May Movement
I am going into hibernation to finish a book… right after my second book launch May 16! What? Want to celebrate with me?
No matter how busy life may get, it is still critical to move your body every day. Like really move it.
Even if you find exercise repugnant and you don’t want to do yoga, you need to find some sort of movement you can do each day. I am sure there is a study that correlates liking the movement with its benefits, but I don’t have the time to research that at the moment. Just walk. It’s free, and it’s great. And since we are talking about movement, it doesn’t get any easier than the practices in my latest book, Trauma-Informed Yoga Card Deck: 52 Self-Guided Practices to Calm, Balance, and Restore the Nervous System.
I know that sounds a bit like my first book, but this one is bare bones, minimal text, image-driven, color-coded and gorgeous. I am so grateful and happy with the design team at PESI. Perhaps I also am confusing you by calling a card deck a book. It was a last-minute decision to make the cards spiral-bound with the image and corresponding text side by side and not back-to-back. The book also stands up by itself (how clever) for ease of use. How about from here on in I call it a “card deck book” to reduce the confusion?
Back to movement – think function and daily activities. Things like squats (standing or sitting), arms over the head (handy for getting through the airport scanner), warrior poses to improve your strength and endurance are all good choices to incorporate into your daily movement. Sit on the floor when you get a chance. Better still, practice getting up and down off the floor without assistance. Even if you are unfamiliar with yoga, doing any of the 52 practices in my new book will help you manage your mood and functional movement. Learning to breathe well and be aware of your breathing patterns can also reset your nervous system.
In the last month or so I have been gathering endorsements from scientists and yoga teachers. Here’s a couple of wonderful reviews that came in that made me tear up a bit. I mean it’s not every day that this girl gets accolades from such luminaries.
Joanne Spence distills the yoga practices that she eloquently described in her book, Trauma-Informed Yoga: A Toolbox for Therapists, into the Trauma-Informed Yoga Card Deck. This efficient and accessible deck of illustrations complement her book by providing succinct self-guided instructions and illustrations of practices that serve as ‘neural exercises’ to calm the autonomic nervous system and to optimize nervous system regulation. Using this format, the user can select specific practices to form a personalized toolkit that can be easily accessed and implemented throughout the day.
Stephen W. Porges, PhD., Distinguished University Scientist, Founding Director, Traumatic Stress Research Consortium, Kinsey Institute, Indiana University Bloomington, Professor of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Simple, effective, and so much fun, like the author herself. I love practicing with Joanne. Her instructions are clear, and she understands the baby steps we must take to heal the wounds of trauma. I recommend these cards to anyone on the journey of recovery and to the professionals who serve them.
Amy Weintraub, MFA, ERYT-500, YACEP, C-IAYT, Author of “Yoga for Depression” and “Yoga Skills for Therapists”, founder of LifeForce Yoga
The Trauma-Informed Yoga Card Deck is a wonderful companion to Joanne Spence’s book, Trauma-Informed Yoga. Yoga practices that support peace of mind and ease in the body are featured. There are easy to read instructions on one side of the spiral-bound page with a corresponding picture of a real person on the other, of various ages, body types, genders, and races, in yoga poses that anyone can do anytime, anywhere.
Gail Parker, PhD., CIAYT, Author of “Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race-Based Stress and Trauma,” and “Transforming Ethnic and Race-Based Traumatic Stress with Yoga”
How You Can Be Part of the Action
1. Please do come to the Card Deck Book Launch Party, June 2, from 5-7pm at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. RSVP and more details, click here.
2. If you would like to preorder my card deck book - here is a code for $5 off until May 23: 5JOANNE. It is good for Amazon purchases (this link will add the code in for you).
3. If you like the card deck book and want to write a 1-2 sentence review after May 16, here are the links to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble. It is perfectly acceptable to cut and paste the same review. The review might include a) what you liked about it, b) how it will help you, and/or c) how it may help someone else - and you might mention whether you are using it for yourself or as a tool with clients. Keep it short, simple, heartfelt.
4. If you are ready to review now, then you can be the first reviews on Goodreads and Barnes and Noble on the links above.
What’s Next?
Lastly, I usually include a section here in this newsletter as to how to take a class or book a one-on-one yoga session with me. But I am putting classes on hold until September so I can: a) finish the book I am currently writing, b) meet my summer teaching responsibilities, and c) take some time to rest and get my house in order.
Summer Opportunities
Kripalu Yoga & Retreat Center, July 2-7 with Amy Weintraub
Chautauqua Institution Week 6 and 7, July 29 – Aug 12: Yoga by the Lake – 9-10am daily (Heinz Studio if raining)
Week 6 A Life of Literature
Week 7 National Parks
Bethany Beach: Christian Conference Center Aug 14-16
Just one more thing –
There is a beautiful new children’s book coming out May 23. It is called “Your Joy is Beautiful: The Magic of Remembering That You Are Enough Just As You Are” by Zabie Yamasaki and illustrated by Evelyn Rosario Andry. You’ll want this for the little people in your life (and maybe even as a reminder to the big people too).
I still plan on sending out this monthly newsletter during the summer. So, stay tuned and keep moving.
May your May movement be just as you need it to be!
Be well,
Joanne