We are quick to bend backwards for others.

We over-commit as a way to prove our loyalty.

We push through long hours and ignore signals from our bodies to sustain our status.

However, if you’ve been following along with us, you know by now it’s not without a cost.

When we prioritize others' needs at the expense of our own, we lose touch with ourselves. And if this becomes a habit, then we lose our ability to know how to support our needs. We know,because we’ve been there.

Healing is the art of taking care of ourselves. Discovering the tools that work for our unique situations and using them in a way to create consistency is an artform. What to use and how to use it is really personal since we are the only ones who truly know what we need.

And when we put the energy, time and money into supporting our needs, we give ourselves the loving message that we are worth it. It’s in the process, the struggle and the perseverance, of discovering how to take care of ourselves that allows us to reconnect with who we are and to redefine our own value.

Below are some tools we’ve discovered that have helped us maintain + preserve our health so we can enjoy the life we work so hard to create.

With love,

Ming-Wai + Ming-Cee
 

this podcast redefined addiction for me

I'll be honest - I had never heard of Whitney Cummings before my husband forwarded me this podcast but I'm sure I'll see her everywhere now (isn't it weird how that happens?). So no matter if you like her work or not, this is worth a listen.

Almost two years ago, I wrote a blog explaining how my problems aren't "real" problems. It started like this:

But from this podcast, I discovered that there IS a 12-step program for people-pleasers! It's a support group for codependence that she's involved with. Who knew?

I need to warn you that this is a long podcast - it took me several days to finish it - but they cover a lot and really shifted my perspective on the definition of addiction and how it's not necessarily bad and how it could really be our super power. Another revelation was that you can be confident but have low self-esteem (and how confusing that is). And another great take-away for me was the reminder of the power of forgiveness.

This was a great reminder that we're always working on ourselves and moving forward in our own way, with our own tools, and with a bit of humor.

With love,

Ming-Wai

my mini-meditation habit

I have to be honest - I'm terrible at making time to meditate. I tried to set a reminder on my phone or put it on my calendar, but those tricks were short-lived. What works for me is mini-meditations that I couple with things that I have to do anyway.

For instance, doing deep breaths and letting my mind wander while taking my evening shower. I've also stopped listening to the radio in the car on my commute into work. Or when I walk the dogs, I leave my phone and earbuds at home so I'm more present in the moment. I count these as my mini-meditations and they are now a habit I don't want to break.

I used to be a chronic multi-tasker with everything I did, like folding laundry and watching TV, going on a walk at lunch while catching up on my podcasts, or reading a paper for work while on the treadmill. I felt so productive! What I didn't realize at the time was that all this "productivity" was like running on a hamster wheel. I was putting all this energy into getting stuff done but then never feeling like I was going anywhere, which eventually lead me to burnout.

Don't get me wrong, I do still multi-task but now I intentionally find a little time in my day to put my productivity on pause. And it is in these quiet moments when I am most present with my body and my mind that I get beautiful realizations and creative ideas.

With love,

Ming-Wai

I've been practicing yoga since I was a teenager - mostly at the gym off-and-on for many years - and I was just doing it for exercise, stretching, and a little meditation. I didn't know why it made my body feel good (and I didn't really care, to be honest) but I kept coming back to yoga because it was like pushing a reset button on life and I always felt better afterwards.

About five years ago, I started going regularly to a yoga studio in my town and the practice of showing up every week was the beginning of a healthy shift in my life. What I eventually learned while doing my yoga teacher training is that yoga is more than stretching, breathing, and trying to do a handstand. The principles of yoga can be applied to so many aspects of my life.

The book Living Your Yoga by Judith Lasater is a quick and easy read and showed me that I didn't have to go to a yoga retreat in order to deepen my relationship with my true self. When I am struggling to show up to my mat in order to maintain + preserve the benefits of my practice, this book gives me simple suggestions on and off the mat to bring me back to a mindset of balance. It touches on topics like faith, control, fear, and greed that makes me more conscious of how I'm reacting to my surroundings. And it reminds me that even when things are going well and I don't feel like I "need" to do my yoga practice, there is still a benefit to showing up for myself on and off the mat.

With love,

Ming-Wai

how I learned to love orthotics

Ever since I can remember, our physical therapist mother has put emphasis on taking care of our feet. Our feet are what supports the rest of our bodies day in and day out. Neck pain, back pain, headaches and other aches can all stem from not giving our feet the support they need.

Though it took persistent nagging from our mother, I now see the immense benefits of taking care of how my body feels when I’m on my feet. From the ego hit I took when deciding I couldn’t wear high heels anymore to the cost and annoyance of purchasing orthotics for every shoe I own, this part of my journey has been a real struggle (and sometimes continues to be).

The best quality orthotic I’ve invested into is Foot Karma. The orthotics have been designed and created by Pediatrist Eric Hubbard and his wife Millie Hubbard, RN, BSN and Public Health Nurse. These orthotics were created out of necessity, to provide their patients an orthotic that was comfortable and one they would actually wear. They even have orthotics that will fit into high heels for those of you who are not willing to give up those long legs quite yet. I appreciate that “Take care of your feet now so they can take care of you later” is written front and center on their packaging. Check them out: https://footkarma.com/

If you are looking for less expensive options you can try Dr. Scholl’s custom fit orthotics. There are kiosks that will determine which Dr. Scholl’s orthotics will best support your needs. Find a kiosk here.

And when in doubt, listen to your body. Going to see a Podiatrist for additional information and support what’s best for you.

With love, Ming-Cee

retraining my body with Rosen

My first in-person Rosen class was at the Napa Senior Center February 2020. Shortly after, the world shut down due to the pandemic. Classes transitioned online and that’s where I’ve been taking my Rosen class ever since.

I’ve lived most of my life pushing through my discomforts (read about it on my blog here). I’ve been forcing my body to perform and creating a lot of tension. But a lifetime of harsh demands finally caught up to me, leaving me exhausted with a chronically aching body. Rosen movement helps me to stop reinforcing old habits of misusing my body. Since I didn’t know any better, I needed to retrain myself from the foundation up. And even though my first class was held at the senior center, Rosen movement is for all ages.

Rosen Method Movement is a system of simple, gentle, range-of-motion movements that encourage students to move the way their bodies are designed. Rosen classes are also paired with music allowing the body to move with awareness to a certain rhythm. These classes are simple, practical and have given me hope for a more enjoyable future.

Along with Rosen Method Movement there is Rosen Method Bodywork. To discover more about Rosen Method check out the webpage at rosenmethod.com

And if you would like to join me via Zoom at 9:30am pacific on Mondays for Rosen Method Movement class, please reach out and I’ll send you information on how to sign up.

With love,

Ming-Cee

finding support with anti-fatigue mats

This tool is another recommendation from our physical therapist mother. She has been trying to shift our perspectives on giving our bodies the support they need now so we may experience longevity of the highest quality later. She has always said that we don’t have to wait for our bodies to scream at us in pain before we provide them with a tool to support our daily demands. It's finally sinking in, mom!

As a stay-at-home mom to young children and as someone who enjoys cooking as a way of showing her love, I’m in the kitchen a lot. From daily chores like doing the dishes to preparing weekly meals, I find myself standing on our hard tile floors often. And though I’ve used anti-fatigue mats before and know the benefits it provides my body, when I redid my kitchen I was stuck in a world of vanity over comfort. Luckily I found an anti-fatigue mat that supports my needs and looks great! The Standing Matt from House of Noa delivers the best of both worlds.

With love,

Ming-Cee