Last year I wrote a blog on “The New Reality of April Showers,” inspired after early rains, a typical sign of Spring, had started in February and never stopped in the midwest.  This year, it has been the April ice storms and lingering snow flurries that triggered a new reminder for me of the unpredictability of climate change.

 

As I thought about my own struggles with the intrusion of continued winter weather into my yearnings for sunshine and Spring flowers, I realized that I’d like to focus this blog on a powerful remedy.  The combination of yoga and meditation can ease the physical and psychic pain of such stressful surprises from mother nature.

 

I used daily meditations each morning at home this spring  that taught me to accept dark clouds as readily as we welcome sunshine into our lives.  Yes, embrace the clouds and snow. It works!  This meditation came from my spiritual teacher,  Pragito Dove (www.discovermeditation.com). How comforting to learn from her that with a little help from the right mental imagery,  we can transform a gloomy Springtime in Macomb County, Michigan from endless depression into a hopeful “this too, will pass.”

 

 I now also spend time each week at Map Keys Yoga in Clinton Township (www.mapkeysyoga), where founder Melissa Pini guides everyone in the class into relaxation through yoga exercises, while also using meditation to help you accept the present moment, not brood on what is missing.   Melissa is a truly inspiring Master of both spiritual arts – yoga and meditation — and she helped me find my “super woman” to drive out the stress. 

 

We took deep breaths and repeated “I am calm” and “I am powerful,” as well as other positive phrases – a meditation exercise that helped drive out the inner stress.Then she turned the focus to yoga stretches that  took the tension out of my  back, neck and joints. We finished by spontaneously laughing together.   If you still need convincing that it can be so easy, I highly recommend that you watch Melissa’s youtube  interview presented by Boomer Times – the link is below. *  

 

And  even though  spring is finally coming,  remember not to get complacent again —  climate change promises to keep giving us more surprises during the year.  Use the magic of meditation and yoga together to avoid depression  and stay positive!

 

 *On Youtube:  Boomer Times Presents: Anita Finley with Melissa Pini https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=743Yevrd0Ik