helping the feet, legs, and lower body to connect with the Divine. Inversions take miracles out of the extraordinary, and bring them into everyday life!
| Nutrition and Lifestyle |
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Oxygen, Hydration, and Alkalinity
Since no disease can exist in an environment that is oxygenated, hydrated, and alkaline, it is vital to eat foods that promote these elements in the body. For example, deep green leafy vegetables or Sunrider's Evergreen bring oxygen into the body. To keep the body hydrated, as I have mentioned before, add a carrier to your water, such as Fortune Delight or lemon juice, so that the water can penetrate the cell walls. Hydration keeps the mind sharp. To encourage alkalinity in the body, eat plenty of citrus fruits, which, though acidic outside the body, leaves an alkaline ash in the body after being metabolized. It is not what food is on the outside that matters, but what it does on the inside. |
| Discernment |
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| An Excerpt from Fire of Love
How do we distinguish between discernment and judgment? Mother Teresa once told a friend of mine,  "When you judge people, you have no time to love them." Discerning between appropriate and inappropriate actions is very different from forming judgments about the person who is performing the action. Discernment and judgment are radically different. Discernment is necessary for growth; judgment stops growth. Discernment is objective, rising from observation, while judgment is subjective, descending from one's belief. Discernment is motivated by a desire to grow, to evolve, while judgment is motivated by a desire to stay the same. Discernment, like all that helps us grow toward joy, requires ongoing awareness. -by Aadil Palkhivala
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From the Upper Room:
A story tells about a rich man who pleaded with God to let him bring into eternity one suitcase full of his most valuable possessions. God finally conceded, and the man packed as much gold as he could into his biggest suitcase. When he arrived at heaven's gates he was met by St. Peter, who opened the suitcase, curious to see what the man valued most. "What!" St. Peter was incredulous; "You brought pavement?"
Understanding what's important from God's perspective is a challenge. If we could see earth from eternity, what we strive for during our years on earth would look different. We can use our energy fretting, clutching, struggling, and hoarding; but if we do, we will miss what is more important. Spending time with God and seeking to more fully understand God's word connects us with eternal values. What about gold? Well, gold is fine as long as we keep it under our feet and not in our hearts, minds, or suitcases. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: What's in your suitcase?
I'll tell you what is in mine, what do I value most: all the wonderful people I know, from whom I have learned so much, in other words, all of you...
In peace,
Mona Flynn |
Mona Flynn, MS, RYT
Life Fit Yoga, Inc.
5806 Wildrose Drive
Greensboro, NC 27410
336-580-5833
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