Celebrating What Unites US

Celebrating What Unites US

Just two days ago, we came together as a country to celebrate what unites us.  People joined together for picnics, baseball games, apple pie and fireworks at dark to celebrate our nation’s birthday.  Many of us had our American flags flying, a poignant reminder of what brings us together and of what also originally brought our Founding Fathers together when …

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July to you, your family and friends!  As we head into this wonderful summer holiday, the Fourth of July holiday offers a reminder of our nation’s origins.  Right here in our nation’s capital, there abounds opportunities to explore the historical locations and sites of our founding fathers. As you view the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial or the Washington Monument, …

Yoga and Emotions - Four Directions Wellness

Yoga and Emotions

Twist. Inhale. Stretch. Exhale. Contort. Sweat. Inhale. Stretch deeper. Exhale. For many people who come to yoga, they come because they want a workout. They want to be more physically fit. Perhaps they were recommended to take yoga by their child, or a friend. Maybe they might even find a cute yoga partner, who may ask him or her on …

Reiki – Just For Today…

Reiki – Just for Today… The doctors had done all of their homework.  They had tried every approach known to traditional medicine but the young twenty-something male was not expected to live.  The doctors informed his mother that there was simply nothing more to be done.  An overdose of drugs had turned unfortunately fatal for a young aspiring person with …

Mind-Body Connection

Mind-Body Connection He walked into my office and immediately I could tell.  He was holding his whole week’s worth of issues and challenges all over his body.  He was running late for our session.  Work was crazy, the traffic was horrendous and his youngest child did not want him to leave the house where he had been working.  Yet, I am fairly certain …

Follow Your Passion: My First Year Reflection

Follow Your Passion:  My First Year Reflection “Do what you love,” was the simple message of USA Today’s Heidi Przybyia.  She was presenting at the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Leadership Forum, an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to hear from others and become re-energized with their passions.  Her message kept repeating in my head. Last year, as I turned 50 years old, I decided …

The Autonomic Nervous System - Parent and Kid Stress

Let’s Talk Stress: On You and On Kids

Let’s Talk Stress:  On You and On Kids When you hear the word “stress,” what impact does it have on you? Do you notice your nerves begin to feel frazzled? Does your heart begin to beat faster? Or maybe it has little to no impact on you.  Yet most of us are experiencing various levels of stress throughout our day …

Groundhog Day: Are You Repeating the Same Patterns?

Groundhog Day: Are You Repeating the Same Patterns? Remember the 1960’s Sonny and Cher song “I Got You, Babe?” In the wonderful movie “Groundhog Day,” that song is the one that Bill Murray’s character, Phil, wakes up to every morning. The first time it happens, he continues on with his day, not sensing any oddities with how his day will …

New Year, New Beginnings

New Year, New Beginnings It’s still the holiday season with the hustle and bustle as people scurry around for work events, personal engagements and the typical holiday “to-do” list. Soon, however, the holiday season will come to its end as we say good-bye to 2016 and welcome in 2017.On New Year’s Day, we wake to all of the possibilities of a new year. One of …

Sabbatical Time

Sabbatical Time The other day my husband, Steve, declared that he was officially taking a break from TV reports, radio news and social media platforms.  He needed a break, an opportunity to tune it all out for a while. He officially declared a sabbatical from all news outlets. I liked his approach to a sabbatical.  For centuries people and religions …