Newsletter - December 5, 2021

December seems to have arrived so quickly!! Mother Nature has covered us a few times already with blankets of fresh white snow. Preparations for the festive season have begun!! Kitchens are filling with the wonderful smells of holiday baking; garlands strung; lights hung; and trees decorated in preparation for family and friends to gather and celebrate what it means to be together for the holidays. During this festive season, it is so easy to overdo it. Be sure to schedule time for self-care, especially needed during this time. When the Late Fall Class Series end on December 15, I will take a short pause from teaching until the New Year.

With only a few weeks until the Holidays, you may be looking for a unique and lasting gift idea. Why not give the gift of health and wellness this holiday season! Choose from one of the 4-week mind/body series being offered in January or create your own gift package of small group virtual class(es) for yourself, family, friends, staff and co-workers, to support each other in health. Maybe start a wellness challenge for the New Year! Visit the Journey Fitness + Wellness Lakefront Studio for information on class styles available or e-mail me@deborahnordstrom.ca or call (613) 558-7480.

Virtual classes will continue to be offered in January from the Lakefront Studio so that you can roll out your mat from the comfort of your own home. In-person classes will also continue to be offered from The Root Studio in Perth should you want to venture out to join me there. From either location you can maintain consistency in your mind/body practices in 2022.

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“Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.”

- - Jim Rohn

January 2022 Class Schedule

Book Review - - Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet by Thich Nhat Hanh

We only need to look to the events of the past few years to see that the Earth is in crisis. The past few week’s events alone affect the globe. A new strain of the Covid-19 virus is of concern to the World Health Organization and leads to the halting of air travel by many countries. Here in Canada, we have seen the environmental devastation caused by wildfires and torrential flooding leading to communities being displaced. We have also seen the extinction of wildlife caused by deforestation and loss of habitats. Social injustice and inequalities the world over continue to be present.

In this book, Thay shares with us his insight from a Zen Buddhist viewpoint on how we can save the planet and ourselves from further harm. The book is divided into three parts: changing how we view our relationship with the earth; taking action to implement changes; and building communities that share the insights and viewpoints. We are introduced to the Five Mindfulness Trainings: reverence for life, deep simplicity, right fuel, brave dialogue, true love. These trainings are a spiritual code of conduct which invite a new way of living on our planet, based on the radical insight of interbeing as taught in the Diamond Sutra.

Why not give this book a read and take the time to focus and put into practice one or two of the Five Mindfulness Teachings that resonate(s) most with you.

“If we continue to live the way we are living the end of our civilization will be certain. Only by waking up to the truth as a human species will we have the insight and energy we need to change our way of life.” p. 47

I wish you and your family a safe and joyful holiday season filled with much love, happiness, health and wellness!

- - Deborah

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