Yoga and Meditation

Are you, like many other Americans, logging more hours than there seem to be in a week? Do you find that you lack free time in your schedule? Stress is more prevalent than ever before, and the sources seem to be countless! Furthermore, we seem to be logging these extra hours not because of the overtime pay, but rather to ensure that we keep our jobs.

Think back to when you first fell in love, and the rush that you felt. You could probably stay up all night, eat nothing, and still feel content and full for weeks. Your love is what sustained you. This love is not only a massive adrenaline rush, but the ultimate in human caring and compassion.

Kindess can have a similar impact on humans. While nothing holds quite the power of a first love, research shows that positive and healthy work environments improve morale and productivity, and reduce turnover. However, not enough workplaces employ this philosophy. Too many employers wear down their employees to the limit and still expect optimal performance.

Many other countries are a step ahead of the R&R game. In Europe, many workplaces issue massive “holidays” to their employees. More than one of the European travelers whom I have met have reported having upwards of six weeks of vacation every year. In Asia, you may very well walk past a building and see a group of colleagues exercising together - right at work. And who can forget the ’siesta?’ Many Latin-based countries close their businesses in the afternoon for a mandatory rest period.

My goal is to encourage you to take time for YOU. I know just as well as anyone else that there are times when logging hours is the only option. I also know that we, as humans, need to rest. Our bodies need a break, and you should take time recuperate, rest, and recharge.

The quickest, most basic of getaways can be extremely rejuvenating. Get up early and take a stroll with your favorite cup of coffee. At work, get away from the office for a few minutes, and take a walk. Take a mini vacation on the weekend, somewhere cheap. Head for the hills if you live on the coast and to the coast if you live in the hills. Time away is supposed to be simple and easy to adjust to. We’re people who have given all this up and constantly have our noses on the proverbial grindstone. We’re looking for little steps, for a balance of our time.

And if you have the means, look into something a bit bigger - perhaps something out of your comfort zone. Look for a trip with something like the Sierra Club. Or better yet, look into an adult camp (like a youth summer camp but with grown-ups!) Get out, get to know some new folks, challenge those muscles, and dare the child in you to come out and play again.

Hey, they have camps for kids and camps for families, so why not invest in an adult camp? Getting out and about in nature is cathartic. There’s something about being outdoors that inspires, encourages and supports a healthy balance. So step outside of the box, do something unexpected and reap the benefits of a camp that challenges you emotionally & physically. The food is great, the staff phenomenal and new friends are always great to meet.

For me, it took some serious indicators before I began creating that time for myself: a little heart thing, a hundred-pound weight gain, and a serious loss of “family fun time” as work took precedence were all clear signs that I needed to make a change. We’re working the long hours and going the extra mile - for what? Is it worth the sacrifice?

Don’t get discouraged as you begin this new process. While the newfound free time may feel difficult or counterintuitive, it is a new and important skill to have. So relax, and ENJOY it, reminding yourself that this darn leisure time will get easier.

I have taken the initiative to carve out leisure time, relax, and work on my own personal health - and I’ve even taken some of my own suggestions! There are plenty of voices in the media telling us what to avoid, but few of them are actually telling us what to DO for ourselves. So get out, get active, and take care of yourself. I had the opportunity to ride my bike for 40 minutes with my teenage daughter today, and this fun, free activity was the best time I’ve had all weekend. The rest of the time, I’ve been stuck on the computer!

Nature’s-classroom is the leading provider of adult camp services. We take grown ups out of their comfort zone and provide unique, engaging experiences that eliminate stress and leave participants feeling rejuvenated and revitalized.

Not too very long ago, I was diagnosed with heart disease and high blood pressure. I was aware for some time that I was living with more stress in my life than I could handle. I feared that I might die because of it.

I had recently turned fifty and had often joked that fifty was the new thirty. So what happened to 30, I asked my doctor? According to me, I had many years to go. Not so much according to my doctor if I didn’t do something to change my health.

The obvious course of action for any western medicine doctor is to prescribe blood pressure medication. After doing some research into them however, I felt like I had to explore other alternative options first. I knew that my behavior was responsible for my declining health to atleast some degree and believed that if I started with changing it, my health might improve.

The first thing I did was to change my diet. I began eating less fatty foods and more vegetables and fruits. I also began to add exercise to my daily life. I began walking and even went out and bought a bike for the occasional ride. I felt better but my blood pressure, it turns out, did not change much.

I heard about a nearby workshop on meditation. I had also heard about the possible benefit of meditation to blood pressure. I decided to give meditation a try before giving up and going the beta blockers my doctor had suggested.

I finally found something that really worked! My blood pressure started to decline almost immediately. Initially, it was something of a challenge trying to clear my mind as they say and focus on my breath but I eventually got to a place where it became easier to do. After getting there, it becomes so much easier because it’s a place where you want to return often.

Thanks in large part to meditation; my blood pressure is currently at acceptable levels without the use of medication. My doctor was so impressed with the results I experienced, he is now recommending the use of meditation to other patients. I personally can not say enough great things about the practice of meditation has changed my life for the good.

Not too very long ago, I was diagnosed with heart disease and high blood pressure. I was aware for some time that I was living with more stress in my life than I could handle. I feared that I might die because of it.

I had recently turned fifty and had often joked that fifty was the new thirty. So what happened to 30, I asked my doctor? According to me, I had many years to go. Not so much according to my doctor if I didn’t do something to change my health.

The obvious course of action for any western medicine doctor is to prescribe blood pressure medication. After doing some research into them however, I felt like I had to explore other alternative options first. I knew that my behavior was responsible for my declining health to atleast some degree and believed that if I started with changing it, my health might improve.

My first approach was to focus changing my diet to include more fruits and vegetables and less fats. I followed by trying to add some low impact exercise to my routine. Both of these changes went a long way towards helping me feel better about myself and healthier in general. They didn’t however, lower my blood pressure.

I heard about a nearby workshop on meditation. I had also heard about the possible benefit of meditation to blood pressure. I decided to give meditation a try before giving up and going the beta blockers my doctor had suggested.

The results of meditation were astounding. As soon as I began working on calming my mind and body and focusing on my breath I could literally feel my pressure lower. It took some work on my part and many times as I began learning to meditate I suffered from, what is referred to as, monkey mind or those endless distracting thoughts of a busy mind that tends to swing from one place to another without any apparent direction or destination. I was encouraged to continue trying however and as I did I found it easier and easier to enter into that place of calm and tranquility.

Thanks in large part to meditation; my blood pressure is currently at acceptable levels without the use of medication. My doctor was so impressed with the results I experienced, he is now recommending the use of meditation to other patients. I personally can not say enough great things about the practice of meditation has changed my life for the good.