It's a pleasant night tonight. As we got home we walked into waves of light fragrant of jasmine. We were wondering where the nice fragrant came from, and reminded ourselves the small jasmine plants were dug up by uninvited animal visitors. By the way, our older dog, Amy, had especial interests in those small rodents living underground, as one of her hobbies was to put her nose into the holes on our lawn. Finally Jack said the fragrant must be from our neighbor's yard.
We were thankful for the unexpected gift in this beautiful evening.
Monday, April 1, 2013
More on taking breaks
Yesterday I was talking to my co-worker about my weekend plan, and I told her I would be studying for my yoga training, she was quite interested.
The first thing and the last thing she said was: "I wish I could do yoga and stretching too, but I just don't have time."
Last year this time I would be saying the same thing. We are so busy everyday, even over the weekends, how do we find 20 minutes everyday to stretch? We have to work and even if we are not working, we are thinking about work. After work, we have to take care of every little thing at home, paying the bills, cooking, cleaning, shopping, and taking care of the family.
I am here to say, yes you can find the 20 minutes to do this important exercise, because it is good for you. You have to sleep and eat everyday, and you have to spend sometime for yourself and your body to relax and renew everyday.
I used to think that if I go to yoga class once or twice a week, it would provide all of my muscular stretches I need. I just realize that was not entirely true at this point of my life.
Block out 20 to 40 minutes a day. Preferably first thing in the morning, because then the benefit is available for you for the whole day. But you don't have to do it first thing in the morning. I try to do it before lunch, or any other time when I can take a break, as long as I don't have a full stomach or it's not too late in the evening. If you are at home, tell your love ones you need to be alone; if you are at work, be away from the computer, and go to a quiet and private room.
Of course you will have to learn from a teacher what to do when you are taking this break. To start with, I recommend Art of Living basic class: art of breathing. Of course, you may also take classes from a certified yoga instructor. The Art of Living classes are very well organized, that's why I recommend them.
The first thing and the last thing she said was: "I wish I could do yoga and stretching too, but I just don't have time."
Last year this time I would be saying the same thing. We are so busy everyday, even over the weekends, how do we find 20 minutes everyday to stretch? We have to work and even if we are not working, we are thinking about work. After work, we have to take care of every little thing at home, paying the bills, cooking, cleaning, shopping, and taking care of the family.
I am here to say, yes you can find the 20 minutes to do this important exercise, because it is good for you. You have to sleep and eat everyday, and you have to spend sometime for yourself and your body to relax and renew everyday.
I used to think that if I go to yoga class once or twice a week, it would provide all of my muscular stretches I need. I just realize that was not entirely true at this point of my life.
Block out 20 to 40 minutes a day. Preferably first thing in the morning, because then the benefit is available for you for the whole day. But you don't have to do it first thing in the morning. I try to do it before lunch, or any other time when I can take a break, as long as I don't have a full stomach or it's not too late in the evening. If you are at home, tell your love ones you need to be alone; if you are at work, be away from the computer, and go to a quiet and private room.
Of course you will have to learn from a teacher what to do when you are taking this break. To start with, I recommend Art of Living basic class: art of breathing. Of course, you may also take classes from a certified yoga instructor. The Art of Living classes are very well organized, that's why I recommend them.
The song that plays in your head
You know sometimes you have a song playing in your head, and you just can't shake it off? Today when I was doing cardio at the gym, I had Jingle Bell playing in my head. Actually my mind seems to favor Christmas song throughout the year no matter where I am. The other song that I play a lot is this Cantonese commercial song: Kikkoman soy sauce for steamed fish. How sophisticated is my little mind?
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
On taking breaks
Can you think of the last time you took a break during the work day?
I don't know about you, but for the longest time, I don't take breaks during my work days. Even if I'm taking lunch breaks or coffee breaks, I may still be talking to people, watching TV, or worse, browsing the web.
In fact, that's not a real break for your mind, you're just taking a break from what you have been doing and replacing it with some other activities. Your mind is still taking in information and processing it.
Since last year, I started doing Yoga, meditation and pranayama during my work breaks as a daily routine. These breaks are 30 to 40 minutes combine with light yoga, stretches and pranayama. I feel that after my BREAK, my mind is clearer, and I feel more awake and creative. My mind off-loaded a bunch of information, and I was ready to take in more. The need for coffee to stay focused is significantly reduced.
There are days when I can't afford to take those breaks, and I can feel a big difference. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and restless at night. Other times there are less impact but still I feel stressed out at the end of the day.
So doing a daily yoga practice, even a short on greatly improves my productivity, and is becoming a high priority for me.
I don't know about you, but for the longest time, I don't take breaks during my work days. Even if I'm taking lunch breaks or coffee breaks, I may still be talking to people, watching TV, or worse, browsing the web.
In fact, that's not a real break for your mind, you're just taking a break from what you have been doing and replacing it with some other activities. Your mind is still taking in information and processing it.
Since last year, I started doing Yoga, meditation and pranayama during my work breaks as a daily routine. These breaks are 30 to 40 minutes combine with light yoga, stretches and pranayama. I feel that after my BREAK, my mind is clearer, and I feel more awake and creative. My mind off-loaded a bunch of information, and I was ready to take in more. The need for coffee to stay focused is significantly reduced.
There are days when I can't afford to take those breaks, and I can feel a big difference. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and restless at night. Other times there are less impact but still I feel stressed out at the end of the day.
So doing a daily yoga practice, even a short on greatly improves my productivity, and is becoming a high priority for me.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Look, there is a pig
Today we drove by the boat launch. From a distance, I saw an animal running on the green grass. I pointed it out to Jack and said,"look, a pig!"
Jack looked, then laughed and looked back at me.
"Oh, Is it a fat dog?"
Jack nodded, smiling.
Since I saw "Hollywood Doc" on TV last week, where the doctor received a pig as a gift for helping the mechanic, more animals are looking like pigs in my mind.
Jack looked, then laughed and looked back at me.
"Oh, Is it a fat dog?"
Jack nodded, smiling.
Since I saw "Hollywood Doc" on TV last week, where the doctor received a pig as a gift for helping the mechanic, more animals are looking like pigs in my mind.
Aloha to the winds and the waves
We are here. Vegging with the ocean waves, the winds and the bird chirpings as our natural ambience sound; the blue ocean and the lush tropical plants as our backdrop art.
I read when I want to or I write, or I just stare at the ocean for an exteeding long time with my mind wandering around nowhere specific.
This is the time to discharge my energy and recharge it with something fresh.
Our guests asked what was our plan for the day, and when would us be heading out. It took us a while to talk it through, but we could not come to any conclusion. We were so relaxed and didn't want to take up responsibilities of grownups such as planning and following a schedule. So after some serious discussions, we decided that we would just leave when we feel like it, and go wherever is right for the moment. May I also point out that this exercise started yesterday, and we had the same results.
Here we are, midweek. We went to a few places to visit, tour and shop. But my favorite thing to do is just being and doing nothing.
I read when I want to or I write, or I just stare at the ocean for an exteeding long time with my mind wandering around nowhere specific.
This is the time to discharge my energy and recharge it with something fresh.
Our guests asked what was our plan for the day, and when would us be heading out. It took us a while to talk it through, but we could not come to any conclusion. We were so relaxed and didn't want to take up responsibilities of grownups such as planning and following a schedule. So after some serious discussions, we decided that we would just leave when we feel like it, and go wherever is right for the moment. May I also point out that this exercise started yesterday, and we had the same results.
Here we are, midweek. We went to a few places to visit, tour and shop. But my favorite thing to do is just being and doing nothing.
Movies
I do enjoy being pleasantly surprised by finding good movies while channel surfing.
I watched a few good movies the last few days.
I saw:
I watched a few good movies the last few days.
I saw:
- Mr. Deeds goes to town - it was added to the top of my favorite righteous movies along with Jimmy Stewart's "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington", and "Twelve Angry Men" starring Henry Fonda
- Inside job - got my blood boiling with anger.
- Hollywood Doc - light romantic comedy with Micheal J. Fox. It was fun to watch and heart-warming.
- Overboard - Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russel were such extremely goofy and funny pair. It's silly but cute. I enjoyed Goldie Hawn's great exaggeration of a snobby heiress. It was very entertaining for when you just want something light.
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