Mindfulness has become almost a buzzword in our culture. Mindfulness is being aware of the present moment without judgment. Current research has found that there are practical applications for mindfulness in therapy. Karen Hooker and Iris Fodor's 2008 article on mindfulness and children provides practical examples for how to teach children mindfulness skills. Children and [...]
Most days I start my morning by rolling out my yoga mat. Most yoga classes follow a similar structure; starting with an intention and moment of meditation. As you begin, your yoga teacher might help remind you to practice “non-attachment.” Non-attachment is the idea of not feeling attached to the results of the class or [...]
While there are several factors that contribute to a healthy relationship, communication is key to maintaining and strengthening a relationship. Sometimes, we can face turbulence in our relationships when we struggle with stress, mental health disorders, or addiction. Without effective communication, all relationships, whether adults or adolescents, are at risk for conflicts. Maintaining our relationships with our significant others, [...]
We often get stuck trying to achieve our goals. We set off with noble intentions. We’ll decide that we’re going to start working out, eating healthy, go back to school, move out, obtain financial security or even just simply learn a new hobby. We see other people toting their successes and achievements and yet somewhere, [...]
Don't munch on feelings. Often we munch on feelings when we don't have useful tools to cope with distressful feelings. If you’ve identified yourself as someone who uses food to avoid and soothe a distressful emotion, then you may lack the necessary, non-food-related, tools to cope. Making this change is challenging as food is a [...]
Why do we eat? It seems like a simple enough question with a simple answer; to stay alive and fuel our body. However, we know that the answer is sometimes not so simple. Eating is tied to life events, to bring people together, to celebrations and holidays and for many people, eating is a way [...]
Everyone knows about doing yoga to increase flexibility, balance, and strength, but what about doing yoga to reduce anxiety and/or depression? In her book Yoga for Emotional Balance, Bo Forbes, PsyD, discusses how with as little as fifteen to thirty minutes of twice-weekly breathing exercises and Restorative Yoga, people's thinking can become less emotionally reactive. [...]
Maybe you’ve had this experience: a friend, relative or significant other makes a complaint about something you did, and all of a sudden you are in a no-holds-barred war of words. It is very common for simple complaints to turn into a win/lose power struggle. Many times when we get into these situations, the importance [...]
Everyone at some point in time experiences distressing emotions. It could be related to the loss of a job, a relationship, a changed lifestyle or even having a new president. Often, the strategies we use to manage these feelings do not help. Some people try to avoid their feelings by distracting themselves with other activities [...]
My mother used to tell me that if I couldn't say something nice, then I shouldn't say anything at all. In my adulthood, I have learned tact and how to speak assertively, so I no longer completely subscribe to mom's dictate to be kind. But I do still believe there is a lot to be [...]
