Poem for Dancers

Historian

Some people need to see the buildings with their gunshot wounds and crumbling towers

Some people need to read books by experts

I get my history from

Stomping feet

Slithering fingers

Chest presses

3’ leaps in the air

Deep squats

Gyrating hips

Tiptoes through tall grasses

Hands behind ears

Shimmying shoulders

Flat palms

Undulating spines

Chopping elbows

Pounding hearts

Flying trapezoids

Upturned chins

Smug faces

Joyous eyes

Hopeful shouts

Rhythm

I get my history from the rhythms of the people.

Marsha Therese Danzig

©copyright 2015 Color Me Yoga Enterprises, LLC All rights reserved

Legs aren't medically necessary .Huh.

Top 10 Reasons Prosthetic Limbs ARE medically necessary

 

1. Full body movement creates health, increases endorphins, and significantly improves digestion- aka walking, running, dancing, skipping, snowboarding, yoga.
2. Amputees with severe injuries are sometimes required to wear their prosthesis to avoid further injury and surgery.
3. Walking  is a human right just as water is.
4. Grasping , clinging, hugging, lifting, folding, lighting a match, writing, are all important gross motor skills fundamental to human survival.
5. Exorbitant ongoing pressure on a a remaining limb weakens the limb, causing more medical problems, and for insurance carriers, more long term costs.
6. Daily tasks, to function well in human society, become much more difficult without a prosthesis, in some cases limiting or eliminating the ability to work and pay taxes.
7. Standing tall, walking, being able to stand for hours, or walk long distances allows prosthetic wearers to contribute meaningfully to the world with their jobs and families.
8. Prosthetics often help veterans deal much better with phantom pain and PTSD because prosthetics provide necessary compression and get veterans moving ,feeling normal again.
9. In other parts of the world. where prosthetics may be hard to get, many amputees end up on the streets, which drains the resources of the community in which they live due to violence,drugs, disease and helplessness.
10. Finally, if an AMPUTEE Physician told any old male physician or male insurance agent that penises aren't medically necessary, there would be no more discussion on this subject.

Just sayin...

 

 

Love,

Marsha

A below knee amputee

www.yogaforamputees.com

Chloe Goodchild - Wakening - Spiritual Chants with Chloe (Full CD)

Stress You Need to Go! Yoga Practice on the Fly for the Driven Femmepreneur

Do less. Breathe more. Listen.

This has been my mantra for many years as I grow my business.
There are days when I don't quite get to the 'less.Breathe more. Listen" part of the equation.
On those days, I am so focused that my entire body feels like a propelled arrow,  about to launch.
And it is on those days, that somehow the arrow never goes where I want it to go.
Why? I am using up my reserves. Forgetting what I came here to do. Not living what I am preaching. Scrambling for exterior goals that I think I "should" be pursuing, but honestly don't motivate me all that much- more money, more clients. More more more.
The results? The next day, I am more tired and more anxious that I haven't done enough. It takes more time to 'recover' from my over-pushed mind and body. More time wasted, less creative juices flowing.
I have found there is a really simple way to get back to MOI and what really motivates me.

I call it Yoga on the Fly.

Here's how it works.
I get in to my car. I am about to drive off to the next appointment . I am thinking ahead of every red light, strategizing which road will get me to my destination most quickly. Invariably I get behind a tractor, someone texting and swerving while attempting to drive, or a person of a certain demographic who may have some reflex and speed limit issues.

Or, I am typing away at my computer. Hours have gone by. Just one more sentence. Just one more contact. Just one more email.

 

What to DO? What to DO?

Yoga On the Fly Practice One

Mantra Time. "Aad Gurah Nameh. Sat Gurah Namay. Siri Guru Dev Ay Namay. " loosely translated as ' I bow to the Primal *Guru, I bow to the *Guru woven throughout time, I bow to the True *Guru, the true identity of the Self, I bow to the Great *Guru whose Great Glory will always be."  The Guru here is the inner wisdom/light we each hold that is part of the greater unity." It is a mantra known for protection.


 

Yoga on the Fly Practice Two

Meditation Time 

"Breathing in , I breathe in. Breathing out, I breathe out. That is enough."

Yoga on the Fly Practice Three.

The New Perspective Twist.

 If you are at a red light, or if you are at your office.

• Keep your hips stable as you twist your torso and spine to the right.
•  Let your head follow. 
• See something new.
•  Notice it. 
• Hang out with it for 3-5 breaths. 
• Come back to center . 
• Twist to the left. 

Yoga on the Fly Practice Four

Sit Still!!!! You are at another red light, or you are fidgeting in your office chair. 

• Pause. 
• Let your busy thoughts float away on a raft out to sea. 
• You are doing important work right now. 
• Breathe in "I". 
• Breathe out 'Am".

Yoga on the Fly Practice Five
Wake up Your Inner Goddess.
So here you are at another red light, or pounding away at that keyboard.
STOP whatever you are doing- over thinking, twiddling your thumbs, twirling your hair, chewing your gum.

• Place your hands on your thighs.
• Begin to circle your torso around 
• Take a deep breath in
• Lift your chest up and out . 
• That's right. Let your TaTa's perk up. 
• Then relax, exhale with a deep knowing sigh. 

You just unnerved the guy in the truck next to you, or your computer did a double take.

Now , back to work. Feel better?

Let me know how it goes.

www.TheJOYBreakthrough.com

 

BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTE: KEEP IT COOL. I'll take One if I WANT One

Here's the thing.
It's not just that I am now dragging around the business card you thrust upon me. I have to figure out what to do with it.
This is time consuming for a spiritual femmepreneur like myself.

Here's why:

1. You run back to your wallet to grab a business card for me, because you saw me and figured , of course I would want one of your business cards, which I didn't. I can connect to you online if I want to.
2. Now, I can't just toss out your business card once I leave your presence. That would be disrespectful.
3. You put time and money into the design and production of your business card. It would be rude of me to throw it out.
4. I can't waste paper.
5. I've got to create some sacred ritual around it. Do I burn it? Do I bury it?  Throwing it in the garbage makes me feel like I am throwing you in the garbage.
6. Now I've spent some serious time, sometimes an entire day, wondering what I should do with your business card.
7. Your card might be there, in my car, sitting in my passenger seat, waiting for me to figure out what to do with you.
8. I have now spent too much time with you and your business card. 
9. I am  resentful.
10. I toss out the business card. I feel bad. I didn't want any of this. But how can I say 'No' when you got up into my face ? That would be rude too.

Yup, I know it sounds crazy, but that's my process. Can anyone else relate?

If you are a spiritual femmepreneur, here's why pushing your business card on someone can backfire.

1. When you push your business card on someone when they have not asked, you are operating out of "not enoughness" or fear.
2. If you are hurt because someone doesn't want your business card, it is totally about you and your own sense of worth.
3. Are you that marvelous that you assume the forced upon party would of course want your business card? Perhaps that person really doesn't want you or your services, and especially doesn't want to be obliged to drag extra business cards around to share with others( the ultimate business card put upon), because yeah, she has SOOOO much time to do this for you .
4. Pushing your business card on someone appears desperate rather than confident.
5. TRUST that your work will speak for itself. 
6. YOU are your business card. Share you, your worthiness, your smile, your enthusiasm for what you do and why you do it. 
7. Have fun with your potential customers and colleagues.
8. Be at peace with yourself and your business by being present with your potential clients and customers. Listening with simple presence is authentic , and shows real investment in a person's success .
9. Peeps will be begging you for your contact information.
10. Your business will grow because you are just that cool.

What do you think?

www.TheJOYBreakthrough.com

CHOOSING LOVE, JOY AND HAPPINESS:MORE ANNOYING ANECDOTES FROM UNINFORMED LIFE COACHES

Because I have ventured into the world of Femmepreneurship in a bigger way in the past two years , I have continued to notice a trend that keeps gaining momentum, and keeps infuriating me.
There are so many life coaches, healers and authors out there now who generously offer inspiring quotes on their Facebook and Twitter pages. They write  useful self help articles online. They mean well, these coaches, healers and authors. I know they do.

Their platform is the power of self accountability, self choice for more positive outcomes, and  self responsibility. The thing is, their universal truth is not so universal.

These life coaches have a few things in common, as far as I can tell:

• They can eat
• They can turn on their faucets
• They can leave their home without worrying whether they or their family will be shot / hatcheted / burned to death 
• They have a place to call home
• They can speak freely , become educated and own their own businesses pretty much unencumbered by military governments, secret police, religious zealotry, or rampant subjugation of women.

I am not saying these life coaches did not overcome major obstacles in their own lives.Many of them have come out of extremely dire circumstances to get where they are, and yes, they did make a choice . I just don't accept their adamant belief that we can all just "choose differently" without advocacy in place every step along the way. Advocacy such as relief organizations, medical support, food and medical supplies, social services, experts in therapy and healing ,  therapeutic organizations to help with trauma survivors, volunteers willing to transport people, protect people and transform unlivable conditions.

Let's take a broader look.

Starvation:
According to www.worldhunger.org, 1 out of 9 people in the world is starving. When a person is starving, their brain atrophies, muscles are in constant pain, swallowing is virtually impossible, organs waste away, apathy and hopelessness become all consuming, and the ability to connect with humanity is severely diminished. A starving person does not have the energy to "choose their own love, happiness or joy".

Running water:
According to www.water.org 1 in 9 people do not have access to safe water.
Over 2,000 people die daily (many children) from cholera, diarrhea and other unsafe water related diseases. A person living near contaminated water, or with little to no water, may not be redirecting their thoughts to "choose their own love, happiness or joy". They may need to address their dehydration first.

War:
According to an article in the Independent, only 11 countries  in the world live in relative peace. People in war torn countries, living in refugee camps, of course still find love, happiness and joy. After all, the human spirit is miraculously resilient. But, a person living in a war zone may have a few other things to contend with along the way besides their "free choice to love, happiness and joy".  And even those who come back from war , our veterans, may be in such a state of PTSD that "choosing love and happiness" may take second rank to overcoming the belief that  they are not under constant attack.

Refugee Camps:
Close to one billion people do not have a home. Many are living in makeshift shelters and refugee camps to escape violence in their homeland. Conditions in refugee camps can be very harsh: dry heat, overcrowding, disease, lack of safety for girls and women. Surviving the day may be someone's greatest achievement. Knowing that someone such as an "expert life coach" has given them the go ahead to choose their own happiness may somehow not have gently fallen on their ears.

Human Trafficking:
There are still over 30 million slaves worldwide. Slaves- people who have no choice and are owned by someone else, are human beings treated as chattel . Of these 30 million, 2 million are children. Sex trafficking is a $32 billion dollar industry. So....  I am guessing that :"choosing love , happiness and joy" would be nice, but not necessarily at the top of the list for a woman with no rights and no options.

My point is, unless a person's basic needs are met, anecdotes such as 'Choose Love." "Choose Your Own  Happiness" and "To be happy, you need to make your own happiness" are insufficient .
I say to those who speak these anecdotes-

"Choose to serve those who NEED love, food, a home, safety, hope.' 

This Labor Day, as we get ready to honor our those who stood up for workers, let's remember that Choosing Love and Choosing Happiness can only happen when we first choose to acknowledge all that has been freely given to us.

Namaste 

THE BELLY DANCING BUSINESS PLAN for FEMMEPRENEURS

        One day last year , I was meditating on how to grow my business.

The thought that dropped into my lap was " Belly Dancing". The next day I of course received an invitation to join a belly dancing class in my area.

Rather than continue to struggle with developing a linear,"tactical" business growth plan, I listened to my gut which is always right.

Why is my gut always right? Here are a few insights from the most current research on belly wisdom.

The belly is known as the second brain, because it houses our enteric nervous system(ENS).The ENS not only sends signals to the brain and vice versa, the ENS is like a giant recorder, absorbing everything we think and feel. From a somatic point of view,  belly tissue is our psychological hard drive. Those of us who have become experts at  listening to our body wisdom know what's what. And for those who aren't quite there yet, belly dancing WILL help.

      Rigid belly? Rigid thoughts. Rigid actions. Rigid business plan.

     Undulating belly? Riding the waves of your business. Creative actions. Visionary business plan.

       Belly dancing makes you smile and FEEL blissful. Belly dancing is natural to we birth givers and life sustainers. And because belly dancing is designed to elevate our feminine power , there is no need for competition. Belly dancing celebrates women. Belly dancing celebrates celebrates life. 

    Rather than face your business plan "head on", slither up to it "belly on" with these

belly dancing basics.

Hip Circles

When building your business , consider all the different ways you can grow your business. Expand your territory beyond  your vertical linear thinking. Embrace and include new ideas, enveloping them into the fold.

 

Figure 8’s

No matter where you go with your business plan, trust that you will always return to home base: WHY you want to create your business. Be willing to stray away and explore new possibilities with the knowledge that you will come back home.

 

Hip drop

Lift yourself out of any limited thinking about yourself or your business. Only drop what you don't need anymore when the rhythm is right. Play more, and tease your naysayers. You're in control of that hip, and your business.

 

Undulations

Business success and growth comes in waves. Flow with them.You know you are moving fluidly with the waves when your bare feet stay on the ground. Undulations can retreat but they can also push forward. 

Shimmy

Shoulder and hip shimmies shake things up in the most subtle of ways- just enough to keep you from staying on one task for too long, or following a  lead that drains your energy. Shimmies feel light and free, but make no mistake, it takes A LOT of practice to maintain control while still staying loose. 

All belly dancing starts in the feet and knees. Solid footing , trusting that the ground will support you, allows shimmying. Don't get in over your head , say 'yes' when you mean 'no' or do anything that will close down your joy.

 

Smile

Don't be concerned with feeling you need to be serious or "professional" when you meet with clients and peers. Belly dancing helps you maintain your ground.You can't help but feel like smiling when your hips are doing all the talking. 

Rhythm

Belly dancers move to the rhythm of the drum. They use their whole body to transmit that rhythm in both large and small movements. Listen to the rhythm of your business  rather than force your business to follow someone else's rhythm. 

Mastery

Only by tuning in to the subtle wisdom of your body will you gain mastery of your dance. Mastery is only achieved through practice. You have to earn your shimmies, undulations and figure 8's by taking the time to learn proper technique. When developing your business plan, know that it is a work in progress. Are you really the same in your business as you were one year ago? If you are, it is time to take up belly dancing today!

Dress for sensual success

Be more visible in your business. Take bold steps. Get out there. Go barefoot for a change. Be unencumbered in your approach to your business . Less is always more. Always include all your senses in your decisions. When offered an opportunity, or a payment, ask yourself " Does this turn me on?"

Celebrate your beauty by caring for yourself. 

Belly dancers aren't wearing much, but what they are wearing is soft, gilded, and reflective of their environment. Their hair is down. Their eyes are expressive. They mix structure with a billowy sensuality that makes us say Oooo and Ahhhh. Are you too billowy, getting lost in your world without personal boundaries? Wear a pair of harem pants. Are you so locked in your old ways that you can't even think about doing a hip circle? Throw on a flowy dress and take a barefoot walk in the grass. Dare to say yes to what you are really feeling.

And most importantly, tie a belly dancing scarf around your hips and start dancing. All those gold coins dangling from your belly won't move unless you shake them.

 

Special thank you to my teacher, Khadija!

www.TheJOYBreakthrough.com