We can change the world with our own two hands....

Wow, its been a long time since I wrote on here...I feel bad and I have been missing it. I am so busy with Soul Shine, work, family, trying to keep up on the laundry...blah, blah, blah...trying to fit a social life in there somewhere...and starting a new clothing line (LiciaLu) I have completely left a bunch of people hanging.

I know you are all wondering how Hailey is doing...she is...well, OK. That is the best I can muster. She is OK. Not good, not by any means, but not terrible. Not terrible by her standards anyway - by ours - it would be terrible. If you could not keep any food down, felt like getting out of bed just to use the bathroom and get some water, you would classify that as terrible. However, we can classify it as OK in Hailey's world. If you ask her how she feels, she will tell you straight up "terrible, $^$(*#!!$@!&%&*#, terrible". I don't know if I could be that kind. She spends all day in bed, watching TV and she will get up to go to the bathroom, get some water or maybe some food. The food does not settle for long though, so she is not too keen on food now.

She is at my parents house, and her treatment is out patient. We all honestly thought that this round of chemo would be easier. Well, we were wrong. Its all poison. Stinking poison. Which again leads me to wonder, which is worse? Cancer or chemo? You would think in 2010 we would have a better way...

It hurts, it really does. My dad asked me today if I was scared. I told him no. She has fight, she is talking, she is cracking jokes, protecting her daughter, loving and spunky. She has spark in her eyes. Most importantly she has her faith. I will let him know, and I will let you know when I am scared. But, it hurts to see my crazy ass sister sick as hell and laid up in bed all day. I still get to cuddle with her, watch movies and most importantly make fun of our parents (haha!) - so I am going to savor all of it I can and I am still holding out for a miracle from the Good Lord. He IS a Good Lord.

In the meantime you can change the world with your own two hands - go out there and do it. Stop sitting around and waiting for your invitation. If there is anything that this teaches us, GO, get out there and DO IT. Whatever it is....DO IT.

I love you all

Love and Light

Diamonds on the Inside...and Let your Soul Shine

Update on Hailey

Hello!
I have not been keeping you updated on Hailey! Bad Heather!

My sweet sis has had one full round of chemo, it kicked her butt. She was in the hospital 3 days following the chemo treatment for 6 days. She got 2 blood transfusions, including platelets. She has ONE more round of this kind of chemo (we think) and then its on to out patient chemo. This will be good for her because the chemo will not be nearly as hard on her as the type she is currently taking. The question is, will it keep killing the tumors? We don't know yet. Just pray that the doctors know what they are doing and that Hailey will keep her Spirits up in order to fight. The great thing is that her quality of life will improve dramatically with out patient chemo. She will be able to be at home more often, spend more quality time with Colleen and James. She misses being at home with her stuff, TV, dogs and family. Sometimes it just rips my heart out. Sometimes it rips her heart out. Sometimes it rips James' heart out. We are all doing the best we can, but watching someone's life be taken over by cancer is (in Hailey's words) No Bueno!

We are all learing lessons, getting closer to God and to each other. I know that God is working toward the Good for all who love him. Its amazing, we still love Him, and love Him even more through this. Sometimes we just need to stop trying to make sense out of it all and just trust Him. That is SO hard sometimes! I know that we are only here for a blink of an eye compared to the eternal heaven that awaits us - but why does it have to be so hard? A dear friend of mine thinks maybe its to cleanse us for our jobs in heaven. I don't know, but that sounded pretty good to me. Or, just stop trying to make sense of it in our computerized brains and just trust in our hearts that its all working for the good for those that love Him.

Yoga for Strength and Toning

Tonight Soul Shine will be hosting 2 new classes. First up is our 6 week Beginner Series with China. This is going to be a great class where she takes you through the basics of yoga so you will feel comfortable in the other classes we offer. This series is great for true beginners and for people who may need a refresher course.

I am teaching Yoga for Strength and Toning. I am SO excited about this class! We will warm up in the traditional Viniyoga way with some breath work, apanasana to lengthen our spine and some more moves to get our muscles warm - then we will move into some Sun Salutations and then into postures like Chair pose, Plank and Boat (pictured). This class will focus on holding poses longer and targeting large muscle groups like our abs, arms and legs!

See you tonight at Soul Shine!
http://www.jacksoncountyyoga.com/

Top 10 Reasons to Try Yoga

Top 10 Reasons to Try Yoga

© Yoga Alliance 2006
1. STRESS RELIEF: Yoga reduces the physical effects of stress on the body. By encouraging

relaxation, yoga helps to lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Related benefits

include lowering blood pressure and heart rate, improving digestion and boosting the

immune system as well as easing symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression,

fatigue, asthma and insomnia.



2. PAIN RELIEF: Yoga can ease pain. Studies have demonstrated that practicing yoga

asanas (postures), meditation or a combination of the two, reduced pain for people with

conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, auto-immune diseases and hypertension as

well as arthritis, back and neck pain, and other chronic conditions. Some practitioners

report that even emotional pain can be eased through the practice of yoga.



3. BETTER BREATHING: Yoga teaches people to take slower, deeper breaths. This helps to

improve lung function, trigger the body’s relaxation response and increase the amount of

oxygen available to the body.



4. FLEXIBILITY: Yoga helps to improve flexibility and mobility, increasing range of movement

and reducing aches and pains. Many people can’t touch their toes during their first yoga

class. Gradually they begin to use the correct muscles. Over time, the ligaments, tendons

and muscles lengthen, increasing elasticity, making more poses possible. Yoga also helps to

improve body alignment resulting in better posture and helping to relieve back, neck, joint

and muscle problems.



5. INCREASED STRENGTH: Yoga asanas (postures) use every muscle in the body, helping to

increase strength literally from head to toe. And, while these postures strengthen the body,

they also provide an additional benefit of helping to relieve muscular tension.



6. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT: Yoga (even less vigorous styles) can aid weight control efforts by

reducing the cortisol levels as well as by burning excess calories and reducing stress. Yoga

also encourages healthy eating habits and provides a heightened sense of well being and

self esteem.



7. IMPROVED CIRCULATION: Yoga helps to improve circulation and, as a result of various

poses, more efficiently moves oxygenated blood to the body’s cells.



8. CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING: Even gentle yoga practice can provide cardiovascular

benefits by lowering resting heart rate, increasing endurance and improving

oxygen uptake during exercise.



9. FOCUS ON THE PRESENT: Yoga helps us to focus on the present, to become more aware

and to help create mind body health. It opens the way to improved concentration, coordination,

reaction time and memory.



10. INNER PEACE: The meditative aspects of yoga help many to reach a deeper, more

spiritual and more satisfying place in their lives. Many who begin to practice for other

reasons have reported this to be a key reason that yoga has become an essential part of

their daily lives.

This is from www.YogaAlliance.org

Soul Shine Yoga and Wellness

Soul Shine Yoga & Wellness is located only 2 miles from Interstate 85, off of Highway 53 – very convenient location in a peaceful, beautiful studio dedicated to Yoga and Wellness for everyBODY.

159 Towne Center Parkway

Hoschton, GA 30548

http://www.jacksoncountyyoga.com/

404-213-9182

I have a Yoga Studio!!!!!

Holy Toledo! I have a yoga studio!!!!!!
I signed the papers today and I am thrilled! I am planning for the official grand opening to be Feb 1 if all goes as planned.
The studio is located at Towne Center. Click here for a map.

It is only 2 miles off of Interstate 85 and in a CUTE cottage style space with 1200 sq ft of hardwoods that will shortly be turned into a total meditative, peaceful, fun place for us to all gather and practice yoga among other things (ZUMBA!) plus I will have a prayer/meditation room for anyone to use anytime they need it.

I CAN NOT TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM!
This is the answer to A LOT of prayers!

Namaste,
H

PS:
It kinda looks like this, but 2x as big and a lighter brick color. So cute!

THE TUMORS ARE SHRINKING!

THE TUMORS ARE SHRINKING!!!!
I am so happy I may type in caps for the rest of the day! THE TUMORS ARE SHRINKING!!!!
They have shrunk by 40%
So the type of chemo they are using is working - this means that Hailey will be getting 2 more rounds of chemo and then going back to TX in 7 weeks. I am thrilled!
Prayer works, GOD IS AWESOME and I love you all!!!!
Many blessings, love & light to everyone.



Oh yeah...
THE TUMORS ARE SHRINKING!

Birthdays, Milestones and New Year

I love the new year. It just feels like everybody gets a fresh start. As a bonus, I get to celebrate my birthday 8 days into the year. I do not like making "resolutions" because they really do not work. I do, however, like to take this opportunity to improve myself and take stock in mistakes, learn from them, and move on. This year, I am taking the bull by the horns. This is not somebody else's life that I am living, its MINE. God gave it to me to live, and live big. He promises us an abundant life, this may not mean financially abundant...which is what most of us think about when we read this...but I think it just means that if we use our natural talents that God gave us, give thanks, be humble, and work hard, we will have an abundant life. Just look around you! Look outside! Its a frozen tundra in Georgia this morning, but the birds are making the most of it. The love it. I have seen blue birds, blue jays and mocking birds singing, finding food and using their natural talents to bring a smile to my frozen face. These little birdies are also happy with what they have. I did not hear them complaining, unionizing or going on strike against mother nature because their nests were covered in ice. They just got up, sang their songs, ate breakfast and are now going on about their day.

This is where I am at. I am going to be getting up, using my natural talents to bring a smile to someone else's face and giving thanks for what I have. That is my "resolution" for my 35th year on this planet. It is time for new beginnings and fresh starts. Happy birthday to me (and Elvis!)

Namaste,
H