Connection during Covid Times

Photograph by Saffu

So how is it going - this swimming in a sea of uncertainty and concerned watchfulness?  This challenge of staying separate and yet connected, of pulling back while leaning forward.   We all share many of the same hopes, the same fears, the same anxieties, especially during times like these.  Walking around the neighborhood it feels good to offer the friendly smile or nod of the head, acknowledging we are all in this together.

In fact one of my awakenings that I have learned from my clients over the years is that so many of us hold a strong value around connection and a desire for a sense of community.  A value strong enough that if their world were falling sideways this word, this experience of connection would be the one thing with the power to right their ship.  A guiding force toward happiness and health.   

So we all crave connection and likely more so now that we are being asked to hold ourselves separate.  The Corona dilemma.... And our world has gone askew as we hear about so many - one day healthy, the next day seriously ill.  These times call us to open our hearts and change our habits, maybe in some cases not such a bad thing?  And the call goes out to be creative in how we stay connected, how we are supportive and how we stay healthy in our body and mind. 

I thought I would share some resources and a story, both to inspire and if needed to right your ships during this storm.  All of these are natural stress and anxiety reducers, and stress, much like sugar unfortunately, weakens the immune system.   Let’s all keep our immune systems strong, vibrant, and optimally functioning during this time!

• I have for years now been Meditating for health, for awareness, and personal growth. Meditation is nothing more than taking a few quiet moments to check in with yourself and ask "How am I right now?  What am I really feeling?  Where am I feeling it?"   And then opening to that vulnerable place, the place we perhaps unconsciously keep hidden away.  I imagine quite a few of us feel some form of anxiety with the uncertainty that surrounds us right now.  These quiet meditative moments give our bodies and nervous systems a chance to find their equilibrium, rebalance and find some spaciousness that was being crowded out with fear and worry.  Let your breath be the self soothing, nurturing presence it is meant to be.  

• Many of us had a regular practice of Exercise that we can no longer do publicly.  Maybe swimming, weight training, yoga or rock climbing?  And now more than ever with the built up stress or anxiety it is important to find an alternative.  I went to a regular pilates class that kept my body aligned, strong and healthy.  So now what?  There are many online yoga and pilates classes being offered in the safety of your own home, hiking (6 feet apart) in nature with a friend could be a very healthy option, more creatively turning the lights down and having an in-house dance party of your own ( thinking maybe the Kinks or Shins), or quiet, free form movement.  Really anything that helps get us out of our heads and into the beauty of a body in motion!

• A Healthy Diet right now is a must for the internal workings of a healthy body.  We have been cooking at home, actually only my husband has been cooking for our safety, more about that below....I know this is new territory for some, yet now that you have the space and time, cooking for yourself can be very creative and nourishes the mindbody in ways “to go” cannot.  So why not enjoy a new recipe, or spice, or free form food combo!  

• Laughing and staying connected socially can make the difference between feeling anxious or feeling loved.  Try out the apps Zoom or House Party for a virtual cocktail party, costume party, or open mic stand up.   Friends near and distant are just out there waiting for an invitation!

• And don’t forget your favorite Local businesses, restaurants and providers who may not be getting that government check soon enough, or ever.  Lend your support by reaching out with an online purchase of a gift card or order that you can use in the future.  Many are providing curbside pick up which I venture to guess is likely more sanitized than a warehouse delivery.  

And now my story.  Personally I have had a challenging month.  I came down with a viral infection that settled in my respiratory system.  I lost my voice literally and maybe figuratively too as I could not write to you my HeartWisdom family.  Actually I myself was a little lost, very distracted and a little fearful not only for myself also for my immediate family, close friends, and our global community.  My symptoms checked all the boxes for Covid19 and seemed to last forever.  Finally after waiting 11 days for my test results to come back I can now joyfully report they are negative!!   This changed my entire perspective - my world got a little brighter, a little bigger, a little less anxious.  This change in perspective was mentally shape shifting and reminded me of a skill I practice with many of my clients, that we define our own reality in many ways.  I still have to manage this ongoing bronchitis, though can do it now without the added weight of “what ifs” and separation.

Right now I am offering my skills as a wellness coach and meditation teacher.  I am happy to lead you in an inquiry or if you like your own personal meditation to help you weather this challenging time.  Or maybe you would like to experience a new, previously unimaginable perspective that lives within?    If you are feeling anxious, fearful, confused, or something else?   I would love to Connect and support you with a few minutes of Wellness Coaching - meaningful, honest conversation, completely free and confidential, completely open-hearted and connecting. 

We are connected !  
Shunya

Marching Towards our Deepest Intentions

Millions of women are marching today to let their voices of protest be heard.  Marching towards a better, more equal future.  They are turning towards our political reality and confronting the forces in place. How about your inner reality? What do you want to change that may require a turning towards, perhaps with the determination of a march? 

After the Holidays and an energetic turning outwards, it is now January and that pushing energy needs a rest.  Again it's the natural time for this - rainy, colder, darker, perfect for slowing down and taking notice of how you are and where your are. Tapping into also what you are hoping for in the future.  A turning towards the interior life and body, both of which could probably use a big dose of self care.  And the future is now. 

How do we do this?   Not in the same sense of checking something else off our to do list or even in declaring your New Years resolutions, most of which apparently go unnoticed by February.

It's a determined shift in attitude, or a change in perspective, and setting aside the time to internally check in.  It's a time for de-cluttering of home, heart, and mind - time for real conversations, quiet and rest, and time to dig deep below the everyday expectations to find out just how we are and what we want for ourselves this New Year.   And as a protest March relies on the supportive group, this interior work too may need some outside support - friends, family, or professional resources.

Taking care of a cold requires lots of orange juice, vitamins, extra rest, all because our bodies tell us that we need extra self care when we get sick.  How about stress?  At times our bodies too are telling us we are stressed and this needs care as well.   I have been known to say "I don't really have much stress in my life."  Recently various external situations changed overnight creating a lot of stress and Bingo all of my chronic issues flared up.  Issues I was sure were not related to stress but turns out stress is a factor, always a factor.  Which is why taking the time to be quiet and honestly turning toward what you really need for yourself is the self care your body has been calling for.  And now is the perfect time!

Singhashri, meditation teacher and Breathworks trainer, warns against a brash assessment when turning towards.  Encouraging us to turn towards with an appropriate amount of positivity or else risk slipping into self defeatism or doubt.  The turning towards, yes is choosing to look at what we typically want to ignore and more important, it is creating a space for something else to happen.  

So I'm going to be turning towards a fresh sense of self care and wonderment.   How about you -  what would you like to turn toward and how will you do it?  Just as important how will you remember to do it? 

Nothing is more intimate than noticing the breath in the body, meditating with no expectations except for coming home to just who this body is and what it needs. On February 12th the San Francisco Buddhist Center will be offering meditation classes again.  I will be co-leading the Mindfulness of Breathing, an age old practice of bringing awareness to your breath and I hope you can join me.  Take advantage of this fresh New Year, naturally a reflective time, and turn towards the things that are calling you and important for your body right now.   

March On !  
Shunya
 

Doing Less and Being More

Seed pods of future growth

Planting the seeds of growth and potential does not have to be complicated. Just like Mies Van Der Rohes' design adage suggests, Less is More may prove to be very helpful this holiday season. During this time there are so many temptations, distractions, and expectations.  Also it is a time to very much honor your values of family, connection, community and what is most important to you. And interestingly enough if you try to do it all, those values will fly out the window, resulting in dissatisfaction all around, plus some stress and regrets on the side. So.....less is really more.   

 Perhaps one less drink, one less shopping excursion, one less political stance at the family gathering would help create the conditions for an authentic conversation or the feeling of gratitude versus one of overwhelm.   Knowing ourselves, our point of balance, is important during times like these. So what helps you connect to yourself?   A walk in the hood, a replenishing nap in preparation for the big party, even 5 minutes of breathing with the intention of relaxing and releasing, or perhaps getting those colored pens out for a session of coloring???  (Coloring, I found out over Thanksgiving, is a wonderful way to connect with your favorite teenager!)  

The question is;  What are you willing to give up in order to get more of those qualities that makes your holiday sing?   I have found that silencing the "I should be doing this, I should be doing that", though potentially disappointing for the other person, is quickly forgotten when substituted with a quality of being fully present - mentally, physically, and emotionally.   And self care and self knowledge is the important pathway to fully inhabiting the magic of being fully present.  Find the support you need for doing less, and being more!  

Which brings us to More.  If less is more what DO you want more of this holiday season?  Taking some time for setting your intentions can be powerful.   Instead of plowing full steam ahead to be all things to all people (you know this is impossible right?) Give some thought to what you value most in your life and then how to honor that.  More playing-with the young people in your life, more  listening - with your elders, more gestures of generosity and kindness- with the stranger, more heart connection- with those closest, are some suggestions from my playbook.

May the Spirit of the Holiday be present for you!

Gratefully,
Shunya

And here is a gift for you (regifting is also possible! ) - a coaching exercise to help you make the most of your reflection on this past year and the New Year approaching.  A place to voice what is important about this time for you.  A couple of questions to help you articulate what you have learned, (we all hold a lot of past experience and wisdom around this) and a couple of questions to help acknowledge and then imagine what it is you would like to create for yourself in moving forward, perhaps a shift, trying something new, or following through on that long held dream???  And this gift includes a powerful conversation with me, your HeartWisdom Coach.  I look forward to being your resource in exploring new possibilities and your support in embracing change.

If Doing Less and Being More sounds intriguing to you - Let's Talk !