Meeting #3: BODY (Exercise 5 Days a Week)

Hi Lovelies! Here is a recap of our third Goddess Group meeting...

Optional Preparation & Supplies

• Wholesome recipe idea: Peanut Butter Balls (I substituted pb for sunflower butter, 100% pure maple syrup for honey, and more oats for the rice cereal in this recipe)
• Materials for our "Joyful Simplicities Activity" (click here to see) 
• Light candles all over the room
• Have some calming meditation music on hand

As always, we met in my candlelit living room and started our meeting with a prayer. We took the next 25 minutes taking turns telling about our past weeks. I was so happy to hear how much the Simple Abundance book and journey are helping the girls! The book has spoken to each of us in a unique way, but we all feel like we've begun a journey that, though new and sometimes strange feeling, will take us to a beautiful place.

I shared about a pattern I noticed happening in my life. I'd read the day's Simple Abundance message in the morning, and think, "Oh, I like that! That's nice..." then I won't think about it too consciously as the day goes on. A few days later, however, I'd find that I'd naturally incorporated what she'd suggested! What she said had been reinforced by scripture and other books I'd been reading, and the thoughts that had come to my mind during meditation; it had all just sort of flowed together into one great, unified path. I think it has to do with what she says on February 28th, "...all I ask is that you be open to allowing [whatever it is] to come into your world. If you are, Spirit will do the rest." I'll get into more details about what exactly I've incorporated into my life in the posts to come. I also shared a little bit about my goal from last week of taking my next step spiritually (read this post to see what I chose and how it's been going).

One of our goddesses was so excited about what's been happening in her life with her Simple Abundance journey. She noticed that she's starting to enjoy spending time with herself (something she would always distract herself from before). She's eager to begin decorating her place and surrounding herself with things that kindle a positive, comforting energy.

Another goddess found hope in the "Excavating the Real You" messages on February 21st and 22nd. As she answered the questions about her childhood and about her authentic tastes, she felt the first inklings of having left on a journey to a new and better place.

Take time now to write in your journal about your past week's experiences on your path to authenticity. Did anything stick out to you from this past week's messages in Simple Abundance? Have you decided on last week's Mind, Body, Spirit Goal of taking your next step spiritually? How has that been going? Have you felt any progress in overcoming your personal dragons? Care to share any of your experiences by commenting on this post?

This Week's Lesson...

This week's lesson focuses on the Body portion of our mind, body, spirit emphasis. I just want to take a second to remind you guys that these Mind, Body, Spirit Goals (adding one each week in the order presented in an effort to make them habits) are what got me out of my darkest time, and gave me the strength to "slay" my most daunting dragon: Depression. If you feel that you have a "dragon" (anything that's blocking you from peace, joy, and living up to your true potential) that you've just had enough of, I STRONGLY recommend going through these steps and making them priority at this time in your life. I can handle so much more now that I've slain that dragon. I feel strong, able, happy, and in "the flow." I'm convinced the same will happen for you (to start on Mind, Body, Spirit Goal #1, click here).

Back to our body goal for the week... Exercise! Wait. Keep reading, even if you're turned off by the idea or already have an exercise routine going. 

We westerners tend to think that the only good workout is one where we spend an hour sweating, panting, and getting our heart rates up. While this may be a good way to go for some women's bodies, minds, and spirits, it is not the only (or necessarily the most beneficial) way to reap the benefits of exercise. 

In eastern medicine, exercise is said to be essential to move energy throughout the body. One of my favorite books on eastern medicine is Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life by Dr. Claudia Welch. She explains that according to eastern medicine, energy can stagnate in the body causing emotional and physical problems. "To maintain health," she says, "we require continuous smooth movement of thoughts, energy, blood, and substance." (Welch, pg.217) Basically things need to be flowing uninterrupted in our minds, bodies, and spirits in order to be balanced. Eastern medicine teaches that "one of the most effective ways to move energy is through breath." (Welch, pg. 217) Basically any form of exercise stimulates breath and moves energy throughout the body whether you're panting and sweating or not. Whether it's strenuous exercise like running and weight lifting or gentler like brisk walks and yoga, as long as you're breathing fully, you're getting the beneficial effects. Now don't stop here thinking, "Yay I'm off the hook!" The intensity and length of exercise your individual lifestyle and body need depends on which side of the scale you're tipped more towards: yin or yang? 

Chinese medicine explains the opposing forces that keep our bodies balanced (and alive) as "yin" and "yang" (in western, it's basically our sex hormones and stress hormones). Yin is the nourishing and building side. Yang is the energizing, activating, and motivating side. (Welch, pg. 14) Most of us women in this day and age are depleting way too much yin with our stressful lives, which will most certainly take it's toll on the mind, body, and spirit in one form or another (get a hold of Welch's book for more reading on that), but back to exercising... take a look at this guideline to see what kind of exercise would be best for you:

1. If you have a lot of stress, multitasking, anxiety, and fear in your life and/or if you have a slender build, you most likely need to conserve more yin. A possible exercise routine for you would be...

• 30 minutes of a brisk walk, easy hike, bike ride, tai chi, or qi gong daily. You could exchange some of this time throughout the week for gentle yoga to keep up your flexibility. It would be best for you to exercise outside so your body can sync with the calming rhythms of nature. 

2. If you have a less active life (perhaps a job that has you sitting most of the day) and/or you are overweight, you may have an excess amount of yin and should increase your yang by an exercise routine that looks incorporates activities like these...

• A very brisk 1-hour walk, hike, bike ride, or vigorous yoga routine daily. 
• 30-minutes of a brisk walk, hike, or bike ride daily + an extra 2-hour hike on the weekend, a weight lifting class a few times a week, or a strenuous yoga class a few times a week. 
• A 30-minute jog or run daily. 

The only exception to this guideline, I feel is depression. I think if you're depressed, you should go with a routine from category two since you most likely have quite a bit of stagnate energy.

Which category do you fall under? If you're not already exercising at least 5 days a week, pick a plan from this guideline and start this week. I promise you'll feel so much more empowered to overcome your dragons! 

This week's Mind, Body, Spirit Goal:

 Exercise 5 Days a Week

We ended our meeting with our Golden Mirror Meditation and a prayer. Turn on your meditation music and take some time to check in with your authentic self. Does she have anything to show you? Now, pray for an open mind, that you may recognize the guidance and voice of God in your life this week. 

All grace be with you on this week's leg of your journey! 

(For our Joyful Simplicities Activity, we planted cactus seeds in decorated pots. Click here for the tutorial.)

Lacey