|
|
|
|
|
|
Alternative Medicine and Holistic Health |
|
|
|
Do-Sa-Do For Mindfulness
When I was 12, one of my best friends was a square dancer. Twice a week, her family would pile into the Country Squire station wagon and head to the Grange Hall, where they'd gather with their square dancing club for an evening of music, friendship and do-sa-do. (That's the correct spelling, by the way. Visit www.dosado.com) As a regular guest, I was fascinated by the form but, in the height of my coolness-conscious years, also acutely aware of the overwhelming dork factor. These people lived to square dance. They skipped around for two or three hours at a time, twirling and smiling and dabbing at their foreheads between dances. They hunted for holiday-themed fabric months before special dances in order to whip up the perfect ruffled dress and matching shirt for each occasion. They packed their petticoats and headed to Penticton, British Columbia every summer for a regional square dancers' convergence. The square dance girls were just as boy-crazy as my regular friends, but they had a built-in way to hold hands with the guys they liked. As for me, I had a major crush on my friend's older brother who, at 15, was an articulate, ambitious student body president with piercing blue eyes and blond hair to his shoulders (it was 1972, after all). In one of our (for me, anyway) excruciating conversations involving much blushing, he told me that square dancing was like meditation. "It's a way to forget about everything except what's going on right now. You have to pay attention to what the caller says, and let your mind and body make sense of it naturally, without trying too hard." At the time, I had only a fleeting familiarity with meditation, and I didn't see much similarity between these suburban, gingham-clad dancers and the Hare Krishnas that offered carnations to passersby on downtown street corners. Years later, I have to marvel at his insight. Square dancing IS like meditation. There's no focusing on memories of the past or worries about the future. Instead, a square dancer must remain in a state of acceptance and anticipation. The caller will determine the next move, and no amount of second-guessing or outsmarting will help you become more effective--or more popular. As a square dancer, you're surrounded by other dancers but not really attached to a particular one--your matching outfits notwithstanding-- because you are constantly moving among the others. Your attention is directed toward whatever comes up--in this case, the caller's command and your subsequent focus on that engagement, however brief. There's a continuous current of possibilities, and your state is that of relaxed readiness without any judgment. Other than the moment your crush happens to be holding your hand, there is no partner or move that is better than any other. The beauty is in the flow of it all and the awareness of being fully there. For the square dancers, their Wednesday-and-Saturday-night gatherings provided fellowship, fitness and an opportunity to really let go. Despite the hopelessly unhip pointy white shoes and the Hee-Haw setting, the dancers had discovered a way to make mindfulness, well, FUN if not exactly cool. Perhaps it never crossed their minds that they were engaging in anything but entertaining exercise. But if a 15-year-old boy--cute or not--could see it, I'm guessing that others recognized the sense of connection they gained in an evening of fully-present partner swinging. We tend to think of mindfulness as something to be experienced only through meditation. WRONG. Mindfulness involves us 100% in the present moment, but we don't need a cushion, maple bench, or incense to get there. In our mindful moments, we are at our finest and most human--open, forgiving, focused, compassionate and connected. Sitting, standing, or swinging your partner, that's a good place to be. Yee-haw! About The Author Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse offering specialized mindfulness training in Portland, Oregon. A former fitness trainer, she now teaches individuals how to pay attention. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 100 countries. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, visit http://mindmasseuse.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Norepinephrine - A Factor in Fibromyalgia Pain That Your Subconscious May Be Able to Curb Normally an inhibitor of pain, norepinephrine can produce pain as well--especially in the case of fibromyalgia. Your subconscious may be able to help counteract the effects of this pain-related brain chemical. Are You Suffering From Chronic Constipation? Embarrassing as it may be, we have all suffered from constipation at one time in our life or another. According to the National Health Interview Survey as many as 3 million Americans suffer from frequent if not chronic constipation. The Benefit of Royal Jelly Royal Jelly is a milky substance produced by the worker bees in a beehive. Their glands give off a rich jelly, called royal jelly, which is manufactured solely in order to nourish the young larvae and sustain the queen. Fruits, Juices, and Food for Relieving Hemorrhoids Part II Eating the right kind of food and following good eating habits will speed up your healing of your hemorrhoids. If you have a diet that is hard to digest and moves slowly through your colon, then, expect to have constipation which will encourage formation of hemorrhoids or prevent the their healing. Gearing Up for Flu Season Well, flu season is coming upon us quickly, and most people would love to skip getting sick this year. The biggest question is?How? Here are the easiest ways to keep yourself and loved ones free of the nastiest of colds this (and every) year. Love, Appreciation, and the Heart As I started to write this article a few words from a song kept running through my head "all you need is love.. A Constipation Remedy Using Potassium and Prunes Potassium and prunes are a natural constipation remedy that you can quickly use to help you get constipation relief.Potassium is needed in your colon walls to insure that peristaltic action occurs. How Dirty Dishes And Stale Bread Saved The World Home Remedies - Facts or Quacks?That's what I recently asked myself. Myths and legends often have their basis in a grain of truth. Oregano Supplements : An Effective Natural Treatment for Fungus and Other Ailments What's the big deal with oregano? Many of you have eaten foods containing oregano, or even sprinkled it on your pizza, without knowing its healing powers. In a comparative research, oregano topped the list of healthy herbs according to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 10 Simple Ways to Naturally Increase Your Energy 1. Eat protein at every meal: One of the most important ways to keep your blood sugar balanced and energy levels high is to include protein at every meal, breakfast and snacks included. Cleaners And Our Health Many people use strong cleaners or acid cleaners to make the house clean and to get hard to clean stains out, but people don't realize that many cleaners are bad for our health they contain ingredient that irritate the skin and the fumes that those cleaner produce are dangerous if we inhale them.Many people suffer from asthma and other respiratory problems and using those type of cleaners in a place not well ventilated can be harmful for the health. Magnetic Therapy: The Facts (and Some Myths) Is magnet therapy regarded yet as a mainstream therapy? I consider it is not and through this series of articles I hope to raise awareness by examining a number of issues that have stood in the way of mass acceptance.There is a useful parallel to be drawn between magnetic therapy and acupuncture. Anal Warts Treatment (Finally, a Medicine for Anal Warts Which Removes Them Completely!) Anal warts treatmentAnal warts, otherwise known as genital warts or venereal warts, are just one of about 80- different strains of the Human Papilloma virus (HPV). Anal warts are extremely common these days. Acupuncturists An ancient Chinese method of pain relief and disease treatment; acupuncturists have used acupuncture effectively over several centuries. Acupuncturists use a treatment where fine, hair-like needle insertion is done over several, specific areas of the body. How to Stop Hair Pulling With Hypnosis Stress caused by the day-to-day issues of home life and work can bring people to their breaking point. Many people struggle with the feeling of wanting to pull out their hair. How to Best Use Your Summer Energy Summer EnthusiasmAccording to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are five elements that contribute to all activities: TREE / WOOD, FIRE, SOIL / EARTH, METAL and WATER.Fire is the element of summer ? so how can this help to put more of YOU in summer?The direction of this seasons element - Fire - is upward and outward! It is a great time of year to be very active, take advantage of the extra energy supply of sunlight and have some fun!A good time of year to:? Ready, Aim - Fire!This is the perfect time of year to take a risk and try something new. Frankincense in Aromatherapy - Trees, Pearls, and Essential Oil The Mysterious FrankincenseUsed for many thousands of years, the Frankincense tree has perhaps the greatest association with spiritualpractice of any plant on earth. In most of the great ancient cultures,including the Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Hebrew, Greek and Roman civilizations, it has played a role inreligious and domestic life. Gout Pain Relief With Cherry Power - How To Ease Pain By Eating Fruit We can all learn something new every day! And good doctors are constantly alert to learning from all of their patients. It takes a lot to surprise me after twenty years in medicine but - I hold my hand up - this is a new one!I had never heard of cherry juice or fresh cherries being used to treat gout or for gout pain relief until I heard it recently from a patient (who had been told it by his pharmacist, who had heard it from a relative etc etc). Green Tea prevents and fights the risks of Cancer, why you should be drinking Green Tea Do you drink Green Tea?Then you should read the information below.Lately, green tea has been getting a lot of attention, recent reports and scientific studies found that green tea has the ability to reduce greatly the risk of many cancers and in some cases it has shown signs of reducing tumors. Aromatherapy Oils Aromatherapy is a method of using the aromatic oils which have been distilled from plant sources to engender a feeling of well being both physically and psychologically. Safe and correct use has been shown to benefit the physical and mental well being.
|
| home | Iridology | "Mind Machines" | "Alternative Health" site map | Iridology Site Map | "Alternative Botox" |
| © 2000 - 2010 |
