Spanista » Self Care Rituals, Reflections & Resources for Joyful Living by Ginny Shiverdecker

  • Spa Style & Self Care Reflections, Rituals and Resources for Joyful Living

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  • About Spanista

    Ginny Shiverdecker, Creator of Spanista is Spa Wellness Enthusiast, Adventurer Seeker and Brand Builder.
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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Emotional Fitness Includes Spiritual Self Care Rituals offers a Friday Wellness Tip for your heart and soul. Today is a sacred day in many spiritual circles. It symbolizes the first stage of transformation into a life of inner focus and meaning as the weekend unfolds.

Seasons of Spanista recognizes the importance of this annual ritual as a personal self care practice and as a community bonding self care practice. Weather you choose private meditation or attend services at your local place of worship, taking time away from the typical routine and busy lives to stop and consider the spiritual symbols of this season can open a door to the flow of goodness. Through the emotional door flows stillness and inner focus helping us get back in touch with our true selves. Through the door flows a sense of consideration for where we sit in the world, a sense of perspective and reconciliation. Thus a sense of overwhelming peace – the Emotional Fitness we can carry forward into the world.

Spanista Friday Wellness Tip: Find the right place. Set aside disruptive thoughts and feelings. Gently let your body, mind and spirit sink into a peaceful state. Imagine you are passing through the door of spiritual love. See the path that beacons. Feel your mind, body and  heart open and say this prayer. Reflect upon it. Allow grace to flow through the open door.

Timely Prayer for Reflection

May the door of my inner home be wide enough

to receive those who hunger for kindness for kindness, 

those who are lonely, or isolated from friendship.

May it welcome those who have cares to unburden,

thanks to express, hopes to nurture.

May the door of my heart be narrow enough

to shut out pettiness and pride, envy and enmity.

May the door of my heart be closed to self-righteousness,

selfishness and harshness.

May its threshold be no stumbling block to receiving those who are different than I am.

May my inner home be for all who enter,

the doorway to spiritual richness and a more meaningful life.

~ The Siddur of Shir Chadash

 

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Emotional Fitness Includes Spiritual Self Care Rituals encourages a simple positive and powerful way to self  care that will help you get in touch with yourself. Have a wonderful holiday weekend. See you next week.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Love London, Love Fortnum & Mason, Love Jasmine Green Tea is a story that begins with one of my favorite Spring memories – visiting London – just days before the royal wedding of Kate and William in 2011. The buzz in the city as it anticipated the big event was palpable. And indeed it was the wedding of  the century. Hard to think they now are parents of gorgeous George and a baby sibling to come into the world very soon.

Spending time on Oxford Street in central London is a must. While there is a range of fashion shopping destinations for every lifestyle. One of the must stops for Spanista’s seeking self care sustenance after hours of walking about while navigating the large crowds of tourists is Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly since 1707. (Yes, that is right 1707!) The location on Oxford Street is the original location and when you enter it you feel Victorian history come alive – the spirits of patrons before embrace you. It is unlike any other place in the world – steeped in tradition.

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Fortnum & Mason is the most luxurious a department store in the world situated in central London since in 1707 founded by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason. Fortnum & Mason is recognised internationally for its high quality goods, especially its teas, hampers, biscuits and chocolates and as an iconic British symbol. It has held many Royal Warrants over the past 150 years. Founded as a grocery store, Fortnum’s reputation was built on supplying quality food, and saw rapid growth throughout the Victorian era when it established several restaurants. Though Fortnum’s developed into a department store, it continues to focus on stocking a variety of exotic, speciality and also ‘basic’ provisions with tradition. The store has since opened several other departments, such as the Gentlemen’s department on the top floor. It is also the location of a celebrated tea shop and several restaurants. And just yesterday they announced they will offer honey from the Duchess of Cornwall’s bees! Really they are Camilla’s bee honey! 

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This special destination experience starts with entertaining window dressings. The creative presentations are extraordinary – both delectable and fun. So imaginative and colorful. The type of perfect escape that tickles a Spanista. One can not help but be charmed by it all no matter the temperatures outdoors. Two video links above give you a flavour.

On my trips there, I fell in love with Fortnum & Mason’s specialty Jasmine Green Tea and of course the traditional ways they serve it. So civilized – My British friends think taking time to prepare and enjoy a cup of tea can aid in solving any problem life throws your way. And once I learned how to create a proper ritual of it, I too believe this to be true.

Fortnum Mason

China is home to the world’s best jasmine. Dawn picked flowers open towards the end of the day to release their heady aroma. Selected green tea is allowed to absorb this natural sent, producing an orangey-gold liquid with a delicate taste and reliably alluring fragrance.

I have tasted many blends of Jasmine Tea but nothing a luscious as this. This is top grade. Like coffee or wine you can educate yourself to taste the difference with focus. I wait to have it on Easter Weekend so that I can enjoy is anew every year.

Spanista Takeaway: Love London, Love Fortnum & Mason, Love Jasmine Green Tea sets to mind a relaxing yet refined chic Easter Ritual – but you do not have to go to London to get it. Perhaps an afternoon tea properly staged with the right ingredients and people could make for an enchanting team time Fortnum & Mason style. Enjoy!

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

 

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

5 Random Acts of Kindness Generates Positive Energy is a way to bring forth good karma when we may need it most, especially as we look toward the weekend of renewal of  faith – Easter and Passover. So here we are –  90 days into 2015. Where does the time go? If you stop and take a moment to check in on your current state of mind and mood,  I trust you may register how intense life might right now. I know that I feel the pace of life has certainly increased – do you feel that way too?

While I was traveling last week to attend a series of meetings at Purdue University with professors and students at the School of Engineering to advance my humanitarian program, I took time to observe the people where ever I went – in the airport, on the campus and at the hotel and restaurants. Everyone was absorbed in their digital screens moving about with great deliberateness –  barley acknowledging the people they were traveling or dining with. They looked intense too. As I thought about it, I found this rather sad to witness for all of us.

If one is alert and aware of current affairs, it is not hard to see the world seems to get more and more complicated. As one takes in the headlines and tries to absorb the impact of international affairs on our lives here in our own back yards, you can feel your heart rate quicken. A wellness tip: Spanista wants to remind us that this intense, increased energy is absorbed by the body in spite of the fact that we are to busy and numb to notice. But we can assert oursleves to change this impact.

I was speaking with a dear friend I respect deeply, who is a neuroscientist, sharing my observations and asked for his insight. And also asked was there something Spanista could do to change the dynamic for the better?  He offered his views on the current state of America’s mind and mood. He stated, “Today’s around-the-clock bombardment of negative news throws the brain and nervous system into a walled-off fear mode. It’s a kind of powerfully contagious virus that takes over our nerves, rattles them, puts us on edge and on guard, and seeds doubts all around. So we can hurry through a crowd, rushing along and keeping an eye on our touchscreen, without seeing the eyes or feeling the heart of anyone in that crowd.” However he offered – what could change the dynamic? Each time someone steps out of the routine to perform what amounts to a “random act of kindness,” it creates a shift in that dynamic, an insertion of the most valuable kind positive energy into the most mundane of days.  This restores the real human to human connection. Plus it has a ripple effect that touches others in the sphere of that positive energy. How does he know? The research he has conducted over several years has inspired his deep insight.

Spanista Takeaway: 5 Random Acts of Kindness Generates Positive Energy can make all the difference. People want, and even crave, that kind of energy. Think of all the cynicism that you experience in your daily activities – loads of ‘the glass is half empty’ in so many ways.  Now think of it as a real, organic thing created by newsmakers with an agenda. While I know today is deemed April Fool’s Day with a tradition of playing tricks on friends I would like to challenge us to redirect that energy toward a more productive purpose – Doing Random Acts of Kindness. This week is a perfect time to take a spiritual step forward to change the dynamic toward positive energy. Here are some ideas:

1.  Spontaneously bring a homeless person you see a Starbucks coffee and breakfast sandwich.

2.  Bring fresh Easter flowers to a senior citizens home for the oldest person there.

3.  Make a Passover donation to the charity in the name co-workers sick child.

4.  Buy a new children’s Spring outfit and pair of shoes,put it in a gift bag  and take it to a local church – They get it to the right family in need.

5.  Let a Mom who has a cart full of groceries and a baby in tow, to step in front of you in the grocery line. Or let anyone in front of you – just step aside for someone.

Go forth and change the dynamic for the better – remember to come back and share your story with your fellow Spansita’s, ok? Also check out randomactsofkindness.org. You will love the way it will make you feel!

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Magnificent Orchid Spring Florals Adorn Home is about celebrating the holiday weekend in your home. Spring is Seasons of Spanista time as many of us are preparing spiritually for the arrival of Easter and others for Passover. As it can be a solemn week of personal reflection about faith and family, it also can be a time to enjoy planning the weekend feast and with the great food traditions comes a Spanista style presentation. A great setting provides the right mood  to enhance tastes of your delectable foods while increasing the overall level of joy and satisfaction. I never met anyone young or old who did not appreciate beautiful chic florals as a focal point.

This year I thought it maybe enjoyable to unify our entire home – that is starting with the kitchen, dinning area, then on to great room and bedrooms with a non traditional flower theme. One that holds ever so much presence because of its textures, shape, aroma and intense colors. That flower is tropical orchids – The color scheme is golden rod yellow, pure orange and select touches of mauve. It evokes Enhantement – ala it is the theme.

The arrangements stand tall and stately in the foyer and the dinning table. Smaller bowls of orchids are in the bedrooms and the great rooms tables. To compliment the flowers will be a non traditional chocolate treat by Mast Brothers in exotic flavors like Tanzania, Guatemala or Madagascar, also set in glass trays on Sunday morning – the official day of chocolate indulgence.

The inspiration for the Easter Weekend Florals Theme came from the arrangements I saw in say in Las Vegas – they were so luscious and yummy to look at. Perfect for this happy weekend. The perfectly color wrapped chocolate bars were discovered at Oxford Exchange just in time for Easter enjoyment.

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To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Good News Monday: Firestone Grand Prix St. Petersburg Florida Rocks as it is the first race of the Indy Race Car Circuit for 2015.  Racing at this level is an experience to stimulate senses with sights and sounds one rarely is exposed to which makes it all the more exhilarating. It is a Spanista favorite for relevant reasons I will share. Formula One or IndyCar.

The Firestone Grand Prix, Indy Car Race Circut is a great escape from the everyday Florida routine. It runs on a tight street track with 14 turns in the city proper that overlooks Tampa Bay’s beautiful blues waters and flanked by luscious palm tress. The track flys by the Salvador Dali Museum and along the Yatch Club, the city airport on to the fabulous Vinoy Hotel on the opposite side of this city. This weekend proved cooler than normal but still offered brilliant 70 degree daylight hours for the running of time trials and the ultimate race this Sunday. The crowds are chic and the well-traveled set. It is a lovely and intimate location for the kick off event of the Indy Car season full of positive energy.

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Professional Racing is a highly specialized sport whose drivers are exceptional athletes cultivating great stamina week after week during race season. To win requires extraordinary preparation to achieve the highest levels of both physical fitness and emotional fitness. Think of it – there is no one who can step in to drive their car if they are exhausted or get hurt  – they run the race for 90 minutes. Unlike many other team sports. This is an individuals’ performance. The driver and the driver alone must run it start to finish. There is not one to rotate in. He or she (yes there are both women and men qualifying drivers now) must endure the pressures to win.

Spanista considers race car drivers the elite athletes. To me, they are the ultimate examples of Self Care well-practiced. They possess a self-confidence unlike anyone I have encountered – a mental toughness that centers on the ability to achieve the results they want in their profession and in their life. This takes a unrelentless focus on the goal to achieve the joyful lifestyle they want. They put their Self Care needs first to achieve their dreams.

One Sunday The Penske Team went into the race placed 1, 2, and 3. The winner of this first race of the year is Juan Pablo Montoya, Colombian born. He is a class act. Team Penske wins it 1 and 2.

Good News Monday: Firestone Grand Prix St. Petersburg Florida Rocks is a terrific experience that goes deeper than the race itself if you pay attention to the drivers who power the cars. One just has to look into the eyes of one of these drivers to know what it there. There is much to learn if one just takes time to observe them over time. I had the pleasure of working with both the Team Penske and the Andretti Auto Sport Team for a few years. I got the privilege of seeing these athletes train, prepare, race and win or loose up close. They really earned my personal respect. And to a degree inspire the Spanista Philosophy of Self Care and the importance of emotional fitness given my observations of their dedicated lifestyle.

What do you think?

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

Photo Credit: Firestone Grand Prix Winner, Juan Pablo Montoya by Mark Pruett

 

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