March Happy Hippy Mama Column

Happy March Everyone!  

Does this Cleveland winter weather have you feeling down?  Have you suffered from loss in the last year? Did you know that moving your body can spark joy and help you heal?  Here is a little peek into how I use movement to heal my body.

(5:30 am)  Ding. Pam: “Are we doing this?”

Ding. Anne: “I am in.”

I can hear the light frozen rain hitting the roof. I groan and roll over.  Thoughts race in my mind. “Do I have a headache? Am I getting a cold?” I pause and breathe, and drag myself up.  

Me (responding to their texts): “See you in 15 minutes.”

This is how most of my mornings start. I get up and join a small group of dedicated women from my active beach club, and we walk together.  (Excerpt from Healing Movement: Walking Group Offers Support Friendship published on WISHcleveland.com )

Yesterday was an especially “Cleveland” morning.  Gray, cold, and rainy. My friend, Maria and I planned to walk at 6 am, and in committed walking group fashion, we showed up for each other.  We started out nice and steady, it  felt good to move in the light drizzle.  As our walk continued the rain grew heavy, and soon we were soaked.  This didn’t stop us. At our walks end, I dropped Maria at her house, and started my short walk home.  I took the rare moment alone to pause and breathe. I realized, yes I was wet, but more importantly I felt energized and peaceful.  Over the last two years movement has brought me peace, and has helped my mind and body heal. The sadness and grief remain, but movement has shown me healthy ways to find joy again.

My preferred methods of movement are walking (as I described above), yoga, and running.  Yoga is a unique and ancient practice of breathing and movement. It allows for my mind to settle and my body to be challenged through breathe and different poses.  At the end of each class when I am rewarded with the final resting pose, Savasana (think best nap on your back) tears flow from my eyes. Slowly cleansing and healing me with each drop.  

Running has been a close companion, for much of my life.   I ran cross country and track through middle and high school, and attended college on a running scholarship.  Today, as a (late) 30 something I run neighborhood fun runs and try to prove to myself I still have the muscle memory to win my age group. (Spoiler, I somehow often do. lol) Running  is one of the few activities that challenges me physically and allows for my mind to fully relax.

I have never walked, ran, or taken a yoga class, and felt it was a waste of my time.  Rather, I always feel better. The movement is physically good for me, and it truly heals my soul.  

Please find what movement sparks joy for YOU.  There are many different kinds of activities. Check the end of the column each month for new and exciting options in our neighborhood.   Breathe, move, and and be gentle with yourself. Healing happens.

To continue the conversation or if you have any questions you can email at:  HappyHippyMama@yahoo.com or visit us on Facebook at: Happy Hippy Mama.

This Month’s Mantra:

I am STRONG, I am BEAUTIFUL, I am ENOUGH

March Movement Options in our Neighborhood:

Pound at Shore Cultural Center, Room 241                                                                                                                            Instructor: Erica Carpenter   ecarpee@yahoo.com                                                                                                                Tuesdays & Thursdays: 6:15-7pm                                                                                                                                        Ages:  13+ Fee: $5/class                                                                                                                                                    "Rock Out with the Workout" using weighted drumsticks.

Pilates at Shore, Room 239                                                                                                                                                Instructor:  Michelle Stachnik      216-780-0183                                                                                                                  Thursdays 6-7 PM and Saturdays 9-10 AM                                                                                                                            Ages:  15+ Fee: Trial class free $8/drop in class

New Community Mental Health Group:

Grief and Loss Meet Up                                                                                                                                                      Every Monday                                                                                                                                                                    7:30 pm Room 104 East Shore Church 23002 Lakeshore Blvd.                                                                                              Questions: Contact Emily Holody at 330-256-6641

Join us next month when we dive into how clean eating is good for our body and mind.

Until Next time…Namaste  



Emily Holody

A Peninsula, Ohio, native, Emily Holody is a stay-at-home mother and freelance writer with a degree in Sociology from Kent State University. She has a background in mental health and social work, loves yoga, all things outdoors, and lives in Euclid with her childhood sweetheart and their family.

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Volume 10, Issue 3, Posted 2:41 PM, 03.10.2019