Girls Just Wanna Focus, Flow, and Have Fun!

Love is the Answer

Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Very recently (one week ago to be exact), my daughter Grace and I launched a new discussion series that we hope to continue on a regular basis. We examined the timeless wisdom found within our initial topic, "What's Love, Luck and Laughter got to do with living your best life?" Thanks to my awesome student, loyal friend, Anne Merrem (Lil mama, Anne my Berlin girl and Grace in picture) who put the "lunch bunch" together, we were able to share our exciting tips, tools, and know how, with about 22 amazing individuals. The ladies got to taste the magic of mindfulness (non judgmental observation) and an instant confidence boost with the empowerment of posture awareness.

Whether we meet and greet you in person or you're reading this blog, our pure intent is to ignite the brilliant performer within you. The method begins within by re-seeding your attitudes with new creative ideas. Then, releasing old ones, to inspire you to soar and explore, seeing your world in a whole new diamond light.

What's love got to do with it? Put simply, Love is what inspires us to exercise our courage to face and erase our fears and confidently follow our hearts compass to live our dreams.

Here's a pivotal soul story from my personal journey. I share my soul in process to illustrate learning to love me, which zen refers to as complete self acceptance. By taking a few baby steps at a time, this issue to insight is how I learned to be comfortable in my own skin. Taking action steps to love, respect and appreciate myself, has lead me to stand tall, light and firm and share these blessons with you.

I share with you, "Ti Amo."

Getting right to the point, back in the eighties, I met German born, beautiful actress, Natassja Kinski at Capezio's Footwear in Hollywood. During this time, I was dancing on pointe daily and was set to become a professional dancer. We talked about local dance classes and she asked me where I was studying ballet. To my surprise, she showed up at the dance studio bright and early the very next day. After class, she asked me if I could help her learn ballet.

Looking back at this time in my life, I certainly didn't feel good enough to teach or even befriend Natassja (in picture from, Stay As You Are her movie). I totally lacked self acceptance of my body. I was convinced that my butt was too big, making me often feel like a moving violation in ballet class. I constantly heard my ballet teachers say "drop your hips". My lack of perspective made me buy into the limiting beliefs of the If, Then, Plan.

If, I worked harder to have the ballerina body (that my teachers told me I didn't have), Then, I would truly be empowered to celebrate life, make new friends and enjoy myself more.

The whole situation was deflected by telling Natassja I was too busy to help her. There was an inner knowing that I missed the opportunity to work with her due to not being emotionally ready to jump in with both feet. The last time I saw her, I followed my heart and asked how to say I love you in Italian. She said "Ti amo." Those two small words with a very big meaning, "Ti Amo" became my password, tatooed in my heart to say to myself everyday.

Go Within or Go Without: We can learn our enlightened living lessons so we are not the ones holding ourselves back. From this experience I gleaned; "My body was a prison of self hatred, until self love set me free..." By keeping our hearts open to unconditional love, starting with ourselves,we can create space to both be heard and heal instantly. (click here ❤ for more self-healing love from my brilliant tweetheart friend @ValenciaRay M.D.)

"The basis of fear is not trusting yourself, not loving yourself. In a nutshell, you feel bad about who you are." Pema Chodrun :) The Smile @ Fear Teachings, my personal favorite ♡

Inspirational Recipe: Pie in the Sky

1-2-3 Easy As Pie (German Chocoate)

Step 1. Whooshhh. Smile, Relax & Re-focus, Catching a Gratitude Breath Wave… Slowly exhaling... to reach inner stillness and brighten your inner light.

Step 2. Look inward. Visualize your mind calm like water… Then, deeply~ Inhale~ Pure Love which waters your roots of learning to trust and love yourself.

Step 3. Long Breath Out…Ahhhh. Tighten-up the core to Lighten-up. Spread your heart wings to remain Upright instead of uptight, wearing your miracle diamond of mindfulness.

Now take this dancer's secret posture tool with you one mindful breath at a time to Focus, Flow and have Fun.

In the words of Grace Rolek, "Fear out, Fun in, with FunZen."

In upcoming blogs, I will discuss Part 2 Luck and Part 3 Laughter.

Mental Fitness Foreword by Leonard Cohen still available: Amazon, Bodhi Tree Books

In Gratitude w/Love ❤

FunZen Girls OX
Michiko (lil mama) and Grace

FunZen Bakery: 805 490-2391

Contact: MJRolek@aol.com

Twitter: Follow @Zenmommie

The first 22, callers, emailers, that mention this blog and Girls Just Wanna Focus, Flow, and Have Fun! tag #Fun ❤ will get a complimentary Hearts Compass Life Coaching session ❤ 805 490-2391

Special offer: Signed copies available, Mental Fitness: what I'm currently referring to as a: Clear Your Mind Manual (one yogi tea sip at a time)

I teach Kids FunZen and train Parents to be Mindful.

Freeing Your Inner Swan, Part 4

Take Your Bow

"I want you to open your hearts and see the world in a different way. I promise this will change your life for the better." Oprah Winfrey

Thank you for keeping an open mind and opening your hearts to see things differently.With these swan lake steps you can free your inner swan of beauty, serene strength, and transformation.

As you may have noticed, Oprah's quotes have illuminated some of my previous blogs. I share her passion of bridging the gap between Eastern Teachings (i.e. Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth online class) and immediate Western concerns that we hear or read about in the media. I call her the zen queen of truly starting the conversation. This caught my eye when I was pregnant with Grace 14 years ago. It has continued to be a source of empowerment for me as a mother. My life changing "free your inner swan" experience happened two years ago when Oprah was in my house with Jani Schofield. click here to read more

A recurring challenge I've come across from tele-coaching and emailed Q & A sessions is how to deal with doubt and uncertainty.

Two of my tele-coaching students, who experienced a shift in perspective, shared this similar question.

Q. Why does uncertainty creep into my thinking even when things get better? As soon as I start to feel good, I'm hit with a fear of failure and this looming doubt that something bad will happen.

A. The negative thoughts and emotions are like clouds in the sky that are there to be dismissed not entertained. From a zen perspective, when some thing like an unexpected occurance is bothering you, step back, stand tall inside and breathe mindfully, with non judgmental observation. The disappointment is seen with appreciation as a teacher not a tormenter. This empowers you with self-love to really feel and neutralize any negative feelings that arise and are now being released. To help you embrace this discovery process, I am honored to share these brilliant insights from @ValenciaRay MD. She left comments on Free Your Inner Swan Part 1 and 2 that inform us that ego based doubt is an "Enormous Growth Opportunity.” Worry is only negative focus on what you DON'T want. Be informed; the brain sees images and ignores "don't." Attention= I Want, period."

For a bit of clarification (essence of zen), the two students I mention are committed to our Zen training. Our main concern is connecting our knowing and doing. By turning what we know into what we do, we become an artist of life. It's perfectly okay to simply read and perhaps study these new ideas or seeds of enlightenment. They can trigger an aha moment with your gift of insight and inspire your transformation process. For example, the wisdom based teachings of Abraham-Hicks can help you to deepen your spirit and awaken Self Realization or Oneness with ideas of non resistance. For instance, "Appreciation and self love are the most important aspects you could ever nurture. Appreciation of others and the appreciation of yourself are the closest vibrational matches to Source Energy of anything we have ever witnessed anywhere in this Universe."

The 6 stages of change begin with pre-contemplation and the foundational tool called self acceptance. It is the fertile soil for growth and change.

But, it is beyond the scope of this blog to dive into these deep waters.

Zenlightened Living begins with remembering to remember that we don't change lives. We only plant and cultivate wisdom seeds of light. Our original nature handles the rest with divine timing.

Mental Fitness was written to help anyone get grounded in the brilliant basics. With it, if you choose, you can embody Legendary Artist, Misha Baryshnikov's wise words; "Fundamentals are the building blocks of fun." FunZen embraces our artist side (inner child) that wants to have fun learning and the Zen disciplined side (inner parent or coach) that establishes a work ethic to be successful. To soar and explore this topic visit Author, Julia Cameron @the_artists_way. Her vision is found in this quote from Pablo Picasso "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."

The "Taking Your Bow" Inspirational Recipe: giving you the best tools and the right know how to have a clear mind, peaceful heart and joyful warrioress spirit.
Here we go, Close your eyes (or softly focus) Open your Heart

1st Step: Exhale Whooosh (pressing your zen button) to re-focus in the present moment relax and soften into your authentic self. Breathe deeply to and from your core naturally. Allow the Centered Breath to take care of itself (p. 22 Mental Fitness)

Affirm: Go within or Go without: I am Going Within for my life lesson to feed my faith, and starve doubt with what I truly envision for myself. On the other hand, I Go Without my Insight (aha blessing).

By simply making this choice with intent, we can shift from worrier to peaceful warrioress or warrior.

Shout Out! Author, Artist. Warrioress, Janet Jackson's awesome book "True You" shares the blesson of taking her bow with Honesty Heals and how it helps to build trust, self esteem and quiet strength or real confidence. She reveals her painful journey of finding and loving herself which embodies the message of Freeing Your Inner Swan @JanetJackson, Amen. Namaste.❤

Please visit previous blog for information on Mental Fitness: what I'm currently referring to as Yogi Tea for the Mind ❧ Foreword by Leonard Cohen.

Many Blessings w/ Love,

FunZen girls OX

Michiko (lil mama) & Grace Rolek

Contact: 805 490-2391

mjrolek@aol.com

I teach Kids FunZen and train Parents to be Mindful.

FunZen Bakery: Food for thought that empowers kids to shine brilliantly from within.

Freeing Your Inner Swan Part 3

"Only the still pool reflect the stars." Zen saying

From a zenlightened perspective, which is seeing with a clear mind, peaceful heart; I resonate with Jon Braeley, Director of "The Zen Mind" who mentions that the intent of zen training "is to rid the mind of ego and self doubt, to reach satori or self realization."

In this blog, Freeing the Inner Swan (part 3 ) I wanted to briefly address striking a yin/ yang balance between a healthy ego which involves (self esteem and confidence) and an aspect of ego (inner toxic critic). The distinction that has brought me clarity is the subtle difference between self esteem and confidence. Self-esteem is related to caring or loving who you are being no matter what you are doing. Self confidence is knowing you are good at what you are doing and believing in yourself. By witnessing this contrast I've worked with many successful, wealthy people who are excellent at what they do, yet seem to not truly love who they are or feel good about themselves. The word independent is key here to observe as inward dependence on our Beingness, Spirit, or God. Once we connect to our spirit or being through centering exercises like meditation the doing has a chance to fall naturally into place. A healthy ego is when our self esteem or being and confidence doing are working together in harmony.

When I was doing research, I asked the question "What is a healthy ego? " The name Carolom showed up with her illuminating suggestions and a reference to Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth message board from Oprah's website. I have reprinted it for you here.

"Wholeness is a return to identification with the origin of creation; a return to contemplation of the field of consciousness itself; a return to what is referred to as God,Beingness, or Spirit." Eckhart Tolle

You know you have a healthy Ego when...by Carolom

*You have transcended the state of duality and opposites and are living a fully integrated life

*You are clear on why you are here, what you are to do and have embraced the unique gifts and talents you have to fulfill your Earth walk, enjoying your unique gifts and talents as a part of that

*You recognize that 'love, light and nice' is not always the answer...sometimes the difficult conversations and powerful Energetic cross currents require firm and assertive action

*You are comfortable in your role within the One whilst also embracing the individualized aspects of it...(the "Me" within the "We' )

*You take time to grow, develop and nurture your inner Self whilst contributing to the external world and its manifestations - including developing a healthy relationship with Egos call of the Self

*You love and honour all aspects of your Being by recognizing the Ego's immature state of selfishness and narcissism prior to the mature Ego state of a strong sense of identity and purpose..'make peace not war' within.

*You are comfortable immersing in the Ocean of Abundance and enjoying the fruits of lifes ventures whilst sharing with others the lessons and blessons

*You take responsibility for your snarky moments and blurky bits, embracing them with open arms and lightness of being

*You recognize the role that Ego plays in the development of the individual...individual ... as opposed to the Ego being the re-scripted version of the Devil and God battle and dualism and opposites story of old.

* You have evolved beyond the 'children of a loving Father" story and accepted your role as co-creator with Creation and the responsibilities that come with that

*You have identified your boundaries and are comfortable challenging their transgression and meeting discord with firmness and resolve (especially when working amongst violence and crime)

*You are comfortable with the intellectual combativeness of others...and your own....and choose whether to engage or not engage in all of the scenarios that life presents

*You no longer talk one way and act another...the inner and outer realms are in alignment and harmony

Inspirational Recipe: In One Bite,~ Yin Yang Cake Pops (repeat one breath at a time as often as you wish)

Here we go. In One Breath, let's glow with the flow: Exhale, Whooosh (pressing your zen button) to relax and reset diaphragm~with comfortable upright posture. (Mental Fitness gives you the right know how to be upright in total command of your body soul instrument)

Inhale: Deep blue ocean breath, Catching the wave. Let it rise gradually from your core cradle (hara) to your heart center ❤.

(Pixie Pause for Peace)

Exhale: Long Breath Out~ Soften your chest and start to feel the core tightening up (roots of self support) as you lighten up (wings) with the deep cleansing action of exhaling impurities, stress, and unwanted tension.

After you Exhale completely, rest in the thought free space between the notes.

Ahhhhh ♪ Musical ♫ Pause ♬ Let it Be

Zenjoy finding balance (do be do be do) in the dance of life. With your bite-size sweet/salt taste, you can take One Healing ♡Heart Step ♥ at a time to transform and reach wholeness.❧

What is a Healthy Ego? is a conversational starter. Part 4 will address your questions and perhaps i'll share a couple of soul stories about my re-integration process. Recently I spoke with an amazing lady, her name is Wendy, she helped me articulate making peace with my broken heart pieces. I hope to embrace this hot topic with you to satisfy curiosity, and clear confusion, including any doubts about how we can all spark our own innate beauty, truth, love and goodness. My intention is to share ideas about deepening our connection in building a healthy ego which honors our Beingness, Spirit or God...please tweet, dm or email ??? comments, suggestions, so looking forward...

Mental Fitness (Foreword by Leonard Cohen) is available: Amazon, Bodhi Tree Books , or contact me for Complimentary autographed copy and free gift (up to 22 minutes) telecoaching session by mentioning you read this blog "Free your Inner Swan"

In Gratitude w/Love ❤

FunZen Girls OX
Michiko (lil mama) and Grace:

Twitter: @Zenmommie Email: @mjrolek@aol.com

I teach Kids FunZen and train Parents to be Mindful.

Freeing Your Inner Swan Part 2

"Zen is Clarification..." Author & Mystic, Manly P. Hall (The Secret Teaching of All Ages)

How to Detach From Negativity

This blog will deal with taking a complex subject like "Facing the Music" or dealing with the harsh realities of life and provide a simple Zen Solution called Detachment. Here's a concrete example. The other night, hearing the rain pounding down hard brought both delight and dread. The sheer joy of splashing in puddles and dancing in the rain always makes my heart sing. Yet, on the other hand, grabbing buckets and bailing rainwater from our flooded garage and patio was devastating. In exercising detachment from the outcome, I saw that everything that was destroyed is gone. Yet the peace of mind that the rain storm subsided brought immense gratitude. In this contrast lies the acceptance of what is, is.

In Yoga, the Sanskrit word, Swadhisthana is the second chakra. In Zen and the Martial Arts, it is called the Hara. Located about 2 inch below your navel, your second chakra is responsible for centered control, balance and bubbling energy. It houses all your feelings. Water is the element associated with emotion (energy in motion). Consider, Bruce Lee's wisdom "Be like water..." water takes the shape of whatever vessel it is in. It adapts to any situation.

The previous blog goes into more depth regarding the Black Swan (our shadow) and White Swan (virtuous side) and living in harmony between both sides. In Sanskrit, priya is the word for freedom which means being in a state of love. Freedom is possible through holding your intention to choose being a non judgmental (friendly) observer and completely accepting whatever you are feeling. You detach from negativity by allowing fearful thoughts and emotions to flow through your mind and body without letting them throw you off center. In western culture, processing our negative emotions as an inner compass to feel=heal and return to our true self has not been popular until the last century. With groundbreaking research on East meets West Teachings, Energy Medicine, and Positive Psychology, the future looks promising.

Inspirational Recipe Quote; "A confused mind cannot understand simplicity." Inspired from A Course in Miracles, Best-selling Author, Gerald G. Jampolsky MD of "Love is letting Go of Fear"

Take a moment to visualize a stressful situation; perhaps a relationship issue, or turbulence at home or work. As I like to say, DGMS (don't get me started). The ego (Edging Goodness Out) part of our minds can become a toxic critic, inviting the monsters in the cupboard (my new favorite expression) to keep our minds spinning with distraction and doubt into depression. When we listen to this constant monkey mind chatter, we get disconnected from our Loving Source or Divine Love and find ourselves out of Integrity. Surely a sign that we are off center is when we find it difficult to keep our word to ourselves and to others.

My intent is to give you the support you've been asking for and show you how to activate your own self supporting power. These zen tools will help you directly experience for yourself being Centered in the moment. In the present moment, your breath anchor has a chance to ground you to taste Serenity Now. You will be gently guided to remind yourself to re-focus on your purpose with presence and passion. Spinning, with anxiety into the future with an attachment to outcome, can keep us stuck. When we have past regrets our minds get polluted with blame, shame and guilt. Right nowness, is where comfort and joy is patiently waiting to welcome you Home Sweet Shalom to a clear mind peaceful heart.

Zen Pointer: Let's connect the dots between your spiritual being having a physical experience of doing the right steps with the right know how.

In the spirit of FunZen: "Fundamentals are the building blocks of fun."

Mikhail Baryshnikov (in photo Mikhail and Gelsey Kirkland)

Inner Swan Lake, 2nd Heart Step: Emotional Detachment from Negativity

In this moment, smile. Close your eyes (when you can). Soften and center up between your eyebrows. Simply visualize yourself becoming Water. Now, emotional baggage and stress can pass right through you from top to toe.

Remember to remember your self supporting power and roots

of "love and trust thyself" are found in your Hara (2nd chakra). Serene strength lies in the power to go with the flow, moment to moment, allowing negativity or difficulties to pass through us harmlessly.

Inspirational Recipe: In One Bite,~ Swan Lake Cake Pops (repeat one breath at a time as often as you wish)

Here we go. In One Breath, let's glow with the flow: Exhale, Whooosh (pressing your zen button) to relax and reset diaphragm~with comfortable upright posture. (Mental Fitness gives you the right know how to be upright in total command of your body soul instrument)

Inhale: Deep blue ocean breath, Catching the wave. Let it rise gradually from your core cradle (hara) to your heart center ❤.

(Pixie Pause for Peace)
Exhale: Long Breath Out~ Soften your chest and start to feel the core tightening up (roots of self support) as you lighten up (wings) with the deep cleansing action of exhaling impurities, stress, and unwanted tension.

After you Exhale completely, rest in the thought free space between the notes.

Ahhhhh ♪ Musical ♫ Pause ♬ Let it Be

Zenjoy finding balance (do be do be do) in the dance of life. With your bite-size sweetsalt taste, you can take One Healing ♡Heart Step ♥ at a time to transform and reach wholeness.❧

Grace says "Kid Friendly FunZen is Awesome to Celebrate Daily." Please Join us in the Soiree (celebration) of spreading these ideas that I hope are worth sharing on your part.

Mental Fitness (Foreword by Leonard Cohen) is available: Amazon, Bodhi Tree Books , or contact me for Complimentary autographed copy and free gift (up to 22 minutes) telecoaching session by mentioning you read this blog "Free your Inner Swan"

In Gratitude w/Love ❤

FunZen Girls OX
Michiko (lil mama) and Grace:

Twitter: @Zenmommie Email: mjrolek@aol.com

I teach Kids FunZen and train Parents to be Mindful.

Free Your Inner Swan

The Sanskrit word for swan is hamsa or hansa, and it is the vehicle of many deities like the goddess Saraswati. In Hinduism, Saraswati (Sanskrit: सरस्वती sarasvatī) is the goddess of knowledge, music and the arts. The swan is not just found in beloved fairy tales and ballet. For thousands of years, the swan has been a symbol of enlightenment and an elegant example of serenity, spiritual strength, and transformation.

The Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

"God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference."


I had an idea a few days ago to mention Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer and after spontaneously seeing the psychological thriller Black Swan, I was inspired to share the zen-like connection between the two.

Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ballet has both the innocent White Swan and the sensual Black Swan. In the film, one dancer, Nina (Oscar winner, Natalie Portman), is a perfect fit for the White Swan. While Lily (Mila Kunis) has a soulful personality that matches the Black Swan. When both ladies compete for the parts, Nina not only finds a dark side to herself, she was succumbed by it.

There are many issues that surfaced after watching this film with it's beautiful backdrop and scenery of the ballet world, especially my longing to wear pointe slippers again yet I don't miss the aching toes. One issue to insight though, that I'd like to address here, is the delicate balance of beauty, self image, and confidence. It is beyond the scope of this blog to go into depth regarding these issues. But I will glance at how a zen perspective gives us the confidence to see clearly and establish a beginner's mindset that changes how we look at things.

My book, Mental Fitness, provides the tools to train your instrument into the beautiful swan of transformation. Freeing your Inner Swan is accepting the people we cannot change and the self compassion and courage to change the one we can and the wisdom to know it's ourselves.

My Zen approach honors the brilliant simplicity of being part of the solution, not the problem. The solution is awakening our Inner Swan by making peace with our shadow or dark side. Acknowledging that we have a shadow or an inner monster is the beginning of taming it. Groundbreaking, bestselling author of "The Shadow Effect..." Debbie Ford, provides awesome tools that teach us to Be Authentic by embracing and eventually loving and healing the parts of us (self-punishing patterns) that we've wished to hide.

Seeing Black Swan made me appreciate my work with Tyra Bank's T-Zone, which helps to build a sisterhood movement and raises awareness about issues girls are faced with today, for example, self esteem, body image and social pressures. The FunZen perspective tool that I shared with the girls, parents, and professional counselors, and look forward to presenting to you, worked like a magic wand; restoring order from emotional chaos to inner calm.

Inspirational Recipe: Black & White Swan Cupcake:

1st Step: Zen Perspective: Close your eyes (center-up between your eyebrows) to Open your heart, by choosing to step back for a mindful moment...You will see the world in a whole new light as a non judgmental observer... I promise this will empower you to be a positive change agent. I will be adding 3 more heart steps to this blog "Free you Inner Swan."

Make the Connection: Press your zen button by Exhaling, whooosh, to mentally start over anytime, anyplace you need to free your mind from the past and future and get back on Pointe in the present moment.

Bake= Concentration Power: Sitting or Standing upright instead of uptight, Let's Inhale clear blue zenergy. Feel your tummy rising. Exhale, riding the breath wave. Tummy falling, flattening and firming up towards your spine:
Catch 3 Breath Cycles to relax from top to toe, releasing anxiety to experience serenity and spiritual strength.

Now, Breathe, at your pace of grace, with each centering long breath out. (see page 26 in Mental Fitness)

Decorate Your Way: Congratulations. Without baking your cupcake, by staying focused with the previous ❤ steps, you cannot put the sprinkles on and zenjoy your treat. Likewise, by using your magic mood tool, Zen Perspective, you are building quiet strength to weather any dark storm.

Stay Tuned In for the next Inner Swan Lake heart step ❤: How to Detach yourself from negativity.

I must say, after seeing Black Swan, I felt immense Gratitude for my book Mental Fitness. Being a dancer in ballerina pointe slippers myself, I struggled with some beauty & self image issues. Today, I treasure cultivating a clear mind, peaceful heart & the soul of a warrriorette. What is sweeter, is sharing these Resilience Skills for life with my daughter and other kids, to help them find their center in the cyclone.

Grace says "Kid Friendly FunZen is Awesome to Celebrate Daily." Please Join us in the Soiree (celebration) of spreading these ideas that I hope are worth sharing on your part.

Mental Fitness (Foreword by Leonard Cohen) is available: Amazon, Bodhi Tree Books , or contact me for Complimentary autographed copy and free gift (up to 22 minutes) telecoaching session by mentioning you read this blog "Free your Inner Swan"

In Gratitude w/Love ❤

FunZen Girls OX
Michiko (lil mama) and Grace

r: @Zenmommi

I teach Kids FunZen and train Parents to be Mindful.

Hallelujah! Leonard Cohen

"She has made some important matters wonderfully clear, and every page is informed by a sweet concern for the well-being of her reader." Leonard Cohen

Foreword and Afterword with Joyful Heart Praise!

In the mid nineties Leonard Cohen wrote the foreword to my book Mental Fitness which on a light note, I now see as sipping yogi green tea to "chill & reach stillness." At the time, I wasn't ready to accept the awesomeness of what he wrote. I actually shared his foreword in a previous blog (Get a Sip of Zen in the Zoo of Life). This post is a new perspective.❧

In keeping this short, sweet and to the point, DGMS (don't get me started:), I've made absolute peace with the divine timing of my daughter Grace Sakura being born a few months after Mental Fitness was published from Weatherhill now Shambhala. In short, I'm a late bloomer in promoting myself, realizing that being a mother was more important and to this day the most sacred honor to uphold. As stated in the quote above from the foreword, I resonate with "every page is informed by a sweet concern for the well-being of her reader." The expression "sweet concern" reminds me of the Sanskrit word "Madhuvidya" which means sweet knowledge, and the simple act of infusing spirituality into our everyday lives. I am honored to share with my readers delicious ways to restore well-being. ❧

On a side note ♫ Neil Pasricha's The Book Of Awesome helps us infuse those tiny little sweet moments into our lives empowering us to play our A game of Awesome. We attain Altitude with his 3A's; Attitude, Awareness, and Authenticity as mentioned in a previous blog.

Indeed, the intent of this blog, and my work which Grace calls "FunZen" (making mindfulness and breathing fun & imaginative) is to cultivate sacred moments aka itsy bitsy joys that sweeten our daily life. Thank you for joining me in a rebirth of Mental Fitness where I'm onboard to help you embrace your original nature and turn what your soul already knows into joyful heart steps in the dance of life.❧

FOREWORD

My old teacher, Joshu Sasaki Roshi, has asked me to say a few words about the book which you are holding. He never really learned English, and he has forgotten much of his Japanese, but he knows a good thing when he sees it, and he wanted me to thank Michiko Rolek, on his behalf, for her very helpful instructions.

I live with a number of bewildered souls on a mountain in southern California. The place is called a Zen Center, and it probably is, but it is also a kind of hospital for people who have forgotten how to breathe, or sit, or stand, or walk. Michiko has developed a simple and effective approach to these fundamental activities. Some of us are breathing better already.

This workbook may not solve the Burning Issues of Your Life, but you sure as hell can save yourself a lot of trouble by looking into it. You might even be able to skip having to visit a place like this, or if you are already in one, perhaps with this valuable information you can slip away.

In any case, we want to join Roshi in expressing our gratitude to Michiko for her kindness in presenting to us her manual on Mental Fitness. She has made some important matters wonderfully clear, and every page is informed by a sweet concern for the well-being of her reader.

Thank you.

Jikan Eliezer

a Mt. Baldy monk

(Leonard Cohen) ❧

Inspirational Recipe: Making Mindful Breathing a "Staple"

Gratitude is the Mother of Lovingkindness & Joyfulness

(Pure Joy comes from our Spirit) "Joy is prayer~Joy is strength~Joy is love~Joy is a net of love by which we catch souls..." Mother Teresa

Heart❤Warmer Spiritual Exercise: Breathe in slow and deeply: ❤ Opening your heart, (expanding lower ribs)

Breathe out: Expanding your net of pure love (firm-up core on exhalation) ❤

(perform 3-4 breath cycles) repeat connecting the heart ❤ dots at your pace of comfort & joy through out the day one ❤ breath at a time... (gentle reminder, we forget a lot, i'm simply here to offer little hints helping you refresh & re-center, perhaps making the miracle of mindfulness your daily ritual...;) ❤

Listen-up and Zenjoy!

For this blog, please ask about special offer for Mental Fitness... Thank you.

Looking forward to hearing from you...❧

Contact: Michiko (lil mama) Rolek

Twitter: Follow @ZenMommie

email mjrolek@aol.com

Life Coaching: (805) 490-2391