Overcome Grief By Strengthening Your Heart Chakra

By Alicia Parks

It’s been nearly a decade since I broke up with my boyfriend. Well, actually it’s been more like 8 months, but it’s certainly felt like an eternity. As time continues to pass and the wounds struggle to heal I’m becoming impatient with how long it’s taking to just get over it already! Is there a cure for a broken heart – other than time?

Strengthening Heart Chakras

There are the temporary fixes: ice cream, drinks with friends, a shopping spree (be it electronics or clothes), more drinks, more ice cream, and the random cute rebound. Or, the less than classy approach: angrily cutting up the pictures, burning gift and mementos into a roaring bonfire hoping the smoke will cloud the present and blur the past.

Then today in yoga, the instructor focused on the heart chakra. We moved through a series of heart openers to create space in the heart center: space to give and receive love. By my third back bend I had lost it. I gave in and let the tears flow. I felt a sudden moment of peace for the first time in months.

The heart chakra is the center of our harmony. When this energy point is balanced we feel loved and able to give love more freely. When this energy is imbalanced we feel closed off to love. The body can actually physically begin to draw more inward to close off and protect the heart center when this energy is low. However, when this energy point is balanced the heart center will open and the sternum will lift, shoulders will draw back thus allowing the energy to flow more openly.

Chakras are seven energy points within the body from the tail bone to the crown of the head. Each point is a spinning wheel of energy and depending if the energy is low, high or balanced, the spinning wheel will either be low and small, or increasingly fast and large.

The first chakra resonates at the base of the spine and is the color red. This is the center for being grounded. The second is the center for nourishment and is housed near the genitals below the navel. Its color is orange. Next is the yellow energy wheel in the solar plexus and the center for intention. The heart center is a green color. Above that is the throat chakra which is blue in color and where we find expression. The third-eye point , insight, is purple in color or depending on text could be a light blue color. Finally, the crown chakra-believed by some to be a white or clear energy or a purple color is where enlightenment, wisdom or higher spiritual knowledge is housed.

Since chakra energy is simply about finding balance, when our heart chakra is suffering from heart-ache, loss, grief or a recent breakup, perhaps focusing on charging this energy could be an alternative to time. Though many of us seek quick fixes to pain or inconvenience, a lesson in patience could be welcomed relief.

After a series of yoga classes in which I continued to focus more on the heart center through spine-strengthening sequences like cobra, locust and floor-bow to heart openers like camel and backbends I was able to let more and more go each time. Though I still have some healing to do, I believe very much that I gained a huge edge on my path to healing my heart. We may never fully understand why some relationships work and some don’t but at least there’s another option to healing.

Heart Openers

There are several beautiful options in yoga for opening the heart center. It’s simply a matter of leading with the heart, strengthening the core and spine and releasing tension hidden in the neck and shoulders. The simplest way to open the heart is proper posture-ensuring that shoulders are drawn away from the ears and down the back while pulling the naval to the spine (engaging the core).

In a standing series, taking a slight backbend while in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) is a simple and gentle option. Backbends are an effective way to open the heart as well as bring a bounty of energy into the body (which is why heart openers are best served in the morning and not before bed).

My breakthrough heart opener was in Urdhva Dhanurasana (wheel) and my continuous challenging heart opener is Ustrasana (Camel). It’s important to ensure the body is properly warmed up before engaging in heart openers since these poses require good core and spine strength. Opening the hips first (with poses such as Eka Pada Rajakasana (Pigeon)) will allow a more gentle and deeper benefit from heart openers. Other options include Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose), Bitilasana (Cow Pose), Matsyasana (Fish Pose), Salambhasana (Locust Pose), Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) and even Urdva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog).

For a gentle sequence after waking I recommend beginning with a few Sun Salutations starting with Balasana (Child’s Pose) moving on to Cat-Cow movement and on to plank pose. From there draw back to Audo Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog). Take a few deep breaths through the nose and slowly arrive to Uttanasana (forward fold). Slowing arrive to Tadasana (Mountain Pose) and take a gentle back bend. Release to Uttanasana then back to Tadasana with a back bend and flow through this a few times. From Uttanasana step back to high plank pose again and then release all the way to the ground on the belly. Inhale into Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose). Exhale to release and then inhale into Salambhasana (Locust Pose). Exhale to release and flow through these two poses a few more times. Take time between each movement and then release back Balasana (Child’s Pose) to focus on the breath and the energy in the heart chakra. Come back to Cat-Cow movement and then come to standing on knees. Close the sequence with a long, slow flow into Ustrasana (Camel) pose. Take up to six full inhalations and exhalations before letting go and slowly find a seat with eyes closed. Absorb the energy created and released around the heart center. Acknowledge any emotions that may have come up and know that which no longer serves no longer has a hold on the heart center.

“Learn, grow, live… And then write about it!” Alicia started her path to wellness and environmental leadership at Wild Oats, following college graduation with a degree in journalism. Her passion for natural living, environment, and wellness set the foundation for a future with Aveda where she is currently a marketing manager and manages the yoga program for staff and students. She is a certified yoga instructor and received her training through Core Power. Her favorite pose is handstand, though she is still working on mastering it. Her writing is a continuous practice, much like yoga, and began when she published her first book at age 12 called, “What Mothers and Fathers Do Best.” She is a proud mother of a 6-year-old boy, Tyler, the source for her inspiration to live in the moment-be mindful-be gracious and flow. Tyler is currently publishing one book a week, his latest being the “ABC of Animals.”

Read Alicia’s other article, “Getting Back to the Yoga Mat“.

Risking it all to find happiness

By Brianna Dean

Thanksgiving Day, 2009: I gazed out the window at the glare from snow-capped mountains and thought to myself, “Wow, it’s a great day to ski”. While sipping coffee, I threw on my usual ski gear and grabbed the twin-tip’s for a nice day of carving powder. The ride up the gondola to the base of Breckenridge Mountain was quieter than usual, but it didn’t seem to bother me. The view was remarkable. I adjusted my goggles and couldn’t think of a place I’d rather be at that moment. Let me take you back a few years…

Early April, 2007: It was a gloomy Sunday evening in Kansas City, Missouri and I had just walked in the door from my typical grocery store purchase: water, turkey, bread, saltine crackers, and a bottle of Pinot Grigio. The sun set behind overcast skies accentuating the already dreary day. After putting away the groceries I laid down on my bed and stared at the ceiling. It was 6:00pm. I had no roommate to converse with, no cable to fall asleep to. I could hear the clock ticking. Every tick was another wasted moment. It was almost time to crack open the wine and drink myself into a slumber.

I was dreading work the next day. 8 hours of staring out my office window toward the West hoping that if I tried hard enough, I would eventually see what I knew was on the other side of the Flint Hills of Kansas. On the other side sat the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, the San Marcos Mountains…even the beautiful Pacific Ocean that I once took advantage of while growing up in Southern California. I knew it was all there. So why wasn’t I? Why do I only visit these places and not live there, I thought? Why do I still live in a city that leaves me depressed and uncomfortable? What am I still doing here?

My mind started to wander and soon I found myself flooded with thoughts. I was mentally beating myself up for not making the proper changes in order to be happy. I was obviously depressed. Every Sunday was the same, every day of work was the same, every evening, morning, and minute was the same: lonely and repetitive. I started to feel anxiety take over when I asked myself one final question: “Am I so comfortable that I will do this the rest of my life?”. Tears started to flow.

I mustered up the guts to call a friend. I needed company and something to occupy my mind so that it wouldn’t consume me. I arrived at their house, still riddled with anxiety. My stomach was in knots, eyes were darting, and I was sweating more than I should have been. My mind wouldn’t shut up. “Are you going to spend the rest of your life here?” My breaths were deep but seemed to lack oxygen. I became dizzy and adrenaline shot through my veins like someone had drugged me. My friend asked “Are you okay? You look a little nerve-wrecked”. All of a sudden I felt extremely uncomfortable. I couldn’t drag my friend in this. I immediately grabbed my things and left the house. I couldn’t ask for shelter from my own thoughts. I was a ticking time bomb of self-mutilated emotion that was about to blow. Where was I to go if I couldn’t go to my friends?

Mostly cloudy mind with a chance of anxiety storms

I could feel my body start to break down as I ran to my car. An overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety took over as I drove myself to the only place of safety I could think of: the Emergency Room. By the time I ran through the double glass doors of the hospital my face was as red as a fire extinguisher and the knots in my stomach were tearing up my insides. The doctors could hear the difficulty in my breathing and took me to the back right away. I woke up 20 minutes later laying in a hospital bed with an IV stuck in my right arm. Unaccompanied in a curtained room, I heard only the voices of nurses fluttering by. There I was, alone again. Unsure what they gave me, the doctors released me after handing me various prescriptions for anxiety.

It was about 2:00am when I got home, my eyes were red and puffy and I climbed into my bed. Was this going to happen again next Sunday?

Monday Morning: I slipped into my office without anyone noticing and kept my sunglasses on so that no one would see my severely swollen eyes. I knew I couldn’t hide it for long. My boss peeked his head in and said, “Hey, ding-dong, take your sunglasses off. You look ridiculous”. I pulled them off and tried desperately not to look up, but it wasn’t enough to keep my boss quiet. 

As soon as he asked the dreaded question, “What’s wrong?”, I verbally blasted every thought that was on my mind at that moment. My god, I had no idea how depressed I was until it all started to pour out. My boss just stared at me, shocked. He phoned in the President and the three of us discussed my situation for almost 2 hours. My employers were like family and wanted me to be happy. The President announced he would give me 3 months pay up front to go and find happiness. The catch? I couldn’t come back. I’ll never forget the words from my boss that day. He said, “Brianna, you gotta go find what makes you happy because it’s obviously not here. Go to France! Maybe that makes you happy. You won’t know what it is until you go find it”.

I was given the afternoon off and went back the next day to get my big, generous check. What to do now? I drove home and stared at the ceiling again. What do you do when someone gives you time and money, the two things that no one ever has? I had no idea. I spent the afternoon at a coffee shop looking at job listings in Kansas City. It hadn’t hit me yet. I wandered in to a book store and found a spiral-bound book of driving maps for the United States. Suddenly it hit me. I bought the book and ran out of the store. I realized that I was given time, and I didn’t want to waste it. My money would run out eventually and I didn’t want to blow it staying where I started. I then went over to a sports equipment store and bought an expensive backpack. I didn’t know what the hell for, but I needed it. I planned to fill the backpack with some essentials and explore in search of enlightenment. 

The next week was spent planning amazing trips! I contacted friends in other states and reserved couches and spare beds. My sister was planning out her internship in Kansas City and offered to pay my rent while I was away in exchange for use of my apartment. Everything was falling into place. Over the next few months I ventured off to Chicago, St. Louis, Colorado Springs, Phoenix, Denver, Los Angeles and Santa Monica. Every day was spent exploring and seeking what excited me. I started to realize my flexibility: I was not on a lease, I had no boyfriend, no pets, no job. Now was the time to change things!

Denver Skyline - Grass Is Always Greener

Denver won my heart after spending a few days with some friends downtown. I headed back to Kansas City and applied for jobs near the Rocky Mountains. I was still on a rush of excitement that I was really going to change things. I got a phone call from a potential employer in Denver and asked if I could come in for an interview that Thursday. I panicked a little thinking that a last minute plane ticket would affect my funds so I decided to drive out for the interview instead. It was a time consuming and expensive risk that I was willing to take. Sure enough, that Wednesday night I drove 8 hours to get to Denver for that fateful interview. He offered me the job on the spot. I accepted.

I anxiously boxed up my belonging and moved with great anticipation of starting fresh in Colorado. I’ve been living happily in Denver for almost three years now. My anxiety quickly disappeared and a sense of calmness has came over me. I’m finally in a place I can call home, found new activities that I love, and have met friends that will last a lifetime. I look back on my situation years ago and wonder what would have happened to me had I not listened to my own warning signs (and my boss’s advice).

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

I have found that this proverb is often spoken to make people think that, in reality, other circumstances are often not as desirable as they may appear. People who are afraid of change try to discourage others from changing by explaining that the grass is not greener; it’s the same dull grass. Maybe they are comfortable and like their grass just the way it is. I am happy for those that can be content in any situation. I am, however, not one of those people. The point is, I don’t want to live my life trusting that all the grass in the world is the same color. I want to experience it myself. Maybe the grass is the same color, but what if the other side of the fence has grass covered in snow, or kittens chasing bugs, or a beautiful pond surrounded by wildflowers. Despite what people say, you may never know until you jump the fence.

Brianna Dean is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for skiing. She grew up in Southern California and frequently moved as a child until she and her family settled in Kansas, much to her dismay. Feeling trapped and unfulfilled in a comfortable, mundane life, she packed up and moved to Colorado. Although she now calls Denver home, Brianna is currently spending the winter at the base of a mountain while working for a ski company. She enjoys biking, hiking, rock climbing, camping, and playing with her dog, Pali (who is named after a ski lift at Arapahoe Basin). When not working you will find her mastering a 360 at the terrain park, cooking vegetarian dinners, or discussing epic powder days at a dive bar.

Guidelines to finding your flow, again

By Alicia Parks

Yoga is everywhere these days. It has arrived and is moving beyond its Paparazzi-like intrigue into an accepted part of our western society. Yoga has transcended time, culture and spirituality. It offers numerous benefits including creating flexibility and strength, decreasing stress, healthy weight management, increasing immunity, and connecting mind and body. Knowing yoga offers all these results, why have so many of us not tried yoga? More so, why have many of us drifted away from our mat?

It’s been said many times by almost every instructor from whom I’ve taken a class (and I have uttered the words myself), “the hardest part of your yoga practice is getting to your mat.”

The key word here being “practice.” Yoga is a practice. As an instructor, I have new arrivals in my class each week and I find myself constantly reminding the newcomers to remember that yoga is a journey. There will never be perfection, there is always growth. And this is a hard concept for many of us to grasp. Yoga does require an investment of time and energy. It requires work and dedication. This is a lot to ask of ourselves in an already demanding world.

In health and fitness the leading edge is faster results with least effort. We’ve even decreased the 8-minutes abs infomercial to 6-minutes abs or less. It’s a wonder how many obscure expectations have been brought to the mat by newcomers. Having expectation is setting up one for disappointment.

Because yoga is a practice, the first class is not a fair representation of all the benefits yoga has to offer. These gifts are received over time. Many may not come back to the mat because expectations were not met. As a newcomer to yoga there’s a lot to be accomplished in one class. As a regular yoga practitioner there is still much to accomplish as well. Yoga creates a flow and connection between the mind and body, between balance and proper posture, between alignment and breath and between Dhristi (focus) and meditation. (This is also known as the 8-Limbs of Yoga by Patanjali).*

My first time on my mat, I was lost—a half-step behind the cadence of the class and I did not stop looking around the room with deep concern about what everyone else was doing and how I looked. I didn’t know child’s pose (Balasana) from Warrior II (Virabradasan II). My mind was racing to understand Sanskrit and the English translation all the while getting into the pose (asana) finding balance and then trying to remember to breathe.

At the end of class I rolled up my mat, dazed and confused, but not discouraged. There was a residual feeling that I haven’t experienced after an aerobics class or running on the treadmill or lifting weights.

Intrigued by this feeling, I returned to my mat again. And again. And again. Each time I gained a better understanding of the postures, breath and flow. Over time my mind and body began to connect and communicate. I worried less and less about how I looked, what others were doing, and didn’t have to think so hard about what posture is what and where I was going next. I began to find my flow – my reasons for returning to my mat again and again.

And then I realized that never in my history of break ups and new relationships with my fitness regime have I ever completed an exercise with a final resting pose – a few mere moments to collect my breath, my energy and bring my mind and body together. In yoga this is called Savasana – the final pose in which one can absorb the benefits of his practice. I have yet to see anyone at a gym relax into Savasana after 30 minutes of cardio exercise. (In Savasana one is lying face up, eyes closed, legs and arms spread out).

I believe Savasana to be a powerful force in generating inspiration deep within our minds and bodies to get to our mats. The bliss I experienced in my “ah-ha” moment (of why I come to yoga) didn’t happen in my first class or overnight. It took weeks of practicing. It was a journey and still is. My reason for getting to my mat is my own and it was a discovery in time.

Reasons why we don’t get to our mat are endless and become easy ways to persuade our egos: too tired, too much to do, I’ll go tomorrow, I’m not flexible, I don’t know how, or I didn’t like my first yoga class. It’s easy to come up with reasons not to go to yoga but there are a few simple guidelines that may help squash those excuses.

Bannish Your Excuses With These Simple Guidelines:

1. Keep an open mind and remove expectation. Don’t anticipate the same feeling after your first class to be like that of a first great date. Try first to just focus on moving the body, getting your foundation. Then over time you’ll hone-in on flow, breath and meditation.

2. Give it more than one class. It will take time to learn the postures and flow. Be kind to yourself and allow a learning curve. Try to take a class at least once or twice a week. If you space out one class a month, the growth will happen but at a much slower, more difficult pace.

3. Try not to think too much. The mat is a great place to let go of the constant chatter in the mind.

4. Remember to breathe.

5. Yoga is not a religion. It’s simply a connection to the self. You control your own thoughts and beliefs. Some instructors may offer suggestions, thoughts, quotes or even a mantra but you have the power to choose to be open to it or not.

6. Accept that this is a practice, not perfection. The ego is running the show most of the time during this first class because it’s “protecting” you from failure. This also creates an illusion of your experience because it wasn’t your true expression (and thus another layer has been removed – that of the ego – a topic to consider later in one’s yoga journey).

7. Do not establish routine. I’m still finding my flow and because I understand and have accepted that yoga is a practice to connect my mind and body (yoga in Sanskrit means union with the self) and come to mat each day knowing that my practice will be completely different each time. This intrigues me to know that even if the sequence is the same, what I bring to my mat is different.

8. Journal after class – get deep and just write what freely comes to mind after class, or stay on the surface and just jot down a few comments about how you feel after class. After a few sessions, read through your journal and maybe you’ll find your own “ah-ha” moment for why you will return to your mat.

More important than guidelines is the simple fact that in yoga, one can “own” his own practice. You create the rules, the focus and can gain what you want from class and then hopefully carry that practice off the mat and into the world. When the excuses start to surface again, the true power of yoga is when the reasons not to get on the mat lose the fight against the infinite reasons to get back on the mat.

*Yoga On and Off the Mat

The 8 Limbs of Yoga by Patanjali

Patanjali, author of the Yoga Sutras, and creator of the 8-Limbed Path has deeply influenced and helped shaped the continued growth of yoga. His influence dates back over 2,000 years when he led a school of his own. His teachings still echo in yoga studies today.

The 8-Limbs of yoga are the disciplines one studies while practicing on the mat (and off). They are inward and outward observances of the self, an explanation of what is really going on deep in our mind, bodies and souls while we flow. It’s the breath, the posture, the flow, the balance, the moving meditation.

The first limb is the Yamas, outward moral restraints. Second is the Niyamas, inward moral restraints. Each of these breaks down into sub-catagories:

Yamas consist of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Brachmacharya (moderation), Aparigraha (non-hoarding).

Niyamas include Santosha (contentment), Tapas (discipline), Isvara-Pranidhana (devotion), Saucha (purity), and Svadhyaya (self-study).

Following the Yamas and Niyamas is Asana (posture), Pranayama (breath), Pratyahara (turning inward), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (union with self).

When moving through a sequence many of the 8-Limbs are obvious: the asana is the pose, the breath is the energy that moves the body, the concentration to move from one posture to the next, the meditation or union with self when the mind is calm and quiet. What is not as obvious are the Yamas and Niyamas. This is really where we take our practice off the mat and into our personal lives, into our relationships, into our work places. Yoga then becomes a practice of being truthful, being content, practicing moderation, and so on.

When I was going through teacher training, one of my yoga instructors had us do a homework assignment involving the Yamas and Niyama. Each day we would pick a Yama or Niyama to focus on for that day. We began by meditating for a few minutes with the particular word in mind (for example, I chose Satya -Truth. I would inhale Satya and then exhale Truth). At the end of each day we would journal for a few minutes. The key was to observe and become more mindful of how focusing on the word could affect our lives-without making drastic changes, like quitting our jobs. Just observe. Try this on your own as well. See what comes up and become a witness of your life. Then reflect on the journal entries to find connections, similarities or opportunities.

“Learn, grow, live… And then write about it!” Alicia started her path to wellness and environmental leadership at Wild Oats, following college graduation with a degree in journalism. Her passion for natural living, environment, and wellness set the foundation for a future with Aveda where she is currently a marketing manager and manages the yoga program for staff and students. She is a certified yoga instructor and received her training through Core Power. Her favorite pose is handstand, though she is still working on mastering it. Her writing is a continuous practice, much like yoga, and began when she published her first book at age 12 called, “What Mothers and Fathers Do Best.” She is a proud mother of a 6-year-old boy, Tyler, the source for her inspiration to live in the moment-be mindful-be gracious and flow. Tyler is currently publishing one book a week, his latest being the “ABC of Animals.”

Getting Rid of all the Excess Junk

By Janel Pfluger

It’s that time of year. Time for the big purge, or the purge before the binge, as I like to think of it. Soon I will be gorging myself on turkey and all the trimmings, and giving my credit cards a workout in attempt to find just the right Christmas gift for my loved ones. But before I indulge it’s time to pare my life down a little. Over the course of a year, I seem to accumulate a lot of “stuff.” My stuff starts to overwhelm me a bit as I try to find places to put it all. When I start to feel anxiety over where I should put all this stuff, I know it’s time to get rid of some of it.

That Time Of The Year

It begins with clothes. Every year, when it is time to put away the summer digs (sigh) and take out the winter gear, I make a point of carefully pruning my wardrobe. If I haven’t worn it for a year, or forgot I even owned it, chances are I don’t love it. In the donation pile it goes. Now for me, this can get hairy. What about that sweater that my aunt gave me for last Christmas? I didn’t have the heart to tell her I didn’t like it, and she never includes a gift receipt, but can I really get rid of clothes that still have the tags on them? The answer is yes, yes I can. All it is doing in my closet is taking up space, when it could be keeping someone warm.

Learning To Let Go

But then what about the pair of jeans that I absolutely love, but have a huge hole in the butt. A huge, non-sewable, not looking like the ripped-on-purpose-jeans, kind of hole. Do I have to get rid of them? Yup, I do. They aren’t doing my back end any favors. Into the trash pile.

Okay, now here’s the hard part that every self respecting lady (and some of you guys too) must learn to do. See that dress (or shirt/pants) that is two sizes smaller than your current size? The one that made you look like a movie star when you were thin enough to wear it? Gently pluck it from your closet of clothes you can actually fit into and drop it into the donation pile. Time to let some other hottie look like a movie star. Eh-eh, no second thoughts. Put it back down. Think of it this way, if you ever do lose weight and get back to that size, you can reward yourself by going shopping for a new favorite dress. Repeat this process with all the other clothes in your wardrobe that do not fit you anymore. Well, okay, you can keep one thing, your skinny jeans. But just for motivation. And only if you really have to, I mean don’t you look pretty fabulous just the way you are?

Room For The New

Now when this is all done, my closet will only consist of the clothes that I actually wear, like, and look good on me. There will be room in it for gifts I may get for Christmas, and for the occasional new item. When I am done bagging up the clothes that I will take to Good Will, I feel satisfied and relieved (once that dress is out of my sight). My closet is neat and organized and I can feel good about donating some decent clothing to charity.

Seeking Out The Junk

Then it’s on to the other stuff: the junk drawer, the bookshelf, the filing cabinet, my drawer full of cosmetics and hair and skin care products. The general rule is if I don’t use it or I don’t need it (in the true sense of the word need), then I get rid of it. Of course there are exceptions. There are pictures that I don’t look at often, but I treasure and do not want to part with. There are back issues of magazines that I haven’t gotten to yet, but will. There are some exceptions I will allow myself, but not many. It’s amazing how freeing it feels to do this every year. Because the truth is, I really don’t need all these things to be happy. In fact, very few of them really make me happy.

The Calm of Clean

After I have gotten rid of all the things that were just taking up space, I feel calmer. When I look around my home, all of the things that are left are things that I truly want, not things that I just have. Of course, it won’t stay this way. Over the course of the next year, I will accumulate more stuff that I don’t need and find myself doing the same thing again next year. But such is life; it’s cyclical. And there are much worse problems to be had.

Janel Pfluger is a writer, career coach, college instructor, and bartender, among other things. She is looking forward to receiving a Master of Arts in English degree in January of 2010, and finally being able to read whatever she wants. Janel enjoys reading, writing, the beach, photography, travel, family, good friends, good beer, good times. She has a passion for words, but cannot stand the words: moist, slacks (as in trousers), and panties. She also thinks everyone should go skydiving at least once in their lives.