Tag: movement

Friday, June 17

Today is Friday, June 17, 2022.  Tapping into the excitement of a Friday.

A quote by Albert Einstein, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”

Photo by Dan Deziel

Finding Joy in June.  As we start the second half of the year let’s focus on ways we can find joy.

Move joyfully!

    • Put on your favorite music and dance!
    • Take a walk or ride with a partner, friend, family member.
    • Engage in an invigorating exercise class.
    • Hike or bike with a group.
    • Engage in a water sport on a sunny day.
    • Work in the Community Garden or on a farm.
    • Train for a charity walk/run/bike event.
    • Build or paint something large that requires physical movement.
    • Go horseback riding.
    • Explore the outdoors with your dog.
    • Swim laps meditatively.

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind whenever you need a moment to reset – while waiting, before, after, or to transition between activities:

    • 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.
    • Choose a centering word that is neutral to you and simple. You might choose “now” or “joy” or “peace.”
      • As you exhale, say your chosen word. Focus on the vibration of the word as you hear it. Repeat.
      • As you exhale and say your word, imagine dropping a smooth pebble in clear water and watch it settle gently on the bottom, relaxed and comfortable.
      • Finally, as you continue your deep belly breaths, notice that the ripples on the water are gently gliding out. Repeat your word on every exhale until the ripples have settled.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

“I am [*Name*]. I can do this. As I connect to my inner self, I am open to the Happiness and positive energy around me. I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. Together, we can do great things.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, July 26

Today is Monday, July 26, 2021.  Surrounded by peace, joy, and beauty, fueling the soul.

July marks the start of the second half of the year and a time to remember you can add sparkle to your days. This week, we focus on opportunities to add sparkle to our self-care routine.  Consider ways to add sparkle to your movement.

    • Do short intervals of increased pace on your walk, run, row…
    • Make a new playlist with different tempo.
    • Try a new warm up or cool down routine.
    • Add some lemon, lime, or cucumber to your hydration routine.

Photo by: Jeremy Zero

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat: 

“I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. I appreciate myself and others as I connect with love and kindness. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Beyoncé, “Be heathy and take care of yourself, but be happy with the beautiful things that make you you.”

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind:  

  • 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.
  • While sitting outside choose an object to focus on: notice what colors you see, what sounds you hear, what fragrance you smell. Smile with appreciation for all the splendors.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, May 21

Today is Friday, May 21, 2021. Noticing where there is abundance. So much to appreciate.

During the month of May, we are focusing on routines.  Routines can anchor us, decrease stress, foster creativity, prioritize self-care, and allow time to pursue our passions!  This week we look at routines to boost you during your active hours, when you are working or studying or practicing.

To thrive, it helps to have routines to interrupt sedentariness throughout the day. 

        • Before you pick up the phone or device, if you are seated, stand up and stretch up and lift your chin up and lower your shoulders before you sit back down.
        • Amplify a short break by stepping outside, taking a walk or even just looking out the window at the sky while taking deep belly breaths feeling the air move in and out of your body.
        • When you are transitioning from one virtual meeting or class to another, get up from your chair and step out of the room, shake out your arms and legs, stretch and return to start the next thing.
        • See if you can have walking meetings or take the phone call while standing and pacing.
        • Every time you stand up, do a wall push up or two.

Photo by Ja Ma

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat: 

“I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. I appreciate myself and others as I connect with love and kindness. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Wayne Dyer, “Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.”

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind:  

    • 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.
    • Cross your arms across your chest, hands on opposite shoulders, giving yourself a big hug.
    • While still holding your shoulders, bring your chin to your chest and let gravity pull down on your elbows and release the back of your shoulders into a gentle stretch.
    • Release your arms, uncurl, roll your shoulders back, open your palms out. Bring your chin up and smile.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, April 16

Today is Friday, April 16, 2021. Another weekend to refresh. Energized by all the new greenery.

Ascending through April. Personal growth can be fun, consider learning or incorporating a new hobby:

    • Gardening
    • Photography
    • Cooking
    • Kite flying
    • Riding a bike
    • Scrapbooking
    • Writing poetry
    • Woodworking
    • Music immersion

Photo by: Agnieszka Ziomek

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat: 

“I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. I appreciate myself and others as I connect with love and kindness. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Robin Sharma. “The swiftest way to triple your success is to double your investment in personal development.”

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind:  

    • 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.
    • Breathe in and out deeply, calm your mind and say, “Calm mind.”
    • Breathe in and out deeply, let tension flow out your arms and say, “Peaceful body.”
    • Breathe in and out deeply, radiate kindness and say, “Kind heart.”
    • Smile and go forward.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Wednesday, April 14

Today is Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Midweek pause, listening to the loud ducks, appreciating the bright spring flowers. Aah.

Ascending through April. Schedule time for self-reflection, to raise personal awareness and connect with yourself, a Refresh.

Practice Self Reflection and Refresh through journaling.  Consider the following prompts.

    • What went well today, what didn’t go well today?
    • What negative mindsets can I let go of?
    • What are my strengths for achieving my dreams?

Photo by: Fran Lee

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat: 

“I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. I appreciate myself and others as I connect with love and kindness. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Thich Nhat Hanh, ”Choose to be in touch with what is wonderful, refreshing, and healing within yourself and around you.”

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind:  

    • 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.   
    • Breathe in and out deeply, calm your mind and say, “Calm mind.”
    • Breathe in and out deeply, let tension flow out your arms and say, “Peaceful body.”
    • Breathe in and out deeply, radiate kindness and say, “Kind heart.”
    • Smile and go forward.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, April 12

Today is Monday, April 12, 2021. Wondering whether to drink tea or coffee. Starting the week with an open heart and open mind.

Ascending through April. Practicing Creative Visualization to move towards your dreams and aspirations and goals.

Creative Visualization

    • Choose your aspiration or goal, maybe you want to win a running race, a job promotion, a new garden.
    • Create a clear picture in your mind—see yourself winning the race, see yourself reading the job offer, see yourself feeling happy after achieving your goal.
    • Focus on it regularly—think about your aspiration often, in a loving and compassionate manner, avoiding judgement.
    • Send it positive energy.

Photo by: Fran Lee

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat: 

“I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. I appreciate myself and others as I connect with love and kindness. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Buddha. “Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind:  

    • 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.
    • Breathe in and out deeply, calm your mind and say, “Calm mind.”
    • Breathe in and out deeply, let tension flow out your arms and say, “Peaceful body.”
    • Breathe in and out deeply, radiate kindness and say, “Kind heart.”
    • Smile and go forward.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, April 9

Today is Friday, April 9, 2021. The trees are filled with budding leaves waiting to bloom. Some have flowers.

Ascending through April. Practicing Meditation to raise awareness and connect with those around us and the environment.

    • Explore a Focus Meditation.
    • Select an object to focus on perhaps a flower, a vase, a candle, a crack in the sidewalk.
    • Pay attention to all the details: fine lines, sounds, scents, textures.

Photo by: Fran Lee

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat: 

“I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. I appreciate myself and others as I connect with love and kindness. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Eric Butterworth, “Don’t go through life, grow through life.”

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind:  

    • 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.
    • Experience Box Breathing
        • Inhale for the count of 4.
        • Hold your breath for the count of 4.
        • Exhale for the count of 4.
        • Hold your breath for the count of 4.
        • Repeat

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Wednesday, April 7

Today is Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Old and new plants combine to create beauty for others.

Ascending through April. Practicing Meditation to raise awareness and connect with those around us and the environment.

    • Allow time to listen to music without words. Pick a new artist or genre, choose a classic or something new, or a known favorite.
    • Listen to all the instruments, tones, tempo and how they affect you.
    • Make a note of what brings out the feelings you enjoy.

Photo by: Artur D.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat: 

“I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. I appreciate myself and others as I connect with love and kindness. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Denzel Washington, “Success? I don’t know what that word means. I’m happy. But success, that goes back to what in somebody’s eyes success means. For me, success is inner peace. That’s a good day for me.”

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind:  

    • 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.
    • Experience Box Breathing
        • Inhale for the count of 4.
        • Hold your breath for the count of 4.
        • Exhale for the count of 4.
        • Hold your breath for the count of 4.
        • Repeat

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, April 5

Today is Monday, April 5, 2021. Every morning, seeing new flowers in bloom, ducks so happy and sprouts are emerging.

Ascending through April. Practicing Meditation to raise awareness and connect with those around us and the environment. 

    • Find a rhythmic activity you like, like walking, jogging, swimming, knitting, rocking, belly breathing, and do it.
    • Notice the thoughts that come up and flow through your mind during the activity.
    • See where your mind goes and allow yourself to just be an observer.
    • At the end of the activity, you may want to jot down some notes about what you learned.

Photo by: Jodie Righos

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat: 

“I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. I appreciate myself and others as I connect with love and kindness. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Eckhart Tolle, “Wherever you are, be there totally.”

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind:  

    • 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.   
    • Experience Box Breathing
        • Inhale for the count of 4.
        • Hold your breath for the count of 4.
        • Exhale for the count of 4.
        • Hold your breath for the count of 4.
        • Repeat

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

 

Friday, April 2

Today is Friday, April 2, 2021. Mornings get more beautiful with appreciation for the present and hope for the future.

Ascending through April. We keep leveling up. Transitions can move us forward. There are constant reminders in nature with seasonal transitions.

    • Knowing things change, consider who or what you want to recognize and appreciate right now.
    • What’s wonderful? Beautiful? A blessing?
    • Allow that feeling of appreciation, gratitude, love, joy, awe – all of it- flow freely.
    • You may choose to share that positive energy with someone else and expand it.

Photo by: Maarten Deckers

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat: 

“I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. I appreciate myself and others as I connect with love and kindness. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. We share our humaneness. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote by Bernice Johnson Reagon, “Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.”

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind:  

    • 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, shrug your shoulders up and down multiple times and let your arms dangle.
    • Shake out or jiggle your legs.
    • Reach your arms overhead and stretch up and out.
    • Gently bring your chin down and to each side, smile the largest smile ever, and allow yourself to be re-energized.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP