By: Andrea Gray
LADIES TRANSFORMATION OF BODY AND MIND
Y
ou are Beautiful! Welcome Lovely Ladies into my version of Transformation of Body and Mind. I seek to convey my feelings, experience, and view in order to help you to open up your eyes and be grateful for the all that you are - all the likes and dislikes alike. And, even gracefully accept those things that you cannot change as a part of your unique being – and find the power to enhance and strengthen things that can be made stronger, inside and out. I think it’s essential to begin with a healthy balance of the Mind for peace and clarity. This comes from several different body and mind exercises on a daily basis. Take a look at only the moment that lives before you - the moment of “Now,” for that’s all that you have. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, and therefore in order to truly be alive and “living” is only about the moment. Cherish it and all situations that unfold moment by moment; lay it out before you as if it’s a fine piece of art. Look for the beauty in it, the color, the texture, and the message. Every moment in life is to be cherished as a gift. If we look at life in this way, it gives us depth and meaning. It’s truly about the journey within our own lives, moment by moment, mile by mile. It’s not the destination that we should focus on. Sure, keep it in mind, however if you only focus on that place of destination, then you surely will have missed so much along the stretch of miles you have traveled on this journey in life.
For example, this day I had planned on taking my kayak out to a river to get away and enjoy the beauty, relax, exercise, and discover something new. In the past, I may have been not only disappointed, but perhaps mad and most likely; I may have let the rainy conditions totally ruin my day. It wasn’t what had happened. It was the mindset, the choice of reaction, the mind’s perception that I chose to look at the situation in a different way. Do I have to remind you how precious and short life is? How do you know, this may just be your last day on this earth, therefore make it what you can. I myself chose to catch up on some things around the house stopping occasionally to look out my window at the amazing lush green foliage which surrounds the perimeter of my property, taking time to listen to the beautiful sounds of the birds singing. I’m even thinking of taking a nice walk on a nearby trail along the lake shoreline if there is even a small break in the weather on this rainy day. If not, I might just do some yoga here in my own home or take a little trip to the yoga center. Not long after my thoughts of “what’s next,” the weather broke and I took the walk along the lake shoreline near my home. As I walked, I reviewed my knowledge about resistance. Resistance is so important in so many ways. We utilize natural resistance in order to strengthen our body, mind and spirit. It’s a natural tool to help to balance and align ourselves. Not only does it strengthen the body, as a result strengthening the mind, and then often
the spirit is in harmony with the two. Our trials and tribulations “the resistance” in our lives naturally strengthens the spirit. You’re pushed and pulled, often times we have to stay in place-holding tight, holding and pushing, day in and day out, through sweat and tears of our hardships in life. You may even feel as if you’ll collapse, but then before we know it we have made it beyond that weight upon us, and we are stronger in spirit, stronger in mind. Like the old saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” When you are strong in spirit and mind, then we have the power to strengthen the body. Our “being” is not separate; we are a multi-faceted creation. Unity and balance is key. Exercise with your natural resistance in nature. As I was walking in the forest and was exercising in a playful manner, it was like being as a child being in the moment, being alone. That’s easy to do as a child, but as we grow older we feel as if we have to have someone with us. As for myself, I love company, but I love being alone too. When I am in nature and walking alone I am alone with my thoughts and creation, helping to enlighten me and enhance my own creativity within. Often we consume ourselves with situations going on in our personal lives and worry simply cannot help the