To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.
Sleep Yoga (a.k.a. Yoga Nidra) A guest post by Aryn Youngless
Published May 6, 2013 | 
Photo credit: studioserenity.com
I used to teach these two lovely ladies once a week at 6:30 in the morning. Every week, they would show up like clockwork, them and them alone. My morning class went from that of a general open level setting, to a very friendly, and personal semi-private – to the point we carried our friendship off the mat, and out into the world. Every now and then, when the weather was terrible, or someone had worked too late the night before, I would receive a text that said, “Sorry, Aryn. Today we’ll be practicing sleep yoga.”
photo credit:thewell.spafinder.com
Now, they were just letting me know they were going to sleep an extra hour, and they would see me at my next class, but in the realm of yoga – sleep yoga does actually exist. Yoga Nidra is a style of yoga that helps you glide into a sleep like state, by means of guided meditation. By concentrating on our breath, and following the instruction of a Yoga Nidra teacher, Sleep Yoga can helps us, simply, let go of the stress and tensions of every day life.
Benefits of Yoga Nidra include: Improved concentration and focus, a clear mind, and improved performance at work and in other areas of life. According to The National Sleep Foundation it also helps improve menstrual problems, and even helps relieve post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD).
Personally, I love yoga nidra. It is something I do at least once a week to help ensure I am getting the amount of sleep that I need. As the Dalai Lama said, “Sleep is the best meditation.” But remember, sometimes meditation is the best way to get a full nights sleep.
~Namaste
Aryn
Bio:
Aryn Youngless:
I’m Aryn, a mother of one born in Ohio, living in California. I love ice cream, but I don’t eat it and couldn’t even if I wanted to, and I hate popcorn. I love carnivals and summer, the beach and ocean, I love yoga and to live every moment the best that I can with my family, and I really, really love to write.
You can find Aryn at her wonderful blog Weekly Adventures. Ordinary Girl.
or she is quite active on Twitter at @ArynYoungless
A special note from me to to Aryn:
Aryn,
From the very beginning of my blogging journey (about three years ago now) you have been there. You are someone I can always share things with about my writing, my yoga practice, and life. Thank you for being a guest blogger here at The Warm Milk Journal and
most of all,
thank you for being my friend.
Debra
A single rose can be my garden… a single friend, my world. ~ Leo Buscaglia
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Friendship: a simple journal writing exercise
Published January 18, 2012 | A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. ~Douglas Pagels
The topic of friendship has come up a lot in my life lately. I have a fourteen year old daughter and her world is full of laughing with her girlfriends at all hours when they come to our house for a sleep over…
I consider my husband my best friend…
I have my “old” friends from my youth, college days, and young mommyhood days that I am still in touch with thanks to Facebook…
In this chapter of my life (I’m a 45 year old schoolteacher/blogger raising two teenagers, a husband, and two cats. Ha!)
Where and how do I fit friends into my busy life now?
Most of us don’t need a psychiatric therapist as much as a friend to be silly with. ~Robert Brault
Here is my journal writing invitation to you this evening (or morning depending on where you live)
On the the top of your journal entry, simply write “Friendship”…. then write down anything that comes to mind.
I find I do well if I just write quickly what comes to mind without editing or critiquing what I am writing…
Just play with the idea and see what happens.
The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium. ~Norbet Platt
The powerful thing about journal writing is that if we get ourselves in a relaxed state long enough, our true selves emerge. That touch of divine and intuition and wisdom comes out.
Let’s try it and see what happens, shall we?
Let’s see. I will begin!
FRIENDSHIP
1. I will always cherish those friends I made when I was a child and teenager. Those were the carefree days when I had time to invest and nurture these friends. Plus, these people knew me when I was just coming of age. How special is that?
2. I value the friendship I have with my husband. He is my best friend. He challenges me. He loves and supports me. He ultimately brings out the best in me.
3. I don’t spend time with friends that much these days for I am very busy working and when I’m not working I have my family..Hmmm….
4. I have my online friends on Twitter and Facebook that I have grown to value and appreciate very much.
5. What can I do to nurture my friends?
6. What friendships are worth investing time and energy in now during this busy chapter in my life?
This is a just a start, but I will finish in my private journal, so that you, dear friend, can begin you entry on…
FRIENDSHIP
Have fun.
Peace,
Debra
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I’m honored to be tweeting with so many terrific tweeters: my unexpected wonderful experience with Twitter
Published July 30, 2011 | 
As I continue on my Warm Milk Journal blogging journey I continue to learn and be amazed by all the wonderful people there are out there.
Twitter, Facebook, and comments on my own Warm Milk Journal site have been a great place to meet like minded friends.
I feel thankful for this experience. If you put yourself out there on the internet and in social media with integrity (that is to say you are genuinely yourself and honest) I know people will pick up on that.
We all have different reasons, interests, or agendas for sharing on the internet but I am finding some commonalities.
Ten things we all have in common (on Twitter and in life):
1. We have the need to be appreciated.
2. We want to help others.
3. We want to be affirmed.
4. We all have ambitions for ourselves and in life, but in the end we all truly cherish the little things.
5. We all value health, family, friendship.
6. Most of us are curious and want to learn new things.
7. People love a good sense of humor.
8. We love animals.
9. We love good food.
10. We appreciate the differences in each other even as we come to realize we have more in common with each other than not.
I remember being a little girl going through the “It’s A Small World” ride at Disneyland in California. I recall the wonder of it all – the idea of there being so many people, so many different cultures, and yet we all can be friends and love one another. This journey of blogging and putting myself out there on the internet has given me that same sense of wonder.
I am truly humbled and grateful for all of you out there. Thank you for taking the time and interest in reading and sharing with others The Warm Milk Journal. Thank you for all the sharing of yourselves that you do on Twitter, Facebook, and comments on The Warm Milk Journal.
I look forward to continuing on this ride with you (let’s just not get stuck on that “It’s A Small World Song” shall we? lol).
In Peace,
Debra
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To my friend
Published September 2, 2010 | 
I’ll hold your hand when you feel afraid
and listen to your concerns.
I won’t judge or interrupt
for we all need to be heard and accepted.
Don’t take it all too seriously
for life rolls on
whether we do or not.
You are affirmed and enough
just as you are.
Debra : )
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John Wooden’s Seven Point Creed
Published June 6, 2010 | 
The sports world lost a beloved figure Friday when former UCLA coach, John Wooden, past away at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 99. Coach Wooden was a legendery basketball coach, leading his players to win a historical 10 NCAA championships. He was also well respected for his humility, wisdom and life philosophy. Coach Wooden often shared his Seven Point Creed which he says his father gave to him. I would like to post it here because the values in Mr. Wooden’s words are very much in alignment with much of what I write about here at the Warm Milk Journal.
Here it is:
- Be true to yourself.
- Make each day your masterpiece.
- Help others.
- Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
- Make friendship a fine art.
- Build a shelter against a rainy day.
- Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.
Source: Florida Times Union, June 6, 2010
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Posted in Self-empowerment, Spirituality | 
Bible, blessings, friendship, helping others, humility, John Wooden, making each day count, prayer, success | 
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