“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
– Maya Angelou

I’ve been thinking…..

 

To vax or not to vax??? What a quandary we are in as a culture, a society, a people. Fueled by fear of the newest variant and whipped into a frenzy by our media and politicians, who knows what to do??? The safe thing is simply to take the most conservative route and wear a mask.

But, this leads us to deeper thinking doesn’t it?

In life the most conservative route is not always the most advantageous. I don’t mean to be disparaging about the mask/vax situation, but honestly……..there is not one simple answer. There are many different solutions for everyone. Isn’t this a good exercise in non-judgment?

“In yoga we choose to value non-judgment.  The first tenant of yoga is to do no harm. Passing judgment is harmful because that energy of criticism lives in you.  It affects you.  When you judge someone it defines you not the other person.  If you feel you can easily comment on others, chances are you are also well versed in judging yourself. Feelings of insecurity and unworthiness create the biggest bullies and the saddest souls.” (Health Yoga Life – Bielkus)

 

 

“When you’re unaware that these judgments are influencing your behavior, you’re just along for the ride. Like a marionette reacting to a puppeteer, you become trapped by your conditioned judgments and reactions.

Mindfulness presents an alternative to this vicious cycle in the form of non-judgment.” (from Mindful Ambition by Patrick Buggy https://mindfulambition.net/non-judgment/ )

One of my favorite quotes here comes from the Master Thich Nhat Hanh, “For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.”

Let’s let that settle for a while this month.

Until next time,

In gratitude,

Lynette

 

Recipe of the Month:
Summer Squash and Onions

 

This is the perfect side dish to have with your meal on a summer night. It is full of delicious and nutritious veggies. You could even have this as a light main course. Enjoy!

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 large or 2 small sweet onions, chopped or sliced
  • 2 medium zucchini, chopped or sliced
  • 3 yellow squash, chopped or sliced
  • 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes with basil, oregano and garlic (do not drain)
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1 teaspoon seasoning salt like Accent
  • 2 teaspoons Mrs. Dash seasoning, any flavor (no salt added – we like Table Blend)

Instructions:

  • Warm a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the olive oil and butter. Once the butter is melted, add the chopped onions and sauté until crisp tender and starting to brown, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the squash, zucchini, tomatoes with juice, pepper, salt and Mrs. Dash.
  • Heat until boiling. Cover and cook over medium-low until the squash is crisp tender but not falling apart. Remove the lid and boil until some of the liquid is evaporated.
  • If freezing for later use, cook only a few minutes to mix all ingredients, cool and freeze.

Recipe Source: https://www.savingdessert.com/summer-squash-onions/

Yoga Pose of the Month:
Seated Forward Fold

Step 1

Sit on the floor with your buttocks supported on a folded blanket and your legs straight in front of you. Press actively through your heels. Rock slightly onto your left buttock, and pull your right sitting bone away from the heel with your right hand. Repeat on the other side. Turn the top thighs in slightly and press them down into the floor. Press through your palms or finger tips on the floor beside your hips and lift the top of the sternum toward the ceiling as the top thighs descend.

Step 2

Draw the inner groins deep into the pelvis. Inhale, and keeping the front torso long, lean forward from the hip joints, not the waist. Lengthen the tailbone away from the back of your pelvis. If possible take the sides of the feet with your hands, thumbs on the soles, elbows fully extended; if this isn’t possible, loop a strap around the foot soles, and hold the strap firmly. Be sure your elbows are straight, not bent.

Step 3

When you are ready to go further, don’t forcefully pull yourself into the forward bend, whether your hands are on the feet or holding the strap. Always lengthen the front torso into the pose, keeping your head raised. If you are holding the feet, bend the elbows out to the sides and lift them away from the floor; if holding the strap, lighten your grip and walk the hands forward, keeping the arms long. The lower belly should touch the thighs first, then the upper belly, then the ribs, and the head last.

Step 4

With each inhalation, lift and lengthen the front torso just slightly; with each exhalation release a little more fully into the forward bend. In this way the torso oscillates and lengthens almost imperceptibly with the breath. Eventually you may be able to stretch the arms out beyond the feet on the floor.

Step 5

Stay in the pose anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes. To come up, first lift the torso away from the thighs and straighten the elbows again if they are bent. Then inhale and lift the torso up by pulling the tailbone down and into the pelvis.

Yoga source: https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/seated-forward-bend/

 

 

 

“I don’t count my sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting because they’re the only ones that count.” 
– Muhammad Ali