Current Inspiration

The Stretch

I’ve been doing a series for the past month about the Stretch. I’ve written about graciousness, kindness, generosity and bravery. Today I’ll explain how this all comes together!

When I was first adopted, my parents noticed that I only walked on my tippy-toes. Because I had been doing it for so long, I couldn’t walk normal, so my Dad encouraged me to do exercises to help stretch my calf muscles. For months we worked on this, and eventually I was able to walk heel first.

It didn’t happen all at once. I didn’t just think, “okay, I’m ready now.” and then immediately get what I wanted. I had to stretch out my muscles and tendons. I had to practice the exercises regularly and that faith, determination and effort eventually paid off.

I started doing a Stretch during my walks in Mexico. I needed some way to curb the constant flow of worry and anxiety that filled my mind back in those days. Walking really helped clear my head and the Stretch seemed like a natural way to focus on the essence of that clarity. (I had also taken walks with my sister-in-law who always stopped and took a moment to do yoga stretches. Thanks for the inspiration, Stacie! xoxo)

This simple exercise helps me to Stretch toward what I want to feel like.

I want to feel balanced and stable, strong, calm and confident. (don’t you?)

Here’s a video (shot by my girlfriend Molly) 0f the Stretch. (I’ve simplified it since the last one).

The prayer at the end of it came to me back in April 2010 while on the plane to visit my husband in Israel. During the flight, I read an interview with Eckhart Tolle in the May edition of Oprah magazine. Fortunately, I had brought my journal with me to take notes because in the article  he say’s…

“Practicing presence” - endeavoring to let go of an excessive and unhealthy preoccupation with past and future, and embrace the place where life happens…the power for creating a better future is contained in the present moment; You create a good future by creating a good present. It’s through gratitude for the present moment that the spiritual dimension of life opens up.”

Then later in the magazine, Oprah was doing an interview and she said….

” I started taking God out of the box, out of the pew. And eventually I got to where I was able to see God in other people and in all things - in graciousness, and kindness and generosity and the spirit of things.”

After reading the O magazine, I started reading Seth Godin’s book Linchpin. In it he say’s…

“Unchecked anxiety is the single biggest barrier between you and your goals….If you live in a state of anxiety about tasks that are in demand (like art, brave action and generosity) it’s going to change what you choose to do. You’ll avoid the very things that make you indispensable.”

That’s why I added bravery to the end. The prayer needed to be a reminder of bravery too.

The beginning part of the Stretch prayer….”Stay open to the balance of energies and show patience for time to do it’s work” came from my Oracle card reading. Right before my trip, I had pulled the “Control” card which means ‘You are in control of this situation to a large extent, but Time is the true controller‘. I had written that down in my journal as well, so it was already right there, waiting for my other notes from Oprah, Eckhart Tolle and Seth Godin to come together and make a beautiful, grand finale to the Stretch.

Although it took me a couple of days to blend it all together, the prayer (and I call it a prayer because that what it feels like) has become an integral part of the Stretch. It’s a reminder of the Sacred, to take time to acknowledge God, (the Divine, the Universe, the Source, the Force, Allah…..) and show appreciation and gratitude for everything we’ve been given.

I’ve recently started taking Yin Yoga at Soothe your Soul in Oxford, MI. Yin yoga helps to stretch the connective tissues, not just the muscles. Since I’ve always been the type of person to push myself too hard, this class has been a wonderful opportunity for me to slow down and savor where I am.

My teacher Lynne guides us through our postures and constantly reminds us to ‘be where you are’. In order for our tendons to be able to stretch, we must first stretch our muscles to the point of ’sweet discomfort’ and then relax. Don’t force or push, just focus on being present.

Sure enough, I actually felt my hip flexor release and stretch out!  After just a couple of sessions, I’ve already noticed a big difference in the flexibility of my hips, not to mention the calm, surrender in my mind. If you’ve never practiced yoga before, I would HIGHLY recommend it!!

Practicing the Stretch has taught me that I can have a healthy, happy life, right now.

Yin Yoga has shown me that by focusing on the life I want to live and relaxing my way to it, I can create a life worth looking forward to.

All I need to do is practice and stretch!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this series, my friendly blog reader.

I’ll be back next week with the Inspirational person and Inspirational word.

Have a wonderful week!

xoxo Pam

p.s. If you’re looking for something else to help you practice presence, try heading over to Heidi’s Table. She has this new lotion or pulse point potion that will gently remind you “Presence pays exquisite attention. Presence notices. Presence is love.”