Category: Uncategorized

Wednesday, October 21

Today is Wednesday, October 21, 2020.   Let’s start with an inspirational Quote from Mary Anne Radmacher “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.”

For the month of October, we set weekly reminders for Workout Wednesday.

The 1st two weeks covered planning ahead for how to maintain walking daily for 15 (or more) minutes -despite changing seasons and routines, and then, establishing a list and routines for interrupting sedentary time with physical activity to boost your health.  This week, we will focus on connecting your mind, your body and your sensory experiences using physical activity.

Find ways to combine pleasurable sensory experiences with physical movement for an extra brain and mood boost. Allow yourself to immerse yourself in these moments of joy. Examples:

    • Dance to great music. Bonus points if you move your arms and your hips and sing along freely.
    • Walk outside and feel the breeze, see the plants, the color of the sky and smell the outdoors. Bonus points if you take a picture to capture a moment on your walk.
    • Take a cool shower or submerge yourself into a pool after working up a sweat. Bonus points if you really notice the temperature and can gently move and let the water glide around you.
    • Bike and feel the sweat evaporating off your skin. Bonus points if you take time to stretch out your legs and back after your bike ride.
    • Listen to classical or jazz music while standing to cook. Bonus points if you slice, chop, mix, blend and stir everything by hand or exercise while you wait for food to cook.

Photo by: Amar Yashlaha

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am resilient and learning every day. I am part of the global community. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people. We are all connected. We can be resilient together.”

The Mindfulness Activity to practice this week to create Calm Moments:  

  • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
  • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
  • Allow yourself to breathe slowly and calmly, pausing after each breath in, and then pausing again after each breath out.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, October 19

Today is Monday, October 19, 2020. Walking by the pond, watching the ducks and geese communing, some seem more relaxed and happier than others.

For the month of October, we continue to share Mindful Monday with you.

Today, we recognize the value of teaching young children to meditate to help them with their thoughts and feelings so that they can better focus and learn, as well as relax, rest and play. Children can learn to meditate remarkably quickly using their imagination.

Tejal V. Patel teaches children to meditate with a suggestion to sit cross-legged and imagine putting on a jacket and zipping it up all the way up (straightens the spine). Imagine putting on sunglasses by making circles with thumb and forefinger on each hand and placing them over the eyes and looking far out. Then, take the “sunglasses” off and rest a “lens” on each knee. Follow with deep belly breaths, saying “aah” with every breath out.

Children can learn deep breathing by imagining they are slowly blowing up a balloon or gently blowing on candles to make the flame flicker slightly. They can learn to relax their muscles when they are laying down and seeing how long they can make their body, reaching arms up and toes really long, stretching longer and then releasing. Children can create characters to represent feelings. They can name them and visualize those characters and watch them on a boat or train to get perspective and see them float, glide or speed by.

An inspirational Quote from Prasad Mahes, “The mind is like water. When it is turbulent, it’s difficult to see. When it’s calm, everything becomes clear.”

Photo by: Yannis Papanastasopoulos

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am resilient and learning every day. I am part of the global community. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people. We are all connected. We can be resilient together.”

The Mindfulness Activity to practice this week to create Calm Moments:  

  • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
  • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
  • Allow yourself to breathe slowly and calmly, pausing after each breath in, and then pausing again after each breath out.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, October 16

Today is Friday, October 16, 2020. Smiles are the easiest facial expression to recognize and they are universally seen as signs of happiness. Across the world, in addition to smiles, laughter helps people connect and form social bonds.

For the month of October, we celebrate Fun & Friendly Fridays.

Virtual recipe share. Pick a theme or cuisine and schedule a virtual healthy meal with some friends or family you haven’t seen in a while. Have a virtual gathering to smile, laugh, cook and eat healthy together. Experimenting with a new recipe or using a favorite recipe is a bonus. Share your recipes from the gathering.

A Quote from Armand Dimele. “When people go within and connect with themselves, they realize they are connected to the universe and they are connected to all living things.”

Photo by Jonathan Daniels

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am resilient and learning every day. I am part of the global community. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people. We are all connected. We can be resilient together.”

The Mindfulness Activity to practice this week to create Calm Moments:  

  • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
  • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
  • Allow yourself to be curious, what sensations do you notice: is the air warm, are the shoulders relaxed? If your mind wanders away from your focus on breathing it is OK, simply note that and then return to your breaths.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Wednesday, October 14

Today is Wednesday, October 14, 2020. The human body has approximately 640 muscles and 206 bones in an adult. Humans are designed to move.

For the month of October, we share Workout Wednesday.

If you find yourself sitting for much of the day, now is a good time to start creating your list of physical activities you can do that interrupt your seated time to boost your health. Keep the list on your desk, or on the wall so you can see it regularly as a reminder. Pick at least 1 or 2 to include every day. Here are 10 examples to get you started. Keep adding to your list.

    1. Stand up every hour and at every commercial or break. Every time you stand up and sit down, you are squatting.
    2. Every time you pick up your mobile phone, get up. If you talk on the phone, then walk or pace.
    3. In the middle of a long stretch of work, when your mind is losing focus, reset with wall push-ups or push-ups on the floor.
    4. When you grab a tightly sealed water bottle, before opening it, use it to work your arms by holding the bottle and bending your elbows or shoulders in ways that cause you to lift or push the bottle. Do the same number of repetitions on each side.
    5. If you have been at your computer for a prolonged period, get up and walk to a window, roll your shoulders back, palms out, raise your chin and gaze outside.
    6. Use a smaller cup so you have to stand up and walk over multiple times to grab a refill.
    7. Walk to the farthest bathroom or use the one up the stairs.
    8. Before you sit down, bend forward and reach for your toes, stretching out the back of your legs and lower back. Slowly curl back up.
    9. If you have been staring at a screen for a prolonged time, rotate your head side to side slowly and then bring your chin up and down gently.
    10. Stretch out your back by curling your neck and back forward and then open your chest by rolling your shoulders back, and elongate your neck and back.

An inspirational Quote from Jerry Rice, “Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.”

Photo by: Mary Deziel, Winterberry in Fall

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am resilient and learning every day. I am part of the global community. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people. We are all connected. We can be resilient together.”

The Mindfulness Activity to practice this week to create Calm Moments:  

  • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
  • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
  • Allow yourself to be curious, what sensations do you notice: is the air warm, are the shoulders relaxed? If your mind wanders away from your focus on breathing it is OK, simply note that and then return to your breaths.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, October 12

Today is Monday, October 12, 2020. The average elephant can hear sounds from 2.5 miles away, an extremely healthy elephant can hear sounds from 6 miles away.

For the month of October, together, we allow Mindful Monday.

This week we invite you to practice Mindfulness through Transformational Listening.  After you have engaged in this type of listening, notice if were you able to recognize any difference in the flow of the conversation?  How did the speaker respond to you?  How did you feel?

    • During a conversation engage in listening without an agenda.
    • Give the Speaker your undivided attention- set aside thoughts about what you’re going to say while they are talking and just focus on the Speaker. Be present and listen fully.

An inspirational Quote from Dalai Lama “When you talk you are repeating what you know.  But if you listen, you may learn something new.”

Photo by: Archie Fantom

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am resilient and learning every day. I am part of the global community. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people. We are all connected. We can be resilient together.”

The Mindfulness Activity to practice this week to create Calm Moments:  

  • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
  • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
  • Allow yourself to be curious, what sensations do you notice: is the air warm, are the shoulders relaxed? If your mind wanders away from your focus on breathing it is OK, simply note that and then return to your breaths.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, October 9

Today is Friday, October 9, 2020. Elephants hug each other and offer hugs to other species including humans, especially in tough times. Showing compassion and love connect living beings.  

For the month of October, we celebrate Fun & Friendly Fridays.

Reach out and connect with a group of people or a person you may not have seen in a while. They may live far away or your paths just may not have crossed in some time. Schedule a time to connect virtually. Some ideas: a cooking meet up, book club discussion or a walk & talk hangout. Whenever possible, it is nice to share video so you can see each other smile.

An inspirational Quote from Rachel Naomi Remen.

“The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention…A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.”

Photo by: Keyur Nandaniya

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am resilient and learning every day. I am part of the global community. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people. We are all connected. We can be resilient together.”

The Mindfulness Activity to practice this week to create Calm Moments:  

    • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.    
    • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.   
    • Focus on progressive relaxation by tightening and then loosening your muscles starting from you toes, working your way to the top of your head.
    • Take additional deep breaths and release your muscles further.
    • This can take as much or as little time as you choose.
    • Smile a huge smile to release your jaw and mouth muscles and continue on with your day or night, refreshed.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

 

Wednesday, October 7

Today is Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Exercise improves sleep, brain performance and memory, and limits signs of aging. The list of benefits is long.

For the month of October, we invite you to our first Workout Wednesday.

If you are already walking at least 15 minutes daily, keep that going and consider increasing the intensity of the walk by increasing time spent walking or by swinging your arms more or by taking longer striders or even adding hills or stairs to your walk.

*If you are not yet walking 15 minutes daily, you can choose to work towards it. You may also choose a different equivalent activity like swimming, dancing, biking, marching in place, etc.

Now, consider the changing seasons ahead. Write out, as many options as possible, about how you will include at least one 15 minute walk (or equivalent*) -every day- despite the weather changes, unexpected events, celebrations, holidays and schedule changes.

Put that list somewhere you can review it easily to remind you in those times you need it most. ***Make it easy to include 15 minutes of movement daily, within your life and with what may be happening around you.***

An inspirational Quote from Thich Nhat Hanh, “When it comes to health and well-being, regular exercise is about as close to a magic potion as you can get.”

Photo by: Tunchanoke Moontrisri

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am resilient and learning every day. I am part of the global community. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people. We are all connected. We can be resilient together.”

The Mindfulness Activity to practice this week to create Calm Moments:  

    • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
    • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
    • Focus on progressive relaxation by tightening and then loosening your muscles starting from your toes, working your way to the top of your head.
    • Take additional deep breaths and release your muscles further.
    • This can take as much or as little time as you choose.
    • Smile a huge smile to release your jaw and mouth muscles and continue on with your day or night, refreshed.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, October 5

Today is Monday, October 5, 2020. Earth and Mars have differences in atmospheres. Therefore, during the day, the sky on Mars appears reddish-orange and turns blue-gray at sunset.

For the month of October, we invite you to our first Mindful Monday.

Pause and create a mindful moment. Notice where you are right now. The state of being present, means you are experiencing this moment. Observe and be present with yourself. Practice taking moments throughout the day to bring yourself back to these mindful moments to observe and be present with yourself. Do you see any patterns? You may choose to share observations with a trusted person in your life.

An inspirational Quote from Pema Chodron. “You are the sky. Everything else is just the weather.”

Photo by: Gabor Koszegi

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am resilient and learning every day. I am part of the global community. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people. We are all connected. We can be resilient together.”

The Mindfulness Activity to practice this week to create Calm Moments:  

    • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
    • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
    • Focus on progressive relaxation by tightening and then loosening your muscles starting from you toes, working your way to the top of your head.
    • Take additional deep breaths and release your muscles further.
    • Take as much or as little time as you choose.
    • Smile a huge smile to release your jaw and mouth muscles and continue on with your day or night, refreshed.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, October 2

Today is Friday, October 2, 2020.  Fridays are for family, friends and fun.

For the month of October, we invite you to our first Fun & Friendly Fridays.

Take a moment to reach out to (at least) one friend and send a warm note or set up a time to connect. Letting someone know you are thinking of them creates positive energy that is welcome and often just what is needed at the end of the week.

An inspirational Quote from Audrey Hepburn. “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

Photo by: Hudson Hintze

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am resilient and learning every day. I am part of the global community. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people. We are all connected. We can be resilient together.”

The Mindfulness Activity to practice this week to create Calm Moments:  

    • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
    • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
    • Now reach up as high as possible and then bend forward as if folding in half, knees soft or bent. Release your shoulders and take 3 cleansing breaths.
    • Roll up gently, keeping shoulders loose.
    • Look ahead and smile.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Wednesday, September 30

Today is Wednesday, September 30, 2020.  Birthdays are special. They are personal and also shared by many. They remind us of the number of years we have been creating connections to the people and world around us.

An inspirational Quote from J.K. Rowling: “We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”

Photo by: Jordan Wozniak

During Self-Care September, we offered prompts to energize your self-care routine. We invite you to continue to explore new activities to invigorate, your mind, body and spirit, especially in those times when it seems less important.

Self-Care Activity: Write in your calendar, or choose certain days of the week, that you will schedule a reminder to incorporate a self-care activity.

It may be something that you know recharges you, or it may be a reminder to try something new that boosts your mood.

Whatever it is, when that scheduled time comes up, it encourages a reflective pause in your routines, and provides space for you to have the freedom to choose how you will spend that time.

When you choose to engage in a self-care activity as planned, you may find some other areas of your life get better too.

Recharge yourself when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am resilient and learning every day. I am part of the global community. I love myself because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness out to all people. We are all connected. We can be resilient together.”

The Mindfulness Activity to practice this week to create Calm Moments:  

    • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
    • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
    • Begin your self-talk.
      1. Say to yourself, “I can step back.” See yourself step back in your mind.
      2. “I can clear my head.” Visualize a clean sweep of your head.
      3. “My body can calm.” Release your neck shoulders.
      4. “I can release.” Take a belly breath and full breath out.
      5. Smile.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP