"Beginning and The End" / "Kick-Butt Tune Up"

God Alone Suffices

In this time of year many of us are celebrating God's love, family, and/or the upcoming opportunity to "start over" this New Year. On the other hand, there are those suffering with hopelessness and doubt. Whether you feel joy or suffering, now is a time of self-reflection.  All the blessings in this world amount to nothing, if you do not have God.

Reflecting on the gift of Christ-mass, the incarnation of Word made flesh, and the New Year to come,  allows us all to embrace the opportunity of transformation. To many of us, beginnings and endings become vital in our role of change and transformation. Christmas marks the beginning of Life with Christ (Word made flesh) through the invitation of following Him. And New Year's, marks another social shift into a new beginning through resolutions. As for endings, we can seek God's desire of Eternal Life with Him, we can reflect on stopping one thing and starting something new, and above all...we can choose to start creating our Eternal Life of abundance NOW.

"Change" often occurs for us through the outside. Indeed change in our environment and our bodies is key, and change within our Spirit is VITAL.  So, in this time of year may we all meditate and self-reflect on choosing our Life of abundance with God in balance of the here and now: Spirit, Mind, and Body.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13)

Let nothing disturb you,

Let nothing frighten you,

All things are passing.

God ONLY is changeless.

Patience gains all things.

Who has God wants nothing.

God alone suffices. 

~ St. Teresa of Avila

Kick-Butt Tune Up

Stand facing a Yoga Ball (chair/table/stool) with palms on top,

arms extendeded shoulder width apart.

Lift right leg behind, foot flexed, squeezing glutes,

and engaging core, pulling belly button in.

Then, draw right knee toward ball and hold for one count.

Return to start, and repeat 12 times. 

Switch to Left.

Focus: Glutes, Abs, and Hamstrings

"Seeking Balance? Plank It Out!"

Balance in Body, Spirit, and Love

Are you seeking balance as you juggle through this holiday season of to-do's and desires? Stop now, breathe, and embrace that you can create balance and find rest. Reflect..."How does our relationship and closeness with God affect our relationship with self and others?"

As we make choices in our daily lives to acquire balance, know that it is the spiritual dimension of life that empowers us to live out this kind of Love with self (body and spirit) and others. Apostle Paul gave us this advice, reminding us that love is patient and kind. Love does not envy, it forgives, does not keep track of wrongs, nor take note of shortcomings. This spiritual dimension is that of the unconditional love of our father...God.

When we open ourselves to receive His unconditional love then, we can love ourselves, and we can love others. Loving our bodies is is to not keep track of our shortcomings, and to learn from that moving forward. A plank  is an excellent exercise that everyone can practice to establish balance in body and spirit. A plank strengthens the entire body with an emphasis on the core. The core of our existence,  is the Spirit within. The core of our body, is the entire abdominal cavity and the entire back (upper, mid, lower). A plank has many modifications available to decrease or increase the intensity of strengthening. Just as in life, we have options of modifying our life through our choices.