It’s not too late! Drop into my class starting at 5.00 p.m. today — and every Wednesday in January. No mat or special clothing needed. Just come as you are. You’ll find the the simple movements of Qigong integrated with the Mindful Movement principles easy, enjoyable and effective. Find us at 37 Burton Avenue in the auditorium of the church. Free-will offering only. I hope to see you one day soon to try out this program I call “Mindful Movements for Wellbeing.” Just drop in, or text//call me at 705-241-7464.
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Your Path to Wellbeing: Mindful Qigong
Join a virtual class, schedule a private session, or come to the park if you’re local. A health-giving method that will relax and revive you at the same time. So accessible, easier than Yoga or Thai Chi.
For details: info@spaceforspirit.ca or 705-241-7464 to text or call
Combining the powerful principles of Mindfulness Meditation with the easy and miraculous movements of ancient Qigong (chee kung), this class is becoming known for how good it makes you feel. Be good to yourself and join Lynne for an hour of joyful movement with meditative moments throughout.
As you focus on your breath and the rhythmic movements, your awareness of the here and now will increase. The practice is designed to bring you home to your self, to fully enjoy being in the here and now. You can even make it a daily practice to nurture body, mind and spirit.
Make a simple call, text or email for more information, or to register. Private and semi-private sessions of various lengths can also be arranged. 705-241-7464, info@spaceforspirit.ca.
Join others who say “I’m set for the day now”, ” that pain has gone”, “feel years younger”, “didn’t expect the healing!” Be good to yourself today!
Home to Self
My Mindful Qigong classes are now available on Zoom! We go live on Wednesday mornings at 9.30 and Saturdays at 10.30 a.m. My purpose is to help bring you “home to self”, something you will be hearing more about.
This is a simple and easy program where you can relax and enjoy yourself.
Let me know if you would like the link for a complementary class.
I think you’ll like it.
The Six Key Principles of Mindful Qigong
After many years of practicing Qigong and meditation, the two gradually melded into one practice for me. As I thought about how to remember and teach others the key principles that bring optimum results, an acronym finally emerged: BIPAVE. The six letters also hold some meaning in the sense that the practice “paves” the way for energy to flow as on a “byway”, upwards and downwards in it’s many pathways through and around the body. I’ve summarized the principles below for easy reference:
Breath – Be conscious of your breath throughout the class. Notice its qualities: how fast or slow, shallow or deep, regular or uneven. Expand your breathing, gradually increasing depth and evenness, exhaling fully each time. Continually bring attention back to breath and let the qigong movements follow its rhythm.
Intention – Take a moment to become aware of where you most want comfort or healing today, be it physical, emotional, mental or social/spiritual. Be specific with your statement of intent; for example, “pain gone from …”, “forgiveness from …”, “no more fear of …”, release anger about …”. The effect of intention is strong.
Posture – Bring your body into its best posture to enhance the flow of qi/energy. Ground your feet on the floor, your bum on the chair, and reach your head to heaven. Imagine a silver cord drawing your body up into alignment. You will look and feel better as all your organs have more space and you come into balance.
Awareness/Mindfulness – This is about paying attention and noticing what’s going on with your whole self. Being mindful of your breath, body, feelings and thoughts and accepting it all without judgement. Whenever your thoughts stray, gently bring your focus back to your self in this present moment. Awareness is empowering!
Visualization – Allow your imagination free reign for each of the movements. Be an archer aiming and successfully hitting the target; create a beautiful sky above you for the heavenly stretch; imagine your lungs expanding as precious vessels with every inhalation! For guided meditations open all your senses to the experience.
Enjoyment – What does joy feel like for you – in your body, mind and soul? Bring the memory of that into your Mindful Qigong practice. Celebrate the movement of your body, delight in the scope of your imaginings, bask in your calm mind and uplifted spirit. Enjoy your renewed and balanced ENERGY.
I would also like to mention that as a practice group grows larger, the sense of the energy grows stronger. Just as I offer this gift to you, your presence is a gift to me and others as we practice together in a group. Welcome to my classes. They are currently held in St Vincent Park, Barrie, Wednesday mornings at 9.00 and 10.00. There is no fee, you may just pass-it-on as you can.
St Vincent Park Wednesday Mornings
Join us for a FREE and EASY exercise/meditation class in one of Barrie’s most beautiful parks with shade trees and water views — and nice new washrooms. St Vincent Park is between Kempenfelt Drive and Blake Street at the south end of St Vincent Street.
We gather at the south end at 10.00 a.m. every Wednesday morning, weather permitting. Open to one and all, with the only requirement being respect for maintaining social-distance from anyone not in your immediate household or bubble. We call the practice Mindful Qigong which brings together the easy movements of healing Qigong with the principles of Mindfulness Meditation. See you there!
SOS? Affordable Virtual Therapy
Now more than ever it is important to know that support is available. Please feel free to contact me to schedule a free introductory consultation. My fees until further notice have been reduced to $75 per virtual session (from $125). And for Essential Services workers 2 sessions for price of 1 (2 for $75). Often one session is sufficient to get the help and take-away tools you need to overcome anxiety, for example.
Mom’s Day and Pan 2020: It’s Okay to Cry
Sometimes when I allow the suffering around me to fully enter my awareness, I just want to cry, and I’ve finally learned to say “that’s okay”. More people are homeless and hungry, children are cooped up, mothers and fathers are faced with parenting challenges they never dreamed of, those in abusive environments lack protection, so many people old and young are dying unnaturally and unexpectedly and without the comfort of family and friends. If you are human at all and you open your heart, how can you not feel the need to mourn for yourself and others. Continue reading “Mom’s Day and Pan 2020: It’s Okay to Cry”
Mothers’ Day: Just Another Hallmark Event?
So many special days on the calendar! So many great cards to choose from! You can go online when time is short or browse the shelves of a local store to find the perfect image and words that echo just what you want to say (or that leave out what you can’t honestly say?). That’s okay and mom will appreciate your effort: a lovely card goes a long way to lift the spirits and brighten the day. OR you can extend ourselves a little for a chance at something more meaningful, a real connection!
How often do you go one step further and write a sentence or two that is personal and special, a few words to show that she is really on your mind and heart. Even better, take say 20 minutes and share some memories of times you enjoyed together. Not a listing of how great a mom she is or how much you appreciate all she’s done for you, although nothing wrong with some of that. I’m talking about reminiscing about a great experience you had together – it might be getting through a hard time, special laughs on a holiday or adventure, or a family event that you planned together.
If perchance none of this is comfortable due to issues of estrangement, then this is a good time to open yourself to the possibility of reconciliation. In spite of any anger and pain you may have, to simply make the intention of wanting a healthier relationship will bring about a shift in the right direction. The subtle energies carried by your thoughts have power and influence, so when you choose the higher road of understanding and compassion (for yourself as well a your mom), you open the channels for genuine connection – a gift beyond price.
Spring Cleaning: Thank Goodness for the Pros!
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the many aspects of spring cleaning – the clearing away of every kind of debris that clutters up our lives and drains our energy. The first day of spring brings up images of yellow forsythia in bloom, the fresh sound of rivulets and streams, and the hope of fresh starts. It can also bring up discouragement if you are feeling overwhelmed by the daily household chores that sometimes pile up to an alarming degree. It’s okay to hire help! I have been there myself and am so grateful for the day we decided to engage a cleaning person twice a month. If you too have had the gift of an angel helper in your home, you can share the gratitude and help me acknowledge the value of this under-estimated group of professionals. When we moved to our new city, we had to find a new cleaning service and with the usual synchronicity (miracle) Lindsay appeared. Besides the regular biweekly tidy and clean, she has helped us learn about our neighbourhood, checks the house when we are away, and has been indispensable for all kinds of situations with mail, keys, or guests arriving early. Texting is our ongoing line of communication for professional and personal talks. We trust her completely, and enjoy her company when we are home when she comes. The question of cost is no small matter for some, but if you don’t already know the benefits, you might like to give it a go. I for one would give up lots of things before I’d let our cleaning angel go. Besides the sheer pleasure of a cleaner house, in a time when many of us barely know our neighbours and with family members often far away, a relationship like this can bring a lot of harmony and freedom to overloaded lives. Thank you to all the cleaning professionals out there!
Love Letter
After so many years together, my partner and I are reaching a level of understanding and intimacy that I never dreamed possible. When people learn how long we’ve been together, they want to know “What’s your secret?” That’s a topic for a long story we would have to write together, but today I’d like to share a few thoughts.
Like any long-term relationship, we’ve “had our share of ups and downs”. Wonderful romantic moments, travels, joyous and rewarding times with our daughters, personal successes to celebrate together; and on the other side, times when we came very close to breaking up. Our bank of good feelings would become depleted with the stresses and strains of child-rearing, work, and our individual demons. At such times, relationships can easily become the scapegoat: “this marriage isn’t good for me”, or “if only he would change, he’s never going to change”. But somehow, with some luck, some wisdom, some blessings from above, we have managed to keep going forward together. We’ve had some amazing help. Once in a while (on average about once a decade) we sought help in the form of counselors, books, workshops, or just taking time out together. This allowed us get back on track and continue our journey, usually at a higher level of understanding and intimacy. Whenever conflict arises, (and hooray for that: if there’s no conflict how much intellectual stimulation, fun and passion is left anyway?), at least one of us manages to take the high road. Here’s three tips I’d like to share about how that works for us.
- ACCEPT: Remember that you don’t always have to understand what’s gong on with him or her. They have their own sacred landscape, parts you have not yet been privileged to see. Your job is to accept and stay the course. As long as you feel safe and you have openings for communication, you can stay committed to the journey of living and growing together “till death doth you part”.
- WALK AWAY: When you are ready to react badly, saying or doing things you will regret, just walk away, but not too far away or for too long. Just take your leave, with a few words about your intention and find a place to yell, ruminate, call a friend, get a meal, pray, whatever you need to do to weather this particular storm. With luck and a few tools, it should pass within hours.
- COME BACK: Someone has to break the deadlock. It might as well be you. You can be the hero. You don’t know how it will go, so you want to have all that anger, frustration and self-righteousness drained away before approaching. Perhaps you need to make amends? Once you have found some humility a genuine desire to understand and be kind, remembering the goodness, the good times and the future you want together, then you are ready to approach. The reunion is a tender time to walk gently, reach out and listen.
My partner and I are so different we will likely always have occasional conflicts. I accept them as a gift, much preferred to denial and disconnection. This spring, we are attending a marriage retreat down in Washington that my guy has taken the lead on. I can’t help but fall in love with him over and over again.
We have learned that our differences are a strength in the partnership, that we don’t always have to agree or understand the other’s way of thinking or of doing something. That we can each go our own way for a while, take a breather from the closeness and then come back ready to go further, deeper, richer. To stay the course takes effort, and it’s been worth it! Oh, we were married in 1966.
S. Lynne Marshall 