A Call to Presence

TIMELESS CONNECTION FOR GENERATIONS TO COME

Sarabeth Jackson and her friend, Mary

BY SARABETH JACKSON

I’ll never forget meeting 87-year-old Mary in a yoga class on my first trip to Hawaii. Her mat was right in front of mine, and though I did my best to keep my focus on my practice, I couldn’t help but watch in amazement as her arthritic toes held her body in a graceful Warrior 3 pose. I could tell from her energy and the way she transitioned through sequences, she had grit. She didn’t let being a little wobbly stop her. As we were rolling up our mats, I heard her in conversation with a local, saying she had just returned from a solo cruise to Alaska and how good it felt to get back to the studio. That was it; I had to know her. I asked if I could buy her a tea and she joyfully suggested we meet at the local coffee shop.

We spent a solid hour sitting outside talking among the neighborhood roosters. She sipped her mocha frap as the summer sun came through the tree leaves above us and spoke passionately about motherhood, our political climate, feminism, intuition, and of course, yoga. She found yoga in her 60s. When I found out her age, I told her my grandfather was 92 and that he tries his best to stay with the times, using Facebook and other online platforms. Aghast, she made a face and said, “Oh no, I don’t need any of that!” I laughed, and replied, “Tell me more about that.”

I can remember her tone as clear as day; she almost sang her response. “Well, I’d rather be present! I have this sky! And this bush over here! And you! I’m here connecting with you directly, now why would I want anything less than that?”

She’s right; we wouldn’t want anything less than that. I finished out that trip with a digital detox.

I’m not shaming or trying to change anyone —I believe in the benefits of social media just as much as the next person, and I acknowledge that I am on my phone probably more than I would like to admit. But in this current age of information, when life can be chaotic, busy is glorified, and our only break is screen time, I am posing the question, “How can we practice presence?”

The answer is mindfulness, undoubtedly, and it is a choice. But we have to know that presence is something to be desired in the first place to want to practice it. Here are my thoughts on that. If you are not present, you are living in the future or the past, which can consume you with fear, anticipation, and regret. Living in the present allows you to choose how you want to shape your life by observing and deciding how you want to feel in each singular moment and noting if the thoughts you’re having are serving you. Presence allows the deep knowing that you can make empowering decisions with every breath and choose to believe your betterfeeling thoughts. The gifts of practicing mindful presence are many, but in a very short amount of time you will begin to see increased resilience, ability to overcome challenges, reduced stress levels, increased focus, and improved emotional awareness and overall wellness.

Here are three ways to practice presence on a regular basis:

1. Open your senses and connect to

your breath. The quickest way to get present is to notice your surroundings.

Stop what you’re doing, and for 60 seconds, notice what you see, what you hear, what you can touch. Then simply take five slow, deep breaths. Your breath is always with you and is accessible at any time as a grounding and centering tool, helping you to calm your nervous system in times of stress.

2.Yoga and Meditation. Ever tried a new balancing posture while thinking about your to-do list? It’s not very effective. Yoga and meditation train your brain to think about one thing, and one thing only. They build your focus, strengthen your mind and your will power, shut off the part of your brain that is in charge of overthinking and worrying, and shift the way you see things. And deep meditation literally reverses aging and heals you from the inside out (look it up!). If you’re new to meditation, try guided meditation. Yoga Nidra is a form of guided meditation that slows down your brain waves, allowing for the deepest meditation you can reach, in the fastest manner, and it feels SO good. A 45-minute Yoga Nidra practice gives your body the same amount of rest as a 3-hour nap!

3.Flow State. Have you noticed how quickly time passes when you’re engulfed in your favorite activity or “in the zone?”

That’s flow state. Flow state deactivates that same part of your brain that overthinks and causes anxiety (it’s called the

Default Mode Network, and it is responsible for your inner voice and sense of Self). It allows you to calm the “monkey mind” and just be present with what is.

So, get into your flow and tune out distractions! Create! Or find work you love and dive in! This in itself is practicing presence.

A friend recently shared this quote and it struck a chord for me, relative to exactly what we’re talking about today.

“To be unavailable to our friends and family, to be unable to find time for the sunset (or even know that the sun has set at all), to whiz through our obligations without time for a single, mindful breath, this has become the model of a successful life.” —Wayne Muller

“To be unavailable to our friends and family, to be unable to find time for the sunset (or even know that the sun has set at all), to whiz through our obligations without time for a single, mindful breath, this has become the model of a successful life.” —Wayne Muller We’ve all heard that time is currency. We have to make time to do things that serve our highest selves and give us the ability to truly enjoy life. No matter what we think we’re “supposed” to be doing or feeling, nothing is as important as our inner guidance system when it comes to shaping our own reality, and mindful presence strengthens our inner guidance system like nothing else can. So, this is why we practice. We cannot allow true connection to be a concept of generations’ past. Our disconnection, our numbing habits, our overloaded schedules are all a call to go inward. A call to our heart’s compass. A call to greater love. A call to come back to this very moment and consciously decide how you want to live and feel, over and over again, right here and now. It is a call to presence.

Sarabeth Jackson is the founder of Alight and Aligned Yoga and Wellness Practices, and can be found teaching yoga, meditation, and Yoga Nidra at Full Circle Yoga in Winter Park. She does individual Mindset and Self Care Coaching, teaches First Responders’ Yoga every week at the Firefighters Union Hall, and various workshops and retreats both locally and internationally. Yoga Nidra Teacher Trainings coming soon! If you would like to connect with Sarabeth, she can be reached at www.sarabethjackson.com.

detox Autumn:The Season to Detox Your Home and Body…

BY IJY STAFF

In Florida, we do not have the “stereotypical” autumn images that are conjured up by Hollywood, or from your own childhood memories of growing up somewhere “up north.”

Now we have many beautiful days in the fall here in the Orlando area. But, we also get to experience the “peak” of hurricane season during the fall months! We stay glued to the television, gauging the seriousness of the storm, and hope that Jim Cantore is not sent anywhere near us! Because if he is, or if he’s even close, that means we have to stay indoors, and possibly live off of Oreos, Fritos, Pop-Tarts and Peanut Butter, because everyone knows that this is “Hurricane Food,” and the calories and nutrition (or lack thereof) don’t count when eating during a storm.

But, once the storm passes, and you are left with a bloated belly, and possible damage to your home, you need to regroup. In recent years, Orlando has felt serious effects from Hurricanes’ Matthew and Irma. (We were very fortunate to have Hurricane Dorian miss us, but our hearts collectively hurt for the Bahamian people.) We all know that hurricanes can cause property damage, and harm you physically if you are unprepared for the storm. But, did you also know that these storms can have long-term effects to your home and health, that are not as easily detected?

To help us all get through the remainder of the fall Hurricane Season, IJY Staff is providing you with some tips from the experts at Air Quality Assessors (AQA) on how to “detox” your home from the primary contaminant that occurs due to moisture— MOLD. I couldn’t find any experts that could specifically “detox” my body from the effects of Hurricane Oreos, but Jennifer Partridge, from the Chopra Center, has given excellent advice on how to detox your body with certain yoga poses. Richie Kidwell, owner of Air Quality Assessors, says that mold is a danger after a major storm, not just to your home, but to your health. Look for his tips below, to prevent this health hazard!

DETOX YOUR HOME

Richie Kidwell, the owner of AQA, says “The most common damage you will find to a home, besides wind-related damage, will be due to water from precipitation getting into the house. The high winds most commonly cause damage to the roof, including the shingles and gutters, siding, windows, garages and sheds. This damage makes your house susceptible to water damage. Water damage can quickly turn into a mold remediation issue if you do not take steps to get rid of the water in the home as soon as possible. Mold resulting from water damage can seriously affect the health of those who live in the household!”

Steps Toward a Healthier Home

Air Quality Assessors has provided us with some quick steps you can take to protect your home after a major storm/hurricane: • Create airflow through the house and ventilate the area by opening doors and windows. Use a dehumidifier where needed. • Dry any wet items that you find as soon as possible, and throw away anything that was damaged too badly for use in the future. • Ensure any mold remediation is done by a licensed professional in the field. • Deep clean the entire home to make sure there isn’t any moisture lurking around, • Take precautions to prevent futurewater intrusion with home repairs both indoors and outdoors. Consider using a mold

resistant paint for areas such as the bathroom, kitchen, etc. when repainting. • Create a structured plan for cleaning, drying, and remediation so you aren't scrambling if it happens again.

If you’re worried about mold sneaking up on you, these are signs that AQA says to be on the lookout for: • You should be especially vigilant if you’ve recently come across excess moisture recently within your home. • If you happen to notice visible spots or discoloration on the surfaces of your home which could be fuzzy or flat, that’s a sign that there is mold growing. • Mold often has a distinguishable musty and earthy odor, which is another thing to look out for. • Finally, listen to your body! Mold impacts the air quality by saturating it with spores that contain mycotoxins. If you’re displaying unexplained allergy symptoms, such as respiratory irritation, headaches, or dizziness, you could be exposing yourself to mold within the home.

ABOUT AIR QUALITY ASSESSORS

Air Quality Assessors of Florida (AQA), is a statewide indoor air quality testing and consultation service provider, that has been in business for over 10 years! Their services range from residential mold inspections, to large commercial property clearance letters from storm damage. In fact, AQA provides many building damage related services, especially in the field of mold and moisture assessment. AQA strongly believes in helping their clients achieve a healthy living environment.

DETOX YOUR BODY

When you feel lethargic and weighed down by stress (watching Jim Cantore non-stop), a lack of exercise (can’t go outside), and poor food choices (aforementioned Oreos), give your body and mind a reboot with a detox through yoga. You will feel cleaner on the inside, and more energetic on the outside.

Parivrtta Utkatasana (Revolved Chair Pose)

Bring your feet either hip-width apart or together (depending on your comfort level). Bend your knees as if you are sitting on a chair; make sure your knees are aligned with the center of your feet. Bring your hands together at the heart center and bring one elbow to the opposite knee, pressing your palms firmly together. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and open your chest wide.

Detox Benefits: In addition to improving the health of the spine and vertebrae, this asana stimulates the liver, spleen, and digestive system, while toning the abdominals and improving the elimination process.

Garuda-asana (Eagle Pose)

Stand with your feet together and arms by your side, which is Tadasana, or mountain pose. Draw your left foot upward, bending the knee as you lift it. Wrap the left foot around your right leg as you rest the back of your left thigh on the right thigh. Cross your arms at the elbows, left over right. Join the palms of your hands together keeping the fingers pointed upward. Inhale and hold the posture for the duration of the inhaled breath. Exhale and return to the Tadasana pose. Repeat the posture on the opposite side, wrapping the right leg over the left and the right arm over left.

Detox Benefits: In addition to stretching the ankles and calves, this asana stretches the thighs, hips, shoulders, and upper back. By firmly pressing the thighs together, deeper circulation is supported in the legs, which helps flush out the blood and lymph system.

Marichyasana (Sage Twist Pose)

Sit on the floor with both legs straight in front of you. Bend your left leg towards your chest. Rotate your torso toward your left knee. Wrap your right arm around the left knee, positioning the knee in the crook of the right elbow. After resting in this position for several breaths, swap sides and repeat.

Detox Benefits: This yoga twist helps to stimulate digestion and remove the impurities of the body. As the abdominal organs are squeezed, the kidney and liver are stimulated. When the twist is released, blood then enters the organs.

For more detox poses from Jennifer Partridge, please see her complete article at the following site: https://chopra.com/articles/7-yoga-poses-todetox-your-body

Jennifer Partridge is a T.V. host, motivational speaker, author, certified emotional freedom techniques coach, yoga teacher and founder of Our New Earth. Her work has been featured on many T.V. shows, documentaries, radio shows, live events, and at retreats.