Better Day Yoga LLC

08/29/2026

This is such a straight forward explanation that it’s worth reading. Just do it! 🧘‍♀️

A Basic Meditation to Strengthen Neural Connections

Rewire your brain so that mindfulness and compassion are the automatic response to stress.

Christopher Willard May 2, 2016

We are all born with a specific set of physical parameters, but if we eat right, take care of ourselves, and work out, we can build muscle, flexibility, and endurance. The same is true for our minds: We can change our brain, boosting concentration, flexibility, and intelligence and building new neural pathways and networks, by working out our brain, particularly with mindfulness and related practices.

Take a moment right now to try this basic mindfulness meditation for yourself. Before you begin, adopt a posture that is both comfortable and sustainable for a few minutes, and then set a timer for three minutes.

First, bring your awareness to an anchor: sensations or movement in your body, the breath, ambient sounds, counting, or even an image you found powerful or calming. Anything can be the anchor for your attention. Just invite your mind to rest there.
Pretty soon, you will notice your mind begin to wander. That is completely normal. Each time you notice it wandering, notice where it goes and then gently guide your awareness back to your anchor.

Pretty simple, right? So simple, in fact, that it might seem like you’re not doing very much. But don’t be fooled. Every aspect of this practice is building the muscles of your mind. In fact, one of my patients even likes to use the image of his brain getting a little bit bigger with each moment of mindfulness.

5 Ways You’re Strengthening Your Mind When You Practice Meditation:

Each time you focus on or return to the anchor, you are building your concentration

Each time you focus on the anchor, you detach from your thought stream. This is a practice of letting go in the moment, which translates to letting go in the rest of the world.

Each time you notice that the mind is wandering, that is the moment of mindfulness—not a moment of failure.

Each time you are kind to yourself when your mind wanders, instead of criticizing yourself, you are exercising and strengthening your self-compassion for challenging moments in the rest of your daily life.

Each time you notice where the mind is wandering, that is an opportunity for insight into your mind’s habits and patterns—what we might call wisdom or self-understanding. �
Each of the mental actions in this practice strengthens neural connections that, with practice, rewire your brain, over time making mindfulness and compassion the automatic response to stress. As the saying goes, “neurons that fire together, wire together,” and in this case, these are the concentration neurons, the awareness neurons, and the compassion and self-compassion neurons. We could all probably use a few more of those in our brains.

Over time, through mindfulness practice, we can build a map of the mind, notice our habitual thought patterns, and develop patience and compassion for our minds, ourselves and the world around us.

This article was adapted from Dr. Christopher Willard’s book Growing Up Mindful.

Rewire your brain so that mindfulness and compassion are the automatic response to stress.

08/25/2026

This study originally made me wonder. I knew Vitamin Retailer Magazine would give me the excellent counterpoint.

I’ve only posted the counterpoint. You can click the link for the full story:

Industry Criticizes Study On Glucosamine Supplements and Alzheimer’s Disease

“In my opinion, the conclusion of the study is unsound because patients with arthritis commonly exhibit cognitive decline over time. It is far more likely that the chronic arthritis pain caused the increased dementia, not the glucosamine,” Teitelbaum explained.

He added at least three previous reports show no or negative associations between glucosamine use and dementia, with one suggesting cognitive benefits. Large-scale epidemiological research, including the UK Biobank, indicates regular glucosamine supplementation is correlated with a 15-39 percent lower risk of mortality from all causes.

“Increased risk of dementia is especially prominent in arthritis pain. Effectively treating pain is a critical part of decreasing Alzheimer’s risk, and this can be achieved by treating four key components of pain,” Teitelbaum said.

The Natural Products Association (NPA) also responded to the study, stating that while researchers disclosed these preliminary results would require human clinical validation, they “omitted a number of key confounding factors.”

“There is no conclusive evidence that glucosamine dietary supplements increase the likelihood of death within a specific time frame or accelerate progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease,” said NPA President and CEO Daniel Fabricant, PhD. “The researchers’ analysis of patients’ electronic health records does not establish causality, and they did not account for hidden variables or confounding factors, such as diets high in ultra-processed foods or advanced glycation end products (AGEs).”

Foods high in AGEs—usually heavily cooked, browned or highly processed meats and fats—contribute to oxidative stress and promote protein clumping in the brain found in Alzheimer’s patients, according to NPA.

“While the analysis controlled for age, s*x and demographics, the study leaves too many unanswered questions about variables other than glucosamine supplements that may have contributed to a progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia,” Fabricant said. “This includes but is not limited to frequent consumption of ultra-processed, sugary foods, which are theorized to accelerate the type of metabolic defect described in the study. Until human clinical research is conducted to eliminate such confounders, we urge consumers of glucosamine supplements to be circumspect about the study’s preliminary findings.

On June 9, neuroscientists from the University of Florida (UF) claimed they found an association between taking glucosamine supplements and a higher likelihood of progressing from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease.

08/25/2026

My good friend Bonnie Kaye Schulz shared this. She’s an amazing human being. I’m honored to know her. She owns Happy Heart Yoga Studio.

Thanks for sharing Bonnie!

saxonkent

08/24/2026

This is so true. And we all know when we’re running on empty but still pushing on. Here’s to taking care of ourselves remembering that everything we do adds up. ❤️🙏

What you do in private always shows in public, and this is such good news.

Your diet shows in your energy. Your diet shows in your skin. Your diet shows in your confidence. Your diet shows in your results.

The whole foods you eat when no one’s watching…the vegetables, the healthy fats, the clean proteins, they don’t just disappear. They become the clarity you feel at 2pm instead of brain fog. They become the natural glow people notice. They become steady energy that lasts all day, not the crash-and-burn cycle of processed foods and sugar.

You can’t fake real nourishment. Your body tells the truth. Feed it real food, and it shows. Skip the nutrients it needs, and that shows too.

You are what you cultivate when no one is watching. And every single meal is either building you up or breaking you down. Choose foods that serve you.

08/12/2026

I subscribe to many emails. I also fully believe in affirmations and intentions. (As Wayne Dyer used to say: if it’s true placebo, I’ll take two! 😉)

That being said, the opening paragraph is from one of my emails and it so inspired me that I looked up the magical article with suggestions below.

If it’s too woo woo, just keep scrolling. But as I’ve written and quoted about magic, “If you don’t believe in magic, your life will not be magical.” And:

Roald Dahl's quote: "Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it." 💫
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Glamour is the oldest enchantment we know, the art of shaping how we are perceived by first shaping how we perceive ourselves. This is a season of adornment: of anointing the pulse points, of dressing with intention, of catching your own eye in the mirror and deciding what you'll carry into the room. Through simple acts of tending, we enchant the vessel that moves through the world, trusting that what we anoint with intention will announce us in kind.
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Now part of the article—enjoy!

Glamour magick is all about using beauty, fashion, and personal care as tools for enchantment. It’s not just about looking good—it’s about feeling powerful, confident, and in control of your energy. Whether you’re casting a spell with your lipstick or setting an intention with your perfume, glamour magick lets you infuse everyday rituals with mystical energy. It’s subtle, powerful, and deeply personal. Fashion& Style

Contrary to popular belief, glamour magick isn’t about faking something—it’s about enhancing what’s already there. It’s a way to highlight your natural beauty, amplify your aura, and present yourself to the world in alignment with your inner magic. Whether you’re stepping into a room with an air of mystery, radiating warmth, or commanding attention, glamour witchcraft lets you shape how energy flows around you.

The best part? You don’t need expensive products or rare ingredients to practice it. Everything from the colors you wear to the way you style your hair can become a form of spellwork. A swipe of lipstick can be a confidence spell, a spritz of perfume can set an intention, and even your morning skincare routine can be a ritual of self-love and protection. It’s all about using what you already have in a more intentional way.

So, if you’re ready to add a little extra sparkle to your everyday life, here are 50 glamour witch tips to help you weave magic into your beauty routine. Some are simple, some are a little extra, but all of them will help you glow—inside and out.

Link in chat!