Month: September 2014

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
To begin this article, I will give a disclaimer: I respect your right to your opinion as I honor my right to mine. You are welcome to your personal beliefs based on your faith and your personal experience as I do. I am not suggesting that my opinion is more right than another’s. This article is my take on the spiritual side of yoga and is based in my personal relationship with my Creator, my faith, my experience and my practice of yoga. – Namaste
Namaste is translated to “I bow to the Divine in you.” Or “I honor the face of God within you as God is within me.”
The term “yoga” (from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means “yoke” or “to unite,” as in uniting the body, mind and spirit) was first used in Hindu texts in the fifth century BC. Yoga originated in Hinduism, and remains a large part of some Hindu practices today. At times the subject has come up as to whether those who hold more conservative religious beliefs should practice yoga. I will say that is entirely up to the individual. For me, yoga is a big part of how I pray and how I relate to God and open my mind and my heart to let love shine in. My favorite yoga chant is actually an Irish prayer:

May the long time sun shine upon you.
All love surround you.
And the pure light within you,
Guide your way on.
(it is beautiful when sung: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9e-_Ep7e98)

I have studied Christian Spirituality, women’s spirituality, and various yoga practices and meditation trainings. I have taught numerous women’s empowerment workshops and mentored many young women. In my experience and my studies, I have come to the opinion that the practice of yoga and meditation are a way to connect with Divine energy. There are Eight Limbs of Yoga and the following interpretation of these can be helpful in discerning what your personal practice means to you.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga
1. Yama: These are five positive ethical guidelines (restraints, or abstinences) that include non-violence, fidelity to the Absolute, non-stealing, truthfulness and non-attachment.
2. Niyama: These are five positive behaviors, including cleanliness, contentment, self-discipline, self-study and devotion to God.
3. Asana: These are the actual physical exercises that people usually associate with yoga. These powerful poses are designed to give our bodies strength, flexibility and energy. They also contribute to the deep sense of relaxation that is necessary in order to lovingly meditate on the Absolute.
4. Pranayama: These are the energizing breathing exercises that produce vitality, overall health and inner calm.
5. Pratyahara: This is detachment from the ever-present fluctuations of life. Through this practice, we can transcend all the trials and sufferings that life often seems to throw our way and begin to see such challenges in a positive and healing light.
6. Dharana: This is the practice of powerful and focused concentration.
7. Dhyana: This is devotional meditation on God, designed to still the agitations of the mind and open the heart to God’s healing love.
8. Samadhi: This is blissful absorption of one’s individual consciousness in the essence of God. In this state, the yogi experiences the direct presence of God in his or her life at all times. The result of samadhi is peace, bliss and happiness without end.
This article includes excerpts from the writings of Dr. Frank Gaetano Morales

Liz Jones is the Wellness Coordinator for the City of Mesquite and a wellness professional in Rockwall, Mesquite, Wylie and surrounding areas. She is a writer, certified yoga instructor, personal trainer and wellness coach. She holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Management, with a graduate certificate in Ethics and Leadership. Her undergraduate studies included communication, business, writing, art, fitness, and dance. Liz Jones can be reached at: [email protected].

September is Obesity Awareness Month. According to Department of State Health Services, in Texas 66.8% of adults were overweight or obese in 2009, with the number rising.

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/obesity/NPAOPdata.shtm

Obesity has become an epidemic in our country. Most adults are overweight and are raising children that are following in their footsteps more and more. Many who are overweight struggle with chronic health issues that stem from the risk factors that are linked to disease. One of the highest risk factors to people is a diet low in fruit and vegetable consumption, which is probably the easiest thing that an individual can address to improve their health.
If you are like most people, this time of year is a time of adjustment. Kids are back in school, you just got done indulging over the Labor Day weekend, using the extra day off to eat badly and be lazy. Don’t feel alone, but this is a good time to reset your resolve. It is tough to change a lot of behaviors all at once and have any of the changes be something that stick, so if you are not currently following a wellness plan that includes clean eating and daily exercise, find ways that you can implement small changes, a little at a time. If you do have a current program, keep it up! Don’t lose your momentum. Add something new to the mix and take one step closer to your goal.
The most important first step is readiness to change. You’ll need to identify your reasons for wanting to make positive changes. If you can’t commit to your wellbeing, your likeliness for success is near impossible. Decide you are worth it and value yourself enough to really make a commitment.
Find something that you enjoy. If you can’t stand the process, you will have difficulty making it a part of your daily life. Don’t like to run? Then walk. Or try a Zumba class. Some people surprise themselves when they try an activity like Crossfit and love the challenge of the workout. Others may try it and decide that their good old Jane Fonda tape is still more their speed. Swimming is another great, low-impact activity to try out. Do you feel like the only thing you enjoy is sitting on the couch? Well, then keep trying to find a physical activity that you enjoy. It’s out there. If the only thing you find enjoyment in is being sedentary, it’s important that you talk to someone. Most people do not actually enjoy being lazy, they feel poorly, feel guilty and feel ashamed in many cases. It is possible that you may be dealing with a medical issue such as hormonal imbalance or depression, so talk to your doctor to see if there is an underlying issue that they can help with.
Drink water. Then drink some more water. It’s easy. If you need to pick one small change, this would be my number one tip. If you are one of those people that say you just don’t like water, then try Sassy Water (with ginger, limes, mint, etc.) or add Crystal Lite type products if you must. Drink water… just do it already.
Eat an apple. Yep- it’s a cliché, but it’s a darn good one. Keep them on hand and eat one or two every day. They taste good, are about the easiest thing you can take along with you. Maybe get some raw almonds to eat with it as your daily snack.
Replace old habits with something new. Fitness and overall wellness is not a one-size-fits-all plan, it’s as individual to every person within the same guidelines of eating healthy and getting active, but what that looks like for you is going to be different than what that looks like for me.
There are a lot of other things that you can add to your life, especially as you become more motivated to work toward your goals. Maybe your new habit could be trying a vegan recipe for dinner twice a week. Maybe it is a morning walk before work. Maybe it’s joining a fitness class two days a week rather than couch surfing. We have a journey on this planet, we can get “better” or we can get “worse” so keep looking for what it is that will work for you, the alternative is a grave one…. Literally.

Liz Jones is a wellness professional in Rockwall, Mesquite, Wylie and surrounding areas. She is a writer, certified yoga instructor, personal trainer and wellness coach. She holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Management, with a graduate certificate in Ethics and Leadership. Her undergraduate studies included communication, business, writing, art, fitness, and dance. Liz Jones can be reached at: [email protected].

September is National Yoga Month and is a great time to try out a yoga class, or if you’re like me, time to get your yoga back. I love yoga, it truly changed my life. I started practicing yoga so long ago, I barely remember how I got started, but vaguely recall when practicing martial arts being at a studio that offered yoga as well. Over the years, as I built a more active practice, I had a yoga teacher ask me to take over her class and from there I began teaching several places around my full-time job.
Later I was lucky enough to be able to go to Costa Rica to train. For the first time in my life, I got to leave the country all by myself to travel to a yoga retreat in the Rain Forest for fifteen days to earn my certified yoga teacher credentials. It has often been said, we teach what we need to learn, and similar to Jung’s theory of the Wounded Warrior, for me that is very true about yoga. I believe most people come to yoga because they are in search of inner peace, (or in some cases the elusive yoga butt). I have always been a worrier, although it may not seem like it to people on my surface. In some ways I am calm and extremely laid back, but inside my busy brain, I am often worried about my family, thinking about all the things that I need to get done, planning my future endeavors, thinking that we are out of toilet paper, disturbed by the world news…. Anyway, I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get my drift.
After my son was in an accident at the age of fourteen that put him in a coma, I saw the healing effects of energy work and imagery so I trained in guided imagery, which is used in mediation and therapy, to help students and patients focus their mind on positive, healing images. That was in itself another life-changing addition to my life and I incorporate guided imagery today into my meditation when I teach, as well as with my personal training clients at the end of their workout.
I continued to study various philosophical books on yoga and similar practices, including martial arts, which carries very similar mind-body connections. I taught many workshops on women’s empower and self-esteem, worked with victims of domestic violence and young men in jail. I really believe that yoga is more than a physical activity, it is something that you bring into how you live your life.
Over the years, life sometimes gets away from me and my yoga practice slips especially when I am not teaching a regular class. I notice things in my life start to change when I am not actively practicing. My stress level seems to increase, my sleep becomes more of an issue, my weight becomes harder to manage and I lose the energy I once had. Over the past few years, I have waxed and waned in my practice, but recently decided I needed to get my yoga back and have slowly started to build my training again. It truly is a “practice” and will be a lifelong journey for me, but I love to be able to share yoga with others whenever I get the opportunity to teach a class or a workshop. How has yoga helped you in your life?

Liz Jones is a wellness professional in Rockwall, Mesquite, Wylie and surrounding areas. She is a writer, certified yoga instructor, personal trainer and wellness coach. She holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Management, with a graduate certificate in Ethics and Leadership. Her undergraduate studies included communication, business, writing, art, fitness, and dance. Liz Jones can be reached at: [email protected].