Matters of the Heart

We often think of “matters of the heart” in February, so
keep reading to learn what I feel is important to a healthy heart:
laughter and your sense of humor.  First, however, a few items.

This month’s letter is coming to you later than usual
because I have been on the road quite a bit.  The weekend before last I
was with Steve Mackel planning this year’s Yoga and Running Retreat
(June 29-July 1). Speaking of laughter, when Steve and I get together we
have a fun-tastic time. He hosted me in Pasadena, his hometown, and I
really enjoyed the area. He took me to a delicious Tibetan restaurant (
has anyone out there ever eaten Yak?). We are both so excited to be
working together on this retreat.  Between Steve and I we have 45+ years
in the health and fitness field and we share many of the same passions
for high level wellness…….so it was quite an all around “yak-fest”.
We are adding different things to this year’s retreat and changing the
schedule of activities, so it’ll be a fun and relaxing learning
experience and we look forward to seeing you there.  And yes, for anyone
who spotted us having a work session at the wine bar on Saturday night,
we were embracing the health benefits of Spanish wines!

Then, this past weekend I was up in Tahoe skiing.
Something about the change in scenery coupled with the change in
elevation just feels so darn good! Today I had a swim scheduled. It’s an
outdoor pool and I have been life guarding during what has been some
very very cold weather for us Californians. The swimmers are warm and
toasty with the pool heated to 82 degrees while we lifeguards grin and
“polar bear” it.  Today I was one of those warm and toasty swimmers. I
love the camaraderie of winter time swimmers. First, I saw a yoga
student of mine who is discouraged and offered her some encouragement.
Her shoulders, hips and back are so “tight” yet we both know at her age
(65) this will only get worse without her taking some proactive steps,
and Yoga is a great proactive step for her. Then, another one of the
swimmers asked me about some shoulder issues she is having and we
discussed her using some trigger point exercises. She is a lifelong
swimmer with gorgeous elegant strokes and she has been helping me refine
my breast stroke. I enjoy being of service and having the swimmers use
me as a resource. And boy, after a few mountain high days I was swimming
like an energizer bunny…….fast and strong and so grateful for my
healthy body and joyinmovement.

So, during my drive home from Tahoe was I listening
to a book on tape, a CD on the benefits of the grapefruit diet or the
Garrison Keiller show on National Public Radio?  Choice number three!
It is very rare that I listen to his show, yet I’m glad I did. It was
the once a year joke telling show and it really tickled my funny bone.
First some anatomy: do you know where your funny bone is?

If you hit the inside of your elbow in just the
right spot and felt a sensation, perhaps even pain, that would be your
funny bone. It got its nickname because of that funny feeling you get
after you hit it.  However, it is not a bone at all.  It’s the inside of
your elbow, a nerve called the ulnar nerve.  It controls feeling in
your 4th and 5th fingers and is one of the nerves that controls movement
of your wrist.  That funny feeling you get is when your ulnar nerve is
bumped against the HUMERus, that long bone that starts at the elbow and
goes up to the shoulder.  So that’s your funny bone and mine was surely
tickled by his show.  Laughter is great medicine.  I don’t care what’s
going on in your life……if you can find people to laugh with or a
funny movie (try Groundhog Day) or some jokes that make you laugh—a
really hearty laugh— somehow we feel lighter.

I kept listening for some jokes that would relate to
joyinmovement. He covered many genres of jokes, yet I didn’t hear him
say, “Did you hear the one about the yoga teacher?” or “How many fitness
gurus does it take to change a light bulb?”  So here’s my request.
Please send me any jokes you think of as joyinmovement jokes. If any of
them make me laugh maybe I’ll share them in a future
newsletter……….I will leave you with the only joke I heard that
seemed to fit the bill.

“My friend Kevin has developed an addiction to line
dancing—I’m gonna recommend a 2 step program!”  See, now you know why I
am asking for some other joke requests!

Here’s this month’s message of encouragement………….the National
Institute of Aging says that what we used to think of as the symptoms of
aging (easily fatigued, memory impairment, loss of strength and
flexibility, declining muscle mass, aching joints) are actually symptoms
of DISUSE.  Disuse leads to distress and distress leads to disease. The
bottom line is for you to get up and move that wonderful body of yours
every day you can! Do it in Joy and with a sense of Humor.

Have a heart healthy month,

shelli