HEALING THE BODY WITH TAI CHI

For over 40 years, I've been a student and teacher of the amazing exercise known as Tai Chi Ch'uan... "the movement of inner energy". We all experience the activity of muscle energy however, there's another way to move the body that also boosts the immune system, initiates the relaxation response, calms and clears the mind, releases tension from shoulders/neck, and creates balance in all ways. 

Besides maintaining a proactively, high level of health, Tai Chi also assists people at any age who are recovering from: rotator cuff injuries, balance, diabetes, stress-related illnesses, digestive tract issues, Fibromyalgia, strengthening muscles/ligaments and building bone density after recovery from breaks, arthritis, high blood pressure, stroke,heart disease, etc.

However, most importantly, Tai Chi is the pathway to one's higher-self aka inner wisdom. Imagine the gift of quieting the mind while softly moving the body. 

Click on the below links to medical studies and the healing benefits Tai Chi offers at any age.

* Diabetes

* STROKE

* Arthritis

* PAIN RELIEF

* Balance

* SHINGLES

* Breast Cancer
* PARKINSONS
* Sleep Disorders

Restore, Realign, Relax and Recharge with Tai Chi and...

"May the chi be with you." MOM

*Click here for my Tai Chi for Enlighteners website


Below is a link to MOM teaching Wu Round Form to some of her advanced studetns...
https://vimeo.com/137029380

Mmm, TASTY LITTLE NUGGETS

" A fingerprint is the signature of the soul."MOM

(If any of MOM'S COSMIC DINER's computer-wiz clients wants to investigate this ...let me know.)

TIME's FRONT and BACK DOORS

It takes time and conscious effort to live a healthy lifestyle. Our culture is geared to "immediate gratification." So why am I on a "soapbox" in front of MOM'S COSMIC DINER inviting you to stop for a moment and think about the rewards of being on a spiritual, physical, mental and emotional path that will serve you well throughout your life?

Because it's an insurance policy that will support the body in times of stress, illness, and the challenges of change.'

I describe this as walking through the front door of "proactive time." You have the choice to gift yourself with proactive time every day. There are many paths to choose from: tai chi, yoga, meditation, pilates, a walk in nature, etc.

You'll be able to slide-by on youthful energy for many years, however, eventually the day will come when you'll be spending many hours going through the back door of "reactive time." Time spent in doctor's offices, hospitals and dealing with insurance claims.

It's all about being aware that TIME is a commodity.

You have a choice.

Well it's time for me to get back to the diner and fire up that old Wolf Stove. Looking forward to seeing you at your favorite booth.

MOM

MMM, TASTY LITTLE NUGGETS

"Pssst... the only thing we can actually control in life is our attitude." MOM

WELLESLEY'S SUNDAY FUNNY

Wellesley's* SUNDAY FUNNY is now our weekly comic strip.Wellesley is MOM'S COSMIC DINER'S MascotScroll down a few pages to meet Mr. Delicious

TIME-OUT TECHNIQUE

When someone is annoying and you don't want to slip into being reactive. Take time-out and visualize yourself with masking tape across your mouth that has a painted smile. 

Those few seconds enables you step back and see the situation with more clarity. 

*Click here for Moody Blues rendition of Painted Smile 

MMM, TASTY LITTLE NUGGETS

It's a New Year and this is what's written on January's Menu at MOM'S COSMIC DINER...


"Intentions wrapped in ritual creates  manifestations." MOM

WE HAVE THE POWER TO MANIFEST

Everything man-made in our world was once a thought. These thoughts are constantly streaming through our minds and have the power to manifest into an action and/or a creation. 

The way to harness this power is to have clarity on what it is we choose to attract or create. If you ever had any doubt about the importance of meditating think about the power of your thoughts. 

We're energetic, magnetic beings and are constantly attracting like-minded people to ourselves. Look around you... are you surrounding yourself with positive up-beat people or are you attracting negativity? 

One way to harness your power is to turn off your TV, IPAD, computer games, etc. and become an inward explorer. In a previous posting "BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY"* I wrote about the many paths to meditation. Meditation is concentrating on one object and continuing to train the mind to "return" to this focal point. You can meditate by sitting still, breathing and watching the breath, or walking in nature and being one with the sounds, smells, and sights that Mother Earth so graciously bestows. It can even be washing the dishes or car and focusing on the movements of hands, sudsy soap formations, and sounds of splashing water. 

It's all about stopping the fleeting thoughts and in doing so, warping time and space to a slower pace. This is the pathway to the quiet and contemplative place within you. This inner, core space of peace and serenity is your "power-source" as you connect with awareness and positive energy. If you commit to this practice for just 5 minutes every day for 2 weeks you will notice a shift in your thinking.

If you continue... your entire life will forever be transformed as you learn to harness the ability to manifest with clarity.

Above  "Man of Miracles" illustration by Leon Rosenblatt from the 1970's

*Click here for Leon's most recent visuals

* Click here for the "BEAM ME UP SCOTTY" post.

MMM, TASTY LITTLE NUGGETS

Next time you're about to add yet another "thing" into your day like: taking on an additional task or going out socially where the fit isn't right, etc. It might be a great time to take a deep breath and think about this metaphor:

"Is this one too many spice to add to the stew?" MOM

TODAY'S BREAKFAST SPECIAL

We're serving delicious, nutty tasting hot oat groats for breakfast here at the diner. Oat groats like all whole grains will give your body fuel and warmth in the cold winter months. It can be eaten with fruit, rice milk and your favorite sweetener or with a pinch of salt, pepper and olive oil. It's chewy and a wonderful way to start your day.


MOM'S COSMIC DINER'S Oat Groats Recipe:
serves 2-3 
1 cup oat groats (rinsed in colander)
2 cups water
Place the above in a medium-size sauce pot and bring to boil.  
Then reduce heat to low/simmer and cover.
Cook for 20 minutes.
Drain any remaining water from pot.
Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutritional Value:
Like oatmeal, it is a low carbohydrate yet high protein whole grain food source. Since its bran layer is intact, unlike oatmeal (rolled oat groats), it takes longer for digestive enzymes to break it down. Slower digestion creates stable blood sugar levels, and a longer-lasting, steady flow of energy. It is rich in Iron, Selenium, Zinc, and Vitamin E. 

You can buy whole oat groats in all health food stores and now even some chain supermarkets are selling this wonderful nutritious whole grain.

HOLIDAY and NEW YEAR's BLESSINGS

We offer an eclectic, musical mix at Mom's Cosmic Diner.

Here's one of my favorites. MOM

Click here for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's OM Chant

MMM, TASTY LITTLE NUGGETS

An observation....

Each of us no matter who we are or what we do, are all on a spiritual journey. And with this shift of consciousness we begin to “see” how everyday we're meeting teachers and learning lessons. In doing so, we can begin to fully embrace the magic of our lives here on earth.  MOM

TRANSformATIONS

As Winter approaches the seasonal change once again reminds us that we are one with nature and her energies. It's time to retreat into our inner and outer "caves" surrounded by soft light. Time to be quiet and reflective. Time to dream our dreams for the coming year.

Living in harmony with the natural elements creates a sense of peacefulness. There are many approaches to accomplish this goal.

Winter is a great time to visit Mom's Cosmic Diner where you'll find tools to live a healthier, more conscious and fulfilling life.

Stephanie, Mom's Cosmic Diner's proprietor, is available for private phone consultations with her Energetic Life Journey Readings. *Click here for more info.

LAYERS

When visiting my father in Coconut Grove, Florida, I meditate on the balcony of his sixth floor condominium. Beneath is a beautiful rock garden surrounded by gardens.  I watch the sun languidly rise amongst the billowy clouds that make Miami’s sky so sensual. The various shades of tropical tangerine, pinks shimmering in the morning heat and the iridescent, turquoise blue waters of Biscayne Bay seem to applaud the appearance of a new day. I feel very fortunate to observe this beauty. 

As I close my eyes the warm breezes caresses my skin allowing me to feel the borders of my body. I hear the gentle rustling sounds of coconut palm trees, the waterfalls in the gardens, the birds chirping and singing their morning songs. I also listen to the wind playing angelic chimes. I’m watching myself think "how tranquil and soothing nature’s sounds are."

Then I hear a jet as it flies high above me. At first I begin to attach judgments to the sound… "it’s so loud, uncomfortably powerful, annoying, an irritant." I stop myself and allow the sound, just to be a ~ sound ~ a vibration. Not good. Not bad. Just energy.

As I realize this I immediately understand I can still hear the water, birds, trees, and wind in the background. I feel my perception of reality shift.

After my meditation I thought about the experience and appreciated the lesson I had been given. Often times in our daily encounters we experience anger, sadness, low self-esteem, etc. and these powerful feelings have strong energies attached to them. However, if we begin to understand that life is a spiritual journey we can perceive the emotional upheavals as static and still know the peaceful humming core within all of us is always there.

This is why the meditation practice is so important. It’s a sacred space of clearing. A daily reminder that we can always access our inner peace, which is always quietly waiting for us... to be still, to turn our attention and intentions inward and gift us with another way of perceiving life.

MAJORITY RULES

Sri Swami Satchidananda in his wisdom would say,

"When you point your finger at someone whether mentally or physically... 

~ there's one thumb that represents your belief (higher power), 
~ there's one index finger that is you pointing at the object,
~ however there's three fingers pointing back at you, majority rules!"

A great time to think about what you need to learn from the situation aka spiritual lesson!

*Click here to learn more about Sri Swami Satchidananda's teachings

WELLESLEY'S SUNDAY FUNNY

Wellesely's* SUNDAY FUNNY is now our weekly comic strip.

*(MOM's Mascot) 
See below photos of Wellesley at 3 months old and the current one from W's car trip across the USA. MOM found his puppy photo posted on Petfinders and upon seeing it she instantly knew he was cosmic.

MEDITATION... Quieting the Mind

Breathe deeply,

become one with the breath.

Then step aside and listen.

Hear the silence,

feel the inner quiet,

and the peace that is you.

Click here for MOM'S Seated Deep Relaxation

WELLESLEY'S SUNDAY FUNNY

Wellesely's* SUNDAY FUNNY is our weekly comic strip.

* Click here to meet Wellesley(MOM's Mascot).

ODE to AUTUMN

Oh autumn, sweet autumn what a sight to behold as I sit, sipping a cup of tea, watching the last of your orange, red, and golden brown leaves swirling off their branches. Dancing their last hoorah one with the wind as they gently land on the ground beneath. Blanketing Mother Earth, her seeds, bulbs and feeding them nutrition for the coming colder months. The park across the street almost has that wintry look of bare limbs... reminding us that energies are shifting inwards as we stay warm and contemplative in our home-caves. Thank-you Mother for your visual gifts of wisdom. MOM

TODAY'S MENU SPECIAL

Hearty, Lentil~Vegetable Soup

Serves 8 (Freeze half of soup to have on-hand)

4 tablespoons extra-virgin, cold pressed olive oil

2 cups chopped sweet onions

1 1/2 cups celery stalks

3-4 chopped garlic cloves

1 cup chopped carrots

1 cup shredded cabbage

1/2 cup shitake mushrooms/optional

1 1/3 cups lentils, rinsed/drained

1 14 1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes

1 large bay leaf

6-8 cups vegetable broth

1/2 cup chopped parsley

1 cup plain greek yogurt

salt and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in soup pot over medium heat. Add, onions, celery, carrots, cabbage, mushrooms and garlic. Saute until vegetables are soft (10-15 minutes).

Add broth, tomatoes with liquid and lentils and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low, cover an simmer until lentils are soft; about 35- 40 minutes.

Soup can be served chunky or pureed in a blender. If too thick add more vegetable broth.

OR served on brown rice, with a salad as a main course.

Garnish with a tablespoon of yogurt and parsley sprinkled on top.

Salt and pepper to taste

Click here for info on lentils and nutritional benefits

MMM, TASTY LITTLE NUGGETS

When making a conscious shift in life, meditation creates a connection to one's internal, wise teacher. Intuition is a neon signpost pointing you in the right direction. MOM

MOM's Favorite Jukebox Selection

We offer an eclectic, musical mix at Mom's Cosmic Diner.

Here's one of my favorites. MOM

*Click here for Herbie Hancock and Lang Lang playing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue

*** YOGA the State-of-Grace ***

*

Yoga's State-Of-Grace

through each decade...

20's opens the door to inner and outer flexibility

30's meditation and stress relief from busy life as working mom

40's as a teacher having a deeper understanding of yoga's gifts and passing on the knowledge

50's experiencing the pleasure of oiling the joints, massaging inner organs and being one with silence and peace

60's wonderment of stepping into wisdom years with state-of-grace 

MOM

Click here to see where Stephanie aka Mom teaches in Portland, OR