Lotus Flower

"Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." ~Saint Francis of Assisi

I've learned that lotus flowers are symbolic, inspiring people to continue striving through difficulties and to show their best part to the outside world, no matter how bad the circumstances may be. The lotus flower grows from the murky darkness at the bottom of the pond, emerging pure and clean. It is said to symbolize beauty and light. The plant's stalk is easy to bend in two, but it is very hard to break. Resilient in its own unique way. When I think of the lotus flower, I imagine perseverance. The lotus flower reminds me that life is fragile, everyone has their own obstacles in life and can find light even after the darkness has faded. I believe that it is important to always remember that.

We are continuously driven to edit and revise our daily lives. We make sure to prepare for the day, and revise as we see fit, each day leading to new growth and development. I woke up craving some positive juju, so I've decided to take an Aroma Yoga class today, I know it will be just what my body needs.

Pump You Up!

"Life is not a dress rehearsal. Stop practicing what you're going to do and just go do it. In one bold stroke you can transform today." ~Marilyn Grey

At my last doctors appointment, my FEV1 was at 52%. My doctor had suggested that if I increase my BMI, it could help increase my lung function. I have to admit, I've lost a lot of muscle and I'm often fatigued by the lack of oxygen going through my bloodstream. However, if I'm going to succeed, I have to push myself. Arnold Schwarzenegger's got nothing on me!

I'm proud to say that I've been working out 4 days a week since January. My exercise schedule has consisted of weight training, pole dancing, and yoga. Odd combination for sure, but I'm enjoying the diversity during the week! Yoga has continued to be my favorite form of exercise. As cheesy as it sounds, when I'm on my green yoga mat, the world just melts away and any stress that I may have in the day just disappears. Yoga is often portrayed as a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation. Exercise is the focal point in my daily regimen, I am determined to strengthen my lungs and body, improve my breathing capacity, achieve a sense of calm, a state of relaxation - overall, to enhance my quality of life. I believe that yoga combined with other forms of exercise will help me accomplish just that.

To increase my muscle mass, I've gone back to the basics, like in Child's Pose during a Yoga class. This is symbolic in a way because like a child, I have to start from scratch, break down my muscle, and watch it grow slowly over time.  Even though I'm not seeing results yet, I feel stronger.  

Child's Pose: Start on your hands and knees. Sit your tailbone back towards your heels, coming to sit on your calves. Bend your upper body forward, resting your chest on your thighs, your forehead on the floor, and your arms outstretched forward. Child's Pose is in fact a restorative yoga position that induces deep relaxation and even stimulates the pituitary gland. It's true. As soon as my forehead hits the mat, I feel centered, and experience a sense of peace. It's no wonder why a child resorts to this position after throwing a temper tantrum.

According to Sri Dharma Mittra, there are at least 1,300 total variations of yoga positions. Only 1,299 more positions to master as I build my breath and strength.