Featured Blog Posts
Click on each image to read article
Reframing Thanksgiving: Honoring Native Heritage, Facing the Past
Sacred Breath: Giving Ourselves Permission
Breathing is the channel through which the human body is designed to discharge 70% of its toxins. The smaller percentage of toxins are discharged through sweat, defecation, and urination. We don’t rid our bodies of toxins properly when we aren’t breathing properly; this means really filling our belly and lungs and fully exhaling, slowly and deeply enough to receive the oxygen that we truly need to function at full capacity.
We tend to forget and “outgrow” the full belly breathing that was so natural for us as babies.
Trust Your Gut
Listen to your gut; it will always have your back.
Many ancient cultures, notably in Asia, have called the belly the “second brain” and the “second heart” because it is so sensitive to our thoughts, emotions, and lifestyles. It holds much wisdom and awareness. We have many phrases in our culture that reflect this…
“Butterflies in my stomach”
“I can’t stomach this.”
“My gut is telling me…”
As is often the case, modern science is catching up with this folk knowledge. The new field of neurogastroenterology reflects this shift in that it acknowledges its significance. It and other sciences are recognizing how much the health of our bellies impact our mental states as well as many diseases in our bodies.
Sacred Body: Saving Ourselves
Our bodies are a sacred gift that, when cared for, are a vital part of our ability to live life to the fullest and be our truest selves. The body has great intelligence and is capable of profound healing and amazing feats as well as the little things that give us so much pleasure. It will also tell us when something is wrong.
Our job is to listen and respond accordingly.
Developing this relationship with our bodies is a skill that takes practice and support to develop because we are generally taught to do the opposite.
I find that one of the greatest challenges for us as women is valuing ourselves enough to focus our attention upon our own needs to an effective level.
For the Love of Laughter
How can we lift our hearts, brighten our moods, and boost our spirits, especially in the face of widespread conflict and disillusionment?
How about a good-old fashioned belly laugh?
Laughter yoga, laughter meditation, laughter therapy, humor therapy are now offered. Laughing together increases social connection and bonding, reducing isolation and loneliness.
More communal cultures around the world know the power of humor and laughter. And, of course, children are the masters of spontaneous laughter and fun.
Those of us in the modern, industrialized world, with our tendency to isolate and escape into the mind with technology, can learn a lot from this communal spirit and more heart-centered approach to living.
Belly Love: Why Do We Need It?
Have you loved your belly today? Do you know how important our bellies are to our overall health, strength, and well-being as women? It’s literally the center of our bodies. Safe and effective movement comes from our core. It's our center of digestion and helps regulate our nervous systems and even our emotions via the vagus nerve, our internal organs, and our energy centers and channels including the chakras, nadis, and meridians.
So many women feel disconnected from their bellies and even dislike or hate and put them down. Our bellies can be a sensitive area, emotionally and physically.
Walking on Sunshine
“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.” ~Søren Kierkegaard
In our modern world built around vehicles, many of us identify them as the primary movers of our bodies. Walking is a reminder that, indeed, we are and have bodies that need to move on their own on a regular basis and for functional daily purposes. The original purpose of exercise and movement is not to achieve an image at all costs but to survive and thrive in nature as a physical being.
Dancing Life to the Beat of Your Own Drum
If you hit a wall, climb over it, crawl under it, or dance on top of it. ~Unknown
Dance as a natural expression of daily life is in the roots of human culture throughout history and enjoyed globally by all generations. It was originally a practice for healing meditation, connecting with the spirit and natural worlds, and community cohesion. Let us not forget the ancient healers and teachers of all cultures as well as present day Indigenous peoples who know and practice the healing power of dance. Yes, science is catching up to this knowledge but the modern world has so much to learn.
Unlocking the Secrets of the Psoas Muscle
Most people haven’t heard of the iliopsoas muscle, generally called the psoas (“so’ az”), much less know where it is. Think of the psoas when you enjoy that swing in your hips!
Many people, both women and men, deal with psoas issues: pain in low back, hips, thighs, abdomen during bowel movements, while standing or hanging, even difficulty breathing. You might call it a “deep feminine” muscle as it can also hold deeply buried emotions and tension, just like the pelvic floor. Bellydance therapy and specialized somatic bodywork can help bring it back into balance.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
