Spirited Woman Blogger Team

Attitude Matters

You’ve heard the old adage that you can’t control what happens to you in life, only how you react or respond to it. How true that is as we all age. Despite our best efforts to be healthy, everyone comes with an “expiration date” as a good friend once said. The big question is when your date kicks in…

Recently, my dad was diagnosed with lymphoma leukemia – the good news is that it is a very mild case. My father is 78 and overcame prostate cancer just two years ago, which was also at a very slow growth stage. The doctors are surprisingly low key about this diagnosis, despite evidence that the cancer has spread to Dad’s bones and blood. This particular form is extremely non-aggressive, and they claim the recovery rate is very high.

What really surprised me is my father’s attitude. At 78, he is the oldest living male in his family history, outliving my cousin by two years so far. Many years ago, he told me he never expected to live past 50 since both his parents passed away naturally at that age.  When my parents called to tell us the news of the new diagnosis, my dad was nonplussed.  “Hey, if you live long enough, these things are bound to happen,” was his reaction.

It made me stop and think – could I have the same attitude or reaction? How many times has something disappointing or frightening happened and we ask ourselves, “Why me?”  Is my father’s lack of expectation regarding his longevity a factor? If you don’t have “expectations” then you can’t be disappointed. That’s a powerful place to come from…can I do it?  Can you?

The verdict is still out on what will happen next. But one factor is for sure: attitude matters and my father is setting a strong example for me to live by.

- Allison Blankenship, http://www.allisonspeaks.com,  http://www.UpsideTheBook.com
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New Beginnings

I came across a box of cards depicting hand mudras recently. Mudras are hand gestures or yoga postures for the hands that are symbolic of a deeper meaning. If you’ve ever been to an Asian art exhibit you have likely seen statues of Buddha and other figures whose hand and fingers are in unusual positions. Each hand position has a different meaning and is said to awaken certain energies.

Hand mudras are not just relegated to the East, however. The statuary of Christianity also has many hand gestures that are identical to their Eastern counterparts and mean the same. Japanese, Thai, Classical Indian, Hawaiian and African dancers tell stories with their hands using intricate hand and finger movements to to tell their stories.

In the Eastern traditions, each finger represents one of the five elements - the thumb is agni (fire), the forefinger is vayu (air), the middle finger is akash (ether), the ring finger is prithvi (earth) and the little finger is jal (water).

One of the hand mudras that particularly caught my attention with the New Year approaching is the one for new beginnings. I’m a big believer in new beginnings. Recreating ourselves on a regular basis keeps us on our toes and makes life fresh, new and exciting. As we allow ourselves to change and grow and take up new projects, new doors open and new opportunities present themselves.

The following website depicts the closed lotus mudra with a special chant to repeat. Give it a try and see if it resonates with you.

A health, happy New Beginning to you and yours!

- Michele Hébert, www.rajayogis.net
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Transformation

The goddess, or female deity, is the embodiment of creative power. Throughout the ages different cultures have viewed her through different prisms, yet the common theme to the goddess mythology is transformation through the creative power of the feminine. Through the right use of this creative power, we hold the key to our own personal transformative process.

In our society, many women in their mid-years have spent their lives nurturing and taking care of others and experience guilt when it comes to taking care of themselves. Yet, in order to be able to give more to those around us, we should be attending to our needs as well. There comes a time in each of our lives when we reach a crossroads and make the choice to move on to another level of spiritual awareness by attending to deeper needs within ourselves or to stay where we are.

Spirited women, by definition, choose the path of conscious transformation. Once we make the decision to recreate ourselves, we step onto the path of self-mastery. As we begin to achieve new levels of mastery over ourselves and our lives: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, we naturally becoming channels of a greater more expansive love.

My spiritual guide used to tell me, “You earn every inch of the way, Michele.” Transformation comes to those who stay the course. It is a life work. But as my mentor also taught, “You are always given back so much more than what you could ever give.”

The path of self-mastery calls for the development of the tools that will help us maintain steadiness in the face of life’s difficulties and the ups and downs of material life. The tools of self-mastery are breath control, the care of the physical instrument including exercise and nutrition, control of the mind, and spiritual practice. Within this fourfold approach to personal development lies the key to balance, health, happiness and quality living into the future.

- Michele Hébert, www.rajayogis.net
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Speaking of Habits

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about habits. I had the great opportunity of spending a week in Troncones, Mexico, a small beach town of about 800 people just outside of Zihuatenejo on the Pacific.

Some friends of ours offered my husband and me their beach house and as we were going to be leading a yoga retreat in Costa Rica. We jumped at the chance to spend a week unwinding afterward. The beach house was an open air palapa (thatched roof with no walls) just a few steps from a deserted beach with a direct view of the pounding surf and a sunset that was to die for. It was perfectly appointed - simple but everything we would need for an extended stay

My husband and I took one look at the place, met each others gaze, smiled in wonder, and sank into a blissful week of spending hours just looking out to sea, cooking simple but gourmet tasting meals with the fresh fish from the fish man who came by every morning and luxuriating in two deep meditation sessions on the beach in the morning and at sunset.

We were in nature 24/7 and soaked up its life force. It was a deja vu reminder of the four years I spent in solitude on the beach in El Salvador. It had such a powerful impact that I wrote a book about it. The Tenth  Door: An Adventure Through the Jungles of Enlightenment.

Now that I’m back in San Diego, I’m very aware that the freedom from the responsibilities and deadlines - self imposed or otherwise - is vital on many levels. My mind was totally  free of  the habit patterns of worry or anxiety that so often occur, however unconsciously.

And the best thing is that I slowed down. I slowed down enough that I can clearly view the old mental reactions trying to creep in. When we can see them, we have a chance to eliminate them. I am aware that I have a choice to let them back in or to choose freedom and clarity instead.

I have no doubt that the combination of the utterly peaceful environment and the long and deep meditations are responsible for this clarity. And I’m forever grateful for the gift.

- Michele Hébert, www.rajayogis.net
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Your Hair Over The Holidays (or Anytime, Really!)

As I've shared with you again and again, the subject of fashion and beauty is not an easy one for me. I easily get overwhelmed by anything having to do with this subject. In particular, my hair seems to throw me into an irrational state of whether I am pretty or not. Clearly, this has to do with my childhood and self-esteem issues - all of which I've seemed to place in my hair!

Recently, I was introduced to Sonya Dove by fashion consultant Kimberly Seltzer. Sonya is the co-owner and creative director of The Doves Studio in Santa Monica, CA. She is a very highly-regarded stylist, and travels the world teaching others about hair. She is one of the world's experts on color. And as fate would have it, I also trusted Sonya enough to cut my hair which is a miracle. She is kind, a perfectionist, a good listener, and is really smart about hair.

In my next post, which will appear right before Christmas, I will show you my before and after shots of what Sonya did in terms of giving me a new look with my hair, my hair color, and make-up (actually, someone else in her salon does that). I think you will see an amazing transformation (at least, from the outside in). I am a strong believer that inner beauty is what truly makes you shine.

In the meantime, Sonya has given you some outstanding tips and advice for the holidays and beyond.

Q. Sonya, when did your love affair with hair begin? And was there a moment when you knew you would become a hairstylist that defined your life?
A. I knew i have always wanted to work with people since I was a little girl. Originally at school I wanted to be a Nutritionist but I could not get a degree in biology which is what i needed, so at the time I was dating Christopher Dove, he was 15 and myself 13 years old. His family suggested to me that I go to Cosmetology school with Chris as this was what he  had planned to do. The day I started I realised this was such a love. I not only could help people look good but also make them feel good from the inside out. I belong to a company here in the USA called Beauty Changes Lives, and this truly is a great statement as a new look can change your outlook on life and about yourself.

Q. Originally from England, you are the co-owner and creative director of The Doves in Santa Monica, CA. What is your salon known for?
A. The Doves is known for excellent quality hair color, cutting and styling work. We are also very proud of our warm, friendly, family- like environment because we are teachers in the professional hair industry as well. We encourage our staff to collaborate and consult with each client in order to give the right result for the client. Overall our clients enjoy that we are a very professional salon and focused on giving the customer the best possible service.

Q. What do you find most women come to a hairstylist for?
A. Most people come to a stylist for advice on a style and color that suits their face shape, skin color and their lifestyle. However, what most women want, is to feel as though they have been heard. They also want knowledge of what is best and why. This is why we consider  the consultation process to be the most important step in our relationship with our client. Many women are looking for a change. They either want their look to be "updated" or changed completely to meet with a personal change that they have gone through.

Q. As a hairstylist what do you feel is your most important role when working with your client?
A. The most important role as a stylist is to be a very good listener and try to determine what the unspoken need or desire is. For example, sometimes as a stylist you have to use a bit of psychology to sort through what the client's personal needs are and then use your professional ability to give them the look that meets both their physical and emotional needs.

In the Land of Eternal Spring

Sitting on my hotel balcony in Costa Rica, overlooking the glorious lush tropical landscape, my gaze goes to a nearby placid lake surrounded by lush tropical plants, trees and gardens spreads out for miles in all directions. A dramatic volcano looms in the distance.

Costa Rica is abundant with glories of nature. The country boasts over 900 species of birds and it is advanced in protecting both wildlife and its natural resources. Instead of an army, they spend their money on education and even the most remote villages have elementary schools. As a result it has the second highest literacy rate in the world. The health care system also gets high marks. Even if only one family member works, everyone in the family receives health care for $18 a month. There is a huge middle class and very little poverty in the way that you see it in other Central American countries.

Although we appreciate much about the country, my husband and I chose this location for our yoga retreat primarily because of the richness of nature and the powerful life force that emanates from it. It’s easy to forget in the confines of city life, the impact that immersing ourselves in nature can have on our energy field and on our consciousness. We are more than flesh and blood and bone. We are beings of energy vibrating at speeds of light. We absorb our surroundings and breathe into ourselves the vibration of our environment.

Nature has its own powerful consciousness. It does not get lost in the past or dream of the future. It is always in the present moment. When we spend time immersed in its embrace, and consciously breathe its energy into ourselves, our consciousness is lifted and we are healed on deep levels of our being and effortlessly drawn into the powerful present. The only moment. Now.

- Michele Hébert, www.rajayogis.net
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Let the Mountain Come To You

Have you ever had a day where your mind is all over the place and you can’t seem to focus? Rather than riding it out until it’s over and spending precious time in a funk there are time-tested ways to break through these periods quickly. One of them involves  the simple act of walking.

Contemplative walking is a powerful way to purposefully bring your mind, body and spirit together. Many wisdom traditions use this practice as a method to help us move into the present moment and experience ourselves as the receiver rather than the doer.

Yoga offers us a walk that incorporates moving on the breath. You count the length of your breath with each step as you breathe in for the count of three and out for three. In a matter of minutes you may find yourself walking a few feet off the ground as the rhythmic pattern of your steps and your breath brings you to a state of peace, harmony and well-being.

In the Japanese Zen tradition, there is a meditative walking practice that often follows a period of seated meditation. For years, my husband, Mehrad and I have taken groups of students to a Zen Monastery located on a mountain outside of Los Angeles where we participate with the monks in their morning chanting and meditation.

First, there is tea ceremony, than chanting in original Japanese. (Yes, they give us printouts to follow). After chanting, there are three 20-minute sessions of seated meditation alternating with 10 minutes of contemplative walking outside the Zendo (meditation room) in a circle as a group. In the Zen tradition, the group walks very slowly as one unit, each person following the exact steps of the person before her.

Walking on a labyrinth is an adventure in itself. Labyrinths in the West date back to the Celtic culture. In the U.S., many churches and hospitals have constructed labyrinths for walking meditation practice inspired by the labyrinth on the floor of Chartre Cathedral in France. Following a designated circular path you mindfully walk into the center aware of each step, and every breath and walk out renewed.

At Rancho La Puerta Spa and Fitness Resort a special meditation hike is offered in which you are guided to “let the mountain come to you” rather than actively going toward the mountain. A very different approach indeed and one which can be life changing. Try living life that way. Let the mountain come to you.

- Michele Hébert, www.rajayogis.net
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A Moment of Boredom

Life is a spiritual classroom in which we are given certain tests. When we pass the test, we graduate to a new level of consciousness or awareness. When we fail the test, we are given it over and over and over....until we finally get it right. - Unknown

I noticed yesterday that the rear tires on my little blue sports car had no tread left. Horrified, I called the tire store and they informed me that they had installed them a year ago.

Ugh, my least favorite thing to do. Pay $418 for two tires (with installation) and sit in the waiting room surrounded by the smells of a semi-creative tire display for almost an hour twiddling my thumbs because magazines like Family Fun and Roadracing World do not peak my interest. However, I have no choice. It’s either do this or be totally irresponsible and possibly die.

I arrive at my tire appointment 15 minutes late, my subconscious mind running the show. But I have an ace in my back pocket. Earlier this morning, I decided to outsmart the boredom spirit and bring my laptop to write this blog. I pull back the passenger seat to retrieve my computer but no luck. I have left it at home.

As I open the glass doors of the waiting room, I glance briefly at at the magazine rack and - sure enough - there are the same magazines with the addition of Motor Home and Road & Track. I sit down to wait.

Suddenly, a teaching passes through my mind that completely rearranges my present attitude and therefore my future:  “Boredom is a trick the mind plays on you to keep you from fully experiencing the present moment.” Hmm...What is it that I don’t want to see? What is it that I’m missing from my reluctance to be here in this moment.

I look around me and see two other people, a woman on the phone and an older gentleman peacefully reading. My gaze wanders to the desk where two young men are attending to customers and one is talking on the phone. As they move around each other there is a flow of familiarity--a graceful dance of energy. I am mesmerized by their manners and professional friendly attitude. I then take the time to FEEL the positive energies in the room, the customer service, I notice the fact that everyone in the room seems happy.

And because I recognize it, I am drawn into a delightful moment that transforms me. Spirit is everywhere, even at the tire store.

- Michele Hébert, www.rajayogis.net
Click here to read more of Michele's posts.

TV Blackout

We all know that the onslaught of negative news reporting by the media is unhealthy. Even if you think you are immune to it, listening to the nightly news rehashing the same dismal information channel after channel has a profound effect on our nervous system, on our mood and on our delicate psyches. Equally devastating are the pictures and images we are exposed to that sink into our subconscious.

One year ago, my husband and I decided to get rid of the TV. I know it may be difficult for many people to imagine but we did it. The amazing thing is that we don’t miss it at all. In fact, we feel free. Free of the negative programming (pun intended) and free of letting an outside force rent our minds. And best of all we have a lot of free time for activities that enrich our lives. Reading, talking, walks along the ocean, a movie now and then and extra time to work on a project or to reach out to a friend and make that phone call we haven’t had a chance to make. Best of all our house is filled with peace.

Think about it for a moment. The average American is glued to the TV four hours a day. And even if they are not actually watching, it is often used as background sound to fill the empty space.

Last month, there was a blackout in Southern California. From 3:20 in the afternoon until well after midnight there was no electricity. No electric stoves, no lights, no phones and no television. The following day it was at the forefront of every conversation. Everyone had a story to tell.  They especially talked about the fact that there was no television and what activity they did instead.

My parents, in their late eighties, had a candlelight dinner of tuna salad on their patio and spent a lovely evening happily overlooking a dark and quiet city. My chiropractor, a young man with two small children, told me that his children are usually wound up and running all over the house in the evenings, but with candlelight bringing a warm glow to their home and without the sound of the television filling their environment, they were calm and quiet. The theme that I heard the most is that people wished it would happen once a week.

The truth is it can happen whenever we want.

- Michele Hébert, www.rajayogis.net
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The Magic Of Mentors

When I look at my life, I am incredulous at the generosity of the mentors who have guided me. In most cases I did not actively seek them out. Instead the universe presented them to me or at least let me know that they existed. I suppose I need to take some responsibility for accepting their guidance, but what I received far outweighs what I gave.

We all have mentors. A mentor helps us move to the next level in whatever area of our life we are seeking to improve. Relationships, health, spirituality, raising our children, business. Sometimes we are fortunate enough to have a mentor who guides us in many areas. Life has a way of supporting us and providing mentors to emulate and help us grow into the fullness and wholeness of our unique life purpose.

My health and spiritual mentors, Walt and Magana Baptiste had a gigantic impact on my life in the areas of health, nutrition, fitness and spirituality. My spiritual memoir, The Tenth Door: An Adventure Through the Jungles of Enlightenment, recounts the story of my unique training with them. From nutrition to weight lifting to yoga/meditation to dance to spiritual psychology, their S.F. Holistic Health Center was a learning center for me and thousands of others. Magana, at the age of 90 still teaches two yoga classes a week and is a phone call away when I need her advice.

Bernard Jensen, D.C., one of the fathers of natural nutrition in the U.S., contributed to my nutritional education both through his books, seminars and personal counseling. Although no longer alive, he was still actively teaching the age of 94. He taught me to heal myself using natural foods and herbs.

Gay Luce, the creator of Nine Gates Mystery School, is a wise woman I hold in the highest esteem. She has been a role model for me in seeing her lack of ego despite the thousands of people she has guided on the path of transformation. She taught me to ground my energy and firmly plant myself on the earth.

Take a moment and think about the mentors who have inspired you. Make a list of at least three people who helped you lift yourself. What gift did they give you? How are you changed as a result of their presence in your life?

Now consider writing a letter of gratitude to each one. Letters of gratitude are infinitely meaningful to those that receive them. Let them know how they have touched your life. Not only will you be giving them thanks but you will be giving yourself the great blessing of being grateful. Gratitude always brings blessings into our lives.

- Michele Hébert, www.rajayogis.net
Click here to read more of Michele's posts.