Craftsy Blog Hop Day 5 - Finding Balance - A Sunday Stretch for Sewists Post

Life just seems to get busier and crazier by the year.  Trying to find balance is extremely difficult, and one can feel defeated and deflated in no time just trying to find time for oneself.

Tree of Life block - one of my Q1 FAL goals

The Sunday Stretch is below... as we are currently balancing quilting, blogging, real life, (Happy Valentine's Day everyone!) and a blog hop this week and we are on Day 5!

Have you entered the fabulous giveaway yet? Taken advantage of the 50% off the classes reviewed in this hop yet?  That discount runs for one week only, so don't hesitate too long.

Today is all about S.E.X. and Education: (hope you didn't choke on your coffee or tea, but you read that right)
Stash Enhancing eXperience.  It's a real term!  See Quiltbug.

Preeti at Sew Preeti Quilts is going to tell you how you can enhance your stash at Craftsy without breaking the bank by buying a Kaffe Fassett 6" strip! And, she's got a terrific quilt she designed with that strip.

Beth at Cooking Up Quilts learned that appliqué can be done in many ways.  Read her review of Amanda Murphy's "20 Fresh Appliqué Techniques."  Save major bucks with a 50% discount on this class through Beth's website!

Remember the Sweet Giveaway On Now - over $500 of free Craftsy products

Enter the Craftsy Giveaway here as well as through any of the bloggers in this hop.  The main blog hop schedule can be found here or by clicking the Heart Button on the sidebar.

Click here to enter.  That's it!  

THREE prizes:

• 2 free classes to 2 different people
• 1- Boundless Solids Crown Jewels by Amy Gibson Quilt Kit  
• AND two packs of precuts: a 6" strip set and a 10" squares pack, both of Boundless Solids Modern Brights 
• One entry per person.  Enter until Sunday, February 21, 2016, at 11:59 pm MST.  The winners will be announced Feb. 22 here and at Pink Doxies.

Quilt kit PLUS 6" strips PLUS 10" squares

Be Kind to Yourself

Yesterday we talked a bit about RAK Week.  Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 14-20.  Being kind to others is so simple.  Being kind to yourself is sometimes not so simple.  But you will be a happier sewist and person in general, if you remember to look after yourself too.

Long hours at your sewing machine, hunched over hand-sewing, or long hours standing at your longarm can lead to very sore muscles.  Last summer Julie of Pink Doxies sent me a cryptic text, something like:
Aching muscles. Need Sandra to tell us how to work out the kinks.
A few more back and forth iMessages, and Sunday Stretch For Sewists was born.

Here is a great pose that takes no more than a few minutes and can do much more than ease those aches.

Er, no Rocco, not Frog pose, although that is definitely a great hip-opener!

Tree Pose - Vrksasana
Helps to improve focus; calms and relaxes your mind and your central nervous system.
Strengthens posture, leg and foot muscles; stretches your inner thighs, groin and shoulders. (Gaia Yoga)

You can start with any of the variations shown below, or start with stage 1 and work your way slowly and mindfully through the variations.  Remember to do both legs.

Stage 1

Hands in prayer. Shift your weight to one foot.  Lift the other, resting it gently against the side of your lower leg, below the knee.  Find a spot upon which to softly gaze. Breathe.  Hold for 6-10 slow and even breaths. If you need to lean on a wall in the beginning, not a problem.  You'll improve.

Stage 2

Place your foot against your inner thigh in this stage.

Stage 3 with either of the leg placements....note the furball photo-bomber ;-)

Slowly raise your arms above your head. You can keep the elbows bent or stretch the arms straight.  Trees wave in the wind, so it's okay if you sway a little!

Remember to do both legs.  You can let your arms come apart like the branches of a tree

Think about being tall, straight and strong here. Pull in your tummy; find your core; lengthen the low back and tuck in your tailbone.

Stage 4: For a real challenge, if you feel stable, slowly close your eyes!

No matter where you are in the pose, be happy. Visualize your healthy strong body rooting into the ground. Feel the energy from the Earth, the energy and lightness in the skies above as you reach up!  Ahh, do this outside! Even better.  Gratitude for a strong body and for Mother Earth.  This reminds me, I used to haul my Elna (pre-Bernina days) outside onto our deck, with my ironing board and iron, so I could sew in the sun, soaking up Vitamin D and soaking up birdsong. "Ahhh!" indeed.

I did not do my regular Sunday Stretch for Sewists in December, no big deal with all the rush and excitement, but somehow it escaped me in January.  Thank you Liz, of Lizzy Clips Design, who asked me about it, thanks to those of you who have told me how much you enjoy these posts, thanks to those of you who are doing them (ahhh), and wow, kudos to those of you who have told me that you now have started yoga!  These posts are usually out the last Sunday of each month.  Yep I will start a page with the links to each one so you can easily find them all.

Now that you are balanced, and have that 'ahhh!' feeling, mosey on over to Beth and to Preeti for some 'ahhh!' for your creativity.