A tribute to courage and sacrifice

Irena Sendler

Died: May 12, 2008 (aged 98)
Warsaw, Poland

During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist. She had an ulterior motive.

Irena smuggled Jewish infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried. She also carried a burlap sack in the back of her truck, for larger kids.

Irena kept a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto.

The soldiers, of course, wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.

During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants.

Ultimately, she was caught, however, and the Nazi’s broke both of her legs and arms and beat her severely.

Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she had smuggled out, In a glass jar that she buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived and tried to reunite the family. Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted.

In 2007 Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize.
She was not selected.
Al Gore won, for a slide show on Global Warming.

Please join me in honoring the sacrifice and courage of this fine human being who gave so much and saved so many.

I found peace in the garden

Amid  life unfurled to the sun

Free from time it stretches its warmth and smiles in yellows and strawberry reds

My son found peace in the garden

Lulled by the buzz of fat, orange bees

It hugs our home and the happiness within, measuring our lives by the changing seasons

We found peace in our garden

And allowed it to take root in the soul

May you find your peace wherever it grows

Namaste

 

Pelvic curl up

Good for your pelvic floor muscles (if you remember what they are!), your abs and as a stretch for your back and ribs. This exercise if often used in Pilates classes as a gentle warm-up for the spine and abdominal muscles. It also works the lower body and helps coordinate breath and movement.

Lay on the floor with a neutral spine (so a natural curve to your back) and your feet on the floor slightly away from your bum with your hips, knees and ankles in one line on both sides. Gently rock your pelvis back so that your groin is facing you and peel your spine off the floor one verterbrae at a time until only your shoulders and rib cage are on the floor. Your back should be in a natural position and your pelvis should still be in neutral. Its important that you really control the movement up and that you feel as if you are peeling your back away from the floor and up towards your ribcage – don’t just pop up! Keep checking your hips, knees and ankles are in line and that you aren’t collapsing in your core – so keep your core and your pelvic floor switched on (imagine holding in a wee!)

Take a breath here and then curve your rib cage back towards the floor creating a C shape under your ribs and gently and slowly roll your spine back to the floor with your pelvis and bum the last to touch the mat. Don’t just plonk down!

Repeat as many times as you feel necessary to really get the stretch.

I love this move to really stretch and uncurl the spine! I am not a trained Pilates teacher and am describing this using my own experience and advice from professionals. Please take care and seek professional advice before attempting any move.

Namaste