Dear Friend,

Welcome

How was your weekend? What did you do? I had the great honor to facilitate a Mindfulness Painting Experience to an amazing group of women. They were participating in Elena Sonnino’s, Inhabit Your Joy Live Retreat.  It was spectacular. It was a gorgeous day in Lovettsville, VA. Twenty women experienced the magic of painting mindfully.

Movin’ – to – Groovin’

I was kind of a sedentary kid. The only exercise I got was walking to school and my ballet and tap dance classes. My mom, however, was all about moving. She was a dancer and loved to exercise. She was my original energizer bunny. I remember when my Nonnie was aging, my mom would always take her for walks. Mom’s mantra was, “If you can move, you can groove.” (As I’ve mentioned, my dad played tenor saxophone in the ‘30s, ‘40s & ‘50s. He was a hip guy with lots of slang in his vocab.  I probably said groovy before I said “mama.”)

I don’t know about you but when I’m feeling low, I don’t want to get off the couch. When I’m feeling low, I’m usually overwhelmed from stress, and not eating healthy meals. Fatigue is one of those symptoms that suggest anxiety and depression are getting the best of me. If I’m overwhelmed and feeling anxious, I’m usually in-my-head. I’m not living in my whole body.

Moving helps me to use my whole body. Or to be in a “groovier” state of mind, as my dad would say. Going for a walk or a yoga class gets me out of my head and out of my house to socialize. Moving is a healthy coping mechanism. I know it can be annoying. I sometimes get incensed that I must do all these self-care activities and eat healthy to maintain a healthy life. It can be hard and sometimes too much. It is so important that we prioritize ourselves.

Mental Health, Creativity & Movement

Studies show that moving your body is linked to greater outcome in the area of creativity. Moving our bodies and creativity are both linked to an elevated mood.  Authors are known to move their bodies when they get writer’s block. Dancers move their bodies in small, subtle ways to release the energy and become nimbler getting the body to move creatively. The more the body moves, the more our creativity emerges, and our moods rise like “feathers on the breath of God.”

Our systems for bringing the body and mind together are already in place, ready for us to move and free them to initiate the flow of creativity. When all our systems are in sync, we can live mentally healthy and creative lives.

Humans are such a unique species. We are born with everything we need to have an incredible life. But we don’t come with directions, other than “some assembly required.” Most people look for their directions, their “owner’s manual,” outside of themselves. You need to look inside yourself for your personal directions. That’s where they have always been. Your body and soul have the wisdom to tell you exactly what you need. If you are stuck with a life decision, go inside and ask your inner source what your options are. The answer will be there, and soon you’ll be groovin’.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog.

Be well. Be kind. Be forgiving. Be generous. Love with an open heart!

Love, Jody