It’s been a while since I posted so I thought I should write a quick note. It’s been an amazing year, and I’ve learned so much! I feel great! It is nice to get into a routine, and start new habits that stick.

It’s easy to do when life is comfortably rolling along the way that you’ve become accustomed to. The challenge I’ve found, is what happens at the bump in the road: when you’re dealing with a lengthy illness in the family, a new job, the end of a school term, a sudden and unexpected move, or all of the above (check).

So it is that I find myself surrounded by boxes piled to the ceiling in preparation for our move in three days. Even packing has been challenging, between field trips and classes with the children, and everything else that has been going on. I thought that I’ve been handling everything very peacefully, until I had a fainting episode this past weekend. I guess my body was feeling the stress despite my emotional calmness.

It is a real blessing to have a strong body in times of stress. Am I keeping up with all my healthy habits? Honestly, I have skipped some days, knowing that it is temporary, and I will get back to it. After all, I am working on my strength lifting boxes around…

Yesterday, I found myself doing my yoga routine without the DVD. I was surprised that I could remember the routine, for the most part, and it was a new and pleasant experience to do it in silence, at my own pace, without the voices of the instructors in the background.

So I apologize for the shortage of posts while I am getting our active lives moved and organized again. I’ll be back (says she dramatically)…

It’s time for week 10 of the Simple Steps program. Each week the program introduces 4 new habits, one each for nutrition, fitness, home and self. The trick is that they accumulate, so obviously, you have to keep doing the ones from the previous weeks. This week’s habits are:

1. Plan meals ahead and set up an efficient grocery shopping system.

An efficient grocery shopping system saves us time, money, and helps us diversify our meals and eat healthier. Sit down and plan your menu before you do the weekly shopping trip. Taking a half hour to do this step can save lost of stress throughout the week. Start with a clean pantry, and do a quick check before you go to see what needs to be replaced. Keep a list of favorite recipes and weekly menus on your computer. As soon as you get home from your grocery shopping, immediately take time to clean, cut and prepare food items. Fruits and vegetables can be washed and put in see through snack containers in the fridge, ready to grab for work, school or a quick snack. Meat should have the fat cut off and be placed in freezer bags with the date on it.

2. Extend your daily walk from twenty to thirty minutes.

Now that our bodies are used to the brisk 20 minute daily walk, we can up the challenge. If time is an issue, try splitting it into two 15 minute walks. Explore new places. Go with a friend or family member and have a stimulating conversation while you are getting healthy together.

3. Create an inviting entry way to your home.

The entry of our home is a direct reflection of our entire home. An entry is a guest’s first impression, and our first impression when we come home, so it is worth the effort to make it beautiful, peaceful and inviting.

4. Create your own treasure map of life’s goals.

Start by drawing up a list of your dreams and personal goals. There is magic in writing it down! Then collect pictures and phrases that match your goals (using old magazines or any supplies you have on hand) and create a poster board treasure map. You can divide it into different areas (financial, fitness, career) or simply arrange everything around photo of yourself or something that has meaning to you. Decorate the map with motivational phrases and pretty pictures. Put your map somewhere that you can look at it every day. As you achieve your goals, and create new ones, update your map. You can even scan it into your computer and use it as a screen saver!

At our house, one of our loved ones is fighting a particularly nasty virus this season. I notice that the oils that I prepare have eased some of the symptoms. Here is a new recipe to try:

This blend can be used to clean floors and surfaces, and disinfect and clean doorknobs, toys, and every nook and cranny.

3 drops Eucalyptus
4 drops Lavender
7 drops Lemon
2 drops Rosemary
2 drops Tea Tree

Mix all oils together. Add 8 drops of the blend to 1 quart of water. You are cleaning your house & fighting colds in one spritz!

Thanks to simple steps, I’ve resumed my daily yoga practice with my ashtanga DVD, which I previously reviewed here. Sometimes when I’ve been away from it for awhile, I notice my legs ache when I first get back to it. This time it feels really comfortable; probably because of my daily weights and walking. For me, having a daily practice boils down to making the decision to do so. There are many reasons to skip a day, many excuses and other priorities, but once I have decided to make it a part of my day, it works for me.

I’m enjoying the standing poses. Practice is never boring, always fluid. There are so many things to focus on and challenge me; breathing, posture, alignment, lengthening, relaxing… My entire body feels strong, particularly the legs. As Mark keeps reminding throughout the DVD, “The strength of this posture is in the legs.”

“The standing poses are invigorating. They refresh the body and mind by removing tension, aches, and pains. They stimulate digestion, regulate the kidneys, and relieve constipation. They improve circulation and breathing. The back, hips, knees, neck and shoulders all gain strength and mobility through practice. The standing poses also teach the principles of correct movement. This is fundamental for the postures and also in everyday life, where they develop awareness of the right way to sit, stand, and walk.”

Ref: Yoga the Iyengar Way by Silva, Mira & Shyam Mehta

It’s time for week 6 of the Simple Steps program. Each week (well, actually I’ve taken a little extra time to incorporate some of the steps) the program introduces 4 new habits, one each for nutrition, fitness, home and self. The trick is that they accumulate, so obviously, you have to keep doing the ones from the previous weeks. This week’s habits are:

1. Find healthy alternatives to processed carbohydrates
This sounds complicated, but it just involves simplifying. Instead of boxed, canned, packaged dinners, buy more whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes. When you’re buying pasta, rice, cereal, or bread, choose whole grain varieties. This makes it easier to get the daily dietary fiber we need, helps us look and feel better and gives us more energy.

2 . Do a few minutes of crunches every day.
Crunches are not a full sit up, just raising head and shoulders off the ground. Remember to breathe, and keep your head and neck relaxed. There are many different techniques so find one that you are comfortable with.

3. Clean out your car.
A clean car is a reflection of the driver, a wise investment, and gives us a sense of control and power. Keep the things that you need in the car organized (maps, cds etc.), and emergency tools in the trunk. Once your car is clean, pick one day a week to maintain it.

4. Update your look and your closet.
Most of us have lots of clothes in our closets that we never wear. Give away the clothes that don’t fit, or that you don’t like any more. Once your closet is cleaned out, you can see what you actually have, and then refill it if necessary with new clothes that really fit you, look fabulous and help you feel good about yourself

Children’s Cold Cure:

10 drops Eucalyptus

10 drops Lavender

10 drops Tea Tree

Mix together. Use in any of the following ways:

• Put 3 drops in a diffuser.
• Put 2 drops on a piece of cotton and slip inside child’s pillowcase.
• Put 2 drops in a bath. The steam will clear nasal passages, and the mixture will also calm child to help rest.
• Add 3 drops to 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil, and massage into chest and back.

Ref: Seasons of Aromatherapy