a favorite YIN activity: Sunset watching at Yokohama Beach
It’s been a little over a week since my meeting with Naturopath Dr. Ye. Exactly nine days that I have implemented my wellness plan that includes mindful eating and activities, calming essential oils, taking omega-3 supplements and drizzling flaxseed oil on almost every meal. Longer meditations in the morning and upping my protein for my blood type and activity are among the other enhancements that have been made.
Reminding myself not to take life too seriously…
The biggest shift has come through Mindful (with a capital M) exercises. The activities that force me to sit// be still // tap into my parasympathetic nervous system has proven both helpful (and challenging) for my mind. With no distractions, my psyche likes to roller coaster into past, present, future and quite simply does not appreciate silence. My new exercises are showing me how UNMINDFUL I can be. I always thought I was a good listener, but maybe I need to work on my inner listening. I’m recognizing that I haven’t been allowing myself to permeate deeper into the levels of consciousness that want to be heard. Instead I layer on diversions and keep busy, pushing that which I prefer not to deal with to the side. (It will rear it’s ugly head later). Meditation has been key, and I admit that I have missed a day or two with the excuse of not enough time. At the end of both days, I would journal about the difference self-contemplation had made. I noticed the sense of peace I could hold on to through 10-12 hours of work, friends, and obligations. My anxiety of future endeavors was still there, but seemed manageable and minor in the bigger picture of life. Meditation smoothed out the ebb and flows of my day to day and brought more attention and focus to the present. Speaking of which I haven’t done it yet today and I can feel the fluctuations increasing (do I blame the americano?). What are your favorite yin activities? What do you engage in to nourish and sustain your vitality? I would love to hear your tips and suggestions. Warm Aloha & Happy Wednesday!
