Marlborough Magazine July 2018 | Page 34

18 Q & A LIFESTYLE & WELLBEING
Celebrate our 125 th Anniversary with us !
18 Q & A LIFESTYLE & WELLBEING

Recently a friend came to me concerned that she could not do meditation or mindfulness , and not for lack of trying . I know her as a very caring and intelligent person . So I started to consider ... how does one do mindfulness ?

The wellness and mindfulness movement has been great for people who have busy lives or get caught up in a tangle of problems . It helps to bring them back to gratitude and awareness of life . But still , one size does not fit all . So , if any of you have failed at mindfulness , know this ... you do not have to empty your mind to meditate . It ' s OK to let thoughts swirl around in your head during the process . It ’ s also OK to not be able to slow down for mindfulness . Maybe for you , mindfulness will take another form such as helping a friend , animal , or being a good listener . There are no rules . Be you , and go from there . Life gives us many opportunities for personal growth and awareness . Some of the most wonderful people I know do not have an awareness of the mindfulness movement . They have long been mindful of the magnitude of nature , appreciation for their lives , and are often involved in helping others or the environment .
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My mother has a very large bony

Q .. bump on her back at the base of her spine . She is 80 . I am noticing the same thing appearing on my neck . Can I do anything to stop it ?

What you are noticing is the shearing

A .. of the C7 and T1 vertebrae - the too-forward position of the head causing a sort of kink in the flow of the spine . It ’ s the result of kyphosis ( excessive curvature ) of the spine , but more commonly known as a Dowager ' s Hump or Hunchback . Good news ! Yes , you can reconstruct your posture and realign your spine with corrective exercise . I have seen amazing transformations . I use exercise kinesiology with my clients . However , if you belong to a gym you can have a chat with your gym instructor about it . It ’ s worth the effort when you think about how much this can affect not just your spine , joints , and muscles , but also the correct placement of your internal organs and breathing .

What do you think of people

Q .. who walk their cat on a lead ? If the cat is OK with it ,

A .. then so am I .

I worry that my daughter is drifting

Q .. through life . My husband and I have tried to create a balanced home / work / play environment for our family , and I would say that we ’ ve done a good job of it . My daughter goes along with whatever is happening at the moment . She doesn ’ t express her feelings and will usually shrug her shoulders to every question you ask her no matter how simple it is . Her teachers say she should try harder and get more involved with classroom activities . Should I just get used to the idea that she is a follower and not a leader ? M

Try not to make any judgment calls

A .. on your daughter . Children change mentally , physically , emotionally , and spiritually as they grow up . Give her some free rein to develop . Imparting some valuable skills such as goalsetting and journaling can help you to feel you are contributing positively to her development . And help her to know that it ’ s OK to make mistakes along the way , so she can feel more comfortable speaking up .

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