FEBRUARY 2025
“We are all just walking each other home” Ram Dass
As EndorphinGirl® continues to slowly come back to life after her longer than usual pause, it’s at a slower pace. In a recent yoga class, the instructor (credit goes to Stephanie D.) wisely stated that taking a pause between movement is when we gather the information. I really like that notion. A pause is a temporary stop in action. It allows you to take a moment to reflect, consider what you ‘learn’ and then unpause accordingly. This is the case with movement but also with the mind. January still included several pauses that EndorphinGirl® felt drawn to do. Not the least of which was from the social media scene. The month was not only a bit of a mental detox from zombie scrolling it was also a bit of an emotional and physical detox.
In addition to limited social media and technology, EndorphinGirl® also included a very conscious diet intake keeping in mind that food and drink really are medicine. Watching the intake of what was going into mind and body was supported by a 40-day 10 minute yoga practice and daily sweat practice at the gym or walking in nature. It’s easy to describe the benefits of these ‘rituals’ but the biggest takeaway is perhaps the unconscious knowing of the connection to EndorphinGirl®’s word for the year which is to simplify; which she did through these pauses.
Simplified use of technology turned on a channel for reading more - 6 books in total , a little fiction, non-fiction, biographies, history and some. It’s suggested that it takes 40 days to create a habit. EndorphinGirl® is pretty disciplined already but the 40-day 10 minute yoga practice is now a morning habit that usurps that morning cup of Joe. And conscious eating is now in the subconscious and it just makes you feel so freakin’ good. Sure she’ll grab her favorite glass of Rose’ now and again or a bag of crunchy chips, but . . .. As for the sweat element, she was recently reminded what works best for her is to keep mixing it up at the gym. While she has a few favorite exercises or machines, the value she has felt on her body by making her program simple (10 mins on one machine, 5 minutes on another) some days longer gym visits other days shorter and the overall focus on her body, not just one part, really makes a difference. It’s like machine magic at the gym. EndorphinGirl® has been reminded that simplifying thoughts, and daily ways can simplify how she enjoys her days. Simple can be the norm . . . .
Word of the year - It’s been several years of choosing a word of the year (you can read about this ‘new year’ ritual on someone else’s feed 😊) but it’s fun to think back on some of the words chosen and their connection to that respective year - 2022 - TRUST (it was a must navigating through Covid); 2023 - JOY (entering a new ‘personal age’ decade); 2024 - FEARLESS (in the sense of not being afraid) and 2025 - SIMPLIFY (it’s gotta be simpler). What’s your 2025 word for the year?
Yoga Retreat
We’ll be back in the Finnish Lapland in Muonio, Finland in February 2026 (February 23-28) for our third “Return to Nature’’ Retreat. We are keeping it an intimate group with only 8 openings and they are filling up quickly. If you’d like more information and are ready to sign-up please click here https://www.evergreensstudio.com/return-to-nature-winter or https://www.endorphingirl.org/retreats .
Yoga Videos
Be on the lookout for a variety of four (4) different practices each month during a 12-month duration, such as Gentle Yoga, Slow Flow Yoga, Yin Yoga, breath work, meditations, mindfulness practices, and more presented during the seasons of Northern Finland Landscape. Available on-line and each set of monthly practices aligned and released to its respective season. Subscription options coming soon. Created, designed and lead by Mia Kataisto. Stay tuned, you will not want to miss these, they are so unique!
Book Share
Every now and again EndorphinGirl® will do a share about a book she’s recently read. This go, the book is Being Ram Das by Ram Dass and Rameshwar Das. EndorphinDaughter™ recommended the book to read and EndorphinGirl® found it quite an interesting story because it gave some understanding of things she heard and perhaps experienced about the psychedelic period growing up in the 1970s but it also brought memories of her buddy Robert. Before getting to the Robert connection, the book is a thorough account of the life of Ram Dass who was born as Richard Alpert. He was a spiritual influencer in the 1960s and throughout his lifetime through his teachings and practice of meditation and yoga, psychedelics research and use, and support of those in need in hospice, prison or homeless. His words ‘be here now’ which was also the title of another book he wrote in the 1960s are no less meaningful than as a reminder today to stay present, especially in today’s current world. The honesty in the book between the spiritual leader who impacted so many lives and the person he was - - like anyone else who made mistakes, struggled and had to overcome. A good read.
Yes, EndorphinGirl® enjoyed reading the book, but the connection to friend Robert was one of the best parts. When she got to a mention of Swami Muktananda, a lightbulb lit up and Robert came to mind. So she referenced back to a text conversation they shared in 2018. She suffered a moment of dilemma because the exchange took place on ‘messenger’ and she was on a social media pause. But she decided this is one of the plus moments of social media for having saved the text messages (a moment of gratitude for technology here) and a momentary unpause was warranted. Robert is in heaven now, though EndorphinGirl® was so glad to reread their text exchange about Robert’s experience with and/or insights about Muktandana, and some spiritual related practices, mantras and musings to the Ram Dass book.
It’s not lost on EndorphinGirl® that one of Ram Dass’ famous quotes is that ‘we are all just walking each other home”. There are several interpretations of this quote, but EndorphinGirl'®’s favorite is recognizing that everyone has a beautiful soul and that we truly are in it together and here to support each other. Robert was just that type of guy. And Spiritual as he was, his Guru clearly remained his son as he wrote in our ‘messenger’ exchange. Thanks Robert for being part of my walk home. 💖 forever. . .
EndorphinGirl®’s Feel Good Tip #2
These days, many days feel like ‘stimulation’ overload from technology, local and world events and the ever increasing speed of time, it is no wonder this year’s focus word is simplify. Keeping the word simplify in mind, read on…
Recently another Yoga teacher (credit goes to Jeannie O’) shared a suggestion for keeping it all in the feel good. Her simple yet potent formula includes four parts to do every day. Sweat, Laugh, Sing and Dance. Maybe you have heard this before or already practice these in some form or another, but until now EndorphinGirl® has not done all four as a daily thing. So, she has decided to add this feel good antidote to her daily regiment. The thing is that it can be done for as long or as short as you want so just doing it is the key. She is coining this the ‘quad squad’ and consider this . . . .
Quad Squad
It doesn’t matter if you choose to do these activities at the same time, separately, alone or with a buddy. They can be so simple and will make you feel really good whether done for a few or many minutes each day . . . it all counts . .. yes it does
Sweat - sweating . . . a good sweat really is so easy to incorporate into a daily routine. Whether it is a 10-minute brisk walk, an intense short workout at the gym or home makeshift gym, a run, or a vigorous yoga class, for instance . A good sweat will increase blood flow and oxygenate tissues and of course release endorphins, those beautiful and amazing positive mood influencers. “Simply'“ mix it up say 10 minutes one day, 30 another, 15 another, just do it.
Laugh - laughing . . . a good laugh is one of the most contagious tools we have. And you know what laughing does, it too brings on the endorphins - those feel good natural chemicals in the body. Bring it on. Find something or someone to make you laugh today or vice versa, and let it have a ripple affect! Just let it rip!
Sing - singing . . . the voice is an amazing instrument. Recently EndorphinGirl® attended a sound facilitation class to learn how to use a variety of instruments such as the quartz Crystal bowl, ocean drum and Tibetan drum. It totally put her out of her comfort zone because she had to vocalize a variety of sounds and notes in a small group setting while using the instruments. . . . but once she got past the discomfort with toning and humming and using her voice, she felt empowered. She was reminded by the program facilitators that while the musical instruments are fun and useful to know how to use, the voice is the ever mighty and powerful and alone can be used, whether you consider yourself a singer or not. So give it a go, hum a tune, sing a song, chant your mantra each day. Humming can reduce stress levels, singing can improve your mood and breathing, chanting, such as a mantra, can reduce stress and support concentration and focus, among other things. Go for it.
Dance - dancing . . . this might even turn out to be your sweat time too - a vigorous few minutes of morning dance can set your day in a good way. And there are so many ways to dance, perhaps a little ‘hustle’ one day, zumba another, and free flowing on another day. There are so many benefits to dancing, a few to highlight include boosting the mood like the others, supporting balance and coordination, bringing some joy and simply having fun!
EndorphinGirl® is sharing what you too have heard before about these different amazing tools we all have access to - pausing, unpausing, sweating, laughing, singing, dancing as a gentle reminder. EndorphinGirl® loves reminders, and so appreciates hearing something that she may have done in the past and it is time to begin again or has even just thought about doing. She hopes these ‘reminders’ are useful to you.
As the days start to get longer in the Northern Hemisphere and EndorphinGirl® fires up her endorphins, she plans to keep the Pause regiment active in her daily living. Perhaps this is the time for you too to simplify your life, remember to incorporate the pause, hang out with the quad squad, and to keep things light. Take the action that you may be looking for; alone when needed, or together with a friend, because ultimately aren’t “we are all just walking each other home”.
Well EndorphinGirl® leaves you to it!
Stay tuned for more adventures with EndorphinGirl® in 2025!