The Flurry of February
The holidays have been and gone. Deep winter has set in. Phil did not see his shadow. How do we get more light into our lives when darkness and dreariness pervades? I have several ideas...
Trigger warning: Happy people on beach looking carefree. There is sunshine!
Let me get real for a minute. Sometimes I find it hard to get excited about life in February. Even with all the tools and opportunities I have. Even so, I am so darn grateful just to open my eyes each morning and get to live another day. I also feel a bit sheepish saying anything at all, having spent the better part of January in Florida on study leave with 34 close friends… well, it really was a dream come true. To be really candid, as a northerner, middle class, very frugal person, I thought doing things like spending a few weeks (or months) in Florida in the winter was for the wealthy and idle and certainly not me (as in something I could not afford or justify). In this month’s newsletter I am going to highlight some of the ways I have managed to get more sun and light in our often cold and dreary winters without breaking the bank and while still getting my work done and keeping my commitments to myself and my family.
Let’s start with the low-hanging fruit: I changed the light fixture in my kitchen – where I spend a lot of time – to accommodate brighter LED bulbs. I am all about dimming the lights and creating mood and atmosphere. But in the kitchen, I need light and lots of it most of the day. And especially in the winter months. I like to really see what I am preparing, cutting, chopping, and also to be able to read the recipe.
Next, I also installed a Happy Light. You can spend more than $100 but my husband, Doug, found this one on Craigslist for $50. I also have it mounted on the kitchen wall since I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. It is 10,000 lux, so start slow - as in 5 minutes - and build up. I have heard from friends who did too many minutes that they found it hard to sleep. Here’s a solid article on light therapy pros and cons.
Our three kids are now all adults. But for years that meant our vacation time was usually tied to the school calendar (with the occasional deviation). Then, one gloomy November day, I remembered that a company called Fitbodies matches yoga teachers and fitness instructors with resorts in the Caribbean. I had worked with them before, but only in the summer. I checked in with my husband as to how much vacation time he had, and we swiftly made plans to go to the Maya Riveria (south of Cancun, Mexico) in JANUARY. Without kids. Is this even legal?
Usually, when we went in the summer, I would strictly time ourselves regarding sun exposure – I was prone to sunburn after just ten minutes of those glorious summer rays. But January, oh my word. I could hang out on the beach for hours with nary effect but a nice golden glow. And just in case you think I was being idle, this was right after I had taught my beach yoga class at 9am. To be fair, I wasn’t exactly paid to do this work. But as a yoga teacher (or fitness instructor, musician, DJ, tennis pro), I did get a heavy discount at a 5-star resort. Up until this point in life, I had not had such an opportunity. Ok, so maybe your skill set doesn’t include one of the above, but get creative, and give it a go! The opportunities are out there. Think about whatever it is you do – professionally or as a hobby – can you do it where the sun shines and get paid or get your accommodation largely covered?
So, about the 34 “close friends” in Florida. I am in a Doctor of Ministry program in Creative Writing and Public Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Our cohort meets in person for classes in January and June. The January classes happen to be at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL. I was given merit and need-based scholarships and a fellowship to follow my dream of becoming a full-time writer and poet. I am now living that dream. While I have wanted to be a writer for at least twenty years, I never thought I could qualify or afford such an education. There has been much serendipity along this path. I have never been happier working so hard.
Did I mention we meet in Florida in January? Yes, that’s me teaching on St. Pete’s Beach in Florida a few weeks ago.
On the long drive back to Pittsburgh, I finally got to meet a very special person in person. You may know him by reputation. Not only did he answer my many questions about his theory: Polyvagal Theory, but he also edited my chapter on Polyvagal Essentials and his endorsement of the book is featured on the book’s cover. His name is Dr. Stephen Porges. I think the book is more solid and credible as a result of his input. In my worldview, sometimes you just have to show up in person to thank someone properly, eye to eye, and breathe together. Sounds like co-regulation, doesn’t it?! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to do just that. As Steve says, We are hard-wired for connection! If you are curious about the larger scope of his work, click here. The extra bonus was getting to meet his wife, also an eminent scientist in her field, Dr. Sue Carter.
These are a few of the ways I have been caring for myself (and others) during the gloom of the winter. If you haven’t tried yoga on the beach, I hope you get to. Anywhere I can take a class outdoors – which sometimes means wearing a hat/sunscreen and/or extra layers, taking in nature is as refreshing as the class itself. So, go for a walk outside if yoga still isn’t your thing (though I am trying to convince you that it IS, via this newsletter).
Just in case you think I am totally trying to shirk the cold, I do plan on trying snowshoeing and/or cross-country skiing in the next month or two as fun ways to spend time outdoors during the winter. Stay tuned, I’ll report more on how I do in the upcoming months.
What I am Writing About
Here’s one of my experimental poems from my time in Florida studying with Ross Gay:
Saying Goodbye
This year I am saying goodbye to:
Painfully second-guessing decisions. Maybe.
Pettiness. Yep. Gone.
Procrastination. Maybe. Trying to.
Mindless internet scrolling. Out of here.
Eating old food because someone needs to. No more.
Not resting enough. Really.
Not playing enough. That too.
Endless working. Gotta go.
Judging all and sundry. Ouch.
Being late. Again.
Hurrying through a meal. Burp.
Having a second glass of wine. No go.
Overplanning everything. Sick of.
Not watering my plants. Hello green thumb.
Overly sweet things. Don’t need.
Speeding. Confession is good for the soul.
Clutter. Just do it, Baby!
What do you want to say goodbye to this year?
Better still, here is Ross Gay’s latest book – it lives up to its name.
My Yoga Card Deck is still on track to be released in May. I hope to have a preorder link soon. Here’s the box cover proof. I am loving the blue on green!
How to Connect with Me
As always, here are some ways to connect with more of my work:
Group Class: Tuesdays 8-9 AM ET Zoom Gentle Yoga Class
Click here for details and to sign up.
Buy my book: Trauma-Informed Yoga: A Toolbox for Therapists: 47 Practices to Calm, Balance, and Restore the Nervous System.
Individual Sessions
Yoga Therapy
Embodied Spiritual Direction
I have limited time slots available due to my writing commitments, but I still have availability. I do my own scheduling via email or text at Joyogi5 at gmail.com or 412.287.4591, so call or email me to schedule an appointment.
For more details on the above sessions, click here.
As always, thank you for reading this far. Feel free to let me know via email/text/grocery store line if you tried something new to care for yourself. Or that you simply remembered to go outside each day. Or you have taken up the 5 Tibetans and you are up to 4 reps of each (or whatever). It truly makes my day to know that someone somewhere has been prompted by my words to take better care of themselves. Because then you can
Be well! It doesn’t happen by accident.
Til next month – keep breathing,
Joanne