|
Harvest Happiness
“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall." - Oscar Wilde
Meditation is a powerful technique to cultivate personal happiness. When you practice, you learn to live in (and enjoy) the present moment.
Simply speaking, meditation works as an exercise for your brain. When practiced regularly, meditation appears to decrease activity in the areas of the brain associated with negative thoughts, anxiety, and depression. At the same time, it increases activity in the areas associated with joy, contentment, and peace. It also strengthens areas of the brain in charge of managing emotions and controlling attention. Additionally, being mindful makes you more fully engaged in the here-and-now and more aware and appreciative of good things.
Here are a few mindfulness exercises which can help you get started:
- Body scanning cultivates mindfulness by focusing your attention on various parts of your body. Much like the practice of progressive muscle relaxation, you may start with your feet and work your way up. However, instead of tensing and relaxing your muscles, you simply focus on the way each part of your body feels without labeling the sensations as either “good” or “bad”.
- Walking meditation allows you to meditate without being still or seated. In walking meditation, mindfulness involves being focused on the physicality of each step - the sensation of your feet touching the ground, the rhythm of your breath while moving and/or the sensation of the wind against your face.
-
Mindful eating is another great way to slow down and savor the moment. If you tend to reach for food when you’re stressed or gulp down your meals in a rush, try eating in a way that encourages you to use your senses as you eat: see and feel the textures and colors, notice the aromas and the sounds of crunch and chewing, sense the little changes as you go through your meal. Sit down at the table and focus your full attention on the meal and the people you are with (no TV, newspapers, or eating on the run). Eat slowly so that every now and then, you put your fork down and look around or breathe and pause to feel if you are still hungry or maybe getting full. Notice if it is time to stop eating for now by taking your cue from the inside, from how your body feels. Eating mindfully is not boring, but a great way to connect with yourself through a natural sensory experience you can fully enjoy.
No matter which meditation exercises you practice, be ever mindful of your personal happiness and the ways in which you might tap into - and add to it - daily. Reap the benefits of gladness and cultivate a bountiful harvest of joy!
Be well,
Your friends at the Healer Within Foundation
In Memoriam
It is with heavy heart that we convey the death of our dear friend and colleague, IIQTC Tai Chi Easy™ Senior Trainer, Richelle Rapaport. Richelle passed away on September 8, 2019.
Richelle was an accomplished practitioner of Western medicine as an Advance Practice Registered Nurse and Psychotherapist. She also taught and practiced mind/body therapies for over 40 years and was a Usui Reiki Master Teacher.
Her legacy of healing will live on in those whose lives she touched. Richelle will be greatly missed by all who had the honor of knowing her.
See You October 26th: Arizona - California - New York
October 26, 2019 is the date for our upcoming Tai Chi Easy™ Educational Symposium gatherings and registration for the events is open!
These friend-raiser/fundraisers will be held in three locations across the US: Tempe, Arizona, Carpinteria, California and White Plains, New York. These gatherings will provide an opportunity to get together with colleagues and friends, practice Tai Chi Easy™ and Vitality Method Qigong and learn something new, too!
Click the event-specific links below for more information and links to registration. All are welcome and no prior training is required, so do invite your friends and family members to attend. Net proceeds from registrations will benefit the Healer Within Foundation Tai Chi Easy™ Dissemination Project. We hope to see you October 26th!
A Refreshing Opportunity
Our community-based trainings (3-day trainings, not held at retreat centers) offer the opportunity to "refresh" your Practice Leader training at a greatly reduced rate (refresh training is available to anyone who has completed Tai Chi Easy™ Practice Leader Training or Level 2 through IIQTC).
The Foundation currently has 5 upcoming community-based Tai Chi Easy™ Practice Leader Training events on the calendar for 2019 and 2020, with new events being added regularly.
Plan your "refreshing" experience TODAY!
Join Us In Dayton
Tthe Healer Within Foundation was awarded a pilot program grant of nearly $4000 through the Ohio Falls Prevention Coalition.The Healer Within Foundation will use the funds to support, in part, a 3-day Tai Chi Easy™ Practice Leader Certification training to be held at the University of Dayton, Riverside campus on November 1-3, 2019.
We are offering several partial scholarships as well. These will ideally be for those willing to lead two series of 6-week Tai Chi Easy™ classes in their community, during the six months following training. The scholarships will be for 1/2 off the early bird registration fee. If you, or someone you know, are in the Dayton area and wish to apply for a partial scholarship, please contact Antoinette Horn for more information and an application. An informational flyer on the training can be accessed HERE.
Practice Leader Spotlight: Debra Nielsen
 Recently, we caught up with Tai Chi Easy™ Practice Leader, Debra Nielsen (pictured at left). She was kind enough to answer a few questions about herself and we are delighted to share her responses with you.
Debra has a truly motivating healing story to share and has also had wonderful success as a relatively new Practice Leader in her community. Thank you for sharing, Debra!
Read our Q & A with Debra on the HWF Blog in addition to a new post focusing on Tai Chi and knee pain.
Welcome New Practice Leaders!
Congratulations to the new Tai Chi Easy™ Practice Leaders who were trained last month in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California! Big thanks to the training teams who make these events - and our continued dissemination of mind, body, spirit practices - possible!
Season Of Giving Begins
Do you share our vision of, "A world of self-healing, wellness and vitality"? If so, would you consider making a difference today by supporting the Tai Chi Easy™ Dissemination Project? Click the image below to make your donation today or consider volunteering today!
The Tai Chi Easy™ Dissemination Project is the catalyst of our goal, “Training thousands to improve the health of millions” and your support makes it possible for the Healer Within Foundation to bring community-based Qigong/Tai Chi and other self-healing body-mind-spirit-practices to greater numbers of people. So, make a difference...make your tax-deductible contribution or volunteer today. Thank you!
Organize A 2020 Tai Chi Easy™ Event In Your Area!
Anyone can organize a Tai Chi Easy™ Practice Leader Training event. Yes! YOU can bring a healing revolution to your community - and HWF will be happy to help you make it happen!
2020 training dates are now being added to the HWF calendar. If you would like to know more about organizing a Tai Chi Easy™ Practice Leader Training event - or have questions about the process - contact Christie Ward for information.
Click HERE for a full list of Practice Leader training dates and check back often as new training opportunities are being added regularly!
Follow Us on Facebook & Instagram - See Photos on Flickr!
 Connect with Tai Chi Easy™ Practice
Leaders and other members of the HWF
community at our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/HealerWithinFoundation/
OR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healerwithinfoundation/
 
For updated photos of HWF training events and happenings, check out our Flickr photo albums at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/healerwithinfoundation/albums
Login Instructions - Please Read!
We'd like to invite you to explore the Healer Within Foundation website! We continue to add new content, most recently launching the HWF Blog, which we hope you will read and add your comments, too. To login, you will first need to set up your password. Click here to update your Password. Once updated, you can login here, using your Username - - and new Password.
While you are logged in, please complete your profile (it is searchable to help other HWF community members find you)! Logging in allows you to make a donation securely, see our community member-only content such as the files on the Organize an Event page and to sign up for events such as the Gathering in the Cloud meetings.
|
