book review

National Book Lovers Day!

National Book Lovers Day!

It’s BOOK LOVERS DAY!

Have you ever seen those videos of little dogs held over water where they start moving their legs like they’re swimming?

I do the same thing—when passing book stores. I start pawing the air and panting, excited at the sight of so many books to fondle. I’ve nearly missed a few flights because I was having too much fun in the airport book store. I’ve even warned others about my compulsion: "If we pass a book store...do NOT let me go in."

In celebration of Book Lovers Day, I’d like to share with you some of my all-time favorite books and recent reads.

Three Books That are Currently Inspiring My Teaching

Three Books That are Currently Inspiring My Teaching

The first is called ‘Bodyfulness’ by Boulder author Christine Caldwell. It’s swelling with information for or anyone who’s ready to look at the how and why of how they move. The author founded the Somatic Counseling program at Naropa University and has been in practice for more than thirty years.

She says:

“The body isn’t a thing we have but an experience we are. Bodyfulness is about working toward our potential as a whole human animal that breathes as well as thinks, moves as well as sits still, takes action as well as considers, and exists not because it thinks but because it dances, stretches, bounces, gazes, focuses, and attunes to others.“

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Expectation Makeover

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Expectation Makeover

Have you ever noticed how much a dose of movement impacts your mood? 

If you've been sitting down all day and you go outside for a walk, you are likely to feel better. I know I do.  However, if you go to a practice session with unreasonably lofty expectations ('I'm gonna do this hard thing I saw and it'll be perfect, just like that Instagram video'), you probably won't leave feeling like a winner. And if you're not skilled at overriding and reframing your own nay-saying... you might not walk away feeling vibrant. 

You've likely heard of the research which confirms that exercise is mood boosting (it's usually accompanied by a stock image of people in bright-colors faux-grinning on a jog). While movement does provoke chemical changes that make you feel nice, your approach can amplify the positive after-effects or knock them right out of you.