Christian Husbands: Help Your Wives In AND Out of Yoga Pants!

A hidden reality of helping women in fitness, is the response and support of their husbands or significant other (Aka "old man"). I have yet to help a woman achieve significant changes to her body without her experiencing some turbulence in her relationship. Most of the time, this situation is resolved with a few mature conversations helping the husband or "old man" accept that his woman is now "hot" and will indefinitely be receiving extra looks and some unsolicited attention from other men. The woman typically reassures him of her faithfulness and eventually appeases his insecurity. Case closed and they live happily ever after with hot new wifey (and if she's lucky, he decides to join her at the gym so she doesn't spend their 401K with another man!). Unfortunately, sometimes a metamorphasized woman becomes destructive with her new prowess-powers (think of a Pink Incredible Hulkette seductive homewrecker on steroids). 

My experience in conservative Indiana is most Christian women who regularly exercise their faith don't fall like this. Intuitively, an evolving woman understands that becoming her healthier, fitter and typically better looking self will glorify God, especially when free of the vanity idol. Sadly, I've seen too many Christian husbands struggle with the idea of their wife receiving looks from other men. Hurting and handicapping other from evolving is not Gods plan which is why I'm sharing these reasons Christian Husbands Should Help Their Wives In AND Out of Yoga Pants...and into yoga class!

1. You like how she looks in AND out of yoga pants. Yes, another man might catch a glance too but doesn't know or appreciate her assets like you do! The truth is, your wife is likely a modest dresser and isn't looking to draw this type of attention to herself. The rest of the truth is that most men at the gym and in yoga class are more interested in looking at themselves instead of a momma trying to get in shape. Their nanosecond imaginative look at your wife in yoga pants doesn't have time to get her out of the pants because they need to make sure they are posing, grunting  breathing or sweating properly. If only Adam was watching his wife strolling around that forbidden tree... This really does put you in a dilemma now doesn't it Christian husband? If you really understood grace, you wouldn't have an issue and would trust your wife's judgement on the yoga pants thing. God trusts you and grants you grace when you mess up...shouldn't you do the same with her? Help her into those yoga pants!

2. Christian Women Should Work It!  (See my post: Why Christian Women Should Work It) Work it does NOT mean riske wardrobe, table dancing on Friday night or general floozie. It means she's "got it!" Size doesn't matter on this one, we all know when a woman "has it" and many-a-sized woman has it! Yes, Christian husband, you know your wife has it but does she realize she has it? Yes, I understand that you know that other men know she has it too and you're trying to keep the cat in the bag. The truth is she could be SO MUCH MORE!!! Encouraging her to wear to those yoga pants and get to that yoga class will help her become more comfortable in her body and in using her body. Better yet, you are the first in line for the ALL THAT MORE which will lend you many more opportunities to help her OUT of those yoga pants.

3. Community. Women are supportive of each other and thrive in groups. Typically, a yoga class is predominately and sometimes exclusively women who form wonderful sisterly relationships, especially within the Yogathea™ Christian Yoga Classes. The health benefits of yoga and meditation are undeniable and benefit the individuals and their communities. We will send her home properly encouraged, listening to her laments along the way. This community and her yoga pants will energize you to help her in AND out of those yoga pants...whichever your prefer!

Why Christian Women SHOULD Wear Yoga Pants

Christianity Today's Her Menuetics ran a popular web article last week: To The Christian Men and Women Debating Yoga Pants. Having worn yoga pants on a near daily basis since the last millennium, way before yoga pants were popular, I had to laugh. Reverends, Women, Bishops, and people with P.h.D behind their name were actually discussing this on a forum! Unable to control my snark, I suggested that Christian men wear yoga pants for more accountability in this area. I actually had a gentleman, and new blogger friend, Tim Fall, agree with me (more on Tim later).

Being a Christian Yoga Instructor and long time fitness professional, I'm obviously biased on this issue. That said, I do consider yoga pants a very important topic of Christian conversation. Discussing women in yoga pants certainly adds to our Christian body of knowledge and grows our love to change the world; therefore, I share these reasons why Christian women SHOULD wear yoga pants:

1. Yoga Pants Make Better Moms
Raising 4 young children as a stay-at-home mom and part-time fitness instructor, yoga pants proved to be my daily armor in those tumultuous times (or decade to be more accurate). Spandex is a great fabric to brush off the dried grimy hand prints that seemed to appear at thigh level. At the end of the day, being a workoutaholic, I was typically covered in dried sweat from my morning workout, tired and worn down from toddler tantrums but at least I could manage because of yoga pants. This Tim validates my point here, drum roll please....

2. Yoga Pants Equal a Better Probability of Actual Exercise
For years I have told my class that the hardest part of working out is showing up.Most people are very self conscious and self critical of their workouts and negative-talk themselves out of participating in an activity (exercise) that enhances their own health! Though many a woman wears yoga pants without ever having done yoga, if the yoga pants are actually donned that morning, the chances ARE better to actually make the workout!

In the United States, the leading causes of death today are lifestyle related, or lack of adequate diet and exercise, and 7 out of 10 Americans die of preventable chronic disease (1). Sometimes the easiest cure is the most difficult.

3. Yoga Pants Develop Assets
After years (39+ and holding to be exact) of hearing the gospel from a male dominated pulpit, I heard a woman preach to a church full of men and women. Yes, I have heard strong, wonderful women preach, but until last week, this was only to women. Patriarchy is a sin that continues to haunt the church and prevents its growth (See Tim Fall's Blog "Patriarchy--When False Doctrine Runs Amok"). The Bible is peppered with amazing women who decided to take on a role outside of the home and do some amazing things. The Bible is also missing the names of other women who certainly contributed as the Chronicles accredited Deborah's victory to Barak. Other women are just forever forgotten... As I work to train Christian Yoga Instructors and hold Christian Yoga Retreats, I'm wearing yoga pants more frequently than ever and they seem to be developing assets for my business partners and I.

My Law Professor colleague and friend told me about a State Legislator in Montana who submitted legislation that yoga pants be considered indecent exposure. I laughed again because who is going to enforce that? How would the friendly police officer approach the woman without her feeling sexually harassed? How would the respectful male police officer maintain his purity if he's require to monitor women's backsides. If a case actually went to court, how would the court decide what is too tight or thin? This is all starting to sound like Sharia Law to me because Burkas and Hijabs would take care of this entire issue...but so would men wearing yoga pants which is yet another reason why Christian women SHOULD wear yoga pants!

Note to Readers: For the record, in case your blood is boiling about the all important yoga pants issue in the Christian community, please know that I don't wear yoga pants to church and have a variety of longer tunics to cover my assets in the gym as well.

(1) U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, Disease Prevention, http://surgeongeneral.gov/publichealthpriorities.html#disease, downloaded June 5, 2009.

Love Your Neighbor Enough to Vaccinate

As "The Most Wonderful Place On Earth" spawned a Measles outbreak the mommy wars have been re-fueled. Is vaccinating responsible or playing Russian roulette? In the 1990s I served as a medical missionary at the Sihanouk Hospital, Cambodia where polio and other preventable diseases were rampant. Children and adults with polio wear flip flops on their hands to walk quadruped because they cannot stand. Measles and mumps are prevalent and fierce, causing much pain and deformity. The Cambodian people would come hundreds of miles on foot, moto or wagon and wait for days desperate to receive treatment.

Our scientists have literally eradicated these diseases in the United States and a few generations later an anti-vaccine movement has grown. Why? From most of what I can tell from talking with the anti-vaccination supporters, in and out of the clinic, on social media, and at the gym, there seem to be several misunderstandings that I will briefly address

1. Education--Most anti-vaccination supporters do not understand how to critically analyze scientific research and rely on internet "journal" articles using their Google Ph.D. I suppose this is a step up from taking medical advise from Parenting Magazine. Many parents of special needs children are dealing with the guilt and shame of their child's condition and don't understand that autism, seizures and developmental disorders are genetic in nature. Some are concerned about the preservatives in the vaccines and don't realize that the Coke they gave their child is more toxic.

2. Desire To Assert Freedom--Fortunately because the majority of people who have been compliant with vaccinations, we have a healthy society in which people have the freedom to choose whether or not to vaccinate. There seems to be resentment towards the government "force" in this issue. The diseases the CDC is requiring vaccination for admittance to public schools and international travel are NOT the cold or flu...and this brings us back to a lack of proper education on the issue.

As a mom of a child who needed a delayed vaccination schedule because he was not healthy enough to receive a vaccine, I too have weighted out the vaccination issue. My son has spent too many nights in the hospital and has more doctors than he has had birthdays, he will be 7 next week. My son was very ill early in his life but he did not contract the measles or mumps or scarlet fever or polio or chicken pox, all of which could have been fatal to him. With his pulmonary challenges, I'm certain he would not have survived whooping cough. He did not contract these diseases because most people chose to keep him healthy by vaccinating their child. Vaccines are not 100% but they do save lives, period. I am grateful for all of the people who did choose to vaccine.

Jesus taught us to "Love Our Neighbor as Ourselves" Mathew 22:39. It's not feasible for me go around and thank every single person in my community who has loved my son as a neighbor and vaccinated their child. When my immune compromised son was healthy enough to be vaccinated, I got in line and took the "risk", knowing that this small thing is a doing my part to keep our country healthy, but also to love my neighbor and community as myself...or as my son.

A Christian Mantra for ALL Life's Happenings, Good and Evil

Life is a journey of roller coasters, road trips, wave surfin' and sunset sailing. Okay, so I didn't mention mountain climbing, hamster wheels and well, the list is infinite. Fake it till you make it?  Naively march onward? Paralized with fear? Not sure of the "right" response? Me either. Despite the endless confusion of whirlwinds and indescribable emotional responses, I have found peace resting with this mantra:

"Thy will be done"

It works for EVERY life situation.

Dog die? "Thy will be done"

Dad unexpectedly died? "Thy will be done"

Receive a promotion? "Thy will be done"

Your boss received a promotion on Your work? "Thy will be done"

Fired? "Thy will be done"

Computer isn't working? "Thy will be done"

Kids acting up?  "Thy will be done"

Unethical practices in church? "Thy will be done"

Brutality of women, children and families in the Congo? "Thy will be done"

Wait a minute, how can kidnapping, rape and murder be God's will? This is going too far... 

So the question we all face: How can God be good allowing or ordaining such awful things to happen? Is this God's will? Do I really want to support or endorse God's will? Yes, we are suppose to deny ourselves and trust God but let's be real here for a moment. If God is so powerful and loving, why is the world such a mess?

The words of Jesus in his Parable of the Weeds and Wheat Mathew 13 have been helpful to me when I find myself in this divide (which I often do)

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”.

Jesus later gives the following explanation:
1. Sower = Jesus
2. Field = World
3. Good Seed = God's Children (people doing good works?)
4. Weeds = Children of Evil (people doing evil?)
5. Enemy = Satan
6. Harvest = End of World
7. Reapers = Angels

The bad seeds or weeds of evil are an intrusion, to God's children. Removing these weeds from the field would remove good so we are called to live with evil and wait for the harvest to be siphoned. "Thy will be done" or more fittingly ""Thy will be done on earth and heaven."

Whether in the next 30 seconds or 30 years, your life is destined to hit a bump, tidal wave, train wreck, or dark spot. The possibilities are endless. Rest in the most basic Christian Mantra for ALL of Life's Happenings: "Thy will be done."

Hultgren, A.J. (2000). The Parables of Jesus: A Commentary. Wm. B. Eardmans Publishing Co. Cambridge, U.K. Pages 392-303.

5 Ground Rules for Healthy Coffee Sipping

Coffee has become the universal peacemaker for American evangelical circles. Millennial church culture is characterized by church grounds brewing coffee grounds.

 While roasting java with fellowship is a great recipe, it does have some dangerous side effects. In 2011 there were 20,000 reported caffeine related emergency room visits in the United States which was a 36% increase from 2010. Is the rise in caffeine consumption killing us? Not necessarily, though our espresso buzz does come with consequences so here are 5 ground rules for healthy coffee sipping:

1. Daily Limit--Caffeine in coffee is generally a safe stimulant. The Food Drug Administration (FDA) stated that 100mg-200mg of caffeine per day is a safe. Depending on your choice of brew, a 6 oz cup of coffee can range from 65mg-180mg. Reading your labels and doing the math, this roughly boils own to 1-3 cups a day.

2. Guard Your Heart Rate--A side effect of caffeine consumption is increased heart rate. A healthy resting heart rate (RHR) can range from 40-100 beats per minute. Typically, the lower your RHR is in the range, the healthier you are. Regularly or excessively stimulating your body with caffeine alters the RHR which can lead to abnormal heart rhythms and higher blood pressure.

3. Adults Only Please--Children, especially young children are highly sensitive to caffeine. The FDA recommends a maximum of 45mg of caffeine per day in children...that is a maximum, not an allowance. The physiological response and sensitivity to caffeine in children is much more intense than adults. Not only will caffeine stimulate hyperactivity in children, it will also heighten nervous and anxiety disorders not to mention they will have a difficult time getting to bed. Resist the temptation to serve that sweet frappucinno to kids.

4. Set a Curfew--Metabolizing caffeine takes anywhere from 4-6 hours. This means the coffee is stimulating your system well after consumption. Set a caffeine curfew 6 hours before you hit the sack. If you have an automatic brew timer on your coffee machine, the hot fresh java will be waiting for you in the morning!

5. Brush Your Teeth--Coffee stains teeth and seems to linger on breath. Brushing your teeth after coffee consumption is an easy way to keep the pearly whites white while keeping your breath fresh for fellowship.

An old Lutheran joke claims coffee to be the "third sacrament" after baptism and communion. At minimum, coffee is deeply grounded in Christian communities. For years I have brought a carafe of home brewed coffee for my Saturday Morning Yogathea Christian Yoga + Meditation Class. Hopefully your church cafe serves tasty brew and you can keep these ground rules for healthy sipping.

Hoeger, W.W.K., & Hoeger, S.A., (2013) Lifetime Physical Fitness & Wellness. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

Naughty or Nice, God Loves You

My kids have Colby Caillet's "Christmas In the Sand" memorized from start to finish. The adult innuendos are above their head--"you look naughty but I'm sure you're nice..." Okay, I can sing this little Millennial Christmas Classic too; it's a catchy tune and who doesn't want to spend Christmas in the sand?

Growing up I remember wondering if I would receive coal in my stocking, fortunately I never did. I suppose my levels of naughtiness varied from year to year (especially between the 14-23 years). Once age 24 I realized my parents actually knew what they were talking about. Despite my grandiose perspective, they blessed me at Christmas. My dad always saved up for a trip and mom had the gifts perfectly wrapped. My four children all have their levels of naughtiness and  too have never found coal on Christmas morning (though one is getting the brown play-Dough Poo-Poo mold kit--this is considered encouraging for a near 7 year old boy.)

As we grow into adulthood, we experience guilt in a deeper more profound way and try to bury it with our vices--booze, shopping, religious practices, work...you name it. These behaviors exacerbate at the holidays. My December retail budget triples and I know it's not all gifts. I have several friends in in a self inflicted social isolation, sorting out the personal baggage of a failed relationship or job situation. Our country is experiencing the salting of old racism wounds this Christmas, the rage and guilt of our ancestors seems to have an inherent quality. Despite our tragedies and warranted or unwarranted guilt, God rises the sun for us all, sending rain and doesn't discriminate in love. Naughty or nice, God loves you and loves all. This Christmas, and everyday, let's choose to be like God and love the undeserving. We might just make the world a little less naughty and a lot more nice! Merry Christmas!

Accepting the Unknown

This holiday season is bittersweet for me. Learning of my sister's breast cancer has slowed down my yuletide hustle bustle. Thank God for internet shopping right? Despite the parties, concerts and sweet Baby Jesus story, I'm sad. Yesterday as I was grading papers in my basement office, a nervous anxiety was making me sick to my stomach. I walked upstairs to send her a text asking about an upcoming doctor appointment (cellular service doesn't work in the basement...I'm adjunct faculty). She immediately shot back that she was waiting in the doctors office right now as we speak (or text), hoping to get results from the tissue sample! Sibling psychosomatics. In my years of healthcare, helping rehab the breast cancer patients was always hard for me. It's such an embarrassing and humbling experience for a young chemo patient in need of occupational therapy. My sister may very well go through that, or she may respond keeping her strength to muddle through the chemo and radiation treatments with the help of her husband. 

This experience has reminded me of the power in meditation. Years ago I found relief in a painful time through a combination of yoga, meditation and my faith. Somehow the world was okay after I participated in the time of stillness in yoga class. Being part of a group or class in the meditation really brought a great energy. I sensed I was being healed. Completing class this morning brought me to a similar place. I can't say that I was holly jolly afterwards, though I was ready and at peace to face the world, despite my sister's dark situation hovering over my heart. 

Sometimes the fear of the unknown is worse than the actual circumstance. Before my sister's diagnosis, my family had arranged to spend part of Christmas vacation together with her in a mountain cabin. This little getaway has become much more poignant. Chemo doesn't start until after Christmas, so we will certainly enjoy our time without excess fatigue. Knowing what and with whom we will be able to spend next Christmas remains unknown. There will certainly be many hours of stillness and breathing in yoga and meditation for me as I accept this unknown. I hope you will join me as you accept your unknown too...

How to Develop More Interesting Relationships

A business coach once shared with me that his #1 secret to success was to be more interested than interesting. I agree. Ironically, some of the most successful interesting people I know are also the most interested people I know. Sam Walton, founder of Walmart stores, supposedly rarely if ever forgot a name. Sam Walton also made many trusting business relationships to build a worldwide store chain. He was interested, which transcended him to become extremely interesting.

I'm not sure I'm the expert in being interested, though it's on the forefront of my mind. So here are a few strategies I'm using to manifest interest:

1. Listen--The old saying God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason has so much truth. The more I practice yoga and meditation, the more keen my ability to pick up on the subtleties of what people are saying. For example, when you boss is asking about your work, he really may be scoping you out for a different more exciting opportunity or responsibility. I believe we pass up life changing opportunities everyday because we don't have the acuity to hear the call. Often the call is through people so listen!

2. Ask--We are all evolving people. Though we may know where one has been, and where they are now, you may find yourself full of assumptions about where they are going. The moment you feel you know someone, you are putting them on a shelf and limiting their ability to move and help you. Today is a new day, and if you ask you may find you really didn't know the person you "know" so well.

3. Real Face Time--In a world of virtual relationships, we are loosing the ability to be competent with basic social graces. I know the college freshman in my class prefer to communicate with me via email and other web based communication systems. If possible, I often wait to answer their question personally in class to have some "face time" communication. This gives me the opportunity to ask more questions and be more interested in them. Giving people our face as we speak and facing our bodies towards them are great communication strategies. I'm always amazed how many adjacent- shoulder-looking-into-the-horizon conversations I see at the gym and church and work and well everywhere. Give people real face time instead of the virtual kind.

It's intriguing to be thought of as an interesting person and being interested can certain help achieve that; though, it seems to me that if being interesting was the goal, the efforts to be interested would flop. My main motivation for becoming more interested is to develop more interesting relationships and I believe these strategies will do just that!

3 Simple Strategies to Create Gratitude...Everyday!

Last year a tornado ravished through our neighborhood, flipping roofs off houses and uprooting trees within minutes. It felt like a train was driving through the neighborhood causing stuff to fly everywhere. Being uprooting from our home and returning for Thanksgiving I wrote the posts Where Do I Find Calm In the Storm? and A Salty Thanksgiving Back Bend. Last week I noticed twisted metal clanging from a naked tree as I enjoyed an evening walk. I found myself grateful to be strolling through a neighborhood with scars. I quite don't remember how I felt during my walks before the storm, however, I know now I have more gratitude for my home and my neighbors' home post tornado. Hardships will create gratitude, though, you don't have to wait for a storm to realize your life wasn't that bad after all.

Here are 3 simple strategies to create gratitude...everyday!
1. Appreciate the Ordinary--There is so much good in our days and lives. The good is so overabundant it appears ordinary...until the storm comes through. It's amazing what we take for granted. I'm completely guilty of rushing through the after school taxi-mom service and forgetting to notice how awesome each one of my kids are. Yes, it's the ordinary after school chaos of somehow managing 4 children to simultaneously arrive at 3 different places. Yes, they're still awesome and evolving...everyday!

2. Give a Compliment--Yesterday a Senior Lecturer took time to warmly share with me that she has heard some great things about me and the University was fortunate to have me as faculty. This took me by surprise as I said thank you. She of course didn't have to say this, however, I suspect as a teacher of many decades, she is always looking to compliment and empower her students and junior faculty. It feels good to be appreciated. Taking time to compliment...everyday!

3. Fill Your Prayers With Thanks--It's been said that "Thank You" is the best prayer anyone can say. Truth. Of course we all have a need for divine intervention to change a circumstance, however, when we stack the list of needs next to the stack of blessings, we find the lists are more about our attitudes towards life. We had a friend over for dinner recently and as I was sharing a story and trying to describe my elated heart response, he genuinely interjected, "Praise God!". Those were the words I was looking for! So Praise God...everyday!

Yoga and meditation has certainly helped me cultivate the mental organization to cultivate habits of gratitude. I definitely want to grow in gratitude because I know it will continue to multiply the joy and abundance in my life. As you sit down for Thanksgiving Dinner this year, I hope your list of blessings is longer than your list of needs and that you feel joy in gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving!

3 Simple Holiday Sanity Strategies

Today I went to the post office around 2 pm to find a long line of old ladies mailing large packages. These grandmas were getting their Christmas gifts out in the mail early to avoid the holiday crowd and potential inclement weather. Next week is Thanksgiving and our Indiana weather was 16 degrees with snow--yes it was colder than Siberia, Russia today, yes those old ladies were probably smart to get the packages out early. I drove past the mall around 2:20 and the lot was full. It's that time of year where the decorations are up and the yuletide insanity begins.

Keeping sane during the holidays is a challenge so here are 3 simple strategies to keep you sane this season:

1. Give to Yourself--The holidays are largely about giving, however we forget to give to ourselves. As our lives are full, the shiny packages under the tree don't mean as much as the intimate time with ourselves. Give yourself some time, whether it be 10 extra minutes in the morning with your cup of coffee or an afternoon walk in the brisk fresh air. Taking time in your holiday schedule to give to yourself will enrich your giving to others in the deepest of ways.

2. Remember--My holidays have been bittersweet seeing excited children as I hold on to the grief of losing my father. Each year it seems to get easier though never goes away. What has helped me is to remember the fun memories we had at Christmas. Dad LOVED Christmas and spoiled us all exclaiming, "this is why he came to America". The memories do bring tears but also bring peace as they settle my soul to be in the moment.

3. Yogathea--The grocery store crowds, social gatherings, school programs, incompetent drivers and annoying music brings out the inner...well refer to the picture above. Get to your Yogathea class so you may

"Breathe the Peace Which Transcends All Understanding ~ Mind + Body + Spirit". If you don't have a class near you, I'll be glad to sell you a Christian Yoga DVD (yes this is shameless plug). If you already have one, don't forget about your friends (okay, another shameless plug. I'm done now.)

If you do become seized with the yuletide insanity, remember these simple strategies and I will see you in class or sitting on your back porch soon!

3 Steps to Move A Mountain

Need GREAT faith in your life? Jesus tells us in Mathew 17:10, "if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you".

I remember a few years back when my baby was ill and his army of doctors were unable to keep him healthy. Thousands of dollars in testing and long lonely nights haunted me as the medical experts tried to figure out the cause of illness. I needed a mountain to move and it did...with 3 steps.

1. Envision the Outcome--The truth is that everyone has faith. Unfortunately, we often have faith in the worst possible scenario or negative outcome. During my son's time of illness, I had faith and believed he would be ill, because that is what I saw and nobody was giving me answers that were helping him. As long as I believed he would be ill, he remained ill. Finally it occurred to me that he could be well, despite the circumstances, I was able to believe he had the possibility of becoming a healthy, happy child that would play like a normal kid with the rest of the kids (he was significantly delayed in development too). Though Jesus was not around to heal my son (I would have traveled on foot many miles with a sick kid for this miracle), I remembered that Jesus left us the church with elders who anoint the sick with oil (James 5:14). We drove to Chicago to meet with the elders (the Bible said elders so I requested at least 2). Soon there after we met with a doctor who had a reasonable theory and immediately prescribed an easy but rare treatment. Within days my toddler son became healthy by taking an over-the-counter body building supplement 3 times a day. Who would have known his body does not produce enough of a specific amino acid essential for muscle development? I believe faith opened the door to find the answer.

2. Follow Through--Actions reveal our faith and desires. Wanting and finally believing my son could be better wasn't enough, I had to follow through on giving him his medication. Because of the illnesses, he did have other medications at the time. Being in the emotional state I was and having to take care of 3 other children as well as myself, house, husband and more, it was difficult for me to be compliant with the new medical routine. As a healthcare worker experienced in teaching people methods of compliance for a medical routine, this was embarrassing to me. I humbled out and got a home health nurse. She helped me develop a routine to dispense the meds ahead of time with a chart for the family. Yes I knew how to do all of this, yes I was too paralyzed to do it, yes I got help and yes it was worth it! Whatever your desired outcome, align your actions accordingly and this sometime takes sacrifice and a bit of humility.

3. Give Thanks--Most of the time results don't occur in a moment. Though my son's response to his new treatment was immediate with better health, it has taken several years to see him develop into a normal child. He is now 6 and runs around the playground, makes jokes and pulls pranks like any other boy. It's always a miracle to see him thrive and I give thanks! He still takes his medicine 3 times daily, fatigues quicker and requires a lot speech therapy to be understood. His doctor count has reduced from 5 to 3. He's still developing and the mountain is still moving in his life and mine. Giving thanks through the process allows me to enjoy the journey.

In fitness I frequently deal with people who want to change their health bodies. Often this task appears to be an unmovable mountain. The mountain can of course move but will not move overnight. Having the maturity and patience to envision a desired outcome, follow through, and give thanks through the process, will creat faith and move a mountain.

3 Mindful Steps to Prepare for Tomorrow

This past weekend my family and I winterized, moving lawn chairs to the shed, hanging bikes and more. Preparing for the needs of tomorrow is responsible, mature and important. Despite knowing proper diet and exercise is needed for vitality, especially later in life, many do not prepare for tomorrow finding themselves unhappy and dependent. I'm supposing financial advisers see "Grasshopper and Ant" lessons all of the time.

In America we take care of our grasshoppers. This little ant appears tired to me and why isn't that grasshopper working? With busy lives and growing responsibilities, it's easy to neglect mindfulness of tomorrow so here's 3 tips to help you.

1. Envision Yourself in 20 Years--As a final project for my Intro to Health and Fitness P130 class, I asked the college freshman to write a paper describing their current health and fitness habits and then to project their health and bodies at age 40. Most of them looked at me with horror because I suggested that they will be 40. This is typical with us all as it is scary to think about being 40 or 60 or 80... Fortunately there is no such thing as a bad heart in your 90s, just saying. 

2. Create a New Vision--Now that you're over the horror of fast forwarding a couple of decades, create a new vision. Twenty years is enough time to build a business, raise a family, travel the globe and accomplish your life goals. Use your imagination to picture a new vision of your life and dream big!

3. Go For It!-- One of my favorite quotes is, "If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done." Creating your life for a better tomorrow requires a plan, diligence, and consistency. Remember those ant worked through the summer and rested though the winter. Rest does come if you have planned and saved. If you're feeling weak to make changes, remember what Proverbs 30:25 says: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer. I've never seen an ant carry more than a large crumb. They just carry a new crumb on each trip to the anthill. 

As you prepare for tomorrow, I hope you are able to avoid a pesky grasshopper leaning on you and you carry your crumbs!

Feed Hungry Children: Take the Rice and Bean Challenge

While visiting my 1st grader son for lunch I noticed his friend stuffing food into her pockets. When I inquired I learned she was taking food home for dinner--of course it had to be hidden because food isn't allowed in the hall or class or bus! As I explored the issue more I discovered how this contraband was to be shared with her little sister who wasn't old enough to go to school and eat. Immediately the wasted food in my house comes to mind: guilty. This girl lives about a mile from my home.

It's been a family tradition of ours to have "Rice and Beans" night monthly at our home: we eat rice and beans for dinner and share the saved money with a local food pantry. This tradition has allowed us to involve our children in sharing with children who are dependent on resources outside of their family to eat. A rice and beans meal will feed my family of six for less than $2. Typically I budget $10-$12 dollars to feed my family dinner each night, sometimes I splurge and spend $15. Our local food pantry, Kokomo Urban Outreach, can feed a child on the weekends throughout the school year for $130 by issuing "Buddy Bags". You do the math.

As a yoga and fitness instructor, I am extremely conscious of the nutritional value in foods. My 1st grade son has a Metabolic Genetic Disease that requires proper nutrition for his medical stability. We are a healthy family. All of the essential proteins are found in the staple meal of rice and beans. Somehow the amino acids in rice and beans recombine to create a complete profile. Additional nutrients and vitamins are recommended, however people have known for thousands of years that humanity can survive on rice and beans.

Recently my mom called excited about a video cooking contest she thought we could win (this is not normal behavior). Hearing about the $30,000 cash prize for your school to makeover the cafeteria, I was compelled to say YES! One problem, despite out regular healthy meals at home, I'm not a gourmet cook, just a healthy efficient cook. As if it were meant to be, our rice and bean tradition came to mind and the "Rice and Bean Challenge Recipe" was born. Somehow I managed to set aside a week of my life to interview the school, and edit video. I learned that 86% of the children who go to school with my 1st grader live at or below the poverty level. Nearly all of the children eat 2 meals a day at school. No wonder this girl was smuggling food.

Knowing the sacred nature of family mealtime, it became evident to me how schools provide this for children without dinner tables at home. Uncle Ben's Rice who is sponsoring the contest finds value in the dinner table tradition and school cafeteria as well.  

As life and fate always surprises us, my son Andrew is in a video cooking contest encouraging other families to take the "Rice and Bean Challenge". Watching this child grow and develop is an overwhelming joy to me as he has not always been a healthy, medically stable child. Andrew lives with a disease he was born with and requires medication throughout the day in order to function. I now believe he was "Made Perfectly" and have always admired his courage with his team of doctors. Going through this ordeal to help Andrew become medically stable taught me how God lives within and moved me to start my business. (See my youtube video testimony here or visit my website at www.yogathea.com).

I hope to see the children of Elwood Haynes receive a cafeteria makeover, I know it would be so exciting for them because school is home and where their dinner table sits. More importantly, I hope you will take the "Rice and Bean Challenge" and give to your local food pantry. It's easy and you might just brighten up a kids weekend!

 You may view and vote for our cooking video through today at this link: http://bit.ly/1pum7ZX.

3 Reasons Accepting Help Helps You

Accepting help can be difficult. For those of us over-achievers it can perceptively threaten our competence. Can I say let's eat some humble pie? Recently at the gym I helped a chick push in her 100+ pound prowler on her last lap of our group training. To push a prowler for any length of time or distance requires strength, endurance and lots of sheer wit. In my experience, the prowler will condition and fatigue it's driver.

Knowing this woman was at her limits, I thought I was being helpful and encouraging to assist. Knowing my limit is a 65 pound prowler for the required laps, I had completed the set and was already recovering. Gathering some extra energy I helped push her in for approximately 20 yards. She was offended. Shortly after the training session was finished I saw her completing her prowler set alone. I suppose this is a testament to integrity though not sure what this actually gained her? She seemed to be throwing a major pouting fit as she pushed alone. I left her alone this time as did everyone else.

Despite the vulnerability involved, Accepting Help Helps You and here's 3 reasons why:

1. Life Is More Fun Together:  Accepting help on the last lap does not mean you're incompetent, it means you didn't finish alone. Life is more fun together and what's the point of crossing the finish line if nobody s there to celebrate with us?

2. Understanding Limits: Too often we take on more than we can handle. This becomes obvious when an area of life starts falling apart: our house becomes a mess, we gain a few pounds, the bills start piling up. Pushing ourselves to the place of needing help, helps us understand where our limits are and how they are growing and changing.

3. Gratitude: Saying thank you is so much more delightful than having a silent (or not so silent) pouting fit. Only our insecurities challenge us to believe we have something to prove. Accepting help develops gratitude within us which brings us joy.

Somewhat recently I accepted dinner for my family when I was starting my new job. Nobody died, I didn't have a baby or was in hospital, my friend just saw my limits were exceeded and stepped in to help. I'm glad she did. My family appreciated her chicken tenders more so than any Hodge-Podge dinner I would have thrown together.  My heart changed from worry about "getting everything done" to gratitude and what a great transition that is!

Why Road Trips Bring Wisdom

I remember looking out the backseat glass of my mom's moving station wagon, watching cornfields move by. Sometimes the cornfields would turn into soybean fields and then back to cornfields again. The perfect alignment of their rows created alignment in my thoughts. The rows looked different when planted on a hillside, this required different thinking.

Periods in the car are great opportunities to sit in stillness. Sitting in stillness brings wisdom. With hotspot wifi, xm radio, built in DVD players and more in our cars, it's easy to continue the cycle of business and stimulate ourselves with gadgets. Without the radio, we can usually resist the urge to sing and participate in quiet observation. Our family observes a quiet time on our way to church each Sunday. I'm not sure what my kids are thinking between the "Are we almost there?", "Stop hitting me!" and "________took their shoes off" interruptions. I know their lives are lived in a constant state of distraction and I want them to see the cornfields as I once did as a child. 

In rare moments I have the opportunity to sit in silence in my moving van, on a road trip without children. At these time, I once again, I feel like myself, my true inner child self with thoughts aligning and wisdom budding. I've even written a few songs on my road trips! (see post "What Gives Me Faith"). As the landscape changes out the window, I discover my inner-landscape. If you are searching, I encourage you to get in the car alone and drive without radio or cell phone. The quiet observation out the front pane will bring you wisdom. You might find God brings a song to your heart too!

3 Mindful Questions To Grow (And Grow Up!)

Maya Angelou once said, "Most people don't grow up. Most people age. They find parking spaces, honor their credit cards, get married, have children and call that maturity." They also are easily offended, somewhat chaotic and unnecessarily helpless might I add.

We've all had our office politics situations, been chronically late for engagements, left the kitchen a mess, neglected our health (yes, the fitness instructor notices you are not in class and neglects her health too!) and more. Despite our best efforts, how we respond in these situations reveals who we are (see my post 3 Mindful Tips:     http://spiritofheavenyoga.blogspot.com/2014/09/3-mindful-tips-on-dealing-with-conflict.html ). What we ask ourselves from these situations determines how we grow. So here are 3 Mindful Question to Grow (and Grow Up!) 

1. What is good about this? Aristotle said, "It is in our darkest moments, we must focus on the light". Some situations seem too ugly so we shut our eyes which makes us unable to focus on the light. If your finding yourself offended by a situation, it's more than likely your prejudices reacting. Instead of being offended, try taking responsibility.

2. Am I taking responsibility for my part? The world is full of injustices, they are inescapable. Taking responsibility isn't just for the guilty party but for all of us. Putting your mind and energy towards a workable solution will leave you less time to be offended and will likely bring meaning and purpose to your life. I know many social workers, doctors, teachers and police who refrain from shutting their eyes to child abuse, and diligently work to serve abused children.This is "true religion" as the Bible calls it (James 1:27). If you don't work in public service, consider donating your time and money. As my mom use to tell me, "If you don't like something, go do something about it; otherwise, quit complaining."

3. What boundaries do I need to draw? Taking responsibility for a problem can drown us, especially if we weren't the perpetrators (it's usually easier to clean up our own mess than the world's mess). Setting appropriate boundaries in our service will create the environment to give our best in service. An appropriate boundary will allow us to open our eyes while not becoming paralyzed by what we see and are doing. Even Jesus needed time away to refresh.

We are incapable of saving the world, only Jesus can do that, however, we can grow in maturity to make a positive difference in our corner of the world. Anne Frank was correct and learned at an early age, "The final forming of our character is in our own hands".

Defiant Spirit of Jesus and Child Discipline

Adrian Peterson's indictment for "disciplining his son with a switch" has surfaced the multitude of deep convictions on how to raise children. Often these practices are cultural. Adrian's method of correction is widely practiced in the south. Most southern parents don't have NFL sized arms though. Churches have their own child discipline cultural as well. I was once advised by a church leader, when dealing with my defiant toddler, to spank the child until the child was submissive. This advice sounded more Stalinistic than Christian to me.

Mary, mother of Jesus, was warned in Luke 2:35 that this child would pierce her soul. I think all kids do this to their parents, especially if the parents are trying to be parents and care about the actions of their children. In short, Simeon was letting Mary know that she can't control her son. Despite being a child of questionable origins and uprooted to a pagan culture as a child, Jesus became a model Jew working his way to the top of the educational system and becoming a Rabbi. That's when his defiant side became apparent, breaking the rules by appointing a rag-tag group of disciples. Jesus began making seemingly erroneous claims about himself (we've never heard such things from our children!). When Jesus was an adult, his family was concerned he had lost his mind and Jesus just blew them off (Mark 3). Jesus didn't directly serve a synagogue or community either..what in God's name was he thinking? The defiant adventures of Jesus didn't last long. As many young male adventurers do, he got himself killed. The fate a mother fears most and the very reason we teach our children to follow the rules. Unfortunately the death of Jesus carried the shame of a political and religious rebel. That would pierce my soul too.

Perhaps Mary should have "disciplined her child with a switch" or spanked him into submission? If Jesus had "proper respect" for his family and mother he would have certainly responded to their request to see him, right? Perhaps if she had more control as a parent...but what would the world be like today without the defiant spirit of Jesus?

Child discipline and boundaries are obviously necessary and important for our communities and lives. I still haven't discovered the benefit of bullying a child or inappropriately assaulting them into submission--abuse kills our spirit. Our defiant spirit, when allowed to move within the proper boundaries is the same spirit that delivers new inventions, businesses, and ideas to the world. Again, what would the world be like today without the defiant spirit of Jesus? If you're finding yourself with the intrinsic desire to control and dominate your children, perhaps consider setting boundaries for them instead. Come take a yoga class and see if you need so much control afterward? Letting our children be like Jesus, especially the defiant Jesus, is allowing God to pierce your soul. Mary's soul was forever pierced but the defiant spirit of Jesus did save the world!

Is Childhood Obesity Child Abuse?

Obesity rates are rising. In 1985, the highest obesity rate in any given state was <14%, according the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1). These days there isn't a State in the Union with less than 20% obesity; and throughout the southern "stroke belt", obesity rates are an upward of 30%. The trend isn't much different with our children.

Some hospitals and pediatric clinics are reporting 30% obesity rates with children. Type II Diabetes in children is a recent and "normal" 21st century phenomenon. Deplorable. This all comes down to regulating blood sugar levels, which is preferably done through diet and exercise, not medication.

Is Childhood Obesity Child Abuse?

When a child doesn't receive proper nutrition, our American society gets involved. The nurse will notify a social worker who will follow up with the family and so on. If proper nutrition is not achieved, it is considered neglect and the child will be removed from the home in order to receive proper care. The damage occurs more slowly with obesity and diabetes, however the results are analogous. Diabetes is a slow killer. 

In teaching my Health Professions Intro to Health and Fitness course to college freshman, I have observed these young adults are coming from various backgrounds. As they are learning health and fitness basics, I can tell a few of them are experiencing that awful feeling that the carpet is being pulled out from under them: They are 18 years old and obese and they are mad at their parents for leading them to that state. I hope they choose to take personal responsibility and change instead of staying mad.

Our Christian communities aren't much better and have yet to develop the maturity of accepting that maintaining health and weight comes through proper diet and exercise, not yo-yo dieting and pills with a token walk around the block for exercise every now and then. We have Christian brothers and sisters who are feeding themselves and their children to death. Sad. 

Diabetes and obesity will change the course of one's life forever, if not treated or managed. Treatment alone can be expensive and a multitude of other health problems can also arise, not to speak of the social insecurities associated with being overweight that affect relationships and career. During the slow kill, the quality of life decreases. Realizing the harm that obesity causes children should create a righteous indignation..it needs to be seen as child abuse.

(1) Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults Between 1985 and 2011. Atlanta: Center for disease Control and Prevention 2013).

The Skinny on Abdominal Fat And Why Jesus Didn't Have Fat Abs

The most frequent question I am asked as a fitness instructor is, "How do I get rid of this?" (envision woman grabbing abdominal fat).

Okay, so you don't have to envision. Having strong abdominals after spending 3.5 years of my life pregnant and birthing 4 children (yes I'm boasting), here is my skinny on belly fat:

1. Burn It Off-- The best and only way to reduce abdominal fat, or any other fat tissue for that matter, is burning it off. I'm talking about burning calories here, you know, cardiovascular exercise? Say hello to your friend the elliptical or treadmill because to burn off the belly, you will be spending lots of time on these machines.

2. Why Type of Fat?--There are 2 kinds of abdominal fat:

Subcutaneous Fat--This is the fat just beneath the skin, burying your six-pack abs. When you bend over, it bunches into rolls or you can purse the excess into various shapes as demonstrated in the picture, 

Visceral Fat--This is the fat that is underneath your abdominal muscles and lives among your internal organs, weighing them down and increasing your risk for heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.  

3. Keep Your Waist Circumference to Less Than Half Your Height--This simple advice can save your life because ABDOMINAL FAT IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH. Yes, I'm yelling at you. Of 30,000 adults of various ethnic groups, waist circumference in relation to height had reliable and greater discriminatory power in predicting cardiac and metabolic complications (1). The larger your waist, the more at risk you are for heart disease, stroke, hypertension diabetes and cancer.

4. Core Strength--Your abs are only as strong as your core. The core is a complex, biomechanic mechanism that is still being debated by kinesiologists. Keeping your hips flexible is necessary to maintain spinal alignment and back strength. If you achieve spinal alignment than you can activate your pelvic floor muscles (yes, those are fine motor muscles down there!). Finally, your diaphragm can only be toned through resistive breathing exercises. I will see you in yoga soon!

5. Diet--My experience is that carbohydrates and sugars will inflame the body, collecting in the abdominal area. Keeping carbohydrates around 40-50% of your diet will help reduce the belly. Also, many people unknowingly struggle with food allergies which are inflaming the abdominal area and enlarging the waist area.

Why Jesus Didn't Have Fat Abs-- I'm certain Jesus didn't have fat abs for a few reasons:

1. Jesus was literally on the Mediterranean Diet, which is a clean and healthy diet without refined sugar and trans fat. Food was scarce back then, I doubt he overate.

2. Jesus walked...EVERYWHERE! Covering notable territory throughout his ministry,Jesus was a Rabbi and therefore made regular annual trips to Jerusalem to attend festivals and holy days. These trips aren't recorded in the Bible but can be assumed through his duties and Jesus was serious about these events because He went despite knowing people were out to kill him! Jesus got plenty of cardiovascular exercise

3. Visceral fat is a first-world problem, not an ancient-world problem.

In conclusion and once again, ABDOMINAL FAT IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH!!! If you struggle with oversized abdominals, my first suggestion is to hit the gym and burn that belly off. You will of course have to monitor and clean your diet, seeing if you have irritants to specific food groups. Remember, ultimately it is the ratio of calories in versus calories burned that maintain your weight. Adding in your core strengthening will also help reduce your waist size. Talk with your doctor about a lipid profile as well. Getting into those skinny jeans just might save your life!

(1) M. Ashwell, P. Gunn, and S. Gibson, "Waist-to-Height ratio is a Better Screening Tool than Waist Circumference and BMI for Adult Cardometabolic Risk Factors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Obesity Review 13 (2012): 275-286.

3 Mindful Tips on Dealing with Conflict

If you've lived life for any length, you are aware that obstacles come, often taking us by surprise and typically resulting in some sort of conflict. What we are offended by and how we respond in conflict reveals volumes about us. Practicing yoga and meditation has certainly influenced my response to being offended...I've become more flexible..

 So here are 3 mindful tips to help you deal with conflict and hopefully become more graceful:

1. Why Am I Offended?--A simple answer to a simple question: EGO! Perhaps rightfully so, we typically feel disrespected somehow. Our image may have been threatened or our imperfection revealed, often our status was not recognized or our world order was disrupted (this happens when my kids make a mess of the house!). Intrinsically we want authority over our dominion and don't particularly like to share. We expect others to conform to our ideals or expectations. The unconscious self-talk says, "I'm right and they are wrong" or "THIS IS WRONG". Yes we can be big toddlers. There is certainly times and places to be offended, however, often the best way to deal with conflict is not to be offended in the first place!

2. Discovering the Emotional Lesson--I am a believer that there is an emotional lesson behind conflict. Family is the best teacher for this. Growing up in a family with frequent conflict and now raising a family of my own (fortunately with much less conflict), I have learned many emotional lessons such as:
When my child is struggling to learn a lesson, I need to be more patient.
When my mom barks orders forgetting I'm an adult, I need to practice child-like submission.
When my husband is distant, I need to allow him space.
Understanding that I choose to be hurt by these instances, or choose to grow from these instances has been liberating to me. A side benefit is that I experience less conflict.

3. Assume the Best--Perception becomes reality. We certainly want others to assume our best intentions, especially when we blew it. My husband has often reminded me of this, which has been some of the best advice I have ever received. Assuming the best in others will bring out the best in you, them and the entire situation. This is different than denial or being a door mat; this is sprinkling grace onto the world by giving the benefit of doubt.

Using these mindful strategies has helped me grow in gracefulness with others. Conflict is a matter of our judgement, we have the opportunity to look at the world and see the the "wrong" of others or decide to look within and determine what emotional lesson God has in store for me. Jesus reminds us on judging, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." The conflict in your life, is truly a reflection of you.