Newsletter - May 2, 2021

It goes without saying, it has been a very difficult month for many people with the news of another province-wide stay-at-home order. This seemingly goes against the natural flow and beauty of nature. Trees are budding, flowers blooming, birds and animals are building their nests. Humans want to be outdoors connecting with family and friends... instead, we are asked to “stay at home.”

To help with these challenging times and to remain positive, I find it helpful

to take a few moments every day to express gratitude for all things good in my life – big and small. This includes being grateful for the clean water with which I splash my face every morning to the wonderful community of practice that we have created to stay connected in these disconnected times.

Want to join me for a 30-day Gratitude Challenge? Starting now, every day either upon waking or every night before falling asleep in your bed or any other time during the day express three things for which you are grateful for. There may be days or nights when this may feel a little harder to do. On those days or nights simply expressing gratitude for a roof over your head, a warm bed to sleep in or the smile of a stranger can connect you with the good in your life and direct you away from dwelling on what is not going so well. Doing this can help to counterbalance the brain’s negativity bias and hardwire it toward happiness. Read more about this in the book review below.

“The more you practice gratitude, the more you see how much there is to be grateful for, and your life becomes an ongoing celebration of joy and happiness.” - - Don Miguel Ruiz

Journey Fitness + Wellness has many class options to help you maintain physical, mental and emotional well-being. The current Spring Virtual Class Schedule ends May 9. The Late Spring Virtual Class Schedule starts May 12 with Gentle Yoga Flow. New to the studio? Your first class is complimentary! You can also host your family and friends to your own private virtual class or series of classes to stay connected. Complimentary Yoga Sundays has been extended to the end of May. There are also outdoor classes being planned starting late spring subject to COVID-19 protocols. See details below!

Late Spring Virtual Class Schedule

May 12 – June 20

Cost:

Sign up for any of the 6-week class series for $90. Sign up with a friend and you both receive $5 off!

Drop into any of the classes in the series for $20. Your first drop-in class is complimentary! If you decide to join after, the cost of the series will be prorated.

Purchase the 8-class Late Spring Pass and attend any 8 classes on the schedule for $120. Sign up with a friend and you both receive $10 off!

For more information on these classes and to register visit: deborahnordstrom.ca

*Late Spring Pass must be used up by Sunday, June 20, 2021.

Complimentary Yoga Continues - Sunday Mornings During Lockdown

Is another lockdown making you feel disconnected, blue or blah?

Yoga can be a powerful tool to deal with the lockdown’s uncertainty and isolation, as well as to maintain physical, mental, and emotional well-being. These free classes will be for beginners or the more advanced yogis/yoginis looking for a gentler practice. No equipment required.

Classes will be offered via Zoom, on Sundays from 9:00 to 9:45am, May 2-30. A link to the class with instructions will be provided to all registered participants a day in advance of each class. Feel free to either e-mail or phone should you have any questions.

Register by email to me@deborahnordstrom.ca

I look forward to meeting you on your mat!

For more news on what’s happening in and around Westport during the lockdown, check out www.whatsonwestport.com

“The beauty about yoga is that people often come here for the stretch, and leave with a lot more.”

ON-HOLD - - Open House!

You may have read in last month’s newsletter that I was hoping to invite you to an open house on the May long weekend to celebrate the long-awaited official opening of the Journey Fitness + Wellness Lakefront Studio. With stay-at-home orders once again in place and the uncertainty of the possibility of them being extended, it is necessary to place this event “on hold” until COVID-19 protocols permit. Be sure to subscribe to my news feed for updates on the open-house and to reserve your spot for a class once we can proceed safely. Stay tuned!

Outdoor Yoga Coming Next Month with Summer Special Pricing!

Events in May!!

May 3-9, 2021 is the 70^th Annual Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week! This year the focus is on naming, expressing and dealing with our emotions – the ones we like and the ones we don’t – and how important this is for our mental health. Never has it been so important than now!

Visit CMHA for your mental health toolkit and many other helpful resources to help yourself and your family, friends and others during these times of extreme anxiety and stress.

“This Mental Health Week, don’t be uncomfortably numb. #GetReal about how you feel. And name it, don’t numb it.”

BOOK REVIEW - - Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson

If you’ve been following my social media posts and reading my newsletters you might be wondering if I am unhappy as I’ve been reading many books on the topic of happiness. The opposite would be true. Can you ever really read too many books about happiness?

Did you know that we are hardwired to think of that one negative comment we received out of the many positive ones? This is known as the negativity bias. You can thank our pre-historic ancestors for that. In this book, the author and neuropsychologist, Rick Hanson, shares four steps to rewire the brain towards the positive by “taking in the good”. This book is a nice blend of the author’s personal stories, scientific knowledge and guided practices to counterbalance the brain’s negativity bias and learn to hardwire happiness in only a few minutes each day. Everyone can benefit from reading this book.

“Just before bed, your mind is very receptive, so no matter what went wrong that day, find something that went right, open to it, and let good feelings come and ease you into sleep.” - - Rick Hanson

You are welcome to share this newsletter with your friends and colleagues.