Workbook Post 2

…Sorry about missing yesterday! It was a busy day with creating the second bonus gift for the Collaboration series, hosting my radio show, and then prepping, packing, and driving to Cape May, NJ. Once I got here I had to unpack, eat, and then go to the market to get some things for this weekends meals. Needless to say, after I made my hard boiled eggs for the week it was 9:45 pm at night. So here we are… the next day….

…The blogging continues with my online journal. So I am doing the workbook along with the Collaboration series. Well, sort of along with it- I am a bit behind, but it’s my blog, aright? So the next speaker we had was a lovely and gentle woman from Hawaii! How cool!! Our farthest speaker of the series. When she was speaking to me at 7:30 it was… what- 1:30? Wow. How fun! And what a great presentation it was… so soothing and relaxed… sort of prepared me to float off to sleep for the night!…

…So Tuesday, the first day of the series, for the night workshop was done by Bessie Estonactoc, a beautiful coach and wise woman. She shared with us on the topic of mindfulness and breath work. She led us in multiple guided imageries and mindful breathing exercises. It was so lovely. So now I am going to look to her reflection questions and journal some on my own experience. I encourage you to pull out your own journal and work along with me!…

• What are the most stressful areas in your life?  Hmmm… I like to think I am living a balnaced and healthy lifestyle free of stress. I guess that would be a fairy tale as there is stress all around us. But I do believe that some stressors are opportunities. Some move us forward through change. So while sometimes my work can be stressful (although so far, knock on wood, it rarely is)… it is something that helps me be creative and grow while learning. I guess the biggest thing I create stress around is money- which is not necessary since I have plenty of it. I am happy with where I am at. I am comfortable. I live well. Why do I stress about it? I am working on changing that so it is no longer a stressor. My husband stresses me at times… mainly because sometimes he is just so nagging, nit-picky, and silly. Maybe instead of getting stressed I can just ignore him or laugh it off. We will see…
• What are the four mindfulness strategies Bessie’s shares in her workshop? Yikes!! I did not take notes. I was so relaxed and calm that I did not write things down. I know that we did some breath work. We also focused on the heart and felt love. Bessie read us a beautiful poem about the breath and mindfulness. I guess I will have to go back and listen to the recording again!… which is fine. I like to do that. When I do a workshop or take a class, if it is recorded, I like going back and listening again. You always hear something new or different when you experience it in that way. And if you have not received recordings or signed up for the series you can still do so! It is really inexpensive and easy to do. Just check it out by clicking here.
• How do I envision Bessie’s techniques improving my life and my health?  Well… I bet that using the techniques around love, unconditional love, can help me to accept and embrace my husband even when I do not feel like hearing his jokes or comments. I can remind myself to breathe in and out love and just let the frustration or irritation melt away. This can then help my health because when I have less anger or stress my head will feel better, my pulse will beat slower, and my breath will be fuller. I can see that by using my breath more I will be more relaxed and healthy in so many ways!

…I feel more relaxed and calm even by reading over Bessie’s journal questions and doing the exercises. I found her spirit to be so sweet and kind. She really is a gentle being. We all enjoyed her workshop so much and I know others felt as relaxed as I did as we signed off of the call…

How about you? What stressors do you have? How can you use mindful breath work to stress less? How would your health benefit if you were able to use these techniques in your own life?