I’m not very patient, I’ll admit. If I had it my way I’d have tomorrow be today. But wait, it is, isn’t it? Anyway, I continue to learn the lesson in patience (by force) and am constantly amazed at the stress I put on myself because that’s what I choose. A few weeks ago I was waiting to find out what’s happening with my show Who’s On Deck, I was training and getting to know a new intern, trying to finish another project and on and on. I was choosing to be anxious about the future and not in the moment. As it turns out, all of my anxiety was a waste – my show got the green light for the 2nd season (yay!), my intern is fabulous, we’re in full swing for production and I finished the other project. I look back and question why I’d spend any time, much less days, stressing over things that hadn’t even proven themselves bad – it’s just not good for my life!
My goal for this spring, for the 2nd season of www.WhosOnDeck.tv and for everything I do is to do it without stress – or at least with less. To consciously choose not to worry, to be aware or and tame any anxiety. To just be in the moment, enjoy it and carry on giving life my best.
Thanks for watching our show, for your feedback, your encouragement and friendship. Let me know what projects you’re working on and I’ll be there in support!
Posts Tagged ‘stress’
Round 2 Stress-Free
Friday, February 3rd, 2012I’m A Christian & I do Yoga
Thursday, October 7th, 2010
In response to the recent headline news from an ill-informed Southern Baptist leader in my home state of KY, (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39553520/ns/us_news-life/) I’d like to offer a bit of Christian enlightenment to the forum.
God loves my down-dog. As does my yorkie, Corkie. We do it together and I’m not sure, but I believe he’s a Christian too.
For the past 15 years I’ve been practicing yoga. For the past 25 years I’ve been practicing a Christian faith. I do sun salutations with God in my heart and Jesus as my Savior. What a wonderful gift to my creator to move my body with such ease, freedom and joy to the glory of His name. Perhaps I’m really living on the edge, but I confess that, most likely, I practice yoga with people of different religions, cultures and colors. I accept them and their beliefs.
Yoga is a systemic science. Christianity is a faith. What I can tell you with absolute certainty is that Albert Mohler is misleading his congregation/students/followers with a message that is harmful to Christians: that they simply cannot or should not practice yoga and be a Christian. This is a disgrace.
Yoga is not a religion. Yes, there are religions that implement yoga. So one could say that yoga is in some religions but religion is not in yoga. There is no deity in yoga. A warrior pose will not make one Buddhist or Hindu. Does eating hummus make one Greek? Or enchiladas Mexican? If so, I am a Greek Mexican.
The practice of yoga can be done religiously – as in, with fevor and discipline. Yoga influences the body structure, the organs, the breath, the mind and the spirit indeed. All wonderful. Yoga frees stress from the body and offers an opportunity to connect with our inner selves – aligning our hearts and minds with our spirit and that, my friend, is a beautiful thing. These aspects of a physical practice bring great awareness to our health and environment in many aspects. Yoga does not, however, require a faith, an idol or a religious opinion. If you learn the definition of yoga (union) and some other yoga-ish terms that are often present in a class or chant, you will discover things like forgiveness, honoring the divine present in each individual, open heartedness. These are honorable and considerate attributes that no one should fear, and perhaps similarly, ones that many religions strive to teach.
If you want to eat a jalapeno, you will not become Mexican.
If you get acupuncture, you will not become Chinese.
If you do yoga, you will not become Hindu.
If you accept God into your heart, you will practice living with a faith in Christ as a Christian.
All of the above can be woven into a life rich with half-moons, one-legged pigeon poses, vinyasas and the ever humbling downward-facing-dog. If times get difficult, I suggest the child’s pose – it’s perfect for prayer.
This… or That?
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010Some decisions are easy to make, but we still choose unwisely. We “know better” but eat fried chicken instead of baked, drink 4 glasses of wine when one is ample…we have healthy, great options, but… So when it comes time to make larger life decisions, we look at our track record and realize maybe healthy choices aren’t our forte. There’s a subconscious lack of trust in ourselves and this creates stress.
The proverbial fork in the road – it’s a place we all come to, sometimes without even a realization we are there. I recently spoke with one of my ministers about this place. This forked road. He reminded me that we will often make wrong decisions – and it may not be how we want to experience this world, but it’s ok. We are people that make mistakes.
Sure, we learn from mistakes, sometimes. Sure, we can again change our minds. And certainly, nothing (but love) lasts forever. But finding peace with decisions requires a maturity that is based in faith.
I didn’t want to be responsible or mature, so I asked him for his direct advice. I normally can’t stand people’s advice, but there are times when I just want to be told what I “should” do. His reply: “When it comes time, I think you’ll know.”
I want to fight that response, it’s not what I want to hear. Someone do it for me. Help me. Just decide for me for goodness sake! But in my heart of hearts, I do know that when it comes time, I’ll know. Just like every other decision that I cared about. I generally go thru a process of mental turmoil for a few weeks, then exhaust myself and in that mental exhaustion I find my heart and suddenly, I hear the answer. It was there all along, but drowned by the noise in my mind. Not all decisions can be made in the heart, this is true. But when you have the luxury of time to decide, you can either relax in the process or have a mental war of “this or that” – I suggest you spare yourself the anguish. Try to let go and listen to your heart. You’ll know – when it’s time.
My “Crappy” Superbowl Party
Thursday, February 11th, 2010As a health writer, I can discuss things most people won’t. Halitosis. B.O. Hormones and these pesky chin whiskers, herbs that enhance sex… it’s what I do, what can I say. This story, however, is a bit revealing – and comical in a twisted sort of way – but there is a good health issue at hand. Constipation. Here’s my Crappy Superbowl Party story. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by the way.
It was a SuperBowl I’ll never forget. It just happened last week for crying out loud! Superbowl XLIV. I was at a party, a small gathering of my gay boyfriends. I’m straight, they are all gay, I’m the only woman – go ahead, psychoanalyze that Freud. Anyway, it was all I could do to get to the party. I had recently started a 6 week contract job, was finishing a writing project, had a TV shoot the day before and 3 weeks prior had a death in my family. ‘XLIV’ pretty much summed it up– no life left. On top of all that, I hadn’t gone number 2 in about 7 days. I KNOW!! I was seriously backed up, and felt like crap.
Of course my gay bf’s had lots of yummy food to eat, so eat I did. And by the end of the first quarter I thought I was going to explode. The pain, the bloating, the weariness. I needed help. Luckily these men love me and I figured if I could talk to anyone about anal issues, it was them. In the moment of my not so quite desperation, one bf recommended an enema. I needed it “right now.” For some strange reason, eh-hum, he had an enema bottle on-hand. After sterilization and some icky lube, I was able to find victory during the 3rd quarter. “We won!” I said, returning to the living room with a bounce in my step.
I’m not proud that I was constipated and had to use my bf’s enema bottle, but it did entice an interesting post Superbowl conversation about colon health and colonics. I’ve had issues with elimination most of my life and know, by now, that STRESS and dietary changes are the main culprits that keep me from “winning” on a daily basis. A healthy body and bowel should eliminate at least 1-2 times a day, if not three. It really is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and over 655,000 deaths a year are due to colon cancer. Risk factors include family history, polyps in the colon or age 50 +. If you are stressed or are having poopage problems for other reasons, you may consider a colon cleanse, natural fibers like flax or some gentle yoga exercises. That week was miserable, prompting strict attention to my precious colon. Nothing is worth the stress of ill-health.
Thanks bf’s! It was a great party (btw, who won that game?)
SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF COLON CANCER:
* A change in bowel habits.
* Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool.
* Diarrhea, constipation or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely.
* Stools that are narrower than usual.
* General abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness or cramps).
* Weight loss with no known reason.
* Constant tiredness.
* Vomiting.
Leah Guy is a Producer, TV Host, Writer and passionista for inspired, lifestyle content. In 2006 she created A Girl Named Guy Productions and hasn’t slept since. 
A Girl Named Guy Productions is a multi-media company that serves a variety of audiences. Who's On Deck is a new celebrity TV Show produced by the company and Modern Sage is a site geared toward women's wellness. Creator & CEO, Leah Guy, launched the company in 2006 with a goal to meet the demand for positive, inspired content for the mainstream audience. AGNG produces videos, 
