Why read my blog, Heather the Yoga Nerd?

First of all, what IS a Yoga Nerd?

According to the Urban Dictionary,  a Nerd is “an individual who: 1. Enjoys learning 2. Does not adhere to social norms.”

That about sums it up. A nerd is someone who is passionate about something so much that they are constantly learning about it and doesn’t care what other people think. So here’s the thing, I’m not just passionate about superheroes and light sabers, I’m passionate about yoga and healing. Continue reading Why read my blog, Heather the Yoga Nerd?

Forgiveness and Mercy

I was listening to an interview with Elizabeth Gilbert when she said something that stopped me in my tracks.

“Anytime I get a chance to talk to people on the subject of mercy, I just want to put in a word for it. Because I believe that we live in a merciless culture, and I believe that we are merciless to ourselves and I believe that we are very often merciless to each other. But most merciless to ourselves because we’ve been taught to be.”

I heard her say the words “…I believe that we live in a merciless culture…”and I stopped in my tracks because she is right. Being in the healing industry, I’m always hearing talk of compassion. In fact, right now I’m taking an online workshop about self-compassion.

But mercy? Mercy seems like a more powerful word, an active word. And I started to wonder, what is the difference between compassion and mercy?

Let’s take a look at the definitions. Continue reading Forgiveness and Mercy

My Favorite Podcasts

I figured I’d lighten things up this week, give ourselves a little break from information and news about the “Virus that Shall Not be Named.”

I’m a big fan of podcasts. I love listening to them when I’m cooking or cleaning. They are especially helpful when I’m doing a project like organizing a closet or when driving around town.

Most of the podcasts I listen to are set up like a talk show with guests. Some are like “60 mins” or “20/20” where they’re true life or investigative stories.

My favorite type of podcast is the “Series,” a pod cast story that has a beginning and an end. All the ones I’ve listened to have been true stories.  Some were fantastic. Some were okay. But there are a few series podcasts that were so memorable I often think back on them and even re-listen to them.

I hear about new podcasts either by word of mouth or they are recommended on another podcast I listen to.  I’ll always check out a recommended podcast. Some I enjoy and listen to for a while. Other I give it a couple episodes and then I drop it. Most I get tired of and move on to something different.

But there are a handful of podcasts that I never tire of. I find myself going back to them again and again when I want to listen to something. And I thought, maybe you would enjoy them too.

I’ve put a link with each description that takes you to the website. But you can easily go onto your podcast app on your phone and search the title of the podcast and check it out from there.

So, without further ado, here are Heather the Yoga Nerd’s favorite podcasts. (In no particular order.) Continue reading My Favorite Podcasts

“Return” – Part 3 of the Hero’s Journey Trilogy: COVID-19 Edition

Previously on “The Hero’s Journey Trilogy”…

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us, the heroes, to go outside of our comfort zones to face uncertainty, challenges, and dangers. If you missed Part 1 of the Hero’s Journey – “Departure,” click here.

It is in this journey of danger and challenge that we, the heroes, experience successes and failures. These experiences give us wisdom and rewards. If you missed Part 2 of the Hero’s Journey – “Initiation,” click here.

And here we are at “The Return.” Or are we?

Return – The Hero returns to their world with a reward for conquering their challenge. The hero is transformed and has gained wisdom and spiritual power over their world and the adventure world they survived.

The hero learns new things about themselves while on their adventure. They learn their strengths and weaknesses. They learn new skills. And the heroes in all the stories always learn a vital lesson: they can handle anything that comes their way.

These are the wisdom and rewards the hero receives at the end of their journey.

It was difficult to write this blog because I don’t believe we have reached this part of our Hero’s Journey, yet. We don’t know what the end looks like.

So what can we do about that now? Continue reading “Return” – Part 3 of the Hero’s Journey Trilogy: COVID-19 Edition

“Initiation” – Part 2 of the Hero’s Journey Trilogy: COVID-19 Edition

In last week’s blog I explained the Hero’s Journey (Departure, Initiation, and Return) and how it has made me think of our current state of COVID-19 pandemic.  I went into detail about how the first step in the Hero’s Journey, Departure, related to our current state.  You can read that blog by clicking here.

So, this week we move to the next phase of the Hero’s Journey – Initiation.

Initiation – The Hero enters a new world where they face new dangers, tasks, and challenges. Alone or with a companion, the Hero faces many setbacks. However, the Hero survives and gets a reward for achieving their goal.

This stage of the Hero’s Journey is where we are right now.  We, individually and as a community, have new challenges, tasks, and dangers we have never experienced before. We are all moving in uncharted waters. We have all faced new dangers and challenges whether it be fear of COVID-19 because of serious health issues, or the challenge of finding toilet paper. We have all had to adjust our lifestyles to adapt to “Shelter in Place” living. Continue reading “Initiation” – Part 2 of the Hero’s Journey Trilogy: COVID-19 Edition

Ganesha Meditation

Hello Friends,

Thought I would share with you a guided meditation I recorded to help you during these uncertain times.

Find a quiet place in your home, sit comfortably, close your eyes and listen to the meditation.

I hope it helps! Let me know what you think in the comments!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kj3w7c1lw45b75h/HeatherKGaneshaMeditation.MOV?dl=0

Stay Well,

Heather the Healing Nerd

“Departure” – Part 1 of the Hero’s Journey Trilogy: COVID-19 Edition

Everyone is going through a trying time right now. As I’ve been sitting in my home, under a self-imposed lockdown due to the COVID-19 danger posed by my history of asthma, I have pondered how to take advantage of this opportunity. I’ve always said to myself, as many of you probably have, “If I only had the space and time to do the things I want to do.”

Well, my wish has been granted, and it is a bit terrifying.

This wonderful and terrifying opportunity brought to my mind the Hero’s Journey. What is the Hero’s Journey?

Harry Potter, Warner Bros.

The Hero’s Journey is a pattern that many stories old and new seem to follow. The theory of the Hero’s Journey was made popular by Joseph Campbell. In Campbell’s theory, the hero of the story is taken from his ordinary day-to-day life to face challenges and return back to ordinary life victorious and with new wisdom. It is the pattern of departure, initiation, and return. Examples of this story pattern are Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, Harry Potter, Paul Atreides in Dune, Bilbo in The Hobbit, and Frodo in The Lord of the Rings.

So I have been wondering: How does the idea of the hero’s departure, initiation, and return fit into our current experience? Continue reading “Departure” – Part 1 of the Hero’s Journey Trilogy: COVID-19 Edition

What if I’m the Storm?

Do you have people in your life that annoy you? Maybe they have a personality tick, or a habit, or a way of speaking that annoys you.

Or maybe it isn’t a person. Maybe it’s just a pet peeve that anybody can do and it sets your teeth on edge.

For me, it is humming. I can’t stand it if I’m at, for example, the grocery store and someone is humming while they are shopping. I know it seems ridiculous. What harm is there in people humming? The harm is I want to grab them and say, “Stop it!”

But these people humming aren’t doing it with the purpose to get a rise out of me. Neither is the person that annoys you with their personality tick. These people, the Pet Peeve People, are just going about their lives.

Is it really fair that they become the object of our wrath?   Of course not! Continue reading What if I’m the Storm?

Surrender and Heal

In 2003, I was engaged to a very nice man we will call Allen. I have talked about this engagement before. As a recap, Allen had a six year old daughter. He also had a mother that considered the daughter her daughter. So, in his mother’s eyes, I was taking away her only son and her “daughter” she had a “special relationship” with. Furthermore, the daughter had ADD, and I was trying my best to create a healthy lifestyle for her to help with her ADD.

I was trying to force my will against something that, frankly, wasn’t going to change.

One morning, the mother/grandmother came by to pick up the daughter/granddaughter. I was still in bed. It is funny how you know the sounds and routines in your house. I could tell by the pause from when the front door opened and when it closed that the mother/grandmother had a “little conversation” with Allen. And my intuition knew exactly what the conversation was: she was upset at how I had “treated her” the night before at a family function.

And inside, something broke.

I realized that I was striving for acceptance in a family that didn’t like me. I was trying not to act like a mother while doing all the “mom” work. I was twisted in knots and not being myself. That break was me surrendering. I surrendered to the reality that I was sacrificing who I was in order to be with him…and it wasn’t working.

With reality of the situation hitting me, I realized I had two choices. If I stayed in this situation, I would not be who I was in 5 years. I would be someone completely different. And if I left, I would be breaking off an engagement and hurting someone I truly cared for, but I would be saving myself from destruction. Continue reading Surrender and Heal

Asking for Help – An essential tool on your healing journey.

Many people are stubborn. I had never thought of myself as stubborn until I learned I was an Enneagram 9. Only then was able to see that I’m easy going, but don’t ever tell me what to do. I will turn around and do the opposite thing so fast I don’t even realize I’m being stubborn.

Being stubborn can cause us to not read our situation correctly. It can cause us to be blind. And the more we are blind, the less we are able to see that whatever method we are using to solve a problem just isn’t working.

Hopefully, we eventually realize that we are acting insane. Well, maybe not that extreme, but you understand what I mean.

But what if you are doing the same thing over and over again because you don’t know what else to do?

It is at such times that seeking help is the solution. Continue reading Asking for Help – An essential tool on your healing journey.

Your Healing Journey on a Dime

As a society, we believe money makes the world go round. We believe money is involved with everything. Hence, we believe walking the healing path will be expensive. And if we don’t have the money, we can’t do it.

I’m here to tell you that, from my own experience, this isn’t true.

There have been many, many, many times in my life when I have not had extra money. And, frankly, those have been the times when I have needed the most healing. But, I’ve always found a way to heal, money or no money.

When it comes to learning how to live a healthy life style: mind, body and spirit – there are many free resources. And when it comes to living that healthy life style: eating healthy, moving your body, removing psychological blocks, loving who you are – there, too, we have many economical resources. You just need the time and patience to do a little research.

Continue reading Your Healing Journey on a Dime