Tuesday December 21st is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day (and longest night) of the year.
Celebrate this time with us! Watch the recording of our live solstice meditation from Saturday December 18th.
Our December meditation theme is slowing down, and listening to your intuition. At the end of all of our fitness classes we do a 5 minute guided meditation where sit quietly and ask our internal guide “what do I need right now?”.
If the idea of listening to your intuition seems daunting, no worries, you can strengthen your listening skills just as you would strengthen your biceps, by repetitive practice. Join us for one of our live zoom classes, and do this short meditation with us, or tune in to our 30 minute session on Saturday the 18th.
Why celebrate the solstice?
For ancient cultures, the winter solstice was seen as a time of rebirth, or new beginning, often celebrated with festivals and rituals.
You’ve most likely heard of the German yule log. Did you know about these other mid winter traditions?
Iranians gather at the house of the oldest relative to eat, drink and read poetry, feasting on nuts, pomegranates and watermelon.
In Japan the custom is to soak in a hot yuzu, or citrus fruit bath. This is thought to boost your immune system, so that you will not catch a cold during the winter.
I love rituals that encourage sharing good food with friends and family, and relaxing.
If slowing down sounds good to you right now, listen to our meditation from Saturday December 18th as we sit and contemplate this special time of year.
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While I get back into the swing of “regular” life, my goal is to hang on to as much of our chill aloha vibe from vacation as possible. Keep reading to find out how I plan to do this…
Ok hands own, number 1, very favorite thing from vacation – whales! While floating on my back (with my ears underwater) I could hear the whales singing!
This is what they sound like:
We also saw (and heard) loads of tropical birds, Here are the sounds I heard every morning from our condo:
Our very first stop once we got off the plane was the farmer’s market in Kihei. We loaded up on fresh fruit, and of course, banana bread.
Here is our typical breakfast:
Aloha breakfast with local produce
Travel now requires apps, including proof of our negative Covid tests, so Eric talked me into getting a smart phone. While I loved that my old flip phone phone was tiny and indestructible, (why do I drop my phone so much?) my new phone tracks my steps (I know y’all already know this, give me a minute to catch up).
Our location in Kihei meant we could walk to most things. We averaged 6,500 steps each day, mostly barefoot, on sand, rocks, and grass. While here in Portland I spend most of my day barefoot, this is mostly indoors on flat surfaces. My calves were feeling all the beach walking! During my neighborhood walks this week, I looked for rocks, roots, and other uneven surfaces to walk on.
My favorite beach was Kamaole II.
Kam II
It rained a little on and off the first few days, but once it stopped raining we we able to swim! Eric even tried snorkeling for the first time. Swimming in warm water is such a treat, especially if you have only experienced Pacific Northwest swimming.
Here was Eric’s favorite beach, Kahekili. Look close, that tiny black spec to the left of the catamaran is a whale.
Whales (seriously, look close)
A few days it was windy on the beach, so I got in some pool time.
They had Hawaiian radio on at the pool, playing a mix of Hawaiian pop, slack key guitar, reggae, country, and then every once in a while the dj would come on and read a recipe; like the whole recipe, out loud, from start to finish.
pool time!
Speaking of entertainment, I love watching local t.v. stations when I travel and Hawaii did not disappoint. We watched a high school football game, an outdoor cooking show, skin divers spearing fish, and some sweet local commercials.
Even with all this good food, by the end of our trip both of us noticed our pants were looser. How is this possible? For one thing we walked, and swam a lot. We were also under very little stress. We started our day with fresh fruits and veggies, ate mostly whole foods, and had one big meal each day that often included fish. We also drank lots of water.
Me n Eric sunset selfie
Now, how to bring this aloha vibe back to everyday life?
5 fruits and vegetables a day. Click here to learn why this is important.
Daily walking. My goal is to average 6k steps each day, click here to to learn how to add steps by doing your daily activities.
Watch this video for my tips on reducing stress, and taking good care of yourself this spring.
How can I help you look and feel your best this spring? Do you need a walking buddy? I walk most weekday afternoons here in Sellwood. Call or text me and we can schedule a time to meet.
Do you need accountability? I’m happy to email you once a week to see if you are meeting your goals.
How about personalized help improving your diet, lowering your stress level, or adding strength and balance work to your routine (or starting a routine)?
Contact me today for a complimentary consultation.
(503) 705-4762
Anne@FluidPortland.com
My Fit Club shirt helped me keep from getting too much sun.
Looking for an affordable way to add new moves to your repertoire? Join Fluid’s Fit Club! Each week you receive an email with a new video. These range from 5 minute to 60 minutes, and include: – strength and balance exercises – Pilates, yoga, Energy Flow, and Barre – Therapeutic exercises for shoulders, hips, feet, and hands, and – guided meditations.
Anne McCranie is a Portland, Oregon based personal trainer and licensed massage therapist. She provides pain relief solutions, for women in their 40’s to 80’s.
She offers weekly zoom Pilates, yoga, Barre, and Energy Flow classes, as well as one on one strength, mobility, and balance training training.
