Oct 17, 2023 — The temps may be dropping, the colors changing, and leaves falling, but it somehow feels like the world is in a sort of suspended animation, holding its collective breath, waiting for what happens next.
In last Tuesday’s Cardie Newsletter, we shared the quick Peace Begins With Me meditation. In response, Cardie Madeline Stockbridge left the comment, “We may not be able to bring World peace, but if we concentrate on bringing love and peace into our own communities, it will make a difference.”
Mad’s message was so hopeful and, well, moving, that we asked Creative Coordinator Emma Bragdon to share with you a very helpful piece she wrote on Getting Unstuck. She makes some great points to help us better move through this tough time in the world.
“Our bodies are a unique ecosystem that craves activity, rest, and restoration,” Emma describes. “Staying still for long periods of time affects our naturally flowing energy and can create stagnation. Just as water stagnation creates build-up in a pond or a river, energy stagnation creates blockages in our body and spirit.” What to do? Emma suggests:
1. Get moving
Awaken your senses with gentle stretching as we did in this great Cardie Yoga practice last week. Or make your goal to break a sweat. Get your heart pumping and blood flowing with 20 minutes of cardio and feel the mood-boosting benefits.
2. Meditate
Even dedicating just a few peaceful minutes to meditation can allow you to silence busy thoughts and remove energy blockages, especially if you visualize stagnant energy releasing with each breath.
3. Breathe
Rather than taking shallow breaths through the chest, aim deep breaths down through the stomach. If you’re new to the practice of breathwork, gently inhale through your nose to a slow count of four. At the top of the breath, hold for a count of four, then count backward (4, 3, 2, 1) gently exhaling through your mouth. Repeat.
4. Do a Digital Detox
If you really want to feel the benefits that come from focusing on your health and well-being, unplug. Eliminate the constant distractions for a few minutes or a few days. If the very idea of doing a digital detox stresses you out, stop and think how refreshed you’ll feel by the end of it!
5. Get a Massage
We all know how tight, congested muscles feel. That’s actually pent-up negative energy creating physical and emotional blockages. A good massage therapist who does deep tissue work can release emotions that have been stored in the body for years. Should you find yourself crying or laughing during a massage, that’s emotional energy flowing again! And, afterward, you may feel as though a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
6. Have a Cardthartic Experience
It was beautiful to read from Cardie Donna Cochran, “I’d like to think that, somehow, the wonderful peaceful vibes from this community of Cardies will become a reality felt beyond what we can imagine.” One card, one kindness at a time!
Oct 17, 2023 — The temps may be dropping, the colors changing, and leaves falling, but it somehow feels like the world is in a sort of suspended animation, holding its collective breath, waiting for what happens next.
In last Tuesday’s Cardie Newsletter, we shared the quick Peace Begins With Me meditation. In response, Cardie Madeline Stockbridge left the comment, “We may not be able to bring World peace, but if we concentrate on bringing love and peace into our own communities, it will make a difference.”
Mad’s message was so hopeful and, well, moving, that we asked Creative Coordinator Emma Bragdon to share with you a very helpful piece she wrote on Getting Unstuck. She makes some great points to help us better move through this tough time in the world.
“Our bodies are a unique ecosystem that craves activity, rest, and restoration,” Emma describes. “Staying still for long periods of time affects our naturally flowing energy and can create stagnation. Just as water stagnation creates build-up in a pond or a river, energy stagnation creates blockages in our body and spirit.” What to do? Emma suggests:
1. Get moving
Awaken your senses with gentle stretching as we did in this great Cardie Yoga practice last week. Or make your goal to break a sweat. Get your heart pumping and blood flowing with 20 minutes of cardio and feel the mood-boosting benefits.
2. Meditate
Even dedicating just a few peaceful minutes to meditation can allow you to silence busy thoughts and remove energy blockages, especially if you visualize stagnant energy releasing with each breath.
3. Breathe
Rather than taking shallow breaths through the chest, aim deep breaths down through the stomach. If you’re new to the practice of breathwork, gently inhale through your nose to a slow count of four. At the top of the breath, hold for a count of four, then count backward (4, 3, 2, 1) gently exhaling through your mouth. Repeat.
4. Do a Digital Detox
If you really want to feel the benefits that come from focusing on your health and well-being, unplug. Eliminate the constant distractions for a few minutes or a few days. If the very idea of doing a digital detox stresses you out, stop and think how refreshed you’ll feel by the end of it!
5. Get a Massage
We all know how tight, congested muscles feel. That’s actually pent-up negative energy creating physical and emotional blockages. A good massage therapist who does deep tissue work can release emotions that have been stored in the body for years. Should you find yourself crying or laughing during a massage, that’s emotional energy flowing again! And, afterward, you may feel as though a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
6. Have a Cardthartic Experience
It was beautiful to read from Cardie Donna Cochran, “I’d like to think that, somehow, the wonderful peaceful vibes from this community of Cardies will become a reality felt beyond what we can imagine.” One card, one kindness at a time!
Jodee, thank you for including all those tips from our amazing Cardie Yoga class. As I’m going through maintenance treatments right now for cancer, I utilize all the techniques Paola has taught us & it helps immensely. Can’t thank you enough for our class.