Beryfit

Last year, after breaking my shoulder, leaving Telluride, missing the best 3 ski weeks ever, having surgery and way too  much anesthesia and pain killers, I was down and out.  Luckily, I went to see my very wise friend,  fellow yoga teacher and miraculous healer , Brenda Villa.

After a session of her healing,  magical touch,  Brenda said something ridiculous to me!  She firmly told me,  in no uncertain terms, that I had to “love my shoulder.”  I was in no mood to love any part of the body that had betrayed me.  Especially my shoulder.  But she insisted.

When I left, I thought about what she said.  I really thought about it.  And something in me shifted.  My attitude.

And I decided to love the very thing that was hurting me the most.

I balanced grueling physical therapy with gentle massage.  I alternated aggressive stretching with warm heat packs.  And my shoulder began to heal.  In fact, it was a miraculously quick and full recovery.

Thank you, Brenda Villa, for shifting my attitude.

Oatty-Oatmeal Pancakes

3/4 cup quick cooking oats

1 1/2 cups plus 2 TB well shaken buttermilk,divided

3/4 cup oat flour (or whole wheat flour)

1 1/2 t baking powder

3/4 t baking soda

1/2 t cinnamon

1/8 t nutmeg

1/2 t salt

1 large egg, lightly beaten

2 T  melted butter (optional)

1 t brown sugar or maple syrup

Soak oats in 3/4 cup buttermilk for 10 minutes, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in bowl. Stir egg, butter, remaining 3/4 plus 2 T buttermilk and oat mixture into dry ingredients until just combined.

Heat a griddle, lightly brush with oil, cook and serve.  YUM!

When I opened my eyes this morning, took a peak outside, and saw a brand new blanket of snow on the ground and still more spectacular snowflakes swirling down, I felt like a kid in a candy store! I jumped out of bed and couldn’t wait to start my day.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could find happiness and excitement and pure joy in the very little things every day?
Let’s try!

Just in case you think that all I’m doing is skiing, well, you’re almost right. But, I have also taken many yoga classes here in Telluride, Co and 3 excellent yoga workshops that have deepened my knowledge of yoga anatomy (my passion), yoga therapeutics, pranayama (breathing) and meditation. As always, I will share what I have learned with you in our personal training sessions and in my classes.

I have skied every day. And every day that I have skied, I have been thankful that I’m back on the slopes after my devastating fall last year which resulted in a broken shoulder, surgery and lots of rehab. It also resulted in a new way of skiing for me. I am now a yogi on skis, which to me means that I am present, focused and always “in the moment.”

Present, focused and in the moment – isn’t that how we should live our lives?

The rehab for my shoulder was hard work, but as my father often told me, “hard work pays off.” Physical Therapy started the healing process, but consistent yoga, stretching and Pilates has given me back almost full range of motion in my shoulder with absolutely no pain. (And I’m not giving up on those few last degrees of range of motions – I’m still working at it).

I have learned from every injury I’ve had.  I’m constantly seeking knowledge and learning. Anatomy is my passion and I love yoga therapeutics and helping you; my friends, my clients.

I love being in the mountains, close to the royal blue sky, breathing the fresh air, skiing down the gorgeous snow! But when I come back, my focus will be on you! In the meantime, take care of your minds and your bodies. Stay present. Breathe. Exercise. Take care!

(This e mail will be my first new blog entry on my website in a long, long time. I am making a commitment to keeping a consistent blog that will be informational and fun to read)!

Be Present. Enjoy the moment,
Beryl

For every extra pound you’re carrying, your knee thinks it’s 5 to 7 pounds. So there are tremendous forces coming across your joints. The good news is, you can slow down the progression of osteoarthritis even with modest weight loss, even if you’re overweight.
If you lose 5 to 10 pounds, your knee thinks you lost 35-70 pounds!