Monday Moves: The Brugger Cog Wheel

Today's Monday Move picks up where we left up with posture.  It is really a thought with a great picture that you can apply to any seated position.

Alois Brugger, a Swiss neurologist, demonstrated his concept that there is an interplay between the spinal segments with the cog wheel model.  If you think about the segments of the spine acting like a cog wheel you can see the effect that one direction has on the other.  It also demonstrates the Phyics principle: "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."  You can see the difference in actions between the two pictures and also see the different outcome.

Simply grounding down through the sit-bones, can cause a reaction of a lift chest bone bringing one to a more upright posture.  Also, it seems like using this method exerts a whole lot less effort than the typical way we react when we are told by our mothers to "stand up straight."  This concept is not a new one.  But I think the model that Brugger created gives a great picture for us.  It reminds me of the first principle of Alignment Yoga - grounding.

Now you're turn.

31 Ways to be Uncomfortable

In honor of my 31st year, I am going to try to come up with 31 ways to get out of my comfort zone.  This is the place where I grow.  I am not made to get comfortable yet I get comfortable in life and my walk with the Lord so easily.   I am going to be on the look out this year for ways to get uncomfortable.

I saw the cutest movie this weekend with my friend Bronwen (aka - Bee).  It is the one with Matt Damen called "We Bought a Zoo."  One of my favorite quotes from this movie was that "it only takes 20 seconds of courage."  And after that a whole life can change or world can change or belief can change.   I am going to shoot for at least 620 seconds of courage over the next year.  I might not blog about every event.  But I hope to share what I learn from these little challenges as they come up.  Here is my first uncomfortable situation.

Signing up for a 5K.  It is not that a race or competition is all that foreign to me.  I have been known to sign up for any competition that keeps a score.  The thing that made me uncomfortable about this situation is that I have not been running.  I know how many injuries can result from improper training.  I thought I was heading directly towards this long list of overuse injuries because I was not prepared....at all.  I could list all the reasons why I am not running but that is besides the point.  I was just going to the race to hangout with some friends and because on that Saturday morning there just wasn't much to do.  I began to see the worst possible scenerio in my head when we got to the race and found out it was actually a 5 mile race instead of a 5K.  I figured I would be walking across the finish line, but since it was such a beautiful January day in Western Tennessee - I just couldn't say "no."  I started with Bee at approximately a 11:45 minute mile pace.  We had good conversation going and at the 4 mile mark, I was still feeling pretty good.  In fact, I was feeling GREAT.  So I picked up the pace and was pretty much amazed that my body was able to finish that last mile.  This made me realize in broad daylight that when I put myself out there, I may just be surprised at the outcome.  Sometimes I can over analyze to the point that I can talk myself out of just about anything.  But in my own calculations I tend to forget or have no ability to predict the amount of grace that my good Father will pour out over my endeavors.  I don't control it.  I can't earn it.  It just shows up.  It is a gift. Whether I see it or not.  Whether I receive it or I don't.  Whether I am thankful for it or not.  It is all grace.

I am not recommending jumping into just any race with out the proper training.  I think the boring ways that I get my cardio workouts in such as hopping on the elliptical for 30 minutes or swimming a few laps each week and spinning on the indoor bike contributed to the success of this race day.  But I know that it's all about grace.  And that I tend to forget this variable when I am making those big life decisions and also those everyday choices that make-up a life.

2012 in Review

It's the eve of my 31st birthday, and I just can't help looking back over all the blessings I have been showered with over this past year.  I must recap.

January 2012:  I turned 30!

I loved the twenties.  Since my twenties included a lot of stories about trying new things - they also included a lot of stories about starting over.  So far the trend of starting over has held true for my thirties as well.

My end of a decade celebration started at one of my favorite Madison restaurants with some of my favorite Madison people.  By far the best burger lives at the Old Fashion.

Then I left my twenties behind and flew to Nashville to celebrate with some of my dearest friends.  We gathered together for the hottest Nashville wedding of the year.  It was so great to see Marisa as a bride.  We got to roast her with a little farewell to John Mayer and hello to Jeff Pardo toast at her rehearsal dinner.





February of 2012:  Back to school.

February is cold in Wisconsin.  This year I kept warm by firing up my brain back in the classroom.  Always in search of a challenge, I figured jumping back into the classroom would do for now.  During February, Emily and I had many study dates.

March of 2012:  I got to meet my favorite author.  

Shauna Niequist has been my favorite authors since my friend Bronwen gave me her first book Cold Tangerines.  When I read her books, I feel like she is my best friend and that she gets me and my ups and downs and can put them to words way better than I can.  When I heard she was coming to Madison to speak at a conference our church was putting on, I decided to do whatever it took to meet her.  Needless to say, I had a little built up expectation about this first meeting.  Right when I saw Shauna, I went right up and introduced myself...even though she was talking to someone.  She was gracious and funny, just like I had imagined.  Well, we didn't exchange numbers, and she didn't see me and want to set me up with her brother (yes, this thought had actually crossed my mind).  But during her talk she spoke some words that might have helped change the course of my year.  She challenged each member of the audience to take charge of their own inspiration.  I had never heard "The Man in the Arena Poem" until she read it that day.  After hearing her talk, I began to ask myself and the Lord some different questions.

April of 2012:  What Would You Do if You Had No Fear?

After Shauna's talk, my head was spinning.  Another book came along called, "What Would You Do if You Had No Fear?" and from there I was looking for a chance to explore.  In April, I was accepted to volunteer on the  YWAM Medical Ship and the planning of my trip began.

May of 2012: Pacific Coast Highway.

My cousin was getting married in Southern California and my friend Cheryl lived in San Fransico, thankfully there is a road that connects these two places.  The week before the wedding, I got to meet Cheryl and see her life in San Fran.  When she went to work, I rented a bike and biked across the Golden Gate Bridge and other parts of the city.

Then I met Caro and we started our trek down to Laguna Beach.  Of course, we made several stops along the way.  Stopping at the breathtaking views of Big Sur was my favorite spot.

 We made it to Laguna, and Kt said, "I do."

One of my favorite moments from this wedding was catching Granny's face on camera after the Best Man's toast.  If you would have been there, you would understand why she had such a big smile on her face.

June of 2012:  My time at UW came to an end.

June 29th was my last day as a UW employee.  It was such a privilege to spend 5 years with such great people.  Since it was such a great "first job" for me, it was very hard to move on from this place.

July of 2012: A garden in paradise

I left the US on July 4th and my first stop was in Northern Queensland at the Kanjini Co-op.  See my blog post from July for a full review of this week working on a farm in Australia.

August of 2012:  "I want to live"

Hands down, my favorite moments of the year occurred on the YWAM Medical Ship.  If you look at any of my "signpost" blog posts or any posts from August or September, you can get the whole story.  A friend in Madison summed up the trip as  "doing reverse piracy."  Yep, in the most naturally beautiful place I have ever seen.  Serving for the most beautiful people I have ever met.

September of 2012:  Do I really have to come home?

Ten weeks was really not long enough.  I begrudgingly got on the plane home on September 17th.  And I do admit, it has been good.  In a different kind of good way.  If my 10-week adventure was the mountain top, the time back has been the valley.  But I truly want to believe that the valley experience is where you grow.  The valley is where convictions form that will last.  The valley is where you have to fight to believe the Truths that were revealed to you on the mountain.  Thankfully, God has provided an amazing family that has supported me since I have returned.

October of 2012:  You can take the girl out of the South...

This month I did a tour of the Southeast.  I got to soak in some quality time with family and friends and share as much and as often as possible about my time in PNG.   Around this time I decided to set up my home-base back in the South.  As the author of this Southern Living article wrote:

"Moving back South is something Southerners do."

 I am not sure how long this stint in the South will last as every other thought jumps to what is next.  But for not, it is right where I am supposed to be.

November of 2012:  Reunited

I just love Madison.  The vibe, the flavors and most certainly the PEOPLE.  It was a blessing to go to this second home for 3 weeks at the end of October and November.  Thankfully, God provided a job in Atlanta, otherwise - I still might be living in Kate's basement.  I can't wait for my next visit.

December of 2012:  

It has been a highlight of my December to be back in the athletic training room.  This current job has been just the challenge that I needed right now, but it can't beat getting hugs from the two coolest kids I know, my niece and nephew.  

I really can't believe all this has happened in one year.  I am so thankful that following Jesus day by day is an adventure.  May there be more moments of living in this expectancy next year and less moments of living in fear, doubt and unbelief.  May He lead each of us to "ponder anew what the Almighty can do" as we all get started with 2013.