Inspiration in your Inbox
This weekly newsletter captures little bits of what inspires me and what I'm practicing in relation to breath, meditation, movement, and being human, in addition to updates on upcoming events.
On breath illustrations, hope molecules, and an argument against thinking
Plunge into Calm Happy Tuesday! Here's what's inspiring me this week... Breathe. The other day I picked up a little breath book at Half Price Books on my way to lunch with a friend. While it's not my favorite breath book I've ever read, it does have some really cool illustrations. Drawings like this are very satisfying to the engineer in me. Source This practice is simply starting with a 5 second inhale and 5 second exhale, then gradually elongate your exhale. Find your edge where you aren't...
On being in co-creation and the million-dollar question
Plunge into Calm Happy Tuesday! I'm back this week but going rogue on the format again. Hope you enjoy! Drive or Ride The other day while driving, my daughter pointed out that if you watch the road lines, it looks like the car is still and the road is moving towards us. Queue 90's sitcom driving scene flashbacks. I smiled. It was like she read my mind. I think about this all the time—how a small shift in perspective and a beginner's mind can completely change our experience. If you haven't...
On nervous system regulation and embodied emotions (a.k.a. the time I thought I lost my child)
Plunge into Calm Happy Tuesday! Today's newsletter is a different format—a little longer and a little more personal. If you have thoughts, questions, or comments after reading just hit reply and shoot me a message. I'd love to hear from you. Disclaimer: I am not a therapist or trauma informed specialist. My intention in writing this is to create awareness and lend some ideas for practices we can implement to help regulate our nervous systems and move through the smaller life stresses we all...
On letting go, moving for your future self, and developing patience
Plunge into Calm Happy Tuesday! Here's what is inspiring me this week... Breathe. Would love if you would try this with me: Breathe in through your nose. Softly exhale out of pursed lips. Now this time close your eyes (but read the rest first).Inhale through your nose. Drop your awareness below the neck. FEEL into the body. Softly exhale, but this time pay close attention to the felt sense in the body. Did you feel that subtle letting go in the exhale? The feeling of taking your hands off the...
On embracing life's cycles and being a witness
Plunge into Calm Happy Tuesday! Here is what is inspiring me this week + a new Plunge into Calm date. Breathe. One cycle of breath consists of an inhale and an exhale. Or perhaps an exhale followed by an inhale. Either way, there is expansion followed by contraction. Many phenomena follow this same pattern—the universe itself, sound waves, economic cycles, athletic programming, cell division, tidal forces, and I'm sure many more. Our energy throughout the day also goes through periods of...
On unfamiliar places and being held captive
Plunge into Calm Happy Tuesday! Quick reminder: Plunge into Calm is THIS SUNDAY. You can sign up at the bottom of this newsletter. Breathe. No Zoom Breathe tonight. I am going to the Facilitation Lab Austin meetup this evening. I am hoping to network with some cool people and learn tips, tricks, and techniques to better communicate and facilitate experiences. Every time I make a commitment to go to a networking event, I feel every single fiber of my being pulling me to stay home. Ironically,...
On curious exploration, embodied movement, and being a forever student
Plunge into Calm Happy Tuesday! Here's what is inspiring me (and making me laugh) this week... Breathe. 💻 Join me tonight (8/20) at 8:30 PM CST on Zoom for a 15-minute breathwork practice. Register ahead of time and get the zoom link here. There is something comforting about being led in a breath practice by someone else. You can let your mind relax and simply follow instruction. This is why I continue to practice with Our Breath Collective every weekday (would love for you to join me!). With...
On emotional breath signatures (even erotic emotion!) and redefining what it means to be an artist
Plunge into Calm Happy Tuesday! I don't have anything on movement for you this week - so just keep moving. :) And enjoy these tidbits on emotional breath signatures and being a creative being. Breathe. 💻 Join me tonight (8/13) at 8:30 PM CST on Zoom for a 15-minute breathwork practice. Register ahead of time and get the zoom link here. “Everyone has had some experience with a disruption in breathing pattern associated with pain or powerful emotions. A sob of grief, a startled gasp, and the...
On co-regulating, bad moods, and the lazy bad angel
Plunge into Calm Happy Tuesday! Here is what is inspiring me this week... Breathe. “Our survival as a species is dependent on our ability to trust, cooperate and co-regulate with others.” – Stephen Porges, creator of the Polyvagal Theory Co-regulation is the process of synchronizing our emotional and physiological states with others to create a sense of safety and connection. We unintentionally co-regulate with each other all day long through behaviors like physical touch, body language,...
On crying, alternative cardio options, and reflecting on our mortality
Plunge into Calm Happy Tuesday! Here is what is inspiring me this week... Breathe. This week I listened to Benjamin Perry discuss the science of crying on the Ten Percent Happier podcast. One of my key takeaways was we don't always need to know why we are crying; the realization can come later. Perry's theory suggests crying clears something in our bodies, allowing us to later gain clarity about our circumstances or emotions. How this relates to breathwork? Hang with me... We all have days...
This weekly newsletter captures little bits of what inspires me and what I'm practicing in relation to breath, meditation, movement, and being human, in addition to updates on upcoming events.