Summer Self Care by Stephanie
“What you do for yourself-any gesture of kindness, any gesture of gentleness, any gesture of honesty and clear seeing toward yourself-will affect how you experience your world.” -Pema Chodron Nourish Body, Mind & Spirit Summer is the perfect time to slow down and notice where you need to be "fed", aka, practice self care. Nobody can do this for us. And if we don't do this for ourselves, we risk becoming resentful, contracted, and unhappy! We must feed ourselves in order to feed others. As I spoke about last week, we are in charge of our own happiness and this includes on going self care. Give yourself permission to do what makes you feel good. You're worth it. Top 5 Picks to Nourish Body, Mind & Spirit: Massage - From therapeutic and deep tissue massage to relaxing massage, it's one of the oldest healing modalities. Massage can relax muscles, soothe aches and pains, release energy blockages, rejuvenate body, mind and spirit. Yoga - Yoga promotes inner and outer health & well-being. In addition to improving physical health: flexibility, strength, balance, pain management, yoga is a powerful tool in personal transformation. Yoga has been shown to decrease stress, helping with anxiety and PTSD, while improving our mood and outlook on life. Meditation- We get 2 choices: medicate or meditate. From managing stress, anxiety, and PTSD to cultivating a deeper sense of inner peace and well-being, meditation can help. Energy Healing - Chakra Balancing is an energetic healing technique that works holistically on the body, mind and spirit from the inside out. Major systems of the body are restored with life-force energy to promote body's natural ability to heal. Chakras will be cleared and re-balanced so you feel lighter and empowered. Reading List - Self-enrichment is one of the keys to growth. Our top 5: -Untethered Soul by Michael Singer -- We are all trying to be okay. Guess what? You already are! -Reclaiming Joy by Stephanie Filardi -- 4 Steps, when applied, to live happy, healthy, free. -A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle -- Awakening to your life's purpose and then some! -A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson -- Love is a potent force and the key to peace...in relationships, work, life... -Women, Food & God by Geneen Roth -- How we eat teaches us volumes about our life. Time to stop the battle with food and deeply listen. Namaste. And so it is. Choice. I've been pondering choices lately. I am not so much interested in sharing the types of choices in this space. I am more interested in sharing a concept: choice is life.
What do I mean? Well, consider it. Aren't our choices, both the small ones and the big ones, what make up the fabric of our life? Whether we did or didn't want something to happen, we are still in a position to choose. We may choose what to "do" next. We may choose what "not" to do next. Or perhaps we may choose being over doing. Meaning, we choose to be peace, positive, possibility...and allow our being to inform our doing. When we are rooted in being infinite peace and love, we are clear and confident in our choice, no matter what we choose. These are the choices that are life affirming and life altering. Choice is life. If you have not yet seen the movie "The Choice" I suggest watching. It captures the power of our choices and how they impact our life so beautifully. A love story, no doubt...based on a book by Nicholas Sparks. The story plays out based on choices made as well as those not made... Today during yoga I was reminded again that not choosing is also a choice, and a very powerful one. Not choosing happens in 2 ways. The first way is by making a conscious decision not to choose. The second way is by being unaware of what we are not aware of and having habitual patterns/ways of being choose for us. Think of it as sleepwalking through life or allowing other peoples expectations to control us. Notice if you are falling into judgment or blame after reading this. Exhale and see it for what it is. Learning. Choice is life. All experience is an opportunity to awaken so we may choose differently. My prayer is that we continue to expand our awareness with practices like yoga and meditation and also by having friends and mentors who lovingly hold up the mirror for us. As we expand our awareness to include all of our choices, may we have the courage to choose the options before us that are life affirming. May we choose the options that help us become the best version of our self. May we create a life filled with so much peace, love, joy, and gratitude that it overflows to all who cross our path. Choice is Life. Our Choice is Our Life. Namaste, Stephanie Valentine's Day is 2 weeks away. It's one of our favorite occasions here at the Sanctuary.
Why? We love to love & Valentine's Day is a reminder of why we are here. More than ever, we believe taking care of ourselves is an act of self-love that keeps on giving. From our own self-love, all other love grows. In fact, the ability to nourish ourselves first enables us to effectively (aka without resentment) nourish others. And as Stephanie writes, you must Save Yourself First. Here are 4 Ways to Plug into our LOVE: 1. Treat Yourself to a Sanctuary Service. Enjoy the familiar and try something new...Book Now. 2. Give Sanctuary Love with a Gift Certificate. Favorites: Be Well Package, Restore & Renew, Couples Massage...or simply gift a dollar amount & let your loved one decide. 3. Attend Stephanie's Manifesting Love Event Next Tuesday, Feb 6th, 6:30pm @BWS Embark on a Meditative Journey through the Chakras to Release what gets in the way of Manifesting the Love you want. Learn More & RSVP. 4. Register for Reclaiming Joy Retreat Information Session via Phone Next Wednesday, Feb 7th, 12pm-1pm EST Looking for more information about Stephanie's Retreat? If so, join Stephanie and Jeannie for an informational & inspiring phone call. Learn about what to expect, what others are saying, and why now. RSVP Here. "Reforming You" Panel: Celebrating National Mental Health Awareness Week
You're Invited to Attend Reforming You a discussion about self-discovery and wellness with: Stephanie Filardi, Rochelle Rice, Lindsay Fertig-Johnson and Jacqui Justice October 2, 2017 at 7pm Sommer Center at Concordia College Bronxville, NY Click here to register Stephanie Filardi, author of Reclaiming Joy is a speaker, mentor, co-founder of Bronxville Wellness Sanctuary and the creative visionary behind www.thrivingyouthrivinglife.com, her online educational and private mentoring platform dedicated to the advancement of her mission to help more people consciously create joy filled thriving lives. Rochelle Rice is a speaker, author and educator - with a passion for moving women toward their highest potential. Deaconess Lindsay Fertig-Johnson was consecrated in January of 2017 with the Lutheran Deaconess Association. She serves as Campaign Coordinator for Institutional Advancement at Concordia College New York. Jacqui Justice is a nutritionist specializing in Weight Loss Resistance, Digestive Wellness and Energy Enhancement. Finding Our Way, by Stephanie
In the next few weeks, many of us will experience "transitions" as we head back to school, back to work, back to life…back to "reality". In addition to this time of transition and change, many of us are feeling the heightened energy around us. It's real. For some, it's really hard to ignore and/or overcome. During these times of transition and heightened energy sometimes we lose our way. We may be riding the roller coaster of feelings: depressed, overwhelmed, tired, confused, afraid...anything but relaxed! How do we Find Our Way? By returning to emotional balance...equanimity. As I talk about in Chapter Two of my book Reclaiming JOY, the emotional roller coaster is not sustainable and keeps us stuck. We react and often cause more turmoil. This simple practice, called BRFWA, brings us back to a relaxed state where our emotions are in balance. From this place of emotional balance or equanimity, we are able to ride the emotional wave without drowning in it. In equanimity we find our way back to peace and clarity. Once clear, we are able to take action that keeps us on the path of peace. BRFWA Explained: Breathe: As a wave of emotion comes over you, slow down your breath. Allow your breath to flow freely in and out. Relax: As you slow down your breath, your mind and body will begin to relax. Soften your muscles, let go of mental and physical tension. Feel: As you relax, you are able to soften into what you are feeling. Stay open to the sensations and emotions moving through you in this moment. Watch: While feeling, you watch your experience closely, neither grasping what is pleasant nor pushing away what is painful. Allow: As you watch, you allow the process to unfold. You accept yourself and your experience exactly as it is, dropping the need to change it in any way. BRWFA is the practice of being present. Being present is what we learn during meditation. Looking for more support? Consider cultivating an on-going meditation practice. |
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