What a beautiful day to host a fundraiser in the park!
Thank you for practicing Yoga with me. This was the first of 12 fundraisers hosted by YOGA WITH OMA. Each month I will host a free Yoga class, accepting donations for local non-profit organizations. 

This months cause was raising awareness about food insecurity. More specifically food insecurity of the Navajo Nation. 100% of the proceeds go directly towards purchasing water and non perishable food items, and dropped off on the reservation in Arizona. This cause has been brought to my attention by one of the emergency room physicians I work with. He regularly visits the reservation to drop off donations. I wanted to support this cause by offering a free Yoga class for children and adults in the community where I live. 

I am researching non-profit organizations for February event. If you would like my support message me via contact form. 

If you would like to donate to a more global cause, check out my company's foundation 
​Vituity Cares Foundation

With Gratitude,
Oma

What do you do on a rainy day? Sleep in? Grab your umbrella and go for a walk? Curl up under a blanket and watch a movie, read a book?
Did you enjoy rainy days as a child? Jumping in every water puddle? 
I remember going outside with my boys on rainy days. Dressed for the occasion, jumping in every puddle, twirling my umbrella. Coming home after a long walk, drying off, and enjoying a cup of hot cocoa.
Now that my boys are grown, what do I do on rainy days? I reflect, recalling the giggles and smiles during our walks in the rain. Practicing gratitude for the memories.

Practicing gratitude in general can be a beneficial daily habit. You can try journaling, meditation, or simply pay attention to the little things in life that bring you joy. If practiced on a regular basis, gratitude will likely provide positive long-term effects to your mental health and well-being.
I like to do "3 things". You can do it in the morning as you start your day, or at night before you go to sleep to end the day on a positive note. On a piece of paper write down 3 things you are thankful for. Do this for 30 days. It can be a family activity as well. At the dinner table have each family member share 3 things they are thankful for that day. It will improve your mood, boost your immune system and will strengthen your family bond.
Here's another simple idea that's easy to put into practice (with children too), gratitude jars. Whenever something good happens or you feel thankful for something, write it down on a piece of paper and put it in a jar. Next time you are feeling down, give the jar a shake and pick out one slip of paper. It will remind you of something good in your life that you can appreciate. It can help you recall simple pleasures that you might have otherwise forgotten. 
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Here's what I am grateful for - you reading this post.
Enjoy the rainy days!
Oma
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The benefit of Yoga and Mindfulness:

- increases flexibility and balance
-improves concentration and focus
-boosts confidence
-promotes health and wellness




​Here's what Marsha Wenig wrote on August 28, 2007 in the Yoga Journal: 

"Our children live in a hurry-up world of busy parents, school pressures, incessant lessons, video games, malls, and competitive sports. We usually don’t think of these influences as stressful for our kids, but often they are. The bustling pace of our children’s lives can have a profound effect on their innate joy—and usually not for the better. I have found that yoga can help counter these pressures. When children learn techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they can navigate life’s challenges with a little more ease. Yoga at an early age encourages self-esteem and body awareness with a physical activity that’s noncompetitive. Fostering cooperation and compassion—instead of opposition—is a great gift to give our children. Children derive enormous benefits from yoga. Physically, it enhances their flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves. Doing yoga, children exercise, play, connect more deeply with the inner self, and develop an intimate relationship with the natural world that surrounds them. Yoga brings that marvelous inner light that all children have to the surface."

Still true today! 

Oma