March Mayhem

Yes, the alliteration keeps coming — I can’t help myself. Still breathing, still walking, still moving my body (and eating Bananas Foster) for this month's edition of Be Well!

Warmer temperatures on the Eastern side of the U.S. are making outdoor time more enjoyable. A breath of fresh air, quite literally. It hit 60 degrees (F) here today, and I didn’t want to come inside. I even turned off the heat and opened the windows. I may regret that decision in a few days — Southwestern Pennsylvania weather has a habit of surprising us with snow well into Spring.

I remember April 2, thirty-eight years ago, when Doug and I got married. I thought an April wedding meant guaranteed good weather. It snowed that week. What did I know? I grew up in the temperate climate of southeast Queensland. Thankfully, the skies cleared on our wedding day, and we managed a few photos outside.

Talking about the love of my life (that guy I married 38 years ago), here’s a picture of one of our favorite desserts - Bananas Foster. Doug first made it for me when we were dating back in the 80s in Townsville (north eastern Queensland, Australia). He called it Bananas Tam O’Shanter because that was the name of the street I lived on. I used to make it all fancy with banana liqueur and rum to flambé it. But honestly, this simplified version is my new favorite:

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 2 teaspoons brown sugar or evaporated cane juice (Sucanat)

• 1 banana, peeled, halved lengthwise and crosswise

• Cinnamon

• Vanilla ice cream, for serving

  
  Melt butter and sugar in a small frying pan. Add banana pieces and sauté over medium heat until lightly browned, turning pieces once. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Remove pan from heat.

  
  Serve warm banana pieces and sauce over vanilla ice cream.

Easy peasy! Quick to make. I usually double the above for 2 people or throw in an extra banana.

Bananas Tam OShanter (aka Bananas Foster)

Lately, I’ve been walking more and encouraging my family to do the same. Funny thing is, I didn’t always love walking. Old narratives can cling tightly, long past their expiration date. Growing up in rural Australia without a family car, I associated walking with poverty. It’s only now that I can look back and see things differently. Yes, we didn’t have a car because we couldn’t afford one. But that daily walking shaped me in ways I couldn’t appreciate at the time. It toughened me up and laid the foundation for a lifetime of moving my body. What felt like hardship then turned out to be a gift — even if it took a while for my mindset to catch up.

When I was old enough, I got a used bike. The freedom! I could finally get myself places. Of course, not having a car was much harder on my mother, who had to carry groceries for six people two miles every week in the sweltering heat. We survived those hardships, but to this day, I still feel a surge of gratitude every time I drive to the store. There are so many comforts I enjoy now that I don’t take for granted.

It makes me wonder: What other old narratives are quietly shaping my choices? That belief that "only poor people walk everywhere" lingered long past its usefulness. Even now, with daily movement practices I love, it’s amazing how sneaky those narratives can be. Have you ever caught yourself holding onto a belief that no longer serves you? I’d love to hear about it.

Speaking of sneaky narratives, the changing season has once again highlighted the excess in my house. I could probably Spring clean from now until Fall and still not conquer the clutter, but I’m trying. Tonight is recyclables night, a cause for celebration in my home. We put out the trash every week, but recyclables only go out every two weeks. This time, I have two bins and three boxes heading to the curb. Progress.

Letting go of things is hard. Not just sentimental items but even pieces of paper. The toughest boxes for me to part with were the old data files from Yoga in Schools. Between 2005 and 2015, we collected so much data: surveys, evaluations, reports. It feels like proof of the amazing work we did — teaching children, teachers, and parents to breathe and move. For now, those boxes have landed in the "too-hard-to-part-with" pile. And that’s okay. Maybe you have one of those piles too.

Big News

My manuscript, "How to Die Well: A Workbook for the Living," has found a home! Coming to a bookstore near you in 2026. I’m deep in writing mode, finishing the last four chapters to submit to my editor. As you can imagine, I’m once again immersed in the business of dying. Doug could probably use some cheering up while I disappear into my writing cave — he may be craving a conversation that doesn’t involve burial options, funeral rituals, or obituary writing.

What I’m Reading

"The Wisdom of Your Body: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Connection through Embodied Living" by Hilary McBride. She knows a thing or two about being disconnected from her body.

This book explores the profound relationship we have with our bodies and how societal pressures, trauma, and disconnection can shape our self-perception. McBride, a therapist and researcher, combines personal stories, scientific insights, and spiritual reflections to guide readers toward embracing their bodies with compassion. She offers practical tools to heal body shame, deepen self-awareness, and cultivate a sense of wholeness through embodied living. The book encourages a shift from viewing the body as an object to be controlled to recognizing it as a source of wisdom and connection. I highly recommend this book.

Self-Care

Needless to say, my daily self-care routines are more important than ever right now. I continue to practice the 5 Tibetans. I’m taking a break from intermittent fasting and cold plunges, but I’m walking, praying, cooking nourishing meals, watching the light change, and sneaking in daily naps when I can. As the weather warms up, I hope to dust off my bike and feel the wind on my face again.

Watching the light change from the room where I write most days.

Pray with Your Whole Body

Tuesdays in March join me for two more free Facebook Live sessions from 7:00 to 7:30 pm ET — a short time of prayer and gentle yoga. This is the latest way I am experimenting in getting the word out about my video course “Pray with Your Whole Body.”

Want to go deeper? Pray with Your Whole Body runs April through May. Click on this link to learn more.

As always, here are links to my other books, courses, and newsletter archives.

Your support means the world — whether it’s writing a quick review, liking a video, liking or commenting on this newsletter or even sharing it with a friend who may resonate.

Life is beautiful and hard, and I’m grateful we’re journeying together.

Here’s to walking and breathing fresh Spring air.

Be well,

Joanne