On May 15, 2020 I received my RYT 200 certificate. I was officially certified and able to call myself a Yoga Teacher. Why celebrate this accomplishment, or the 1-year anniversary? If you have a couple minutes I will explain. 
In 2020 when the entire world was faced with the pandemic, a cloud of doom paralyzed most people. Working in health care I was getting information about the severity of the pandemic quite frequently. I knew I had to do something to stay sane, especially during lockdown/ social distancing. I decided to take my passion for Yoga to the next level and completed 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training. Not only did the daily Yoga practice help me stay healthy physically, it helped my mental well being as well.
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Yoga with Oma was born (to learn what Oma means, go to "All about Oma" tab). 

I wanted to be an example for my children and grandchildren. I wanted to show them that even during a difficult time something beautiful can be created. Just like a Lotus flower. 

"The lotus flower's daily resurrection is certainly interesting, and surely symbolic of revival. (This makes it the perfect gift for anyone recovering from injury or a traumatic experience.) But the flower also has a fascinating will to live. A lotus seed can withstand thousands of years without water, able to germinate over two centuries later.
The flower also blooms in the most unlikely of places such as the mud of murky river water in Australia or Southern Asia. Not only does it find sanctuary in the muck, but due to the waxy protection layer on its petals, its beauty is blithely unaffected when it re-blooms each morning. It continues to resurrect itself, coming back just as beautiful as it was last seen. With such refusal to accept defeat, it's almost impossible not to associate this flower with unwavering faith. Although cultures have largely dubbed the lotus as a spiritual figurehead, it is most emblematic of the faith within ourselves. It is particularly what the Buddhist proverb, aims to edify; living life with unwavering faith, as the lotus does, ensures the most beautiful revivals". Source: "The secret meaning of the Lotus flower" by Katie Robinson

When life gives you lemons,......you know the saying. I, instead decided to become a Yoga Teacher. I wanted to share the benefits of Yoga, but how? I decided to host monthly free Yoga practices in the park. Each month I choose a local non-profit organization and fundraise for them. If you attend my free Yoga practice, you have the opportunity to donate towards their cause. So far I have collected funds to fight food insecurity of the Navajo Nation. Hosted a food drive for local food bank. Collected hygiene products for local women's shelter. Rounded up Arts and Craft supplies for local Family Resource Center. I have been blessed with a group of wonderful people who support me and my vision.

I wanted to give back to them, so I decided to host a 1-year anniversary celebration. It was a beautiful morning in the park. We took a closer look at Sun Salutations and possible modifications. The Chair Yoga session was well received and we ended with Spring Yoga for children. Throughout the event the talented photographer McKenna took pictures that captured the essence of this celebration.

In closing, I want to thank all my supporters, my friends and family, and I am leaving you with this quote:
"Don't grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form" - Rumi

Temperatures rising quickly in Arizona! A good time to talk about hydration. Not only do plants and animals need more water, we humans do too. A good way to remember to drink water on a regular basis is to have a water bottle with you whenever you go out. I prefer to use an insulated, reusable one. It will keep my water nice and cold and it's eco friendly. Children and senior citizens are more susceptible  to dehydration.

"Babies and young children are more prone to suffer from dehydration than older children. It is due to the fact that young children lose fluid more quickly than others. Some of the common reasons for dehydration among children are low fluid intake, increased sweating, frequent urination, vomiting, diarrhea or a combination of these conditions."

"As the body ages, the amount of water in it decreases, and this is one of the main reasons elderly adults are at a higher risk for dehydration. Whereas younger people can afford to lose more water, adults over 60 can lose the same amount and develop dehydration faster."

Here are a few tips to stay hydrated:

• set a timer to drink water (don't wait until you are thirsty!) great phone Apps out there!
• use a clear reusable water bottle that holds your daily water intake
• freeze fruit like berries in ice cubes for a chilled infusion
• add fresh fruits, cucumbers or herbs (ginger, mint leaves, or lemongrass) to improve the taste of your water 
• drink a glass of water after every trip to the restroom
• go bubbly - use soda stream for something more interesting than plain H2O

This is a good start to keep you hydrated during the Arizona summer. Should you find yourself dehydrated and you don't feel better after rehydrating, seek  medical assistance. 
If you would like to learn more about how much water is enough or too much, click on below link.

Cheers!
Oma
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Water: How much should you drink every day? - Mayo Clinic

This past weekend I hosted another fundraiser. The theme was "Spring-New Beginnings". Participants received a gratitude gift of wildflower seeds. Planting seeds; anticipating the fruit of your labor, beautiful flowers.

Spring, a season of life lessons: to attain the fruits of your labor, you must face harsh and taxing conditions beforehand. Simply put: getting through winter is a challenge. Spring; however, is the light at the end of the tunnel to many who’ve bore the brunt of winter. Source: Health-Ade March 15, 2019

The pandemic was our winter, our harsh and taxing conditions, therefore spring is even more symbolic for new beginnings and change. We all experienced isolation, longing for social interaction. I am thankful that I am able to meet people and interact with them. Practicing Yoga in the park, giving people the chance to do something good for themselves. I had a wonderful encounter at the fundraiser, I met a sweet lady who joined the Yoga practice. Afterwards she was telling me how hard it is to connect with people and how much she appreciated my invitation to Yoga with Oma. Life is good and spring is a lovely reminder how beautiful change can truly be.
Here's to new beginnings!
Oma

Why celebrate International Women's Day?

International Women’s Day is a dynamic holiday dedicated to lifting up the social, economic, cultural and political accomplishments of women. It is also rooted in raising awareness of the issues women face across the spectrum and, accordingly, advocating for gender parity.
Reference: https://news.yahoo.com/international-womens-day-why-celebrate-170000477.html
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I recently watched "The United States vs Billie Holiday" - what a powerful piece of art. It stirred up a whole bunch of emotions. I am not going into detail as to why - as we all experience art differently.

What I am going to talk about is finding strength in pursuing ones talent. Art is a way to express emotions, experience joy, and to communicate with others. Art is like speaking another language! It can help reduce the strong emotional charge attached to traumatic memories, providing relief from difficult symptoms. Art can aide in moving forward on the path to healing.

Everyone should be in a safe environment and able to express their talent.

I am closing with a poem by Bunmi Laditan

It's tempting to hold each moment
up to the sun 
examining it for flaws
glaring imperfections
noticing how it fails to meet our expectations
for what it should be, could have been
but what if you put it down
let it wash over you
accept it as yours
make your peace
with the present
acknowledging that it doesn't have to be
perfect
to be
beautiful

Stay beautiful,
OMA

Another successful event! The weather was beautiful, not too much of a gamble in AZ! We started with kids Yoga, this month's theme "I am Peace". The adult Yoga practice focused on various stretching poses as well as balance. This month's fundraiser was a food drive for Valley View Food Bank. The donations are for   emergency food boxes for families in need within Arizona. If you would like to learn more about this non-profit organization click here Valley View Community Food Bank | Providing wholesome, nutritious food to a diverse community. (feedingaz.org)
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We express love for others in many different ways. But do we take care of ourselves?
Here are a few tips on how to practice self love/ care:

• learn to say "no". Overcommitting is counterproductive and can lead to stress and anxiety
• do something you really love (you don't have to be good at it in order to love it!)
• enjoy the outdoors (hiking, taking a walk or go on a bike ride)
• breathe (pay attention to your breath, practice 4x4 breathing)
• pay attention to your thoughts (replace negative self talk with positive uplifting messages)
• laugh more
• exercise 
• do something kind for someone else

This is a good start! On this Valentine's Day I hope you receive and share kindness and love!

​Oma

"The main focus of yoga is to unite the mind, spirit and body through the breath, or prana. Your success often lies in the hands of the person guiding you in this practice." Ira Israel (YOGI TIMES, 8/2020)

How do you know if you have found the right Yoga Teacher? 

The following may help:

• What is your first impression?
• Do they  teach what you want to learn?
• Do you feel like you are learning and advancing in your journey?
• Is the teacher approachable?
• What does the teachers Yoga education consist of?
• Is the teacher registered with Yoga Alliance?
  

If you haven’t yet found a teacher that resonates with you, don’t lose hope! He or she is right around the corner. Remember that the right yoga teacher for you is ultimately the one you feel a connection with and are happy to learn from.
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Read the complete article
 Finding the Right Yoga Teacher | Yoga Alliance

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