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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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‘Being There’ as Meditation

by Rosie Lazroe, Coordinator,  Local Yoga Directory

How often do we get to experience quality time with our friends and loved ones? When I asked myself this question, I discovered something eye opening. While in the presence of friends and family, more often than not, I find that my brain is preparing for the next adventure. This is a sign for me to slow down and hit the reset button.

Human contact is essential for our health and well-being. Heart connections keep the spirits lifted and the immune system strong. Real, genuine conversation keeps the mind sharp and youthful. So, I asked myself, how can I be fully present during my downtime with friends and family without feeling guilty that I’m not mentally tackling my to-do list? My heart responded quickly and proposed that I treat every human interaction as a living, breathing meditation.

Similar to seated meditation, which takes about 20 minutes each day to open our mind and heart, we can take the same amount of time each day to enjoy a conversation with someone that lights a spark within our soul. We all notice when we are interacting with someone that is distracted, half listening and quick to speak. If you find yourself doing that, now is the perfect time to commit to being fully present during your social interactions, even if it’s for only 20 minutes.

Put away the phone, turn off the TV and avoid doing anything that will take your mind away from the beautiful human being you are interacting with. This one might be a challenge! In 20 minutes’ time, I can reach for my phone to create a memo, check my calendar, take a photo and fact check something that someone just told me. Don’t worry, there will be time to post pictures later.

One of my favorite things about meditation is that it provides the opportunity to listen. Magic happens when we listen. Prayers are answered when we listen. Messages come to us when we listen. If you find yourself quick to speak, now is a good time to clear up those mental pathways. Just be and listen.

FaceTime and Skype are great if that’s all you have time for, but the best part about actual human interaction is that you get to hug it out. Science has found hugs to be incredibly healing for the nervous system, and they can leave a smile on your face for hours afterward. Be sure to end this meditation with a heartfelt hug.

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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