Our Insurance Company DKS*

I suppose insurance companies are a necessary evil. While I am oh-so-glad to have the coverage we do, I occasionally get a little nuts-o when dealing with them. Like to the point where my head might do an Exorcist-type spin. It's not easy being your own advocate amidst an industry full of red tape. 

Anyway...

Our insurance company sent some interesting mail to me last week. It looked informative, touting a confidential health care summary and custom recommendations for "health opportunities" based on information received from my care providers and pharmacies. 

Okay, simple enough, right? 

Guess not. 

Look at this picture. See anything odd?

How about if I zoom in for you?

Seriously?!! One of my recommended opportunities is to have a mammogram this year? Hello, insurance: I'm no longer a candidate for that procedure - haven't been since October 2011. Sure seems like a techno-geek could make some check-boxes in a data entry form so that the double mastectomy subscribers don't get this in the mail. 

Granted, there's the "if this applies to you" CYA phrase in there, so I can't really go off on this, but it strikes me as puzzling. Mostly, I'm humored by this document. Still, it does have a cutting edge.

*DKS = doesn't know sh*t

Yoga

Our yoga class isn't about being a human pretzel.
Silly Stephanie was getting ahead of herself!

I'm taking a weekly yoga class at Oncology Rehab where I also receive lymphatic massages, get help with my range of motion, and take Pilates classes (which I've blogged about before).

Brianna, our yoga sensei.
Her hands are in lotus mudra.

I've found this yoga class to be vital to my mental health. It's easy to see the physical benefits by way of improved flexibility, strength, and posture. I've also gained new confidence with my modified body and its capabilities. The price is fair, the teacher is knowledgeable (about yoga AND survivors' bodies), the "chemosabes" are friendly, and the personal gain is priceless!

Things we learn about and focus on in our classes:

• yoga poses (obvious, but...)
• chakras (locations, elements, colors, meanings)
• being content with what our bodies are able to do that day; each session is different
• breathing techniques
• focusing on yourself; not comparing to others
• hand mudras

What's a mudra? A symbolic gesture involving the hands and fingers.

Brianna's hands are in lotus mudra (above): by touching the base of the palms together, touching the tips of the pinky fingers, and touching the tips of the thumbs together. The inner 3 fingers form a cup to complete the lotus blossom.

The 7 chakras. Click to enlarge.
(source)

This mudra is good for times of loneliness, as an open heart can bring love and companionship back into your life.

In Buddhism, the lotus blossom represents a heart opening. The lotus flower blooms on the surface of water, with its roots deep below in mud—making it a symbol of light and beauty emerging from darkness. The fingers resemble a lotus flower unfolding. Feel connected to your roots, and remember that the greatest source of steadiness in life is an awakened heart. (source)

A beautiful wall
hanging with mudra.
(source)

To add an affirmation to mudras, you can say them (in your head, or everyone's gonna hear you!) on each inhale, such as:

“I open my heart to receive whatever comes my way today.”
"I'm a creative being."
"Every cell inside me vibrates with health and energy."
"I choose to make the rest of my life the best of my life."
"Today I'm a kick-a$$ survivor."
"I am satisfied with where I'm at today."
"Loving myself heals my life." 

Still not sold on this new-agey activity? Open yourself up to the possibilities. And get with the times: 1 in 10 Americans practices yoga! Not that I just used the ol' "everybody's doing it" argument or anything ... oops. You don't have to take my word for it, either. Check out this Health Benefits of Yoga infographic. It's not so much graphic as it is information, but the benefits are clear: circulation, stress, heart disease, depression, back pain...the list goes on.

You can even take a moment to focus inward
and practice a mudra while snowshoeing. 

ANYone can come to these yoga classes (meaning able-bodied, modified, radiated, broken, healing, whatever you are). If you live in Colorado, this resource might be just what you're looking for:

Yoga classes at Oncology Rehab

Wednesday evenings  6-7pm

Friday afternoons  1-2pm  

email Brianna : brianna@oncologyrehab.net 

or 

call the front desk : (720) 306-8261

Snowflakes for Sandy Hook

After December's tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary school, I received a "volunteer challenge" via email. Immediately, I knew that taking part was important and would be giving in several ways.

Red Panda Beads is a source for some of my creative materials. Betsy, the owner, saw that the Connecticut Parent Teacher Student Association (CT PTSA) wanted to greet the Sandy Hook children to a "winter wonderland" when they started back to school in January.  They were asking for contributions of "unique snowflakes" which brought her snowflake wire forms (sold her web site) to mind. She asked volunteers to create and send her snowflakes; she'd batch ship them to Sandy Hook's PTA. What a great idea! [side note: Betsy even offered to send wire forms to people with postage-paid return envelopes.]

So on Christmas Eve day, Joshua and I took time to make a batch of whimsical snowflakes to send. We kept the returning children, parents of these children, and the lost individuals in our minds. Our thoughts and conversation ebbed and flowed as we worked. It felt cathartic and we shipped the snowflakes right after Christmas, wanting them to arrive in time for Betsy's shipment to the PTA.

...fast-forward nearly 3 weeks...

Betsy received an email with this link - basically, the PTA closed the Snowflake Project because of an overwhelming response.  :(  She didn't let this stop her efforts, though, because she got creative and came up with another way to help. She is listing all of the snowflakes made and sent to her at a flat price, donating sales to the Sandy Hook PTA.

A call to action:
Please consider visiting Betsy's online shop and purchasing one or more of these crafted snowflakes. They are listed at a flat price of $10. So far, there are 113 snowflakes listed for sale, and I've got a hunch that many more will be added over time. Betsy's quick thinking will ensure that the beaded snowflakes will not go to waste! Funds raised will help contribute to the children. Also, you'll get a snowflake to use as a decoration, as a reminder, and/or as a gift to another.

If buying a beaded snowflake to raise funds isn't your thing, there are specific other ways you can help - including donating directly on the CT PTSA site. Click here for those options.

Will you help, too?