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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Meditation Made Easy

By Rosie Lazroe, Yoga Coordinator, Natural Awakenings NJ

Developing a seated meditation practice may not be the easiest thing to accomplish. To sit perfectly still with the little aches and pains in the body, and the many racing thoughts in the mind, might seem to be anything but meditative. However, using these four mindfulness tricks may help ease the transition to bring meditation into a daily routine.

Meditate While Walking

Walking meditation helps shift the focus from the mind into the body. Be present with the sensation of the feet as each part of the foot, heel to toe, glides along the ground. Notice the texture of the shoes you are wearing, and of the ground if you are barefoot. Take note of the pace in each of your strides, and the corresponding sensation in the calves and thighs as they carry you. This can be done during a 10-minute stroll or while walking to your car. This is mindfulness in action.

Designate Mealtime as Meditation

In our society, it is common to eat our meals without consciously being present with what we are doing. Making the commitment to be fully present and aware for just one bite of food can settle the body and mind and may lead to an entire mealtime of meditative eating. Breathe in the aroma of your food, notice all of the flavors with each bite, and really be present with the sensation of chewing and swallowing. In this moment, you are meditating.

Set a Gratitude Reminder

In this age of cell phones, it’s easy to set a reminder that simply says, “be grateful.” Allow feelings of gratitude to well up inside as you go about daily activities. If the reminder activates when seated, if possible, simply close your eyes and enjoy a few brief moments of deep breathing and appreciation.

Use Your Five Senses

By working with our senses, we can anchor our awareness in the present moment no matter where we are or what we are doing. For example, we can meditate on the colors of spring foliage, or the sounds of a busy city. We can be present with the sensation of sand between our toes, the tastes of different foods, or the smells of essential oils. Through the senses, we can momentarily quiet the mental chatter, and literally meditate anywhere, at any time.

Get creative in ways to bring mindfulness into your life and enjoy the journey!

Rosie Lazroe is a certified yoga teacher and master reiki practitioner. For more information, you can contact her at 732-596-7384, [email protected] or visit RosieLazroe.com.

Rosie’s Corner
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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