Rainbow Dreams and Art Blog

Relieving stress

Lisa — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:42:10 +0000

Although the weather is still quite hot, the summer is coming to an end, and with that comes the ending of fun summer activities, and also some beginnings, such as the start of another school year. No matter how I want some things (such as summer) to stay the same; change is inevitable.

I feel these changes lately, in my own breathing, as I suffer through another hay fever season. It certainly is better than in years past, but it is worse on the days that I allow stress to come in. That is when I really notice how much life’s daily stresses can affect my breathing if I allow it. So many changes have taken place in the past few weeks as the summer draws to a close. I realized that I need to do more yoga and restorative work to help get me through these transitions peacefully. I have felt great sadness at some losses and great joy at happy moments such as my parents’ 50th anniversary, and other exciting news. Staying calm and centered has been a challenge with all the ups and downs. At times, my breathing has felt a bit strained when I was upset, and at other times it even felt as though my heart hurt when I shed a tear, as if that tear could take my breath away. Other days I feel like I am being stretched in a thousand different directions…

“The diaphragm, according to yogic science, is the seat of the intelligence of the heart, and the window to the soul. During stressful situations, however, when you inhale and exhale, the diaphragm becomes too taut to alter its shape. Yogic exercises address this problem by developing elasticity in the diaphragm, so that, when stretched, it can handle any amount of stress, whether intellectual, emotional, or physical.

The practice of asanas and pranayama helps integrate the body, breath, mind, and intellect. Slow, effortless exhalation during the practice of asana brings serenity to the body cells, relaxes the facial muscles, and releases all tension from the organs of perception, the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin…” B.K.S. Iyengar

After years of practice I begin to notice how yoga is helps me stretch myself with getting tighter and more stressed. I am only now just beginning to allow the exhalation to teach me about serenity. I still find myself succumbing to the stress at times, however, I have tools to let go of it again and as the muscles of my diaphragm soften, so does the stress begin to melt away.

It’s a good thing too, because I have two seniors in high school this year, my last year of being a home school mom. Here it is, the first day of September, and I am ready to face the challenges and rewards of my final home school year. Time to EXHALE….

The Summer of Summer School

Lisa — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:08:00 +0000

The theme for this summer, for me anyway, seems to be school. When the school year was coming to a close, I calmed myself with the thoughts of a summer “off” and maybe some time to relax and not think much about school. However, that is not the reality this summer, at least not for this home school mom.
I am now looking ahead to my daughters’ senior year in high school…preparing a graduation portfolio, completing our reading list, compiling our volunteer hours, and preparing my curriculum for this, the final year. Nothing can be left to chance and all requirements must be met. This is the year I thought I was waiting for, but, in many ways it will offer some new challenges.
My son also has a summer school theme going on, getting help with math and English this summer. My daughters also spent the last two weeks brushing up on grammar skills. There is just no escaping it, and there is SO much to learn.

Even I will spend some time in summer school of sorts. I am really looking forward to it! I get to do something new and different this summer, which I am sure will come with it’s own unique rewards and challenges…Camp Phoenix.

I love this YMCA Camp Phoenix mission statement:

Camp Phoenix strengthens the bond between families and learning through
individualized attention, exciting hands-on activities which embrace all styles of learning, and by providing positive life experiences in a non-exclusive, caring, multicultural atmosphere.

I could not be more excited about bringing my Storytime Yoga skills to YMCA Camp Phoenix!

The Summer of Summer School

Lisa — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:08:00 +0000

I love this YMCA Camp Phoenix mission statement:

I could not be more excited about bringing my Storytime Yoga skills to YMCA Camp Phoenix!

Spring…Death and New Life

Lisa — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:44:28 +0000

A week has already passed since I had this experience; however, I believe I will recall it fondly and often for a long time to come. Spring is now upon us, and while the first day of the new season is here, the earth still looks a little brown, muddy and in some places devoid of life. The death and rebirth is a process. Just today, we saw the final remains of a huge snow pile, in the Target parking lot!

A week ago, I was feeling kind of down. Some unfortunate things had happened that brought me so much disappointment, and it was hard to face that certain aspects of my life, or things that I had know and loved, were gone from my life. I didn’t know if I would ever get to enjoy those things again. My daughter’s knee injury seemed more serious than I’d originally thought. That same day, I discovered that my sister’s much-loved cat had to be put to sleep. I felt so sad about the death and loss, that I was in tears as I was driving my son to our YMCA.

Just then, I looked to my left and there in the pastures near the Y, were the sheep I always look forward to seeing. All at once I saw the newborn lambs frolicking in the pasture! They were leaping, kicking up their heels, and thoroughly thrilled with life and the sunny day! I could not have imagined anything more joyful and beautiful if I had dreamed it up myself. I felt myself smiling and feeling so grateful for life and the rebirth that spring brings. There will always be winter, deaths, loss. pain and disappointment. However, the lambs frolicking reminded me how much is new and beautiful in life, and even death doesn’t diminish it. I just had to open my eyes to see, and it was there in front of me in all it’s beauty and enthusiasm. Thank you little lambs, you were just what I needed!

Family Yoga

Lisa — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:08:19 +0000

Another session of Family Yoga just ended, and although I am enjoying the short break, I can’t wait for the next one to begin. I love how Storytime Yoga methods have helped me reach out to touch families through yoga and story.
It was wonderful to see how the parents and the kids seemed to look forward to class each week. The girls in one family chose yoga class over a birthday party at a pizza place. They didn’t want to miss a yoga class, which made it even more of a privilege to teach them.
One of my favorite poses each week, was Community Boat, where all of us gathered in a big circle and held hands, and attempted to assist each other in getting all of our connected feet off the floor at once, as we laughed and breathed together.
One of my favorite story themes, was “The Roar of the Awakening,” when one five year old girl did Lion’s Breath pose and roared playfully another Dad. It was so cute, and we all laughed together. The sense of community, and the warmth of our hearts when we were together each week was something I will cherish for a long time.
I look forward to sharing Storytime Yoga with many, many more families in the days to come!

My Favorite Things List for January 2010

Lisa — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:17:58 +0000

Welcome to January 2010! I hope that it is a healthy, happy one for us all!

Like most everyone, I have made my own personal list of resolutions for the New Year, and I have created a list of favorite things, and of course this includes resources related to health and fitness, art, and storytelling. These are all things and people I feel passionate about and that are helping me get off to a great start this January.

Eischens Yoga

especially my teachers Lynn Shuck

and Kari Tomashik

Storytime Yoga - Sydney Solis!

Arbonne Shakes (great for nutrition and weight loss)

Arbonne Detox Tea

Arbonne Natural Hormones

Skechers Shape ups (exercise shoes) – they have been great for my knees and help me use the whole back of my body…calves, hamstrings, etc.

Alternative Medicine Solutions

Health and Healing Chiropractic - in Rochester

North Oakland Family YMCA – a great place to work out!

Auburn Hills Community Center - a great place to work out!

Woolynns – fiber artist Lynn Shuck…beautiful scarves

Beyond Barbie – beautiful, figurative work by a beautiful artist

Please note, these are all resources that I have had a great experience with, your mileage may vary!

Happy Fall

agricasia — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:39:53 +0000

The sun is shining today and the sky a clear blue with almost no leaves remaining on the trees…they are all on the ground in my front yard! It has been a busy few months since I last blogged and I am in serious need of updating my pages!

Just like the seasons that have passed since I last wrote, life has been filled with many changes as well. Some of the old things pass, while there are always new opportunities in the air.

Today I am looking forward to some new opportunities to learn and to grow. My teacher, Kari Tomashik is coming to town this weekend, and as always I look forward to meeting with her to check in with myself, and what I am doing not just as a teacher, but as a student of yoga.

This very afternoon, I went to my first-ever Rochester Chamber meeting, and it was very uplifting, and enlightening. To know there is a wonderful, enthusiastic group of women out there, and that I can be a part of that kind of energy, is pretty amazing. I was really happy to be there, and to be a part of all of this. I hope to meet new students and to gain new opportunities.

I am looking forward to this time of year, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year, not very far ahead of us!

Happy Fall!

The Thaw…

Lisa — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:17:07 +0000

This past week or so, I have enjoyed experiencing my world beginning to thaw. Everywhere are signs of spring, which begins tomorrow. As I drove to the YMCA to work, I was excited to see a pasture full of sheep grazing, and amongst the sheep were these little, white lambs, with their mothers. They were so cute. I heard the sounds of the ice melting and breaking up on the lake at Stony Creek Park…it looked like giant glaciers melting. The little pond on my way to work had ice melting too, and yesterday I heard the peepers for the first time this spring.

On Sunday, my daughter and I ran in the 4-mile St. Patrick’s Day race in Detroit. Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, and seeing all the green, reminded me that spring was even closer than I’d realized. The day was so warm and the sun so bright, that we even had sun burned cheeks! It felt so good to run in my first race ever. I felt like celebrating, as I had spent so much time frozen with the pain in my knee, and then to be able to run, free of pain, was like the first day of spring.

My classes schedule is busy, and I am looking forward to new experiences in the spring and the summer. My new yoga classes with Fill in the Blanks workshops in Ferndale, have gone well, and I am beginning another session of family yoga classes in a couple of weeks. There have been many ups and downs, but it seems as though the kids really do enjoy yoga, even more than I’d expected. I love working with kids and seeing them try new things and learn to listen to their bodies.

Happy Birthday!

Lisa — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:29:13 +0000

This has been a very cold winter so far, and my entire world is buried in the icy January snow, with more on the way! I’ve certainly been particularly busy lately, and it seems I need to spend some time on my blog here! I figure if I am going to get up to date here, what better time to do it then my birthday, which is in a few days (February 1st!)!

This New Year, 2009, has brought about many changes in my schedule and activities. Every day seems to bring a new opportunity or idea. I am most excited about a month-long series of Storytime Yoga workshops that I will be teaching in Ferndale, for a home school group of gifted children. These are called Fill in the Blank Workshops; what a cool and creative idea! I am very excited about this prospect and will begin teaching on February 11th.

I am now teaching two senior (age 50+) yoga classes at the North Oakland YMCA, held on Monday and Wednesday, and I truly enjoy working with my new students. I truly enjoy their insight, enthusiasm, and joy at learning yoga, and I love seeing the positive changes taking place in each of my students. One of my senior yoga students just gave me a beautiful hand-knit scarf as a gift, and she even noticed how I love hot pink, and this is the color scarf she knit for me. I love it and have worn it every day since.

Beginning this week, I now teach two yoga classes at the Auburn Hills Community Center on Monday nights, at 6pm and 7pm. I love teaching in the community center; the students are friendly and appreciative; the staff is very friendly and helpful. The building supervisor even helps me carry my gear to my car! I love being around positive, helpful co-workers.

I am most excited about my beautiful birthday gift that I am going to very much enjoy playing, and that is my new mandolin! I thoroughly enjoy being artistic, and this is another way for me to dive deeper into my creative side. I am looking forward to learning to play, and I plan to play my mandolin during my Storytime Yoga classes! I can’t wait.

I will post more often, as I adjust to my new teaching schedule. I also plan to include more of my artwork on my site. My latest work involves sunflowers!

Happy Birthday to me and to my brother, who shares my birthday with me!

Lisa

Happy Thanksgiving

Lisa — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:44:59 +0000

Thanksgiving is only a couple of days away and it seems like a good topic for my blog today. I am thankful for so many wonderful opportunities that have come my way.
The past few weeks, my time teaching Storytime Yoga in our North Oakland YMCA Childwatch, has been absolutely magical. There is no other way to describe it. The classes are only a half hour long, but when I walk in and the kids come running or walking toward me, smiling, I know why I’m doing this. I silently give thanks for each one of these great kids. There have been so many special times that we have shared. On Monday evening last week, I introduced my pink, winged piglet, named Star, just as usual. I talked about poetry and how Star loves to recite poetry. I asked if anyone had a poem to share and to my surprise and delight, there were several kids willing to share poems. It became a very special experience. Then, I also introduced my Sophia, the Snake of Dreams, and talked about dreams. Amazingly, several kids again wanted to share their dreams! The cutest thing was at the end of the class, I asked each child to take a turn and show us all their favorite pose, and that we would all do it with them. Well, the kids were so focused on poetry, that the first child actually recited a poem instead of showing us a pose. So then I had us all do a yoga pose that could go with the poem. If it had a tree in it, for example, we did tree pose, and so on. It was great fun and soon all the kids were joining in. Purely magical. This is why I love teaching yoga, seeing the positive impact on others.

In my yoga class for senior citizens, it is so nice to see how much they appreciate their practice, and how they are grateful and happy to see me. Just the same way that I feel about them. I love all of my students and I love seeing them feel better and more at peace.

I have so much to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving!

Lisa