Welcome to Tim's Grateful Eight. This is a weekly list of things and experiences for which I am super grateful. They might be simple, beautiful things like a sunrise or a smile from a stranger. Or they might be curated resources that have been helpful to me, like a really good book or podcast.

Links to cool stuff off of the list:

The link for All the Fanfare

And don't forget to take a look at my site - Ubiquity!

Presence, zen. Health, fitness. Mental, spiritual. Imaginary, real. This is the nexus. Link to Ubiquity

How to get a little more balance into the ole solar plexus

Manipura, the Sanskit name for the third chakra, means “lustrous gem of the city.” Since it’s element is fire, this could be taken to mean the energy in the city of your body.

It’s located near the belly button and solar plexus, but not as high as your breast bone. The third chakra is linked to self esteem, sense of purpose, personal power, and your role in society. Digestion and metabolism also have ties here.

An imbalance in the third chakra or solar plexus is just another way of saying that your digestive system and associated internal organs are in trouble. This in turn causes disturbances with your emotions, thoughts and wellbeing.

Photo by Ava Sol on Unsplash

Sleep deprivation cuts into our health, our happiness, every aspect of our lives. But what can we do about it? Here are a few practical ideas on how to get more rest for day owls and night owls alike.

What is the connection between the second chakra and sexuality, creativity and body awareness? What are the ways that shame can affect your energy flow? And how do "expert" opinions take away your freedom and creativity?

Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash

What are chakras, and why do they matter? We start at the root and talk about our connection to the earth, grounding, safety and security.

Photo by Photo by Marc St on Unsplash

Who is Tim Ebl? How does his past shape his writing and his meditation practice? 

Kyla interviews Tim and they discuss abuse, hoarding and how these become fuel for some of the articles he is working on. 

You can find Tim's work at Medium or at his website

https://medium.com/@ambitious.eclipse

https://www.tim-ebl.com/

Who is Kyla Dagenais? What journey led her to be a yoga and meditation instructor?

Kyla is a full time mother and teacher. She uses her yoga knowledge to lead students in breathwork and meditations. Kyla holds space for those with trauma and stress disorders using her hard won life lessons. This podcast gets into Kyla's experiences with sexual abuse, her indigenous background, and her loss of the use of one eye.

We discuss some common myths about meditation. Bonus: Kyla gets a sign from the universe!

1. It’s All About Stopping Your Thoughts — I Can’t Meditate Because I think Too Much

2. Meditation is Hard. You Need To Sit In Lotus Position And Be Very Dedicated

3. You Need To Sit Perfectly Still, So It Definitely Isn’t For Me

4. It Takes Years To See Results. That’s Too Much Time For Me!

5. Meditation is a Way To Escape. I’m Not Into Running Away Inside My Head

6. Transcendent Awakenings and Experiences Are The Goal. I’m Not Into All That Hippie Stuff.

Are you a fan of New Year's Resolutions? We like the idea of them, but they usually don't result in any lasting change. Why is that? we think we know  part of the answer, and we can help you set goals that you will actually be able to accomplish. Gym rats, marathon runners, being chased by bears, and of course meditation, all come up in this resolution episode.

Meandering Through the Madness 9 – 5 Steps to Lasting Love

- An Evidence-based Guide to Protecting and Repairing Your Relationship, by Ann Marie Taylor. 

Kyla and I were excited to interview the author of a great new relationship resource  – we both think it is so groundbreaking and yet so simple to start using right away. I want everyone I know to get this book! It could change lives.  Here is the description from Amazon:

Discover the surprising, underlying reasons for most relationship breakdown and what you can do to protect yours

· including the three small, everyday acts that can make all the difference!

Are you in a long-term relationship and struggling to make it work? Feeling worn down by life & exhausted by conflict?

Do you yearn for more love, joy & passion in your life? To come home to friendship and laughter?

There are hundreds of relationship books out there.

Many are very wordy with a mix of random tips or complicated exercises to work on as a couple.

But what if your partner is too busy or doesn’t want to do them? What if you are too busy yourself? Who has the time for this stuff?

What then?

I’m here to tell you that busy people can have great relationships—& fulfilling sex lives-too!