True Nature Travels Blog

Holiday Harmony: Embracing Sustainability During Festive Seasons

Holidays are a time of joy, giving, and unfortunately, a lot of waste. Practicing sustainability over the holidays is crucial due to the significant environmental impact this season can have. The holidays are traditionally a time of excess – over-indulgence in food leading to waste, excessive energy consumption for lighting and heating, and the generation of vast amounts of waste from gift wrapping and packaging. By choosing to be mindful and adopt sustainable practices, we can significantly reduce this environmental footprint. Moreover, the festive season, being a time when families come together, provides an excellent opportunity to educate others and inspire them to adopt eco-friendly habits. By promoting sustainability during the holidays, we not only protect our environment but also set a precedent for future generations to celebrate responsibly and mindfully. Remember, the best gift we can give to our planet is a commitment to its preservation.

With a bit of planning, we can change our habits to create more sustainable celebrations. Here are a few eco-friendly holiday tips:

  1. Gift Green: Consider giving experiences rather than material gifts. A class, a concert, or a trip to a national park can create memories without generating waste. If you prefer giving physical presents, opt for sustainably-made products, or better still, make your own gifts.
  2. Wrap Wisely: Each year, the amount of wrapping paper used in the holidays could circle the globe multiple times. Use eco-friendly alternatives like reusable fabric wraps, old newspapers, or children’s artwork.
  3. Feast Sustainably: Plan your festive meals carefully to avoid food waste. Buy locally grown, organic produce where possible, and compost any food scraps.
  4. Decorate Naturally: Avoid plastic decorations and instead opt for natural alternatives. Pinecones, holly, and homemade ornaments can provide a charming and eco-friendly aesthetic.
  5. Light Mindfully: Save energy by using LED holiday lights, which use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs. And remember to turn off the lights before going to bed or when you leave the house.

Let’s make every holiday a celebration of our commitment to sustainability, cherishing the planet that we call home just as much as we cherish our loved ones. Happy eco-friendly holidays!

True Nature Travels Blog

Gratitude: Your Travel Companion for International Yoga Retreats

Gratitude is not just an emotion; it’s a practice that deepens our yoga journey, especially when traveling internationally for yoga retreats. Engaging in a consistent gratitude practice can enhance your retreat experience by fostering a positive mindset and a sense of connection with your surroundings.

Benefits of Gratitude

For the Body

Gratitude has a profound impact on the body. Research shows that people who regularly practice gratitude have lower blood pressure, improved immunity, and are less bothered by aches and pains. Expressing gratitude can also improve your sleep, leading to better overall physical health – a benefit that can greatly enhance your yoga practice.

For the Mind

On a psychological level, gratitude can increase happiness and reduce depression. It encourages positivity and reduces toxic emotions, such as envy and resentment. Practicing gratitude can increase your resilience, helping you to overcome stress and bounce back from adversity – essential skills for any yoga practitioner.

In conclusion, practicing gratitude during your international yoga retreat can enrich your overall experience. It allows you to be fully present, engage meaningfully with your practice and the world around you, and reap the physical and mental benefits that gratitude provides.

Why Practice Gratitude When You Travel

Traveling opens up new horizons, experiences, and perspectives. Practicing gratitude during your travels can amplify these benefits. It helps you appreciate the beauty, diversity, and uniqueness of each place you visit, fostering a deeper connection with the culture, people, and environment. Expressed thankfulness for the opportunity to travel and experience different cultures can lead to more fulfilling and enriching experiences. It can transform ordinary moments into extraordinary ones, as you become more mindful and savor every moment. Moreover, gratitude while traveling can make you a more responsible and respectful tourist, creating a positive impact on the places and people you encounter. In essence, practicing gratitude can turn every journey into a more meaningful, rewarding, and memorable adventure.

Ways to Practice Gratitude When Traveling

Practicing gratitude while traveling can take various forms, personalized according to your own preferences. Here are a few suggestions:

  1. Keep a Gratitude Journal: Every day, take a few moments to jot down what you’re grateful for. It could be a beautiful sunset, a kind stranger, or a delicious meal. This practice allows you to acknowledge and appreciate the small moments of joy and beauty in your travels.
  2. Mindful Photography: Capture the moments that spark joy or awe. It could be a landscape, a street view, or a unique cultural experience. Photography can be a form of gratitude, allowing you to appreciate the beauty around you and preserve it as a memory.
  3. Say Thank You: Express your gratitude verbally to the people you meet. Thank the hotel staff, the tour guide, the local vendors. Not only is it a kind gesture, but it also fosters positive interactions.
  4. Gratitude Meditation: Dedicate a few minutes each day to meditate on gratitude. Reflect on the experiences and people you’ve encountered during your travels, and allow feelings of thankfulness to fill you.
  5. Support Local Communities: Show your gratitude by giving back to the places you visit. It could be through purchasing local products, contributing to community projects, or respecting local customs and traditions.

Remember, the key to practicing gratitude is to be genuine and mindful. It’s about appreciating the journey, not just the destination. The more you practice, the more it becomes a part of your travel routine, enhancing every experience and making each trip truly unforgettable.

True Nature Travels Blog

Yoga Therapy vs Yoga

Have you heard of this thing called, yoga therapy? Maybe thought to yourself…isn’t all yoga therapeutic? To that I say YES! And yet…there is a distinction to be made about the differences between yoga and yoga therapy. There are less than 4,000 of us certified yoga therapists on the planet, so if you are unfamiliar…you are not alone.

Definition of Yoga Therapy

“Yoga therapy is the professional application of the principles and practices of yoga to promote health and well-being within a  therapeutic relationship that includes personalized assessment, goal setting, lifestyle management, and yoga practices for
individuals or small groups.” ~IAYT

To become a yoga teacher, one completes a 200 hour teacher training. In order to become a yoga therapist, one completes an additional 800 hours to fulfill the requirement of 1,000 hours of training, which includes a mentorship practicum. The emphasis of each yoga therapy program varies, but all need to be accredited through IAYT [International Association of Yoga Therapists]. There is often a focus of both medical and mental health modalities, and all honor the teachings from a variety of yoga and spiritual traditions.

Yoga therapy is often done one on one in a private session. A yoga therapist creates an individualized plan based on the client’s medical history and life story. This plan includes a wide range of mind/body practices, from postural and breathing exercises to deep relaxation and meditation. Yoga therapy tailors these to the health needs of the individual to empower them on the path to healing. Groups can also be led by a yoga therapist addressing a specific health care need, but is often capped at a number of participants.

My own personal journey to become a yoga therapist was an amazing experience. I highly recommend this path to those that are interested in working in conjunction with the medical industry and /or the mental health profession. Enjoy an enriching career, or my preferred term, dharma, sitting in guidance and witness as clients unfold their own path to healing. The world needs more peace, love, and healing now more than ever. To be a part of this process is a blessing and an honor.

Join Julie for a week of guided, and supported, rejuvenating fun with unlimited exciting adventures and memories to make and cherish. In Amorgos, Greece.

Hatha yoga, gentle yoga, and restorative yoga will be offered.

As a certified yoga therapist, Julie’s goal is to create a welcoming retreat for anyone interested in attending.

True Nature Travels Blog

Why retreat?

Why retreat?

Dr. Margo Bachman, DACM

Do you wonder what all the hype about retreats are about? Have you been contemplating signing up for one and are unsure if it’s right for you?

Let me invite you to learn about the plethora of benefits from going on a retreat. It all starts with taking a break from the demands of day-to-day life and providing an opportunity to unwind your nervous system and de-stress all the cells in your body. 

Retreats allow time and space to tune into yourself, take time to connect within, to be bathed by nature and rejuvenating practices and healthy foods. They also allow you to connect with others with a similar intention, providing support and camaraderie. Every day is full of new, meaningful experiences to purely nourish yourself on all levels- body, mind and spirit.

If your retreat includes a service project you have the option to participate in helping a greater cause. It can bring joy to the heart to step outside our immediate world and lend a hand to aid our planet.

And now imagine afterwards…. emerging anew, with more energy, vitality, and excitement for life- with greater joy, better sleep and digestion, more clarity and focus…and an increased ability to handle difficult situations since you have deeply taken care of yourself. Yes, these are all possible!

There is a concept called ojas in Ayurvedic medicine. It is a subtle aspect of ourselves, which is a deep energy reserve in the body. Ojas governs immunity and vitality, and helps to maintain natural resistance. It gives endurance and strength, and creates a buffer when harsh winds blow.

Ojas is lost by: 

  • stress
  • lack of sleep
  • poor digestion
  • overwork
  • excessive challenging emotions

Ojas can be strengthened and replenished by: 

  • following a nourishing diet and lifestyle 
  • spending time in nature
  • sleeping soundly
  • taking a break from electronics and media stimulation; 
  • practicing meditation and certain breathing exercises  (pranayama); 
  • taking rejuvenating herbs

Going on retreat does wonders for ojas. Spending time away from computers, telephones, televisions, and your daily demands allows your nervous system to relax deeply and rejuvenate. Have you ever noticed a lustrous glow on people when they return from a restful holiday in nature? That is ojas.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DR. MARGO BACHMAN
Dr. Margo Bachman DACM has been passionate about natural medicine and healing for over thirty years. Her own healing experiences and innate curiosity continue to inspire her life and her career. She discovered holistic medicine to heal herself from menstrual problems, pregnancy loss, hormonal craziness and all sorts of other ailments and has been amazed by the power of natural medicine.

Join Dr. Margo as she leads you through a variety of healing practices to support and nurture your well-being. She will teach mindful movement, breath work, and meditation practices, as well as classes on Ayurveda, women’s health, and self-care. Help a greater cause by helping the endangered sea turtles on her upcoming retreat to Costa Rica.

True Nature Travels Blog

The Power of Breath: Women’s Wellness

Did you know that one of the most important relationships a woman has in life is with herself? And that the breath is one of our most powerful tools for learning about ourselves and creating positive changes?

Our body, breath, and mind are interdependent, and prana, our life force, and breath, is the energy of movement between them. When prana flows smoothly, all our bodily systems function more efficiently. When it is disturbed or impeded, imbalances arise. Working with our breath brings new awareness, as our state of mind is intimately linked with the quality of prana within our body. This awareness allows us to choose and control our actions and to lessen our reactions.

The breath is an excellent indicator of your current physical and emotional state of health. By observing your breath, you’re taking steps to tune into yourself. New awareness always brings more opportunities for understanding, change, and growth. It also allows you to tune into thoughts, feelings, and emotions you may not be consciously aware of. This connection allows us to feel more aligned with ourselves and can help us make choices based on the messages we receive when tuning in.

Stop what you’re doing right now. Close your eyes, focus on your breathing, and just observe your breath.

There is no right or wrong way to breathe.

Take several deep breaths, deep into your belly, deep into your chest, and feel it expand and relax.

What do you notice? Is your breath:

  • flowing smoothly, or shaky with impediments?
  • short (under two seconds), or long (over four seconds)?
  • slow and deep, or fast-paced and superficial?

Take a few more breaths. Notice if:

  • your breath is mostly in the chest, down in the belly, or both;
  • your inhalation is longer or shorter than your exhalation.

What areas of your body are calling your attention? What are the messages your body is giving you now?

As women, we are innately intuitive and benefit from moving through life based on our inner knowing. By tuning into our breath and listening to the messages we receive from breathing practices, we can learn how to better cope with stressful situations, increase our energy, access our intuition, relax, and become more peaceful. This simple breathing awareness can lay the foundation for more complex pranayama (conscious breathing) practices.

We will practice them daily among many other fantastic classes in my Women’s Wellness Retreat next February in Costa Rica. Join me!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DR. MARGO BACHMAN

Dr. Margo Bachman DACM has been passionate about natural medicine and healing for over thirty years. Her own healing experiences and innate curiosity continue to inspire her life and her career. She discovered holistic medicine to heal herself from menstrual problems, pregnancy loss, hormonal craziness and all sorts of other ailments and has been amazed by the power of natural medicine.

Join Dr. Margo as she leads you through a variety of healing practices to support and nurture your well-being. She will teach mindful movement, breath work, and meditation practices, as well as classes on Ayurveda, women’s health, and self-care. Envision going deep within yourself and learning how to tap into your innate healing potential. Expect a renewed sense of vitality and energy, and inspiration to carry these practices back with you into daily life.

True Nature Travels Blog

Meet the Teacher: Dr. Margo Bachman

Dr. Margo Bachman DACM has been passionate about natural medicine and healing for over thirty years. Her own healing experiences and innate curiosity continue to inspire her life and her career. She discovered holistic medicine to heal herself from menstrual problems, pregnancy loss, hormonal craziness and all sorts of other ailments and has been amazed by the power of natural medicine.

She has spent decades studying and practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, Ayurveda, herbal medicine, yoga and meditation. Dr. Margo is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, and Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. She is also an Ayurvedic practitioner and NCCAOM board certified acupuncturist and herbalist, and Diplomat of Oriental Medicine. Margo is the author of Yoga Mama Yoga Baby; Ayurveda and Yoga for a Healthy Pregnancy and Birth.

Today Dr. Margo runs the integrative medicine practices of Wild Rose Medicine Acupuncture and Ayurveda and Wild Rose Fertility. She is delighted to partner with her patients and help them achieve optimum wellness and vitality through customized treatments, education, and empowerment. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and loves making the ancient systems of Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine relevant for modern life.

Margo lives in Louisville, Colorado with her husband, two children and pooch. When she’s not working you can find her cycling, hiking, practicing yoga, and enjoying the mountains and sunshine of Colorado. She is also a natural foods “foodie”, loves spending time with her family, gardening and traveling.

* * * *

Come gather with a circle of women in a sacred space to experience deep rejuvenation and vitality.

Imagine spending six days in the warm, healing, tropical environment of Costa Rica. Lush rainforest, pristine beaches, abundant wildlife, and magical sunsets provide the perfect opportunity to unwind and reset.

Join Dr. Margo as she leads you through a variety of healing practices to support and nurture your well-being. She will teach mindful movement, breath work, and meditation practices, as well as classes on Ayurveda, women’s health, and self-care. Envision going deep within yourself and learning how to tap into your innate healing potential. Expect a renewed sense of vitality and energy, and inspiration to carry these practices back with you into daily life.

True Nature Travels Blog

10 Tips for Mindful Gardening

Gardening can be a wonderful way to connect with nature and cultivate a sense of peace and mindfulness.

Here are ten tips for making the most of your gardening experience.

1. Begin with intention: Before you start gardening, take a few moments to set an intention for your time with the soil. This can be as simple as taking a deep breath and thinking about why you are choosing to garden. Perhaps you want to connect with nature, find peace, or grow your own food. By setting an intention, you are more likely to stay focused and present throughout the process.

2. Take your time: Gardening is not a race;  take your time and enjoy the process. Slow down and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the garden. Be present and engaged in each task, whether it’s planting seeds, weeding, or harvesting.

3. Connect with the Earth: Gardening is a great way to connect with the earth and all its living beings. Take time to notice the insects, birds, and other animals that visit your garden. Appreciate the natural beauty around you and find ways to give back to the Earth.

4. Practice Gratitude: As you work in the garden, take time to express gratitude for all the gifts it provides. Give thanks for the soil, the water, the sun, and all the plants that grow. By cultivating gratitude, you can bring a greater sense of joy and contentment to your gardening practice.

5. Embrace Imperfection: Gardening is a process that involves trial and error. Not every seed will sprout, and not every plant will thrive. Embrace imperfection and view failures as learning opportunities. Remember that even the most experienced gardeners make mistakes.

6. Listen to your Body: Gardening can be physically demanding, so be sure to listen to your body and take breaks as needed. Stretch before and after gardening, and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Pay attention to any aches or pains and seek medical attention if necessary.

7. Use Eco-Friendly Practices: Gardening can be an eco-friendly activity if you choose the right practices. Use organic fertilizers and pest control methods to minimize harm to the environment. Compost food scraps and yard waste to create nutrient-rich soil. Consider planting native plants to support local ecosystems.

8. Share Your Bounty: Gardening can be a great way to connect with your community. Share your bounty with friends, family, and neighbors. Consider donating excess produce to local food banks or community gardens.

9. Learn From Others: Gardening is a rich and diverse field with many different techniques and philosophies. Take time to learn from other gardeners by attending workshops, reading books and blogs, and joining gardening clubs.

10. Find Joy in the Process: Finally, remember to find joy in the gardening process itself. Don’t focus solely on the end result (a beautiful garden or bountiful harvest), but also on the experience of connecting with nature and cultivating mindfulness. Enjoy the simple pleasures of digging in the dirt, feeling the sun on your skin, and watching your plants grow.

 

True Nature Travels Blog

The Thing About Excuses

Aligning your life

Aligning your life

We’ve had many challenges and uncertainties for quite a while, haven’t we? Perhaps you find yourself reigning in your spending, holding back on making decisions, and feeling cautious about taking your next steps. I get it.

In spite of it all, are you doing what’s necessary to align to the life you truly want to live? Are you invested in creating your own desired destiny?

I’ve heard many reasons to explain why someone has fallen away from their yoga practice, deferred a trip to recharge or put off working on any personal issue that would elevate their quality of life. People have complained to me that Yoga retreats or coaching is too expensive. I’ve also heard “I don’t have time.”, “I’m too tired/exhausted/overwhelmed/stressed out.”

Let me ask you this…How much time do you spend on stuff that doesn’t serve you? Think about the hours spent mindlessly watching TV, shopping for stuff you don’t really need, partying, going out to eat, scrolling, gossiping…all the while lamenting and complaining about the very things you wish to change?

If you’re exhausted, that’s a really important reality to reckon with. In fact, it’s an epidemic in our culture. But, time marches on and life will certainly pass you by if you accept being exhausted, burned out, sick, miserable, stressed or whatever adjective you want to use.

Is being content with discontent the way you want to spend your precious time on this earth?

Facing your fatigue, resistance and excuses lights up a giant neon arrow that points straight at your own evolution. Investing your resources is worth every minute, every

dollar and every ounce of fortitude you can give it. Regardless of the self talk re-runs looping in your mind about your perceived limitations, you likely have more agency to change than you actually realize.

I’ve taken some brave steps out of my comfort zone over the years that have provided me opportunities to challenge my own thinking and behaviors. I’ve invested thousands of dollars and countless hours in Yoga training, coaching training, therapy, personal coaching, and online courses. I made the time to learn new things despite a busy life.

I had to look at myself in the mirror and reckon with my demons and distractions. Not always easy, but so worth the investment.

Can you afford just a few minutes each day to invest in yourself? Truth is, you can’t afford not to! Just get on your yoga mat and breathe. You don’t have to demand a grandiose practice of yourself, just a smidge of time to simply breathe and be.

That’s a really great start to investing in your happiness and well being. Who knows what could arise from this simple act of self care?

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CYNDI BULKA POWERS

Cyndi Powers is the mindset mentor for changing the way you think about your body, food, exercise and your life.

She’s been a Yoga teacher for more than 25 years, a Thai Yoga bodyworker, owned a Yoga studio, is an Integrative Health Coach, and now provides a fresh perspective and blueprint to living a healthy, happy life of abundance without stressing over the scale or what you can or can’t eat. Join Cyndi in Panama May 7-13, 2023!

True Nature Travels Blog

Give Yourself Permission to Relax — Here’s How

Stress is a normal part of work. No matter how much you avoid it, factors like heavy workloads, long hours, and tight deadlines cause stress. Over 61% of employees stated that stress caused them to experience tiredness and loss of control, leading to low productivity and inadequate performance. Additionally, stress harms your health. It increases blood pressure, causes headaches, and decreases immunity. If left unattended, you may experience fatigue and develop chronic conditions like heart disease. Learning to set boundaries and is crucial when learning to give yourself permission to relax.

Here are a few ways to start:

Learn to set boundaries

Creating boundaries prevents you from over-committing. Being productive and helping others is good, but too much will stress you out. This is where the importance of saying no and setting boundaries comes in.

Desk Yoga

Say no to responsibilities that aren’t part of your job description. Although you can occasionally accommodate requests, ensure these won’t eat into your personal time or add stress on top of your accepted tasks. Lastly, manage your time properly, especially when working on difficult projects. You can talk to your project manager since they’re responsible for delegating tasks and adjusting schedules and targets as needed. As such, they can help you and the team develop arrangements that ensure you don’t work longer than the required office hours. Paid overtime is tempting, but losing sleep and getting burnt out due to extra work only harms you in the long run.

Get some time off

Taking vacations or time off from work can bring guilt because you’re “wasting time.” However, this is not the case. It’s important to have your vacation when needed to avoid burnout. Reluctance to take time off will damage your health and workflow. When you work while burnt out, you won’t be able to give your best, which may result in numerous mistakes.

Consider scheduling your time off at the start of the quarter or month. This sets your vacation in place, so you’re guaranteed to use them up by the end of the year. In terms of activities to do, try spending time outdoors. Nature relieves stress, increases productivity, and boosts your mental energy. These will wash away all the work stress and make you feel refreshed when you get back. Consider our True Nature retreat to immerse you in the great outdoors through educational tours, yoga, and service projects.

Organize your workspace

You may not notice it, but a cluttered workspace decreases focus, increases confusion, and creates tension. Your brain gets overwhelmed by objects unrelated to your tasks, leading to stress. This highlights the connection between health and cleaning. Organizing your workspace brings feelings of control, increases focus, and improves mood—helping you relax.

Keep your space tidy by keeping unnecessary clutter in drawers and organizers. Only have the necessary items on display, like pens, notepads, and paperwork. Make it a habit to clean your space after work hours to remain consistent.

Take short breaks

It’s tempting to take advantage of productive streaks. After all, who would want to stop working when they have the energy to go for hours? Nonetheless, it’s crucial to take a rest. A study found that short breaks help boost energy. Experiment participants who took micro-breaks (around 10 minutes) performed better on tasks than those who worked continuously. Research suggests that breaks encourage the flow of new ideas and improve focus.

Set a reminder on your computer to take breaks, so you don’t forget. Read a book, solve a crossword, or refill your mug. Do something that’s not work-related for a few minutes to energize yourself. Stress has immense physical and mental consequences. To relax, remember to set boundaries, use your time off, take breaks, and tidy your workspace.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELIZABETH TREVINO

I am a freelance writer with a knack for wellness, travel, and nature articles. In my free time, I like to read classic books and attend pilates classes. I also enjoy tending to my home garden as a nature and wellness enthusiast.

True Nature Travels Blog

Worry and its Remedy

Worry and its Remedy

Worry and its Remedy

Worry. It’s an experience we all have at various points in our lives. Some of us are prone to worrying; some are chronic worriers. Oftentimes, we woe about things over which we have no control. Sometimes we worry about things that scare us, intimidate us or force us to step outside of our comfort zone. No matter the source of your worries, it is undeniably draining and exhausting to carry that weight for any length of time.

I suppose worry falls in the spectrum of normal human thought and emotion, but it can create blinders to reality and if we are not mindful, become a habit of the mind. That’s the way the mind works; think any thought frequently enough, and the brain lays down a neural pathway. Once that worry pathway is laid down, it can become a slippery slope to misery and suffering. In Yoga, we call that samskara.

It’s worthwhile to consider how worry is formed so we can understand how to manage it more effectively. In order for worry to exist, we have to imagine that something bad might happen.

The nature of worry is that it projects us into an imagined future reality; it’s a fantasy.

Think of worrying as a self-created and imposed state of needless fear. Worry is a futile attempt to feel in control of the uncontrollable. It does nothing to guarantee positive outcomes or change current realities. Besides that, it has detrimental effects on the body, mind, and spirit.

It sucks our positive energy, dis-empowers us and puts our focus on the problem instead of
the solution. It can obscure the light within and create an aura of negativity and darkness.
Lately I’ve been finding myself worrying frequently about climate change and it’s devastating impacts. There’s reasons to be concerned for sure…the latest wild fire, flood or drought.
There is little I can do to put out fires and recede flood waters already there, yet I worry that
my grandchildren will have to negotiate an environment beyond repair in years to come. It’s a
valid issue to be concerned, but what does my worrying actually do?

Here’s some good news. We can transform our worrying so that it has a healing effect. Worry uses our imagination, and so can the antidote to worry. Instead of going to the dark place where all the fear, angst and doubt reside, imagine instead the best possible result or outcome. That’s an actionable place for me when it comes to climate change worry.

I channeled that worry energy into a different direction; I purchased a book to give my children and grandchildren called “The Climate Diet: 50 Simple Ways to Trim Your Carbon Footprint” by Paul Greenburg. I swore off plastic wrap, switched to sustainably packaged household goods, planted more flowers for the bees and butterflies, have at least one day a week when I don’t drive anywhere, carry my own shopping bags for everything and use my vote for candidates who care about climate change….the list of things I can do continues to grow.

Now, instead of feeling like a passive victim, I feel like I am doing my small part to assure the planet is livable for my grandchildren.

The point is we can take our worry and recognize it for what it is: a waste of energy to hook into, but also an arrow pointing to the positive things we can do to ameliorate our fears and concerns. This way, we can generate peace and well-being instead of anxiety, nervousness and dis-ease within ourselves.

There’s a close cousin to worry…dread.

It comes from knowing something is sure to happen, yet we avoid taking action to fix the issue before it becomes a problem. We procrastinate and ruminate about the things nagging at us… that unpaid bill, a looming deadline, a rift with a loved one, an upcoming medical test or procedure. In these cases, simply acknowledge that worry is present, acknowledge the fear, then take action tackle the dread and procrastination.

If you can empower yourself to put worry in its rightful place, you might just find there’s no good reason to angst after all. Mobilize your resources for positive change as the remedy instead. Your body, mind and heart will thank you for that!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cyndi Bulka Powers

Cyndi Powers is the mindset mentor for changing the way you think about your body, food, exercise and your life.

She’s been a Yoga teacher for more than 25 years, a Thai Yoga bodyworker, owned a Yoga studio, is an Integrative Health Coach, and now provides a fresh perspective and blueprint to living a healthy, happy life of abundance without stressing over the scale or what you can or can’t eat. Join Cyndi in Panama May 7-13, 2023!

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