Just one short week ago, I was seeing clients in the office, eating out with friends and colleagues, attending gatherings, and living life much as I have for the many decades I’ve lived on our beautiful planet. Now I see clients via a secure video platform and stay indoors except for excursions out for food and exercise. It’s important to each do our part to slow the spread of covid-19 to improve the chances that those who need medical care will have access to it.

Studies show that increased stress hormones decrease our ability to counter bacterial and viral infections. (https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-when-your-immune-system-gets-stressed-out/) It’s helpful to know that we can take action to improve our immunity. (https://www.greggbraden.com/how-our-emotions-affect-our-health/) A simple exercise, done for a few minutes once or twice a day can be a powerful tool in your self-care toolkit. Try this from Greg Braden: Place your fingers or hand over your heart. Slow your breath so you are inhaling to a count of five, hold briefly, exhale to a count of five, briefly hold. Now with hand over heart and breath slowed, bring up from within feelings of compassion, appreciation, care, or gratitude until you feel the sensation of one or more of those feelings. Focus on the sensation for 3-5 minutes. Should your mind wander, return to the sensation. Embodying the feeling is essential as experiencing those sensations counter the stress hormones.

Changing times call for changing our beliefs and behaviors. You’ve got this! Give this simple, powerful exercise a try and let me know how it goes for you.

Wishing you good health, peace, and vitality to meet the changing times.

Blessings and peace,

Cathy