Deep Breaths

There was a trauma-informed workshop at my job last week and I'm still thinking about several things, including the exercise that highlighted possible elements that might affect people who are living in poverty.

One of the presenters asked for two volunteers then she asked the audience about things that might affect someone living in poverty. As we gave answers she threw soft, stress balls at the volunteers that they were supposed to catch and hold; if they dropped a ball, they were supposed to pick it up. It was a very effective exercise -- especially since one of the volunteers was very good at catching and holding and the other volunteer's balls kept getting away from her and even rolling in wild directions.

I'm also thinking about several of the handouts. My favorite was the 99 Coping Skills. I also like the Ways of Grounding handout...and how one of the presenters said that if you're in a challenging situation, take three deep breaths...

On the way to Zumba last week, I saw that the water tower was going to be open for the full moon and I decided to go because I've lived in St. Louis for a long time and I've never gone to check out the water tower.

One of the views from the tower.

Asked my cousin if she wanted to go and tour the Magic Chef Mansion (MCM) -- also another landmark that I'd never been to. As I waited for my cousin, I saw these two women looking at woodpeckers and they stayed long enough for me to get a picture.

It's amazing to me that several families had so much money that they could build houses and go to Europe for, say, a year while the houses were being built. The woman who bought MCM stumbled upon a great venture. She bought the house, renovated it and now it's open for tours and rentals. She also has merchandise for sell and you are able to buy wine or beer while touring the house. It's cool that her home is her business.

People Of A Certain Type

Noticed a Qigong workshop being offered at a studio; it sounded interesting but I wondered if I really needed to go to every workshop that sparks my interest -- especially in the middle of a Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Easter Eve no less. 

I also get shy about going to unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people -- by myself. Deep down, though, I know that people who are seeking these type of workshops are people of a certain type. 

What sealed the deal is when the owner of the studio in question followed me, out of the blue, on my yoga Instagram account. For me, that was a sign that I should go.

When I looked at my visit history, I was surprised that the one and only time that I'd been to the studio was in Dec. of 2014 for a Winter Solstice celebration; it reminded me of something that Sharon Salzberg said in her recent talk with George Mumford about when she signs up for something on a website and scrolls down to her birth year -- she is gobsmacked that she needs to keep scrolling to get to the year like How did this age happen?

At any rate, the workshop was called Eliminating Worry with Spleen Qigong. About midway through participant introductions the facilitator, Valerie, said I haven't heard anybody mention worry. 

Worry is like a given, though, right?

Our first item on the agenda was a standing meditation and, I kid you not, Valerie starting talking about how if you were in China and went to the doctor, they'd prescribe bitter herbs and Qigong then she went on to say that we eat too much sugar and I felt like she was talking directly to me because I am out of control right now. 

You'll hear a lot of healers talk about stuck energy. My lower back has been talking to me for about three weeks now and after today's workshop, it felt better. Stuck energy?

Favorite line from the workshop:

"They're all energy systems and they (Yoga, Qigong, Reiki, Tai Chi) work."

Rx for The Chronically Tense

I don't even remember where I got this flyer from and waffled about whether or not I wanted to go but I'm so glad that I went.

Pressure Point Defined:

Pressure = Stress
Point = Position Location

The workshop was in Dr. Dusty's office and there were about eight folks there, including four who were already clients of Dr. Dusty. Can you tell that I like to write -- Dr. Dusty?

Dr. Dusty had a little slide show situation, told us who discovered pressure points, that soda is bad news and how western medicine treats sickness instead of concentrating on preventive care etc. etc.

From there, it was a hands-on workshop and I have to say that there is a new 'Drea because I would not have been comfortable before touching a stranger's body and being touched by someone else that I didn't know. We broke off into the proverbial pairs to try our hands at pressure points and were shown points for low energy, headaches, sinus/congestion and carpal tunnel issues.

I think my favorite pressure points where for headache and neck tension where you put pressure one inch to either side of the spine. You hold the pressure for about 10 to 15 seconds. The pressure on the neck felt incredibly good. And do I really need to say anything about the attention to the back? I almost melted...

I don't remember all of the finer points so I ordered a few books from the library but even without books, I've practiced on a few folks and one said that she felt relief from her headache.

With carpal tunnel symptoms, you can easily treat yourself but Dr. Dusty said that it's better if you have someone else do it for you which echoes what Healing Touch practitioners Kimberly Gray and Vicky Slater said in their podcast: Hands in motion (energy work) is more powerful when you have someone else do it.

Oh yeah, Dr. Dusty demonstrated on me at one point.

Dr. Dusty: Oh, you're tight.
Me: Yes, I know. Even when I'm not tightly wound, I'm tightly wound.

Ever had acupressure before? What's your Rx for stress?


P.S. To Dr. Dusty et al., when you tell someone that their tension is "unprecedented," that doesn't foster a relaxed state. Just saying...Also, to use a Phoebe Buffay phrase, Dr. Dusty is freakishly strong. Hands of steel, I tell ya.

One Second Flat

I couldn't remember how to release the brake cable on my bike and I could have kicked myself for leaving the store without knowing definitively.

I'm thinking to myself -- I'm relatively smart; I should be able to figure this out. The mechanism is not that complicated but, eventually, I loaded my bike and headed to the store from whence the bike came.

This young man wanted to know if I had been helped and as soon as I said brake cable, he reached down and, in one second flat, had the cable apart. My face got so warm.


I mimicked the young man's action and, of course, it wasn't as easy for me to disengage the brake cable but I did it.

Brake Cable Unplugged
Today, I reenacted the disengagement of the cable and took my front wheel to REI to participate in a Fix A Flat clinic.

I learned a lot including the fact that changing a tire is time intensive. I also learned that triathletes prefer co2 pumps unless you're a wannabe triathlete such as myself with one sprint under her belt.

A dollar bill is effective for temporarily patching the sidewall of your tire

A little baby powder on the inner tube helps it slide back into the tire

A sock is helpful for handling a bike chain

Don't use a lever to put the tire back on

I have directional tires

I bravely took the tire levers and mimicked what the REI instructor had done. I have to say that my tire came off fairly easy. Then, I put some baby powder on my inner tube, put the rim back on etc. etc.

Do I feel completely at ease with my tire changing knowledge? No. But I do feel like I'm capable of gutting it out and getting the deed done.

When I got back home, I had quite a time putting my wheel back on. It was so frustrating until I remembered Paul saying something about hitting the seat. So, I hit the seat and, sure enough, my wheel lined up. I put the doohickey bolt back in, made sure it said closed and prayed that my tire was going in the right direction.

Have you attended any workshops to keep you on the real or metaphoric road? I sometimes think about taking a Total Immersion freestyle workshop but I'm just thinking about it...