Author: pennyjoliver

A HIGHER FASHION

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God is love. 1 John 4:8

Less of me ~ more of Love. John 3:30.
He must become greater and I must become less, higher style of living. Approaching every word and deed we do, fashioned by God’s guidance and dressed in His Love!

However, getting naked and becoming vulnerable before God takes great courage! I know I find it rather easy to layer up and dress how I want the world to see me. And it’s easy to grow accustomed to our style, our way. Coming from a fashion background I know I fall into my style all the time. I know when I wake up and immediately put my feet down on the ground, rather than thanking God for giving me a new day that I’m on the road for doing things my way. And so easily do I fall right into it somedays.

On most days, I try not to forget God who wakes me up everyday. When I wake up rushed, I’m then reacting rather than responding to the moments before me. That usually results in gripping the steering wheel from God in whom I gave it too and moving into the drivers seat of my life. That can happen quite easily when a situation occurs during the day and my mind takes off and I let anxious thoughts fill me up which makes me run to the next fix to ease my tensions. However, that is our human flesh response.  A higher style perhaps would be to pause a moment, take a deep breathe and look to Jesus and for help! This would help us immediately and give us hope for the next time to respond in a calmer, less stressed mode. Better would be diving into in HIS Word before we respond and with that, we will be on our way to a higher style of living, everyday!

Do not be anxious about anything! Instead, pray! Philippians 4:6

pray more worry less

xxoo

Penny

AND BREATHE…

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What happens to our body when we are stressed? It defends itself, of course!

Amazingly, God has created us with an entire defense system that turns on as soon as we become stressed. Dr. Herbert Benson, a cardiovascular specialist at Harvard Medical School coined it “The Relaxation Response.”  Esther Sternberg, physician and author of several books on stress and healing, explains how it works.

Immediately, our heart rate speeds up and diverts blood away from our guts and to our muscles so we can run away. The pupils of our eyes constrict, so we can keenly focus on our attacker. The bronchii of our lungs increase blood oxygenation and convert energy stored in the liver into fuel for strength and stamina.  She also states that if we are stressed for too long, our body starts to release stress hormones and nerve chemicals that we do not want floating around in our body. That is why it’s important to our health to chill out as soon as possible. Perhaps God designed our breathing system with that in mind: that we might trust in Him for help.

Next time you feel stress coming on, drop and give yourself 10 long and deep breaths. Chill and meditate on this verse of Scripture and just breathe… let God take care of it all!

More ” Halleluyah Moments ” please!

A SKY PENNED IN LOVE

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Just one sunrise or perhaps a sunset too would suffice to be a testimony of the Glory of God. However, our Heavenly Father chooses to bestow His beauty across the skies every single day and every night!

God doesn’t have to say a word but not a day passes without bearing testimony that the skies are not put together by chance, but handcrafted by the supreme Architect. Heaven’s hands are busy at work fashioning the bright lights of the morning and painting the day away with evenings bursting in a glorious array of infinite colors.

Though the world has many languages both spoken and written, the Glory of God speaks in magnificent colors to end every day and morning light to brighten up every day. Bestowed upon His creation is His morning and evening love letter that we might for a moment contemplate, reflect and admire His wisdom and power. He’s in the business of ravishing our souls with awe and wonder at of His eternal beauty. Perhaps He simply wants us to know that just like a sunrise or a sunset, His love is freely given and we need only to look up to accept it. For in His eyes we are worthy, so very special and indescribably loved!

Halleluyah!

APPRECIATING SNOWFLAKES

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To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold.

Although I hate being cold, a snowstorm triggers my inner child and out into the cold I go. Of course the best part is coming back inside and feeling my hands, feet and cheeks thaw out and a cup of hot chocolate never hurt either. Driving in snow is a much different story. I experienced a pretty big accident in nineteen eighty one and it left me terrified that I would get into a big slide again and end up inside the back edge of a town snow plow! however, today I’m happy to report that by the grace of God I do more snow driving. However I did complain about it for years. How about you? Do you live in a place where it snows and have you ever complained about it?

Actually, I think it’s quite a natural human being thing we do, complaining about the snow because let’s face it snow does make our lives a little bit harder. However, looking at snow from Heaven’s eyes it’s  incredibly different. In fact, the Book of Job tells us that snow is very, very  special. That God has given it a place among the wonders of the world and has ranked it up there with the morning stars, the seas, and even the lightening. So Job gets my attention and because Jesus is my Father, I’ve simply got to find out more!

Looking up interesting facts about my Father, “The Snow King” I found that scientists actually estimate that it takes fifteen minutes for a snowflake to be born and to reach it’s physical completion. To me that is nothing short of amazing. Also, under a microscope scientists can also actually see all the details of a snow flake and they all agree that no two snowflakes could possibly be exactly alike. Did you also know that it is snowing all the time in different places all over the world? How about the fact that every time it snows our planet also receives roughly one million, billion, cubic feet of snow per every snow storm? That would translate in my yoga picture above that I am standing on over a billion snowflakes, even while new ones are being made and fresh ones are still falling. Isn’t that amazing! But that’s the awesomeness of our Father! All of His creations are intimately fashioned with infinite care and utmost detail. When you really get to the heart of it, each snowflake is a revelation of unfathomable love and care, of artistry and intelligence, and wisdom beyond human comprehension.

Oh how He loves us that He would let His love fall upon us! And just in case that is not enough proof of the unfathomable depth of love, might and power, God gave us eyes to see the snow, hands to touch it and a body to feel it and scientists to study it. Surely when the snow is falling He desires that we remember how great His love is for each of us. We are loved beyond measure! Hallaluyah!

A COLOR-FULL SEASON TO LET GO

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This time of year every window I look out displays a magnificent masterpiece of indescribable beauty as the summer lets go into fall. There’s just something magical about the lush green leaves of summer turning into warm golds, robust yellows, vivid oranges and deep reds. Just a simple peek out of my windows brings joy to my soul as leaves celebrate their colorful descent, joyfully dancing in the wind.

Though it be the most colorful time of year here in New Hampshire, us Granite Stater’s know the cold and snowy weather will soon it be upon us for we all know that Autumn shall quickly pass. It always does. Nothing stays the same here, not a season and not even a day.

For our Heavenly Father told us in Ecclesiastes,

There is a time to be born and a time to die;

A time to plant and a time to pluck what has been planted;

A time to kill and a time to heal;

A time to break down and a time to build up;

A time to weep and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones;

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain and a time to lose;

A time to keep and a time to throw away;

A time to tear and a time to sow;

A time to keep silence and a time to speak;

A time to love and a time to hate;

A time of war an a time of peace.

As we can see the beautiful seasons of the earth and the different seasons of our lives possess no secrets to The Lord Jesus Christ because He created each season and sustains each one. He arranges when things will happen and when they will not and no moment exists where He is not in charge. Moment to moment and day by day, His order and supremacy shines down upon all of the earth and every living thing. The process of it all, the procedure, the duration and every detail is perfectly executed at “His” perfectly given time. Isn’t it so nice to know that He’s a mighty God with a purpose and a meaning for every detail that goes on for you and for me and the entire world?

Perhaps He gives us the changing seasons to let us know that He’s in got this life of ours and we need not worry. Maybe like the leaves He wants us to let go of things and trust the process for He’s promised to make everything beautiful in it’s time. And if we find ourselves in a strange and sorrowful season as we all will at different times, He wants each of us to remember that, this to shall pass. And to remind us that there is beauty in the letting go, we need only look outside.

Chill Out In The Happy Corpse Pose

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Who knew something so simple as laying back in a Corpse Pose could make us healthier and more beautiful?

In the Yoga community Corpse Pose is known as a huge stress-reducer, a great method of meditation and the perfect  position to focus our gaze on higher thoughts.

Simply lay back, let your feet spread, place your arms by your sides with palms up and try to keep your shoulders away from your ears. Then give yourself ten or more big inhales and exhales. If your feeling it stay here longer and really give yourself a chance to unwind!

I personally have a hard time staying here. I wanna go go go! If I do relax for a moment though all the things I must do seem to flood my mind. Hopefully your not like me and will be able to reap all the healthy benefits of acting like your dead on the ground here. You can always pretend your sunbathing, too!

Corpse Pose is also a perfect position to…

Set your mind on things above and not things of the earth.

Colossians 3:2

And also a perfect position to focus upon goodness & positivity!

Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy, think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

After reaping the healthy benefits of these applied Bible verses know that…

Those who look to Him are radiant, Their faces are never covered with shame!

Psalm 34:5

keep calm & yoga on

xxoo

Penny

 

 

 

 

UNCERTAIN TIMES WITH A GOD THAT IS CERTAIN!

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With so much crazy going on who isn’t fearful? Living in this fallen world keeps us treading from one crisis to the next. It seems every morning we wake up to new peril and it’s stressing us out. Living in a constant state of stress is not good for our minds or our bodies and it leads to all kinds of conditions and diseases. Where can we go for relief? Is there even any such thing as relief in these dark days?

Fear is a powerful human emotion. It can also cause us to react quickly with out thought or paralyze us from taking any action and keep us in a state of constant fear and worry. Fear can even stop us from turning to God our Rescuer who knows every world disruption we will face and how afraid and powerless we feel inside. Yet, His timeless Word, the Bible, has all the answers and antidotes to keep us calm, cool and collected. The great Physician has a prescription for all of our body, our minds and our souls needs.

He assures us, “So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Of course we want to trust God but there are times when peace eludes us. We’re worried and anxious. we don’t want to be brave this time. Then God reminds us,

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you may go.”  (Joshua 1:9)

It’s all easier said than done, right? This trust God and you will be peaceful and you will just automatically be strong like our Savior said. Yet He is the one that turned water into wine. The One and only One that calmed the sea and walks on it because He created it! He can feed over 5,000 people with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. He’s continually placing each star in it’s place. He knows every tear you’ve ever cried and will cry. He knew you before you were born, created you with a purpose and thinks about you more often then if you could count every grain of sand in the entire world! He even knows precisely the moment that you will step into Eternity with Him! On top of all of that, He provides a guideline and prescription to living an abundant, successful and healthy life of peace, joy, love and hope, found only in His Holy Bible. Which He testifies that He breathed His Words into the ordinary men and women who wrote the Bible and chose them to give us His guidelines to abundant living!

He asks from each of us is to believe what He has said. To pray about everything all the time. To follow His ways and trust His guidance. That it’s okay to be weak, afraid, uncertain and powerless. Because He holds the power to make us strong, completely confident and utterly fearless! He’s actually waiting for us to come to those horrible moments of helplessness because it is then and only then He can help us! And He promises that He will help us. All we have to to is ask and sit still and wait. The power of Heaven’s Help is only a silent heartfelt prayer away. Only Heavenly peace can truly replace all our fear and panic. Today if we will ask and tomorrow and this very moment and every moment after! You can be sure. You can trust God!  Because He promises He will always answer us and always provide!

“I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is fixed on Thee!” Isaiah 26:3

Keep calm and yoga on because peace is on it’s way…

…Pray~Believe~Trust~Be Still…

Isn’t it amazing?

God made a way for us to do just that, it’s called Covid 19

 

 

THE CALMING CHILD POSE

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Hi and welcome to this month’s “Yoga with Penny!”

With the uncertainty in the world and the touches of spring everywhere I thought a Child’s Pose might offer a way for us to sit still for a moment and just breathe. A comforting way to help us find some peace and quietness among the chaos that is upon us in these uncertain times. Who knows, we may bloom and come alive again!

Sometimes, our minds and our bodies could really benefit from logging out and shutting down. Focusing instead on positive thoughts and self care can prove extremely beneficial to our health and our well being during stressful times. Our Child Pose then comes to the rescue. Offering a quiet retreat from the world it nurtures us with it’s tension releasing neck, shoulders and back stretch. Adding a few deep inhales and exhales calms our nervous system, enhancing our immunity and providing a state of well-being. Perhaps it is these reasons it is practiced in mostly every yoga class, for it’s continual restoring and reviving properties proving useful for beginner’s and beyond!

 

Bending forward over our legs we can rest our head on our mats or a pillow for more support. A rolled up towel can also be placed on our heels. Our arms can be placed above or beside us, what ever which way is most comfortable.

Try to inhale deeply and slowly, beginning in our lower stomach area and up through our mouth. Let all our exhales slowly release back down to our stomach. We can remain in our Child Pose for a few minutes and up to five, ten or even twenty minutes. The point is to let our Child’s Pose work for us. For a deeper stretch in the lower back and hips we can spread our knees and lower our torso to our mat or rest it on a pillow.

Although Child Pose is a basic yoga beginner’s position it enables us to build upon, similar to the beginnings of spring when all the new life is silently growing all around us though we cannot see it. For resting in our Child Pose may silently be growing the seeds of all our future yoga poses which are awaiting their time to bloom!

May you be revived and find a little peace and quiet in your Child Pose!

Love and Blessings, Penny!

Penny

THE HELPFUL BRIDGE POSE

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Hi Friends!

Welcome to “Yoga with Penny!”

Today I will show you how to move into a Bridge Pose!

Bridge Pose is an accessible, low impact exercise that reduces stress and supports well being. In need of energy or a remedy for a mild back ache or to simply calm down from a hectic day at work, Bridge Pose comes to the rescue. It’s a great pose for employing all the muscles in our body and practiced regularly, it can ward off back pain and help ease osteoporosis, asthma, sinusitis, digestion problems and even high blood pressure. All these health benefits certainly are worth our efforts, however our Bridges can also help promote thyroid health by stretching and strengthening our throat area where our thyroid gland is located. Our thyroid gland is pretty important because it’s health is one of the many factors that contributes to a healthy metabolism.

Bridge Pose Instructions

Lie on your mat and bend your knees.

Ensure both of your feet are directly below your knees and your knees are hip distance apart.

With a big inhale lift your buttocks by pressing your feet and your palms into your mat.

You may only be able to lift them up an inch or two and that is the perfect place to practice your Bridge Pose.

Gently lower your hips and come down with a big exhale.

Repeat lifting your buttocks with a big inhale and lowering your buttocks with a big exhale a few more times.

As you progress, continue to press through your feet as you lift. If you find that you can slip your hands under your body, clasp them and continue pressing with your feet. This will deepen the stretch and expand your chest and lung area even more.

Continue to lower and lift your buttocks as an exercise to get stronger. As you progress, try holding your Bridge Pose for 30 seconds to a minute with your hands clasped underneath you. You can also keep your arms at your sides with your palms facing down.

I hope you enjoyed learning Bridge Pose with me and I hope that it will help you today and whenever you may need it in the future.

Thanks for joining me!

xxoo

Penny

 

 

GIVE YOUR BODY SOME LOVE

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Camel Pose. A heart opening yoga pose which bends over backwards offering up some serious health benefits for all ages. Especially helpful in keeping us older souls vibrant and full of zest and energy!

Considered a back bending pose in the world of yoga our Camel Poses will stretch our entire bodies even in places we have not stretched in a few or more years. Our Camels will also open up our chest area, especially our hearts. With consistent practice it will also expand our rib cages thus improve our lung capacity as well. As we breathe deeply into our Camel stretches we are sending a fresh supply of oxygen to all parts of our bodies. More oxygen intake releases pent up stress and tension which helps our nervous system slide into a state of calm and our mood instantly improves.We may even experience a drop in blood pressure as our Camels get our blood pumping which of course provides energy and vitality!

I’m pretty much addicted to Camel Pose for all these really terrific health benefits but also as an added beauty benefit I love that it helps tone our chins. I know that I desperately need it. How about you?

So that you can have a chance to warm up, I started the Camel pose below with a few quick yoga stretches to warm up our backs and our spine. Please remember to take it slow and be gentle with yourself. That way you can come back and practice your Camel love everyday, whenever you need some energy and and at the same time whenever you need to unwind and calm down!

Enjoy and know that you are doing your body a world of good!

Child’s Pose

Start by resting on your heels and bend forward as best you can and inhale and exhale deeply for 10 counts. You can always rest your hands on the seat of a chair or use a pillow and also put a rolled up blanket under your butt if needed.

Puppy Pose

From a Child’s Pose you can slowly and gently walk your hands forward (even an inch will help) for an added stretch and neck toning and feel how Puppy Pose opens your shoulders. Include deep breathing and help your neck and shoulder tension take a hike!

Remember,  use a chair or a pillow if you need to get into this position and try to let your chest drop for deep stretching of your neck, chin, shoulders, upper back and glutes, knees, hamstring and thighs.

Child’s Pose Stretch

From your Child’s Pose, if possible, place hands on your lower back. Even one hand to start is great. If possible interlock them behind while letting them fall forward as much as possible.

Come up to your knees and try it too. Remember to use a pillow or a towel or blanket under your knees for support.

In both positions breathe deeply for 10 counts.

Stretch back continuing to lift your hands up behind you.

Or have your hands on your hips during this stretch.

Do this sitting too. Whatever way works for you.

For the complete exercise, rise up on your knees with hands interlocked with a deep inhale. Then lower your body and try to touch your head to your mat as you exhale deeply or let your head come down to a pillow and rest it there.

Continue rising up with a deep inhale and lowering down with a deep exhale for 3-5 times or longer if it suits you.

Supported Camel Pose

Once your knees are in a comfortable position slowly arch your body back. Your hands can be on your hips at first. When you feel comfortable try lowering a hand to your heel. Breathe deeply here as long as you can.

Don’t forget to try the other hand. And don’t forget to breathe, that part is essential.

Full Camel Pose

Once you can place each hand on a heel go for placing both at the same time!

Breathe deeply and infuse you body with healthy yoga goodness!

keep calm and thanks for joining me!

xxoo

penny