patience Archives - Custom Calm

Hurry Up and Wait

Posted by Ellen Sichel on March 21, 2012

I rushed to the airport so I would have ample time before my flight home. With time to spare I slowly sauntered to my gate. The flight boarded a little late and here I sit, now an hour and a half behind schedule for takeoff. New announcement: Flight delayed another 2 hours so please deplane. It is official: I have another opportunity to practice patience and in this complex world, sooner or later we become experts!

With plenty of time to ponder what I wanted to do while I waited, I was pleased with my ability to go with the flow. Years back I would have gotten quite frustrated and agitated. Okay, I was still a bit put off, but for the most part I was able to relax and get some work done.

Stressful situations seem to lurk around every corner and we get to choose how we want to respond. Time is going by whatever we are doing and even though the plane was not moving, the clock was. So , in my hurry to be there on time, the results were not up to me.

My lesson today is: My need to make sure I had more time than needed caused me some stress and what did I gain? Another few minutes of waiting and a good blog topic!

Let me know in the comments below how you deal with traveling? Are you able to take things as they go, or does frustration take over?

Tags: patience, reaction, stress, travel

Posted in: A Calm Perspective

Leave a Comment (0) →

Phone Frustration: 5 Ways to Remain Calm

Posted by Ellen Sichel on July 25, 2011

Phone calls that require waiting or complications can trigger frustration and anger.

When we encounter these situations it is challenging to remain calm and patient, especially if the person on the other end is rude, unhelpful or slow.

We take it personally,and the consequence is physical tension and emotional anxiety.

It is a more productive interaction when you are calm and centered.

Next time you have this kind of call, try this:

Bring your feet under you and feel your feet grounded on the floor.
Take an easy inhale allowing your belly soften and then slowly let it out, a minimum of three times
Know that you too have been rude or confused when asked to do something- this will give you some compassion and patience
Remember that the situation is not a personal affront
Keep the situation in perspective and know that it is one small part of your entire day. Take a breath and move on.

Let me know in the comments below what you tried and how it worked for you. If nothing helped, let me know what you think happened?

Tags: breath, calm, centered, compassion, frustrated, grounded, patience

Posted in: Technique of the Week

Leave a Comment (0) →

Helen is an Attorney Living with Stress

Posted by Ellen Sichel on April 13, 2011

Helen’s Challenges

I am an attorney, teacher and mother and grandmother, and life is stressful. I was looking for ways to reduce my stress level. I want both my body and mind to be more flexible, particularly as I age.

What Helen Tried

I had been to yoga classes before and did enjoy them, but nothing seemed to shift in my daily life. I was looking for more.

What Worked

What I love most about the Custom Calm yoga practice is kindness and its consistency. Every posture helps to release my spine from tension without causing pain or discomfort. Each Custom Calm teacher is trained to support the student’s individual progress and recognize the student’s needs. The basic postures are simple and effective; the philosophy that frames the sessions is equally so.

Ellen is a devoted practitioner and gifted teacher of the postures and spiritual principles. She continually deepens her own practice and understanding through intensive training periods and retreats. With her own students she inspires because what she teaches is so well grounded in her life.

Practicing for the last five years, I have become more flexible and less brittle in the storms of my life, more tranquil with my children, more patient with my associates. I take better care of myself, give more easily, relax more quickly, and remember more often to keep my head in line with my heart.

What you can learn from Helen’s Experiences

You do not need to wait until life gets out of control to make changes. There are practices that can be done to help get more enjoyment out of relationships. The Custom Calm practices helped Helen on much more than the physical level and are easy to integrate into daily living.

*Last name has been left off for anonymity.

Tags: discomfort, easy practices, exoerienced teacher, increased flexibility, pain, patience, spinal tension, stress relief, yoga

Posted in: This Stuff Works

Leave a Comment (0) →

Waiting with Patience

Posted by Ellen Sichel on March 14, 2011

Stand with your feet parallel to one another, a few inches apart. Stand with your body upright and look straight ahead with a soft gaze.

Bring your awareness to the connection to your feet on the floor and notice how your weight is distributed.

Is there more in front of you feet, or in your heels? Is it even? See if you can even out your weight, even feeling the connection of sides of your feet to the floor.

Take an easy inhale, and an easy exhale. Keep your awareness on the connection of your feet to the earth as you continue with easy breathing.

This simple tool will calm your mind and body and bring you back to the moment. It is great to use when you are out and about during your day.

Try this next time you are waiting on line and let me know how it went in the comments below. Did it help avert growing frustration? Were you able to keep your attention the connection of your feet to the floor? If not, what do you think happened? If you have any questions, please ask.

Tags: attention, awareness, calm body, calm mind, connection, frustration, moment, patience, standing, waiting

Posted in: Technique of the Week

Leave a Comment (0) →