finding balance in your life

Myth: You must be even-tempered.
Truth: Balance encompasses the full range of emotions.

You may think the balanced person takes everything in stride, never gets upset or irritable, rarely gets depressed or overwhelmed. But that’s simply not true. Balance is not about remaining placid and peaceful. In fact, by avoiding negative emotions such as anger, grief, or sadness, you are causing an unhealthy imbalance, says medical intuitive and neuropsychiatrist Mona Lisa Schulz, author of “The New Feminine Brain: How Women Can Develop Their Inner Strengths, Genius, and Intuition.”

So go ahead, get angry. Have a good cry. True balance is achieved by understanding the nature of our moods and feelings, not by suppressing them.

Meditation Timer with Tibetan Bowl

Now & Zen

1638 Pearl Street

Boulder, CO  80302

 

(800) 779-6383

Finding balance is one of life’s great goals, but it can be as elusive as it is desirable. Change your approach and its true nature will emerge.

When you’re balanced, you can feel it. You get the sense that your life is moving along steadily. You take things in stride. You feel healthy and vibrant, challenged by your life, but relaxed enough to enjoy it; protected by the familiar, but excited by the possibilities ahead. So why does achieving it — and maintaining it — seem so difficult to do for so many of us?

Study balance a little closer, and you realize that what many of us perceive to be the ideal balance is in fact not balance at all. Unlike, say, a balanced scale, a balanced life is not symmetrical, still, or neutral. Like riding a bike, living a balanced life comes easier to you as you gain momentum. From that perspective, the myths and truths that follow in each day’s blog can help you find a new understanding of balance — and, finally, a way to get there yourself.

Zen Alarm Clock with Gentle Wake Up Chime

Now & Zen

1638 Pearl Street

Boulder, CO  80302

(800) 779-6383

yoga

Stretch the Stress Out

What it does: Relieves lower-back aches and releases overworked back muscles, opens hip joints and helps ease sciatic pain, strengthens abdominals and inner thighs.

How to do it: Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, knees soft. Start to bend forward, hinging at the hips and pressing your palms into your upper thighs; reach your sit bones back (your butt will stick out a bit) to help extend your spine. Continue forward, draping your torso down toward your legs; let your head and arms dangle. Stay for two to three minutes, exhaling with an “s” sound on each breath, then roll up one vertebra at a time.

adapted from Body + Soul Magazine

Zen Timers and Gentle Alarm Clocks

Now & Zen

1638 Pearl Street

Boulder, CO  80302

(800) 779-6383

yoga stretch

What it does:

Stretches the chest and upper-back muscles, improves posture.

How to do it: Sit tall in a chair. Bend elbows and interlace your hands behind your head. Tilt your head back slightly and let the weight of your head rest in your hands. Lift your spine and chest up toward the ceiling. If it’s comfortable, arch the uppermost portion of your spine slightly back, but keep your focus on lifting up the chest. Stay for up to one minute, breathing deeply and exhaling with an “s” sound.

adapted from Body + Soul Magazine

Yoga timers and gentle wake up clocks with chimes

yoga

When its popularity in America first began to soar — along with the celebrity endorsements — you wouldn’t hear yoga mentioned without the word “trend.” For sure, commercial interests continue to fuel this misnomer (you can actually purchase Diet Coke yoga pants). But yoga has long since proven its staying power, in part because of its success as both a physical and emotional therapy. “Trends come and go, but yoga is popular because it works,” says Richard Faulds, former president of Kripalu and author of “Kripalu Yoga: A Guide to Practice On and Off the Mat.” “Science is studying it,” he adds, “and frankly? It’s kicking butt.”

From relieving carpal tunnel to helping cancer survivors with recovery, yoga’s benefits have made news in various medical publications, including the Journal of the American Medical Association. Nearly half of the hospitals surveyed for the American Hospital Association provide an Eastern method of exercise or therapy, including yoga. Even some insurance companies have gotten on board, helping their clients pay for classes.

As rosy as the yoga scene looks, the future holds even more promise. “As younger people see the difference in mobility between older people who have practiced yoga and those who haven’t, yoga will continue to grow in popularity,” predicts Sandy Blaine, a 14-year veteran teacher, cofounder of the Alameda Yoga Station in Alameda, California, and author of “Yoga for Healthy Knees.” “We’ve started to see yoga crop up in schools and PE classes; perhaps we’ll someday witness a widespread acceptance of its philosophical foundation.”

With millions of Americans practicing yoga — these days, it’s not so much a question of who does yoga, but who doesn’t — it may just be a matter of time. From preschoolers to senior citizens, new moms to Navy SEALs, everyone seems to find something to like in this ancient Eastern discipline. Some expect (and get) a deeply spiritual experience, enriched by chanting, prayer, and meditation; others are in it for the ripped abs and glutes of steel. Regardless of what draws a person in initially, yoga has a way of delivering rewards that go well beyond the expected. “The key,” says Faulds, “is learning how to enter the practice in a way that works for you.”

adapted from Body + Soul, October 2007

Zen Alarm Clock with Japanese Maple Leaves

Now & Zen

1638 Pearl Street

Boulder, CO  80302

(800) 779-6383

give stress a rest

They were the butt of the joke when uttered by Stuart Smalley, the self-help guru from “Saturday Night Live.” Kidding aside, affirmations are a powerful way to combat stress. “They bring you back inside yourself instantly, making you calm and focused,” says Kathleen Hall, CEO of the Stress Institute and author of “A Life in Balance.” If the idea of chanting a self-affirming mantra makes you cringe, consider this: A study published in Psychology Science showed that affirmations reduced cortisol (a stress hormone) responses to stress. Use a positive statement that speaks to your particular need. If your stress is fear-based, try “I’m protected and guided.” If you’re feeling anxious, think, “I’m calm and balanced.” Repeat the words to yourself until you feel your outlook take a turn for the better.

adapted from Wholeliving.com

Zen Alarm Clocks with Gentle Chime

Now & Zen

1638 Pearl Street

Boulder, CO  80302

(800) 779-6383

soup

This nourishing soup bolsters immunity and helps ease cold and flu symptoms, says herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. Fresh burdock root (also called gobo) and dandelion root are available in some grocery stores. Dried burdock, astragalus, and dandelion root are available at herb stores or online.

Directions

1. Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil and reduce heat. Add astragalus, dandelion, burdock, ginger, and sea vegetable; set your Zen Alarm Clock and Timer for 45minutes to an hour and cover and simmer. Strain, return broth to pot, and keep over medium heat. In a saute pan, heat olive oil over medium heat; add onion and mushrooms, and saute until tender. Add garlic; saute for a few more minutes. Add entire mixture to broth. Turn off heat, and stir in miso paste.

adapted from Body + Soul, November/December 2006

How to Use your Zen Alarm Clock and Timer to time Soup

Now & Zen

1638 Pearl Street

Boulder, CO  80302

(800) 779-6383

Snow at Itsukushima by Watanabe Shozaburo

1.  Power

Giving to others is the most powerful thing we can do for ourselves.

2. Honor

Approach gift shopping as an opportunity to honor the people you really love.

3.  Strength

Share your strengths — and be open to others’ gifts.

4.  Need

Help others because they need it, not because you need to provide it.

5.  Kindness

Kindness is in our nature; practice giving and receiving it freely.

6.  Discovery

Teach what you know, and you’ll discover what you’re ready to learn.

7.  Presence

Simply being present is often the most valuable gift you can give.

8.  Abundance

Contribute to abundance: If you no longer need something, pass it on.

9.  Contribution

Give yourself time to consider what you most want to contribute to the world.

10.  Welcome

The right gifts are just as welcome in simple packages.

adapted from Body + Soul Magazine, 2009

Natural Chime Alarm Clocks and Timers

Now & Zen

1638 Pearl Steet

Boulder, CO  80302