I was recently approached, via email, by a girl named Apryle.  She has some friends (Tiffany & Zach Pifer) that have been trying to conceive for 3 years now.  Still not pregnant, they have decided to visit a fertility clinic.  According to the Pifer’s blog, “Fertility clinics are not cheap and unfortunately my insurance doesn’t cover a dime for infertility treatments.”  However, they are fortunate enough to have 2 great friends, Apryle & Ashley.

What Apryle & Ashley have decided to do for the Pifer’s is to set up a fundraiser to help them get the funds they need for infertility treatment.  How awesome is this?  So what they’re doing is selling bracelets and key chains that say “Growing in Faith”.  Everyone that buys a bracelet &/or keychain is entered to win fabulous gifts that have been donated by different people.

Here’s where I step in!  I have donated a pair of pearl & turquoise earrings.  I get approached like this quite often and I rarely say no (maybe not a good thing to tell everyone )!  But the reason I said yes to Apryle and the “Pifer Bean Fund” is because I have been blessed with 2 beautiful children and they have enriched my life so much.  I want to give what I can to help another family experience the pure joy of a child (or possibly 2 or 3 with treatment…haha).

So, if you’d like to help the Pifer family as well please click on this link!

You can click here for the Pifer’s actual blog!

You never know, you may win these earrings!

Thank you so much to Apryle & Ashley.  You guys are such beautiful people!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Tricky Things (darcknyt.wordpress.com)
• Fertility meets faith – Technology and tradition team up to allow more couples access to fertility treatment at the MUHC (newswire.ca)

          

I have a lot of favorite yoga poses, but if I just had to pick one it would be Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II).  It appears fairly simple, but so much can be achieved in this pose (so much can be felt in this pose if you hold it long enough!!).

At first, it’s all about just trying to stay in the pose while your thigh and shoulders are screaming at you, but once you find proper alignment and connect with your breath, Warrior II is so peaceful.  It’s like a peaceful warrior; strong, focused, and courageous!

With practice, you begin to feel how strong the thigh is and come to appreciate it, and the shoulders are there, but you’re relaxed.  This feels good.  You keep holding.  Then maybe it’s not so good, but wait I’m thinking about my thigh.  Breathe!  Okay, feels better.

As thoughts like this go on in your head, you must remember to breathe.  It’s with the breath that this pose becomes meditative.  And, it’s the breath that allows you to relax when you’re in an uncomfortable position.  It’s the breath that allows you to just be in the pose, rather than doing the pose.

Here’s some alignment points (based on the picture above):

• The left leg is bent to a 90 degree angle.
• Weight is on the center of the left heel, and the toes relaxed (knee is stacked over the heel).
• Open the hip by taking the left knee towards the left “baby” toe.
• Lift the left hip crease off the left thigh (this will help get the spine vertical).
• Outside edge of the right foot is grounded down.
• The spine is extended upward in a vertical line.
• Arms are open out extending in both directions, feeling the arms strong and long (so to gain space in the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints).
• Shoulders are relaxed down, away from the ears.
• Gaze is out over your left hand.
• Hold & BREATHE.
• Then hit the other side!

Physically, Warrior II will increase your stamina, and strengthen your legs, ankles, and arms.  It’s great for stretching and opening your chest, shoulders, hips, and groin.  It relieves backaches, great for flat feet, and get this…infertility!  It even helps with carpal tunnel and sciatica.

Practice Warrior II often…it’s a great spiritual teacher!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (naturalmedicine.suite101.com)
• Think of Your Workout as Active Meditation (fitsugar.com)
• Stop! Slow down to access faster vibration. (using-spiritual-energy.blogspot.com)
• Mindfulness Meditation: Reducing Anxiety by Focusing on the Present Moment (psychcentral.com)
• Win this beautiful amethyst and Czech glass necklace made by me! (dailygratitudeblog.blogspot.com)
• Fertility expert warns ‘don’t rush into treatment’ (telegraph.co.uk)