Life Transitions

Life unfolds with many pathways and times of transition, each accompanied by relationships, situations, and experiences that bring insights and new awareness about the life journey. During the past few months several transitions have brought me to moments of reflection, as I consider endings and new beginnings that are arising — entering a new life decade, deciding to move, and the birth of a new grandchild. I am grateful to have studied and worked with body-mind self-care practices as a physical therapist. Self-care practices have served me professionally and personally. They have brought rest, renewal, stillness, and time to process my thoughts, words, actions, body sensations and movement, and emotions. In addition, the signals and guidance these provide help me to make conscious and wise life choices during times of transition.

The first transition that occurred for me this year was when I entered a new decade in my life last January. At that time, I noticed that I was repeatedly hearing and reading the statement “we are here for joy.” As a physical therapist, I experience joy during sessions with clients as they learn, grow, and heal…..including individuals who are at end stages of life. I feel joy when I teach about self-care through my book, The Heart of Healing, and classes I present, posted on this blog. As I watch individuals let go, feel renewed, and come alive during sessions and presentations, I am reminded that we each possess our own built-in capacity to heal and feel whole again….all we need do is tap into our hearts, our internal GPS, and the guidance and wisdom present there.

The second transition that occurred for me this year involved a decision to downsize and move. This came about gradually, but once the choice was made the process sped up. Spring cleaning, in preparation for this move, felt like opening a treasure chest as I discovered photos, momentos, and memories of individuals and events where joy was experienced. There was sadness at what no longer existed, but gratitude for what was experienced. Throwing out files, books, photos, and other assorted items was freeing, like emptying a backpack I had carried for years. Letting go included sorrow and joy, but I find that what I focus on most is what lingers in my daily life. I choose to focus on joy.

The third transition involved welcoming the long awaited birth of our daughter’s daughter, adding another generation to our family. This beautiful new soul has taught me much and brought keen insight about the vulnerability all sentient beings face during infancy. I am struck by the total joy she expresses with each smile as I sing to and talk with her. Each day is a new beginning as she explores her ever expanding world, openly and with total trust. When I hold her and snuggle with her as she drifts into sleep, she reminds me that love, compassionate touch, unconditional presence, and heart connection provide essential nourishment for all human growth and development.

In the face of constant stress, change, and transitions faced in today’s world, I believe there are three solutions to remaining healthy and resilient: (1) increase self-awareness; (2) learn and use self-care practices; (3) reconnect with what has heart and meaning. Each of these solutions will provide nourishment and bring much needed joy to our overworked hearts and life force. YOU get to choose what, when, where, and how you nourish yourself, and what brings joy into your life. Ask yourself:

• What nourishes me and brings joy into my life?
• What specific self-care practices will I use today for nourishment and joy?

Namaste,

Gina

“The Heart of Healing” First Anniversary

“Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.”   

                                                                                                                              Lao-tzu

Just as my children and grandchildren have grown rapidly before my eyes, so has the first year since publication last March of The Heart of Healing: Discovering the Secrets of Self-Care. During this past year I’ve met amazing people at classes, library presentations, study groups, and book signings. People came to events because the topic sounded interesting, because their spouse brought them, because they needed insight into how to meet healing challenges, to age more gracefully, and to find greater peace in their lives amidst stress and change.  The Self-care tools and strategies they learned were not new: breathing, journaling, meditation, movement, acupressure, play, laughter, creativity, and joy. They were surprised to discover three simple ways to help themselves remain healthier and more resilient amidst daily stress and change:

• increase Self-awareness
• use Self-care practices
• reconnect with what has heart and meaning

When we feel like we are on Mars without a road map during healing challenges, Self-awareness and Self-care practices help us recognize people, places, and things that will support us as we travel the unfamiliar landscape of healing. They also help us recognize and use untapped internal and external resources. Healing requires courage as we continuously ask: Who am I? What do I need? Where am I going?  Answers to these questions provide stepping stones that lead us home through our internal compass or GPS, which brings heart-and-soul centered guidance and wisdom as we move along  ”the road less traveled” on healing journeys. As Dorothy discovered in The Wizard of Oz, there’s no place like home.

Thank you all for your love, support, and healing presence this past year. May your healing journeys continue to bring you home to your hearts and the beautiful beings you each are.

Namaste,

Gina

Free Teleclass Thursday March 6, 2014 at 7 PM

We experience stress and change throughout our body, mind, emotions, and life force as one season ends and another begins. As winter slowly ends and spring arrives, what seeds do you want to plant in your garden to promote greater health and wellbeing? How can you enrich the “soil” within your vital life force to cultivate the health, growth, and development you seek?

Tune into your Self as Spring approaches during this FREE teleclass and learn three simple solutions to remaining strong and resilient amidst daily stress and change. Host Elsie Kerns, Wellness Educator and CoFounder of Wellness Workers Holistic Health in Cherry Hill, NJ (www.wellnessworkers.org) and I will discuss solutions and Self-care strategies to welcome Spring on Thursday, March 6 from 7-8 PM. You must register to attend. Once registered, you will be able to listen to the teleclass afterward if you miss the live teleclass.

Here’s the link to register:

Spring Classes: Seva Acupressure For Self-Care & Using Seva Acupressure With Others

“Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”…….It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine.”  

The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett

Spring is just around the corner. Come refresh your whole being and plant seeds of Self-care at a Seva Stress Release Acupressure class in Holmdel, New Jersey. Classes are available on March 15 and again on April 5.

Seva is the Sanskrit word for compassionate, selfless service. Seva Part 1 teaches how to use this simple acupressure program for Self-care. Seva Part 2 teaches how to use this program with others. Seva Part 1 is a pre-requisite to Part 2, and can be taken as a separate class, or on the same day with a Seva Part 2 class.

SEVA ACUPRESSURE FOR SELF-CARE & WITH OTHERS – Holmdel, NJ

Saturday, March 15, 2014: Part 1 Seva Acupressure for Self-Care: 9 AM-12 Noon; Part 2 Using Seva With Others: 1-4 PM (can be taken same day or separately)

Saturday, April 5, 2014:  Part 1 Seva Acupressure for Self-Care: 9 AM-12 Noon; Part 2 Using Seva With Others: 1-4 PM (can be taken same day or separately)

INFORMATION:  http://www.reginarosenthal.com/education-workshops/professional/ 

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: 908-902-0770

Fee: Seva Part 1: $60;  Seva Part 2: $60

Continuing Education: Nurses, Social Workers, Massage Therapists, Asian Bodyworkers (3  hours Seva Part 1; 3 hours Seva Part 2)

Coming Home To Our Hearts

“To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.”   Confuscius

During February attention is focused on the heart with American Heart Month and Valentine’s Day. In today’s world we often become disconnected from our hearts, and the wisdom therein. Coming home to our hearts is vital to healing and living a fulfilled life.

Our hearts are like kaleidoscopes that reveal the many dimensions of our being. In a physical dimension our hearts, at the center of our being, pump blood, oxygen, and life force to every cell. In an emotional dimension our hearts reveal emotions and nonlinear intelligence. E-motion is the energy of our hearts in motion, which we notice when something touches our hearts and we are “moved” by the experience. In a mental dimension what we take to heart we consider seriously. In a spiritual dimension we connect with heart intelligence each time we become aware of what has heart and meaning in our lives.

The Institute of Heart Math has done extensive scientific study regarding how and why the heart affects learning, creativity, emotional balance, and personal effectiveness. (www.heartmath.org). Their studies indicate that the heart generates the largest electromagnetic field of any body organ, several thousand times more powerful than that of the brain. When we tap into this field and use it like an internal GPS system, we become aware of “stepping stones” on our life path that guide us home to our hearts.

I come home to my heart in every dimension when I’m sharing time with family and clients, teaching, taking yoga and Jazzercise® classes, participating in creative activities, and spending time in nature. Each time I participate in these relationships and activities I feel physically alive, mentally clear, emotionally joyful, and spiritually centered and grounded. Which relationships and activities in your life help you come home to your heart? In my book, The Heart of Healing: Discovering the Secrets of Self-Care, I ask readers to consider  ”Ten Loves,” experiences that bring them home to their hearts. What would you include on such a list? Does your list need to be updated? Without judgment, consider how many activities involve others, and how many are alone activities? Is there a new balance that needs to be established between the two?

When your heart speaks take good notes.

Namaste…..Gina