{"id":1911,"date":"2016-10-16T09:00:52","date_gmt":"2016-10-16T13:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/safaraf.com\/?p=1911"},"modified":"2016-10-16T08:47:07","modified_gmt":"2016-10-16T12:47:07","slug":"be-with-nature-healthy-routine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/safaraf.com\/?p=1911","title":{"rendered":"Be with Nature: Healthy Routine"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/safaraf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/fall-foliage.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1918\" src=\"http:\/\/safaraf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/fall-foliage-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Happy Fall to all,<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whether you are in an environment that opens up to the colors and textures of the fall foliage or not each of us recognize this time in our calendar for subtle shifts in nature we may observe wherever we live. \u00a0For many of us this time of the year starts a routine of life with new beginnings. \u00a0I know New Years is typically where we start our resolutions but the fall season observed or experienced calls us to stop and take note of natures examples to us of the process of living and the importance of maintaining our balance through transitions. \u00a0It is a good opportunity we have to take a moment to be in communion with Mother Nature while reflecting on the body, mind and spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Body<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As we have moved from summer into fall, our bodies have begun to make their adjustments to the temperatures. \u00a0We begin to feel the ting of the cooling air on our skin and \u00a0we gravitate to ways to keep warm. \u00a0This can often mean we change our exercise routine- join the gym and take less time than we had outdoors. \u00a0But, the cooling temperatures can be a good way to revive the body. \u00a0The fresh air that we inhale strengthens our lungs and the circulation pumps fresh blood and oxygen throughout our bodies. \u00a0 We may experience our limbs less pliable with each step as it takes more time for them to warm up but this process too is good for your body to work through. \u00a0Light exercises outside like walking are a great way to continue to enjoy the season.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Mind<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The season of fall brings us into focus on the tasks that have been set aside for the summer that have now renewed their place in our lives. \u00a0If we have children, the back to school beginnings of fall have now led into their routine of our lives and we are fully engaged in our attention to attending to the scheduling: day care, after school sports and homework. Even without children, our lives at this time of year fall into patterns of doing that require our attention more concretely than in the summer. \u00a0It is helpful to incorporate opportunities that allow us to slow down, observe and have our minds free of the routine for a short while.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here are 3 ways to take a\u00a0Five minute small break en route:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1. Car- tune to a station with music no lyrics and take 5 minutes with the window open to feel the air on your skin and listen while you observe your surroundings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. Drop offs- as you are dropping off kids at school or picking up your groceries or laundry take 5 minutes to give your mind a break from the rush and observe while you step out of your car- feel the air, \u00a0look up at the sky and take in the cooling temperatures before continuing with your tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3. At work-whether at the beginning, middle or end of your work day find 5 minutes to open the windows or step outside. \u00a0A short walk, your beverage refill or a chat with a colleague while being outside can help revive you for the remainder of your day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Spirit<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With each changing season, it is helpful to take time to reflect on what was and is that is calling our spirits. \u00a0We may be starting a new job, recently married or taking on a challenge in this season that we have never done before. \u00a0Our spirits need the space to explore how these changes are for us. \u00a0We can cultivate a reflective opportunities into our day with nature to be in dialogue with our spiritual selves. \u00a0While attending to our daily routines, we may take a moment and guide our spirits into reflection. \u00a0Consider a question or a feeling as you engage your senses with the elements of nature that you come into contact with in your day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However you find yourself opening up to the season of this calendar year, may you take a moment to be with your natural environment and support your body, mind and spirit in the health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In health,<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Safara<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Happy Fall to all, Whether you are in an environment that opens up to the colors and textures of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/safaraf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1911"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/safaraf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/safaraf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safaraf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safaraf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1911"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/safaraf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1911\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1920,"href":"https:\/\/safaraf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1911\/revisions\/1920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/safaraf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safaraf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safaraf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}