Mindful Kim Blogs!

I watched the movie ‘Julie and Julia’ Saturday night and found it inspirational. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s about a woman who blogs about Julia Childs who was a huge impact on not just bringing French cooking to America but one of the first woman chefs. I found it inspirational because of the similarities of the lives of the two women and myself. Julie blogs, they both do something they’re passionate about even through difficulty, and they are both married and have very loving, successful relationships. Inspirational because they both started from scratch and became very successful. I won’t tell you what each of the woman’s success was but it made me ask myself (again) what the desired result would be from my blog. I want people to get to know me from my blog to feel more comfortable to take my classes if they are in my area and if they aren’t....? I am in the process of writing a book about Prenatal Yoga for those who don’t have something like that in their area. Eventually, wri

I’ve recently found out that US Congress voted to not say “Merry Christmas” on radio and television. Being Pagan I was, at first, pleased by this decision as I am pretty tired of people trying to force their beliefs on me and as you read on in today’s blog you’ll see why. Someone I know and love made a comment on her Facebook page about the US Congress decision and the fire was lit! Non-Christians were called “ bigots and fools ”! People from larger, multi-cultural areas will LOVE this beauty......“ The ones that have taken this upon themselves to complain about this holiday, HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING THE DAY OFF PAID FROM THE PLACE THEY ARE EMPLOYED!!! Talk about being a hypocrite! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL .. enjoy your paid day ” Ok, my husband and I are NOT paid for ANY holidays but we aren’t Atheists, we do have holidays of our own as do other religions who aren’t paid for those. Here’s another beauty, “ I personally enjoy saying merry Christmas to all... you don’t like what ya see her

So, I constantly write about the importance of ‘Time for YOU’ but when you have a busy life, kids, and little support to do just that, it can seem overwhelming of just where to start. I’ve been thinking of re-joining a gym for the past year but child care is an issue for me and my husband, not wanting to leave our daughter with just anyone. Today I took the plunge. It seems like a lot of money but when you break it down it really isn't. I decided on the local YMCA which is only $17 per month for unlimited child care. Right there, it’s a good deal!! Then, take into consideration that she’ll be enrolled into a weekly program that’s included in her membership... well, it makes me wonder why I hadn’t looked into this sooner. Then, there’s the classes I’ll be taking. Normally, one class is about $120 for two months but I’ll be taking two classes plus using their treadmills, ellipticals, and whatever else I can fit in. Another big bonus is that my husband and I can h

It was my uncle's 50th suprise birthday party on Saturday night and although my daughter had a fever since the previous night we went anyway. I hadn't been to a family event in about 15 months or even visited a famiy member in nearly as long. Of course, I missed them! I always felt like the black sheep of the family... living in Germany and then Alberta until I was nine because my father was in the Air Force. Then later, I avoided family events because they always seemed to involve alchohol and my parents didn't get along when they drank. Now, it's me who almost never drinks and then my mom passing away in 2006 certainly didn't help. So, off we go... a 45 minute drive to get there... I wasn't disappointed. Abundance of hugs and kisses. Countless times I heard, "it's great to see you"; "wish we could see you more often"; "I can't believe you're actually here"; "your daughter is so precious"; "your daughte

Something very rare happened this weekend... my husband and I got to go out child-free. This is the 2nd time in over two years!! Why, you might ask...? There is only one person that she is comfortable staying with, and us leaving her with for that matter. But, at least we have one, and for that we are very grateful! My husband's workplace was having their Christmas dinner on Saturday night and we had a pretty good time. We stayed until our maximum time and really enjoyed only being the two of us in practically forever . The next day felt different, too. More relaxed, more happy. If you are one of the lucky ones who has multiple people to sit for you take advantage of it. You will be a better wife/husband, parent, and friend. And then, there's always your sanity (hehe). Blessings, Kim

On Sunday, November 15th, 2009 I ran my first trail race. It was the Fat Ass Trail Run in Batawa. So, this makes my 3rd race... 2 road and 1 trail. Trail is much more fun but let me tell you... this run, which was 7.5 k for me, was just as challenging as the 1/2 marathon I did last month! The 'Fat Ass' is mostly up hill... up a ski hill that is and there's lots of rocks and tree roots. And speaking of trees... there's lots of those, too. Fallen trees that is, to go over and under. Oh, and those rocks and tree roots I mentioned, hidden by wet, slippery leaves. Speaking of slippery... there was a giant puddle in the middle of it all. I wore a brand new pair of trail runners and glad I did. I wore a brand new pair of gloves and didn't need them. With all those hills a body heated up pretty darn fast. I ran it in just under an hour, which is darn good for a person who doesn't train. Had no injuries, thankfully, and only got one foot wet in previously described '

I don't know who said it but it's been quoted twice to me within a week. My husband and I love the outdoors and that is one of the biggest reasons I wanted to have a child... to share that passion. We hike, bike, roller blade and more... and hope our daughter will love all that, too. This past weekend my husband finished fencing in our back yard. What an awesome feeling! We are finally free from the fear of our daughter sneeking away, our dogs getting out, or an unfriendly dog coming on to our property. So much fun was had on Sunday running, chasing and playing, by both 2 and 4-legged family! What do you do as a family to 'play together'? Blessings, Kim

I read someone's article on being an extreme encourager and I recalled telling my friend Bob, years ago, that I wanted to be a yoga teacher. He immediately said, " You would make a great yoga teacher... you look like one already!". Aaah, the encourager. Do you know someone who you can't wait to tell your news? Someone who thinks whatever thoughts you have are great ideas? Someone who 'knows you can do it'.... whatever 'it' may be? A lovely thought isn't it? Do you know a person like this? Are YOU an encourager? I hope so! Thank you, in advance, for blessing me (and others) with your comments and emails ...... Namaste, Kim

As a Meditation Teacher I teach people to start over when they are meditating and a thought comes in. Don’t beat yourself up... just start again. I don’t believe life is “trial and error”. There are no errors. “Try and try again” or “try and begin again”. So, why do we beat ourselves up again and again when we become out of alignment? I noticed today that I would get annoyed and then get annoyed at myself that I let myself get out of alignment. It’s just a viscous cycle. Everyone who is alive gets out of alignment once in a while, no exceptions. So, give yourself a break... and begin again. Blessings, Kim

I have a question for everyone... Do you schedule housework into your day? I’ve only recently come to the conclusion that I need to schedule it or it either doesn’t happen or I rush around like a crazy person to ‘squeeze’ it into a day that is already far too busy... and then am not the nicest person as a result. I certainly don’t remember my mom scheduling it... what about you? Blessings, Kim

Last Thursday I was feeling ‘under the weather’ and it ended up being a great day! I cancelled all the plans I had and stayed home with my daughter. It seemed to be like a reset button... from go, go, go to slow, slow, slow. The next day was even better! Even though things seemed slower and more relaxed I got more done, somehow, and then I could really feel the gratitude for everything and everyone in my life. It seems like more and more is added to my week so a random day off is just what the doctor ordered! Blessings, Kim

Yesterday, (Sunday, October 4th, 2009) marked a life-goal achievement for me that was pretty big. I ran my first ½ marathon at the Prince Edward County Marathon. I’ve only been running for about a year and only had one race under my belt, which was a 5 km run, so this was a big deal for me. Not to mention, with not really any training to speak of. I ran 4 km two days a week for the past three weeks. A friend asked me today how I felt now that I’ve achieved this big goal... proud and powerful. I feel definitely feel powerful. I have always been in such awe of others that could run that distance. While running I had a chance to ask someone how long she had been a runner and her response was inspiring. She ran her first ½ marathon when she was 55 and her first full marathon when she was 65. She thinks she may stop at 70. I love that! I started with walking after my daughter was born in because, despite what people tell you about breastfeeding helping for weight loss, I was gaining weight

I love to journal. Journaling is a great way to spend time with your True Self, to become or stay aligned. If you’ve been journaling for a while then you know what I am talking about. Besides journaling there is also a more public version –blogging. Anyone can blog... why not you? Blog to let others know about your special talent or just connect with the outside world. Maybe you’re having a great adventure or maybe you feel like you have the most boring life ever but want to share some insights with others. Just do it! You never know who’s life or how many lives you might touch. How to begin? Search for free blog, or click on start blog at the top of this page, and follow the instructions. You may want to do a little preplanning... what types of things do you want to talk about, a catchy title... that sort of thing. Good luck and keep me posted! Thanks for your comments. You never know who your comments might help or inspire! Blessings, Kim

Isn’t the Law of Attraction a wonderful thing? I’ve wanted a fenced in backyard for a long time. I never thought we could afford it since we have a pretty large backyard. However, as soon as I stopped focusing on the cost, focusing instead on the fence and how much fun it would be to watch our dogs and daughter play safely out there, a chain link fence complete with top rails, poles and caps appeared, for FREE! So, September is the month for the fence. We not only got the fence this month but we also manifested HELP with the fence. My husband and uncle have been hard at work for 2 days this month and my husband was out there again last night. It should be done by Samhain (Oct 31st)! Now, I just have to focus on a garage...

Today I took the plunge... I registered for the Prince Edward County ½ Marathon, which is 20.96 km. Scary, right? Yes, unless the goal is just to finish. I have been going back and forth on this goal... to run it, walk it or not do it at all! But, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do so I’ve decided to just take the plunge. How can I regret it if my only goal is to make it across the finish line... right??

The long weekend has come and gone. Sometimes, between trying to catch up with work and time with family and lots of plans to be busy means neglecting time for connection to Spirit, your True Self. You may even try but if it’s rushed it may not seem to help and you can be left feeling annoyed (with yourself more than anything) and lacking energy. I am no exception to this... until, last night, I came across my rose quartz wrist mala. It was a reminder to love myself enough to spend time for me. Need help with your connection? Check out my website http://www.kimbelangermills.com/ for products and services to feed your body, mind and spirit. There’s a new page on the site, check it out here . Also, if you are a member of the Facebook group Patchoulimoon Holistics Yoga and Holistic Health, there’s a new topic “what’s your reminder to spend Time for YOU? Make a comment here: http://tiny.cc/CQBYJ Be Blessed, Kim

As the summer comes to an end we are trying to make the most of the nice weather and our weekends together. Yesterday (Sunday) we went to The Lang Pioneer Village. It was so nice to see our daughter run from building to building. My husband got some great pictures and I was over-joyed at the fun had by all! I definitely have an outdoor oriented family as being outside is usually our main goal for every season, except winter. We describe ourselves as ‘tree-huggers’ and even named our daughter after a tree “Willow”. I think she’s already a ‘tree-hugger’ in training....

Yesterday was my one year wedding anniversary. One year married, three and a half years together and we will have known each other for six years this coming October. Most of the time it feels like we’ve been together for decades because we know each other so well, work so well as a team and are so close. Other times though, it feels like we were just married last week.... fresh and exciting and so in love. To celebrate our one year of marriage, on Saturday, we chose to go back to the city that we were married in (Kingston Ontario) with our daughter, for a little shopping and dinner. Trail Head, Lululemon, Costco and Red Lobster. It was lovely, of course! So relaxing. Then, Sunday (the actual day of the anniversary) we stuck close to home and puttered around the house and yard until after supper when we took our daughter to the park. A perfect weekend. So very relaxing! The camera had three sets of batteries and none of them worked so here’s a little look back at a year ago yesterday...

Lately I’ve been on a de-cluttering binge... our home, the studio, and now myself! Letting go of as many things as possible that take my time and energy, including my hair.... at least 6 years of the same hairstyle meant time for a change. Above is the before picture What about you... do you do any regular de-cluttering for your home, your place of work or even yourself? Or do you wait and do it all at once for a giant cleanse? Here's the new 'do' ....... Please leave a comment here for others to benefit from or email me at phdirector@gmail.com . Be blessed, Kim

Isn’t technology great? I just got a new laptop yesterday and we got wireless high speed this week, too. With all this technology I’ll be able to do more than ever, faster and in more locations! But that means I’ll need to try to find more balance in my day. Krishna Das is a great musician. I not only sell his music but listen to it during some of my yoga classes, in the car as well as at home. Now, I will be able to listen to him on You Tube and meditate at the same time! Enjoy.... http://tinyurl.com/lfbslt What do you do for balance? Be blessed, Kim

Ever have one of those perfect days? One of those days where it seems like nothing could go wrong? I am having one of those days today.... a compliment from a friend, great food, fun with my toddler, a lovely bath, a wonderfully hot shower, watching butterflies from the screen door of my bedroom as I type this, all while listening to Enya.... the list is endless. Only got three hours sleep but I can’t tell. Maybe it’s because I finally got the first edition of my new free ezine out and the sign-ups are effortlessly pouring in... or maybe because my entire life seems to be lining up perfectly... who knows... but I don’t dare take a nap, I don’t want to miss any of it! Have a blessed day! Kim

I've been blogged about! Lisa, a former yoga student posted this blog post. Enjoy..... Posted by Lisa Boudreau on July 21st, 2009 I adore children. I think it’s because I’ve always really enjoyed playing. As an adult “playing” is frowned upon because we’re supposed to be…well grown up. Whether I was babysitting as a teenager or just playing with some of my younger cousins, I remember having a blast. Getting down on the ground and being silly with this little curious person whose expressions were always so priceless and innocent would make me feel great. So when I get asked what to you like to photograph the most I have to say babies and children! Today I celebrate my daughter’s 7 month birthday. Granted the celebration includes the normal routine of bottles, playtime and naps – with no difference to her – but I know today is special! So in honour of her, my little powerhouse of personality and independence, I wanted to give some suggestions for expecting parents! Of course, most

By Joyce Lee Many women are masters at feeling bad about themselves and about the circumstances of their lives. They walk through their life with a heavy heart, a pessimistic attitude and a wagon full of problems. Their relationships are complicated; they rarely love their occupations and are seldom at peace with their body/temple image. They are everywhere and they do this day after day after day. It is a true art form and you can do it too if you like... Simply follow these 10 Sure Fire Ways to Feel Bad About Yourself. 1. Look at yourself in the mirror and criticize your body. Inventory your flaws. Look at your self naked and shake your head in disgust. Tell that little girl inside how unacceptable she is. Feel the shame. 2. Start your morning with a coffee and a "just below the surface" dialoguewith your self of your problems. Stay stuck there. You have a huge list of problems: people you are struggling with, unresolved stuff from your past, situations that are troublesome

Lots! Working on web changes (I’ll let you know when we’re a little farther along), preparing for new fall classes, writing a book, making preparations to be able to purchase from my website and preparing for the new Newsletter! If you haven’t seen the sign up box on Facebook or this blog be sure to sign up to receive tips on yoga, meditation and more for body, mind and spirit! Besides all the business ‘stuffs’ I’ve been boating, running and also gardening. I hope to have pictures on my blog of the stone border for our gardens soon. Anyone else been super busy this summer and want to share? Feel free to make a comment or email me @ phdirector@gmail.com Be Blessed, Kim

A friend of mine recently asked what my issues are. I thought I would share my response, feel free to share your's... I’ve been working on so many issues…. FEAR of absolutely everything, having panic attacks every day when in school; fear of my health; fear of my future… meditation and knowing the only time we ever have is NOW helps incredibly. ANGER from things not doing exactly as *I* plan it or think it should be, anger that my parents didn’t even try to do their best, that someone is driving too slow in front of me, or whatever else that popps up… I’m trying to remember that this is how it is supposed to happen. Life is a lovely and interesting journey, don’t you think? Be Blessed, Kim

I LOVE journaling and been doing it since I was a teenager. Sometimes a pretty, bound, hard covered book, sometimes just a spiral bound notebook. But, I always do it and have a cedar chest full to prove it! Bad times, and more often good times.... all recorded. Anyone who’s been doing it for a while knows the many, many benefits. How about you? Yes, no... always wanted to but don’t know where to start? Been doing it for years but curious on how it could get better? I’ve got one for you! Check it out here . After all the years this one is the best I’ve seen. I was, proudly, the first to order it and I can tell you it was worth twice what I paid! Happy journaling everyone! Kim.

I'm training for the Prince Edward County 1/2 Marathon and let me tell you, with a toddler it can be pretty challenging and sometimes discouraging. I have three days that I am able to run without her. I don't know if it's just me, but pushing a jogging stroller isn't easy! Then there's the added bonus that she gets bored after a while and, of course, the weather. One thing that helps is that my husband occasionally comes with me. Not only do I love his company and that he's becoming healthier, it's a very good example for our daughter! The picture above is the three of us just this Sunday past on the trail close to our home. Something else I find really helpful, since I don't get to run with a group, is my online running friends. They're great for encouragement, information (they have loads more running experience than I) and motivation. I also have a weekly running partner. It's amazing how much farther you can run with great conversation as a d

Sherry, Stop. What Are You Doing? Sherry had a morning routine. She didn't really choose it, she just evolved into it. Every morning she would get out of bed, flip her energy switch to go and keep moving until she fell back into bed at night, exhausted. Her planner was as important as her wallet, and her cell phone seemed permanently attached to her right ear. She was a regular at an up-scale coffee shop and was developing physical symptoms from too much caffeine. She commonly carried ant-acids and painkillers in her purse, kept some in the drawer at work and in her car. Sherry had also slipped into a routine of regularly choosing fast and easy over healthy in her food plan. She often felt bloated and lethargic as a result. Sherry was time deficient and over-stimulated. She was stressed, weary and operating well below her potential. Oh Wise One Your wonderful body is designed to let you know what you need to pay attention to. It's up to you to listen. You can visualize a young

Now that I am a runner I don't know how anyone runs without doing yoga as well. The stiffness, tight shortening muscles.... yoga saves the day! Many poses are helpful, such as Legs Up a Wall , Downward Facing Dog, Reclining Hand to Toe, just to name a few for stretching. Then there's the strenthening poses like Dolphin and Plank, which also work your core to avoid lower back injuries. Besides runners, I've taught skaters and ballet instructors, who have all benefitted from doing yoga. Along with a great stretch, strenghtening and helping to avoid injuries, yoga is great for concentration as well as proper breathing. When your chest is more open you have more of your lungs available for more air intake. When you're running your heart out... who wouldn't want a little more air? The new Runner's Yoga class begins Saturday, May 23-June 11. Click here for details .

With permission from the author... I thought this was a great blog entry to share.... enjoy! Kim. :-) Overwhelm is one of the toughest things my coaching clients face. No surprise, of course. The people I work with - whether they're in my Platinum Mastermind, or my Uplevel Your Life Mastery Program, or at one of my women's retreats - tend to have one thing in common: They're creative types with lots of great ideas and a deep desire to be of service in the world. (If you're reading this, you're probably that kind of person, too.) Creative types are often challenged by the practical day-to-day stuff of life. To-do's, organization, finances, getting things done. NONE of this comes easy to them! Overwhelm becomes a way of life. Only problem is this: Overwhelm leaves you emotionally drained, constantly feeling like you'll never quite catch up. As a creative person, you might have to accept that you'll be overwhelmed on a regular basis, but you can also take

Do you have a routine to start your day off right? Do you set an intent for a joyful day, week or life in general? Today is Monday. I was just telling someone “I LOVE Mondays”! I try to make sure that I have no appointments or pressing obligations and make the day about journaling, yoga, meditation , play and having fun to set the tone of positivity for the whole week. The law of attraction states that what you think about you will draw to you – wanted or unwanted. I love the weekend because it is family time but I don’t want to dread the end of the weekend or the beginning of the ‘work-week’ either. So, I make Mondays joyful and come into the week gently. Many people are not as lucky as I to be working from home on this beautiful Monday morning. Many are not happy in general so how can you be joyful in the first place? First, ask yourself what kind of day do you want? On a scale of 1-10..... a 10 right? What would a 10 look like? Wednesday, February 25, 2009 I wrote this on ‘Happines

I have a Prenatal Yoga class 8-week session beginning again on Wednesday, May 20th at my Belleville location . I thought this would be a great time to answer my most asked questions and give a brief description of the class. The first concern I usually hear is that the mom-to-be hasn’t done yoga before.... and that’s ok! Most of the moms I see have no experience with yoga. My Prenatal Yoga classes are set up for the mom to relax, prepare for birth, bond with their baby and ensure that pregnancy is a wonderful experience! Everyone is encouraged to move at their own pace, only do postures that give joy and have fun. To prepare for the birth of your baby we do a series of hip opening postures, breathing techniques and relaxation. To help make pregnancy a joyful time in your life we stretch our bodies in places that moms most complain about (to me) throughout pregnancy. This leads me to the ‘most asked questions’ part..... I am often asked about sciatic symptoms so I do reclining hand to t

Someone informed me today that not only has she read my blog ( the ‘old’ one ) but bought a book I recommended because of it! Yaaaaay!! Since I am planning to remove the ‘old’ blog and replace it with this newer and cooler one, I thought I would re-post this blog entry. It’s from Saturday, November 8, 2008. The person meditating in the picture shown is ME, in the yoga studio, very pregnant! Comments are always welcome. Enjoy! YOUR ANGER METRE Someone taking what you say totally out of context, someone else getting intensely angered at a seemingly innocent comment, rude people, bad drivers, people expecting you to live your life the way THEY think you should... does it ever feel like people are trying to test your anger metre? It certainly does to me, lately.... and it’s only going to get worse coming into the holiday season!! Here’s one perspective on anger..... Thick That Hanh teaches that anger is a form of disease and how can you blame or not have compassion for someone with an illn

I am hoping to have a Mom & Baby Yoga class start next week, here at the PH studio, and I'm pretty excited about it! I LOVE that class and if I could use the sounds of the giggling babies the class would be full every time at both locations. I get lots of questions about the class and have even had a mom tell me that her husband asked her if we just sit around watching the babies do yoga! Too funny! :-) I tell moms that the time to start just about when they feel they are ready and have had a baby as young as 3 weeks in the class. For the baby the concern isn't 'too young' but 'too old'. When a baby can crawl, the last thing he/she wants is to be tied to mom.... they want to use their new skill and explore. So, about 3 weeks until crawling is the perfect age. Another question I commonly get is what do you do in class? No experience is necessary at all....I have a breathing exercise to start with, some ab exercises, some hip openers (all the while baby is

So, this is my first post on my NEW blog... woo hoo! I’ve done it before, on my website, but it wasn’t as much fun and certainly not as cool! I’ve got lots to say but where to start?? Hmmm... I have my dream job, teaching yoga. I am certified in yoga instruction (Hatha Yoga) and teach Mom & Baby Yoga as well. My darling husband built a yoga studio in our home (in the Quinte area) and we call it “Patchoulimoon Holistics”, where I also sell holistic products. ‘Holistic’ meaning body, mind and spirit..... natural body care products, singing bowls, books, cds... that sort of thing. I LOVE my life and would only change two things.... #1 - I’d like to teach more yoga and #2 - have more money coming in. Who wouldn't want more money? So, that’s what I do.... what about YOU? Do you do what you love? How is it going??? Many Blessings, Kim class="statcounter"> class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/blogger/"> class="statcounter"