When I teach yoga, I always end the practice with progressive muscle relaxation. People usually love progressive muscle relaxation, even if they have a hard time with other forms of meditation. This technique is so powerful that one of the softball players asked me to come home with her and do this every night as she's … Continue reading Guided Meditation: Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Author: Jessica Traylor, Ed.D.
Dr. Jessica Traylor is an educator, researcher, and student of life. Her areas of interest include psychology, biofeedback, holistic nutrition, meditation, yoga, Reiki, and hiking. Dr. Traylor's goal is to take what she has learned and translate it into simple, actionable steps to help others in their quest to live a happy, fulfilling life.
Work for the Cause, Not the Applause
Do you ever feel overworked, underpaid, or underappreciated? Most people have felt this way at one time or another. I have heard people describe it as swimming upstream, fighting a losing battle, chasing their tail, or running on fumes. These different ways of understanding our current reality can reveal a lot about our underlying values … Continue reading Work for the Cause, Not the Applause
When you assume, you make…
When you assume, you make... We all know how that statement usually ends, but do you know why assumptions are so important to our daily lives? The assumptions we hold about ourselves, others, and the world can make or break our efforts to live an authentic life and be the best version of ourselves that … Continue reading When you assume, you make…
Being Gentle with Emotions
Is "sangry" a word? It depends on who you ask. My Gordon students and I decided that if "hangry" could be an adjective and "Google" could be a verb, then "sangry" should have a place at the table too. I needed this word a few days ago. I just could not figure out how I … Continue reading Being Gentle with Emotions
Dynamic Values: Figuring Out What You Want
It's pretty easy to set a goal. There are strategies for how to set the best kind of SMART goals. There are even techniques for monitoring your progress. The hard part seems to be staying on track after the initial excitement and motivation wear off. Linking Values and Goals Figuring out what you really want can … Continue reading Dynamic Values: Figuring Out What You Want
Do your routines have you stuck in a rut?
What is the difference between a routine and a rut? From my perspective, a routine is a productive way to accomplish a common task. The word rut brings up feelings of being stuck in an unproductive habit. The good news is that we can use our knowledge of routines to figure out how to get … Continue reading Do your routines have you stuck in a rut?
How Did You Lose All That Weight? Pt. 2 – Balanced Nutrition
Did you know that successful weight loss is primarily a result of what you eat? I used to think that exercise was the key, but I was wrong. I'm not saying that we don't need to exercise. In fact, balanced exercise is vital to overall health. What I am saying is that it is extremely … Continue reading How Did You Lose All That Weight? Pt. 2 – Balanced Nutrition
How Did You Lose All That Weight? Pt. 1 – Dynamic Beliefs
At least once a week, someone asks me how I lost so much weight. Just to be clear, I lost about 40 pounds over the course of a couple of months. Once I explain that I lost the weight over two years ago, they naturally want to know how I kept it off. These are … Continue reading How Did You Lose All That Weight? Pt. 1 – Dynamic Beliefs
We all Miss the Mark
Do you know anyone who constantly criticizes themselves for not being perfect? You know, that person who always has to do everything right. If they make one mistake, they spend the next few days beating themselves up. I used to be one of those people. I began to realize that perfect was unattainable when I … Continue reading We all Miss the Mark
Balancing Self-Care and Serving Others
Anytime you fly on an airplane, you hear the same safety speech from the flight attendants. During one part of the message, the flight attendant tells you that in the event of an emergency you are to put your own oxygen mask on first. If you think about it in the context of daily life, … Continue reading Balancing Self-Care and Serving Others