You know you need to exercise when...

Hey y'all!

I wanted to talk a bit about your body and how it actually craves exercise. Not only does exercise kick up your metabolism, release endorphins, and move your lymph, it also has the ability to shift your energy. Think about a situation that had you really pissy recently. It could be a relationship issue, a job issue, even an "I don't want to live like this anymore!" issue. Whatever it is, allow yourself to feel into it for a moment. You may notice that just bringing it up has the ability to shift your breathing (it usually becomes more shallow), tighten your muscles/chest/belly (can you feel the contraction?), and spark a tirade inside your head (do you see the spiraling of thoughts?). These are normal reactions to stress, frustration, etc. And when our bodies have these reactions, it is a great sign that we could use a good run. Or hike. Or yoga class. It is challenging to your body to consistently be at the receiving end of these stressful moments. One way to support your body through long work hours, stress and emotional overwhelm is to exercise it.

How do you know if your body is craving exercise, then? Listen to it. Here are a few signs that your body is craving exercise...

1. You notice that you're unusually irritable, angry or frustrated Have you been feeling irritable? Angry? Frustrated? Sometimes, this is a message from your body that your stress levels (and the attendant stress hormones) have built up to a level that is intolerable. By moving your body, you help it to open up and be less contracted, which leads to greater relaxation. You also 'burn off' some of the stress hormones that are so damaging to your body, your health.

So, if you find yourself feeling irritable, frustrated or overwhelmed, go pound it out on the streets. Go ahead- put one foot in front of the other and move that anger through, channel it down through your feet and let it fuel your movement. By using this energy productively, you take control of a situation. Instead of feeling pissy and eating bon-bons, effectively sitting in your stuff, you make a conscious choice to do something that is not only in alignment with your health, but is also in alignment with being happy and free of the tirade of thoughts that usually accompanies a bon-bon eating session.

2. You notice yourself feeling antsy Do you find yourself standing at the copier, feeling antsy? Are you having a hard time sitting still at work, at dinner with your kids, or even on your meditation cushion? It could be a sign that you need to get out and move some energy. If you are eating more calories that you burn, you have excess energy. If not utilized, this excess energy turns to fat. Now you have stored energy in the form of adipose tissue. Usually, when you have been eating more, your body will let you know that you need to step it up to burn off all of the extra energy you're feeding it. One way it does this is to make you feel antsy, to make you feel like you need to go do something. Forget shopping, forget eating another donut to lull yourself into a carbohydrate induced stupor. Get out and move. Not only will you dispel that antsy, fidgety, restless feeling, but you'll kick up your metabolism, which will burn off some of those calories.

Note: vigorous exercise will kick your metabolism up more than, say, a slow walk or a quiet, restorative yoga class. If you really need to move some energy, try out a vinyasa (or 'Flow") yoga class, Ashtanga Yoga, or a run or challenging bike ride.

3. You feel like you're walking through sludge For many people, being in a 'funk' or being in that space where you feel 'blah' is often the result of not being able to process and move through emotions. You live through a situation (or you are living in a situation) that is ripe with emotion, none of which you have the time/ability/desire to deal with. So, what happens to all of the emotions? They store up, they collect, and they even fester sometimes. If emotions are just energy, and if that energy is not effectively moved, it just sits there, unmoving, collecting dust. By getting out and exercising, you move through it, break through the contraction and stagnation in your muscles, and release whatever it was that you were holding on to. You get rid of whatever you were storing up, unable to let go of. And that is a powerful thing if you want to feel not-so-blah!

Note: yoga is especially helpful for getting rid of the 'blahs', as it allows you to open and expand, to reach into the heart of each muscle and s t r e t c h. Yin yoga, or yoga where you get to hold poses for a bit longer than in vinyasa or flow classes is really good for moving through the blahs.

To your health!

Namaste,

Cynthia

Slowing Down

One of the most beautiful gifts of leaving the private practice of law has been the ability to slow down a bit. With the perspective that comes from having put distance between myself and that lifestyle (or that lifestyle as I was living it) I have been able to see how fast I can get in my daily routines, my conversations and my activities- never mind what happens to my thoughts- when I am stressed out. And, I believe I have been in good company with this pattern- most of the people I see these days are running from pillar to post and are losing their heads in the race (not to mention centeredness, grounding and alignment).

We have been socialized to believe that more is better in all realms and on all levels, and to that end we have been pushing, pushing, pushing ourselves to the breaking point. It is no wonder that we are seeing the highest levels of hypothyroidism in history- we’re burning ourselves out! And this is just the beginning. This constant push, constant racing around and constant striving for that next brass ring exhausts us physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically. So, what do we do?

We slow down a bit. We take breaks. We honor our body’s needs. We start paying attention to that inner guidance (Psst! It’s in your heart, not your head!). We actively seek a lifestyle that will work to support us, to nourish and nurture us. We cast aside the belief that we need to measure up to someone else’s standards (standards we’re killing ourselves in order to meet), and we stand in our own power, our own alignment. We declare that we will take care of ourselves from now on, and that we are as important as all 500 of the other things on our to-do lists. We put ourselves first because, without us, there is no one checking off those to-do list items anyway. And finally, we re-evaluate our values, our goals and our direction in life. It’s time to take a closer look at the way we’re living, my friends. And I humbly invite you into that inquiry now.

Some questions for consideration:

1) What do I get from racing through my life? Why do I move so fast?
2) What am I missing when I move through life at the speed of light?
3) Where is the middle ground?

Enjoy your journey inward and feel free to drop me a note anytime with ideas, stories or questions, or if you would like some help along the way.

To Your Bliss,

Cynthia

Human Sustainability

Greetings!

Wow! Things sure have been busy here at CDB Personal Development Int'l!! I have been to Amsterdam, Boulder, Phoenix, California and Canada all in the last few months, and I am feeling like taking a little break. And, as it usually happens, this feeling leads me to a new post, a new blog, a new idea I want to share with you. Today, this idea is human sustainability.

If you take a quick glance at our world from the macrocosm right on down to the microcosm, you will likely notice a common theme of change, transformation, and even uncertainty. From the upheaval of our world markets to global warming, soil depletion and species extinction, there is a lot going on out there in the macrocosm that can be very unsettling (never mind that Pluto isn't even a planet anymore)! And when you look at the microcosm, there are the issues of personal finance and whether you can pay your mortgage in this economy, how you keep the kids active during the summer months, and whether you'll keep your current job, find a new one or perhaps even go after your (long awaited) dreams. Add in a lack of sleep one night or a missed call/meeting/appointment, and our stress levels can go through the roof! Given all of the different things we have to be concerned about, it's a wonder some days that we're functioning at all!

Which is why I am moved to discuss with you the idea of Human Sustainability. What is it that is going to sustain you through these uncertain and stressful times? What is going to nourish your spirit, support your body, nurture your heart? Well, I have three simple ideas for you to consider, that once implemented in your life, will help you move forward in a manner that is less stressed, more open, and certainly more sustainable. Here they are...

1. Know the difference between service and sacrifice.
Sounds simple, but many of us get this confused. Are you being of service, or are you sacrificing yourself? A simple way to determine whether you are in service or in sacrifice is how you feel when you're doing whatever it is you're doing. Are you grateful, and happy and do you feel full and empowered? Usually a good sign that you're being of service. Do you feel pissy and resentful and depleted? Pay attention, because you might be sacrificing yourself! Remember the following: Service is how I take care of you without losing me in the process.

2. Create a daily practice.
When you have a daily practice, a daily time for you to connect with yourself, you have the space to love, nurture and support yourself. Many of my clients feel they have no time for themselves, and it creates resentment, feelings of overwhelm and depletion, and stress. By taking some time every day for yourself, you are giving back to yourself, and thus filling that well of energy from which you always draw.

3. Pay attention to how you show up in the world.
Many times, we sabotage ourselves without even realizing it by the way we use language, the way we physically move through the world, and the way we latch onto a mood that may not be all that beneficial for us. By paying close attention to our language, our bodies, and our emotions, we can get a really good picture of what it is that is causing our suffering, and how to move through it to the success on the other side!

To Sustainability,

Cynthia