A spark of joy during this time of challenge

Our book, A Yoga Storytelling Adventure; Forever Friends has been given a wonderful review by Kirkus! Libraries and bookstore mainly trust four companies for reliable book reviews; Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist and Kirkus! Kirkus, a big player in the book world, has been in business since 1933. They are a respected name in the publishing business. They also have a reputation for unpredictable reviews that are sometimes outlandishly harsh; which means to be given a good review by them is amazing!! It is somewhat daunting that this review would come out at a very strange point in time when bookstores and libraries throughout the country, and a good portion of the world are closed. Still...it is available on Amazon!😊

Reading and practicing yoga is a perfect way to keep your kids educated and entertained while they are home from school. Forever Friends is a story that teaches kindness, compassion and cooperation, the very same values that we all need during this difficult time in history. The book includes a set of yoga poses that follow the story-line. Yoga and story, connecting left brain and right brain, enhances learning and memory. When you practice the poses with your children it can also provide a little bit of fun and stress relief for both of you during this time of challenge. 

Stay well out there folks! We are sending out healing thoughts and prayers to All!

Mel and Kat

 Kirkus Review

FOREVER FRIENDS

Melanie Moyer and Kathe Hudson Illus. by Maileys Pitcher

ISBN: 978-1-73409-840-2

Two animals form an unbreakable friendship in this cheerful, yoga-inclusive picture-book sequel.

A gray and purple royal elephant has everything he could wish for—except a friend. Then a stray dog enters the palace grounds and asks to share the elephant’s food, and the two form a bond. Later, a merchant visiting the palace takes the canine away, which leaves the elephant bereft. It’s only after the palace adviser explains the elephant’s heartbreak to the king that the two animals are reunited once again. Moyer and Hudson, the authors of the previous Yoga Storytelling Adventure; The Impossible Dream (2017), offer a simply told story in accessible English with a few Hindi words, defined in an introductory glossary. All of the human characters refreshingly try to do their best; they realize their error in separating the animals and react with kindness. Pitcher’s playful illustrations beautifully show the elephant’s emotions; when she and the dog meet again, the elephant’s coloring changes to a joyful purple-pink. At the end of the book, Moyer and Hudson, both yoga teachers, clearly encourage young readers to do yoga poses named after the story’s characters, including the elephant, the king, and the dog.

A pleasant tale of friendship with a happy ending—and extra yoga inspiration.

Now available at Ingram!

A Yoga Storytelling Adventure; Forever Friends, our second in the series of kid's yoga story books has successfully launched!

It can be found worldwide as it will be printed and distributed around the globe through these amazing countries; Brazil, Germany, Russia, S Korea, Poland, China, India, Italy, Australia, the European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the United States. 

May Forever Friends travel far and wide and may children everywhere learn about the power of friendship! 

You may ask, why story and yoga? Story and yoga together can enhance literacy skills. Stories develop language, listening, and critical thinking skills, and yoga increases mind-body awareness. These twin arts give rise to balance, strength, and flexibility in both body and mind. Children develop not only language but also emotional and physical literacy as well. As former librarians  passionate about promoting literacy and as yoga teachers passionate about sharing health and well-being we decided to bring these twin arts together.

Stories, especially wisdom tales, are extremely valuable in developing young listener's imagination, and yoga brings the story alive; it is both interactive and theatrical. Combining yoga and story unite the logical and creative sides of the brain, stimulating the imagination. By visually acting out the story with yoga postures children become a part of the story, and are able to recall the story in detail, aha, complete comprehension.

Last but certainly not least...its just plain FUN!

If you'd like to introduce a child to yoga through story, and we certainly hope you do, please purchase a copy! SEE THE LINK ON THE SIDEBAR →

Furthermore, we'd be ever so grateful if you'd leave an Amazon review.

Mahalo, we serve,
Kathe and Mel

Forever Friends

A Yoga Storytelling Adventure

Forever Friends

by Melanie Moyer and Kathe Hudson

illustrated by Maïlys Pitcher

The second book in the Yoga Storytelling Adventure series is coming soon!

Here is a sneak peak at the cover illustration, Maïlys Pitcher is our talented young illustrator. She is from France and presently lives in Sweden. It was a pleasure to have her as a part of the team. 😊

This Yoga Storytelling Adventure takes us on a delightful journey to India, the birthplace of yoga. Although intended for ages 3-8, all ages will revel in this story where an unlikely friendship develops between a royal elephant and a homeless dog. In this timeless tale that illuminates kindness, honesty and friendship, kids will learn about the power of love. The authors include a Hindi word guide to help develop an appreciation of a different language. Best of all, both parents and kids can take advantage of the full description of yoga poses which encourages interaction within this adventurous tale. 

Many thanks and much gratitude to our prepublication reviewers, here's what they have to say:

Forever Friends is sure to become one of your child's favorite books with lessons that will follow into adulthood and beyond. The subtle integration of Sanskrit words honors the Indian origin of yoga, while expanding awareness of a different language and alphabet. The posture selection that accompanies the story adds a special dimension that children will enjoy. Instead of just listening to the story, the can become the story. My four-year-old grandchild loves it!

Lanier Cordell, Yoga Therapist Certified IAYT, 500 hour E-RYT, Certified Chair Yoga and Children's yoga teacher, writer and more...

As a yogi and a mother, I am always looking for better ways to keep my littles engaged in our practice. We love The Impossible Dream and were excited to read Forever Friends. The authors have the uncanny ability to reach children without dumbing down the text. The language drives my kids' curiosity while the story's relatability keeps them engaged and prevents distraction. The wholistic message keeps them talking about the lesson for days and asking to repeat the practice over and over. I couldn't ask for a more beautiful experience. 

Lori Lawson, Mother of 9

Forever Friends is an adaptation of an Indian folktale about love and friendship. This lovely tale features an unusual friendship between an elephant and a dog. As children experience the story through words, pictures, and yoga, they learn that friendships with those unlike ourselves are not only possible, but fulfilling. What a nice way to teach about friendship and diversity!

Peggy Thibodeaux, retired librarian

A delightful tale of an elephant and dog who form an unlikely friendship and become inseparable friends. The authors successfully combine storytelling and yoga to enhance children's language and mind awareness. Complete with glossary, Hindi pronunciation guide and yoga pose illustrations this book teaches children about kindness, honesty and trust. 

Kat Pigott, author of I See You, Green Dinosaur

The flow of yoga is matched by the beautiful words of this classic story. The bright pictures infuse a fresh Prana (breath) into this instructional, and delightful tale of friendship and loyalty. 

Alexis Braud, Children's Author and Illustrator

The concept of storytelling and yoga makes Forever Friends a unique reading experience not only for children but adults as well. After reading Forever Friends and The Impossible Dream, I have a great appreciation of the teaching tools the authors incorporate through languages, cultures, and folklore. Their books are such fun reads with charming illustrations. 

Patricia Maness, retired Instrumental Music Educator and author of Jerome Roams from Home and Jerome Roams Back Home.

What a wonderful story with many lessons learned introducing yoga to children. Forever Friends is a wonderful tale of friendship. The illustrations, definitions of Indian words, and the brief explanation of yoga are brought to life in the mind of a child. 

"Ms Cel" Boudreaux, Retired, Carencro Branch Library

I love the story which has the right amount of yoga for a child, and the introduction to the Hindi language is a plus. 

Kristen Knight, yoga instructor

For more information visit us at www.moving-tale.com 

Please "like" and "share"!

Mahalo, we serve. 

Libraries Rock!

We spent several adventurous days with the Richland Public Library's amazing kids for the Summer Reading Program!

The sun beamed bright, the day a delight as our yoga storytelling adventure began. Our plans included a stop off in Ruston for peaches. Ruston is north Louisiana's peach paradise and the season had just opened. Mitcham Farms is just peachy, it has a delightful gift shop with all sort of peach goodies and fresh peaches galore. Millions of peaches...peaches for me! After a few sweet purchases we lapped up some peach ice cream before shoving off for Richland Parish.

Richland parish is the home of Louisiana's first public library. Who would have known? It was built in 1927, the year of the great flood. Stories are told of people who paddled their pirogues into town to borrow books until the water receded. A sturdy, red brick building it is still is use as a memorial library.  

Good girl scouts always scout out their territory so we google mapped the addresses for the branches we were to visit and set out to locate them ahead of time. Gotta be prepared ya know, don't want to get lost or be late. Well...the printed map and the mobile map got us lost, and if we would have waited til morning we would've definitely been late! The first library was just up the road from where we were staying but the map took us this way and that way to no avail. Putting the maps aside we allowed intuition to guide us and found it easy peasy just around the bend.

We can't say enough about the librarians we worked with. They were incredibly welcoming, thank you Debbie, Amanda and Sara! Richland parish is rural, it has two branch libraries each one about a 20-minute drive from the main library in Rayville. The libraries have recently been handsomely renovated and it was wonderful to see the communities utilizing them. Libraries Rock!

Four presentations were scheduled, two each day. Each session the kids sat enchanted as we told The Impossible Dream. Introducing kids to yoga is exciting as well as rewarding, you never know what you're gonna get. One of our participants had a leg in a cast and was on crutches. Did it stop him? No way! Which only reminded us...Nothing is Impossible!

In gratitude. 

KH

Turning Tables @ LLA

We had a wonderful time as exhibitors at the Louisiana Library Association Conference held at the Riverfront Conference Center in Alexandria. As former librarians we've been attendees at the LLA conferences in the past, sitting in on seminars and browsing the exhibits. This year we turned the tables and became exhibitors; offering a fun, fresh "novel" idea, filled with creative energy ...Moving-Tale!

The theme of the conference this year was "Wisdom and Wonder @ Louisiana Libraries." Sounds like yoga and story to us! One of the first books we found and utilized in our yoga storytelling was a compliation of folktales by Hugh Lipton titled "Tales of Wisdom and Wonder." A coincidence one might say but we thought it uniqely fitting for our first experience as exhibitors. 

We spend two days seeking and practicing wisdom and wonder while enjoying meeting colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere. Our bookmarks, flyers, and postcards were handed out with information on our yoga storytelling presentations. We held a fun drawing for a free copy of The Impossible Dream; A Yoga Storytelling Adventure, as we let attendees know that the book is available from Ingram/Baker and Taylor for school and library orders. Sweet sounds of the gong rang thoughout the convention center reminding us, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! 

JoDee was the winner!

Our intention for exhibiting at the conference was to connect to the community and connect we did. We had a great time talking to the librarians and other exhibitors, answering questions and sharing ideas. Moving-Tale offers new possibilities for public and school libraries and we look forward to sharing story and yoga with everyone we met. For more info on our yoga storytelling presentations visit us at www.moving-tale.com or email us at movingtale@gmail.com

Mahalo, we serve. 

Our book is now available at Ingram/Baker and Taylor for school and library orders! Yay!

We had a blast at Milton Elementary School's literacy night. We sold and signed copies of The Impossible Dream; A Yoga Storytelling Adventure! Several teachers who made a purchase were excited to use the yoga storytelling adventure method in their classrooms. Woohoo! 

Our table was set up in a sweet spot near the entrance/exit.  Kids stopped by and practiced yoga with us throughout the event. The school chose "camping" as a theme. We decided to introduce the children to Warrior II pose and everyone experienced feeling "strong and courageous." Each yogi got one of our fun bookmarks and enjoyed ringing the gong before moving along to their next adventure.

We thought we'd share a few of our thoughts on how storytelling and yoga enhance literacy skills. Storytelling enhances language, listening and critical thinking skills and yoga enhances mind and body awareness. These twin arts increase balance, strength, and flexibility in both body and mind. Children develop not only language but also emotional and physical literacy as well.  

Storytelling is extremely valuable in developing young listener's imagination and yoga brings the story alive; it is both interactive and theatrical. Storytelling and yoga unite the logical and creative sides of the brain. Integrating left brain and right brain activity strengthens neural pathways responsible for memory, imagination, and learning. We know children absorb and process information through listening, seeing, and moving and storytelling and yoga engage the whole child honoring all the ways in which they learn. This increased engagement promotes deep learning. Including yoga along with storytelling stimulates the imagination as well as visualization abilities. By visually acting out the story with yoga postures children learn to transfer images into words and the visual images of the yoga postures enhance children's recall. They are now a part of the story and able to recall/retell in detail. Comprehension success!

Two of the many yogi's who practiced with us.

If you'd like to introduce a child to yoga through storytelling please see the sidebar and click on the Amazon link to order a copy of The Impossible Dream; A Yoga Storytelling Adventure. For author visits and presentations contact us at www.movingtale@gmail.com or www.moving-tale.com

Through the magic of story and the wisdom of yoga let the adventure begin!

Available now on Amazon!

The Impossible Dream; a Yoga Storytelling Adventure, our kid's yoga story book has successfully launched.  We are so excited...may The Impossible Dream travel far and wide and may children everywhere realize that, "Nothing is Impossible!"

The Impossible Dream is available for purchase here on our blog, just click on the Amazon link. If you go to Amazon directly use the entire title for the search, The Impossible Dream; a Yoga Storytelling Adventure. The book is also available on our website www.moving-tale.com, we would love for you to visit.

If you purchase a copy for yourself please leave a review at Amazon. Remember, Christmas is just around the corner and The Impossible Dream would make a great gift! If you purchase the book as a gift we would welcome a review from the recipient too. Thanks in advance for the complimentary reviews. We are forever grateful.

p.s. The book will soon be available for schools and libraries to purchase through Ingram/Baker and Taylor. Woohoo!

Please "like" and "share."

Kathe Hudson and Melanie Moyer
Yoga Teachers, Storytellers, Authors

Coming Soon! Our Book!

The Impossible Dream

A Yoga Storytelling Adventure

Kids Yoga Story

Here's a sneak peek at the cover...

Annabel Jones is our amazing illustrator. She is a sweetheart; we couldn't have found a more perfect fit, a fellow librarian who conducts Storytime!

and a sneak peek at the back cover promo...

     Once upon a time...deep in the swamplands, a young man embarks on an extraordinary adventure. Night after night he has the same strange dream until he can no longer ignore it. Find out what he discovers on his daring journey.

     The Impossible Dream encourages kids to express themselves through story and yoga. This book intended for ages 5 to 10 includes a full description of yoga poses. Make the story come alive as you go on a yoga storytelling adventure!

and a sneak peek at what the professionals are saying...

"As a parent in a bilingual family, reading The Impossible Dream with its beautiful message to my children helped reinforce our French language skills. As a library director in a bilingual province, I'll be sure to carry The Impossible Dream on my shelves. As a yoga teacher, I'm very pleased to have this valuable resource available to teachers and parents to encourage children to develop their physical literacy skills while learning about Acadian history."

Jenn Carson, Director of the LP Fisher Public Library

creator of www.yogainthelibrary.com, author of Physical Literacy:Movement-Based Library Programs

"When you flex the mind and the body, everything is possible."

Johnette Downing, Louisiana Roots Music and Books for Children 

"Keeyaw WOW! Nothing is impossible! Educators and former librarians Kathe Hudson and Melanie Moyer awaken the power of storytelling with a Cajun retelling of a classic folktale. Learning becomes effortless play in this lively tale written in rich language. The body comes along too combining story with yoga to inspire us to follow our dreams on a joyous journey of self-discovery. HOORAY for The Impossible Dream!"

Sydney Solis, founder of Storytime Yoga®

"The authors of this delightful story have captured an old tale and wrapped it into a Cajun version that will entertain, for true. They certainly won my Cajun heart."

Cheryl Floyd

Speaker-Storyteller

Heal Your Life® Teacher/Coach

a sneak peek at our intention...

Through the magic of story and the wisdom of yoga it is our sincere hope that children everywhere will remember, "Nothing is Impossible!"

For more information visit us at www.moving-tale.com

Please "like" and "share"!

Mahalo, we serve.

Eclipse Your Fears

Crescent Moon Side Stretch on a sunny day!

The U.S. is in for a rare astronomical treat on August 21st. It is the first total solar eclipse to cross the entire U.S. in 99 years. Everywhere the moon's full shadow hits the earth, bright daylight will turn to twilight. The sky, if it is clear, will shine faintly with stars. Winds will surge. The temperature will drop as much as 10 degrees. Birds, it has been reported, become frantic in advance of the encroaching darkness and then, eerily, turn quiet. For a brief few minutes, the sun's light, needed for life on earth, disappears.

This is a powerful time for yoga. A few moments of complete darkness during the day reminds us of our place in the cosmos - that we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves - one of the primary lessons in the Yoga Sutras.

 "An eclipse strips away all your worries. You feel connected to other people - regardless of where they are from or their political views. It transforms you." {Kate Russo} 

Our story this month is "I am Courageous." To celebrate the sun, moon and earth being in perfect alignment we are practicing a Sun, Moon and Earth Salutation Tuesdays in August at Gold's Gym in Breaux Bridge, 9:30 a.m. with the exception of August 22nd. With gratefulness I will be experiencing first contact on the Oregon coast. 

MM

Moon Salutation

Begin in Mountain Pose, inhale rounding the arms overhead and bring your palms to touch.  Exhale and side stretch for Crescent Moon to the right; inhale back to center. Exhale to Goddess Pose, taking a wide stance and lowering into a squat while keeping your knees in line with your ankles. Inhale and straighten your legs, adjusting your feet, exhale as you transition to Extended Triangle Pose on the right. On your next inhale turn both feet to face right then exhale as you move your hands to the floor on either side of your front leg for Intense Stretch. From here, bend your front knee and find a High Lunge. Inhale, turn your back toes out, and shift your hips down and over your front ankle, coming into Side Lunge on the right. Walk your hands and feet to center and come into Low Squat. Transition to Side Lunge to the left and repeat the same poses on the left side, but in reverse order. End in Mountain Pose bringing your hands to your heart. 

Yoga and Meditation for Memory Care

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet...the colors of the rainbow; our theme for yoga and meditation with the residents of an assisted living facility specializing in memory care. Yoga and meditation help keep the body and mind strong, improving overall health, increasing relaxation and instilling a sense of general well-being, and research has shown that yoga improves the quality of life for seniors in assisted living facilities. 

A sensory sequence for these sassy seniors was planned, a tactile experience with joyful sound, movement, color and touch. Rainbow colored scarves waved in the air as we came into the present moment with the song "Colors" by Kira Wiley. Chair yoga pose variations that promote circulation and flexibility were practiced as well as deep breathing techniques while traveling "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with IZ, loosening up the neck, shoulders, arms and hips. Relaxation with a Kirtan Kriya Meditation connected us to the Sun, Moon, Earth and Sky by way of finger taps. Before long we were remembering "What a Wonderful World" we live in!

Kundalini Yoga Kirtan Kriya Meditation has been the subject of study for many years. The outcomes suggest it can actually help preserve memory and slow Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. Results show yoga and meditation reduces stress and strengthens the brain. Yoga and meditation are not a cure but the science points to one conclusion; yoga and meditation help slow the progression of Alzheimer's and dementia.

Participants in the studies experienced reduced stress, improved mood and resilience, reduced depression and anxiety, improved verbal memory skills as well as improvements in visual-spatial memory, which is the ability to navigate and remember locations. In addition, grey matter and protective tissue increased, benefiting decision making. Regardless of your current age or cognitive abilities these are things we can all benefit from. 

Here is a link to the technique of Kundalini Yoga Kirtan Kriya Meditation found at the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation if you'd like to give it a try.

http://alzheimersprevention.org/research/12-minute-memory-exercise/

Mahalo, we serve. 

5 Minute Yoga Breath Breaks

Mel and I had the privilege of empowering 30 teachers from Breaux Bridge Elementary School during a Professional Development workshop. We were asked to put together a presentation of yoga and breathwork the teachers could learn and take back to their students. 

Research suggests that yoga and breathwork cultivate mind-body awareness, self-regulation and physical fitness. All leading to greater health and well being. Numerous studies have proven that teaching kids stress relieving exercises such as yoga greatly improves test scores as well as classroom conduct.

Since testing was soon to begin, we came up with several 5 Minute Yoga Breath Break exercises. The aim of which is to empower teachers by recharging and refocusing young minds, these stretching and breathing exercises soothe the nervous system, allowing the muscles to relax, enriching the blood supply and feeding the brain, as well as develop focus and calmness. Exercises that will benefit the teachers too, making it a win win for sure. They can be done before testing, between testing and anytime students or teachers need a 5 Minute Yoga Breath Break.

Breath awareness connects us to our bodies and our minds. The breath can calm us or energize us. The following exercises contain an energizing and a calming aspect. Each exercise takes about 2 minutes; combined they create a 5 Minute Yoga Breath Break that will help to bring the body and mind into balance.

You too can take a 5 Minute Yoga Breath Break!  Below are a couple of exercises for you to try. 

All exercises begin with Standing or Sitting Mountain pose. Feel the feet or seat firmly rooted to the ground; the body is stable, steady and secure. The back is straight, spine is tall, head lifted high. The belly and chest expand on the inhale and contract on the exhale. 

Energizing Breath of Joy
Begin standing in mountain pose with a gentle bend in the knees, arms are alongside the body. Inhale through the nose and swing your arms up in front of you in line with the shoulders. Exhale through the nose opening the arms out in a "T" feel the shoulder blades coming together in the back as the chest opens to the front. Inhale and swing the arms overhead, fingers to the sky. Exhale with an open mouth "ha" and swing the arms down towards the ground letting the torso fold forward. Slowly round up to standing. Repeat 7 times. 

Calming Peace Breath
Begin in sitting mountain pose. Bring one hand to the belly and the other hand to the heart, close the eyes. Sit tall but relax the body. The breath is slow, in and out through the nose. Breathe in and feel the peace inside you, notice the belly and chest expand. Exhale and send peace out into the world, notice the belly and chest contract. Repeat 7 times. 

Mahalo, we serve. 

A "Golden" Opportunity

Who knew a "golden" opportunity was right around the corner? Actually we did, we just didn't know what it would be. One never knows how or when the universe will bestow its blessings, however it's always a good idea to be open to the infinite possibilities that await. 

Lydia the owner of "Gold's Gym" here in our humble little city was looking for a yoga teacher and we were open to the possibility. A dark and gloomy back room at the gym got a stunning new look; a soft coat of paint created a comfortable background and a funky light fixture in the corner set the mood. We brought in a sweet sun&moon tapestry and tada... the perfect bohemian space to share and experience a bit of rhapsody!

We like to practice a sequence for a month at time which allows students to become familiar with the poses and notice changes that occur. This month we decided to focus on foundations, specifically the feet and the seat. The feet and the seat give us stability, steadiness and security in our postures. Our story for the sequence; I am the mountain. Stable, steady, and secure. 

Our foundation is our connection to the earth. How our feet and seat are secured in our postures gives us stability. Surrendering to gravity our base becomes balanced and stable. This leads to lightness in the upper body, the spine lengthens and the head lifts high towards the sky. This lofty peak is where wisdom resides.  

Standing mountain pose and sitting mountain pose are the foundation poses in yoga. We prepare for and end our practice either sitting or standing and come back to mountain again and again. These poses give us a moment to be still. They invite us to return to our center; stable, steady and secure. Mountain is a powerful pose that has a potent effect on the body and mind.

These simple postures begin our journey to balance, strength, and flexibility. They improve posture allowing us to breathe easier. They may appear to be nothing more than standing or sitting but from them arises steadiness. 

In yoga we build our poses from the ground up. Attention to the foundation affects how tall your mountain will be.  Once our foundation is secure an in-breath lengthens the spine. We actually grow taller, the joints and discs decompress relieving pressure. 

Mountain pose is often considered a beginner pose, when in fact there is a lot going on. It incorporates many joints and muscle groups. When standing the ears are over shoulders, shoulders over hips, hips over knees and ankles. The body is vertically aligned supporting the natural curves of a healthy spine. Perfect posture they say...essential for overall health and well being. 

Be the mountain, stable, steady and secure.  

Standing Mountain Pose 

Stand with the feet together, arms by your sides, press your feet into the ground, lift your arches, ankles and knees, engage your thighs, tilt the pelvis ever so slightly pulling in the belly, your head, neck and spine should be in a straight line. Chin level. The gaze soft. 

Sitting Mountain Pose

Sit up tall and come into any crossed leg position. Sit on a folded blanket if your hips are tight. Press your seat into the ground. Balance your weight evenly across your sit bones. Align the head, neck and spine and allow the upper body to lift tall.
Chair variation: feet flat on the floor, knees over ankles to come into alignment.

Mahalo, we serve.

Dreaming the Impossible Dream

After a brief but too long separation, "We're back!" For several years our library careers took us down many different paths. We are grateful for the opportunities that were presented to us, we learned so much personally and professionally. Our passion for literacy lead us toward a storytelling precipice and along the way we stumbled upon yoga, where we are discovering balance and harmony. 

With endings come new beginnings, and these former librarians are choosing to Dream the Impossible Dream in 2017 as we come to realize that nothing is impossible. We'll be excavating and bringing to light buried treasure. Yes, of course it involves yoga and story. May riches flow from our lives to yours!

We hope you will join us from time to time on this yoga storytelling adventure.

Mahalo, we serve. 

Meditation, Mindfulness and Manifestation

Stillness comes and goes. Thoughts come and go. Dreams come and go. It’s the nature of life in time and space.

Ever the student as well as the research librarian, I’ve read about meditation and tried various practices for years but it has always been rather hit and miss, I just couldn’t get into a regular groove. There was always so much to do, there was no time to practice!  But in the words of Lao Tzu, “When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.” What I think this means is that from stillness comes action, right action. So I decided I wanted to take right action.

We can read and read and read but if we don’t put our “knowledge” into practice, have we really learned anything? I believe we learn as we do.  So several months ago, I set out to devote myself to practice meditation, even if just for a few minutes every day. In the past I had been looking for the mystical and the magical and I never did discover it, not yet anyway. What I have found though, is there is mindfulness in the mundane.  Just sitting for a few moments and being mindful of your thoughts, watching them come and go; being mindful of the body and what it is feeling, brings infinite wisdom.

The most impressive lesson I’ve learned is the importance of what we think and feel. Our thoughts are the stories we tell ourselves, they effect how we feel about the events of our lives. By changing our thoughts, we can change our lives. Thoughts become things!  Since thoughts become things it must be important to be mindful of what we are thinking. Once we are aware of our thoughts, becoming mindful of our words is the next reasonable step. From here we take action and as we all know actions are more powerful than words.  Our thoughts, words, and actions create our lives. This is how it’d done, this is how we manifest our dreams.

There are so many meditation methods to choose from. Give a few a try until you find one that works for you. The following are a few books I enjoyed immensely, may they get you started on your adventure into meditation, mindfulness, and manifestation.

                A Woman’s Book of Meditation written by Kundalini Yoga and meditation teacher Hari Kaur Khalsa. She gives basic steps to tune in and create a space in which to meditate, focusing on the ancient method of chanting as a way to develop inner wisdom.

                The Last Best Cure by Donna Jackson Nakazawa, is a personal memoir filled with mindful practices. The author has a chronic illness and through scientific studies and experiences of mindful practices found better health, peace and joy. She encourages us to practice three mindful things every day. An inspiration!

                Moving Into Meditation by Anne Cushmann, is a twelve week guide for exploring body based meditation practices. She gives us the time, space and freedom to open our mind, body and spirit. 

Namaste