Meditation anyone?

Hello and Happy New Year! I will be beginning a resolution for the new year by stepping up my meditation practice. As I was researching meditation groups in Connecticut I discovered the Insight Meditation Group that meets at the Old Yale Chapel on High Street.  I went to my first sitting last Monday. I had no idea what to expect as I just showed up with my daughter. I found the people to be very friendly and welcoming.  We sat for 1/2 hour and shared tea afterwards. I had a nice visit with the regulars! It seems like this group is very consistent about meeting every Monday and Thursday evening at 8:00. On Mondays the meditation is for 30 minutes and Thursdays are 45 minutes. I'm including a link for you to go to should you want to get more information about the group.  I'm committing to every Monday evening and the picture here is the actual place where we meditated. If interested, let me know.  We could carpool!

Best of luck with your resolution....I'm so excited about mine!


http://newhaveninsight.org

Many Miles for Milly

www.fitwithmilly.com

This post is dedicated to one badass young lady who happens to have a heart of gold, a mind sharp as a tack, and a strong determination to go the distance physically by running, swimming, and biking her little heart out!! For those of you who enjoy competing in ironman events, or scaling large mountains, or generally pushing yourself to the brink of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, you will enjoy reading about Milly's adventures as she tries to do many marathons in many countries. For the rest of us who only hope to get to the gym a few times a week, we will enjoy sharing in Milly's adventures of how to kick resistance in the butt and challenge ourselves just a bit. Take a look at her website. She's inspirational!

Chakra Balancing & Healing - Guided Meditation

Came across this youtube video that was sent to me by Anodea Judith. I went to one of her workshops this past February at Kripalu (Creating On Purpose) and enjoyed every minute of it! This is a great guided meditation to use at the end of your day! Enjoy!!



Joyce

Okay...time to walk the talk so to speak! I had a very hibernating winter! I had lost my motivation to move...not a good thing! Combine that with unconscious/mindless eating and it was a recipe for disaster. Add on the guilt I was oozing with each day, and I was turning into a not so happy camper! Fortunately, I am blessed to have a career that allows me the indulgence of free time in the the summer!! I knew I had to make a change and get moving and to take better care of myself. I armed myself with books that would inspire me: Mind-Fulness by Ellen J. Langer to understand more about the effects of mindlessness in my life, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield to kick myself in the butt and overcome resistance, and 50 ways to soothe yourself without food by Susan Albers, Psy.d, to get a better understanding of why eating is so soothing and to gain some techniques to change my relationship with food. Next came the "find a new gym for the 100th time in my life". While I was at the beach drinking my coffee by the water, it just hit me to try that "sherpa"(coolest name ever) place I read about recently. So I drove straight there! The moment I walked in the door I was greeted with a warm smile and handshake by Jean Paul. I was impressed that he actually wanted to hear my story, and he sat there very engaged and interested in what I wanted to say. His deep blue eyes didn't hurt to look at either! So, without waiting another minute, I signed up and committed myself to working out 3 times a week for the next 8 weeks. As I write this, I already finished 3 sessions and can't wait to continue with it. I beat my resistance!! It sure feels good to overcome all the negative influences of my own thoughts! Positive change....forward movement....it feels good!

An evening of Guided Visualization Meditation

Please join me for an evening of guided visualization meditation. End your busy work week with a relaxing visualization that will calm you and bring inner peace. In a small and intimate setting, you will let your imagination bring you to a place of quiet introspection.

Friday, June 13 ~ 11 Westfair Drive ~ 7:00 PM ~ light refreshments will be served! Bring a friend!

Please rsvp to me at joyceaevans@gmail.com

Always Into Love

Always Into Love

By Danna Faulds

On this voyage of

the soul, may we be

bridge builders,

our common ground

visible beneath the surface differences.

May we braid the 

threads of reconciliation

into a chain of possibility

that joins, heals, and

includes what once

seemed separate.

May our shared prayer

be answered: to grow

so open that there is

no "them" or "us",

only the One, moving

always into love.

An Evening of Guided Visualization Meditation

Take time for yourself to be still.

You are invited to join an evening of quiet relaxation and intropection.  Experience a guided visualization meditation in a safe and accepting atmosphere!  Within a small group of like-minded women, you will be guided through an inner journey meditation that will lead you to feeling relaxed and peaceful.

When: Friday May 2, 2014 from 7:00-8:30

Where: 11 Westfair Drive, Westport

RSVP to Joyceaevans@gmail.com

Bring a friend, paper and pen!

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.
    Lao-Tzu  

Open the Door Integrative Health Coaching

Open the Door 

Integrative Health Coaching

The Road goes ever, on and on

Down from the door where it began

Now far ahead the Road has gone

And I must follow, if I can

Pursuing it with eager/weary feet

Until it joins some larger way

Where other paths and byways meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

-J.R.R. Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring

My vision as an Integrative Health Coach begins with us standing on the threshold of a door. I have a deep curiosity about what is behind this door for you. With my support, you will open the door and begin the process of taking the first step through. But first, we will take a look at where you are now and where you want to go. With hope and encouragement, we will work, laugh, and play together as you gain deeper insights that will move you on a path toward health and wellness. It’s a sacred adventure! Through health coaching, you will get reacquainted and reconnected with yourself and take responsibility for your life. With my non-judgmental listening, you will discover who you are and move toward the healthiest you can be. Taking care of your body, mind and spirit is the greatest gift you can give to yourself, self-love. Let’s work together to make the connections that will open the door for you and see what lies ahead. 

Be healthy!

Joyce Evans

Inviting Stillness

You are invited!

What? To experience a moment or two of stillness in your day!

When? Only you can determine when. But do make the determination!

Where? In a bathtub? Sitting in your car at the beach? Take a meditation class?

Why? Because it is important to take time to reflect, breathe, and be still.

How? You can attend my Guided Meditation Workshop! 

You know how easy it is to do whatever it is you need to do for all the other people in your life? From the moment you wake up in the morning and your feet touch the floor, you are full steam ahead aiming to check off all the items on your list of things to do...important things to do, for those you love. Imagine how nice it would be to make the time to do something for you! To get still, listen to your breathing, to your heart, to do something calm and soothing for yourself. So whether it's finding a moment or two in your day, or joining other women who are looking to create stillness together, make the time for yourself. It will feel amazing! 

Email me if you would like to join other women at my Guided Meditation Workshop for beginners! March 28, 2014. 7:00-8:30 PM. You'll be so happy you did!

Open The Door Integrative Health Coaching

Guided Meditation Workshop for Women

What is Guided Meditation? A guided meditation is meant for individuals interested in creating some stillness, introspection and relaxation in their life. A facilitator (me!) guides you through the visualization process while reading scripts of images to follow along with, while you let your imagination discover insights into your personal inner journey.

When? Friday, March 28, 2014  7:00-8:30 PM

Where? Place to be determined depending on response! Most likely Westport.

Please RSVP or let me know of your interest by emailing me at joyceaevans@gmail.com.

       When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but

       often we look so long at the closed door that we

       do not see the one which has been opened for us.

                                ~ Helen Keller~

“Change. It has the power to uplift, to heal, to stimulate, surprise, open new doors, bring fresh experience and create excitement in life. Certainly it is worth the risk.” 

                           

                          ~ Leo Buscaglia ~

Self Acceptance

The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.

-Nathaniel Branden

This says it all!

Intensive Journaling by Ira Progoff

The Method: The Intensive Journal Method is an integrated system using writing exercises in a setting of privacy and quiet to help you:  Gain awareness about diverse areas of your life. Connect with your real self. Develop a more meaningful life. More than "journal writing", our method is based upon principles of psychology, providing you with unique approaches to develop your life. The Intensive Journal method is recognized as the leader in self-development writing programs.

Copied this from www.intensivejournal.org. I went to a workshop recently to experience this method myself, and I really enjoyed it. I  believe this structured method of journaling is a wonderful tool for introspection and connecting with the self. They have workshops all over the country at various times throughout the year. I plan to go to many more workshops and to practice  this method on my own.

The door of opportunity won't open unless you do some pushing~ Anon

....or in this case, some pulling! 

Courage

Imagine how this person in this picture feels. The joy of accomplishment! The satisfaction that comes from facing a challenge and giving it all you've got. The confidence gained because they tried something that seemed impossible. And the courage it took to take the first few steps.

Beginning the task of learning to accept who we are, just as we are, takes courage. To not listen to those old, useless, worn out messages that we got from who knows where, takes courage. It seems much easier to just stay nice and comfortable where you are, whether you are happy or not. Don't rock the boat. It's not safe. If I change, so and so might not like me anymore. I might lose my family, my friends, my colleagues. It's easier for me to remain small, insignificant, unnoticed.

Now imagine how it would feel to have the courage to look at who you are, as you are, and love yourself, just the way you are. And to look inside to feel what hurts and heal it. Now that takes courage. Just a little...start small. But start. Find someone who will listen. Without judgement.

In Debbie Fords new book Courage she says "With courage as our compass, not only do we take responsibility for our lives in the present, but we take responsibility for our futures as well."

Go for it. Courage!

Almost all snowflakes are unique.

Imagine the possibility of all snowflakes being unique. Quite possibly no two alike. I'm able to look outside my window today, in my very own microcosm of the world and see far too many to even contemplate counting. And to imagine we are just as unique, each one of us, in our own being. Integrated in body, mind and soul, like no other. Now that is worth contemplating.  

Remember ~ Remind ~ Rekindle

Sometimes as we are working on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, we need a little reminding of what we did to get to a healthier place, and we might need to re-evaluate how things are going. Maybe we get off track as we become distracted by little life events that take time away from focusing on our health. Or big life events like super storms that really throw us for a loop.

So we become unmindful and begin to think and behave in ways that don't express our truest vision of who we really are. It might be time to revisit, rewind, remember, and refocus on the higher, clearer vision of yourself. Re-evaluate. Remind. Revisit. Rekindle. Repair. Recall. Reignite. Re-energize!

Remember what your goals are...reinforce the good habits. Eat breakfast. Get the exercise you know you need. Get out into nature. Clean out your closets and cupboards. Bring a healthy lunch to work. Tell someone how much you love them. Hug someone.

Be good to yourself :)