Mind Body Messenger
issue#6 October 2003

Keeping Up with Heather

The blackouts back home in Toronto a few weeks ago really got my attention, even all the way over here in Australia. I observed the event and the reactions carefully, and as I did, it sparked in me a question; do we need struggle and strife to drop all our self-importance and busyness to connect with one another?

The power outage hit the bustling city of Toronto right at rush hour, a time of day when most people are cutting each other off in traffic trying to get home a few seconds earlier. Usually unable to tolerate a split second of hesitation at a green light, and suddenly without electricity, these potential ‘road ragers’ were out of their cars helping to direct traffic, assist those in distress and keep the city flowing. I heard great stories about restaurants who willingly offered meals and drinks to these humanitarians. I also heard tales of ordinary people going out of their way to assist some elderly people in getting back to safety after an elevator stalled. Regular people using creativity, initiative, and compassion to assist their fellow man, incredible.

Even more incredible, is that beyond the heroic rescues and humanitarian efforts, I heard stories from many friends of impromptu block parties where neighbours who had never met before were dropping by to barbecue whatever was left in the freezer and having a blast connecting and getting to know each other. How have these neighbours never met before? Too busy, too stressed, too tired, too much to do…

I ask you, do we need September 11, blackouts, earthquakes, a war on terrorism, disease and death to keep us grounded in what is important? If everything went according to our intellectual plan, would we be sitting in our multi-million dollar mansions with perfect bodies, perfect lives, perfect kids, and no one to share it with?

Take a moment to reflect on this question. How many “terrible, tragic, traumatic” events have taken place in your life that have made your life richer, given your life more meaning, connected you more deeply with yourself, your family, your community?

I can recall the time when a huge tornado struck our community. It was really terrifying; especially as a young kid because we had never realized that it could happen to us. We thought it just happened to Dorothy and Toto. So when our town was thrust into emergency mode, what did we do? We banded together. I recall several families camping out at our house. With a fire lit, and hot chocolate shared around, and stories told, we made connections that have lasted a lifetime. I learned things about these people, who had been friends for years that perhaps would never have been revealed otherwise. We had the privilege of helping them out in a time of need that night, and caring for them during the ensuing days of cleanup. Would we have been able to share, give and receive on those levels without the destruction?

What I am driving at is that sometimes these intensely frightening events that toss our carefully constructed lives into chaos can be the best thing to happen to us. If we are so focussed on forcing the world around us to submit to our every desire, then perhaps we need a little shake-up now and then to keep us grounded and humble. But, from that pattern of destruction, perhaps we can learn to listen a little more carefully, look for the signs of imbalance, before we have to survive another disaster.

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences on this subject as I seek some different viewing points. Namaste, Heather.

Thoughts…

The Mountain’s Voice

A son and his father were walking in the mountains. Suddenly, the young boy falls, hurts himself and screams, “AAAHhhhhhh!!”

To his surprise, he hears his voice repeating, from somewhere deep in the mountain, “AAAHhhhhh!!”

Curious he yells, “Who are you?”

He receives the answer from afar, “Who are you?”

And then he says back loudly to the mountain, “I admire you!”

The mountain’s voice answers, “I admire you!”

Angered at the response, he screams, “Coward!”

He receives the answer, “Coward”

He looks to his father and asks, “what’s going on?”

The father smiles and says, “My son, pay attention.”

Again the boy screams, “You are a champion!”

The voice answers, “You are a champion!”

The boy is surprised, but does not understand. Then the father explains, “People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do, what you think and feel. Our life is simply a reflection of our every action. If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence. This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life. Life will give you back everything you have given to it.”

An Excerpt from “Living at your Desk”
by Heather Agnew

Becoming conscious of how we move, hold, and express our bodies is an essential step in lifelong health, and in workplace safety. Observing the tendencies in your body to tighten, tense, or hold awkward positions is an exercise that takes minimal time and energy, but has a maximum payoff. To improve your posture, enhance your performance, and decrease your stress level at work, try these other simple actions:

1. Shake it off. Regularly shake off any stress, adjust your posture, take a deep breath, and then continue your work. Create a new habit to remind yourself to release tension. For instance, every time you go to the toilet, whenever you hang up the phone, or you can set a timer on your computer every 15-30 minutes that will remind you to Shake It Off. This step will make you more conscious of the occasions in between breaks when you are sticking your neck out, tensing your shoulders, clenching your teeth, frowning, or other tendencies we have when focussed on work.
2. Take breaks. Get up, walk around, stretch, eat your lunch outdoors if you can. The more breaks you take, the more productive you will be when you are on the job. Those who stay at the desk all day are losing productivity, creativity, and brain-power the longer they stay chained to the desk. Get inspired by a walk outdoors, connect with co-workers at lunch, and know when it’s time to punch out at the end of the day.
3. Stay hydrated. Keep a bottle of water at your desk and sip frequently. Caffeine, smoking, and salty snack foods all rob you of water, which increases your body’s stress level by throwing it out of balance. Water is yin, the cool element. Water keeps you calm and balanced. Keep water on your desk and in your body to stay cool in any situation.

One of the main causes of repetitive strain injury is awkward posture. And to the body, sitting in a chair is awkward and stressful for the spine, the hips, shoulders, and the extremities. To alleviate this physical stress you can utilize some simple stretches at your desk whenever your body feels restless, tense, or you are feeling drained of energy:

Supported Crescent

Especially important for workers who stand stationary for much of the day, this exercise helps to relieve low back tension, rounded posture, and helps to re-balance the spine and nervous system. Stand with your feet hip width apart, knees straight but not locked. Place your hands on your lower back in fists or with your palms flat and fingers facing down. It is important that your hands are supporting your body in this posture. Begin by shifting your hips forward then slowly look up to the ceiling and arch through your back softly. Focus on opening your hips, your belly, your chest, and your throat. Follow with the counter-bend, Forward Fold.

Forward Fold

Helps to relieve low back tension, stimulate your brain, and relieve pressure from your neck, shoulders and back. Stand with your feet hip width apart, and your hands on your thighs. Take a deep breath in, lift your chest, and then exhale and hinge at your hips as you slide your hands down your thighs. Try to keep your spine straight for as long as you can in this stretch. As your hands reach your shins, your back will slightly round and you can relax for a few moments, breathing deeply. Pay special attention to relaxing the back of your neck.

Hip Stretch

Sitting comfortably in your chair, cross your right ankle over your left thigh about 2-4 inches above your knee and allow your hip and knee to relax so that your lower leg is parallel to the ground. Take a deep breath in, stretch up through your spine, then gently lean forward and allow a stretch to extend from your left hip through your outer thigh into your knee. Helps to alleviate stress from hips and spine, particularly effective for those who sit or drive for prolonged periods.

Seated Side Bend

Begin by rolling your shoulders forward and back a few times slowly. Then, inhale and reach your arms over your head. Gently claps your left wrist with your right hand. Exhale and gently bend to the right, drawing your left arm up and away slightly with your right hand. Hold for a few seconds while you breath deeply, then return to the start, switch your hands so that your left hand is holding your right wrist, and bend to the left. For a gentle spinal rotation, place your left hand on the outside of your right knee, clasp the right side of the back of your seat with your right hand. Keep your feet on the ground, and your spine tall, as you twist your body to the right. Draw your right shoulder back while you look over your shoulder. Release and repeat on the left side.

Roll Down

Sitting in your chair, stretch up through the back of your neck and then gently tuck your chin into your chest, as close as possible to the base of your throat. Continue slowly curling down, as though you are making a ball out of your body, rolling your head down and imagine you will bring the top of your head into your belly button. Roll down as far as you can, and then slowly roll back up, keeping in mind that you would like to stack each vertebrae one on top of the other, while creating more space between each disc by stretching up gently. When you finally unroll completely, you will feel taller, your spine will feel light, and any pressure in your back will be relieved.

Neck Stretches

The neck and upper back is an area of the body that holds a tremendous amount of stress. At least once a day, take time out to practice these gentle neck stretches. Sit tall in your chair and reach your hands down to grasp the sides of your chair beside your hips. Gently draw your shoulders away from your ears. Keep your eyes forward and slowly tilt your right ear towards your right shoulder without allowing your shoulders to rise. You will feel a stretch in the left side of your neck. Slowly return to the start and repeat on the other side. For the second stretch, release your right hand from the chair and place your right hand flat onto the front of your left shoulder, gently pressing your shoulder down and back. Then, turn your head to look over your right shoulder, tilting the top of your head back slightly to feel a stretch in the front and side of your neck, and even into your jaw on the left side. Release slowly and repeat on the right side of your neck by placing your left hand on your right shoulder, and looking over your left shoulder. Hold each of these neck stretches for 15-30 seconds while breathing gently through your nose.

Please note: it is important to see your health care practitioner before beginning a new exercise program. H!

Upcoming Events in Brisbane, Oct 2003

Yoga Retreat Weekend

This is your last chance to register for the Mind Body Mastery weekend at beautiful Mount Glorious. This weekend will explore techniques to become a more relaxed, aware, and vibrantly healthy person. Learn meditation, visualization, and self-talk exercises to achieve your goals. Discuss nutrition, exercise, and health care from the yogi’s perspective. Enjoy yoga classes, hiking, great home cooked meals, a fun movie night, and lots of free time.

• Date: October 31-November 2
• Cost: $300pp inclusive
• Location: Mount Glorious Getaways
• Accepting registrations until October 15!

Self Mastery I

This interactive workshop series will introduce you to a more conscious and purposeful way of life. Develop a focussed, clear, creative mind. Learn to access your intuition. Understand how you create your reality. Discover your life purpose. Develop confidence like never before. Update beliefs that limit your life choices. Become a dynamic and relaxed person.

• Date: begins Oct 16, 7 sessions Mon & Thurs eve (Oct 16, 20, 23, 27, 30, Nov 3, 6)
• Time: 7:00-10:00pm
• Location: 2/459 Hawthorne Road, Bulimba
• Cost: $400pp ($375 early bird cash only by Oct 10)

Free Healing Circle

After a very successful first healing circle, we are again offering this free introductory evening to those who would like to discuss concepts in healing and metaphysics, share in the offering of healing to our world, and receiving healing from the group. Space is limited, so please express your intent to attend ASAP. New members welcome.

• Date: October 19, 2003
• Time: 7:00-10:00pm
• Location: 2/459 Hawthorne Road, Bulimba (corner of Hawthorne and Nora)

The Practice of Yoga – Beyond the Asanas

September’s workshop will include a practice of the Gayatri Mantra learned in the preview class, as well as a discussion of the chakra system, and many techniques and exercises to clean and recharge chakras for better health, balance, and enhanced yoga practice. New students are welcome.

• Date: Tuesday October 7, 2003 (1st Tues of each month)
• Time: 7:30-9:30pm (refreshments after class)
• Location: 2/459 Hawthorne Road, Bulimba
• Cost: $20 per class, or $60 for 4 classes.

The Energetic Healing Diploma Program

Developed and recognized by the World Development for Human Resources, this comprehensive program offers the beginner or practicing healer a foundation of theory and practice in the areas of energy balancing, chakras, bodywork, understanding the causes of illness, the role of the healer, spiritual healing, symptom relief, life cycles, and accessing the intuitive healer within you.

• Date: November 15, 16, 22, 23, 2003 (non-residential)
• Time: 9:30am-5:30pm
• Location: 2/459 Hawthorne Road, Bulimba
• Cost: $450 inclusive ($400 early bird by October 20)

In response to a great demand in the area for good quality, value priced yoga supplies, we are now carrying a selection of Yoga Mats and Fit Balls. To order your yoga supplies, please contact heather@yogatrinity.com or use the order

Name: ________________________________________________________________________________

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Address: ______________________________________________________________________________

Post Code: ______________ Email: _______________________________________________________

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Fees: A minimum deposit of 25% is required upon registration. My fee of $____ is enclosed.

Cancellations: For a full refund of deposit, cancellations must be received no later than 14 days prior to event. Cancellations received later than 14 days prior to event are non-refundable.

Consent: In consideration of the services provided by Christopher Lipscomb and Mind Body Mastery, I assume full responsibility for all risk associated with my choice to use the services and I hereby release and discharge Christopher Temple Lipscomb, Heather Agnew and Mind Body Mastery from any claims or liability for personal injury or property damage arising from my use of the services.

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